Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 12
Memory 1: A Snowflake Within a Snowflake part 8
1 October 2055
Arendelle
Marketplace District
Elisar Den
Noon
"Are you unhappy that you returned ?"
"Part of me is, But the other part of me, that part is overjoyed"
-Mark and Snowfeather concerning Marks return to Arendelle
The hellish week was over, Mark had since learned many new things, namely, how not to piss off his cousin, and his aunt. But he also learned something else. How to hunt like a cat. Which is what Asami mostly taught him, unintentionally most of their time together. It was Blackmanes way of Karma really. When Asami was born, she was a handful as a Kitten and was almost always given to Mark to care for as part of time outs. Of course at which time Mark was a teenager by that point. Karma was fun in a way. Because it was Asami who had to care for Mark.
But it wasnt out of spite that Blackmane did the whole timeout to begin with the week before. Mark had interrupted her and Martin, and didnt say thank you for her gift, but grilled her on why she gave it to him. To which he screwed up really badly and ended up being given some Karma training through Asami. Though being a Snow Leopard baby wasnt all bad... at least his sister Serena understood him and didnt gush over him being so adorable
But for now he was back to being human and was seated in the front room of the house his mother used for their den. When he wasnt in the castle library, somehow Serena snuck him there as a Snow Leopard cub to find out more of what he could of the Star Council, which was nil if anything at all. No real mentions or books on them, only scant informational pieces and bits at best. At that moment however he was going through Diadems journal. Some of the bits of wisdom and random symbols were around Arendelle, some of which stated block numbers, building sites, and street locations. Someone with the Sight, as Diadem labled it Dragon Vision, which Mark had, could find the locations of each piece of wisdom and put together a much larger puzzle.
The question was, what puzzle ?
Snowfeather broke into his train of thought. "Asami mentioned you learned how to hunt better as a Snow Leopard cub. Blackmane said you also treated her not so well at certain points." Snowfeather had a stern tone to her voice. It was true, the first two days were hard for both Mark and Asami. And Mark wasnt too fond of it, but in hindsight, he did treat his cousin really poorly, that was an understantment. The minute Mark was his old self, Asami locked herself in her room with Kaedriean to get healed up properly. and Mark hadnt apologised to her for it either.
"Would you treat someone well if you were basically held captive in a form you're unfamiliar with and not wanting to be in ?" He asked in return. Mark was NOT a very happy Snow Leopard Cub to say the least, nor was he a gracious subject for babysitting. He rested his ankle on his knee and leaned back into his seat. He looked up at his mother, there was a small bit of annoyance in his eyes, but he reigned it in, his expression thankfully remained neutral.
"It was your own fault. Blackie tried to do what was best for you. And instead of thanking her, what did you do ? Blame her for your lack of control. And in return for that, you clawed Asami, and she learned that she could bleed in places she wasnt aware of." Snowfeather said taking a seat across from him. Looking directly at her son. Her own tone even and stern. "I think you should apologise to your cousin, she wont talk to anyone, not even her own mother. The only person that has seen her since we return to Arendelle, was just you. The only other person is the Healer. And when the healer left her, well. The healer was not the best of appearances, could have been arrested for public indecency thanks to taking on Asami's injuiries you gave her."
"Infact I know where Asami is right now here in Arendelle. You should go, find her, and apologise for your actions. Those first two nights, you were hell to care for but she took your punishment gracefully without complaint." Snowfeather raised a hand when he was about to speak. "Yes, she took you to see me on the bridge with Elsa there. That may have been worse however if Anna was present, but thanks to Elsa insisting, Anna never saw you as a Snow Leopard Cub" Oh if she had Mark would never live it down.
"Asami wont speak to anyone in the family, but the guards watching her said she was on High Street, in the Kreen District, She seemed focused on something there and never saw the guards watching her." Snowfeather sighed. "I want you to go and apologise to her, try and find out if you can get her back to her old self. Blackmane is worried and Jade is upset."
She gave her son a look, "Can you do that ?" It wasnt just any look that Snowfeather gave him, it made Mark nervous, he looked away from her for a long moment of quiet before he nodded at her question. "Good, she's in the Kreen District, good luck" Mark simply tried not to smirk at her notion of good luck, but then he did claw the shit out of his cousin on the way home from Catfishtown.
However as he walked to meet up with his cousin in the Kreen District he found himself opening up Diadems ancient journal and reading a page of it "Its not often I get asked why I wander the kingdom, mother didnt bother to ask, but Pax did. But I told her I was trying to figure out something and I'd tell her later. I figured out hwoever that those with the Dragon Sight, like me, can find the symbols I've written in my journal. The fact that nobody has bothered to act on them confuses me greatly. WHat do they lead to ?"
Mark closed the book at that point and saw his cousin, she was standing in the dead center of High Street as Snowfeather had said, and she didnt care of she was causing traffic to stop. with a body like hers, yeah that was possible. But she was looking at the second or third levels of a massive structure as Mark stepped up next to her. "Been here long ?" He asked her
"Long enough, I am glad mother had some soldiers nearby, I sent them to find you." Asami replied, she pointed at the massive gothic cathedral of someone called St Kreen. "Look half way up the south tower on the left and tell me if you see it too" She said to him.
Mark did so, "I dont see anything" He said after a minute.
"Try again" Asami said, her tone said it all, he had to look with the Sight.
Mark nodded and his vision shifted. Then he saw it. A bright light of a strange string of symbols not far from the midpoint and close to the ground of the south tower of the twin towered cathedral. "There. Looks like a symbol of some kind" He said. His vision went back to normal and he could still see it.
"Good, so I'm not the only one. Up for some climbing or do you want to risk turning into a leopard on the way up ?" Asami said, Mark gave her a dirty look, she looked at him, For once he saw her as she really was, a beautiful young woman, his cousin by adoption. She had a soft smile on her face, nothing like her normal impish expressions "I dont blame you for what happened on the way home last week. Its your own fault, but it might also be that you did learn a few things."
"Yeah, dont piss off Aunt Blackie, or Uncle Martin at the same time" Mark replied softly. It was true, he had gone in when they were about to go at it in bed. So it was kinda his fault timing wise. Finally Mark turned to his cousin and got his brain and mouth to agree and said "Look, about what happened last week, you kitten sitting me and all. I... I wanted to apologise for it. I wasn't the best to kitten sit"
Asami smirked, looking back at him she said as her smile returned. "Mother used to have said that I was similar to your antics when I was a kitten, giving you and the others and even my own brothers absolute hell, I guess we're even now ?" Was she forgiving him for his antics, his clawing her up so bad that the healer needed a healer ? Yeah, something like that.
"I'd say so" Mark replied, he looked back up at the tower. for an industrial destrict, the Kreen District was oddly not cloudly or gloomy, sure it was heavily gothic in structure, but it was clean and well kept. and no hints of smog in the air either. "Can't say I've been in here a lot even as a kid" He mused.
"Eyes on the prize dear cousin" Asami said using her slender hand to jerk her cousins head towards the cathedral tower where the light glittered from the most. "We need to find whats up there. And quickly. Come on" She lead the way towards the cathedral. The two moved through the packed streets and once crossing the threshold into the Kreen District the crowds took on a noticably more gothical appearance to their glothing and manners.
Nearing the cathedral gates the two halted. Asami spoke briefly with the gate guard that they wished to enter the grounds. The man regarded them both with an air of contempt, but recognised Mark. But even then he spoke. "Him I recognise, if briefly with the Queen. But I've no knowlerdge of either of you within this district. If any of the Keepers or Gardeners know you however, then I will let you in"
Well that settled it, Mark made ready to attack the gatekeeper, but Asami's words calmed him down. "Thank you, you've been helpful." She then dragged her cousin from the gateway. They'd have to find another way inside the Cathederal to get to the bell tower to climb the spire. The two walked along the street and turned a corner after another dozen paces Asami lightly scampered up the wall, pretty much walking up it in fact.
Mark blinked, he couldnt do that, even with Kaldas help. But then he could try it since he was good at freerunning when the need arose. He scrambled up the wall after his cousin, she easily hopped down into the grave yard that was incredibly well kept. Moving among the gravestones Mark had to marbvel at how well designed the grave yard was, not to mention the fact that pathways were meticulously kept and clean. "Getting through here without getting seen wont be a problem, but if we have to make a fast getaway, then we might have issues" Mark said softly to his cousin as they hid easily behind a pair of headstones.
Asami smiled thinly. "Relax, the Kreen District appaerenrtly has underground caverns and tunnels, a service corridor of a sort like that one city in America" She explained, "Hopefully we can find a way into the catacombs below the cathederal once we get what we seek."
"And what is it we seek exactly ?" Mark asked her
Asami came tyo a gravestone and halted. She, for the rfirst time in her life, was unsure. "You know, I actually dont know, the mark stood out to me when I was patrolling with some of Mothers men." Asami replied, she saw a guard and put a hand out for Mark to remain down "Oh, watch yourself" She hissed softly. The Kreen guard Mark could see wore the colors of the Templars.
"Damnit" Mark hissed
"What is it ?" Asami asked watching the guard, she too had noticed the colors but didnt know what to make of them.
"The guards here are wearing Templar colors. We might need to find that catacomb enterance first." Mark said looking carefully around the massive well kept graveyard in the shadow of the cathederal that towered over them. Finally he spotted it, he pointed "There, head that way, before anyone notices us" he said pointing to his left, slightly off their goal of up the tower, Asami saw what he meant and the two while keeping low moved swiftly through the grave yard towards the mosaeleum entry.
Without a sound the two cousins scampered to the open gateway and crept down the well kept stone steps. The sounds of voices were ahead. This was going to be dangerous. Moving quietly the two rounded a corner and stood on either side of the doorway. What they saw made Mark growl inwardly.
There were two dozen guards scattered across the vast two floor underground room. In the middle of it was stacked food, all sorts of things, meats, fish, breads, weat, you name it, it was there. There were men and women using what appeared to be magic to wrap the food tightly and preserve it carefully as two others stepped up and the process of wrapping the food became a process of transporting it under guard.
"So this is where they hide the food ?" Mark mused softly.
"Cant be all of it, every district Elsa liberated while you were gone were starving, so already liberated districts were also starving trying to feed the newly liberated districts." Asami said in reply just as softly, "I think they preserve the food here, then hide it elsewhere using the catacombs and service corrdiors to transport it under guard"
"And if we distrupt it ?" Mark mused softly.
Asami smirked, "If we disrupt it, it could cause a backtrack leading back here, look at them, they seem to do it, but not enjoy it." Asami pointed out two female workers down below, Kalda saw them for what they really were, Spiders. "Look at their faces. They work beecause they have to in order for something else to be possible"
"They work to keep their families safe." Mark realised. The two ducked back as a guard patrol neared them, but never saw them through the door way.
"We've seen all we can for now, there's nothing we can do for them right now, come on, lets get up that tower." Asami said, Mark watched as she transformed effortlessly and scampered up the wall to the wooden beams overhead before transforming back to human form. Then overhead without a sound she scrambled across the vast cavern unseen above the heads of those working below. Even the guards were oblivious to their poresence when Mark joined her.
Mark however was already forming a plan, but his cousin was right, they had to get to the tower first. Within minutes they were inside the vast church. Mark wasnt one to just stand idly by while others were forced to do things they'd much rather not, like his cousin. Rapidly climbing up the tower they quietly climbed outside onto the parapet and went downwards, Mark found the crevice and dug out a oblong box. "In coming" He called to Asami, she caught the box and the two ducked inside the west bell tower. She opened the box and saw what was inside.
An old book, old by mere appearance of it. "Its a book" Asami said as Mark ducked inside with her, she was used to such things, her parents had insisted on her learning with them as she grew up. Her mother had a huge library that could migfht as well the library of congress.
"Huh" Mark said picking the tome up from the box, Asami set the box aside and Mark blew off the dust from the tome, it felt old, heavy, and dusty, yet somehow it was carefully preserved against time and dust and aging. Cracking the seal Mark opened the book to the first page, it was a journal, and it was not wrirtten by anyone they knew, but then, somehow Mark knew and could easily read it. "Over a centry and a half since Ingrid the first was destroyed by her daughter I chose to write this. I am still struck with awe, and by how so few within Arendelle and the Wolfe Clan truly grasp the complexity of the plot she wove to destroy the Wolfe Clan and control Arendelle."
He snapped the book shut with a sudden thump. "What is it ?" Asami asked him
"Its old for one thing" Mark replied, unsure of how exactly to tell his cousin he knew what was in it.
"Something is on your mind dear cousin, what gives ?" Asami growled at him. They all had secrets they kept from each other, and this might just be the straw that broke the camels back.
Mark sighed. How to explain it ? Ah fuckit I'll tell her "This book was written a hundred and twenty five years after the death of Queen Elena" He told her, Asami stared at her cousin and then looked at the book, opening it she couldnt hope to read it.
"How in the fuck do you know that ?" She asked him
"I dont know, its really old Arendellian, possibly even predates what could be even that" Mark said to her. "Either way, it explains how the Wolf Queen rose to power, and what she did to ensure her power was absolute before her daughter overthrew her"
"So basically its a missing history book of Arendelle ? Why would it be hidden in a cathedral bell tower in the Kreen District ?" Asami asked, clearly confused over the entire thing to begin with. Mark had to agree, it was confusing.
"No idea, but it needs to be put where it belongs, in the library." Mark replied, Asami nodded and opened a portal, it was time to go back to their den before anyone spotted them. The two disappeared, a few seconds later a Spider Guard, the same one who was at the gate of the cathedral grounds stepped into the space and looked around, finding none.
A few minutes later
Elisar Den
Arendelle Marketplace
"So the two of you made up huh ?" Serena asked seeing how Asami and her brother came in via portal and for once Mark wasnt a snow leopard. Maybe Asami could teach how to make such portals ? It didnt matter at that moment actually, Serena waved off a reply and then said "This came in by messenger" She handed her brother a letter. "It was said every noble family in Arednelle was to receive one, if they arrived that was their choice"
Mark took the letter and opened it, reading it he smiled thinly. It read:
Prince Hans of the Southern Isles formally requests the pleasure of the company of the bearer of this invitation on October the seventh at the Residence of the Duke of Weselton as we commemorate the life and death of the Duke of Weselton. Regrets only, formal attire required
Mark folded up the letter and smirked again. "It seems that we have been invited to attend a funeral, in Germany, The Duke of Weselton is dead, and we have been invited to attend the funeral, no doubt its a trap however so I am not sure of how Elsa will react to the letter. She was after all the one who killed him." Mark mused aloud
"So if Elsa were to attend, she would be seen as the target of interest ?" Serena said as she crossed her arms over her chest a finger tapping at her chin. She saw a odd look in her brothers eyes and didnt like where it was about to go.
"Indeed, I will speak with her and find out what the plan is to go from here. If I can convince Elsa to let someone play decoy, then we can do this. In the mean time..." Mark said, about to give orders to his sister she raised a hand to stop his speaking
"I can only appear like Elsa, but I cannot do her magic. If someone is to play decoy, it will only be for a diistraction, if that" She told him, he smiled. Asami remained oddly quiet as she went for a drink. "Asami, what do you think we should do ?"
"Me ?" Asami asked, looking like a deer in the headlights of a hovervan "Why get me involved ? I wasnt invited, looking by way of the name on the letter its not to me anyhow, but to anyone bearing the name of Wolfe"
"So that could be just me, or even my extended family ?" Mark asked
"Extended family ?" Serena asked
Mark nodded, "My cousin Miao, though her last name is Hawkthorne, she's with uncle Arm now, I dont know where her mother is, or if my own mother is still alive, I know my father is still alive, we came to terms and made up while I was away." Though it took a lot of explaining to do, Mark was for once happy that he wasnt the only member of the Wolfe clan still alive. "And then there are some apparently not dead women in my extended family tree tree as well still alive when they should be dead and ten meters under" Mark concluded
"What ?" Serena stared at her brother as Asami smirked, Mark had explained everything and even introduced Kamerilah to Asami, the two hit off really well, but it was weird how the woman knew of locations in the kingdom that Mark never knew about even as a child.
"Basically the grand child of Yaeko Wolfe is still alive, and her twin daughters are also still alive. And then there's Luna, Yaekos second born daughter, and her daughter Hidden Flute, both still alive, though I dont know where they are right now." Mark explained then how he had met up with Yaeko after fighting with a masked man at St Diamonds in Sacremento and before facing off against his first love, Talak.
"Mom did mention that you mentioned her" Serena said, she had no idea how Talak had survived the destruction of her family over everything. "How did she survive your attack ?"
"She fell off a cliff and met a new family, I figured her for dead when she fell off the cliff into the river, but she landed on a river cruise ship and went home with a new family to America, rose to power but she did things differently than a normal Templar would, very differently" Mark epxlained. "When we finally fought I ended up just up and swatting her head clean off her shoulders. I was a snow leopard at the time"
"Aunt Blackmane did mention that the snow leopard cub was you" Serena smirked, Mark gave her a sidelong glance as if not to start trouble. "I'll be honest little brother, you were adorable as a snow leopard cub. Its hard not to be" She had a point, Mark gave up. Facepalming hard as Asami spoke up
"He was a fiesty one too on the way home last week. Kicked and clawed, and somehow got me in the boobs a few times, Mom was originally going to keep the spell as a time out for overnight, but it ended up being a week, Dad wasnt too happy with being interrupted and Mom wasnt able to blow the Catfishtown power station with their love making"
"Aunt Blackie scares me sometimes, and just hearing that she wanted to do that, just might be why" Mark mused
"Not gonna ask" Serena said as Asami simply just smiled at the two and continued her drink. Serena focused on her brother. "Alright, say you go, who goes with you and Elsa ? And dont say you dont need a watchdog to keep watch over you two. Everyone knows how you two are together. So if you need someone to keep your paws off her, Sapphire could do it. Aunt Aretha is nice, have you met her yet ?" She said to him.
Mark shook his head "Not yet, I havent seen her since I was a boy. When I first got back in Arendelle the first person I saw was Anna, then Sapphire, then Aunt Blackie, then Elsa. In that order. Of course there is the little issue of Taekito." Mark said
"So who knows you're in town ?" Serena asked going into the main part of the house and shifting through some items before finding a districts map of Arendelle. The Kreen District was their next target, the place was so gothic and industrialised that it was perfect for food and weapons production supplies.
"Judging by this letter, everyone outside Arendelle knows I am back. As far as I am aware the only people that dont know I am back yet are the remaining templars in the area" Mark replied.
"Kreen District is the next target to liberate." Serena said, "Mother was having me go over maps and routes in order for the most optimal liberation with minimal casulties" Serena looked to her brother, only to find him trying to not laugh, but smiling a grin like he just knew the biggest secret and just had to struggle to keep it in. "What is it ?"
"Asami and I were just there, its where we found, this" Mark set the book on the table before his sister. "Its a recount of how Ingrid the First, otherwise known as the Wolf Queen, or The Necromancer, had made Arendelle into a empire for a hundred and fifty three years before she was overthrown by her daughter, Queen Elena." Before Serena could ask why a huge book.
"Did you show it to mother ?" Serena asked, both her brother and her cousin shook their heads. "Great, so you want me to tell mother ?" Again they shook their heads. "Alright spill it"
"Tell mom and we never see this book again, she'd hide it, Tell any of our Aunts, they'd either spirit it somewhere or keep it for themselves. Knowledge is power, and if Aunt Vaeyuko is struggling in a puzzle, this will make it worse." Mark said
"He wants to take it to the library in the castle, I said no. He insists" Asami said simply.
"Cant you timeout him ?" Serena asked her cousin with a twitch of her ears. Asami shook her head, she didnt have that kind of magic. Mark of course didnt even see the twitch. "Oh boy." Serena mumbled. Mark for once was thankful that Serenity wasnt on the ship the last week because she'd have never stopped doting on her brother of how adorable he was.
Think of the devil. "Serena, have you seen Mom ? Something is going down in the Kreen District and its got the surrounding districts up in arms." Serenity called out as she stepped into view Mark saw she was dressed in her normal assassin gear, the long coat, the design of brown and green to blend into the surroundings so well was one thing. "Oh, hey Mark, Asami, when did you guys get into town ?" She asked coming to a fast halt at seeing her cousin Asami and her brother both in the front room of the den.
"I've been home two weeks and you never saw me ?" Mark asked her, truth was, Snowfeather had both girls on contracts outside of Arendelle, both of them in Egypt. They had only been home a day and a night so far.
"No chance to, Mom had us on contracts while she was planning out more of the Kreen District, but shes not around and something is happening in the Kreen District. Mother needs to know, Aunt Shadow sent me back to find her. Apparently the people that live in the Kreen District are up in arms, their leader, they call her their Saint. Who is named for her apparent twin brother, St Kreen, the lady known as Kreena, is missing. Aunt Shadow says its the Templars, I think its worse, Aunt Vae agreed with me, this is worse then Templars"
"TheDragonWatch ?" Mark asked
"If its them, what would they want with a woman who isnt even related to a Dragon or what we did in Egypt ?" Serena asked
"What she said" Asami said pointing at Serena, Mark smirked
"OK, that is one option. But there is also the matter of someone forcing the residents of the Kreen District into hoarding fresh food, meats, cheeses, breads, you name it they're wrapping it in something akin to seranwrap, possibly stronger than industrial strength for that matter, and then they ship it somewhere underground." Mark said
"Someone is hoarding food and using the Kreen people to do their work ?" Serena looked to her brother as Serenity asked the question. "How in the world do you know that ?"
"It is where we found this book, the Cathederal of Saint Kreen, in the dead center of the Kreen District." Mark said tapping a finger on the tome on the table. "Any more questions ?"
"Yeah, have you seen Mom in the last, I dunno, twenty minutes ?" Serenity asked
"Nope. But I think I know where to find her, up for going to the palace with me ? I could use the backup, if Elsa got the same letter I did, I'm gonna need it" Mark said, Serenity smirked, "Now that I think about it, Sapphire is there, I'll see her first, then see Elsa. If I see mom what should I tell her ?"
"Head for the Kreen District." Serenity replied. Mark nodded and turned to leave. "oh, and There's a guy out there somewhere in the city, calling himself Endless Focus. That is similar to the Thirteen Masters of TheDragonWatch." Serenity told him. Mark stared at her. Endless Focus had been dead for nearly two thousand years.
"OK, that puts things into perspective" He said before taking his leave as quickly as he could, however it was as the front door was closing when his sisters bark of laughter rang out and he growled in his throat as Asami told of their week long trip home. In a family surrounded and outnumbered by women, Mark somehow found himself thankful, His family, his true family was out there somewhere, but for all he had right then. He wouldnt trade the Elisars for the world.
Even if they did go back on their promises.
Mark headed for the Palace, he needed to meet up with his cousin, Sapphire, and plot his next move. But his thoughts drifted to the mention of Endless Focus, one of the Thirteen Masters. Dead for two thousand years. So if a guy was calling himself Endless Focus, then there had to be the other three named Masters too, Fatal Elegy, Concealed Voice, and Calm Mind. Each one skilled beyond measure, it was said in legends, of strength of wit and steel.
Were they the ones behind the happeings in the Kreen District ? Or was it something much more darker ?
Arendelle Castle
Council chamber
"Your highness, you have a guest, he insists on seeing you, refuses to let me bring his parcel to you." Kai said upon arrival in the council chamber. He took stock of who was in there, two men, two women, and Elsa, of them he recognised only Lee, The other woman however was dressed in red and white, and her dress had a flower print pattern upon it. She was tall and thin, and looked a skillful woman, the two men seemed to be her guards.
Turning to Kai, Elsa thought a moment then said "Have him wait a few moments, I am in the middle of something right now"
"But he insists, your highness, that he gives his parcel to you directly, then he will leave, he only wishes to do so." Kai replied
"What is the parcel ?" Elsa asked her butler
"No larger than a common letter" Came the reply
"Let him enter, when I take it, he must leave" Elsa said, Kai nodded. Seconds later the man entered, bowed deeply to the Queen, and held out his hands, a single letter with a seal of the Southern Isles was upon it. She took it, the man bowed deeper and took his leave without a word.
Upon reading the letter Elsa thought over her options. She handed it to Lee. "What do you think ?" She asked, ever since elevating Lee to a higher post in the council, pretty much Elsas right hand woman for that matter. Elsa found herself confiding in the woman more often.
"It may be a trap, if Master Wolfe were here, he could give a better assesment than I" Lee replied after reading it.
"And if it is not a trap ?" Elsa asked, "Hans referred to himself in this letter as Prince, not King. So it is possible that his father may be present as well"
"Shall I send for Master Wolfe or one of his sisters ?" Lee asked
"What is this about my son ?" Came a soft voice, Snowfeather had been hiding in the shadows by the door as Elsa had asked her to. "Did he get himself into trouble ? He just returned from a trip on the fjords." Lee handed her the letter when she stepped next to her. As she read it Snowfeather spoke. "I can see no symbols used by the Templars or Assassins in this invitation. I suggest going"
"It could be a trap" Lee said, her voice had a guarded tone to it.
"I agree, it might be a trap, so why should I go ?" Elsa asked Snowfeather. "What good will it do to go and let Hans see me ?"
"If it is a trap, the letter would have been poisoned and the letter carrier dead by time he went past me. Without Sapphire to guard you, I am here or one of the female Assassins by your side unseen." Snowfeather said, "No, this is not a trap, this might be your chance to get Hans"
"You really think so ?" Elsa asked her, instead of answering she nodded towards the other woman and the two armored soldiers with her.
"I take it our esteemed guest here is Lady Kreena ?" Snowfeather asked
"I am" Kreena replied.
"What brings you to the palace this fine lunch hour ?" Snowfeather asked
"My district is the most industrial in the kingdom, My people are being forced into hard labor against their will. And my guards here foiled a kidnapping plot" Kreena said.
"Who would want to kidnap the leader of the Kreen District ?" Lee asked
"Some guy named Endless Focus, and another named Hao Fan" Kreenas first bodyguard replied, his armor shifted and it revealed his face. Angular, sharp edged, and steel green eyes stared at the world. "I am Charles, this is Cynthia. We're all that remain of Lady Kreenas guards after the attempted kidnapping." Charles said, as Cynthia revealed her own face, the armor fading off their faces similar to how Marks armor faded and disappeared from view. Cynthia was similar to her husband, but her features were softer, not as sharp. Her eyes were a steel blue.
"Endless Focus attempted to take Lady Kreena, possessed many of our soldiers and fellow Guards" Cynthia said
"Endless Focus has been dead for nearly two thousand years, he was one of the original Thirteen Masters of TheDragonWatch, a group stationed in Egypt." Snowfeather said
"He did not look it" Charles replied. Snowfeather looked to him, but it was Lady Kreena who spoke up.
"The one called Endless Focus was wreathed in thick smoke, we were not able to see his face. Smoke poured off his body, like shadows." Kreena said "He had a man with him, also wreathed in smoke, his face covered by a hood of some form, who called himself the Envoy of Shadow Mist Sect. His name was Hao Fan"
"A new power group..." Snowfeather growled. "What do we know of this... Shadow Mist Sect ?" She asked
"Nothing, other then what we have witnessed" Kreena replied
At that same moment
In the guards barracks of the palace Mark met up with his cousin, and also his aunt Aretha. Both women had taken over, at Marks request, Taekitos old office. The first thing Marks aunt did was go over the soldiers pay, the current court records, and soldier outfit renewal request along with weapon order forms from the local blacksmithies nearest to the palace. Seeing Sapphire at the desk and her mother in the outer office going through data sheets and old woodslate scrolls Mark smiled. "I hoped I'd find you here." He said as he held up the letter
"You got one too huh ? " Sapphire smirked as she sat back in the chair that used to be Taekitos. Mark titled his head seeing it, and seeing her sitting in it.
He pointed at her "That seat doesnt suit you at all"
"Nor does the desk, but its all I have to work with right now, Mother likes it alright, shes upset though, one of the last Templar districts has her home she grew up in it and the Templars are using it as a stronghold for the overall district." Sapphire replied
Mark sat on the desk, fingering the letter in his hand. "You mentioned that you got a letter as well ?"
"How did you guess ?" Sapphire asked him
"You said to me when you saw mine, 'you got one too, huh ?' which only means that you also got the selfsame letter" Mark said
"I did indeed, Mother wants me to go, thinks its a shot at finding Taekito. But on one hand Mother also thinks it is a trap and refuses to let me go" Sapphire said, crossing her arms over her chest. A smirk slowly forming on her face
"What if I were to talk to her and convince her ?" Mark asked not seeing the smirk nor knowing of why his cousin was suddenly smiling like a clown at him
"Convince me of what, young man ?" Aretha said from behind him. Mark snapped around and stared as his aunt Aretha had snuck up so silently behind him.
"What Mark is trying to say, Mom, is that he got the letter too and I was just mentioning that you dont want me to go in order to find Taekito." Sapphire told her mother
"If you go, who protects the Queen ? That is your duty and yours alone" Her mother replied
"But if the Queen were to go as well, then naturally I will have to go" Sapphire said
"The question is, will Elsa want to go to a funeral for a man she herself had slain ?" Mark mused aloud a thoughtful tap on hius chin with a finger, both women looked at him in confusion. Seeing it Mark said "During the roadtrip last week, Elsa killed the Duke at Catfishtown"
"So now she is invited to the funeral, when the invitation and news channels all say that Catfishtown was bombed and the Duke killed in the bombing. He's getting a state funeral, and Elsa, you, and I, are invited, who is to say what will happen there ?" Aretha told him.
"Or who will be present at the same time other then Prince Hans. Come with me I want to speak with Elsa, and hopefully find my mother" Mark said, he meant Snowfeather, a woman neither his cousin or his aunt had yet met. The two nodded and followed him.
Minutes later they arrived in the council chamber of the palace. Mark saw his mother, Snowfeather, a council woman who he knew was named Lee, Kai, the butler stood nearby. There was also two women and a man he didnt recognise but thanks to Kalda knew they were all Spiders.
Seeing him however one of the three spiders, the male, spoke up. "Did you find what you were looking for ?" Charles asked him before turning to look at him.
Mark stopped short, regarding the man carefully. "Possibly, why ?"
"It wasnt hard to find two pairs of tracks within the cemetary after having the grass trimmed neatly" Charles replied. "Had the gardeners not informed of tresspassers we would have missed it. But they saw signs of someone walking through the cemetary grounds, but with someone."
"How could you possibly know that ?" Mark asked
"They're Spiders, how can anything sneak past them ?" Came Kaldas voice
"True" Mark mentally replied as he waited for an answer.
"I was not the gateguard on duty at the Cathederal. My wife was" Charles said, Cynthia smiled thinly.
"Master Wolfe" She said in greeting, Mark stared, he recognised that voice for sure. "How you and the woman with you got past the Gardeners walls to get into the Cathederal of St Kreen I will never know, but it is not the first time an outsider has been in there, that area in particular, none go there, it is kept secret. How did you get there, how could you possibly find it ?" To that Mark was unable to answer for a moment, before he blinked and smiled.
"Wolfe Clan secret. Sorry." lying clear through his teeth
Outside Arendelle
Greensky District
At that same moment
The hovervan came to a halt. Two people stepped out once it was safely parked. One of them a cloaked woman, the other a larger hooded man. Both carreid swords upon their body and their style of dress reminded many of an Assassin or two on contract outside the kingdom or seen wandering the core districts directly on patrols. The only differences of these two was that one appeared to be the daughter of the man in question. The two stopped at a outdoor eatery and sat down. It was well kept dispite being so cold for October.
Looking around the woman said simply. "So this is Arendelle, not quite what I expected" Setting their swords on the table as they sat down a waiter came over and asked what they'd like to eat. "Best meal your place has, and two jars of wine" the woman said as she removed her hood, her fellow did not remove his hood
"It has been a long time since I was last here. I cannot help but wonder what my daughter, Sapphire got into, much less my wife with my... death" The man said
"Diae {Father}, you keep living in the past, you said yourself you had to fake being dead in order to escape Arendelle and gain strength to reclaim the kingdom from the Templars, you've regained it, and freed my own hometown of Tokyo of Templar control as well. You've regained your strength." The woman said
"Kiyomori, I often told you that I have a wife, she thinks me dead no doubt. I have a daughter by blood, she also thinks me dead no doubt. But what I cannot live without is both of them. You have a sister through adoption. I just cannot bear to be away from them for much longer." He said as the wine arrived he went quiet. The woman now known as Kiyomori, smirked and poured out two bowls of wine, one for her father, and one for herself. "I cannot help but wonder, how they fare right now." The hooded man said
A patrol of soldiers arrived and asked to speak to the owner. The landowner and proertire of the dining location and handed the man a scroll. The man opened it and looked thoughtful. Softly the hooded man spoke. "It seems that we are either sought for, or wanted for some odd reason." He said so quietly only Kiyomori heard him. The Russian born Japanese woman smirked and downed her wine as four of the soldiers came to their table.
"Can we help you gentlemen ?" Asked the hooded man with Kiyomori.
"Hopefully." The guard in charge said. He held out the scroll. Kiyomori took it and opened it. "All patrols are to be on the lookout for these men. You have the look of one of them." Meaning that the guards were now on the lookout for Endless Focus, Fatal Elegy, Concealed Voice, Calm Mind, and Hao Fan. And that the hooded man looked like Hao Fan. "Lower your hood so we can see your face" The hooded man at that moment lowered his bowl of wine to the table and stood up.
"Step close to me, just you." He said to the guard captain of the patrol. The man unsure of what to do took a deep breath and nodded. Getting close enough that the hooded man raised an arm and wrapped them briefly in the cloak, revealing to the guard captain his face. Speaking sdoftly he said simply. "My name is Nathan Wolfe, until sunset on the thirteenth of this month you are to tell no one that you saw my face. If any one asks, you saw simply an Assassin returning from contract with facial injuries. Agreed ?"
"Agreed Master Wolfe" Nathan smiled and recloaked, letting the guard captain free. As Nathan sat back down the guard bowed to the pair, "Sorry to disturb you. Please, enjoy your meal. If you require anything, the Assassin Den in the Marketplace district can give you what you need." the patrol left the eating area and left the two of them alone.
"What was that about ? Why have him wait until the thirteenth to reveal meeting us ?"
"Because that is the day of my wedding anniversary with Aretha." Calling out briefly as the guards started to be too far, they came running back. Bowing in greeting the patrol looked uneasy. Had they wronged the pair ? Far from it. "Can you tell me if the Lady, Aretha Wolfe, is still residing here in Arendelle ?"
Trading looks one of the guards nodded. "Yes sir, she resides in the Palace now, her assignment with her daughter is top protect the queen as per tradition so they were assigned places within the palace grounds." He said
A clear sigh of relief was heard from Nathan underneath his hood. "Thank you, you may go now." The sodliers welcomed them back to Arendelle from their contract and left once again.
Setting her elbows on the table, Kiyomori thought quietly for a moment before speaking "does this mean I get to meet the Queen ?" the last time she met royalty it actually ended in bloodshed, Now the Southern Isles were down by three princes, Leaving only seven left alive, and the only two who defected were infact not targets but well aprised of the situation. Which meant there were still only five actual Templars of the bunch.
"The queen will not be a Templar judging by how the guards reacted to our presence here" Nathan replied calmly. "With luck, the Queen will ask about new arrivals, and when she does, you will present yourself to the Queen in your full regilia, understood ?"
"My full Smaurai armor ?" Kiyomori asked, well almost full, the only thing she lacked was a proper samurai helmet and face mask.
"Minus the mask and helmet yes, you are after all, an Assassin, using your samurai coloration and design, with the Hood, you have a better sense of letting the queen know you're there to be of help not hinderence." Nathan explained to her. From what he remembered, Elsa was a shy girl and the palace was infact locked. "You might have to sneak in however, the palace was always locked, I myself have never been within it, so you will have to rely on what the other Assassins in the Den can give you."
"You are not going with me ?" Kiyomori asked him, their original plan was to return to Arendelle, see the state of the kingdom as a whole, and expand the Assassins there. But getting Nathan as far as the Greensky District den and no further even to see his wife and daughter prospering within the Palace.
"No, I will be staying in this districts den. You will go to the main Den in the Marketplace district and offer your services, when you do, ask to be assigned to the Greensky District den. If any questions are raised simply state you see a need to help the district as the food seems slightly lacking in quanity" Nathan told her. Kiyomori nodded as she then understood Nathans plans, her father was worried he'd be seen as a ghost, and also worried that he'd be rejected if found to be alive.
"Alright, I'll go. Now then" Kiyomori said simply.
"Be careful, from whisperings withint he city and the outlaying houses, words and sounds speak of a powerful and skilled Assassin present here. Look for him, and if at all possible, do not engage him, if you must do so, use the Beast Flames, not the Elemental or the Heaven flames." Nathan warned her she nodded and stood up to leave, picking up her sword from the table as she did so.
She took two steps away then halted, turning slightly she said. "If I come across him, or he challenges me, what do I do ?"
"What you always were good at" Nathan replied. He lifted a bowl of wine to his lips and took a drink.
Kiyomori smiled, she knew exactly what to do. As both she and Nathan said at the same time "Improvise" Kiyomori then headed into the streets, as she did so her outfit shifted slightly into a more regal oriental Samurai styled garment her sword still in hand as she walked.
Getting onto the main road that lead directly to the castle she headed in that direction. A good five minutes later and she was halted by a soldier patrol. "State your business" The leader said to her. Kiyomori smirked, her vision shifted slightly, she recognised each soldier in the patrol as Templars, but somehow the man who spoke to her was in gold, a Captain ?
"I'm on my way to the Marketplace, to do some shopping." Kiyomori lied.
"Bullshit" The templar captain said, "A woman like you, carrying a sword like that, Yeah, that's bullshit alright. Get her!" The man commanded, the soldiers fanned around her and drew their weapons, two of them had pistols, the rest had swords, one of which was a gunblade like thing.
Kiyomori sighed, well so much for diplomacy "Very well, you attacked me first, so when asked, do not blame me for going all out on you" She warned. One soldier shot at her, she dodged the shot easily, tracing the bulets path she struck up some rocks and dirt, using them as her own bullets. Spinning rapidly she struck at the shooters, sending them both to the ground. A sicking CRACK later and their necks had been snapped by a simple and solid kick.
Regarding the woman who just took out two of his men easily the captain growled and motioned three more to gang up on her, the ten man squad had been reduced by two. And Kiyomori hadnt even drawn her weapon yet. One came at her dead on, his sword swinging, She brought her weapon, still sheathed up to defend and caught the blade easily jumping upwards she did a split and kicked at one of the men coming at her from the right before snagging the fallen gun from one of the first two killed and used it to shoot the man coming at her from her left.
Three down seven to go. Finally that was the last straw as the whole patrol ganged up on her. Bouncing off of the soldier Kiyomori regained her feet and formed a fire in her free hand. A purple and green fire formed and began shifting into a spinning lotus pattern. It was beautiful and deadly. It floated off her hand and she threw it at the mob of soldiers. "Taikutsuna Hatsu!" Kiyomori cried, when translated the words meant ""Bored Lotus Flame"
The thing went off like a stick of dynamite in a fishpond. The patrol was left in tatters, one man tried to stand up, only to rapidly fall as kiyomori easily kicked him in the chin and killed the man. She looked up and saw birds circling a tower overhead. Figured. Kill the captain, and the district signal fire is surrounded by birds. Kiyomori thought. Going to the captains body she pocketed the key and went off. Now that the district had its captain dead, Greensky could prosper like the rest of the kingdom.
Kiyomori headed off to the Marketplace Den to meet with the denmaster, there, perhaps she could get her father, known simply as The Faceless Assassin back in Tokyo as Denmaster in Greensky. One could only hope.
Arendelle Marketplace
Elisar Den
At that same moment
"Who was on district liberation duty today ?" Blackmane asked as she came down the steps to the main area of the den. She had seen the sudden flock of birds out of nowhere in Greensky district, one of the last seven districts to liberate since Mark had left, and long since returned to only seven of the originial seventy one districts to liberate in the kingdom.
"Mom, that was tomorrow, remember ?" Tuesdays were reserved for liberation duty, doing it daily lead to too many templar fights and left many injured for the healers to attend to and nearly burnt the healers out to begin with.
Blackmane nodded, Jade had a point, the man stood nearby on the front porch and also saw the flock of birds. "The birds appeared, meaning the templar district leader is dead. What District is so far from here ?" Blackmane asked
"There are only two in that direction still needing liberation, or at least the signal fire to be lit. Greensky, and Moonhaven." Jade replied turning to his mother. Nearly an exact yet male image of his mother, Jade was only able to master the Beast Flames of internal energy. His mother, Blackmane, nodded.
For a long moment niether spoke, finally Blackmane said, "You're Acting Den Master in my stead, I'm going to go for a walk. Something feels... off. If your father asks where I went, let him know I wont be too long, if he wants to join me, he can track my scent easily." She told her firstborn, Jade nodded and his mother left the den. His cousins, younger sister and younger brother had already gone out on their contracts for the day around the kingdom as it was so there was not much else for him to do
So as it was he was the only person actually awake in the den at that moment when a woman arrived dressed in a very oriental take on the Assassin Hood design. The samurai like woman stepped into the den easily and looked for the Den Master. Seeing Jade however she spoke. "Is the Den Master in ?"
"At this moment I am acting Den Master, so yes, what can I do for you ?" Jade replied
"I would like to be assigned to the Greensky District den, the people there need food and homes rebuilt. The Assassin I travel with is known where we are from as the Faceless One." Kiyomori told him, jade had to think a brief moment before nodding, he knew who she meant, and that meant.
"So you're the one the rumors spoke about, the apparent daughter of the Faceless Assassin Of Tokyo" Jade said, he smiled in greeting and put out a hand to shake. "My name is Seijuro Jade, A pleasure to meet you"
"Kiyomori" Kiyomori replied with a firm shake of his hand at that moment before asking "Will it be possible for my father to be made Den Master of Greensky District, or is there a formality to go through ?"
Jade smiled and went to a nearby desk. Removing from it a deed which he in turn handed to Kiyomori. "Consider it done at this moment, Welcome to Arendelle" Jade said, Kiyomori smiled, a brief bow later and she was on her way. Sidestepping around Mark as he arrived with his mother. Snowfeather briefly stared at the woman as she passed. Something felt off about her.
Seeing her nephew as Acting Den Master Snowfeather pointed at the door and asked "Who was that ?" She had no idea of current events outside Arendelle since her arrival and certain events with the CIA at the time.
"You wouldnt believe me if I told you" Jade replied calmly to his aunt. "But I'll tell you anyway. that woman is Kiyomori, the daughter or so it is said, of the Faceless Assassin of Tokyo"
"Never heard of him" Snowfeather said
"You mean you never heard the rumors among the brotherhood about a skilled Master Assassin residing in Tokyo known simply by name of The Faceless Assassin, he trained his cell in the arts of internal energy uses ?" Snowfeather shook her head, she had more to deal with then look into rumors among the brotherhood. Jade then saw his cousins expression as Mark stepped into view. "I take it something is going on and you dont like it ?"
"Where's Aunt Blackie ?" Mark asked, Jade smirked, trust his cousin to cut straight to the chase
"She went on a walk, left me as Acting Den Master while she was gone to figure out what was up, she said something felt strange and wanted to see what was going on" Jade explained Snowfeather smiled trust her sister to leave her second oldest in charge instead of her lazy husband Martin. "If you want to find her she said you can follow her scent, or wait for her to get back"
"The Faceless Assassin could be anyone. The fact that she knew where to go means she was sent here on contract most likely" Mark mused aloud. Jade simply nodded in agreement. "Have you seen Lazul or Topaz ? Elsa wants them to come along with us to the Southern Isles for the Funeral ceremony"
"I still cant believe that Elsa wants to go to the funeral" Snowfeather said. "For all we know ity could be a trap set by Hans" She pointed out.
"What if its not ?" Mark asked her, Snowfeather looked at him confused "What if he indeed is there, and this is the prime chance to take him out ?"
"And what about his wife ?" Snowfeather countered with a question of her own, One that Mark couldnt hope to answer right off the bat out of the starting gate. "You met her yourself, and what did you make of her ?"
Mark thought back on his conversation with Princess Sonya before sighing. "She is a planner, contigency plans out the ass" He finally said, it would be incredibly hard to take her down.
"So therefore what if she is using her husband ? What if Hans wont be there but she will ?" Snowfeather pressed.
"Elsa thought the same way, Hans is her target, he tried to kill both of them. It is only natural that she take him out. She took out the duke, when it was his men who tried to kill her in her ice palace." Mark replied
"At which point I personally would have simply barred Hans from entering Arendelle or nearing its boundary to begin with." Jade mused, he then smiled and with a snicker he said "Me, I'm just a guest here really, traveling resident so to speak"
"Doesnt matter now, Elsa got the letter, and I got the letter, the messenger was questioned, he said he gave it to all nobles as requested to do so." Mark said, he pointed at jade. "You make a good Den Master so far. What contracts are everyone on, and are they in the kingdom's core districts or outside districts ?"
"Greensky was just liberated, the woman who was leaving as you two came in had requested to be stationed there, I guess she came here because You and Mother made this the Assassin HQ here in Arendelle and the rest of the districts are simple Dens. I said that was permissable, and she took the deed and left" Jade said
"Deed ?" Mark asked looking from his cousin to his mother in confusion
"Yes, whomever holds the Deed is Den Master of an Assassin Den and runs it as they see fit. In many cases to get a Deed to become Den Master of certain dens, tasks must be performed beforehand to ensure the deed is given to the right person, someone who is trusting, smart, and with strong ties to the brotherhood and good leadership skills" Snowfeather explained. She turned to her nephew. Jade stood near the desk. "Did the woman say anything else ?"
"No, only that she wished to be assigned to the Greensky District and to work on bettering the district there as she saw fit, I gave her the deed and she left as I told you" Jade replied, Snowfeather nodded. He told the truth there.
"Alright, Mark, go and pack. Jade when Topaz and Lazul arrive send them to pack as well, tell them I asked you to do so if they put up a fuss, Topaz most likely will, in the mean time Mark will pack, and I will go find my sister." Snowfeather said, giving her son a stern look as Mark didnt want to go to the Southern Isles for a funeral.
He hated funerals
Four days later
Southern Isles
Main Docks
"I dont like it" Mark said simply, they had five days before the funeral as a whole, but Elsa was hoping to have Hans taken down at that point on the same day as the funeral, if they were lucky hans could be slain and Aerendelle liberated at the same time. Of course riught before they left it meant to do the heavy duty liberations. Try as Mark might however, he was unable to find or meet with the strange woman called Kiyomori. Nor could he find the so called Faceless Assassin either.
"I do not like it either" Elsa said "But we have no choice." She turned to Topaz and Lazul. "You two are our eyes and ears while we wait here on the ship until the time of the funeral, go into the kingdom and explore, do not engange anyone, but find out all you can" The two nodded and looked briefly to Mark who also nodded.
He tossed them a pair of moneybags. "If worse comes to worse, distraction is the key to success. Try not to kill anyone"
The two left a moment later, that meant Elsa and Mark had time to kill as well. And being cooped up in a ship wasnt exactly Marks idea of a fun time, so he took that time to practise further in refining his ability to transform into a Snow Leopard.
Each evening Topaz showed up with some news and an updated map. Every morning, Lazul showed up with news from the night time watch before both returned on the night of the fourth day. "Tomorrow is the funeral" Lazul announced, "It happens at noon with a procession and full viewing of the open casket, I saw the Duke and they made him look pretty good for a frozen dead man"
"When do they bury him ?" Elsa asked him, it seemed odd, Elsa was dressed in a normal Assassin outfit, something a Animus avatar would wear known as the Lady Mavrick perhaps ? Lazul found it hard not to stare at the Queen in that dark blue number as Topaz smirked.
"The burial is not until night fall, the procession goes from the state plaza to the cemetary at dusk, Prince Hans is expected to speak at the burial rather then at the state plaza ceremony." Topaz said
"How close do you want to get to Hans to take him down ?" Lazul asked
"If we can get close enough to him before he finishes his speech at the burial we can end it all there." Elsa said.
Mark nodded, and it was Lazul who asked the question the four dreaded. "And if we cant ?" Elsa had no way to reply to that and chose instead not to think on such a question. There just was not time to think about outside interference, or if they couldnt finish what they started
six hours later
Southern Isles
Cemetary
The cemetary of the Southern Isles was a large locale and yet it was a nice set up as it had basically everything required for the job. The grave had just been dug and the ceremony was to end there with the lowering of the Duke within it. As Elsa moved through the many headstones and monuments she heard Hans speaking.
"We gather today to remember a man of peerless vision, who sought to change the world. And change the world he did. Look around. Even now those who sought his life are still hunting, spreading out their lies and their iron grip - their spirits broken - their forces splintered. Their queen will soon follow - either into our service or into the ground with him. And then, my friends, all of this will finally be over! We have the Duke of Weselton to thank for this. He and all those others who sacrificed for our cause. But he was not content merely to save the people of the Southern Isles, and of Weselton, no, he sought to save those sworn to our destruction. He sought to save the Assassins. Aye I agree. It seems a mad thing, now. And what it cost, it cost him his life. The Assassins are a cruel and terrible force. They speak only the language of death. Too little too late he learned the truth of this mad plot to attempt. Murdered by his own trade ally. Alas, He gave his life as he lived, in service to a dream we all share. And so we must fight on. We will vanquish our enemies. We will spread our word. And in time, my brothers and sisters, in time we will have our New World." Hans said to many cheers and happy faces.
As she neared the man two soldiers spotted her and stepped closer to her. "Hold there a moment woman" One called to her, Elsa stopped and let them take hold of her. They brought her and then also Mark to Hans, who stood there and regarded both of them. Killers the both of them
Hans smirked, "He sent me away, that day at Catfishtown, he feared for my safety. I should have stayed. He said there was no danger."
Mark snarled "Yeah, you should have stayed, and kept us from all this trouble to come here in the first place" Mark shut up as Hans smashed him in the face with a armored gloved hand.
"I will kill you Elsa" Hans said pointing to her as she wisely kept her mouth shut. "This I swear. Not today though, no, not here either. First – I shall destroy everything you hold dear. I will burn that kingdom of yours to the ground, every last bit of it taken in under my control. And when I have finished with it, all the rest will burn, your merry band of Assassins, the human refuse that lives in your kingdom, All of it, Gone!" His eyes lit up, sheer evil in them, Mark snarled something but wisely didnt utter a word Hans could recognise or even hope to translate.
Elsa just looked at him, as Hans started to back away a few steps. "You can try, Hans, But like all your plans, it will only come to failure"
Hans smirked and spoke tersely to the soldiers "Get them on their feet, they will wait, they will watch, and only then when I am done bringing everything they made to nothing will I kill them both. Take them away" Hans said waving the soldiers to take both Mark and Elsa away.
As soon as they were out of ear shot of Hans and behind a buildiung where more soldiers waited the two traded looks, Elsa looked to Mark and vice versa, the man nodded and looked to one of the soldiers dragging them along. "I knew you had no manners" He said simply. The soldier looked at him dumbly. "Didnt your mother ever teach you to zip up your pants ?" The soldier growled, and Mark nailed the man in the crotch dead on with his steel toed boot.
Within a minute the soldiers were on ther ground in various states of injury or near death. One soldier was knocked clean through a wall One of the soldiers were still alive and gasping for breath as Elsa went over to him and extended a ice blade from her wrist. "Where is Hans ?" She asked him.
The soldier sighed briefly. "He's gone."
"Where ?" Elsa asked him "Where did Hans go ?"
"The harbor, to catch a ship, for Arendelle" The soldier said, finally his injuries were too much and the man died. Elsa let the man drop to the ground and closed his eyes gently.
"So we go back to Arendelle ?" Mark mused aloud hearing it all
"He cant have gone too far" Elsa replied. She stood up. She spotted light not far away, a truckload of soldiers, the Southern Isles were more better equipped then they had thought. Armored trucks, and what looked like a halftrack not far off behind it. "I think we need to get going" Elsa then said seeing that the halftrack had a huge gun and was aiming it their way.
Insdie the halftrack the soldiers driving and manning the gun spoke between each other. "Targets sighted, looks like two of them. Buncha bodies all around too." Said the driver.
"Should I shoot them ?" Asked the gunner as he turned the weapon into the direction of Elsa and Mark
"Yeah, go ahead and shoot, dont use the big gun though use the smaller one, rapid fire should make them think twice of killing our guys" Said the driver. The gunner snickered and barked in laughter as he stood up to man the chain gun and unlocked it. Within moments he peppered the ground around Elsa and Mark with bullets and shrapnel.
Mark rapidly raised a rune shield, but it was soon rapidly struck with raw power of bullets and energy. Rapidly chipping into it
A voice rang out. "Arendellians, Duck!" Out of nowhere came a colorful item of blue and pink, shaped like a flower of some kind and it connected with the halftrack. Followed by the cry of "Ikatteiru Akuma Rohastsu!" which when translated was said to be "Angry Demon Lotus Flame" A great blast of light and energy exploded from the halftrack as it went up in a good aimed shot of fire and gout of raw flame. The soldiers in it roasted instantly as the halftrack broke apart and exploded like a bomb when its ammo rack went critical.
Mark stared confused, "What the hell was that ?" he asked as Elsa stared as well the two got to their feet after getting blown backwards by the blast. Looking around Mark saw a young woman amble into view. "Who are you ? Did you just ?" He wasnt able to recognise her right away.
Kiyomori waved some smoke from her hand. "Glad I snuck aboard when I did, almost didnt make it in time. Kiyomori, Master Wolfe." Kiyomori introduced herself, at first not recognising Elsa at that brief moment.
"Why did you come here ?" Mark asked her.
"At Greensky District Den a woman showed up, called herself Blackmane, with her was a woman called Senishi, biggest suit of armor I had ever seen in my life, Blackmane insisted I sneak aboard the ship and follow you when the time is right, Little did I know the sleep runes would work, I honestly thought they were myths" Miyomori said
"So my aunt sent you after us and never told you of the safety precautions on the ship ?" There were sleep runes, and binding runes to keep things and people locked safely away. In this case it must have knocked out their own source of safety for longer than expected.
"Yes, thankfully the rune wore off ten minutes ago and allowed me to get my bearings to get to you quickly enough" Kiyomori said simply, then she saw Elsa in the light of the fire. "Your highness, I was not expecting you to be here"
"We need to find Hans" Elsa told her
"Who ?" Kiyomori hadnt exactly been brought up to speed on Arendelle politics and her enemies.
"Long story short, Prince Hans is enemy numuro uno on Arendelles hit list" Mark explained. "Sooner we find him before he gets to Arendelle the better off we all are."
"Fine, lets go" Kiyomori said she bent down and patted one of the dead over, producing only some money before tossing it aside. Nothing of use. As she stood however she swooned slightly from the loss of too much energy. As Mark went to her side she shook him off, "I am fine, lets go" She insisted.
As the three left the area, soldiers from the Southern Isles watched beside Princess Sonya as the Halftrack burned. "Track them carefully, do not let yourselves be seen." Sonya said sending the men to their death in a manner of speaking as moments after the Whitesparrow left the Southern isles main dock the dock exploded violently. For the moment it hindered severely the Southern isles navy production as two ships were destroyed in the fire ball.
On board the Whitesparrow Kiyomori sat within the conference room and Mark wasnt happy, Topaz had a gun on the woman yet the mood was a calm one. Mark wanted answers and Topaz was only there to ensure things were kept smoothly, she wasnt even afraid to shoot her cousin infact.
"Alright, Kiyomori was it ?" Mark started, Kiyomori nodded. "Start from the top, who are you, and who are you with ?"
"You know my name, as to who I am with, I am with my father ,the Faceless Assassin, we reside in the Greensky District Den, my father is the Den Master there." Kiyomori replied
"Alright htat explains who you are, now, what was that... that ball of whatever, that blew up the halftrack ?" Mark asked her
"Angry Demon Lotus Flame, mostly useful against stationary and moving targets, the fireball incinerates everything within its blast zone in a instant. The downside is that it must be used in an open area, I am lucky the fire didnt spread to any buildings." Kiyomori explained
"Agry Lotus Flame ?" Elsa asked. Kiyomori smirked, she wasnt one to explain such things very well but she tried as best she was able to explain it. Elsa finally nodded. "Aright, you went so far as to save our lives, so thank you."
"My pleasure" Kiyomori said
"So, Aunt Blackmane sent you after us, was it just us you were to keep an eye on ? You said Aunt Senishi was there" Mark said, Senishi was the mother of Topaz and her older brother Lazul.
"Blackmane wanted me to ensure you were safe, she said nothing of the Queen being in the Southern Isles" Kiyomori said as a man gave Elsa a letter
Elsa read it and sighed. "What is it ?" Mark asked her
"Prince Hans was sighed not far from here, in Wede. Its on the way home, a shipyard is there for the Southern Isles." I think I can do this there. Helm, head us for Wede and full speed.
"Yes ma'am" Said the helmsman. Moments later and the ship was underway at full speed for the port city of Wede. Elsa made her plans, they had to track down Hans, and destroy him before he could get to Arendelle. Topaz looked to Mark who nodded, Topaz lowered the gun and set it on the table after ejecting the clip.
Mark allowed Kiyomori to stand up. "Consider yourself a guest aboard the ship, but once we get back to Arendelle I want Aunt Blackie to confirm your story of why you're onbord, yes you saved Elsas life and that of myself. But until I know for sure why you came along and Aunt Blackmane confirms your story, you are welcome on this ship within limits. Agreed ?"
"Agreed" Kiyomori said simply the blue dressed samurai like girl seemed oddly at ease with the limits Mark had imposed on her however and his tone did little if anything to deter her somehow shiny mood. "You mind if I get a bite to eat in the galley down below ?" Mark simply nodded and let her leave, Topaz following behind in her silver housecat form.
Even though Mark could turn into a snow leopard nearly at will rather than at random, it still unnerved him to how his cousins of Topaz and Lazukl could turn into housecats instead of big cats like the rest. Was it because they were younger ? Or was it because their father was an actual housecat whereas their mother was a massive tiger ? It didnt matter. Mark waved off the thought and focused on the task ahead.