Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 7
Memory 4: Community Chest part 2
12 Febuary 2052
Arendelle Fjord
Midafternoon
"Once a Wolfe, Always a Wolfe."
- Wolfe Clan Matriarch Yaeko Wolfe
The midafternoon sun danced on the sails of the Whitesparrow as it floated on the fjord as if eager to see the world. For all intents, it was eager. and it briefly bucked against Marions control, but that was only briefly until it somehow recognised her for who she was. A friend of the ships designer apparently. But then again Marion had little, if any, experience controlling a ship of any kind. But it oddly felt familar.
The docks were not far ahead, and for now, that was Marions destiation. As they neared the docks however a ship was there, and there was someone in a dark trenchcoat waiting on the dock. Upon seeing the ewaterfall and musing at its beauty as it started to disappear and a truly massive warship bristling with weaponry floated out, when it ishould/i be in a museum floated on the water so smoothly as if brand new. the woman on the dock stared at it briefly before pushing thoughts out of her head. Agent Bronzekey was sure to be nearby. But then, the CIA mole knew that finding Mark Wolfe was like trying to find Mathew Michaels, it was impossible unless one knew where to look.
So the woman, by the name of Agent Car Key, or Key depending on the other agents moods at the time. Waited at the docks taking in the beauty of the majestic ship arriving to dock. which was weird as all she could see aboard were three women, one of which was Elsa, the other two women, Georgina and Marion, she didnt recognise, well the second woman, Diana she actually partly recognised from a old servailance video in London
Marion guided the Whitesparrow to the docks as if she'd done it a thousand times, which, upon hearing about it, would surprise Mark greatly that 'Diana' who, as far as he knew, couldn't properly fire a long rifle due to a lack of any training whatsoever, could pilot such a large ship as if she did it all the time. Upon feeling the ship slow, Mark looked to Anna, and nodded to the stairs, with a nod in reply from the Princess the two left the galley.
Mark went up onto the main deck and peered from under his hood at the CIA agent in the trench coat. He narrowed his eyes, and raised an arm as he felt Georgina getting antsy about the woman's presence. Was it her?
"If one wishes to enter a locked room, what need they do?" he asked the woman as he walked down the gangplank keeping his eyes on her. He felt much better upon leaving the ship's deck, and his armor returned to his body quickly, as well as his weapons.
"One needs simply knock and turn the latchkey." the woman replied.
Mark paused, a few feet in front of her. "Did you notice any roaches on your trip?"
"A clean bill of health." she replied. Upon further inspection, she was standing over something; a large box, two, actually, in the forms of briefcases. They were between her legs and hidden beneath the trench coat to those who didn't know where to look.
Mark smiled and lowered his hood, shaking the woman's hand. "Car Key. How nice to see you."
"Scorpion, the pleasure is mine. A truly beautiful country you've landed in."
"Kingdom, actually. But close enough."
"I stand corrected" Key replied calmly; showing no anger or annoyance at being corrected, honestly she welcomed it.
Mark turned to everyone who followed him, Elsa, Georgina, Marion, and Anna. Minus Tiri, who was...somewhere.
"Everyone, this is my most trusted CIA informant. She goes by Car Key or just Key, depending on how formal you want to be. She's here to...strengthen the Royal Guard." Mark looked to her, and she nodded. Men were unloading large metal crates into mule-deer drawn carriages heading straight for the castle. "You'll see more later, I'm sure." Mark said calmly. He then introcuded everyone to Key, using very deliberate and methodical movements most of them might not have seen him use before. But in turn, Car Key seemed to relax visibly with each introduction.
When the last introduction came, A Queen, in person, briefly Key didnt know eirther to bow or not but Elsa saved her the trouble by asking her not to do so, among friends Elsa was just herself, And also her sister Anna, but it was after Key spoke saying "It is a pleasure to meet you all... especially one so skilled at eluding dragnets..." Yes, now she recognised Diana. the woman had a skill unmatched by normal car theives. Or thieves in general for that matter. the question remained though, how the hell did she know of Diana aside from that ?
Wait, Diana was a car thief ?
But it was after meeting everyone when the ship, in the words of an ancient Silver Dragon, farted. Black powder exploded like a small smoke bomb from a porthole at the center of the ship and ice poured out of it at the same time into the Fjord a half dozen meters below. Odd chittering and what sounded like hiccups were heard. Key was the only one to notice however that Diana seemed midly nervous about the sudden noise.
Then out of nowhere a childish voice rang out as two stick arms hugged Car Key from behind, Olaf all but screamed "Hi! I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs!" Elsa tried not to smile while Anna giggloed and Georginas buried her face in her hands. Olaf out of nowhere. Then again he was chasing butterflies normally.
Car Key's right arm twitched at the touch from Olaf and Mark moved faster than anyone had seen him move before, grabbing the woman's wrist and shaking his head. "Relax. It's just Olaf. Remember the letter I sent you?" Twitchy, wasn't she? She relaxed quickly and daintilly rubbed Olaf's head while Mark looked to the WhiteSparrow.
"Tiri! You'd best not be blowing up Elsa's ship!" he barked out. There was no mistaking that sneeze.
Oh man the cat was out of the bag for sure, however, the ice dripped into the sea below dock, and yet the Icewraith heard what Mark said. And seconds later she appeared from an alley "Why would I want to... do... that ?" Tiri of course had seen the ship before, heck she even saw the blueprints for it eons into the past. But seeing it in broad daylight took her breath away completely as she stared. Sure she slept in the powder room, but how did he know she was in there ? HE was in there, and never saw her, or the powder keg half empty because she ate most of it.
Elsa raised an eyebrow, Tiri was dressed in a brown dress similar to her own sparkling red. But Elsa couldnt place the feeling of somehow knowing the woman before her. How did she know her ? Wait she was in the dining hall recently. Elsa remembered that much at least. assking for permission for something, Elsa also recalled requesting a Chalice Elisar to meet with her in the dining hall of the castle. But to that extent elsa didnt recognise her fully as she never saw Tiri's face, which was identical to her own, which was like looking in a mirror, just ask Serenity and Serena, trwins who were identical in every way, except voice and manners, and methods of killing their targets.
So to change the subject Georgina spoke up to relieve the tension that suddenly built up, seeing Car Key relaxed now, made the Chinese Princess also relax, a little bit, until she saw what was being unloaded from the transport vessel. It wasnt an oil tanker, but still it did the job just fine to transport the goods. "I was not aware we were getting templar weaponry shipped to us. did we hijack a Templar supply convoy or something ?" Georgina couldnt have been more wrong.
However she was partly right. It was a supply ship, but not the Templars. Car Key picked up the smaller gold plated briefcase from under her trenchcoat and held it out to Mark, "As requested, though I dont know where the ammo is, right now its got the normal manstopper rounds and antiarmor rounds, the dragonfire rounds might be in the shipment somewhere. But they're here, somewhere." Key said holding out the case. Inside was Marks Desert Eagle.
Mark took the first briefcase, and smiled at seeing his bronze-colored .50 Cal. Desert Eagle and three mags of Magnum Rounds, as well as three mags of Armor Peircing. He took the second beifcase, and opened it. It was his thigh-holster, and an addition to his belt to hold all the magzines for his ammo. Mark took the unloaded DEagle in his hand and pulled the slide back three times, looked down the chamber, and felt inside the handle to make sure it was empty before aiming, and pulling the trigger, the satisfying click filling his ears as he let out a chuckle and smiled, loading a clip of Magnum rounds, putting safety on, and holstering the weapon.
"The rest of my arsenal will be at the castle with the ones the Royal Guards will be getting, yes?" At Car Key's nod, he smiled, and shook the woman's hand firmly. "Always a pleasure working with you, Car Key." he said, setting up already the code phrase they were to use next time they saw each other to verify that it was who they were supposed to be talking to. And now for her part.
"The pleasure is always mine." she replied, and the phrases were set. With that, She turned and took the empty briefcases with her back onto the transport ship. Mark watched her, before turning to everyone else.
Elsa watched her go, it was odd actually. The woman knew Mark, a CIA contact. Interesting. She'd have to corner Mark one on one later in order to make sense of things. but until then. Georgina spoke up then thoughtfully as Car Key left "If she's your contact Mentor, then why not ask her to keep the CIA out of Arendelle so we can focus on our true enemy ?" She meant the Templars, but what she had no idea of was the fact plain and simple was that with the CIA in town it was even easier to deal with the Templars. that and the handcannon Mark had on his hip made things slightly easier.
Georgina however went quiet as Elsa seemed to visibly stiffen at mere thought of the CIA. Amazingly however Elsa agreed with Georgina completely, "Can we ask her to keep the CIA out of Arendelle for time being ? I measn, She'll be allowed here yes, there's no question of that, she's your tested contact within the CIA, therefore she's allowed here because you trust her, anyone you trust, I can trust" And that was saying a lot, if Mark trusted someone with his life like he trusted Car Key, then Elsa could trust that person too.
But there was certain questions remaining, why was Tiri there, known to Elsa as Chalice Elisar, and Diana, who was 'Chalice's' adopted daughter and in history, her sister. Which was weird to begin with. "So what happens now ? We got the ship out here, its huge, it cant stay hidden now." Anna mused aloud, those near her were the only to hear. But Tiri could see eyes, bronze flecked with sliver, eyeing Diana by what the CIA contact said concerning her skill at theivery and eluding police so well.
"If someone within the CIA were to suddenly request all operations in a certain region of the world to stop, suspicion would be raised and she'd be looked in to. Eventually it would trace back to me, and they'd be here for me again. And knowing the CIA, they'd use Elsa to to get to me." he explained. "I made myself clear what would happen if I found that man again; and so far I haven't seen him..." he rolled his fingers idly, the claws of the gauntlets gleaming in the sunlight.
Mark shifted slightly, his brown eyes centering on Elsa for a second before sliding to Anna, he then blinked and looked to the ship. "I've already tripled patrols and have Ulnaus sitting on the prow; if anything the CIA or Templars will think it's our ship, and will avoid it; since they seem to recognize that Ulnaus means I'm around." he said calmly, watchign his big bafoon of a bird preen himself.
Mark grunted before raising his hood and walking away, without another word, finding himself lost in thought for a moment.
Slice!...
THUD
Out of nowhere came the noises, first of a slicing of springs, or of an apple, in any case it was slicing of something, the question of what is like asking what sound Yellow makes. A pearlwhite item, four wheeled and the size of a housecat shot off the ship through an open porthole and hit the dock and shot off into the market. Elsa stared, facinated by the technology, Anna was confused, Diana had a smirk on her face behind her scarf, and Georgina ssimply just wondered what the fuck was going on as Olaf said "She's nice!" Meaning Car Key, sure she was about to shoot him in the nose before Mark stopped her. Mark was the only one who could move as fast as her, or even decern her movements to begin with.
"Nice she may be I dont recommend giving random strangers hugs from behind, there was no telling what the woman would have done to you had Mark not informed her ahead of time of you." Elsa said stepping up to Olaf, the journal in hand. Some of it she couldnt make any sense of. Names apparently, old names. She found a page with blueprints on it and went through them. More names, Ancient names that felt... oddly familar ?
Out of the blue Elsa asked, "Who is Yaeko ?" Of course she spoke the name completely wrong as she had never seen it before. The journal had blueprints not only for the Whitesparrow, but weapons, neverbefore seen, and all of it was listed as what Marks armor was made of!
Mark paused as the RC car bounded from the ship and zipped under his falling foot. And he paused further upon hearing the name Yaeko. "Whoop! There's a name I ain't heard in a while." Kalda's voice echoed in his mind and Mark's eyes had a dull haze of silver over them as he turned towards Elsa to answer her question.
"The Wolfe Matriarch of long ago. I'm sure she'll show up in your mother's library somewhere, heck even the regular Castle Library...That's...all I remember of her." he said; sounding a little ashamed of himself for not remembering everything, but then, it had been about twenty years, give or take, since he had a lesson about his family's history. A formal one, anyway. Everything after that was dug up through research on his own.
Tiri at that moment with Mark distracted and focused on the past apparently, took that moment to get to safety, it felt odd around Mark to be near him too long. Like he was actively trying to find her, or find out what Diana really was. hell if Tiri knew, having adopted Diana into her brothel in London at request of Elsa's own mother, Tiri, then a six year old icewraith, but a 20 year old woman in charge of a HUGE bunch of young women helping men of all sorts needed to get as far from Mark for the moment as she could. Which meant of course she nearly ran into some Templars.
With Tiri gone Anna was the next person to speak, pointing in the direction the little RC car shot off "What was that ?"
Olaf was distracted by the device almost instantly and was chasing it as Elsa spoke Yaeko's name. She held out the blueprint pages to mark to see, on each one under the designers name was the name Yaeko Wolfe, anbd also Elsas ancestor Arenel the Wise. "It looks like we found the blueprints." Elsa said.
Georgina was the first to notice Tiri not with them anymore, "Hey, Where'd Chalice go ?" using Tiri's public name, Chalice Elisar meant something was up. Her hand to her hip where a pair of swords were kept Samurai style georgina paced around the docks area trying to find where Tiri had gone off to. Never finding her. But there was still the question of who Diana really was, though Georginas knew the woman was a thief and had taught the giurls within the brothel she lived at how to steal and survive.
But eluding a police dragnet ? Even in the high tech world Georgina was used to before moving to Arendelle made it impossible to elude a policeman, let alone an entire dragnet! Apparently Diana Elisar was more then a simple Assassin recruit. She was a highly skilled if not master theif, and also a killer, and quite possibly the writer of a newly published Assassin guide titled "601 ways to kill a templar" Apparently the small book, intended as a guide book for all Assassins, was written by experience as each type of deatrh was more grusome then the last
Mark grunted softly at seeing the blueprints, not answering Anna's question for now. Mark nodded and smiled. "Looks like it..." he said before looking to Anna and Georgina, the silver glow in his eyes slowly fading and letting his eyes return to brown. "I...I need to go for a bit; I need to research something at the Manor...as for what that was, Anna..." he referred to the RC car. "Ask my sisters." he smiled.
Diana eluded an entire dragnet? Georgina used Tiri's code-name. Tiri and Diana were from London... His sister and mother went to London... something wasn't right. He hated having things waved in front of his nose and not being able to do anything about it. He couldn't ask them directly; he tried it already; and he couldn't see it with his already stupid enhansed Eagle Vision. He'd have to let time play this out.
He transport Arrayed his way to the Wolfe Manor, and would find his map of possible vault Locations. He had to find somewhere to meditate on the memories that surfaced while on the Whitesparrow. He needed somewhere...spiritual. A single location on his map caught his eye: Blackrock Haven.
Anna nodded at mention of who to talk to, that RC car she wanted to know more about, it was actually kinda cute. She turned to head to find Serena or even Serenity, only to see Olaf come wandering back, the RC car in his arms, he was hugging it. The car seemed to be looking as if begging to be taken from the overhugging snowman, itsd four weehsl sending snow everywhere, but thanks to Elsas magic the snow simply rebuilt onto Olaf seconds later
Elsa noded, with Georgina in tow she went back to her mothers study, she had to find out more of this Wolfe Clan Matriarch, Yaeko Why did it sound familar ? The more she looked at it the more familar it became and felt. searching through her mtohers library in the castle Elsa was soon lost in a book. which left Marion on her own, able to sneak off unseen. There was someone important she needed to see. Of course the first step she took around the docks had her looking idirectly/i At her home in the distence. But what she was seeing was not her home being rebuilt, no, what she was seeing was a memory right out of hell. Before turning away. She needed to speak to her mother.
Arendelle
Yaen District
About twenty minutes later
A pair of eyes watched the Templar Captain in command, no dsoubt the Queen was going to want to open this district back up, plenty of shops, basically a second marketplace if renovated properly. The lone recruit counted out how many people were there, Templars swarmed the district, apparently something important was kept there.
It proved worthwhile to see why so many Templars were in the area. as the lone recruit simply sat around doung literally nothing what so ever, he was preceived as a simple resident of the district, which was true actually aas he grew up there amid the Templars, even got to know some of the men while growing up as a small boy. The Yaen District overlooked the newly renamed Wolfe District. Was that why the district was so full of Templars ?
The eyes of the recruit darted towards a pair of men armed to the teeth, these were not the normal sword and sorcery type Templars of long ago, no, these men carried a large box between them, a ammo supply crate. Looking closer the recruit saw that these men were gearing up for war of some kind. He heard also many references to the Arko District as well as a few coastal districts. He also heard the men were planning to move to a nearby district before anything crazier happened. His job was to find out more of the missing founds that were to be sent
Upon hearing the Templars planning to leave the distrct and moving items with them the Assassin Recruit, a young man named David, went to a rooftop and once sure that nobody saw him scamper up there he fired into the air, a flare of red, meaning "Ready for battle!" In Assassin terms it was a flag signal, one of their recruits needed help. It was time to retake the district
"The fuck is that?" one of the newer Templar Recruits asked, jutting his thumb to the flare in the sky.
"Man hell if I know, higher-ups dont' tell me shit anymore." his commander said, his eyes looking to the captain as he spoke before returning to his sub-ordinate's gaze. "For all I know one of civilians got their hands on a piece of tech or some shit and now they think they're a god. You know how primitive these people are."
"Primitive indeed..." came a female voice before the two Templar's heads fell to the ground in a flash of silver as Marion emerged from the shadows and fired her own flare into the air, a green one this time, signalling for all out war to commense if necessary to reclaim the district. She then charged forward towards the Templar Captain, who only sneered as his guards came to his defense. She dispatched them quickly enough, but by the time she did, the Captain was out of sight. She growled as she kicked another Templar in his manhood before slicing his neck with ease.
Within moments it was complete chaos within the district, Assassins jumping out of hiding places, off rooftops, tripping up their targets. A large group of patrolling Templars charged Marion but came to a sudden halt as sixteen pairs of eyes watered in sympathy as she planted with surgical precision, her foot into another Templars groinal area with enough force of her foot to neuter the man on the spot before slitting his throat. Warm red blood spilled onto the frozen street.
The Templar captain had disappeared, seemingly so, leaving his men to fight he'd darted for reenforcements. But his men were thin and few between thanke to the mass exodus to another district move the men were going through. Supplies were being taken from one den to another. To keep the enemy guessing. All of a sudden completely lost the Templar Captain found himself back in the battle zone, but Marion's back was to him.
Of course rather then strike the man turned tail and bolted for the safety of the next district. But he didnt get far as he was tripped up by a snowman chasing a four wheel drive RC truck. Somehow the Slash got free of Olaf's nonstop hugging stickarms and bolted, right into the line of battle. The Captain cursed as he tripped over the snowman and hit the icy ground, scrambling to his feet he had barely enough time before the danged iskilled/i woman came his way to draw his own twin swords
Marion was able to hear a body tumble but then begin scrambling to get back up. Either the Captain had fallen, or a Recruit wasn't doing their job correctly. Either way she turned slowly and spotted the Captain. Her eyes were glowing a bright white as her Eagle Vision quickly spotted the man bathed in Gold Light. She charged him as he stood and drew his own swords. They clashed and her swords cut down into his blades. The man grunted and stopped her momentum entirely before kicking her in the gut, sending her back a few feet before she twirled her swords into a stance of equal attack and defensive capabilities.
"They say you're good...but no mere Assassin can defeat me." The Captain said. There was an air of confidence to his words as he twirled the handles in his hand by slightly opening and closign his fists, letting them spin freely before he stopped, blades pointed towards Marion as he charged forward. He was light on his feet, and Marion had no time redirecting his strikes, however she did have trouble keeping track of his movements at first; he was almost as fast as she was.
Almost.
The two exchanged strikes for what felt like an hour, but was only twenty minutes, and by the time Marion regained the advantage in the battle, a small crowd of Assassin recruits had gathered to watch. By then, the Captains swords were chipped and cracked in certain places, his swords having held up quite well against Marion's Piece of Eden designed iDuradaeden/i blades, which glimmered golden in the sunlight. They were both panting, and Marion was smiling from under her scarf.
The Captain had a look of pure fatigue and defiance on his face, which he proved by charging again, however Marion side stepped and gave him a small cut on his shoulders. He growled and turned, and she let his arms run into her blade, and with a satisfying ibShunk!/b/i they sunk into his arms causing him to scream at the top of his lungs in pain before cursing and spitting at Marion's boots. She drew her boot back to avoid the spit.
"Guess I'm a little better than you thought, eh?" Marion coyly asked as she circled him, letting her blade drag itself out of his arms as they went limp, his swords dropping to the ground and shattering. After flicking the blood off of one sword she sheathed it and reached into the man's coat, quickly finding the key to the den and tower and yanking it out before he realized what she was doing. She tucked the key into her cloak and drew her sword again before setting her blades to rest on his shoulders in a crossed X.
Blackrock Haven Temple
Wolfe Mausoleum
At that same moment
Blackrock Haven, a haven for travelers, as it was used by many a seacaptain to dock and regain supplies, to rest at the beautiful temple. the strange square blocks of stone giving the massive construct its name. The halls, marble black floors with light coming seemingly from nowhere making an etheral glow on the walls and floor. the celing couldnt be see because of the black rock. But to many who used the place as a place of brief refuge, it was a simple long hallway lined with columns. It had no windows.
Yet it was important for generations. the past twenty years had changed the massive temple into a place of overnight campsites for ships crews. Nobody stayed more then a night there.
Which was good for two reasons, thanks to the recent cleaning of the Blackrock Point catecombs by Mark the year before, the temple area was cleaner as well. Because for as long as the kingdom could remember, it over looked the kingdom, and the Wolfe Manor could be seen from the highest point. And the design of the building was perfect for the needs at the time. After all, it was the Wolfe Clan that claimed it for burial grounds. The Wolfe Mausoleum was its proper name. But over the last twenty one years it became known as Blackrock Haven because those that went in to rest over night felt safe, like in a proper refuge
Upon entering the deeper parts of the temple the designs of black solid rock and what sounded like humming machinery was evident within the massive tomb maze of a mausoleum dediecated to the Wolfe family. Only certain people could access it. The door remained closed, yet there was a room off to the left housing a table, some chairs, a cooking area, and about two dozen beds for travelers. The men and women that stopped in there over night always were respectful of where they were. It was at one point a very holy place.
In fact Blackrock Haven Temple was the site of the titanic battle wherein Flowerfist defeated their opressors with the aid of her best friend Second. It was also there on the front steps of the vast temple grounds wherein Flowerfist founded Arendelle and chose for the kingdom to be overlooked from the Temple Grounds, the Haven was to be a place of refuge. but also a place of burial.
With the front halls filled with people of all sorts treating it more of a safe haven wioth some small market stalls and cooking of foods none of those present saw Mark as he easily slipped past them and disappeared into the deeper recesses of the massive building that went deep into the mountain it was built into. The ancient vault was original but to be a Precoursor Temple over three million years before! Back before Arendelle was founded the vaults were used to store food, make weapons, and more. It was lined with black marble found only there. the sounds of machinery powering stuff were heard clearly however as Mark went deeper down the halls.
Light also shone from one hall he was walking towards. Upon entering the vast long hall he saw he didnt need his eagle vision nor did he need the light he brought with him as there were four pillars glowing with golden light and energy. A pair of doors were side by side, but in truth it was one large door with a center hingelock. Upon further inspection the lock was a pair of parallel vertical slots in the black marble. Tile covered the door and above it words glittered like white glass. "Once a Wolfe, Always a Wolfe" Mark read aloud. the name Yaeko Wolfe was printed in white glass lettering on the doors.
"So this is where their laid her/i" Kalda said softly there was a door leading off from the four pillars, Kalda said later the four pillars were dedicated to someone, but he couldnt figure out who, yet. The next room towered above Mark and was filled with pillars in a sort of courtroom style setup. Upon further inspection each pillar had a different piece of wisdom passed down from the ages. Another locked door was ornately girded with details. the name clearly emblazonded on the door and otherwise said all it needed for Mark to know whose tomb that was. But, try as he might there was no way to get the door open.
"Can get in that way." Mark mumbled
"To what gain ?" Kalda asked
"I'm sorry ?" Mark said
"To what gain would you seek to open such a door ? It is after all your Ancestor buried within, and therefore there's really no means or worry if getting to him, the tomb is sealed, why worry of getting inside ? Its not what we're here for" Kalda said, as much as Mark didnt want to think on it, Kalda was right, he wasnt there to seek riches of his ancestors, he was there to meditate.
Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Kalda walking towards something before disappearing, Mark headed that way and soon found himself in a circular room; in the center of it was a statue of white marble edged with silver and hints of blue but carefully kept. Staring at it Mark saw it was the spitting image of Kalda himself. The name was even there. "In memoram of our friend Kaldakava" Mark read.
For long moments Mark stood and stared, taking in every detail on Kalda's face as Kalda manefested right there next to Mark, "It looks good enough I suppose." He pointed at the left hand "Even got my ring design right too! Armor looks great considering not many ever saw me wearing it and lived to tell about it..." Kalda mused taking in his own statue as Mark stood there.
"Ring ?"
Kalda pointed to the left hand again, "Before my death I was married, a lovely lady, you saw her briefly, Xeir Zith. We were married only ten days before my death. If my statue still has my ring..." Kalda stepped up to it, but no it was carved of white stone, the wearabouts of Kaldas ring only Diamond and Light knew. Very briefly as Mark looked around the room seeing the well kept tapistries on the walls. Kalda continued speaking as Mark found a scene from a bar, Kalda, two women, and several patrons in a bar fight "Ahh, yes... the Mended Trumpet Inn... Fun times, looking back on it...so long ago."
Mark pointed to one of the two women; her back was to him in the tapistry yet it was the same stature of the woman in his sisters room during his vision "She looks familar." he tapped on the womans back. It was Diamond. Kalda looked hard at the woman in the tapistry but couldnt recognise her for a brief moment until Mark found another picture, the wedding day, two women side by side, Mark could barely make out both womens features but one of them looked like how he envisonoed his sister at times to look, at least, aside from the pearlwhite and silver scales and the beautiful diamond scale at the base of her neck just above her breasts.
Kalda nodded "Ah, Diamond, yes I remember, she was Xeir Ziths sister, younger by about seven hundred years, but still sisters. We dragons could live a long time if allowed to do so. The last time I remember seeing her was... Well, the wedding, I think, perhaps once after before I..." his voice trailed off, but Mark understood what he meant. Diamonds face was not detailed, but it was clear of the name, that diamond seemed to glitter with light
In contrast to Diamond's either intentionally or unintentionally blurred face, Xeir Ziths face was in sharp detail, the angle of the tapistry was as if she was looking at the statue and the statue to her. silver glittered on her ringfinger of her left hand.
"Xeir Zith, I assume?"
"Correct...you even pronounced her name correctly...well done" Draconian was extremely hard to speak; as if someone was scratching out the inside of one's throat while speaking it. For Mark to have picked up the pronounciation so quickly meant his bond with Kalda was growing each second he conversed with him. Mark's vision blurred for a second and he squinted them shut before opening them again slowly, a pained look on his face as he looked back to the statue. It looked...so similar to Elsa's face and body-type. The only thing different was the height...Xeir's statue was at least a couple of feet taller than he was, and the vision of Kalda was the same height as the statue.
"Were you always so tall as a human?"
"No...not normally. We weren't that much different...I suppose your ancestors wished to make her seem larger than life...they wouldn't be too far off." Kalda said with a soft chuckle. Xeir Zith's natural form was huge to put it in descriptive terms
For a long period there was quiet, finally Mark asked "How?"
"How ... what ?"
"Your marriage, How did it end ?"
"That..." Kalda seemed to falter... He couldnt fully remember. execept for an explosion and the last thing he saw was a serevely burned woman dressed in black and dark silver. "Is a very good question" When he did not speak further Mark noticed he was staring at the tapistry of him and Xeir Zith. two silver dragons entwined with each other in love. Mark could have sworn he saw a single tear trail down Kalda's face over a faint scar
Arendelle
Yaen District
at that same moment
As the Templar Captain's headless body sank to its knees then fell over with a sloppy thud to the cold pavement of the road within the District. There was still fighting going on. Even though their more experienced Sister was tired, it was clear as she had been fighting the guy for twenty straight minutes, long enough to make anyone tired. One offered a place to rest and recover her strength, but at Marions stern shake of her head the large group of recruits fanned out into pairs to hunt out the rest of the Templars in the district to thin their numbers
In the next intersection there was a fight to be had, townspeople were cheering apparently. When Marion got closer she saw why. Princess Anna was in a fistfight with another Templar, several others were on the ground in heaps but still alive. It was then Marion saw it. Something glittered in the mans hand, Anna knew what it was, it resonated something, an energy unlike any other weapon. She ducked his fist, quickly using the massive mans weight against him she tripped him and sent him sprawling, thanks to training with the Twins, the sisters of Mark Wolfe, Anna had become skilled in hand to hand combat. Going so far as to using brass knuckles when training with Marks sisters
And this guy had a pair she wanted. Swiftly trading blows with the man she broke his arm, the man screamed and passed out when she socked him in the forehead hard enough to knock a man out. "Oy!" She said pulling the Brass Knuckles free of the mans hand as he came to, She slid it on her right hand. "My brass knuckles!" She slugged the guy, knocking him out as he looked at her drunk on pain. the man slid to the icy pavement, his nose missing from his face
It was then as the crowd dispersed Tiri and Chairty had also arrived on the scene. Flares went up elsewhere in the district as Templars were either routed or drivien from the district. Seeing the man fall to the pavement only meant one thing, trading looks Charity smiled "Just in time." She said simply, her face covered by a scarf similar to Marions own.
Tiri went right up to the outcold Templar and went through his pockets as Anna held her injured hand, the one without the brass knuckles on it, her knuckles had been skinned raw. "Nice shot, I think you got him" Tiri said.
Marion approached, fixing her scarf a bit before looking to Anna's injured hand. "Looks like you've had some fun..." she said, drawing out a sort of spray bottle from one of her pockets. It was disinfectant and she held out her hand to the Princess. "This may sting a bit, but it'll clean your knuckles. Last thing the Kingdom needs is you getting horribly ill." she said with a soothing tone as she applied the disinfectant to Anna's knuckles and the surrounding skin before snatching some bandage tape from a passing recruit's pouch and beginning to wrap her hand tightly, but gently as well.
"I've always heard you could kill a man with a punch...didn't think it'd be you who'd show me that the saying was right though." she said calmly, a smile behind her scarf at her jest.
Anna smiled, but hissed slightly when the spray hit her raw knuckles, she nodded as well however. "Thank you. And you're welcome" It was those words that made even Charity smile behind her own scarf. the fact that Anna was in a thin cloak yet her normal daily clothing, she was not the least bit phased by the cold much like her sister she'd gotten used to it. "I was following Olaf, trying to find Serenity or Serena about that thing he was hugging. Then he got away"
"To be expected. Technology like that tends to get away when you least expect it" Tiri mused thoughtfully remembering the RC truck darting from the ship. She herself had chased it onto the ship to begin with.
"Either way you defend yourself well." Charity mused aloud with a slight bow towards Anna. She had been there when the Princess was born, after all she was requested by the Queen. Bodyguard and all that. But that was then, this was now. Charity forced herself to focus on the present. it wasnt easy.
"Thank you" Anna said, giving a confused look towards Chalice, the owner of the Brothel apparently, normally Anna thought such owners lived within their buildings and never left, like how her parents had done when she grew up, they rarely left the castle. And when they did it was only for brief moments to get to or from a carraige.
Tiri stood back up then looking upwards as a bright white flare shot into the sky, the District was clear. "So" She mused thoughtfully, "Who's gonna climb the tower and light the fire ?"
There was a moment of silence before Marion snatched a lighter from another passing recruit and flicked it open to light the flame and then close it. "You should. Show the people that their princess is capable of taking on the people who opress them and win." She said calmly to Anna. Plus, it'd be a good climbing/free-running lesson for Anna, who would need to learn quickly if she wanted to continue to help, or ever catch up to that RC car.
"Me ?" Anna asked confused "But I was looking for you or Serena or Serenity, someone really, Elsa and Georgina are somewhere in the Castle I cant find them anywhere" the princess explained they'd gone back to the Castle and when she stopped to talk to Kai her sister had disappeared with georgina somewhere. "So when I couildnt find Elsa or Georgina I figured to look for you or one of the twins, but I cant even find Snowfeather"
Through out the verbal tennis Tiri watched with an amused expression on her face. She remembered briefly a time when something similar had happened between Charity and Marion back in London when Marion stole her first car so skillfully at the time. Who knew a seventeen year old could drive that well and never gotten behind the wheel of a car before.
"I have an idea" Charity at last spoke up after Anna explained herself, sure the Princess could easily geto t the roof of the Castle without a problem, heck she'd even used the castle as a sled hill on occasions. When the two women looked to her she said simply "Why dont the two of you light it ? there may be more Templars inside once you light it and there may even be a few atop it defending the fire barrels up there as well."
Of course when the thought of both Anna and Diana were to go up the outside of the twoer was mentioned Tiri giot to work setting up something, it ended up being a mortar of a sort. using some ice she crafted the base of the thing then when she spotted a Templar looking down at them she said simply "Fire in the hole!" And launched a killer snowball straight at the guy a good hundred meters into the air
That alone drew all four pairs of eyes to her. With a raised eyebrow Anna stared as Marion spoke "Is that a 105 ?" Tiri nodded.
"I'll cover you from here, get going ladies!" Tiri fired off another snowball, this one slamming into a window and sending the guy behind it tumbling off his perched down the tower's core
Anna was about to ask where Tiri, or in this case Chalice, had come up with such a construct, it looked like one of the firing systems for the fireworks barges. which it partly was as the Yaen district bordered the Fjord directly as Diana grabbed her and the two scampered off towards the nearby row of buildings and when Diana darted up the wall effortlessly, Anna watched. "You coming ?" Marion asked from the three story rooftop.
"I dont think so" Anna replied
"Dont think, just do, come on!" Marion called down.
"Dont think, just do ? What ?".Anna mumbled looking about, finding a path upwards she took it and soon both women were at the top. a good hundred meters into the air, it was like the clock tower actually, but not as high up. Seeing the view from above was one thing, but then again what Diana was doing took her attention as Marion lit the lighter, then used it to light up a torch. Marion then stepped out onto a beam as a eagle flew off it. "What are you doing ?"
"Lighting the tower, what's it look like I'm doing ?" Marion replied
"Well, you have a lit torch in one hand and you're impecably balanced on a beam sticking out over... nothing whatsoever." Anna said simply
Marion smiled, "Watch and learn" She said as she tossed the lit torch onto the pile of hay and fire barrels, she then turned around and swan dove off the beam, heading towards the ground she flip onto her back into a large haystack on a nearby roof. Anna saw Marion easily hop out and step aside. Well, one way to learn was to do it herself, doing the exact same motions Anna too dove off the roof in her first Leap of Faith, a few moments later and both women were back with Tiri and Charity, whom Anna was introduced as Sile, Charity;'s fake name. and apparently the business partner of Chalice
Inside the den wasnt much better as Marion entered with her key she had pilfered off the now dead and headless Templar, which as well bcome apparent soon quite common with her on the warpath to liberate dens. Marion motinoed for quiet as she and Anna went to a door, on the other side were two lower ranked Templars, rookies, literally. "What's that noise ?" said one
"Just the sound of you being an idiot" said his fellow
"Oh, right," Replied the first to speak, "limp biscuit"
"What's that supposed to mean ?" came the question
"Nothing it just needed to be said asshole"
"Shutup bluetard" Everyone called the Rookie on the den Bluetard because of his hair color of choise bring a neon blue. which stood out like a smurf in the Saraha Desert
Marion and Anna struggled to stay quiet as the two men started fighting each other, with luck Marion mused, these jerks could kill each other and leave them out of it. that was exactly the case as was apparent when two solid thuds were heard and Marion opened the door, Anna promptly turned around and threw up into a trashcan at the sight. A few moments later and the Assassins began cleaning out what the Templars left
Arendelle
Wolfe District
Twenty minutes later
Broken Arm Tavern
Arm Wolfe's tavern was full of business that day, the earlier morning fight was but a dim memory, daily there were fights happening at all hours there anyhow. But was unexpected was for a young woman, her face covered, to enter the tavern. A young man was behind the bar at the moment as the owner was busy in the upstairs eating area. The pale black eyes looked Diana over carefully as men leered in her direction. "Oy, leave her be ey!" the barkeeper grumbled at the men and waved off a few of them. Some of the men grumbled. There was something about how the woman had two hilts at her hip without blades visible that made him wonder where he'd seen such a thing before.
Where had he seen such a thing before ? The bar keeper stank of alchol as Diana stepped up to the counter and the guy leaned on it "What can I get for you madam ?" the drunken keeper asked. The sheer scent of alchol could send a man to the floor just by inhaling, yet Marion worked in such places back in London with stronger stouter stuff and didnt get phased in the slightest by the sheer strength of the alcohol on the breath of the young Shadowblack.
"Up here" A familar voice said from above where Marion stood at the bar, Charity had picked a low table and sat at it. Arm had influence thanks to a certain Chinese assassin in order to have different table types. not that it mattered the two floor tavern common room area had a buncha folk in it. But for now it was calm. For the moment. Arm was also seated at the low table. He seemed curious to why his sister was back in town after twenty years, and the fact his niece was there too. He made a note to have anything for Marion, or for her mother, and also Mark, and especially the Queen and Princess, their meals on the house
Marion narrowed her eyes and nodded in dismissal to the barkeep before turning to her mother's voice and approaching her calmly. "I-is...is this...Uncle Arm?" She said in a low voice, an uneasy excitement in her tone and spreading across her body language as she sat and leaned against the table.
Charity nodded, but it was Arm that spoke, "Aye, that it is. And who be this lovely waif covering her face in a lovely scarf ?" Arm had a look of humor, yet his eyes said more to him then met the eye was clearly apparent. "I was truly not expecting either of you, let alone Mark himself, to pay me a visit not six hours ago." Arm said
Charity turned to her brother. "Mark was here ?"
Arm nodded "Yes, the Queen was with him, though she dont hold her alcohol as well as Mark does." apparently nobody clued Arm in that Elsa was too much of a lightweight the barkeeper alone could knock her out slam drunk.
Charity however saw something of pain in her daughters eyes, "What is it ?" It was the pain of memories.
Marion shook her head. "I...just remembering the last time I saw my Uncle...not exactly happy circumstances." she said calmly. She sighed but then looked to her uncle. "What is my brother up to? Any ideas?" Of course by now no one knew what Mark was completely up to; perhaps not even Mark himself anymore, but it would be best to try and get a lead on his whereabouts.
"From what I understand it is more of what the Queen is up to, I happened to mention her mother, Queen Idun paying me a visit after the two of you had." Arm replied, he detailed the brief meeting word for word before it got interrupted by Templars. "Those men were apparently sent to follow the Queen, next thing I know after leading them to the kitchen, they leave, havent seen either of them since" Arm said he snickered. "I can remember a time just before that, maybe the same day. I figured it'd be the next day when your brother came back for more. Nearly lost a tooth in that fight I recall before you two had to jump out that window" Arm jerked a thumb towards the aforementioned window, which had since long been repaired.
Charity, at mention of the jumping out the window, raised an eyebrow, what ? She nodded however at mention of the not so happy circumstances concerning the last time Marion had seen Arm. "care to talk about it ?" Marion was normally calm when it came to the past, not trying to put it off, Using her anger and sadness of the loss of her home and the seeming loss -at the time she was three- of her beloved brother. So rather then let her anger and sadness control her, she used it as fuel to keep her focused. But there was the question of what her brother was up to.
"I havent seen either of them since the brief fight we had here six hours ago. Last I knew they were looking for a journal of a sort. At least the Queen was looking for it, something tells me Mark is looking for something too, but what I dunno, couldnt tell honestly." Arm mused thoughtfully as he flipped a bowl over and poured a bit of wine into it for Marion.
Marion listened intently while slowly removing the scarf around her face, fair, untarnished skin revealed to the world for the first time in broad daylight since she arrived to Arendelle again. She took a drink of the wine and smiled at its texture as it slid down her throat. "Mark doesn't know what he's looking for half the time...it's remarkable he finds anything at all. But then, he is officially Clan Leader...I suppose his genes wouldn't have unlocked if he wasn't worthy..." she said calmly. She'd done her own research it seemed into the Wolfe Clan and its deeper goings on. She always knew more than she let on.
"But that was six hours ago; knowing how fast Mark moves when he wants something, Elsa's undoubtedly found whatever she was looking for and then some, and Mark...is probably half way across the kingdom by now since the last time I saw him..." which was not too long ago.
"Yes" Arm replied thoughtfully with a nod, "people have been speaking of a new vessel docking at the Port district not moments ago. Some say Queen Idun herself returned with it but was never seen ?"
"A ship ?" Charity said softly. She remembered a ship, well, the deckplans, the design, the need for such a massive warship. But where it was hidden was long lost, not even the Templars were able to find it! She cast a glance towards her daughter. "Tell me you found it ? Or at least something to do with its arrival ?" Little did she know that her daughter was at the helm of the massive ship.
Marion nodded. "The Whitesparrow." she sipped her wine again. "We found it...sailed it from the vault beneath the palace...it's at the main harbor now if you wish to see her." she said calmly, looking to her mother. "That was only...hmm, an hour or two max ago." she added.
Charity smiled and then removed her own scarf even though her face was uncovered already. "tThen why the pain ?" She asked, "your eyes show pain, as if something you saw made you remebmer the past and because of it it pained you. What exactly did you remember aside from seeing your Uncle Arm ?" Of cours she was not exepecting to be told or hearing about jumping out a window. "And when did you jump out a window anyhow ?" She remember the two scampering off earlier that day. Never really worrying actually, Arendelle by that point was a safe kingdom. But all that changed with the attack on the Manor.
But a new thought entered her mind and it apparently entered Arms mind at the same time. "Do you remember the last thing you said to your father ?"
Marion gulped down another mouthful of wine, averting her eyes now. "It was a blur of a day when we left. Everything I knew was burned in front of me. Why wouldn't I be in pain when Arm here was the last thing I saw before I left?" She asked, her tone stinging a bit before she realized her tone, and blinked; the lack of a disciplining smack from her father surprising her. Since the last time she used that tone was...all the way back then.
She looked to her uncle and shook her head. "No, I don't remember what I said to him...like I said, it was all a blur."
Charity nodded, but it was again Arm who spoke up. "The last time I saw Marcus was... oh... I dont exactly remember." Truth was he saw a guy looking a lot like Marcus, but wasnt solidly sure it was him only moments before Marion showed up in his tavern. "But I know it was before the fire, before you guys came and I took you to safety." Though it was clear the last thing marion had seen wasnt just Arm, it was Arendelle as a whole, off the stern of a ship.
"Either way, you had to face pain, but there is also questions behind that look. and tone" Sure Marion was an adult, and Charity was her mother, but Charity never had to slap Marion when the young woman was growing up in London. Mostly out of love, but she did dicipline her daughter at times. "I remember asking your brother at dinner why he looked... drunk. But, instead of answering me, he looked at you." Hey, Marion was three mark was eight, Mark couldnt hold his alcohol back then any better then Elsa did only six hours ago.
Charity smiled and shook her head, "it does not matter right now. Point of the matter is simple, there is pain and questions evident in your eyes, and we got through the pain, but its still there. I know its hard lying to Mark, but soon you can tell him, we both will. But until then, he cant know either of us are here." She went throughtfully quiet as Arm got up to get another keg of wine from a nearby stack of clay pots filled with the stuff of various flavors. Finally Charity spoke again. "You liberated a Den I hear, and you look winded. That normally never happens. Too many guards, or a few skilled ones ?"
"One Skilled one...the Captain. Twenty straight minutes I fought him till his swords shattered and I beheaded him." she said, wanting to move past the look of pain and all the lies. Marion poured herself more wine and drank. "He must have been on something to keep up with me for that long, but I got him. Mark would say I need more training...and he'd be right. The more I think about it...he's just like Papa used to be." she smiled. Though what she could remember of her father was very little, Mark fit the bill so closely; no wonder indeed he was Clan Leader by birthright.
She sighed, and drank more wine before ordering some meats.
Arm brought back another clay keg of wine as the meats, some cheeses, and a few breads were brought to the table by a waiter. "Mark seems focused on something, that is certain, he even warned me to not try ot lie, he can see things. I think he's got the sight and abilities like the histories had some of the clan having. Though I'm not sure of the age thing. Mark at twelve hundred years old ? Nah, dont wanna think about it." He tapped his index and ring fingers into the tight waxpaper tied atop the clay keg and opened the seal. "The way I look at it," he continued as he poured three more bowls of wine "Mark has the look of am an determined to find something. Be it a vault, or knowledge, or an item. He'll find it."
Charity however went quietly thoughtful as Marion detailed the fight with the templar Captain a few districts away in the Yaen District. Finally she nodded. "In London there was a drug that you hijacked twice but never used. its street term was speed, methanphetamines. Designed to enhance relfexes and slightly enhance endurance. Being that these templars are now armed with weaponry we dealt with in London, thankfully nothing hardlight, yet. We cant rule out the possible access to drugs. the last thing we want is Abstergo to be given their men the stuff here in Arendelle."
That did it then, if the Templar Captains were using drugs to keep up with Marion in speed alone, that spelled lots of trouble. So they werent just looking for lost british gold bound for Sweden, they were also looking for another type of gold, a crystal powder gold. Speed by its street term. And if Templars were using it. Not even her iDuradaeden/i Piece of Eden designed swords and already well learned and trained speed wouldnt be enough to take down a Templar Captain on her own.
Marion grumbled to herself softly. "He's been trying to figure out who I am under my mask. I can see it in his eyes whenever he looks at me. Somehow he hasn't been able to...based on what I can sense coming from his body while he looks around, he should be able to see through just about anything barring a few feet of lead." she said. And Mark had control too... which urked her. He'd improved so much upon living with Snowfeather and Blackmane for his adolescence, and it scared her a little.
"Speed, huh? Heard that stuff will rot your body from the inside out. I seen some of the addicts I stole it from; they weren't pretty." she said simply, pausing for a moment to shudder before eating a piece of cheese.
Arm took the empty clay keg to the windowsil, whiel standing there and washing the thing out he watched the street below and saw a friend not far off. Well this was going to be a rather eventful evening. the person he saw carried a staff of a sort, it looked nice, not exactly something ornate, yet something worth using to walk around with. But it didnt matter, almost as soon as he saw the person with the staff said person disappeared into a shop just a building or two over.
"Didnt Tiri say that her mothers magic kept Mark from seeing who you truly are ?" Charity mused, at her daughters nod she too nodded. "whatever magic Tiri's mother used to protect you also might protect me. But even then I have natural barriers in place if Mark tries, but I dont know if they may work or not." Charity made to stand. "Get some rest, eat, and relax, you're in good company here, Arm will ensure you arent disturbed by anyone unless truly important. Ok ? I'm going to go to the port and shipping docks and get ship manifests to go through, if any ship is carrying drugs we can start locating the dealers and where the shipments come in." She gave her daughter a gentle kiss on the forehead as she passed her and headed down the stairs. putting her scarf on as she did so. Not many people used the transport skills unless in private. Out in public it'd cause a unwanted scene.
half hour later
The doors open to the bar once again only seconds after Charity left, and in, of all people, walked the Princess of Arendelle, why in the world would she go there ? This tavern, like Roughwater, was dangerous, and also slightly more reputed to be disreputable. But then nobody dare try to rob, or hurt the Princess, after all most of the men saw her right hand wrapped in bandages, and her left hand kittered with silver and brass of brass knuckles. the Princess of Arendelle was armed, and ready to fight, yet she carried a staff, and didnt know how to use it one bit. She spotted Diana up the stairs at a table, Diana saw her and waved her up to join her. Anna did just that. the tavern had two sets of stairs, two over the door, and two towards the back, all leading to the second floor.
"I thought I'd find you here" Anna said, she saw that Diana was eating some meats, and had a light wine, but nothing to get drunk on. "Eating so soon ? I find it strange that you can kill a man, or find a dead body, and be able to eat afterwards. How is that possible ? Does that come with being an Assassin ?" Anna asked.
Marion nodded to Anna's question. "Indeed. Once you've killed enough people and seen enough...you get used to it. Learn to tune it out. Kind of like how you've learned to tune out magic by now." she said, offering Anna an untouched bowl of food. "You need to eat anyway; as physical as you are, you'll need protein." She smiled.
She looked to the staff and raised her eyebrow. "What's this?" she asked.
Anna nodded and sat at table, the staff she laid next to them to Marion's left. "Walking stick." Anna said around a mouthful of chicken. "The den we liberated, insdie one of the closests was just walking sticks. I wen through them, I liked this one, dunno why it just felt right." But why had she found it ? "After I found you gone, I wanted to show it to you when I found it. I had to go looking for you, most of the Recruits directed me to the Manor but nobody there had seen you or knew what you look like so I came this way when one recruit reported seeing you ewnter one of these shops". thankfully Anna could hold her alcohol bette then Elsa by a whole lot.
"Why ?" Anna asked then after taking a sip of wine
"I think its a Piece of Eden, it looks really nice." Diana said
"Its just a walking stick, feels alright I guess, but if you say so" Apparently Anna didnt recognise it as a Piece, just an ornate staff.
"So you found a Staff of Eden huh" Diana asked Anna as they ate at a rather nice tavern owned by Marions own uncle Arm in a rather oriential part of the Kingdom.
"What this ?" Princess Anna pointed to the orante gold staff "I came across it in that den we liberated as I mentioned. After you left the den I stayed to help clean it up when this fell out of a old safe at my feet, so to speak"
"Even so, its old, and it is a Piece of Eden too, I've seen pictures of similar Pieces just like it, those guys might want it." Diana replied; her gaze was taken by a squad of Templars that arrived.
Anna noticed the men enter as well. "Great, what are we gonna do ?"
"How're your sword skills ?" Diana asked
"What ?" Anna gave her a confused look
"Ah, she who speaks, does not know, she who knows, does not speak, surely you're masterful, let me" Diana stood from the low seat and went to the soldiers
"Where did you get that weapon ?" The leader asked while pointing towards Anna and the Piece of Eden
"Its a fake" Diana lied shaking her head after looking at the thing. "You can find anything these days in the traders market districts" she said
"Out of way crazy woman" the Templar said shoving Diana aside as the group went to Anna the lead Templar held out a hand saying "Hand it over" when Anna didnt at first the man then said "Hand over the weapon, or die"
Anna raised an eyebrow and looked towards Diana, who sublty nodded. Anna tossed the Piece to Marion, and the mother of all bar fights ensued as Marion threw the remains of a loaf of bread at the closest soldier before spitting most of the wine she'd drunk in his face and catching the staff Anna threw to her. Easily blocking and defending both her and Anna with the staff of eden Marion kicked one Templar in one direction, then used her foot to flip the now cleared of dishes table up at another, breaking it on the guy. Then she grabbed up her scarf and motioned Anna to run for it.
Anna went to the nearby stairs and stopped as a group of Templars spotted them and started up, Marion bumped into her and Anna almost spilled onto the oncoming Templars, Thankfully Marion managed to grab Anna by the cloak and pull her back onto her feet as a group of four templars ganged up and Marion had to do some fancy footwork.
Which however still lead to Anna going over the low railing as the four templars tried to stab at Marions stomache and as she used the staff to block and also dodge backwards out of reach, her movement caused Anna to go over the rail, thankfully Anna managed to grab the edge just in time, but it was still a good four meter or so drop to the lower level. Sadly Marion didnt notice her newfound friend going over the side until after she had sent the four Templars flying into another table in a heap of arms and legs before looking around for Anna and quickly putting her scarf back on as she did so.
She found her dangling by the fingers from the ledge. "Diana, help!" Anna called up, Marion reached a hand down, but dove over the rail to the lower level as more Templars closed in on her. Better to fight in a more open area then in a narrow ledge. no telling if there'd be another Templar on speed or not. Anna unfortunately let go and started to fall. Marion dove forwards as Anna landed on her, sending them both to the floor in a heap. "Ah thank you!" Anna said, before Diana could say anything however a Templar came running at them.
"Sorry!" Diana said simply to Anna, who looked at her confused as Marion used the staff to launch Anna at the Templar, the Princess slammed into the Templar and the guy behind him as Marion got to her feet and using the staff, fought off a few attacks as Anna got back to her feet. Easily catching and sending backwards a Templar sword Diana said to Anna "Protect yourself!" And handed her the staff.
Anna stared, she didnt know how to staff fight! "What ?"
Diana was about to reply when a templar was swinging at Anna from behind, with a sudden "Yike!' Marion pulled Anna from danger and smacked the Templar dead in the face with a closed fist, sending the man flying to the floor in a heap. then she went full on bar brawl right then and there. Marion vs a dozen or so Templars, and also Anna vs about half that number at best.
As she went towards one Templar another grabbed her arm, pulling Marion backwards, Leaning backwards she kicked first one, then pushed off the Templar that held her, kicked another, then spoun about and slugged dead in the face the guy that tried to pull her backwards, with a brief intake of breath Marion was tackled and all but pushed into the bar, wherein the Barkeeper slammed a empty bottle on one of the mens head. Shattering it {the bottle} as the man sank to the floor as Marion rolled onto her front as another Templar tried to bodyslam her into the thing.
Anna, who was not accustomed to fighting with a staff of any kind, was taking wild swings and screaming at three different Templars as marion backed up to a post and sidestepped a Templar, the man went flying as she used the mans weight and speed to his disadvantage and sent him smashing into a table. A chair broke on her back, knocking her against the post. She kicked at the offending item before grabbing the pair of antlers off the post and using the things to defend herself in a rather comical fashion as the barkeep once again drew from the tap another beer for himself and enjoyed the show.
Spinning ther antlers in her hands Marion easily defended herself and attacked her enemies, driving many back and blocking almost all their strikes. Of the three dozen templars sent to find them and take them down or prisoner, all of them were injured somehow, but they kept getting right back up and fighting more. Marion felt herself start to tire, but not as much as she feared, as she found a renewed burst of energy as Anna whacked her first in the side, causing Marion to chuck the antlers at a pair of templars, both men hit the floorboards gored through the chest by the thing as Anna swung over her head and whacked Marion in the top of the head with the Staff of Eden
As Marion was struck a third time by Anna she caught the staff, Anna turned to her confused as Marion pointed at the Templars ready to charge them "Ayee" Marion grunted, then, with Anna also holding onto the staff Marion went into a skillful almost surgical frenzy with the staff. As a Templar tried to strike from behind she backtracked the staff and nailed the man in the side, sending him to the floor in a heap. When two more came at them Marion grabbed the staff and with Anna still holding one end of it had the Princess slam ontop of the two Templars, all three landed in a heap as Anna rolled off the pile as Marion skillfully used the staff and her feet and hands to get a few more templars to back up. Finally Marion used the staff and sent Anna sliding along the floor, like dominos the Templars collapsed as Anna slid under their feet up against the bar as Marion easily dispatched two more groups and finally sent three Templars flying out the back window.
Stabbing the staff into the floor next to her Marion leaned on it almost drunklike and looked about, No more Templars stood or wanted to face her it seemed. "Anyone else ?" She asked simply, the last two Templars who had gotten tro their feet simply broke their swords and fled with their comrades as Marion smirked.
Well that was that.
As she went to help Anna to her feet Marion failed to notice one of the patrons to the tavern still sat at her table, the purple dressed woman simply observed what was going on with a calm demanour and none fo the Templars seemed to care about her much. Pink eyesd ringed in purple simply observed everything carefully, taking in every movement the woman with the staff used. And recognised it movement for movement
The woman smiled and sipped her wine, Diamond was back it seemed; the The woman watched as Marion went to the Princess and helped the other woman to her feet as the owner of the tavern came out and began tossing the offending Templars out on their asses into the street as the two women left; soon finishing her meal the woman left without a word however she left a tip for the tavern owner
Arendelle Port
Aboard the Terracotta
Stateroom 7340
The room was darkened as the winders were covered, lit only by a asingle computer screen as information was typed onto it to find things. Fingers flew over the holographic keypad with ease and information sought was soon revealed. Within seconds of sending in the information requests, Georgina's picture was quickly plastered on the holographic screen. Highlighting a name. "I thought I knew you from somewhere... Princess Yei Jia Jia, missing presumed dead, Large reward is offered for information of your whereabouts..." Car Key smiled. It was force of habit alone that made her look up where she had seen Georgina before.
Now she knew. But what she did not know was why Princess Yei Jia Jia had fled China in the first place