Frozen Memories

by Xeir Zith

"It used to be when people spoke about magic we laughed them off, or locked them up, sometimes both, but we never took them seriously. Maybe we should have. But I am getting ahead of myself, let me start at the beginning, with Elsa. The Templars have the upper hand. Who will protect the Heart of the Mountain, it all boils down to them, Elsa & Mark, they have brought us to the end"

27. Sequence 7 Memory 1

Jellicle's Creed

Frozen Memories

Seqeunce 7

Memory 1: Queen Elsa vs The Wolf Queen part 1

12 Febuary 2052

Arendelle Castle

North Wing

Elsa's bedroom

Dawn

"Never be too kind to a Templar or Shadow, they might turn on you"

Jarius when explaining how the money caused the Templar Order to fall from glory during the second crusade

The night before was something they'd rather forget, the festival was a weird one. And Elsa for once got to meet her favorite painter once more. But last night was surely eventful as Mark had just found outsomething he'd rather not speak about to anyone. Not that it really mattered he had in fact confided in Elsa, and also his sisters. The place they spoke over the events they found out about while they were in the reeking sewers was only cause for further investigations to be had.

As to what Mark found out, someone had entered the Manor against his wishes, and damaged part of it. A room had its wall blown apart, but how ? What had happened for the wall to explode in such fashion, surely they had seen it ? But no, they did not know of the explosion or who caused it, for a few weeks since the festival. But it was last night when they found out that someone had been there, and someone had gotten into his sisters old bedroom!

They had found the door blown apart, as if by a cannonade from a ship. the wall beyond it was also shattered and broken. But what had caused it ? Who caused it ? The workers in the house at the time of the explosion said they only saw and heard Olaf in the place. And there was no way to really keep him out of any place when one thought of it. It was the first time Elsa had been inside the Manor since the Templars had it. It felt oddly familar.

Olaf was much too weak to hold up anything heavier than a few pounds, let alone something strong enough to make this kind of damage. "Contractor!" He called, his voice booming. His head builder trotted down the hall obediently. "I want an investiation done on how this happened. Once you know, find out who did it descreetly. When you find out who did it, wring their neck, or better yet, tell me and I'll do it myself. After you're done investigating, fix it up...New wood of the same species...My sister's room doesn't deserve rotting wood to frame it." He said. The contractor trotted away to make the necessary notes.

A couple of Assassin Recruits that Mark had taken under his wing specifically came down the hall soon after. "Mentor?" Mark's lip visibly twitched; that wasn't his title... yet "I-I mean... Master Wolfe...what is it?"

"Investigate... find out what happened, and who did it. You have three days."

"It'll be done."

Mark turned and grumbled to himself. His eyes flashed bronze and he used his Eagle Vision to scan the area quickly. Something caught his eye and he turned back to the room; something most people wouldn't be able to see with their Eagle Vision. Magic? When could he see magic? How did he know what it was? He tilted his head and walked towards it, brushing against one of his apprentances as he did so, heading right for the opposite wall, where it looked as though the cannon ball pierced through. He placed a hand to the edge of the wall where it was charred and splintered. Muttering to himself he turned his head and channeled more focus into his vision; and slowly the scene began to reconstruct itself...

22 December 2051

Midafternoon

Arendelle, Wolfe Manor

Third Floor, Marions bedroom

Tiri held the painting in her hands, her and Kalda, or actually Xeir Zith and Kalda. She tapped at the name in the low left corner, "A dragon painted this long ago. Before she found him" She said softly. the Wolf Queen had taken Kalda from Xeir Zith, just like how Draco had taken their child they'd never see. Or did he ? Recently Tiri had been having trouble sleeping. She shook herself back to reality. "Why would the Templars hide paintings of such value in your old bedroom ?" Even though it was bright sunlight outside, the room, even with its windows wide open, felt dark and dreary.

Tiri looked around the room, the remaining paneling in the rotting walls was a dark oak, it reminded her of the place she had owned in London. Of course it lacked everything London had. No technology had touched Arendelle, so remote was this kingdom it was as if Time itself just... stopped. Where London was a massive city ever growing into the skies above and the countryside like a bruise growing underskin. Technoilogy was rampant in London. It was as if the towers just grew into each other there. Which they actually did. Cars even flew in those upper most levels. Which was scary to say in the least. "So unlike London, it is so peaceful here yet sometimes I miss the craziness of the technology in London." Tiri mused.

Wait where had Olaf gotten off to ?

Marion shrugged to Tiri's question. "Perhaps one of our servants hid them during the...incident. To safe-guard them." She said thoughtfully. She placed the paintings back and set the mattress back over them again to cover any tracks that they were there. "We need to get out of here..." She said calmly. "Who knows when Mark will get back?"

"Technology or not; shadows will follow...what will you do when they find you ?" The Light said calmly, nodding to the darkness of the room.

"That may be so Mother, but still... We can relax!" Tiri said moving towards the door, it felt like it was time to leave. Possibly well past time to leave "We can relax Mother, I dont know the meaning of the word, 'fear'" That said Tiri opened the door, wait had they closed it when they went in ? It didnt matter, she was fully expecting to see Olaf, but instead she was greeted by two HUGE Shadowy kobold like creatures, and between them was the biggist gun she had ever seen. Tiri briefly stood and stared for a long moment

With the two massive creatrues was a male fellow. Who looked... oddly familar ? "Say your prayers Icewraith!" How the fuck did he know I'm not human ? Tiri briefly wondered.

Tiri held up a hand with a finger pointed up. "Fear, noun, a state of a terror." She shrieked in the shadowy creatures faces and slammed the door, holding it shut with all her weight behind it. But these were Shadow kobolds, creatures she had never seen personally even as Xier Zith! In all essence Tiri was spread eagle on the door, holding it shut, but that huge as cannon they had with them... could her own magic hold the door shut ?

Light moved swiftly, grabbing the painting that Marion had pulled out and then taking Marion's arm. "Come...we must go." She said. With that she vanished with a flash of light, taking Marion with her, leaving Tiri, the poor girl, to fend for herself. The Light knew she would be fine, regardless of what happened to her. Tiri was too durable to be killed by something as simple as a shadow cannon.

KABOOM! "YAHOO!" The cannon went off with a thunderous explosion, the massive shadowy ball of fire slammed into the door, and into Tiri dead on, She grabbed it, holding on like hell as she slammed into, and through the rotting brick wall of the bedroom, leaving behind a smouldering jagged hole one could easily fit a minivan through that was edged with slivers of ice, as she went flying like a shot clean across the Kingdom. Oddly, too far away too for that matter for the shadowy creatures to follow.

She slammed into the roof of a barn in the Talz district, where the mule deer were normally kept, this new barn was being rebuilt, so it was partly new, and needed a new roof as Tiri completly broke it apart like toothpicks as the shadowy cannon ball sputtered into nothing as she slammed into the building. Breaking wood and landing in a heap in hay and thick sawdust. She laid there for several minutes stairing at the... well at what USED to be a barn rooftop loft. "...That was fun!... OW!"

It was a minute or so later when her two companions jonied her and they headed... somewhere

12 Febuary 2052

Arendelle

Wolfe District

Dawn

Marions Bedroom, Wolfe Manor

Mark's eyes flashed a bit before returning back to normal. "You two... return to your training... tell the contractor to fix this room immediately." he said to his apprentances, who had been staring at him the whole time in awe. He narrowed his eyes and flicked out an arm, a transport array in the shape of his Family Seal appearing next to him before he stepped into it and vanished from the room with a flash. He reappeared in the Wolfe Family Library, the only part of the Wolfe Manor he was going to let open to the public by the end of the week.

"Yes sir" came the reply, apparently their teacher had found what they were to seek ?

Kobolds...who used Kobolds? He searched every book on Kobolds the Wolfe family publicly had. He' d yet to find the private library. But he was sure there was an entire vault somewhere within Arendelle dedicated to it...And Much like Elsa's Mother's private library, it needed to be found. He remembered a portion of a map of some sort within the vault he found containing the forges with which he forged his armor...perhaps that held a key. He opened another transport array and appeared at the entrance to the vault. He looked around, and wished that he had the knowledge to set up a barrier around the foyer of the Manor; where the entrance to the vault was located.

He sighed and summoned his gauntlet, kneeling he put his fingers into the holes in the floor, gripped them, and twisted his hand. The hiss of escaping air escaped the floorboards as they creaked, and a grand spiral staircase was revealed just next to him. He released the lock, and vanished into the vault, the floor closing behind him.

The stairs when in their unopened state formed a flawless wood floor as the workers got busy to rebuild the broken wall. As the stairs traveled in a circle ever downwards for at least a hundred steps, it was another hundred steps before the bottom was reached and the sounds of technology could be heard. Technology from a ancient age as bronze, gold, silver, and duradaeden glittered upon the walls and seemingly glass floor as vault doors were seen, one recently opened.

One that had not been open before the last time he was there. Faint pale light glittered in the gridlike patterns of the flooring and walls of the massive Wolfe Vaults. Formerly a Precoursuer vault, the First Generation had built the vault up, kept it intact, whereas the vault in new york had lost its floor and many areas had massive canyons without a bottom just appear over time. The Wolfe Vaults were the most intact, much like the vault under Rome.

But this new vault held something in it. Something that glittered. Was it knowledge ? Technology ? Riches ?

Mark narrowed his eyes at the door that had opened within the vault. It was definitely not there when he was last in here, making his armor. With his gauntlet still on his arm he summoned his sword, it appearing sheathed on his back. He drew it slowly as he slowly approached the opened door before getting against the wall silently. He stopped and listened foor at least two minutes before moving, his left hand out and right arm with the sword ready to stab something as if he were holding a spear at the moment. He turned with a sharp inhale of breath and a stone-dead expression, his claws swiping at the air as if waiting for someone to be there in ambush.

But there was only one person in the room, the massive, possible six car garage sized gymlike room held a single pedistal, on it was apparently a pair of twin swords of bright glass, a single woman stood staring at the weapons. Mark could see clean through her. But when the woman spoke it became clear who she was. "For what we seek, there is a cost to be paid in the end. They are closer now then ever." The woman turned, it was Elena. But it was confusing, was Elena a Precoursor, like her great grandmother had rebelled against and founded Arendelle so many eons before ?

She smiled then seeing and recognising Mark "Greetings Guardian." She said as the twin swords faded from view into a single item. A journal of sorts. But with it, what it sat upon, was something Mark recognised, the Healing Stones. There were four of them...

Four of them, for the Four Core Members of his family. Did that mean they still lived ? Or no ?

Elena stepped from the pedistal, as she did a video seemed to play as lines of glowing green and gold latched onto Mark as he stepped closer, the video showed a young woman, clearly his mother, Chairty, placing the journal there, and then picking up something, a basket. An infant inside. His mother so young! An infant in a basket. Wait, Didnt his mother sneak off with the baby once for something she wanted to do alone when he and his father treated with the Queen that same morning due to the inrfants illness ?

Mark froze when he saw Elena, his eye twitching. He slowly sheathed his sword as he began to circle her slowly as she stood on the pedestal. He'd not been able to move during their last conversations, he wanted to make the most of it. He froze again as he saw the video, narrowing his eyes again and furrowing his eyebrows as he stepped towards it. His sister? He could make out his mother plainly enough; but was that his sister? He must have been...no older than five or four years old at this point.

His mind went to the words she spoke. A cost to be paid for what we seek, they are closer now than ever. They ? "Who is this They you speak of ?" He asked to Elena, looking to the precurser with a slight tilt to his head.

"They have split one family once. They are close to doing it again." Elena replied. The 'video' shifted forwards to the time of the painting. the one thing that was crystal clear were Marions eyes, both as an infant, when her mother used one of the stones, and at the painting. Again Marion was on her mothers lap in the painting, Mark by their side, with their father, Marcus having one arm on his son, and on his wife. Then, one by one the members of the family faded, starting with his father. then as the attack on the manor came, his mother and sister faded from the video. Leaving only Mark.

The massive vault showed its age then as the video showd the seemingly endlessly working forges going cold one by one. The Templar Cross going up as a flag was raised and the last fleeting glimpse Mark had as a child of his beloved Sister was when the wall in the dining room collapsed into a cloud of dust. "They split your family. Death followed those that tried to hide. This room. this book. these stones." Elena said, typical cryptical speak too. "Take the stones. Keep them safe" the journal held a secret. the secret of the Precoursors, and how the Stones worked.

But there was something else.

Why had his mother come down there, with Marion as a infant ? Sure Marion had been ill shortly after her birth, but so ill to use a Healing Crystal ?

It was then out of the blue when Elena asked, "The Heart of the Mountain rests peaceful ?" She meant Elsa, was she safe ?

They...the Templars ? Had to be. Based ont he video. But he didn't set his mind straight on it; there was more, he knew better. He turned from the video as the Templar cross went up. He remembered that day vividly. He did not need to see it again. But the stones... he walked over to them, his clawed fingers hovering over them as he examined them. And the Journal... He narrowed his eyes and grabbed it, opening it. This was not only his mother's hand-writing... it seemed to be passed down through the generations, from Kudzul or older to English.

Mark turned at Elena's last question. "I wouldn't be here if she didn't." He said simply. "I'd think you'd know that." there was respect in his voice despite his choice of words. The last thing he wanted was to be put in another trance and locked again.

The last passage in the journal were the only words he recognised instantly as his mothers hand. Written in Kudzul. But apparently only so he or a member of the family could recognise it. As Elena seemed to smile and watch as Mark read the entry from his mother.

It read

"To my beloved children.

I had a dream as a child of your age. To have a brother. and yhet, when he was born he did not survive the first winter. he was frail, and soon passed. I knew then not to make the same mistake when I had the two of you. you are my pride and joy. My children, my family. Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. When Marion was born I was overjoyed, my dream had come true, two children, you. Mark, when I have gone and you find this journal, take care of your sister. Marion, if you should find this, and I am gone, take care of your brother. trust each other. do not give up hope.

When all looks lost remember; we work in the dark to serve the light. you are Assassins by blood, by birth. when men fail to see the truth remember, you are blood for blood, when all that is finally laid bare before you remember, trust one another. Love will thaw.

I love you my children." It was further followed by notes from Charity on the severety of Marions illness, and the life her eyes took upon healing from the crystal destined for her. Her natural affinity for the vaults. and how the twin swords sang as she carried the infant near them.

But one thing was clear, the last look either of them got of the other. Marion, in their mothers arms, carried to safety, Mark, in the arms of his adopted mother Snowfeather, carried to safety, the last time a family ever saw each other. Their eyes forever connecting once more soon.

Out of the blue then Elena spoke "You seek the maker of the damage above ? Or perhaps an explination of why the Heart of the Mountain was here when she was with you ?" It seemed even to confuse Elena, how could Elsa be in two places at once ?

Mark read the entry with some hesitation, the notes made his jaw shake a bit. So close to losing his sister... he never knew how close... He swallowed and closed the book before looking up. He let out a shaky breath before setting the book back. At Elena's question, he turned to her again, but only slightly, his head turned. However he was still after she spoke. He could hear a faint whispering in his ear, whispering from Kaldakava. Mark's eyes glazed over with a gleam of Silver for a few seconds before he blinked and shook his head. He turned to Elena. "Yes to the first, no to the second...And one more thing...I want more light in this vault...there's more to it."

Elena smiled, as she spoke the sounds of twin swords rang briefly as the journal was placed back where it belonged. "What do you hope to acomplish then if you find what, or rather, whom, you seek ?" Her hand came up then and touched his necklace, gently lifting it. "Trust your heart. Keep her safe" As she spoke more light coursed through the floor and walls, writing lit the room on each wall, all of it in Kudzul, both modern and ancient. The door too was written over in it.

There was a reason why the journal was there. it was part of that room

As briefly as the room lit it slowly dimmed until only the pedistal was lit by a ghostly overhead light, and the strange ghostly swords faded into view atop it. "Go, seek those who did the damage to your home. Trust... them both"

Elena then went stern faced as another brief video appeared, a group of men and women in a room, the templar flag once more behind the group. "They are closer to reaching their goal, if the Heart of the Mountain is to be safe, they must never reach it. Trust those you seek who did the damage to this place above. Keep her safe." With that Elena disappeared in lines of golden green light that soon faded as if shattered.

It was time to pay a vist to a well known Brothel

Arendelle

Talo District

A few moments later

A mule-deer drawn carriage pulled up to the front of the newly renovated brothel, and Mark stepped out wearing only his cloak, now that it was clean and not smelling of sewers. His boots and pants were also clean, giving him the complete package of cleanliness. He gazed at the building and sighed, shaking his head before walking in. He didn't particularly care for brothels or the girls that worked in them. But he had questions that needed answering. He stood tall in the doorway as a gaggle of girls swarmed him; but he waved them off sternly, his face stern beneath his hood. His beard had been recently trimmed, and hugged his chisled jaw-line firmly while also framing his lips.

He spotted a desk, and walked up to it, spotting a girl sitting behind it he rolled his knuckles along the wooden top, knocking to get the girl's attention. "I need to see the Mistress of this establishment... official Assassin business from the highest authority." he said.

The yong woman, oddly dressed in a much less revealing outfit compared to the rest of the Girls that Mark had seen so far since entering that building, looked up to him from where she sat. He wanted to see Tiri ? On Assassin business ? Wait didnt Master Blackmane already handle that for the day ? The girl's deep brown eyes seemed conflicted before she smiled and nodded Standing up she said simply "Please wait here a moment" She directed him to a nearby room, thankfully devoid of girls near it and disappeared behind a door.

Once the door closed behind her she dropped her desguise, sometimes she had to get her hands dirty. And this was one ofr those times. Light took the steps two at a time to Tiri's floor and knocked twice, hearing Tiri called out something icelandic Light figured it meant come on it. and entered the room closing the door behind her.

"Well this cant be good" Tiri mumbled; some of her shards were missing, and she had a feeling of where they were. Every now and then since getting shot to Talz District she'd been regrowing her dress in a manner of speaking. "Mother what is it ? Why do you look as if caught in the headlights of a London doubledecker hoverbus ?"

Charity noticed it too, but she also felt something odd. "Tiri, see to it that Marion and I have a contract, or at least dont let whoeever seeks you near this room ?" That made sense, Chiarty had the sinking feeling that her son was deadly near. And Like Marion had said before, if Mark knew they were alive, someone would wake up dead

"He is here, yes. I directed him to the waiting area. the conference room you use when Blackmane or one of the other Mentors arrive here." Light replied.

"Wait, He... you mean Mark ?" Light just nodded to Charity's question

Oh... Shit

Tiri stabbed a icelike shard of glass into the desktop wood before her "Well, that settles it. Mother and I will speak to Mark then, best not keep him waiting long." Wait that wouldnt work, Tiri looked too much like Elsa as it was, if he saw her face. She stood up from the desk. once more a hooded viel covered her face, leaving only her eyes seen. Recently since coming home to Arendelle the girls rarely saw their employers for more then scant moments, and never seeing their faces either aside from Diana.

Then again, Diana was, like Mark, a master at hiding in plain sight. Which helped. "Alright, if you insist on seeing him, like that, we'll need someone we can trust to keep us both sane in the same room with us ?" Light replied calmly. Tiri was nodding as her mother spoke

"I agree, Diana shall come with us, its been decades since they had seen each other, and Mark does not know Marion is still alive, just, under a different name. Hell he saved you, with Elsa, from a Templar mob when you first got here alone!" Tiri said turnings towards Diana, after a week the three had learned every nook and cranny in the building, and could get anywhere without any of the girls noticing anything amiss. But would Mark notice ?

Mark's head twitched as it turned to look as the Light and Tiri entered again, Light having thrown up her disguise again. His nostrils flared; someone was wearing perfume... He kept his eyes on Tiri however as she entered the room. "A pleasure to see you on such short notice." He said.

Diana froze as she hid on the other side of the room, having slipped in not two seconds before. Mark ? She slowly turned her head towards him, thanking the gods her hood and scarf were raised to block her face from sight even though she was behind him. What the hell was he doing here ?

"I'll be blunt; you and some friends of yours were in the Wolfe Manor a couple of weeks ago. I want to know what happened to my sister's wall. Top Floor, second hallway, fifth door on the left. The Northern Wing" He took a step forward and raised his chin a bit so that Tiri could see his blazing bronze eyes. "I've seen much; but I didn't expect to see a dopplganger of Elsa, and two other females, both of which also look ibextremely/b/i familiar as well, by the way, with her."

His lips were tugged by a small unhappy twitch. "Care to explain?"

What wall ? Tiri wanted to ask, had she been to the Wolfe Manor ? Twice actually yes she had, and she had also been to the Talz District too, that hurt on landing but either way. but it was his mention of Doppleganger of Elsa that had Tiri's silver eyes lock on him completely as she repeated the word. "Doppleganger ?" Clearly confused by what he meant, did he meant to say she was twins with someone he had all but frenchkissed in public before the entire kingdom ?

"Well..." Tiri said simply, tapping a silver finger against her vieled chin. "I was expecting not you but another Mentor to give information to concerning an explosion in one of the districts a few weeks ago, the Mentors are past due by three weeks." Tiri said, as if she were to be giving her monthly report three weeks before to Blackmane or Snowfeather. "I suppose that is you I am to give it to ?"

Wait... what ?

"When was the date of this... occurance ?" Light then asked while disguised she could clearly see Kalda faceplaming himself within Mark, dont even think about it kiddo, Light mused. If Kalda broke the ice about who Tiri really was, that would suck very muchly.

Tiri spoke up however before Mark could reply right away "Hold it, time out, ..."Tiri made the time out sign with her hands as she spoke ". The Queen idoes/i know why you came here... alone... right ? Or are you actually doing this behind her back ?" and infront of your own sister ? "I mean, she knows... why you came here by yourself, without her." She gave him a look from behind her viel "Right ?" Fact was, Elsa just woke up, she had absolutely no idea where Mark was at that moment.

Mark's eyes darted to the Light as she spoke, the blazing Bronze piercing through her and seeing for what she was...Nothing? His eyes narrowed inquisitively: A white void. Strange. He opened his mouth before being cut off by Tiri; her question tugged at something and his temper flared.

Standing suddenly with a feral, inhuman growl from deep within his throat, his fists clenched so tight the knuckles cracked. "The Queen will know when the time is right; but I think she is none of your concern don't you..." His eyes peered straight at her, piercing and all-seeing. "...Ice Wraith?" he finished his snapping statement.

He let out a breath and sat back down. "Now answer my question; what were you doing in the Wolfe Manor, my sister's room no less? And why the ever-loving hell is there a massive blast hole in her wall?!"

Light raised an eyebrow, Uh oh. Tiri simply smiled behind her viel. With a snicker she shattered before his eyes, yep the cat was outta the bag for sure. "Well I sure feel sheepish" Tiri said shifting her ice shards into the shape of a lamb. "Alright you bad boy, if you so much as tell anyone anything that you see or hear in this room, you're gonna have to use a stepladder to tie your shoes, got it ?" She reformed then. Only three people know knew she could do such a thing now. Light, Charity and Marion.

She sat back in her own chair and thought a moment on how to reply. "The snowman." she said at long last. "That and we felt... magic from within the room. Of course we got cornered and had to flee fast." She cast a mirthful look towards her mother, Light, who simply raised an eyebrow as if to say "No idea what you refer to dear girl." Tiri continued. "We had to leave quick. We... had unwanted visitors. Relax, we got permission to be there already"

She almost smirked and said Kalda right then and there, but didnt.

Light rolled her eyes, this was gonna be a long day. She was thankful for her own magic. It was ageless, and extremely powerful. "Truth of the matter is simple, Master Wolfe. Elsa concerns me very much because at the drop of a snowflake she could shut this place down. And where would you be without your best path of information from drunken templars with lovely ladies to tend their needs ?"

Mark's hands relaxed slowly before he rolled his fingers in and out of fists, calming down rather quickly. Olaf...he should have known. From now on, he'd no longer be allowed on the manor grounds. He sighed and stood, Light was right. But his rage-induced question wasn't to her...though she did answer quite correctly.

"Good day, ladies... Not a word to anyone."

He turned, and stared directly at Diana for a good second before transport Arraying himself out of the room.

Diana blinked and lowered her hood slowly. "He knew I was here..." she sounded... exhasperated. No one could detect her before! Even Snowfeather and Blackmane had times when they couldn't sense her!

"You can relax. Hopefully. Mother ?" Tiri said thoughtfully.

"He only saw you and I clearly, daughter, not you, I think" Light replied thoughtfully. "Kalda is awake sooner then expected, but it does not matter at this moment, what matters is that we can trust him to keep his word."

"I think Mark's Eagle Vision is beginning to be able to dispell magic... but he can't see through clothing... He doesn't know who I am. But knows that I'm now affiliated with the brothel." Marion responded calmly... She remembered an earlier lesson with Blackmane about Eagle Vision, and stories her mother'd told her as a girl.

"My question is; what took him so long in finding that exit I left ?" Tiri asked

"He likely hadn't been to that wing in a while; Snowfeather's probably kept him busy." Light said.

"Possible. But for him to recognise me as... well.. not... wait... oh crud" Tiri picked up a book on the table and hit herself in the head with it. "I'ma dummy!" She all but shrieked. Mark had Eagle Vision, just like Marion did! Elsa too. But Tiri had forgotten that with enough clues to a scene of any kind, a mental video of the event that caused the clues could occur! Thank goodness Marion had her back to the window during it all to begin with! "Mark knew I was an Icewraith because the idiot in the hall told me to say my prayers and called me an Icewraith!" She turned to Marion, "He never saw your face directly, because your back was to the wall when Mother took you to safety!"

Hopefully that made sense

"The good news is, that even though he is working to decern deeper meanings with use of his Vision skills. He cannot focus deep enough to find the truth of my being." Light said thoughtfully. she smiled and nodded "My magic is strong enough to shield you when you go out. When he looks in your direction with his Vision he will see only whiteness. Nothing more, when normally looking at you he will see you, another recruit. We can make a fake custom or law you must go by to keep your face covered in public perhaps ?" Tiri was nodding as her mother spoke, that made sense

Arendelle Castle

Icerink Courtyard

One hour later

Before Breakfast

The courtyard area was mostly where the Arendelle, and more recently, the Assassin soldiers, trained for battle. Elsa was with them, watching, and learning everything shecould, the night before rang with weird dreams. It drove her crazy. Oddly she slept outwardly rather as if she were dead. Elsa watched as the soldiers trained in mock combat, some used attack dummies, others used each other, and others used whatever came in handy, including their shadows. It was confusing in a way, how these men and women skillfully paced themselves. Even the new raw recruits were taking into a stride by the more experienced soldiers

A few soldiers saw her and briefly paused long enough to bow in greeting, words of "Your Majesty" and "Highness" were heard through the group as Elsa stepped closer, intent on watching. She smiled and waved them off, "No need to bow, we're all equals here. I came outside to clear my head, things have been... trying recently and I need a means to clear my head a bit. Have you any ideas ?" She meant in terms of training, sparring, whatever.

After she spoke there was a small screech as Ulnaus flapped hard to slow himself down while he landed on the wall and began to preen himself. And if he landed, it meant only a few things...

"Is that?"

"nah, can't be!"

"But there's Master Snowfeather!"

"So that's him? He doesn't look so tough."

"He'll tear your throat out as if it were a dandilion in a field of roses."

"Oh..."

Mark approached Snowfeather as she oversaw the training, he pointed to the few that were looking at him and made a fist, his order to keep training. This was backed up by a squak by Ulnaus.

"Mentor." he lowed his head in greeting.

Snowfeather smiled seeing Mark arrive, she nodded in greeting, looking towards the left of his arrival. "She's over there, with your sisters. Learning." She said in answer to his unasked question. Serena was awake more then Serenity, yet the two were teaching and learning with Elsa. In many ways the twins were learning how to defend against a magic user. And in many ways they were teaching Elsa how to properly defend and attack with her ice. there were some scratches, but nothing life threatening.

"They have been at it almost an hour now, just the three of them." Snowfeather said "Was your mission a success ?"

Mark shook his head and slowly lowered his hood. "No. I tracked them to the Brothel; but got no answers." He said calmly. "They merely dodged the question. But apparently they were following Olaf... time to ban him from the manor." he said calmly, rubbing his eyes a bit, using Eagle Vision for so long having placed a bit of a strain on them.

"The Brothel ? Why would anyone ... oh... I remember now, Elsa was deadset against rebuilding the place. Yet now with the information the Girls there provide us for district liberations recently." She mused and chirped with laughter for a brief moment "Olaf ? Ban him ? Impossible, he is a snowman, and snowmen dont really have good memory skills. Elsa created him, pure innocence. No other way about it." Snowfeather said.

Of course the mention of the Brothel sure brought up Elsas hearing. What ? She tried to pay it no heed but it was hard, thankfully the Twins backed off to give her a respite long enough for her to cast a quick look to Mark, what was that about the Brothel ?

Snowfeather paid Elsa no heed at that moment, as Elsa made it clear that when she was with the Twins or other Assassins sparring she was to be treated just like a fellow Assassin and not the Queen. Speaking in hebrew she asked Mark. "What did you find out ? You will blind yourself before too long the more you use the Vision, you know that."

Mark chuckled at the mention of Olaf's innocence, of course he meant it as a joke. Though at the brothel he'd been serious... Anger was tricky. He didn't catch Elsa's look to him, his eyes remaining on Snowfeather as he spoke.

"They didn't tell me much. Only that they were there following the Snowman. But my Eagle Vision showed me otherwise. Two of them aren't human... I... strange." he paused. "It wasn't them that blasted the hole though... it was someone else, the clues of the scene showed me as much. Though I didn't know them... I'll have to do some research." he responded in Hebrew flawlessly.

"Not human ? Feline ?" Snowfeather asked, Elsa, not understanding a word the two were saying simply nodded to the twins, the three went back at it as Snowfeather motioned to her own group to continue their training session of seige defense. She motioned for Mark to walk with her a moment. "There are only two races on this planet, you know for a fact I am not human. Nor is my sister, or my daughters, your sisters." She took a breath then, thoughtful. "What... did the damage you found ? can you describe... them ?"

"The ones who did the damage weren't human either; and they had something else with them... a Kobold, if I remember my ancient texts correctly. The vision showed two figures... they were solid black... I could see nothing else. Two of the three others that initailly entered the room weren't human... one an Icewraith... the other... I'm not sure... all I could see was a plume of Light." he said calmly, walking with her without missing a beat.

"It was those two I tracked to the brothel; I recognized one of them from the vision as I'd seen her before... knew she ran the brothel, or at least represented it." he explained.

"Icewraith ? I have never heard of such a term, or a race before..." Snowfeather felt, for a brief second or two, at a loss. But dismissed it when Mark mentioned the Kobold. "A kobold is a rare thing to see. The only one I know of is a guy named Mike. I wonder if he is still around. You could ask him if he was. Last I recall he used to live here in Arendelle." She stopped at the rail looking out over the harbor and port districts below. "Elsa was looking for you briefly not too long ago. the Girls offered to spar with her until you got here. but, would it be wise to tell Elsa why you were not feeding the birds this morning ?"

How did she know about that ?

Mark nodded along as she spoke of the Kobold named Mike. He looked over the Port districts and the water itself. Such a relaxing scene. Romantic even under the right circumstances and with the right person. He shook the thought from his mind. He sighed and nodded; right... Elsa.

He put his hand on Snowfeather's back towards her waist as a half pat, half hug in farewell as he turned. His eyes found Elsa quickly and he smiled softly, heading towards her.

Snowfeather smiled, and with a quick nod said "Inform the soldiers that when the breakfast bell rings they are to report to their districts, until then continue training, I will go see if Mike is still around for you. See to her." With that she all but pushed him towards Elsa. His eyes on the prize and none watching her she disappeared in the cry of an eagle that caught, briefly, Ulanus attention clearly as Snowfeather flew off.

As Mark came closer he saw that Elsa had seemingly ditched a single blade in favor of two, after all she was sparring with two others at the time. perhaps it was to better adapt ? Her movements were fluid and smooth, like that of a dancer as she sparred with Marks adopted sisters. the two girls had their normal combat outfits on, minus their tradiational hoods. their arms were bare, Mark could faintly see markings like that of a striped cat on both girls upper arms and at the base of their necks. Elsas dress too, in recent days, seemed to look just a bit darker. Like it was wet with blood. it sparkled in the rising sunlight.

Both girls had sparring blades with them. Serena carried a bamboo sword of sorts, whereas Serenity used a pair of bokken blades. Serenity had her back to Mark and never felt him approach as she blocked a strike and aimed to strike back at Elsa during their sparring when something... or rather, someone suddenly lifted the sword from her right hand. Ah dang he did it again! Serenity thought as she heard her twin crack up and Elsa stifle a giggle

Mark twirled he sword in his hand lightly before handing it back to his sister, handle first. He turned to Elsa. "My Queen. I'm told you wanted to see me earlier? Probably about the birds?" He asked. Ulnaus chirped and he smiled. "I was... on a little mission of my own design. Went to the Wolfe Manor to find something... found something else... went to the Brothel to ask get info; got hardly anything." He explained calmly.

Elsa raised an eyebrow as Serenity took back her sword, iHe went to the Brothel ? Alone ? OK now why did... Nah, better not make a scene/i, she thought. It was better she not know what information he sought. "Was it about the busted door we found last night ? Did you ever sleep ?" Thankfully he had, like her. So that in and of itself was good wasnt it ? She set her own blades point down on the ground like walking sticks "Its alright if you dont want to tell me you dont have to. I wont force you"

"Force who to what now ?" Came a new voice as Anna stepped into view. it was nearly breakfast time. and she had been searching for her sister. "Aha! Found you two!you four I guess. Breakfast is ready, Kai couldnt find you so I decided to lend a hand and here you are!"

Elsa smirked and hugged her sister. "How long have you been up ?"

"About twenty or so minutes, I woke up to breakfast cooking" Anna replied. She looked to Mark and the twins. "You guys hungry ? Kai set the table for five, I cant find Kristoff, then I remembered that he was visiting his family this week"

Mark nodded to both of her questions before smiling. His smile faded slightly as she put her sword tips on the ground as she did, but he said nothing. "Indeed my Queen; force me to do what?" He teased her, poking her stomach before bowing slightly to Anna with a smile.

"Anna, so good to see you. I apologize for not seeing you as often as I'd like; been busy and all." He said calmly, shrugging. As for hunger, he shrugged. "I ate on my way to get information about the door in the Wolfe Manor; but I might be up for more." he commented in regards to the food. He could see a bit of concern regarding the Brothel in Elsa's eyes, but said nothing.

"I could use some food" Serena said, Anna had met her about a week ago and mistook her for Serenity, who had been with Anna almost since arrival in Arendelle. Really since Elsas birthday party five weeks before actually, had it been that long ?

"Me too!" Spoke up Serenity she took the wooden training swords and went to the rack as Anna all but dragged Elsa to the diningroom, Mark in tow as Elsa all but latched onto him. Anna, for a thin woman, was strong.

"Food is on the table!" Anna announced, which was also the moment the breakfast bell went off

"Anna, we have guests, not so hard! Whoa! There are doors in this hall sis!" Elsa spoke at random points, a few times nearly nailing herself thanks to Anna dead in the doorframes, or in the edges of doors as Anna dragged her to breakfast, It wasnt the first time either Elsa mused, ever since they had reconnected, Anna had dragged her to breakfast on most mornings.

Mark laughed as Anna dragged Elsa around like a ragdoll, and he followed, having to jog at times to keep up. His sisters followed as best they could as well while other Assassins made their way to where they needed to be as well. It wouldn't be long before they were all seated and eating. Mark spoke to break an awkward silence.

"So how's your combat training coming along, Elsa?" He asked her with a smile, deciding that later he'd spar her to see for himself.

Before Elsa could answer Serenity spoke up, "Why not ask Serena, she was taking a good beating this morning" Elsa tried to not laugh and choke on her breakfast but it was no good. the unlady like WHACK from Serena on her sister was hilarious sounding as Anna just raised an eyebrow. OK this was odd

"Hey! I thought we agreed not to tell!" Serena grumbled as her sister broke down laughing while trying to drink coffee.

"Is that what you were doing this morning ? Was that why no birds ?" Anna was used to it by now, flocks of birds in the courtyard before breakfast, so many birds that the soldiers couldnt train until after breakfast.

Elsa just nodded. Finally she said "It is going well, as hoped at least. I havent had to kill anyone... recently. So that is good, right ?" She smiled, giving Mark a pointed look then she asked simply. "What did you find out about the door ?"

Mark only laughed softly at the antics of his sisters, focusing his attention back on Elsa. "Besting my sisters in combat at the same time is no easy feat with two blades, let alone one..." he said with a smile. "We'll have to test you against me soon." He winked softly before taking a drink and setting the cup down and clearing his throat.

"I didn't learn much, to be honest; they didn't tell me much when I went to investigate. They dodged every question as if they'd rehearsed it for weeks." he shook his head and sighed. "All I'm concerned with is gitting my home rebuilt." he mumbled before beginning to eat.

"You seem troubled dear brother" Serena said as Elsa ate and listened, clearly unhappy Mark had gone without her to the Brothel, normally they left the vists to Snowfeather or Blackmane, "If not about the damage to the door, then something else entirely." Serena had a contemplative look to her face, and tone to her voice as she ate.

"How soon ?" came the question, however it was not only from Elsa but her sister as well. Soon as in, after breafkast, or before lunch ? Either worked. but in Elsa's case, the sooner the better

"How soon for what ?" Came a new voice as Blackmane appeared in the doorway with Kai holding it open for her. Ah, Aunt Blackie had arrived. Oh boy. She did not look too happy either. She had found out recent happenings. And had to share the information she had found out.

Mark grunted in response to his sister's concern. "I'll be fine" he said in their made-up language before turning to answer Elsa's and Anna's question as to when Elsa could spar with Mark. As he opened his mouth however Blackmane entered, and he stood to greet her. "Mentor..." he bowed his head before sitting again.

"How soon Elsa should spar with me, rather than my sisters, which she has apparently proven to be able to handle on her own easilly enough." he answered the question. "I'd say right after breakfast, myself. What do you think? Or... is there something on your mind that is more pressing?" His eyes were very perceptive, even without eagle vision, and he could see that something troubled his adopted aunt.

"If you feel up to it, then go for it. But I found more information rather pressing." Blackmane said, "I think you should know, all of you. We have a unwanted enemy wandering the world. Mark; when you were in the Tomb, what did you find ? Who did you speak with ?" She meant the former undead, well, not exactly dead but not exactly alive either, kingdom that was under the Wolf Queens control deep in the mountains.

Elsa nodded, Sparring with Mark after breakfast, sounded good to her!

Mark raised an eyebrow, his knuckles slowly curling into a fist as they rapped on the table. "I spoke to a Templar Commander... He spoke of someone being back. Said "She" was back... If I remember correctly that was... Ingrid the First's tomb, no ? The Wolf Quee-" He-Kaldakava- gagged and Mark coughed a few times, shaking his head and drinking to clear his throat.

He blinked a few times before swallowing. "Don't tell me that commander was telling the truth..." He sighed before shaking his head, leaning back in his seat and rubbing his bearded chin softly in thought.

Blackmane nodded, Elsa spat out her drink. "The woman from the historybook you gave me, she's real ?" Elsa had read the history section carefully, insofar as seeing it as son many generations old it was an old story. but no, if it were true...

"Yes" Blackmane replied. "This is some big shit I know, but still I learned more in the past few months then I have ever thought to." She then explained what she knew and had found out to those seated at table. "Thankfully, only one of equal power can face the Nexromancer Queen as most called her in the histories." Necromancer Queen made more sense and it was less likely to make Elsa or Mark choke on breakfast

"Aunt Blackmane, what exactly are you trying to say ? That only Elsa or one of the recruits or nobody can take on the Necormancer Queen ? After all these years one would think she'd given up by now" Serenity said softly.

"You have a point, but no, one of equal or greater power can face her, in the histories, the Necromancer was banished and sealed away, her tomb, Mark, you cleansed." Blackman said

"One of equal or greater powers... you mean like my ice and snow ?" Elsa was getting more in tune with using her magic to the point it was mere thought or even just happening before even thinking what she was doing.

Mark sighed and rubbed at his eyes in frustration. Great, another enemy to watch out for and deal with. He merely listened to Blackmane talk, he nodded to the mention of clensing the tomb. "I found some ancient weapons in there as well. Not quite Duradaeden quality, but damn near. The Templars were using them when I slaughtered them." he explained before sighing again.

He stood and bowed his head softly. "I'll be in the courtyard when you're ready." He said, a bit agitated by the conversation topic. He spoke to Elsa, of course, though his agitation was not directed at her in the slightest. She'd know if it was; one always got a feeling deep in their gut when Mark was annoyed or worse with them. With that he left the room, and turned the corner to head back to the courtyard.

Elsa nodded to Mark as he spoke. Yes, he'd meet her in the courtyard. But before she could say anything Anna stood up "I'll talk to him, I need his help anyhow to get a note to Kristoff." She said before leaving the dining room. Elsa smiled, at least Anna wasnt dragging her through the castle again.

As her sister left Elsa called after her "Let him know I will meet with him as soon as I finish breakfast!"

"Will do!" Anna called back before disappearing into the hallway towards the courtyard.

Arendelle Castle

Courtyard

Just after breakfast

Anna stepped out of the castle into the fresh air of the late winter day. Even though it was Arendelle, the winter nights were on par with the rest of the world. About six to nine hours long. Then came summer with almost constant daylight. Taking a deep breath Anna spotted Mark a ways off and darted after him. When she caught up to him she saw one hand go for his sword and held her hands out. "Whoa, hey! Its me. Relax. Mark are you OK ? Whats bugging you ? You're never like this at breakfast! Whoa!" She ducked as a bird landed on Mark's outstreched hand and started chriping, the bird was clearly agitated of a late breakfast.

Mark found a bag of bird-feed and spread it out over the courtyard while cooing like a dove. Hundreds of birds soon found their way to the courtyard and were eating away happily, though agitated that breakfast was late. Mark looked to Anna as a parakeet landed on her head. He smiled at that, but then returned to being rather grim. "The situation isn't good; a new enemy. One I likely can't do anything against."

He sighed. "It's my duty to protect Elsa... your sister and Arendelle's Queen. And if I can't do that, then what good am I ?" he asked. He shook his head. "But I must have faith that Elsa can handle herself; she's proven as much so far anyway." He sighed, the parakeet moving to his sword-hilt as it rested on his back. It tweeted a cute song before Ulnaus flew away into the distance with a screech, some smaller hawks following him to go hunt for larger prey.

"Dont think of it that way, Mark. What good are you ? Plenty, dont you see how Elsa reacts when you're around ? She complained this morning of no birds outside her window like every morning." Anna said. She giggled softly as the Parakeet chirped first from her head then hopped-flew to Marks sword and perched on it and sang some more. "It may not seem like much, but Elsa is happier in recent weeks with you here. Sword fighting with your sisters for example. they were going at it since sunrise, an hour I think before you arrived." Anna snickered a bit then remembering how hard it was for Snowfeather to keep her own group focused on their session with her at the time.

Shaking her head briefly Anna focused "You protect us already quite well. From what I hear you caused a sinkhole in one of the Road Districts somewhere. Just to protect Elsa too!" Anna smiled then and placed a gentle hand on his arm, "Dont say you're not any use, nor ask what use you are, because just being here you help us both. Ok ?"

Mark smiled at Anna's words, and turned to give her a tight hug. "I needed to hear that... thank you." he said. Though he had to resist the urge to look surprised about the sinkhole, since it technically wasn't him. He patted Anna's back and smiled. "I'll keep trying then. For the both of you." The parakeet gave out an annoyed tweet and he laughed. "And you too." He said, letting the Parakeet fly off with a small flock of others to eat some birdseed on the ground.

He let out a sigh. "It's been a while since we've talked, Anna... how are you? How's your own training going? If you're still doing it that is." he said. "And how's Kristoff? I ain't seen him in a while either."

"Kristoff went to visit his family in the Troll Valley, I havent heard from him in nearly two weeks now. I was wondering if you could send one of your birds to see how things are going ? Its too far for a one afternoon trip on my own." Anna said, she returned the hug when it was given. She nodded at the question of training. "Serena and Snowfeather were kind enough to offer to teach me how to defend myself. Your sister's very sweet! gentle too"

Anna smiled then, yeah, it had been some time since they last talked. Just the two of them, infact it was Elsa's birthday morning they had last spoken, albiet briefly, in their plot to surprise Elsa that night seven weeks before! "What is so important about this enemy ? Elsa wont tell me anything, only that she is from history. Once ruled Arendelle or some such." Anna had no idea how correct she was on that train of thought

Mark shrugged a bit at her question. "To be perfectly honest with you I don't know very much about her myself. The books I've read only tell me she's a necromancer, and that she was evil. That's all I can gleam from it." He said softly. In response to Anna's response to send a bird to check on Kristoff, he nodded, and snapped his fingers, Ulnaus appearing in front of him before he clicked his tongue a few times and pointed towards the Troll Valley.

Ulnaus nodded and took off with a screech.

Mark smiled softly as he watched the bird go. "I'll need more time to compile a better dossier on our new foe... better research is needed. If I can find more of my family's private libraries I might be able to do what I need to do." He said calmly before sighing once more. He looked back to Anna and tilted his head.

"Did you get your hair cut recently? Looks different."

Anna smiled, "thank you" Hopefully everything was fine in the troll Valley. She blushed however when Mark mentioned her hair seemed shorter, in truth it kinda was, "Uh... yeah about that. Your mom, Snowfeather, its her fault. she got me with her sword when we were training together. Nobody noticed yet, at least, until you just did" Anna seemed shy about it, but it was not really noticed by the kingdom as a whole, and for a time it was only her and Snowfeather that knew of the small blunder

At the mention of library Anna perked up as Snowfeather was arriving by Muledeer carriage, "You mean like Mothers study ? Where Elsa keeps the device I mean ?" Anna knew the device was somewhere, but how did she guess it was in there ? Truth of the matter was, she guessed. "Where does she keep that thing anyhow ? the only times I have seen anything like it is in either the Roughwater Den, or that ring Elsa holds onto."

Mark chuckled at the story of Snowfeather's sword cutting Anna's hair. "It looks nice." He said before tilting his head at the mention of libraries. "Kind of like that one, but... different. My family has multiple hidden LIbraries around the kingdom...if only I can find them. There must be a map somewhere!" He said. It was likely deeper in the main Wolfe Vault underneath that manor.

"I wouldn't know about those devices too much." He said. "But my armor isn't much different from them." he added calmly, his armor shimmering into view in the morning light.

"I will never get used to that, how it just... appears" Anna said as Snowfeather stepped into view, unsure of if to take her leave or not, Anna was relieved to see that Snowfeather wanted her there as a man was with her, well, the guy looked more like a guy piledriven six times too many into the ground he was roughly chest high on Anna, and quite possibly shorter compared to Mark alone

"Ah, good, Princess Anna, Mark. I am glad to find you together. This is Mike, Mark, he can tell you everything he told me concerning the creatures you saw from the clues given. Anna, a word if you will ?" Snowfeather said, all but dropping Mike in their laps, so to speak. A brief moment between Anna and Snowfeather and all attention was on Mike and Mark. What was going on ?