Jellicle's Creed
Frozen Memories
Seqeunce 12
Memory 2: Chasing Hans
18 October 2055
Arendelle
Castle Library
Sunrise
"The true nature of Men is that of a frienzied demon, and their world is hell. It is the world they chose to live in."
-Naratas Aigatis
A hooded man sat within the library, A slate scroll in hand as he read through recent events, the scribe was smart to keep tabs on what happened within the kingdom so long and so solidly. Though the hooded man never let anyone see his face or himself with his hood down at the time. Instead when his face was seen it was covered with a mask leaving on his eyes visible. The mask colored similar to his skin kept his face unseen, thus his name, the Faceless Assassin. When he dealt out justice in Tokyo when he took in the child Kiyomori twenty years before he had worn the mask to prevent the enemy from seeing that he was still alive.
Nathan set the slat scroll on the table, books littered the table with a pile of slat scrolls. The Wolfe clan kept records in the form of Slates, about two inches wide by ten inches long, and tied along the top and bottom short edges and then rolled up like a scroll, whereas the royals used books. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully Nathan read the next slat scroll. His eye let out a single tear. He remembered writing that selfsame scroll. Marcus must have brought it here, unless Aretha had He thought. He read the first few "pages" of the slat scroll before closing it and setting it gently on the table. A hand to his unseen mouth as he rememrbered the joy of that day turning into horror. Nathan had no idea just how hard it was on his daughter.
The man stood up, picking up the stack of slat scrolls he began putting them back on their respective shelf. One fell out of the handful. But he didnt notice at first. He stacked them all onto ther shelf then turned away. Picking up a book he spotted the slatscroll on the floor.
But he did not see the woman enter. Reaching down he picked up one end of the slat scroll the exact same time the woman picked up the other end. Getting to eye level the two stared at each other for a long moment. Nathans breath caught in his throat seeing who it was. Aretha stood there. For long moment the two simply stared at each other before Nathan simply let the slat scroll free and the woman took hold of it.
The slat scroll she held, was their wedding announcement date.
That day, the nineteenth of October was their wedding anniversary. It was the next day
For a long moment the two simply stood in silence as Nathan held a book of records, mostly arrivals logs to Arendelle. The woman turned to leave, and Nathan spoke up, without his mouth it was a strange sight and yet his voice spoke clearly. "You know who the Powerful Asassin is dont you ?" Nathan asked her
Aretha halted. "Maybe" She turned to him, his face covered in shadow she saw a pair of steel green eyes. "Why ?"
"According to the last records of traditions book, only days old at that. Sapphire Wolfe had only recently been assigned to protect Queen Elsa of Arendelle as per tradition, before that time, a woman named Riey Johnson, and before her, a man named Samuel, and finally before him, a woman named Diana." Nathan said simply. "Sapphire Wolfe. Age twenty six, burn on 19 August." Nathan smiled unseen behind his mask.
"There is only one person who would worry too much of that and that is the Master of the Wolfe Clan" Aretha replied.
"So why are you not covering for your daughter ?" Nathan asked her
"Because the Queen is with the Assassin you ask of. Mark Wolfe is currently the head of the Wolfe Clan and according to the brotherhood here, the most powerful of them." Aretha told him.
"Your nephew ?" Nathan pressed breifly to her for more info. When she didnt asnwer he pointed at the slat scroll in her hands. "The color alone says it is a wedding announcement of a sort." Aretha held the slat scroll close to her chest as Nathan spoke. "You miss him dont you ?"
"Yes" She replied to him simply.
Nathan again smiled unseen. He nodded. "When you are able, come to the Greensky district den, Ask for Kiyomori, or the Faceless Assassin, and they will take you to him." Nathan said, he hated having to lead his own wife on. "I can assure you however, Nathan never forgot you." He set the scroll containing Sapphires birth record on the table and left the library. As he neared the door however Aretha called to him
"Who are you ?" She asked to the retreating mans back.
Nathan halted, he never lowered his hood as he spoke, turning slightly towards her he said "I am merely a friend of a man close to your heart" was all he said, he turned and left without another word
Aboard the Whitesparrow
At that same moment
"Oy! Roomservice! Where's my Margirita ?" Called out a hauntingly familar voice to Mark as a man sat upon a lounge chair that one would find at a paradise style resort. The man was dressed in a dark coat, yet his long silver hair was clearly visible as the hood was down. The man even appeared oddly at home on the Whitesparrow, even though there was no pool present the guy looked to be as if he was supposed to be in the Bahamas. "Ordered the thing an hour ago! This place is getting a bad review for sure when I get home... if I get home"
Now why did that voice feel so hauntingly familar ? Or why did the guy look familar ?
'Well I'll be damned.' Kalda's projection appeared beside Mark in a explosion of plexus crystals, he stared at the man lounging on his ship. He held no Margarita. 'It's Naratas Aigatis.'
"You know this idiot?" Mark asked in thought
'Indeed. He's like that weird cousin in the family that no one likes to talk about at family parties, at least until he does something so incredibly stupid that we all talk about him' Kalda replied, he had a tone in his voice that was niether annoyance or indefference, in this case it was as if Kalda was entertained by the Force Dragons antics
"I can tell." Mark sighed, and approached the Force Dragon. "What are you doing on my ship, Naratas?" Mark asked. Of course Naratas only saw Kalda.
Turning at the voice, and then seeing Kalda, Nara smirked "You're the captain of this joint ? Coulda expected better, the cooking is lousy, had to fish for my own breakfast, not that I mind that" Nara pointed at Kalda as he spoke. Nara in full fishing gear, hook, line, sinker, fishing pole, and copy of Angeling Times the whole lot as he spoke.
"I am, yes. Kalda is in the back seat, so to speak." Mark answered.
"Nah, not possible, I'm looking him dead in the eyes" Nara said standing up, and somehow instead of being nine foot two, he was eye level with Mark as he had crouched down a bit. "And you're a lot shorter than I remember"
"Reincarnation? I'm not really sure how you Dragons work all that well to be honest with you." Mark answered. "I'm not Kalda... but I am his reincarnation... or something. We are both inhabiting my body... Sometimes he comes out to play." he continued. Mark wasn't used to having to literally look up at someone. "My name is Mark Wolfe. Master of the Wolfe Clan of Arendelle. And Captain of the Whitesparrow"
Nara nodded at mention of the reincarnation and held up a gloved finger "Oh that's right I remember now, Grandma did mention that, how's the afterlife treating ya ?"
Kalda appeared off to the side, and for a moment, Nara could see Mark and Kalda for who they were. "Well it smells funny inside this guy's mind-scape, but being dead isn't all that bad. Dont have Mom yelling at me to do my Laundry anymore. Don't have Laundry in general." he answered. Mark shivered as Kalda made his presense truly known, it was a weird feeling.
"Uh... yeah about your mom..." Nara started to say before switching to full Draconic. "I..."
"I mean Kanwar." He cut him off, his tone touchy.
"Yeah... about her, she says hi, but not about well... I did what I could." He tossed Kalda a crystal who caught it with narrowed eyes, "It is all on there for the most part. At least, what she had told me is on there, I couldnt make much sense of it myself" Nara wasnt exactly hatched in a nest, he was more like farted on a cloud of glitter and raw magic in Lights own throne room. The ruby journal crystal was a certain Silver Dragons journal crystal. Nara sat back down on the lounge chair, then jerked as if remembering something. "Oh, I almost forgot. You guys met up with the Star Council right ? Some of them ? You did ? Good." Nara could tell by look on their faces. "If you see Diamond, tell her I miss her. Now about that Margirita ?"
Kalda vanished with a nod of thanks to Nara and left Mark standing there on the deck, blinking in a confused manner. He shook his head to get his brain back in order. "You can make yourself a Margarita..." he answered, turning to walk to his office on board.
"I tried, the cook threw me out" Nara said as he got up and followed Kalda. Try as Mark might, Nara only saw Kalda. "You know, I remember you looking really impish when Aunty took you in." He mused, ducking at the literal last second to avoid a right hook to his nose. "Arendelle, why does that sound familar ?" Nara asked then.
"Because it is my home" Said another voice, that of Elsa. And Nara looked at her confused, the voice sounded familar, but he couldnt place the face as much as he tried. Elsa did not look like Xeir whatsoever, but she sounded like her
"Do I know you ?" Nara asked, giving Elsa a very confused look, he sensed Xeir somewhere in her, but somehow he also sensed, well, nothing of Xeir, Elsa did not look anything like the Silver Dragon wife of Kalda... then again Mark looked nothing like Kalda either
"Should you ?" Elsa answered with her own question, her arms crossing over her chest as she looked at him with a pointed look.
"I asked first" Nara said, which earned Mark facepalming himself rarther hard at the antics of the really old yet appearing in his thirties silver haired man.
Mark finally sighed and gestured to Nara saying "Queen Elsa of Arendelle... meet Naratas... an..." Mark took a moment to figure out what the hell Naratas was to him. Well, to him, nothing, but to Kalda?
"An old family friend" Nara finished for him, a very old friend.
"We'll go with that. Sure." Mark continued. "Naratas, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, My Fiance." He then motioned from Nara to Elsa
"A pleasure, do I bow ?" Nara said briefly rather confused, so Xeir became a queen ? Not possible ? Naras brain was starting to hurt.
"I would." Mark shrugged.
Kalda's voice whispered into Nara's ear, the Silver Dragon's ethereal body invisible to Elsa for the time being. "She's Xeir Zith's Reincarnation, the same way Mark is mine. She's... not woken up yet though so don't say anything or so help me Light I will feed you Hyena testicles in your tea."
"That actually sounds pretty good, I've always wanted to try that" Nara replied as he held up a thoughtful hand as he took in Elsas body, "She doesnt look like Xeir though, I mean, shes got the voice..."
"Because she's not awake." Kalda repeated.
"Even then, you kinda look like him, or vice versa, but she does not look remotely like Xeir," An invisible to everyone but Kalda image of Xeir appeared on a crystal in Naras hand. "It is like... she is missing something aside from being unwoken" it was true, she was missing her original body, in this case Tiri
"You got me there, by all accounts it doesn't make sense." Kalda shrugged as he was trying to read a academic paper concerning reincarnation anmd it came up empty as he tossed the book aside and shrugged.
Nara smiled, briefly seeing Kaldas father in place of Kalda at that brief second or two "I think aside from agreeing that I am not drunk right now, it might be the first time we agree on anything." Nara replied mentally to the unseen Kalda before simply bowing before Elsa could tell him not to. Sadly it ended with Nara denting the desk with his head with a very hard THUD
At Elsa's look of confusion as to why Nara was talking to himself in another language she could not hope to understand, Mark shrugged, doing the usual sign for "this dude's crazy" with his hand opposite of Nara so he couldn't see.
It was then that Nara had either knocked some wits into himself, or knocked his brain apart when he asked Kalda in incredibly old Draconic while pointing at Elsa he sadly spoke in complete English "Did she lose weight ?" Elsa stared at him and crossed her arms over her chest again, not knowing what Nara meant.
"Looks like it. Doesn't look bad though. Mark seems to like her enough." Catching a dirty look from Mark, the Dragon smirked and chuckled.
"You always were good with the girls" Nara smirked, prompting Kalda to nod in remembrance. That was true. "Infact I remember when Shade asked about you, if you were good for dinner, I said you were below her age range by a few dozen centeries, but it didnt stop her. Grandma had to"
"So were you" Kalda said, Nara looked at him, an eyebrow raised at what he meant, Kalda meant that Nara too was also good with the girls. So he said."You got Diamond, remember"
Nara nodded "Yup, You were at the wedding, and it was also when Grandma banned me from the banquet Hall when half the place was lit on fire, which I swear still was not my fault" that earned another chuckle from Kalda and a dirty look from Nara. Light later allowed Nara to return to the banquet hall as if nothing happened, she just had to make a show of it.
It was a bit confusing as a housecat wandered into the office. "Mark, we're nearly to Arendelle and a odd notice came in over the con" Topaz said, the silver housecat hopped onto the desk and set a letter on it. "It sounded important from Lady Aretha" In this case Sapphires mother.
Mark gave Nara a look, "Nara... if you'd kindly go back to lounging in that chair of yours. There's official business to attend to." he asked, narrowing his eyes insistantly. Nara raised an eyebrow but didnt say anything, bowing once again and nearly cracking his cranium on the desk, Nara took his leave. Mark looked back to Topaz. "What'd she want?" Mark asked, annoyingly running his hand over the dent in his desk that Nara had made with his head.
"She said she wanted to talk to you, there was a hooded man in the Castle Library that felt familar to her, and she wanted to ask you about it, Sapphire refuses to believe it possible though" Topaz replied as she sat on the desk, absenty somehow sliding to the dent location as Nara waved off Mark and wandered out of the office yelling for a Margirita before Elsa could chuck her magic at him.
"Where is your brother ?" Elsa asked the silver housecat. once she had been properly introduced to the two she took to them warmly as if she had always known the pair. Topaz and her brother Lazul were Marks cousins by adoption.
"Watching our guest as requested." It was true, even though Kiyomori had saved their asses in the southern isles, Mark didnt trust her just yet and insisted on keeping an eye on her.
"You mean the woman talking with our other unexpected guest ?" Elsa asked, how in the world did the runes not have an affect on Nara ?
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Talk to me? Very well." he nodded softly. Kalda's image vanished from even Mark's notice. "We'll talk once we pull into port. If it has to do with another Assasssin, I'd rather the Templars not manage to pick up on our communications." he said.
Topaz smirked and pawed the letter. "Its why she sent it in code, I cant make it out, but its an odd langauge, unlike anything I'd read before" the letter was in, odd as it was, old Draconic. Which Kalda understood easily and to an extent, Mark understood it too.
Mark picked it up and opened it, reading it, his eyes glowing Silver as he looked at it, Kalda teaching him the words and letters he didn't know. Mark learned quick.
Mark.
This hooded man carries himself like a Wolfe. I can't put a name to him yet, and Sapphire refuses to believe it, but the way he carries himself is undeniable. He moves and stands very similarly to you. I have reason to believe that the woman, Kiyomori is similar, if not the same.
They both want to know more about you, which tips me off even more. I haven't told them anything beyond that you're the Clan Leader. Once you arrive in Arendelle, come see me, we've much to talk about.
Yours,
Aretha
Mark looked out the window, seeing Kiyomori and how she held herself. He looked back to the letter, back to her, and then sighed. This was beginning to make a bit of sense. Just how many other members of the Wolfe Clan were still alive? A lot more than anyone had any idea of, clearly, based on his adventures in Sacremento. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and looked to Elsa. "You ever find out that you have more family members than you remember existing?" he asked.
"You mean the strange symbol ?" Elsa asked, "meeting your uncle in that bar and finding out my own mother visited him when I was a child ?" She shook her head.
"When I found out grandma Snowblood had other sisters like how we have so many aunts, it actually scared me wondering how many of my family could choke out the world." Topaz spoke up. A solid WHACK was heard as somehow Nara had conjured golfclubs and golfballs and was firing the golfballs like rockets off the bridgehead of the Whitesparrow. The mere fact that Lazul seemed and appeared amused by the Force Dragon along with Kiyomori appearing more or less relaxed around the guy only made Nara feel more at home.
Elsa then asked a question. "Why ? You know you had a sister right ? You know your father is alive too so... Why ?" Topaz merely pointed a claw at Elsa as if saying 'what she said' and then her cousin absently gave her an ear scratching, making Topaz begin to purr
"There's a lot going on that I'm not entirely understanding right now... but I think there's at least five more members of the Wolfe Clan still running around somewhere." he shrugged. "Besides my sister and Father." he sighed. Shaking his head, he set the letter down and looked to Elsa with a smile.
"More people to show up to our wedding, I guess." He mumbled
"Please dont make me be the flowergirl" Topaz meowed, giving her cousin a very dirty look. Not that it mattered Topaz was much too old for that. However there was Miao, but then again she was not a kitten anymore. Sure her mental abilites were six years old, and her body, thirty, but hey.
"Yes, the wedding, but there is still Anna and kristoff's wedding to plan as well, and I promised Anna that I'd give my blessing for the wedding preperations to begin when Arendelle was Templar free, and there are still seven districts left to liberate, as well as the food issues across the kingdom."
Then she saw Marks impish look, He had seen, with his cousin Asami just who was doing the food hoarding work. "What ? I know you're thinking of something, Mark, I know that look." Mark just smiled and didnt answer
An hour later
As the ship neared port upon the stern stood a man in a black coat, his face hidden by shadows. Staring at the early afternoon sun upon the waters of the fjord the mans coat was pulled by the wind. calmly however the man regarded his current predictament. But Naratas was not looking at the reflection of the sun upon the water. He was looking at a memory.
Ages ago
WHACK "You bastard I'll kill you!" The boy screamed as Nara rubbed at his jaw where Kalda had socked him hard as he could. "You killed my mother and took my sibling!" Kalda had no idea if he had a sister or a brother. his mother had a hidden nest and he had found it destroyed with nary a trace of an egg.
"Three things kid" Nara said holding up a hand as a chair matrialised for Kalda to sit on. "One, that was a very good punch, two, I am sorry, but no, you're quite wrong, and three, you're wrong, but still good punch" the brusing faded away rather quickly as Nara spoke.
"What do you mean ? I saw you, you were with Mother and the Reds!" Kalda screamed at him before going quiet.
"Again, you're wrong. your mother wanted me to teach you that morning on hand to hand combat. Instead, I show up, your mother is fighting and beating the shit out of a red in your kitchen, I help her out and got my ass handed to me by a kitchen sink! Next thing I know I wake up and you're punching my lights back out." He explained
"What do you mean ?" Kalda asked him
"A red dragon killed your mother and you think it was me ?" Nara asked him, Kalda nodded. "Wrong again kid, I'm Naratas, I'm not a Red Dragon" he rubbed the back of his head. "Though I can understand your mistake. you just lost your mother, and possibly a sibling though your mothers last words to me was rather confusing" Nara had no idea what a nest was. he wasnt hatched, he was farted out of his mother, Light, in cloud glitter and gas, and magic all at once.
Why Light ate that binary star nobody knew. Maybe it was because she could ?
"My mother is dead, her nest is destroyed, I couldnt find anything of an egg" Kalda started to cry.
"So naturally you think I did it when it was not me. Understandable, but still. Very good punch" Nara said, once more rubbing his jaw. "I'm not one for words of comfort, but, I am one for words of advice"
"Advice ?" Kalda asked, giving him a confused look. What kind of advice could Nara give him ? "What kind of advice ?" Nara didnt look like a scholar in that get up.
"Dont let your anger consume you, use it as fuel to make you stronger through the pain. Besides, what I'm sitting on right now, is a dead Red Dragon, so if I was a red dragon, why would I sit on my own kin ?" Kalda could not answer that question. "Look I'll tell you what, Red Dragons never attack like this on their own; they always travel in pairs. Male and female, one Red Dragon is dead and its a guy, and I'm currently sitting on his ass, and the other, his mate, she still roams free. Your best shot at revenge is to train."
"Mother is training me" Kalda said
"I thought you said I killed your mother ?" Nara stared at him in confusion, how the hell could his dead mother be still teaching her son ?
Kalda then realised what he said and shook his head and blinked explaining to him "No, Kanwar, she adopted me" Kalda said, he sighed. "She is training me"
Nara nodded in thought. "Good choice" he said. He stood up then "I'll tell you what. I will search for the other Red Dragon, the one that killed your mother. You focus on training, when I find her and you are trained enough, I'll tell you where shes hiding, then you can go in and beat the ever loving fuck out of her, agreed ?" Nara held out a hand towards the young boy.
Kalda stared at the gloved hand in thought. Finally nodding and shaking the mans hand "Agreed" Kalda then left the ruined house, leaving Nara alone in the front yard. Turning as Kalda disappeared int othe crowded street, he went into the house towards a closet. And removed a item. Using magic he preserved the item carefully. And spirited it to somewhere else.
The present
The memory faded. Nara smiled behind his hood. A fellow cloaked man appeared next to him from a swirl of golden energy. "Prince Nara, I have your requested information" Nara held out a hand, the other hooded being handed the information over, it was a single red crystal about as long as Marks arm.
"You are dismissed" Nara said simply to the other hooded fellow, the crystal activated, and a map formed before Nara. Again he smiled as the other Force Dragon had left him alone. Nara let the map fade, his smile growing as a name floated off the crystal. Melniirku "Found you"
The ship soon docked thereafter. But when Mark went through the vessel to find Naratas, the dark coated man was nowhere to be seen.
Arendelle
Castle Library
About six hours later
"About time, I was starting to wonder if you ever got my note." Aretha said as Mark stepped into the quieter area of the castle library.
Mark retrieved the letter from one of many pockets and showed it to her, neatly put away. "I did. I assume you have more information on this man that you'd rather discuss in private rather than write it down and risk the message being intercepted by someone else who can read Draconic?" he asked.
"Be careful everyone, he's learning." Kalda mumbled under his breath with a chuckle.
"So the cat got it to you ?" Aretha hadnt seen her nephew since her niece had disappeared. and she had no idea that Miao was even there in the kingdom somewhere slamming down a coke. "Yes. You would be surprised at how many men and women here still use old Arendellian. Draconic is a mix of that and something a little more secret holding." She told him.
She then described the man she had seen that morning. "All I could see were his eyes. A steel green. But I could not see his face because of some sort of mask he wore, blending his face perfectly with his skin. He wore the Assassin Robes, and when I met him he was reading this" She handed Mark a slat scroll, it was dated the day of the attack on the Wolfe Clan. But it was not the historical record of the attack, but a birth record. Sapphires birth record.
"Sapphire Wolfe's birth record?... That's right she was born on the day of the massacre." Mark mused, as he opened it, looking it over. clearly seeing his cousins time of birth. the attack wasnt until six hours after she was born. "But how would he get his hands on this? He'd have to be a Wolfe, or a servant of the family to be able to know where we kept these and save it from the fire." Mark furrowed his eyebrows. "Jesus, how many more family members alive do we have? The number just seems to keep going up." He muttered
"Most of the Birth Records are kept in the Castle Library's records hall. But this one I kept a copy of before the attack, When the original was lost in the fire I brought it here. How the man knew where to find it I cant hope to explain." Aretha replied. Though she had a thoughtful look on her face. "Though, it was odd what he said when he left."
"What did he say?" Mark took a small step forward, leaning in. He crossed his arms over his chest, and narrowed his eyes.
"He said 'I am merely a friend of a man close to your heart' I have been trying to figure out what he meant, but." She trailed off, she had drawn a blank on everything she tried, Even Sapphire couldnt figure out what the man meant. "But he did say to look for the den master of the Greensky District, which was recently liberated. Or to ask for a woman named Kiyomori in the same area"
"Kiyomori..." he mumbled the name to himself. The name was familiar. He nodded. "Greensky District... got it." he turned to start to leave, but stopped. An idea crossed his mind. With the Wolfe Clan being so few in number in Arendelle, and at an unknown number in the Mongolian branch...
"What would you say to me making some chosen Sword Corps members honorary Wolfe Clansmen? To help restore our numbers?" He turned to look back at her, lifting his arms up to grab the cowl of his hood, ready to lift it onto his head. He may be clan leader, but the word of the Clan could easily remove him from position, especially with so few members, they all had more power. But this wasn't about that - she was a Clan member. She had a say in the future of the Wolfe Clan, they all did.
And as Clan Leader, Mark wanted the Clan's opinion.
"You've met her ?" Aretha asked meaning Kiyomori, the way her nephew said the word with some recognition made her ask such a question.
But to his new question she asked him one of her own as she held the birth record to him. "Have you asked Sapphire ?" It made sense to ask such a question. Asking his cousin if she knew the faceless man, who called himself the Faceless Assassin, or even the woman Kiyomori. But what Aretha meant was if he had asked Sapphire on naming Sword Corps members as members of the Wolfe Clan. As far as she knew, she and Sapphire, and now himself returned, were the only Clan members left
"The Gauntlet chose you, Nephew. Between you, myself, and my daughter, do what you deem best." Aretha said to him, She handed him Sapphires birth record slatscroll. Her reasoning was that the closer Mark was to danger, the safer the birth record would be.
She was right.
He grunted softly. "No, I haven't asked her yet... I will next I see her." he said, lifting his hood, and taking the birth record, stowing it in his cloak. "But yes, I've met Kiyomori... She saved mine and Elsa's lives not very long ago." He said. He turned around fully and headed for the door again. "I'll see you again soon, Aunt Aretha. It was good seeing you again." he said. She could hear the smile in his voice as he opened the door, and stepped outside, vanishing into the night crowds on their way to the pub.
"It was good to see you as well, Nephew." Aretha replied as Mark left. it had been too long since she had seen him. But he had met Kiyomori, and if the woman had saved his, and the queens lives, then that meant the woman could be trusted.
Arendelle
Arko Memorial Garden
Later that evening
Mark spotted Nara as the dark coated man wandered the Memorial Mark of Arko, it was no longer a residental island anymore due to the deaths that had occured there. Nara came to a halt near the waters edge of a small pond, the fighting had been the lightest at that area even when the crazy shadows began their part of the fight. Mark stepped closer. "You never were good at keeping quiet were you ?" Nara asked calmly, deadly calm and oddly, serious instead of crazy and zany as he was on the ship when Mark first met him.
"You wanted to speak to me ?" Mark said in reply
"Yes. You remember when you were a boy, and lost your mother ?" Nara asked, Kalda growled, the hooded man smiled. "I will take that as a yes, just hear me out. We made a deal you and I, Kalda. You would train, and I would track your mothers killer. Did you read the journal I gave you ?" Kalda just looked at him as Mark stiffly nodded. The ruby held images, pieces of wisdom, and some of the images were rather graphic in their viewsof violence and death.
Nara had a somber tone to his voice as he spoke. "Well, I found her. it took me so many generations and ages to do so because of one thing. she was not on Earth." Nara concluded
"What do you mean ? I thought the Mortal Realm was just Earth whereas the Mythic realm was where we are from ?" Mark said with Kaldas voice. While internally he and Kalda were debating things, it didnt make a lot of sense.
"The Mythic and Mortal Realms consist of many worlds. Grandmother only likes this planet because it is infact closest to many portal ways. But the Red who killed your mother. Well, she went to a different planet and there are hundreds if not thousands of planets at that point in time tens of millions of years ago." Nara explained
"So where is she ?" Mark then asked in his own voice
"Somewhere near Paris, if not in it" Nara replied holding up a shard of a diamond in one hand. "However there is a problem." His words made Mark stop as he began to turn around to get going and make for Paris.
"A problem ?" Mark said stiffly. "What kind of problem ?"
"Melniirku is experienced on several other planets before coming to Earth itself. Which in turn naturally means that you have a problem. She is far smarter than you, and much much older than you." Nara pointed out. "You would only be going to your death again if you go to face her now"
Mark halted as Kalda struggled internally to keep himself calm. The same Red that killed his beloved mother was still alive, and was now on Earth. He had vowed to kill her, even worked on training hard enough to do so. But he ultimately lost against Kethend in battle and had died at that point. "So what happens now ?"
"If you go after Melniirku now you die, she is a planner, if you thought Kethend was bad, and her husband worse, Melniirku blows them both out of the water on the planning level. Anyone aside from a Force Dragon like me or one of my own or even my own adopted daughter Zane end up dead within seconds of instigating battle with Melniirku."
"She killed my mother!" Mark said, meaning Kaldas mother.
"I know" Nara said calmly.
"So I need to avenge my mother! Let me do this!" Mark barked at the dark coated man.
Nara put a gloved hand to his head and shook his head. "I tried to warn you calmly, but this is on you." Turning rapidly he grabbed Mark by the coat and dragged him into an alley and held him against a wall. "Listen to me, and listen carefully Kalda, Melniirku is experienced, and two times the planner Draco ever was. Red Dragons always travel in mated pairs, you know why she targeted your mother ? Because your mother and father both killed her parents when she had just hatched. She saw it all. and made her plans for revenge, her husband Valinog was killed by your mother, barely. But Melniirku timed things so carefully that your mother fell. But she never found your mothers nest." Nara let go of Mark then, By then Kalda had calmed a bit.
"And if she comes to Arendelle ?" Mark asked in his own voice as he leaned against the wall, calming slightly, but still glaring at Nara.
"If she comes to Arendelle she will still best you on your own ground. What you should do is focus. Melniirku wanted vengence for her own parents deaths, she's got it at the expense of her husbands life, she never remated. if you go after her now, you die. You have many other things going on right now, so you do not alter the plan!" Nara said pointing at Mark simply.
Mark thought a moment, "And if she alters it ?" it was not a question that Nara was prepared for. Mark knew it. he had his brother in law cornered and didnt even know Nara was his brother in law at the time.
Nara took a deep breath in careful thought. "If she alters it, we adapt."
Arendelle
Greensky District
An Hour later
Greensky District was set up in a less settled more open farmland area of the kingdom as a whole, recently liberated by a pair of unknown Assassin members the current Den Master was apparently a man named the Faceless Assassin of Tokyo Japan, with him was apparently his daughter, a beautiful black haired young woman named Kiyomori
After the two had liberated the district the food was evenly spread out, and the district was better off than most of the others in the kingdom thanks to the food shortage, and yet Mark was able to find who was currently hoarding the food and unable to find out why.
But somehow, the Greensky District, the farming district of the kingdom was in the best state in terms of food and livablity. And it was apparently given in respect to the new Den Master at the Greensky Den. And the only person Mark could think about was the woman, Kiyomori who had disappeared from the ship when it docked. she had saved his life, and the life of Elsa. and his aunt had warned somehow she was connected to the Wolfe Clan.
Mark didn't waste time after seeing Nara, and headed for the Greensky District's Den. He could see it down the road, and he was walking quickly towards it. Being that it was still very recently liberated, there were still a few Templar stragglers that hung on to their little homes or spots where they bullied the local population. Because of that, Mark kept his armor on, and his hood up. His heavy boots thunked against the ground as he walked, and eventually he made his way to the steps of the Den.
He kicked his boots free of dust on the second step, and then rose to the next few, lifting his arm to knock on the Den's door and enter. Sure he may be one of the highest ranking assassins in the kingdom, or indeed the region, but this wasn't his Den.
His fist began to fall as he started to knock.
But he didnt get that far.
Out of nowhere someone plowed into him from the side, sending them both to the ground in a tangle, though brief, of arms and legs in a thick landscape of bushes. The woman, as it was clearly seen, put a hand to Marks mouth and covered it, raising a finger for quiet as shouts were heard. "She came this way!"
"Dont let that bitch get away!" Another voice shouted. A bunch of men and women came running into Marks view, they all wore outfits unlike any common Templar group Mark was familar with, these outfits were more of a untraditional and very organised gang
"Pair off until you find her." Said a third voice, sounding like an officer in charge. "The boss wants her for questioning and wants her alive" Though it was clear in the mans tone that returning her to the boss dead was actually preferable. The group split up and quickly left. Kiyomori slowly got off Mark and looked around the corner of the gate wall to see the street empty.
Kiyomori was upset as she growled, energy formed on her hand as she clinched her fist. "Asshole gang, who cares if I ate for free when the keeper insited I dont pay for my meal after cleaning out this den ?" She grumbled dusting off her hands she turned and saw Mark on the ground "Sorry about that, I didnt hurt you did I ?" Kiyomori asked him as he got to his feet.
One moment he was knocking on the door, the next he was on the ground with a woman on top of him. Blinking, he focused his vision as she got off of him. Yeah, that was Kiyomori. "Takes a little more than that to hurt me, but thanks for the concern." He answered as he dusted himself off.
"Kiyomori, right?" he asked, looking her up and down briefly, eyes settling on hers from beneath his hood.
She nodded. "If its about the gang I can explain" She started to say before he cut her off.
"I was told to ask for you in this district's den. Something to do with my family." he asked. And then, to clarify. "I'm Mark Wolfe."
"We've met" Kiyomori said simply, she was at first relieved he wasnt there about the wanton gangs running across the Greensky and Turntao Districts, "I'm sorry what ? Told to find me in this District ?" Ok this got just a bit more than strange yet she needed to know more. "May I ask how I concern your family ?" Please dont say it concerns my dad
Mark smiled, after dusting himself off, he clasped his hands behind his back. "Something about a masked man holding a birth record of my cousin, Sapphire Wolfe. The only way he could have gotten his hands on it is if he were a Wolfe, or a servant of the Clan before the massacre. He was last seen in this district. With you." Mark told her
Well fuck me sideways with sandpaper Kiyomori thought in her mind while outwardly showing zero emotion to what was just told to her. Well, her father wasnt going to be happy about this new event. "I guess with you here, the Wylieon Gang is the least of my worries." Kiyomori mumbled in Japanese before flicking something at the door, unlocking it with a strange Japanese rune. "Its better we talk inside before the gang gets back, they've been by here almost nightly now." She told him. Leading the man inside the den.
The Den itself was a three floor structure with a two level basement. And at one point it had a muledeer stables. However there were some major differences from other dens in Arendelle. This one was heavily Tokyo technology designed. Glass lined the floor itself and every surface on the walls and allowed one to look directly to the basement, maps lined a wall as holograms dancing just off the surface of the glass panels.
Kiyomori lead Mark into the main dining room of the structure. And what was in it, made it appear as a modern if not normal house. The table was oddly, made of a beautiful dark oak wood that glittered with fresh varnish. The walls itself had glass panels colored it seemed to be a dark wall of a sort of dining room of a Japanese house.
A man stood before a map of the kingdom on the wall. His hood down. Occasionally flicking at the map a pair of fingers, Nathan heard the door open as Kiyomori lead Mark into the room. "Gangs again, Kiyomori ?" He asked. He had his face covered even though his hood was down. He wore a more traditonal black Samurai kamino outfit. A pair of katana swords were on his left hip. His hair was long and black, and from what Mark could see, had streaks of gray due to age or experience.
"Could say that, Father." She replied. "We do however have... A rather important guest." She trailed off as there came a soft 'mm' noise from the Faceless Assassin before them.
Nathan never turned around, allowing Mark to take in the back of the man, built similar to himself only more Japanese in culture the Assassin robes were almost identical to Kiyomoris robes. Which as Mark looked from the man to her he saw Kiyomoris robes shift design and appear more like a Samurais common kamino of dark blue and black edged in even darker red. He'd ask about it later.
"An imporant guest ?" Nathan asked, his eyes still upon the map on the wall. "Did he say why ?" Before Kiyomori could answer Mark spoke up as he withdrew the birth record from his cloak. Now how did Nathan know Mark was male ?
"What were you doing with my cousin's Birth Record? Only a select few people can get their hands on a Wolfe Birth Record." Mark set the record on the Oak table in the center of the room. "And as far as I know, there is less than ten of those people alive in or near Arendelle." he added smoothly.
There was an odd sting to his voice. He wasn't angry or harsh in tone. He was curious, but stern. He needed to know who this man, and what he was capable of. Clearly he could liberate a farming district by himself. Mark never saw the records, but it was Kiyomori who had liberated Greensky, on sheer accident at that. Most Assassins needed some back up for that unless they were particularly skilled in either pure assassination techniques or magic or combat. He crossed his arms over his chest again, and blinked.
Behind his mask Nathan heard the slatscroll be set upon the oak table. His eyes looked over the map of the still to be liberated districts of Arendelle. He held up a hand. "Kiyo, see to the others and see to it that we are not disturbed." He said in Japanese. She nodded and left without a word. Leaving Mark alone with the Faceless Assassin.
As soon as the door clicked shut did Nathan turn towards his nephew. Who with the mask covering his face Mark couldnt hope to recognise truth was the two never really got to grow close thanks to the attack. "As far as I am aware there are only two Wolfe clan members left in Arendelle, Well, now three, Yourself one of them. the others being a mother and her daughter. And then some" Truth was Nathan had no idea that his sister in law was in town, nor did he know that their own ancestor Yaeko was in town somewhere too.
Mark didnt answer. Nathan smiled behind his mask
Stepping forwards to the table, he picked up the slate scroll. "The last Birth Record of the Wolfe Clan, Sapphire Wolfe" Nathan said seeing the red edged slatscroll, he opened it. reading off the date. "August the ninetenth. Nineteen eighty six. amazing how time can move around isnt it ?" he smiled behind his mask at Marks scowl towards him. "Sapphire Wolfe, born to Nathan and Aretha Wolfe, at six thirty two am." He closed the scroll and briefly held onto it.
He remembered that morning, it was a joy filled one. But it turned to horror only hours later. If it werent for Marion insisting on setting those traps in the house that evening; they would not have had a chance.
Looking from the scroll to Mark he asked as he held up the slatscroll. "You are curious of how I could find this, arent you ?" He asked, adding "Master Wolfe" Using Marks offical title of the head of the Wolfe Clan.
Mark wasn't surprised to hear that Nathan knew who he was and what his title was. Anyone who knew at least ten things about Arendelle and the Order here knew who or at least what he was in terms of where he stood in the hierarchy of things.
His arms remained crossed over his armored chest and his face stalwart as this masked, Faceless Assassin spoke to him. But he didn't really answer his question on how he came to possess the Birth Record. But based on the body structure and the way he carried himself...
"You're a Wolfe, aren't you?" he asked plainly. A smirk began to tug at his lips. "And so is Kiyomori... your daughter, perhaps? Based on the shared fashion sense for your robes, and how quickly she obeyed your request earlier. From the Eastern Branch of the Clan, I guess as well." he reached up and lowered his hood. Bronze eyes observed the man in front of him carefully, but with respect and happiness.
Nathan at first didnt respond thanks to his mask keeping his true emotions hidden from Mark seeing them. How to tell this young man, both how truly he spoke, and how badly he spoke at the same time. "A Wolfe ?" Nathan repeated simply as he rolled up the slatscroll of his Daughters Birth Record, almost as if in thought as he held the slatscroll in one hand as he pointed it at Mark. He chuckled. "It has been a very long time since anyone referred to me as such."
He then smiled behind his mask. "Kiyomori does not call me her father for nothing. When I first arrived in Tokyo she was homeless and stealing to survive. I took her in, and showed her a means to use her skills as a theif to help others." He said simply in regards to Kiyomori. He then smiled behind his mask again. Holding up the Slatscroll. "To answer your first question. What I was doing with this. why was I reading it ?" He said to Mark
"Yes. How did you get your hands on it?" He asked, nodding to the scroll. So Kiyomori wasn't Wolfe by blood, but by adoption. Interesting, but by no means strange or anything to look down upon. No the Wolfe Clan could use all the members it could get. And besides, Yaeko even stated it clearly. "Once a Wolfe, Always a Wolfe" and that even included adoption because the only Wolfe Matron known to be adopted was Maeze Wolfe when her mother, Yaekos last child, Bane Wolfe adopted her sisters infant daughter, and the Gauntlet chose her when Bane stepped down.
Nathan chuckled. "Memories" He then said. At Marks confused look he explained. "How could a day celebreating a newborns birth, become a day of pure unadultrated horror in less than twelve hours ?" He asked. However he waved away the question before Mark could think up an answer. "Memories" He repeated."Memories of happines, joy, celebration, family. New Life."
Nathan paced a bit before stepping closer to Mark and setting the scroll on the table in front of him. "Tell me something, Master Wolfe, how is your cousin ?" He asked him, steel green eyes looking deep into Marks own deep brownbronze eyes. "Has she been able to figure out who orcristrated the attack that destroyed her life only hours after she received it ?"
Mark was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Sapphire is doing well."He finally said, almost stiffly at the question. "I don't know if she has. I don't know to what extent it is ingrained in her mind like yours or mine. I was but a boy, you older... she was much too young to remember. Only hours old." he explained. "That question is better asked to her directly, should you get the chance. Tell me, what should I call you?" He now asked for his name, to help further break bread and lighten the tone.
Nathan smiled behind his mask, he could sense Mark wanting to know more. There was a bright spark in his green eyes as Mark stared at him but also with an air of respect. "I will get that chance, and very soon we should both hope." he said before turning and going to the other end of the long table. A hand reached to the tie holding the mask in place and easily loosed it. The other hand gently removed it. "It has been a long time since anyone has asked for my name, my true name." He said as he set the mask on the table.
For a long moment, there was silence, it was almost as loud as one of the explosions from the Whitesparrow's guns. Nathan traced his index and middle finger on his mask.
And then he turned towards Mark.
It was his next words that could either break Marks heart, or make him want to tackle Nathan into a bearhug. "Nephew, you may call me Uncle Nathan, if you wish to." He allowed Mark to see his face. He was Marks uncle by blood of his father, Marcus, Nathan Wolfe was still alive!
But it was impossible, Sapphire had told Mark about her nightmares each year on her birthday of the attack, seeing her father dead in the front yard but at the time being an infant having no idea what was happening.
Nathan raised a hand before Mark could speak or move. "I only ask you one thing, since the Gauntlet chose you to lead the Clan. Quite truly it is a relief to me that it chose you instead of me. I am not a leader. I could never hope to be. So, until I reveal myself to the others tomorrow morning, to my wife and daughter, You are to refer to me as the Faceless Assassin. At least until I speak with Aretha and Sapphire." He smiled at his nephew. "Agreed ?" With Nathan now confirmed alive, along with his father Marcus also alive. Mark counted himself, his uncle,. his aunt, all three of his cousins, and his father, and dare he hoped it, his sister, Marion alive. which counted eight members, at least of his generation still alive, in addition to Kamerilah, her twin daughters, and Yaeko along with Yaekos daughter Luna, and her daughter Hidden Flute.
Which brought the total number of Wolfe Clan members still alive to fourteen. Of course Mark didnt think to include his own mother in that number just yet, if Marion was alive then his mother too could be somewhere.
Mark was silent for a good minute.
Another Wolfe. His uncle. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled sharply through a smile. "Uncle Nathan..." He mumbled to himself softly. He inhaled and looked up, then to Nathan. He stood straighter and pulled the man into a bear hug while dispelling his Armor. Mark hadn't been particularly close to his uncle growing up, but every close family member confirmed to be alive always brought him unbelievable amounts of joy.
He held the hug through Nathan's request of remaining Anonymous, and then nodded. "Of course, Uncle. Now, as the Guantlet Bearer, I have a question for you. I've asked Aunt Aretha already, but the opinion of the Clan is paramount. It's no secret our numbers are completely miniscule compared to the former glory of the Clan when we made up the entirety of the Queen's Guard under Yaeko. We can do that again, though through blood it would take far too long, and would be too improbable. After all, who would really to raise and have that many children? No. What if we adopted some of the younger Guards? Made them honorary Wolfe Clan members? Bolstered our numbers?" He took a step a back.
"After all, 'Once a Wolfe, Always a Wolfe', right?" He had the look of a leader to him, and it made Nathan smile.
Nathan was thoughtful as Mark broke the hug. "Adoption into the family ?" Nathan had condensed Marks question into a much simpler form. "Similar to my own daughter, Kiyomori ?" Mark was right, Once a Wolfe, Always a Wolfe. Nathan nodded. "What did Aretha say when you asked her ?"
"To do what I thought was best for the Clan. Not exactly explicit permission, but it is better than a big fat no. Your thoughts, Uncle?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Mark had grown so much since the attack on the manor. From a skinny, baby-faced boy to a large, broad man of muscle with a respectable head of hair and impressive beard, though neatly trimmed to hug his jaw.
His face was littered with old scars. He favored his weight on one leg, opposite the knee that was shattered during that fight at Arko and healed thanks to the Doves. There was an intensity beyond his eyes. Mark had grown too much in such a short time. But it was for the best - the Gauntlet still chose him, and kept choosing him.
Nathan was nodding softly, not saying a word as Mark explained what his aunt, Nathans own beloved wife, had told him. Basically saying for him to choose what was best. As far as Nathan cared, Aretha was the head of the house. So when he was asked for his thoughts on the matter. Nathan instead of answering, asked after taking in his nephews appearance, from the well toned muscled body to the gaunt scarred face. "What happened to you since the attack. Surely you havent changed that much ?" Then again, Mark grew up with a family of so many cats it was actually scary.
"Dont answer that, it was retorhecal" Nathan waved a hand before Mark could answer about the past or get upset of being asked about it. Going to the table Nathan picked up his mask. Turning to his nephew while holding the mask in one hand he said simply. "What does your heart tell you ?" Answer that, and maybe Mark knew what to do. The mqask turned in Nathans hand.
"My heart says to make sure the Clan will approve. With you being the brother of the last Clan leader, my dad, I feel that your opinion, and that of your wife matter the most right now. Sapphire should be asked too, of course." He nodded. His armor appeared on his body again and he sighed. "We have much to do in the coming years, I feel."
Nathan was thoughtful. "That armor looks good on you, might I ask who your tailor is ?" He said it more as a joke, but it also made sense. He nodded however then "You are right, we do have a lot ahead of us. From what I hear across town, you are in close with the current Queen and her sister" And there came the happy laughter from somewhere outside as the door suddenly popped open and snowman walked in while putting his carrot nose back on his face.
Nathan simply stared at Olaf for a good moment before saying. "Care to explain, nephew ?"
Mark was about to answer his uncle when Olaf came in the door. "Ah... Meet Olaf. A snowman given life by Elsa. Olaf... meet..." he paused to nod to Nathan's mask. "... the Faceless Assassin. A collegue of mine. " he finished. "As for your earlier statement... yes. Elsa is my fiance." He smiled rather bashfully. He'd fallen head over heels for her when they met all those years ago. So badly that Snowfeather had to suckerpunch his gut to get him to pay attention to the rest of the world again.
Nathan of course had his mask in hand as Olaf looked at him. Leaning to Mark Olaf said while trying and failing very badly to cover his mouth asking "If his name is the Faceless Assassin, why does he have a face ?" Oh boy.
"Olaf, you say ?" Nathan then asked
To which Olaf perked up and shrieked at Nathan, "HI I'M OLAF AND I LIKE WARM HUGS!" if it werent for the fact that Olaf was a snowman, and quite cute honestly the more Nathan looked at the guy, Nathan would have been entirely freaked out. The Snowman held his stick arms out as if wanting to hug Nathan asking "And you are ?" Of course that question made Mark faceplam with a clonk.
"I am as Mark has called me. the Faceless Assassin" Nathan replied to Olaf's question. By that point Nathan had his mask back on his face and Olaf didnt recognise him.
"Hey, where'd the other guy go ?" The Snowman darted for the nearby door and somehow smashed against it in pieces that somehow mushed apart like jello before he found the handle and ambled calmly through the door as if nothing was wrong..Nathan looked to his Nephew, an eyebrow raised but no questions were asked.
Nathan then raised a calming hand and waved off the coming reply. "No matter, If you are that close to the Queen, then you know the histories of the Clan. at points female members had to act as the Queen, or entirely be the queen directly. For a time the Wolfe Clan was infact royalty" Nathan said top his nephew. At one point, Yaekos great grand daughter, and then that Wolfe Clan leaders daughter, and then that daughter, were all Queens of Arendelle; a good chunk of about 120 years in total.
The door popped open and Olaf poked his head back in "Uh, was that lady supposed to leave ?" He asked, meaning Kiyomori. Nathan smiled behind his mask and said
"Ah yes, I remember, she had to meet the queen rather formally so" Nathan had a smirk in his tone. "Though, I am not sure of what Kiyomori knows of what is elegance and what is combat. Truth be told I myself, I've never been in the castle, or its courtyard before, so I do not know what she will encounter." In other words, he had pretty much given his own daughter an infiltration mission into the most secure point of the kingdom. He caught the look thrown at him from Mark "What ?"
"You do realise where you are sending her, uncle ?" Mark asked him. He had Assassin's all over the place with the Sword Corps there.
"Of course I do, Kiyomori is going to the castle to formally meet the Queen. But I told her that I had never set foot inside the castle or anywhere on its grounds aside from very briefly into the courtyard gate when your father and I were going to be married to our wives, so I have no idea what she will encounter or who she will meet." Nathan said to him. he gave Mark a sidelong glance. "Why are you so worried about her ?"
"She may run into Sapphire, I assigned her and Aunt Aretha both to protect Elsa and Anna when I or Diana cant be there.. Infact I promoted Sapphire to captain of the Sword Corps myself after fixing a few things" Mark said By that point Olaf had wandered over to what looked like a potted plant and disappeared
Nathan looked thoughtful behind his mask, but he nodded. "I sense then that Kiyomori will have her work cut out for her, she is quite good at stealth missions however, You've seen her magic have you not ? She's had to use it a lot since we arrived her this week. Of course I did entrench to her the need for formal attire. But as mentioned between her way of life before I took her in as a child all those years ago when I first arrived in Tokyo only days after the fire, her idea of formal clothing is samurai armor, without the helmet. however she does look nice in a dress."
"Her magic even works on clothing ?" Mark had witnessed, and had been saved by, Kiyomoris magical powers. it was similar to Elsa in many ways, only far different as well. he was slightly unnerved at how Kiyomori was able to easily change her clothing without needing privacy.
"More then just her clothing. Kiyomori is a strong willed child at heart, but the way I raised her, trained her, took her off the streets, she learned so much even just trying to survive alone in Tokyo. I think in a way, that attack helped our family even more so. If you will allow it, Kiyomori will make an excellent Wolfe along side her sister. Yes I adopted Kiyomori offically in Japan, I had done the paperwork using an alias there." Seeing his nephews look Nathan smiled behind his mask.
"Let me put it this way, I have friends in high places across the world just like your father had. Contacts, allies, close relations and friends." Nathan could tell he hit a slightly sour note with his nephew at mention of his father but didnt ask.
"Seems I still have a bit to learn about leading the clan properly. I have relationships to rekendle and build if I'm to set up a proper network of friends... And if there's one thing we Assassins are known for it's always having a friend. Usually the most obscure person in town. Like Old Man Joe." Mark waved the thought away before it became a question, that wasn't important right now.
Mere mention of Old Man Joe had Nathans complete attention as he stared at his nephew. "How in Blessed Light's name do you know him ? Nobody has spoken to him in nearly twenty years!"
But Mark didnt answer that question. "That isn't important right now." he answered calmly. Everyone in Arendelle knew who Old Man Joe was. Him and his beloved bird were always wandering around the city aimlessly, living in an old barn and talking to himself in a dead language. He was a harmless opld guy who occasionally spouted nonsense in Norse or even English. "What is important is building up the clan, our networks, and the kingdom of Arendelle. One step at a time."
The only time Nathan had spoken with Old Man Joe was when Marcus and Chairty were first married. Old Man Joe was present at the wedding. but Mark was right, Old Man Joe didnt matter and wasnt the main issue at that moment in time. There were two pressing issues. The first was that Olaf had wandered off, of course he did wander the kingdom as he liked, not that anyone could stop the innocent snowman from doing much. And the other issue was the fact that Kiyomori was going, on her own, into the Castle Grounds with no clue what to watch for.
But there was mention of a third issue to tackle. Internal networks. "Now that, is an issue there, Nephew, the Assassins here in Arendelle had been nearly entirely eliminated while Elsa and Annas parents were in charge of the kingdom, and their parents before them. I would say at around three generations ago, during Queen Jennifer the Blessed, was the last time Assassins were freely moving in Arendelle without worry of being targeted and hunted."
Queen Jennifer the Second really, known publicly as Queen Jennifer the Blessed because of her love for life alone. was a heavy duty backer of the Assassins at the time, and relied on them more akin to bodyguards and personal soldiers and information seekers. the Wolfe Clan directly was the Royal Bodyguard family, but by the time that Elsa and Anna were born, the massive family had been reduced to just Nathan, his wife Aretha, Nathans' older brother Marcus, and his wife Charity, and their parents.
Nathan was quiet, and thoughtful. But he had something of an idea. "Building up the clan will take some time. For now, let us focus on rebuilding our Assassin Network. Recruit a few more after you liberate another district. send them here, and Kiyo can train them."
Southern Isles
Hans Palace Residence
A day later
Xiuen moved a pawn upon the chessboard. The woman was beautiful, but she was also smart. long black hair framed a slender beautiful face. Dressed in a black hooded coat, the woman had gloves that went to above her elbows, and boots that were tailored for a woman such as herself "Do you really want to change destiny ?" The woman asked the Prince before her.
Hans didnt answer. "I plan many things" He replied as he moved a Knight
"And yet, one of those things is to change fate, is it not ?" Xiuen asked him as she moved another pawn. her eyes gave Hans a hard look. The opening moves were always the most critical. And yet, this man wanted to explain to her his plan ? "What is your plan ?"
"As of right now" Hans replied, moving a pawn. "My plan is simple. I want Arendelle, I want to destroy the Assassins there, I want the kingdom ruled by me alone. You and the others have Napoli, we have this world. Arendelle will be mine." He said.
Xiuen didnt smile as she moved a knight. "Perhaps you would need aid, advice, soldiers ?" She said
Hans scofffed and castled his King, "You would do that ?"
"I would indeed" Xiuen replied, taking his knight with a bishop. "However, the question remains, would you take what we give ?"
Hans moved another knight. "It depends on the aid, or soldiers, or advice." He replied
"You do not have true happiness do you ?" Xiuen asked him as she moved another bishop. Hans looked at her confused and moved a rook. "You only want to escape, to live within Arendelle, and rule it as you see fit to escape the fact that you are alone."
"I have a wife" Hans growled at her.
"And yet you are not happy, you want to hide behind ther facade of a right to rule because you were ignored by your family, to rule a kingdom that refuses to see you as its king" Xiuen smiled then, an impish yet dangerous smile. She set an item on the table as she moved her queen. putting his king in Checkmate. "Tonight, when you use this, you will figure it out." She stood from the table. Hans was perplexed as she smiled saying. "Checkmate, in six. King Hans" She said simply. She then disappeared as purple and white vinery swirled around her and faded away.
As the shadows left where the woman once stood, a pair of "men" entered the study. "I wondered when you would return" Hans said seeing the two dark coated men. Taztan and Masor smirked darkly at the man. "We have work to do, you know what to do ?"
"Yes" Masor replied, "We received word that Queen Elsa is to be wed to her own bodyguard, Mark Wolfe. But there is more. According to the report, the same week the queen plans to take a year long sabatical to travel the world as a honeymoon, leaving the kingdom in the control of a council" Masor said, Hans smirked, so the chessplaying woman, whose words were cryptic, actually told him to make plans ?
"When is the wedding ?" Hans asked
"In a month" Came the reply from Taztan.
"A month ?" Hans asked. He stood up and started to pace, they couldnt use a month ? Could he ? All his plans in Napoli were for naught. What could they do with a month ? "How can we work with a month ? A month is..."
"...All I need" He was cut off by another voice as its owner came into the room, turning to it he saw Taekito, his left arm encased in steel, living metal formed by magical means, Hans also saw that in Taekitos silver gray eyes was a look of raw need, in this case the raw powerful hungry of wanting revenge for the loss of his arm. "In a month the wedding takes place, at which time I will return to Arednelle on my own, I have a plan"
Hans was actually too scared by the raw look in Taekitos eyes to even ask him what the plan was.
MEMORY SYNC COMPLETED: SEQEUNCE 12 COMPLETED