The Assassin's Way
part 7 Fire Sale
"Everything in life is possible execept skiing through a revolving door"
"Wanna bet ?"
-Mark Wolfe & Wezaki
4 June 2055
Sacremento
Abandoned Bank vault
As the two watched the memories play before them the scene shifted from the cruise ship captain speaking into a radio in his hand to something else. It showed a keypad written over in holographic Arabic. With a young hand reaching towards it as the memory zoomed out, it showed a gate as well. Leading to a nice drive, a sandy lot of sort with thick green grass and plenty of tress, and a massive three floor mansion of a house that looked important.
The young hand belonged to a young Mark; and with a pause, his fingers curled. He was remembering the password that Talak had given him - this was her house after all. His next mission: Kill her parents, and her, if possible. She knew too much; her parents were a threat to the stability of the region and part of the Templar Order, they all had to die. His eyes were still clouded from crying over what he'd done, but he swallowed his pride and entered the code: 267485. After a second, the pad beeped green, and the door opened. He entered, and paused as the door went behind him. Talak hadn't been home yet... at least thats what he was told. He'd met her parents, so the servants would know who he was... infiltrating would actually be easy.
Lowering his hood, he bit the inside of his cheek and took a deep breath before stepping forward; being spotted by one of the guards immediately. "Hey! You! You're not supposed to be in here!" the guard said, raising his gun and approaching the young man. Mark didn't move, though he was startled.
"W-wait! I'm.. I'm Talak's boyfriend, Mark! Didn't she tell anyone? I was supposed to come in for dinner!" he said, raising his hands with his palms facing the guard.
Pausing the Guard examined the boy's face. "Oh right... you look familiar... sorry about that... this way." he said, gesturing for Mark to follow. He wouldn't follow long, however; once they were outside of visual range of the other guards, Mark raised his hood and leaped forward onto the guard's back, putting one arm around his face over his mouth and the other hand on the back of his head. Twisting hard, the forteen-year-old boy snapped the guard's neck without an issue. Using his weight and his own suprising strength, Mark stashed the body in a coat-closet nearby, and then lowered his hood again, walking through the corridors silently. He'd use the same story with any other servants or guards he met along the way; snapped their necks or used silent choke-holds to knock them out quickly before using a blade to slit their throats silently and cleanly. There was never any sign of a struggle, nor was their any noise. Maids, butlers, guards, even the cooks, they were all killed silently and quickly, however it took Mark at least an hour of the story-telling and some sneaking around in order to accomplish his job. By the time every servant outside of the guards who patrolled the grounds on the outside of the building, as well as Talak's parents, her mother already in bed, her father in his office across the hall.
Outside the Mansion a hovertruck floated down the road. two men were inside it and saw the patrolling guards. there was no sign of trouble "This is Horder Avenue, no signs of hostile activity. All guards are present and accounted for on the grounds. Over... We'll keep watch here."
There was no way Mark would be able to kill her father, Eind, without setting off an alarm, but her mother... Mara... she was asleep in the bed. That'd be easy. Mark paused for a second; Blackmane had taught him how to sense if there were Magical defenses set up. He took a deep breath, focusing on the magic he was looking for; defensive, sigils, runes, anything. He sensed nothing, though he could have been doing it wrong to begin with. Hoping he was right, he put his hood up, and opened the door silently; rich Noble's always had silent doors, made sneaking in easier. He rounded the corner and entered the bed-room, closing the door behind him without a sound. He was crouched, but then he paused again, looking at his feet.
An electric Sigil, designed to activate a spell that would shock an intruder like a taser to incapacitate them. And he was standing right on it. Luckily for him, however, it was deactivated; no reason to activate it if your husband was in the other room, he mused. Reaching for the small of his back, he pulled out his dagger, a simple one, single-edged, straight, ending in a point, razor sharp. Walking over to the woman who just a few days ago he was willing to call his mother-in-law, he swallowed hard, putting his emotions behind him, closing his eyes to steel himself. He opened his eyes as his eyebrows furrowed, and with a quick, deep motion, sliced through Mara's throat. The woman's amber eyes snapped open, and she saw only Mark's arm as he kept his hand over her mouth to keep her quiet. Her slender arms scrambled frantically before the loss of blood made her weaker by the heartbeat before finally falling limp
Once her eyes rolled back and she slumped, dead, he removed his gloved hand, and moved to hide in the closet nearby while he waited for Eind to enter. It wouldn't be long though.
About three minutes later Eind entered the room, even though Mark had aimed true and the cut was clean, the blood had spilled and Eind noticed a lack of servant activity, even the guards were lax. And he was on guard. The older man, thinning brown hair kept in a tight low ponytail went to the bed to check is wife when he called for her and she didnt answer. The man didnt have to check her body to see she was dead. Her silghtless gaze staring at the ceiling.
Sliding an item onto his left hand Eind looked around the room. Nothing looked moved or damaged. wait... there... He went to the door and looked to the floor where Mark had briefly stood over the taser rune. Someone had snuck in and killed his wife ? Putting his hands together before twisting slightly and forming a whip of firy eldritch energy Eind gave another look around the room.
Flinging the eldritch whip at the closet door it latched onto the handle and wrenched it open. But it was the wrong closet. His back was to Mark.
Outside the mansion the hovertruck saw the activty, and saw a siloutte of Mark creeping up on Eind, dagger at the ready. "This is Horder Avenue, hostiles spotted inside the grounds, Repeat, Hostiles on Horde Grounds!" The outside became a flurry of activity as the door was forced open, but the traps Mark had relaid caught each soldier sent inside.
In the bedroom belonging to Eind and Mara, things were less complicated. Then again fighting a guy nearly twice your own strength, and magically gifted wasnt easy, but when you grow up with an aunt and mother who could easily outlast the target in a race let alone simple brawl made things slightly more even.
Mark was superbly agile as a young man, able to do things one only ever saw in movies. Jumping and rolling and literally flipping around each eldritch tendril of energy, Mark launched a stunning back-kick into Eind's body, missing his chest and hitting instead dead int he adams apple with his foot. However pure adrenaline would keep the man moving. As Mark fell to the floor, unable to catch himself from the kick, Eind reached out to grab him. Mark spun and with a flick of his dagger, sliced off the two fingers wearing a strange ring; a sling-ring, as it would come to be known. Blood sputtered onto the ground and the ring dropped to the floor. Mark hit the ground with a grunt, swinging his feet up in a sort of break-dancing style of movement to flip onto his feet. Continuing the motion, Mark's young, agile body swung behind Eind's, and a hidden blade jammed into one kidney, while his dagger jammed into the other, tearing his arms downwards and destroying the kidneys as he pulled his blades from the man's body.
Turning, Eind's eyes were alight with magic and pain. Grabbing Mark with his one good hand and what's left of his other one, he slammed his forehead into Mark's, who briefly recoiled from the head-butt, the young man seeing stars. Blinking, Mark then lurched forward, both fists slamming into the ribs under Eind's arm-pits to stun him. Hearing ribs crack, Mark gritted his teeth and slammed his arms in again, this time breaking the ribs, and forcing them into his lungs, puncturing them. Eind gasped, blood sputtering from his mouth as he then coughed. Mark's dagger went into his belly, and Mark then cut deep and long, his dagger digging out Eind's liver in the process, the thing falling out and then plopping onto the floor, rolling under the bed. As the guards pounded on the doors, they would find the protection runes active, and thus unable to enter the room. Grunting, Mark shoved Eind off of his feet and onto the ground. The man shuddered and seized for a few seconds before falling limp.
Mark was panting, but was otherwise fine. Sheathing his dagger, he walked over and picked up the sling-ring, examining it for a second before opening a Transport Array, and leaving the home, appearing outside the door of his own home: the Elisar Manor.
The scene shifted slightly, once more the two were back on the ship. The captain pacing as Talak was cared for in the cabin. Thomas and Marueen were there along with a few others. "Say again Carriton" he said
"Sir, it is as I was told. the guards, and Masters Eind and Mara, their servantae, and all of them... slain. And Master Einds Sling-Ring is missing" Carriton said in reply. It had been an hour since any news had been given to check the Horde household, only to have things go to shit moments before
"We can take her with us to America. Though she'll most likely want some things from her home before we leave, how long will we have at the main docks ?" Thomas asked
"Until dark. Six hours from now" Came the reply. "Until then, she shall be tended to by the ships dioctor and kept in the brig "The captain raised a hand "I am sorry Thomas but the law is the law and there is only so much I can do at this moment, soon as we dock in Cario Harbor we will let her go ashore. You are to take her ashore and go to her home with her or if she wants to go alone to her home she will do so. In mean time I will make arrangements for her accomondation as part of the crew to America but she will be able to be with you on the cruise home."
"Agreed" Thomas replied.
The scene faded and was replaced by apparently a vault packed with candles, a single coffin laid in the middle of it on a stand. The memory was over ? Apparently so. They had gone to the middle of the vault. And from what Sazhori could see... Wait no, they werent in the vault, they were in the foyer of a home ? Yup the memory wasnt over yet
The door to the Elisar mansion opened and the younger version of Mark stepped inside, in the better light he lifted up the strange ring. Ok that was weird. It had two fingers still in it. He poked them out. "So how did it go ?" Came a childish voice as his older sister Serena smirked down towards him from the top of the stairs while her sister was in their bedroom crying at what her brother had been forced to do. As much as she hated to admit her mother was right, it still hurt the young Bengal
"Easy Serena, he just got home" Came the voice of their aunt. The black haired woman stepped into view, her long black robes blending her in with the shadows of the room briefly before the light was turned up as she examined Mark. "You seem worse for wear" A hand went to his face where Eind had nailed him with a hell of a headbutt. "Report"
Mark flinched at her hand, that spot would bruise later for sure, but he didn't pull away from her, figuring it'd mean another smack. "Mission complete... no survivors one conflict with her father... that was all he could do to me..." he said, almost having to force out the words; he hated this, hated everything about what he'd just done, but it was over. He'd done as he was told. He lifted the sling-ring. "He wore this on his left hand... took it as proof." he said, his eyes also darting down to the fingers on the welcome-mat.
His lip twitched with disdain and he looked away from her with his eyes, still not moving otherwise. "Can I go now?" he asked, forcing a polite tone.
Blackmane stared at what Mark held and hekld out her hand for him to set it,. Once he did so she nodded to his question. "See to Serenity, she's in your bedroom. Hasnt left it since breakfast. See you at dinner." Blackmane said A she hadnt seen in decades. Tigris didnt have need for such things to channel their magic, but mortals did.
Mark went up the stairs and as he passed Serena the two briefly traded dirty looks, but she could see the pain in his eyes of what he had done, she sighed and looked away, It was her fault for his pain. And the pain of her sister. When he entered the bedroom he somehow ended up sharing with Serentiy and Slicer the little RC truck the girl loved and doted on, he found her curled up on the bed, sobbing. She'd watched it all over the feeds her mother had hacked. Each death hurt them both.
Mark closed the door behind him and looked at his sister She was on their bed, a massive thing that took up a whole forth of the big room. It was two steps down below the regular hard-wood floors, and consisted of a single, huge mattress. It was walled in on three sides, and had a mountain of pillows and blankets on it. Taking off his boots and jacket, Mark sank onto his hands and knees on the bed, crawling to his sister's side and patting her arm gently. He looked to the screens around them on the walls; where she was watching his infiltration of the compound, and bit his bottom lip.
"H-hey... you... you okay?" he asked softly.
She shook her head. A sniffle later came a question "Are you ? Was it worth it ? Breaking her heart ?" Apparently the crystal hacking worked wonders, but... she couldnt stand seeing what could have been a good family part of theirs getting destroyed by the former son in law. Talk about breaking up an engagement with the ex
Another thing Mark noticed was his sister, aside from the thick fur covering her body, was clothed even though in bed. A wave of her hand and the screens faded from the walls as she slowly sdat up. her pink eyes bloodshot
"I'm... I'm alright. I'll get over it eventually...as for worth it... That remains to be seen... ask me again in a couple years." he said softly. He hugged her gently, leaning to the side and flopping onto his butt to hug her, one leg folded under the other. He said nothing to her actually wearing clothing in bed; even though she normally slept in the nude even at this age.
He was quiet for a moment before kissing his sister's cheek. "I'm going to take a shower then head to bed... I've had a... long day." he said, smiling and walking to the bathroom.
The memory seemed to focus briefly on her smiling face, her brother was safe, yet the entire household, she didnt see Talak anywhere among the videos as Mark took down everyone. then it faded out. leaving Mark and Sazhori alone in the massive vault room, a table sat in the middle of the room they stood next to it. stone columns formed four pillars around them with six bridges off, and the way they had come.
"Your sisters... they look so alike ? How can you tell them apart ?" With Abel and Siv it was easy, Siv was slightly heavier than Abel, yet Abel was wiser, not to mention the planner. and then there were their eyes, all Ravens had a range of colors from silver to hematite to pearlgreen, all of Sazhoris siblings had hematite or brown eyes. There wasnt really a way to tell them apart.
She heard Mark snicker something. "What is it ?" She noticed the one girl on the pile of pillows, was that normal for that time period ? Yep, if you were Egyptian it was normal, a pile of pillows, a few blankets, and every morning a tangle of arms and legs, and sometimes a tail
"Would you like the obvious answer or the less obvious ones?" Mark asked in reply to Sazhori's question. "The obvious answer is that their eyes are different colors and that they wear their hair differently." He said, turning towards her slightly.
"And the less obvious ?" She gave him a sidelong look as she went to the table, OK this was weird, for a vault, three memories, one from each of them, then a memory not theirs ? What was going on ?
"Serena is primarily Left-Handed, they wear different color shirts under their jackets, and they have different sized breasts." Mark stated. At Sazhori's look, he rolled his eyes. "What ?... Oh come now, I've done their laundry, Its easy to tell that one is larger than the other when you throw their bras into the washer and drier. The fact that we have no issue seeing each other without clothing means...actually it does mean a lot but whatever. We're family, nothin to it." Mark shrugged, turning to walk deeper into the Vault.
"There's something magical in here; I want to find it before we get out of here." he said.
Sazhori raised an eyebrow, O...K... well, they were family so it made sense. "true, I've seen m,y sisters... mostly naked, not easy with the feathers mind." She said, she couldnt ecxactly get naked herself, the feathers were... kinda permamently attached to her. They started deeper into the vault, Taking the third bridge to their right towards the table directly in the center.
Of course as soon as Sazhori stepped wrong she felt something twist around her ankle and yank, hard, slaming hard onto her back on the stone floor she grounted something "Ah fuck" Before disappearing into he ceiling, two secondfs later she slammed into the floor again, She screamed something in another langauge that Mark didnt recognise "iI'm not the deposit damnit!/i" She got back to her feet.
Seeing Mark's smirk she glared daggers at him. It wasnt worth getting mad over, they couldf still leave... She raised her own eyebrow as something Mark was about to walk into at neck level. It kinda looked like a noose.
At her look, Mark blinked, stopping and turning, seeing the noose. "Oh... hey... funny." he said, deadpan in tone and expression. "Looks like someone has a sense of humor when they were setting this place up." he said calmly, moving around the noose-like thing and continuing to walk. His eyes began to glow as he activated his Eagle Vision to see any more hidden Traps, and he sighed. "Anyway... let's find the thing I can sense and then get out of here. My family has plenty of vaults back home... Last thing I need is for Vaults to creep me out."
"You remember what Ruth said about these vaults ? They're not like the vaults you're used to. Not even Emporer Tilr has vaults like the... wait you hear something ?" Agasin she heard music, like carnivale style music, something you'd hear from a carosel of a sort, organ fairground music... With a hint of Egyptian flair. The closer they got to the box upon a pedistal the more it sounded like Egyptian music than a fairground organ
"What is that ?" Sazhori asked when they stepped up to it and the glass faded apparently, what looked like a black hair pieces of a sort to hold ones hair floated a few centimeters off the surface of the pedestal. It span, and seemed to produce the music they heard. then Mark recognised it. Mara had one on her wrist just like it! Only older.
"Looks like a hairband... my... ex-mother-in-law I guess you could say had one... " he said. With his Eagle Vision he could see that it was enchanted. "Looks enchanted with magic... powerful magic... " he knocked on the glass; bullet-proof of course. Rolling his eyes he brought forth his Gauntlet onto his body, his left arm glowing with the Duradaeden, as it appeared. The claws glimmered in the light of the Vault. Cocking his fist back, he broke the glass with a solid punch, or at least, cracked it. Then he wedged a claw into the crack, and shattered the glass from the inside out.
Slowly his hand went towards the hair-band, knowing that his Duradaeden gauntlet would protect him if it was harful.
At first, since it was enchanted to begin with, all Relics chose their knew that So as Marks hand reached for it, the hairpiece seemed to float out of his reach, But it was mostly because of the claws, once they retracted the thing sprang onto his wrist, like an arm band before healing apparently the two cuts sustainted to the other hand when Mark went to try and get it off.
"Well" Sazhori mused seeing the cuts heal upon touch alone with the hairband, the black scrungie type hairband rested neatly then on Marks right arm at the wrist, like a watchband. "Looks like we found the enchantment... And a Relic at that." Ok wait how did she know about the Relics ? Wait... did she have a Sling Ring too ?
Somewhere between Crescent City and Sacremento California
The Eyes of Light
At that same moment
Ruth sat at a stone and wood desk going over papers, the bamboo and oak rolls of paper if one could call it paper rolled into a good rod the size of a mans head if they were big enough. "Is this everything ?"
"Yes" Came the reply of a young woman. Ruth looked to the woman, Hidden Flute had tattoos covering her face and arms and chest. As if she was briefkly the Tattooed Lady at a sideshow circus "This is everything of the new arrivals, Apparently according to the spies and information in the Eyes of Light, the young man is of very important upbringing. The woman is apparently also important as our spies called her a Princess"
"Yes by the way they were dressed I figured as much. and the others ?"
"The young man is a Prince of high bearing, apparently they're Eagles, both of them, siblings I think. Prince Talon, son of Emperor Tilr, and Princess Fang, daughter of Emperor Tilr."
"And the last two ladies ?"
"Princess Xeibo Azukar, and her bodyguard Shade... "
"Two Princesses, Two Princes, and a bodyguard stay within my home. And the younger Prince asked us to keep one named Mark Wolfe away or busy as much as possible..."
"What is the plan ? Attack, defend, distract ?"
"None of these and all of these at once"
"... Dont follow"
"We have visitors, hide yourself. Ambush as they arrive, aim to disable, or force a stalemate. Do not kill either of them."
"Oh... alright... which way ?"
Ruth pointed to her left, the archives went on for a good kilometer in either direction, all stored neatly in such a manner they were easy to attain knowledge within Hidden Flute nodded and pretty much disappeared into the darkness to the south. She heard footsteps as her own light feet left no noise whatsoever among the countless shelves of information.
Soon Hidden Flute heard voices, that of a man and woman "I dont get it" the male voice was saying "How do you know of Relics, and Sling-Rings in the first place ?"
"Growing up sickly and weak for nineteen years can do that to a person, I had to use sling-rings to use my magic. my oldest sister, Abel, was badly burned, you saw her face, she never takes her mask off, because if she does, the burn will... well.. burn. I had to use a Sling-Ring in order to use my magic, make portals, that kind of thing. Abel uses a Masic of Soothing in order to keep her face from burning out of control and killing her. and Siv uses a Masic of Retribution in order to take down our enemies... Wha ?! OW!"
Sazhori tripped over a outstretched leg as out of nowhere a flurring of kicks and punches hammered into Mark, easily tripping him up due to the sheer speed the attacker possesed, with them both flat on their backs and a hand towards their throats, a calm voice asked "Who are you ? What business do you have in the Eyes of Light ?" It was then Mark could see the countless shelves to either side of the hall way they were in
That and the womans arm holding him down so skillfully was covered in tattoos of strange types, along with a strange mark on the wrist that he saw clearly. But when he looked up to the owner of the arm he saw a equally tattooed face in various colors, and knew exactly what they were up against, a pit fighter
Oh fuck
"Speak!" Hidden Flute said simply, her tone wasnt exactly commanding in any manner, just simply asking them to talk of how they came there
Mark's reaction was quick, but this woman knew how to fight in a pit for her life, and she was quick. Before he even knew or sensed that she was even there four punches had hit him square in the chest and his feet were off the ground as he fell onto his back, however out of pure reflex his hand grabbed the wrist pointed at his throat, his self-preservation instinct keeping him from letting her reach his throat, knowing that she could have a hidden blade. His eyes blazed Bronze, his Eaglevision unable to make her out very well; only that her aura was a strange mixture of blue and red, a bright purple. She iwas/i an Assassin... but he'd never seen her before and she had just attacked him. Blinking, the bronze shifted to Silver, and his eyes narrowed.
"Ruthie told us to come here. Said she'd meet us here." he spoke calmly, slowly raising to his feet. He towered over the woman before him, easily twice her size if not more, however she was fast; he could tell that based on the nonchalance she sported when she attacked both Sazhori and himself.
"I'm assuming she sent you to stop us."
As Mark stood he indeed towered over her, but, she was fast. "Did I say you could stand ?" Faster than a blink her foot moved and she swept his legs out from under him Once more a hand to his chest to keep him on the ground. "If Grandmother sent you to meet her here. You would have used the front door!" She smirked. "Now then, tell me truly, What business do you have in the Eyes of Light ?"
Oh man pitfighters, couldnt live with them, couldnt live without them.
Mark grunted in annoyance, his hand moving to her wrist as it held firm on his torso, his legs, being longer than hers, quickly moved to sweep out her legs from beneath her, fully expecting her to jump and put all of her weight on his chest. When she did so his eyes flashed Silver once more and the Gravity in the area decreased by five times, allowing Mark to easily lift her off of his body and flip onto his feet before restoring gravity to its natural state. "Didn't know there was one; only been here for a few days." he grunted, his knees bending as his Armor shimmered into view in the low light of the corridor, his arms crossed in front of him with his palms and claws facing outwards towards his opponent.
Just as he expected she first moved when he took hold of her hand, and then she moved to put all her weight on him, then promptly got lifted off him and nearly thrown into the nearby shelf unit as Sazhori simply floated a good meter off the ground wondering just what the hell was going on as the woman smirked as Marks armor faded into view. "Typical. Grandmother never told me of you..."
The woman seemed to look between the two in thought as Sazhori lightly settled on her feet. Finally she nodded, it was a stalemate after all. "Fine, follow me" She said with a motion of her right hand the lights turned on to lead the way, now they could see the shelves clearer. Like honeycombs of knowledges packed with books, and scrolls and what looked like a few bonescrolls, the floor was fine work of hardwood and stone.
But the one thing that had Kaldas undevided attention was the mark upon the womans right hand. Where had he seen that before ?
Mark slowly relaxed into a normal stance his eyes retaining a dim Bronze glow, the colors switching back and forth depending on the type of Magic he was using. If he was using his own magic, it was Bronze, if he was using Draconian Magic through Kaldakava, they were silver. He looked around at the honey-combed structure of the area around him, grunting in interest.
Kalda appeared before Mark, standing next to the man in an ethereal state - only Mark could see or hear him, though the others would likely sense something or someone else had popped in briefly. "I've seen that mark before... the one on her hand... the Mark of the Bastard. Given to Bastard Children who wind up in the pits... This girl... she's gotta be at least a million years old." Kalda spoke calmly. At Mark's glance, the Dragon nodded. "I'll meditate on it...let you know what I remember." he stated before vanishing, his presence leaving as well.
Mark followed the small woman, keeping an extremely careful eye on her and their surroundings, not wanting any more traps or surprises.
The woman, a half head shorler than Mark but taller than Sazhori when the Raven was barefoot which meant rarely thus making Hidden Flute smaller than both, felt briefly the draconic presense before simply ignioring it, So what if there was a strange presense around. Then again it felt familar, hauntingly familar.
As they neared the center of the massive vault, the Eyes of Light, Hidden Flute stepped up a short flight of stairs before entering what looked like a weapons room, pillars of stone edged in bronze were in even rows, between which were countless weapons, from the ancient to the antique to the modern to the futuristic. Even weaponry from world war two was there. Finally the three came upon a desk.
And it was easy to recognise the older dark skinned woman seated at the desk going through information writuien in the Sacremento Assassin scipt which was extremely different from Arendelle or even Draconic. The ornate former Templar cansword leaned upon the desk. "These are... our guests. They seemed to have missed the front door, Grandmother" Hidden Flute said
Ruthie looked up as the three arrived and Hidden Flute spoke. A smile on her weathered face. "So... You found one... Amazing... And it actually chose you too" She meant the scrungie around Marks wrist. "Did you find out anything new ?" She meant about themselves, and more. If they found Talaks hairpiece... Then they must have found something more
"About myself? No. About her?" Mark's thumb jutted to Sazhori, "Yes. Learned quite a bit about her." he finished. "As for this... Yes... it um... likes me." he nodded to the Scrungie around his wrist. "What.. what is it?" he asked, knowing it was a relic of some kind, but not knowing exactly what it was or what it did.
"The Hairpiece of Healing. According to whatever knowkledge is known about it, which is little if any,. It can heal wounds of up to intermediate levels of bloodloss." Ruthie set aside a wood scroll and sat back in the low chair, "That one used to be worn daily by Bertha herself. Until she enchanted it and it... left her. From what I remember we finally caught it and put it in that glass case in the vault."
She gave Mark a knowing glance as she regarded Sazhori who was awestruck at the information, and weapony around her. "The fact you have this, that it chose you... of all people... Means you found something else rather... important. Didnt you ?" She meant the memory of how Talak had survived after Mark broke up with her.
Mark processed what the woman meant and then nodded. "Yes. It confirms that I know who the Templar Grandmaster is; Talak Horde, or whatever she's calling herself these days. I used to date her, and was fully intent on marrying her when I was only a boy. Last I heard she'd fallen off a cliff to her death. Guess she wasn't dead; and now, I know how." he said with a nod.
"And if she could survive that fall...she'll be hard to kill. But that will come later...all in due time." he stated, crossing his arms over his armored chest calmly.
"Lady Vitas Warmoon" At Marks confused look, Ruthie smiled as Hidden Flute spoke,. "That is what she calls herself" The smaller woman had her arms crossed over her chest. For one so bone thin, she was fast, strong, and durable. Small wonder Mark survived her skill.
"Hidden Flute is correct. Bertha as we codenamed her, is Vitas Warmoon, the adopted daughter of Thomas and Maruieen Warmoon, both of whom were powerful sorcerers much like herself" Ruth explained. "You now possess her hairpiece. Enchanted with enough sheer power in it alone to heal the minor tro the intermediate of injuries."
Sazhori turned sharply to Mark when he spoke of learning more about her, though it was true. "I learned more about you every day I am with you." the raven mused. aloud. "How did Vitas, was it ? Manage to enchant a Relic ?"
"Word on the street is that Vitas came by her magic before falling off the cliff, she was according to word of mouth, scared for her life and wanted to die. Instead she neded up falling into the arms of her new family." Ruth replied. She held up a file the roll of oak wood rattled as she opened it and started reading "According to this, Thomas and Marueen filed for adoptine of then fourteen year old Talak Horde of Egypt after the loss of Eind and Mara Horde at their home to unknown killers. Due to the law being lax at the time, Vitas was then named the daughter and sole heir to everything held by Thomas and Marueen... when Vitas was thirty, seven years ago, I retired from being an Assassin and returned home in Crescent City" Ruth rolled up the scroll
"Any questions ?"
There was but one. And it concerned the mark on Hidden Flutes exposed right hand
Ruth however didnt exactly allow for questions to be asked to the Master Assassin that was present, sure she was smaller than Mark and Sazhori both, but she outranked both. "You may return to the house. You look tired. She may drive" Oh well that wasnt exactly the best idea but then again Diamond and Marion had imparted their driving knowledge to Sazhori anyhow.. She raised a hand "Dont say no. you're ready to fall over, much less fall asleep at the wheel, last thing I want is for you to die before you figure your shit out"
At those words Sazhori smirked and held out a hand as Mark grudgingly handed the keys to the Dodge over. the two went upstairs, and oddly exited out the OTHER door in the vault before heading to the car. Once inside and on the road, Mark proptly passed out.
Well... Passed out wasn't really the right word, Zoned out, yes, and his body froze for a moment, his hand hovering over the handle of the door before he could grab it and close the door.
"I remember who that girl is." Kalda said.
Okay...but is freezing me in place like I'm some sort of fool helping?"
"Shut up and listen. The woman. Her name is Hidden Flute, right? That mark on her hand is the Mark of the Bastard. Guess what that means." At the unamused roll of the eyes from Mark, Kalda continued. "Anyway, I met her at... basically a fight club in the Mythic Realm. Bet on her at least once...may or may not have fought her and gotten my ass handed to me. Granted I was a little punk but still." Kalda shrugged. "Right, well. Your girlfriend is staring at you, I'm out." With that, Kalda vanished and Mark shook his head, bringing himself back to reality and closing the door to the car. He sighed and looked to Sazhori.
"What?"
"One second you're breathing normally, then you're stiff as a statue, then you're asking me 'what ?' The hell is going on ? " Sazhori eased the Dodge into drive and got them rolling. She may have been a bird, with only a scant month imn the Mortal realm of experience, but thanks to Diamond, and Marionm, she had loads of driving skills to fall back on
"You zoned out, Why ?" Sazhori never took her eyes off the road
Mark was quiet for a second before answering. "An old friend told me something. Nothing to worry about though." he said calmly. "Guess I need a nap." he yawned softly.
For a long moment Sazhori said nothing, easing the car onto the highway she headed them back towards Crescent City. Finally once with a good ten miles behind them "Its about the woman isnt it ? The girl with the markings on her body ?" Sazhori had no idea what Tattoos were. Art mostly, in a manner of speaking.
"What did... your old friend, tell you about her ?" She had no idea that Kalda called her Marks girlfriend.
"Only that he...bet on her in the pits...She is...ancient." Mark's answer was oddly distant, but still was a definite answer. After he leaned his seat back and closed his eyes. "Wake me when we get there..." he said, falling asleep almost instantly.
Exactly one million three hundred thousand two hundred and eighty seven years before...
Mythic Realm
Tigris Reach
Dawn
Now where had her student gotten to ? Ah typical, he was enamored in the fights recently, Light didnt mind them, it gave the dragons a chance to have some fun by placing bets and the like against various fighters But that left Kanwar holding the bag as it also lured Kaklda, her student, out from class. In the fight pit where she found him, she waited however before intervening as he placed a bet, a ratherl arge one, on the only human girl in the pit in question. The Elder Dragon could see clearly that Kalda was watching the girl intently. So rather than spoil his fun, she doubled his bet on the girl. All the money going to him at the end of the fight of course, but nobody knew that... yet
So, Kanwar observed briefly the pitfight, and found herself oddly curious to why her student was drawn to that pit of all the others ? There was a good dozen, but somehow he was drawn to this pit itself, why ? Was it the girl ? So Kanwar went and sat next to Kalda the overhead Arena seats. "Why this pit ?" Kanwar asked him
Kalda froze as he heard his teacher's voice. He sank into his seat, his arms crossed. The then adolescent Dragon pouting, his still boyish, almost childish face had matured a bit, but it was still young, perhaps 15 if one were to put it into human terms, and to the eyes of a human, he looked it. However to his teacher, Kanwar, he still looked only 12, for she saw him as he really was.. "This ...human girl, Momma. She's good at fighting...I like watching her." He answered; knowing better than to try to lie to Kanwar, lest he get a smack in public; which wasn't the worst Kanwar had or would do to him in discipline in public, but still, he didn't like it.
"Look...she fights so...strangely." he said, since he'd never seen anything like how she fought.
Kanwar trhen saw the girl her student pointed out. Easily zoning in on the lone human girl among a good dozen men and even some wolves and what looked like stone men, which were common in the Tigris Reach, Stonemen, often called Stone Giants, because they were on average double the hieght of a normal Man were fearsom fighters. And yet, the lone human girl easily stood her ground ?
Block, dodge, trip, smash the face in with an elbow. Kanwar took it all in as the girl fought so skillfully against a larger than normal Stone Giant. Getting into a strange pose, her hands straight and edged apparently with skill alone, elbows covering the cheekbones with her hands behind her head as if praying. the movements were swift and fast, an elbow to the face, chin, neck and center of the chest in rapid succession.
Then they easily saw the mark on the girls hand as a man tried to slam into her with a spear, only to have her run up it, and slam into the guy dead on with four swift very hard left and right crosses dead to the chest. Kanwar drew a sharp breath upon seeing it. She knew that brand. The Bastard Branding.
Kalda would watch his teacher zero in on the girl he had bet on, having only really seen that look when she observed his sparring matches against older students to see where he needed improvement. But he never saw anything on her face that hinted that the girl in the pit needed improvement, only that his teacher was enraptured on the fight. He blinked, furrowing his eyebrows before turning to watch the fight, himself, enjoying himself again now that he knew he wasn't really in trouble.
At Kanwar's sharp breath, he looked to her. "What is it?" he asked.
"Her hand, her right hand. Do you see it ?" It was easy to decern the seemingly stylised H on the back of the girls right hand, to diaganal lines, with a third line cross them at an angle as welll. The mark of the Bastard.
"You bet upon a human girl... whose mother was unfaithful and so she ends up in the Pits fighting for her very survival..." Interesting... Kanwar went throughful. As the two, with dozens of others watching and making more bets on the girl to either win or lose, soon it was only her, and a stone giant left in the pit
This was going to be good.
It lasted about a minute, sheer speed, or sheer stupidity and the Stone Giant was in pieces as the girl got to her feet. proclaimed the winner the winning bets went out. and Kaldas was the largest of them thanks to Kanwar. "For a brawler, she fights well... "
But the two elegantly dressed people, a young boy by appearance, and a older yet still young woman with him, drew the attention soon of the owner of the girl as Hidden Flute was dragged from the arena amid cries of the losers asking for her body, the girl was dragged after getting tied by the hands to the back of a horse and dragged from the arena, Yet the girl didnt complain, it was weird. Obviously the girl was used to it
Kanwar then noticed something she'd much rather not liked. A few pairs of unwanted eyes directed at her, and Kalda. "I believe we have overstayed our welcome, Come we must go" She stood, Kalda folloswed a few seconds later and fell in step behind the much iolder and more skilled Dragoness. The two went to the end of their row and headed down the stairs to get to the main level that was also ground level.
Turning a corner she came up short and halted, Kalda all but walking headlong into her. A Man stood there, with him were two of the pit guards. the man, dressed rather regal compared to the rags Hidden Flute barely kepot on her body during the fight. Looked the two up and down, easily recognising the crown in Kanwars hair the Man spoke "Ah, so the First Daughter herself visits my lowly pit. From what I hear among the crowd, you are the winner of the prize ?"
"We are" Kanwar replied
"Good. Ah here she comes now" Hidden Flute was barely able to have a blanket thrown over her shoulders as she never looked up towards Kanwar or Kalda. However when the guard uncerimoniously shoved the girl to the ground on her knees before Kanwar Kalda moved before Kanwar cold and pulled her to her feet. "So the boy fancies her ey ?"
"Perhaps" Kanwar mused, "But also perhaps he does not want her to knee before him, or I. Because you are not." Kanwar said as her arms crossed over her chest as she gave a stern look at the so called merchant. He was a slave owner for sure. But it wasnt their place to call him out on how he treated his underlings. A bastard child at that. Her gaze briefly went to the girl whom JKaldfa brought to her feet, she refused to make eye contact with him. "But perhaps that is not our problem. It could be the men of yours..."
"Really ? How so ?"
"They stink"
The man chuckled and smirked towards Kanwar and stepped closer. Kalda knew that his teacher could easily handle herself. "If my men stink. What about her ? Hmm ? Wouldnt two wonderful important Dragons such as yourselves, be brought low when word reaches the others in the Crystal City that one of you stooped so low as to touch a bastard child ?"
"That is not your concern. What is your concern, is how much we won in the fighting. Do you have the winnings for us so we may take our leave ?" Kanwar said
The man smirked, now she was talking his langauge "Mm" hew waved his hand forwards, roughly the men took hold of Hidden Flute from kalda, who at a growl from Kanwar went back to her side and watched as two more guards stepped into view carring a large oblong opening it was packed with gold bars about the length of a mans ring finger and thick as a mans thumb. "Here is your winnings... All seven hundred thousand gold of it at that." Kanwar didnt even blink, but she could tell Kalda was either in shock or something else.
Kalda sputtered upon hearing how much, shaking his head. Seven hundred Thousand?! He... He could buy almost anything with that! Immediately his mind raced. He could buy armor, weapons, a home, an airship, another set of armor, he could pay off bartenders to let him drink what he wanted. He could do whatever he wanted... As the possibilities raced through his head, he would be caught staring at Hidden Flute, though not intentionally.
The Man however saw clearly where the boys mind went. "Ah... So you fancy her do you ?" The man smirked, waving his hand the men roughly took the girl away. "Sadly, shes not for sale. I apologise but even seven hundred thousand gold isnt enough to buy the best fighter I have." He said
"Then what is your price ?" Kanwar asked, her gace never leaving the man.
"A pretty girl like her has no price. She is priceless, the most valued thing in my possession." He replied. he turned back to Kalda, he then went on the defensive "Why did you bring her to her feet ? Dont you know manners lad ? You're a Dragon, she's a Man... well.. of the female varity. There are protocols one must follow you see." he could tell he was simply agitating Kalda, the boy hated it when people were submissive towards him, at sixteen thousand five hundred, and being a Dragon for that matter, it was easy to understand he hated having people submissive to him.
"Then what do you have in mind ?" Kanwar asked
The Man looked at her, as did her student, had she lost her mind ?
Forunately, Kalda's patience for taunting and banter was growing, and he was developing his temper to be one that while long, shouldn't be lost. The most the man got out of Kalda was an annoyed twitch of the eye. He looked to Kanwar, confused. "I..." he leaned in towards her, his head only at her chest-height, though he would eventually sprout and match her at eight-feet in height. "...Momma, what are you doing?" he whispered in Draconian, confused as to her intentions.
"Teaching you a mortals weakness" She replied in Draconian simply. She gave the Man a pointed look, the ball was ni his court.
The man smiled, a brash merchant smile of a man about to make a sale. "Ah... so you wish to set your companion against my property ?" Was Kanwar out of her mind ?
Nope
"Far from it. For you were the one to bring it up." Kanwar simply said
The man smirked again and nodded "Alright, you may keep the winnings, you lose nothing with this unless you wish to bet it on your boy. Should he win... what does he want in return ?" The man turned towards Kalda. Between Kalda and Hidden Flute as the girl was roughly held. but it was Kanwar who spoke
"Should he win, or loose, you have two Dragons here in your pit. Should he win and you still not wish to part with your... property as you called her... then do as he says. Should he lose, remember, you have two Dragons here. resperct is earned, not given" Kanwar said
The Man was just as tall as Kanwar, Mortals born in the Mythic Realm could be tall as heck. and eight feet was the average. Standing eye to eye with the blue ringed black orbs that belonged to Kanwar the Man finally nodded, "Deal. Should he win or lose, I treat my property with respect. Afterall, you said it yourself. I have Dragons here visiting. One of which about to be in the Pit" he turned to Kalda then completely as the guards let go of Hidden Flute, the blanket shroud of sorts falling from her shoulders with a shrug. Sweat and tattoos of numerous patterns glittered on her skin "What say you lad ? What are your conditions ?"
Kalda blinked and said the first things that came to his mind. "If she wins... um.. Give her a bath a new set of clothes? If I win... if she won't be freed...at least treat her nicer. Fuck's sake." Kalda shrugged, blinking, his Silver eyes uncertain, not really wanting to fight to begin with, feeling that he had no say in the matter, however, he would do as his teacher commanded.
The Man raised a hand to his chin in thought. Rubbing it thoughtfully he soon nodded. "Agreed. if she wins, new clothing, a bath, maybe a swim... If you win, and no I wont part with her under any means... Yes... if you win, I will treat her nicely, nicer than I have, as well as give her a bath... new clothing..." he was already thinking of how it could add to the profit, treating his property right, new clothing, a bath, people would bet on her more often if she were prettier after all.
The man set out a hand then to shake "Do we have a deal then lad ?"
Kalda looked at the man's hand; right, Humans shook hands. Strange creatures. Then again, Dragons used varied methods of sealing deals, some bowed, some shook hands, some hugged, some did other things, it depended on the Dragon. Nodded. "Deal." He agreed, reaching out to shake the man's hand, his strength easilly matching that the man presented without effort, which made the man grit his teeth; worried his prized fighter might lose.
After shaking hands Kalda turned to Kanwar. "I'm not seeing the lesson yet." he said in Draconian as he took off his coat, revealing his standard robes so he could move around easier.
The Man smiled as he grit his teeth. So the deal was sealed, perfect. He spoke in a strange langauge, making it clear he was from the Eagle Empire. "Turn her loose, let her back into the Pit" The guard nodded as Hidden Flute raised her bound hands, a flick of a knife later and her hands were freed the ropes removed from her legs as well. He turned and made his way to his seat as the announcement was broadcast by newsboys announcing another fitght, one on one. Dragon vs Mortal
"You will..." Kanwar replied softly as the two walked, she took his outer coat then folding it over an arm. As dirty as the pit was it felt more or less like a horsebarn or birthing nest. straw littered the floor, along with trapled grass and ferns. Hardpacked stone and dirt. It was the typical brutal fighting arena. Piles of broken stone giants laid in piles after being cleared from the Arena. As they walked to the Pit entery Kanwar continued "Remember, she is a Man, Mortal, you are a Dragon. She most likely has more experience than you in this kind of fighting... under any circumstances do not use your magic, I advise however to summon your armor. Nothing more"
Kalda paused as they stepped into the pit, taking in the view, before nodding. No Magic. He could use his armor though. As he stepped further into the arena, and the crowd began to rise in volume, he summoned his armor. It was simple at the moment, nothing more than two gauntlets, a chest and back piece, and some leg armor. It was nothing compared tot he Regal armor he'd have as Champion of Light later on in his life.
Assuming a spot across from Hidden Flute, he offered a small, quick salute out of respect for her skill before sinking into his stance, one hand out with the fingers slightly curled, the other balled into a fist by his chin while his feet both faced forward. This was a rather experimental stance he used to fight or test younger, less-experienced students; and here he took it because he knew that since he had basically made it up, that Flute wouldn't have any idea how to initially react to it.
The crowd started murmuring as Kalda stepped into the arena summoning his armor as he did, at least he didnt summon any weapons, even then Hidden Flute fought weaponless all the time, from what word of mouth said, she hated weapons of any kind, if you cant use your fists, or feet, why fight ? A Dragon was there to fight a human woman, Wonderful show to be sure!
The crowd started roaring however as Hidden Flute settled into a stance she was used to, taught mostly by brawling in the pits against others with the same skills she had learned from simply by mimicing their movements and in many cases driving them crazy. Flicking up her bare foot her hand caught and flung some dust before settling into a tiger like stance, Right hand leading while her left was lower and across her chest, Fresh from a fight her body glittered with sweat and dust. The crowd around the pit cheered as Hidden Flute settled into her stance.
She waited then, a scant heartbeat before making her move, a single half step backwards, balancing easily on one foot as she brought he other one up to her knee. her brown eyes glittered as she watched the Dragon. never learning his name. He had, briefly, upset her. He had touched her when he pulled her to her feet before him.
Kalda's eyes went to work examining her stance and movements, at first it was easy; blocking out the noise of the crowd, the dust in the air, and the pressure on him from the many people watching him. However as she started to move his eyes narrowed and he began to pace, circling her cautiously; though his eyes couldn't help but get lost in examining her a bit too closely. Trailing along the lines of her tattoos, and of her body; she was gorgeous, in her own way. Blinking, he pushed that thought from his mind and moved, his feet digging into the sand as he moved, lunging from side to side with his hands in the same position as he stopped to her left, his knee bending as he spun his body and aimed a sweep for her foot that she was balancing on. He wasn't expecting her to do the obvious, and simply jump over his leg, nor was he expecting her other foot to come for his face in retalitation, though he did dodge it by ducking under as he camed back to his stance; now it was her move.
A flick of the foot was all it took, but he dodged it, she easily jumped his sweep as her foot flicked at his face her other foot pushed off the ground kicking up dust as she hyper extended her leg slightly, her foot curling as it came back, nearly nailing Kalda in the back of the neck had he not spun out of reach as she snapped forwards first witrh her right then her left hand, blocking both his first and second strike before using his strength and lifting herself over him before nailing him once in the back with her foot. What was the aim forthis fight ? Last one standing ? She had just won that.
Was this something to prove to someone else she was better than simple property ? As he turned to face her she was on him in less than a heartbeat. They hands locked her stopping him from grabbing her neck, while he was stopping her from grabbing his hair. The two twirled in the center of the pit kicking up dust and dirt everywhere as the crowd cheered and many started placing bets on who would win this fight.
No weapons, one guy with armor against a girl who could break armor. And a girl pretty much in a bikini fighting pretty much for her new life. A cleaner prettier yet still pitfighting they twirled Kalda got a very good feeling of experience, and also a very good look at her face, a tattoo was there, in white, just barely seeable with all the grime and dirt, over and around her right eye, along with three identical tattooos trailing down the right side of her face. But the one thing that stood out the most, was those intense brown eyes
Humans had the most beautiful eyes compared to Dragons.
The contrast of eye color was what caught him off-guard. Having not had much experience with anyone other than Dragons or the occasional Eagle or Tigris, Kalda didn't think anything of most eye-colors, but hers... for a simple, uncommon color of eye, were beautiful. It caught him off-guard, and that's all Hidden Flute needed to suddenly stop pushing against him, and roll back, her feet meeting his jaw as she rolled backwards, dragging him with her before kicking him in the jaw and sending him flying. Kalda grunted, and flipped in mid air, landing on his feet, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth; she made him bite the inside of his cheek! He grunted and let out an annoyed growl.
Pit fighting was something else, alright, and Kalda, though not used to it, was still enjoying himself. That was the one thing Kanwar would never get out of his system: He loved to fight. Though she did teach him to not go out looking for fights. The lesson she spoke of still eluded him, however, as the two traded blows, his old, hand-me-down armor not doing much to detract from the power of her hits. Her knuckles, however, did still show the damage of punching Duradaeden; as they should. However, after being passed down from student to student for millions of years, the armor was old, and was cracking under her force, shards of it falling to the ground at their feet as they continued to trade blows.
Eventually it turned into grappling for a bit, with Kalda shooting for her legs, his arms catching her slender but muscular legs easilly as he then aimed to lift her up and slam her to the ground.
Kalda went for her feet, as his hands touched her ankles she came down, hard, with her elbows, on his unprotected shoulders. Shards of duradaeden exploded into her face off the armor from the strike, causing her to briefly screech something as she felt her feet step on broken glass. But was sheer speed and then briefly fear as Kalda grabbed her legs just above the knee and start to lift her up. She came down again with her elbows, just barely in time breaking free before grabbing for his arms. Kicking at his left before easilt handstanding backwards to get a brief second or two of air before once more aiming at his arms. shards of duradaeden made the arena floor glitter in the dust.
Briefly, within a heartbeat she stood blood dripping from her skinned raw knuckles as she watched Kalda spit up blood. She smirked. Maybe a handshake... ? Nope, it was s dupe for sure, as she seemed to smile and step forwards as if to show the fight was over so soon as she grabbed his right hand, and in one deft movement had Kalda on his back a knee on his chest, his arm in both of hers.
For a brief few moments as the dust settled the crowd watched, as Dragon vs human, both laying on the ground, Hidden Flute moved again, her legs wrapping around Kalda as her arms twisted. a gut wrenching bcrack/b was heard as the arm broke, turning a bit too far, and less than a second later she was backing off as the gauntlet shattered, spraying glass briefly at her, some of it digging into her side and leg as she scrambled backwards to her feet.
The fight was done; and Kalda was in shock. His body refused to process what had happened, and he refused to look at his broken arm; the arm bent too far back, the elbow snapped entirely out of its socket and the muscles around it torn or strained. He sat up, standing. The crowd was silent, and so was he. The rest of his armor simply fell off of his body, and he turned to leave, conceading victory. As the crowd went nuts, he lunged towards the sanctum of the tunnel leading there where Kanwar was waiting; vanishing in an instant before looking at his teacher.
"Still don't get what the lesson was..." he said before finally looking at his arm, which Kanwar tried to stop him from doing, but was too slow in doing so. Suddenly it all hit him at once. The sight and the pain. His pulse quickened, his eyes filled with tears, his face turned red, and he let out a horrified scream, which was muffled by Kanwar so he didn't make a fool of himself. "M-my arm! Momma... my arm!" he cried out; turning into a big baby as he buried his face into Kanwar's chest and tried not to look at his broken arm.
As Kalda left the pit, Hidden Flute herself collapsed with a shriek as the pain set in from the sheer ice cold of the glass embedded in her hand and side. Shaking from the sheer cold guards came to her side and quickly wrapped her in a blanket of thick pale blue wool. Kanwar watched as Hidden Flute was carried out of the Pit rather than dragged as she hugged Kalda as he sobbed into her chest, it had happened before. Quickly using magic to numb the pain entirely so healing could later begin, Kanwar soothed her student and draped his coat over his shoulder gently.
As they turned from the Pit the owner of Hidden Flute stepped into view. "I have not forgotten our agreement, you put up a very good fight. I... I never expected such an ending..." one of his men hurled in the corner "Oh go clean yourself up" he grumbled in Eaglese the man nodded and left, turning to Kanwar "As promised, the winnings won before the fight are indeed his, and as agreed she will be treated with care and given a bath. he is welcome to return and bet on her again if he so wishes. he need not worry of being a common visitor either, he can be a VIP. he survived a fight with her. I think that ammounts to something"
"Treat her well" Kanwar said "I will keep a guard here to observe and ensure you follow the deal, if anything is amiss and you step aside of it, I will know"
"You have my word she will be treated with care." He then allowed them to leave. As soon as they were gone he turned to his fellow "How is she ?"
The man bowed, his hands in salute, "Sir, she is cold to the touch, the maids are with her now to warm her up with a hot bath. The glass is cold to the touch and none of is have the means to remove it from her body. I fear she will have scarring from the glass."
"Very well, see to it then she is treated with care, given clean clothing, and a warm bath. Also food, wine, she won the fight today, she deserves something to merit proper reward."
"Yes sir" the guard left.
Outside the pit fighting grounds their carrige waited, upon stepping within it, Kanwar tended to Kaldas arm and spoke. "the lesson, was not as planned, You showed extreme improvement. But on her level, you still have a lot to learn." She said. But never explaining the lesson was one thing. "The lesson was making and honoring a deal. Sometimes, the pain in the honoring of the deal, is what makes the deal worthwhile. According to the merchant, you are a VIP at that pit now, when you return to observe the fights, you will be treated with respect there, given a seat of honor as well... But I recommend first healing and resting up. There is only so much my magic can heal without sleep and rest you know."
But then she asked a simple question. "You were distracted by her, werent you ?"
Kalda was silent the entire way back to the carriage after, and even after her magic had dulled the pain to almost nothing. He'd need to see the healers about his arm, but for now it hung limply at his side as he sat next to Kanwar, still leaning against her for comfort. At her question, however he nodded. "I was... I didn't think Humans could be so... beautiful." he said calmly. "Her eyes are stunning..." he added, nodding again. That was about it, really. That's what really caught him off guard about her body; sure she was pretty, and moved in ways he never thought of in a fight, but it was the brief moment that they locked eyes that spelled his doom in the fight. Had it not been for being distracted by her stunning Brown eyes, he might have won.
He sighed and let his eyes hang half closed; it'd be a week before he was using that arm for much of anything, at least.
Kanwar smiled, gently resting a hand on hisuninjured arm she said simply. "You learned two things today. The first is that the right words will move Men, and that many Men are not what you expected. It is a long ride back to the Crystal City, I have numbed your arm, lay down, you can rest now." Kanwar said, it was true, two lessons at once, two birds with one stone so to speak. So as her student passed out to sleep, her mind wandered, she went over his fight in her head as she closed her eyes to meditate. The woman, whose name they never knew, somehow had broken the arm, and vambrace, old iDuradaeden/i no less, using her bare fists alone... Light was going to learn exactly what happened that day for sure
Crescent City California 4 June 2055
Ruth Big's Bed and Breakfast
Sazhori's bedroom
At that same moment
"How many feathers can one woman have?" Auji brushed another one off of his shoulder as he and Talon searched the room. "And...what are we looking for again? Because honestly all we're going to find is Feathers..." he said, an annoyed tone in his voice.
"Easy asnwer is 'dont ask'" Talon replied calmly as he waved off a few floating feathers. "She was for a time my bodyguard until Father sent her to the Silver Palace. Besides, I got a sister you know, I lost track of how many feathers she molted by time I was two and molting on my own" He went to the dresser, what looked like a suitcase sat upon it, going through it he found only a scant few black feathers, like daggers. "Yep, shes a Raven alright" Talon said picking up one of the featherdaggers of sheer black "Only they have feathers that are weapons... naturally growing of course." the feather faded into smoke in his hand.
"Weapons, information, that kind of thing." Talon replied, "Try and keep it down, I think Shade is trying to sleep" She was, but Talon wasnt sure. Shade when not on watch, slept as if she were dead.
In Marks room it was no different as two women went through it. Ruth was kind enough to let them have run of the house, and Wezaki sat on the front porch, the dove keeping watch as the four searched for information. the more they knew of Mark, the better off they all were. A single picture of a young Mark with his sisters, Snowfeather, and Blackmane rested on the night-stand, one of the scant few family portraits that Blackmane had agreed to go to, and therefore one of the only pictures of his family Mark kept with him. There was of course also a picture of Elsa next to it in a smaller frame. Mark's walls were mostly bare, a few notes of things "Need to do" written on post-it notes and stuck in random spots over the desk. On the desk itself was Kalda's Memory/Journal Crystal, and next to that was a single round of Mark's DEagle, the thing glimmering with the anti-magic enchantments, the girls knew to stay away from it. The bed was surprisingly neat for someone who had a mental break-down some time ago. In one of the drawers of the Night-Stand were dozens of Throwing knives, a note saying "need to be sharpened and cleaned" posted on them, though by themselves they could already cut through a steak like it was paper. A laptop also adorned the desk, closed and turned off, but also pass-word and finger-print protected.
Opening the Closet, Xeibo would find Mark's thus-unseen pride and joy: A Barrett .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle, a full Magazine already loaded with one in the chamber, numerous magazines fully loaded across the floor of the wardrobe and in pouches attatched to the side of the stock of the rifle. Numerous rounds also were exposed, the duffel-bag carrying them left unzipped. A pale eyebrow raised as Fang went to the desk and went through it carefully, Xeibo went to the wardrobe. she stared seeing what was inside. She bent down and moved one of the duffles to get a better look. a magazine of antimagic rounds fell from the duffle to the floor with a clatter. She didnt want the owner of the weapon to know they were there and bent down to pick up the fallen magazine as it burnt her hand she hissed out loudly "What the fuck ?" She held up her hand and stared as silver and pink scales covered the burn, oh man that was going to take a long time to heal, if at all
Fang spotted the pictures and lifted up the one of Elsa. tapping it she mused thoughtfully "So he still loves her enough to hold onto a picture of her. Never thought he'd leave..." She set the picture back on the desk and picked up the other as Auji and Talon walked in
"Nothing but molting feathers and some daggers." Talon reported to his sister. Fang just nodded, not noticing Auji had more attention on Xeibo than anything else as the young Light Dragoness held her injured hand
"What are you "What the Fuck?"-ing abou-... What the fuck?" Auji said as he looked to Xeibo's burn, the gun, the bullets, the burn again, and then once again the bullet. ".50 caliber... Anti Material Rifle... but with Anti-Magic Enchantments? This dude's got an anti-everything rifle..." he said, scratching the back of his head. "...What the fuck?" he sounded exhasperated. Those had been illegal in California for at least... 60 years? was the gun even that old? He reached down and, using his sleeve to cover his hand, moved the magazine back into the bag before closing the closet.
"What'd you guys find in here besides the Anti-Everything rifle?" he asked, turning to also look at Xeibo's burn to see how bad it was.
The palm of Xeibos left hand which thankfully was not her eating hand or writing hand or leading hand for that matter when it combat, xeibo fought with a single blade most days and always lead with her right hand. But the burn covered her palm which then was covered in pink and silver scales to soothe the burn "Only that he was in love... and has a family... I recognise them all." Fang spoke up, she held the picture for the others to see as Auji tended to Xeibo, "His mother" Fang used a feather to tap Snowfeather in the picture, "his sisters" she then tapped Serena, who was on the left, and Serenity who was with her arm around Mark himself, then she pointed out his aunt "And his aunt... Do any of them look familar to you ?"
Talon raised an eyebrow "Four Tigris, I recgonise the markings on the girls easy." he said
"He's also got his love's picture" Fang picked up elsas picture a second time, showing it to the others "The three of us fought side by side, together, before a friend of hers was slain. And destruction rained. I never thought he'd leave there" Fang said, setting the pictures back on the desk, of course only the family picture was in the exact position it was in when she first picked it up. elsas picture was a bit wrong... too wrong and noticable later
She turned towards Auji "You have a feather sticking out of... up here" She pointed at her own head, Auji had a black raven feather stuck in his hair
Auji was taking in all the information easily, this man, Mark Wolfe, he was an interesting one for sure. And if his family was made of four Tigris', he'd be a pain to deal with if he ever couldn't avoid it. Auji blinked when the feather was pointed out, and he quickly left to go and throw it back into Sazhori's room. "Right...well...I guess that's everything? Make sure everything looks like it did when we came in...We don't need him suspicious." he said, nodding before turning to leave.
Xeibo hissed as her hand was wrapped but she nodded. The two left the room s Fang easily set everything back in place as if it was never touched, sadly, the picture of Elsa had the most movement, something that wouldnt be easy to see as moved, but easy enough. Thankfully none tried to activate the laptop. None of them had any idea what the thing even she and her brotherl eft the room, the four gathered in Xeibno and Fangs room, with xeibo's hand wrapped nice and tight with some ice to soothe the burns. "IOk, so, we know this is the guy Grandmother said to try and avoid meeting face to face. he's staying here too."
"We have Wezaki to help us with keeping him distracted." Talon pointed out
"If she is more alert than Shade is at this moment" Xeibo huffed, which prompted a snore from the white dragon in the bed sound asleep. Fang smirked, trust Shade to sleep like a rock. "We know he has the journal crystal. never thought he'd have it. You think its Him ?" She meant Lights Champion, the Third Son. Kaldakava.
"No clue." Fang replied. "We know that he's with the Raven. and she's staying here too" She caught the look from Auji "What ?... wait, let me guess, she's molting ?" At his nod Fang also nodded. "Great, this will make things harder." Fang stood up and went to the window, it overlooked the road, no cars or hovertrucks in sight. "Fine, talon, we need to find you a makeshift job in order to find out where the sword is, we know he doesnt have it already" Talon grunted. What could he do ?
Finally Xeibo had it, she glanced at Auji, then spoke "History." She said
"What ?" came the question from all three
"Talon loves history, we all do, we know history inside and out living back home, Mortals amused Grandmother and the crystals we kept had a full account of this world, and the people in it, we get Talon a job as a hisddtory professor at the local college or school here, we can find out where the sword is kept, where St Diamonds is located" Fang looked thoughtful, Talon was nodding. Xeibo looked to Auji. "Or would you rather we try our hand at owning a Pit Arena ?"
"Up to you guys." He said with a shrug. As he said that however, Sazhori and Mark made their way into the drive-way in the car. The engine's healthy rumbling turned off, and the two entered the house quietly. Both were tired, and both needed rest. As the four continued their conversation, Mark walked past their room, his boots thumping as he headed to his own, stopping in the door frame.
"Something's different..." Mark whispered as he looked at his room; a gut feeling setting him off. Stepping further in, he closed his door.
"Well... he's home"
As the door shut behind Mark Fang breathed deeply "If he sensed something is amiss" She said in Eaglese, something mark, and Kalda, couldnt hope to properly translate even with a teacher "Then we might not get much sleep tonight, Tomorrow we find Talon a posting as a history professor. Sooner we find the swords location, the better off we all are, agreed ?" At their nods Fang went to the door and let the guys exit "remember, not a word to anyone. Only Wezaki knows we're here."
"You mean I cant say hi to my old bodyguard ?"
"Not unless you want to tempt death into visiting us tonight"
"You are Miss No Fun you know that ?"
Fang smirked at her brother "I try, good night Talon, Auji, see you at breakfast" with that the door closed as xeibo got into bed. Scales forming over her slender body as she slept in her sort of draconic form while still human sized, Fang herself shifted into her eagle form, the massive silver eagle nested in a pile of pillows and blankets on the floor and was soon asleep
Mark stood right behind the door. His brown eyes stared at the room around him. iSomething/i was off. He didn't know what it was though. He'd spend the night staring at his room, pacing around and staring at things. Hours would go by, and soon, at 2am, he finally noticed his picture of Elsa, moved from its original position; the dust on his night-stand the key factor. And so at two in the morning, the entire house, minus Ruthie who couldn't care less and Shade who was already awake on watch, was awoken to a single question yelled from Mark's room:
"Who the FUCK touched my things?"
Time Unknown
Location Unknown
The place was a fertile forest of thick groves of trees and ferns as high as a mans chest. It went far into the distance. the forest was unmolested by time and human hands. But for the two beings that appeared there, swirlds of golden light danced and coalced into a large sphere of energy that danced with an inner light.
The golden light waited but scant moments before a brass colored stream of light swirled into view and formed into a equally sized sphere. "Truly we must stop meeting like this Mother" Said the brass light, Jarius wasnt used to such a form. Astral Projection was hard enough as it was, but turning himself into sheer energy
"Calm yourself, Jarius." The golden light replied, revealing her serene calm could only mean Light herself "Things are moving rapidly now. Too rapid for my tastes"
"Do tell, Mother. What troubles you ?" the brass energy danced about as Jarius spoke
"Do you remember the Pits ?" Light asked
The brass energy continued to swirl around as Jarius was quite for but a moment before saying "Yes, the bastard children were sent there on many occasions when old enough... Why ?"
"The brawler, Hidden Flute, who won her freedom with the Battlefield Cleaner and the sister of my Blessed Raven, has been located after disappearing from my realm." Light replied, golden energy swirled and sparked as she spoke
"Hidden Flute ?" Came the question. "Wasnt she the girl, human no less, whom Kalda found attractive regardless of her birthright ?"
"Kalda was drawn to that pit for a reason, it was fate, not my doing, nor Kanwars doing, nor was it Dracos doing. Fate drew him to her, to that pit in particular of all the several dozen within the realm. A million and three hundred thousand years ago she was born, a million two hundred and ninety nine, nine hundred and eighty three years ago they met by chance in that pit. When he challenged her himself in the same pit... She won"
"And he has met up with her after so long ?" Jarius asked
"Yes. And Kalda remembers her." Light replied
"What importance then is she ? Fate drew them to meet long ago. And now they meet again in this realm" The thoughtful tone of Jarius made it clear the Brass was at a loss of thought.
"Hidden Flute showed promise, her mother, a human woman, natural to all humans, was prone to being unfaithful to her husband. therefore Hidden Flute was stripped of her noblity and left for dead. She has survived for so long, no childhood, no family, just her skills." The Golden energy turned, in a manner of speaking, towards Jarius, "She disappeared from my realm on accidental means when I transported certain things here to this realm. Now she has been found. Working it seemns, with our esteemed Vault Keeper. I want you to visit her, give her this. She will know what to do with it" A nearby tone formed seemingly from nothing, upon it was a silk glove of silver cloth,. Briefly claws spiked from the finger tips before fading.
"Kaldas right vambrace and hunting glove ? What he lost in his battle with Kethend ?" Jarius asked
"Yes, he tried to take her down, but failed, and even in his last attempt before breathing his last. he threw it at the Shadow Queen. But missed" Light replied "Give this to Hidden Flute, she will know who to give it to whom it belongs"
"Hidden Flute, if I recall from the scant fights I went to, never used a weapon of any kind, only her fists, feet, any part of her body really. I do not think she will use the armor that once belonged to the Dragon who she bested in pit combat..." Jarius mused
"She will not wear it, for it will not be hers, she will know this. It will belong to someone important... a friend she once knew. Get this to her. She will do the rest" Light said. the brass energy seemed to nod.
"Very well. I shall get this to our mutual Pit Fighter" That said, both entities faded from that place