The weather was cold, wet and gloomy.
Despite the previous day's sunshine, the only thing that had come of it was ice and frozen mud. The temperature had dropped down well below freezing the night before. The pine forest seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction with countless banks of snow forming on the slow descent towards the coast.
Quinn kicked a tree, trying to loose some of the ice that clung to her leather boots, grumbling as a patch of snow fell from the limbs above, landing on the top of her head. The snow stuck to her hood and dribbled down over her face. The tracker sighed heavily as she scraped the majority of the snow and ice away as she spun and then plopped down onto the ground next to the tree, crossing her legs and pulling her bag up next to her.
"Why can't it be dry snow?" Quinn mumbled under her breath, shaking her head and casting snow and ice to the ground around her. She sighed as she turned her gaze to the overcast gray sky as she leaned back along the tree's gnarled roots. The color of the sky matched her sullen mood. "At least it's not snowing." The tracker grimaced and he eye twitched involuntarily as a single white snowflake drifted down next to her. "Great. To think I used to like snow."
Quinn stuck a hand into her cloak and dug about till she managed to put her hand upon a small journal bound with fine, creamy leather. She flipped the book open, looking through her scribbling and the sketches that lined the pages. Many a scene and person had become victims to her quill-pen, both landscape and person alike filled the pages of her journal. Jarvan, Forsythe, Isaacs and even Shyvana graced the pages of her journal from their adventures and pursuits of Kampf. The spires and towers of Demacia filled many pages; the weeks she had spent shadowing the prince and the dragoness had left her with many a boring hour upon hour and Quinn had used the time to hone her skill. Quinn paused, looking at her most recent sketch of the prince, running her fingers along the parchment paper. Jarvan… Quinn shook her head and then tossed her head back against the tree. No. No pining. Quinn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, tucking the journal back into her cloak. She pulled herself to her feet and took a deep breath. Pull yourself together, Quinn. You've got a Job. Jarvan is counting on you. Quinn smiled to herself, her confidence boosted and her mind focused on her task ahead.
Another blob of snow dropped on top of her head.
Quinn grimaced as she shook the snow off and looked up to the sky, glaring at the cool grey clouds above. Caleb, if you're doing this just to test me, believe me, I've had more than enough already. The snow started to fall around her, drifting down lightly; it wasn't much more than flurries at the moment. Quinn giggled, letting her head fall back as she burst in to a hearty laughter. "You win, Caleb." Quinn sighed as she tugged her hood back and shook the sweat out of her shoulder length hair, letting the sleek black locks fall into her face as she took a deep breath of the cool air, unencumbered by her scarf or hood. You always were my better half, Caleb… If only you could see me now. I'm on a mission for the Prince of Demacia himself. I might not be a knight yet, but Val and I are so close to our dream that I can just feel it. The silence the forest afforded her was eerie as she opened her eyes, looking back into the overcast sky. Had it not been for the trees, the horizon would have been lost amid the snow and clouds; where one ended and the other began was almost indeterminate. It wasn't far from here that we parted way and I found Valor.
A distant screech pulled Quinn from her daydreaming and back to the issue at hand. She turned her attention to her meager gear, sniffing once before hardening her heart and steeling her mind. She slung her pack over her thigh, opening the bag and digging down to her food supplies of hard bread and dried meat. Three days or so if I stretch it. Quinn exhaled slowly, closing her pack and bedroll, tucking it back across her back. She put her hands on the small knife she carried on her waist and then the crossbow on her hip. The weapon felt light with so few bolts left. She pulled the weapon from her hip and cycled the wooden action back, the spring loaded cartridge pushing against her open palm. She carefully drew the first bolt from the weapon and examined them. Only nine shots left. Luckily, I only need one for Lambert. Lend me your strength, Caleb. Just a little of your bravery would be great right about now. Quinn pushed the bolts back into the weapon and cycled the bolt forward with her finger on the trigger, releasing the bowstring with a soft sigh. The limbs remained taunt till she depressed a button atop the risers, letting the curved wooden brackets fold up. She clipped the weapon into its folded position and hung it back upon her belt, taking a deep breath. I gotta go now, Caleb. If you're out there, keep me covered, okay? Quinn pulled her hood and scarf back on, tugging the wool garment tighter around her face, pulling her hood down over her eyes to hide the feeling of grief that panged in her heart. Valor should be back any-…
The eagle's screech cut through the eerie silence of the snow locked forest. The blue and grey bird descended from the canopy of the pine trees above, swooping down towards the tracker.
"Valor!" Quinn exclaimed happily, raising her gauntlet for the bird to land on. The eagle obliged and Quinn's smile only growing wider as the eagle's weight settled on her arm. He looked up at her and twisted his head about, hooting at her impatiently, flapping his wings. "You found his trail?" Quinn's heart soared as her grin grew toothy. "That's great, Valor! Lead the way!"
The bird's eyes sharpened as it spread its wings and took to the air with a screech, fighting the snow and gusts of wind for altitude before swirling back around, cutting past Quinn and delving deeper into the forest. The tracker set off in an awkward run, stumbling through the snow. Quinn struggled to keep up with the eagle as it wound through the trees, cutting through the air as if it were nothing.
How easy life would be if I could fly… Quinn felt a pang of jealousy in her heart at the memories of Shyvana. She shook her head as she pushed through the snow, taking long, high strides over the banks. If I were able to transform like her I wouldn't have to deal with this damnable snow! Quinn bounced a fist off the side of her head. Focus, Quinn. You have a job to do, and jealousy of that darned half-dragon isn't going to help anyone right now!
Quinn felt her stomach turn as Valor suddenly cut left and looked back to screech at her. She landed one of her long strides, ducked, and rolled immediately, not even looking for what had startled the eagle. Her hood was ripped back and she felt the cool rush of steel just above her brow as she rolled, barely dodging a strike that had been aimed at her neck. She hit the ground harder than she had intended, spinning and sliding in the wet snow. A sword struck the tree she had just passed, shaking snow from the branches. Quinn looked to the ground as several strands of her black hair gently floated down to rest on the muddied, brown snow.
"You're a persistent little bitch, aren't you?" Lambert snarled. He braced his boot against the tree as he pried the sword free. His breathing was heavy as he raised the weapon between himself and the tracker, growling softly as Quinn pulled herself to her feet.
"I should say the same for you." Quinn snapped back, pulling her hood back down over her eyes. "Why don't you just eat a bolt and get it over with?"
"You're dumber than I thought if you expect me to just roll over and give up!" Lambert watched her cautiously, lowering his stance ever so slightly. "So, little girl, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to drag you in, whether you like it or not!" Quinn shouted. "Valor! Now, gouge his eyes out!"
Lambert snarled as the eagle dived on him, claws bore as he aimed for the Noxian's eyes. His hand disappeared inside his cloak for a brief moment as he slid away, raising his blade. "Fucking bird…" He snarled. Valor collided with the blade, his armored claws scratching at the blade. Something green and shiny appeared from within his black cloak and Quinn felt her stomach drop again.
What is that?! Quinn's gut twisted itself into a knot as she watched the Noxian cock the hammer back on the weapon and begin to raise it. "Valor! Get clear!" The eagle's golden eyes turned to her for only a split second before he tucked his wings in and rolled away, diving towards the ground as Quinn started to charge forward, dropping her shoulder. Lambert raised the weapon and leveled it at the eagle as Valor darted away through the trees. The revolver cracked as the first round fired, exploding just behind the eagle, sending a geyser of ice and dirt into the air. Valor screeched as he rolled behind a tree just as the weapon cracked a second time. The base of the tree exploded as the bullet struck the roots. Lambert took two more quick shots, but both went wide as Valor soared upwards, fighting for distance and altitude. Quinn dived at Lambert but he swept backwards and landed a swift kick into Quinn's side.
"Of course it shoots straight now!" Lambert snarled as he knocked the cylinder out and ejected the shells. "Bloody piece of junk!" Green smoke drifted from the mouths of the shells as they hit the snow and sunk out of sight, sizzling through the hardened shell of ice and snow.
"You bastard!" Quinn stammered as she gasped for air and drifted away, a hand clutched to her side. Lambert was leveling his weapon, searching for a shot on Valor, but the eagle was too far away. Quinn struggled to stand up and raised her weapon at the Noxian, charging forward again so she wouldn't miss. Lambert's attention snapped back to her with a sneer as he started to raise his weapon. Too slow! Quinn leaped forward, aiming a boot for the man's chest. Lambert expelled a breath as he sunk back, grimacing as the blow knocked him backwards. Quinn raised the weapon at Lambert, but she blanked: Lambert was gone.
Quinn landed and immediately dove to the right as Lambert charged, the sword gleaming a bloody red in the dim grey light. The blade howled as it cut through the air, simmering as it hit snow. Quinn spun, sticking a leg out as she scrambled for purchase amid the slick snow, her hand fighting for a grip in the mud. She slapped the bow from the bottom, popping the limbs out as she ripped the action back, throwing herself to the side again as Lambert charged a second time, bringing his sword down over his head. He snarled as the sword struck the ground, sending a geyser of ice and mud into the air. He spat angrily as Quinn rolled to her feet and brought her crossbow up, leveling the weapon with Lambert's forehead.
If I bring him in alive… Quinn shook her head and pulled the trigger. This is a fight for life or death! Quinn fell backwards as the blade cleaved through the air just above her head. She caught herself with one hand as Lambert snarled like an animal, realizing his mistake: He had swung too hard and he wouldn't be able to bring his weapon about it time to protect himself.
Quinn indulged herself in a smile as she brought her bow back up. You're mine now. She pulled the trigger and loosed a bolt at near point-blank range.
The sharp cry of the metal bolt-head striking steel cut through the cold winter air like the mournful cry of a wounded animal. Lambert's blade hummed as he back away, keeping the sword held in front of him, a faint white swirl encircling him before sucking in around the blade, humming as it formed a shell just above the blade's surface. Quinn looked in disbelief at the arrow that was now sunk deep in the tree trunk beside the assassin. He wore an imperious smile as she straightened up, holding the blade in front of him, still raised in Quinn's direction. The tracker frowned as she cycled the bolt on her crossbow, putting another arrow into the track. How did he dodge that? It shouldn't have been possible… Quinn shook her head. Eight rounds left.
"You seem confused, little girl." Lambert wore a vicious smile, starting to pace in a wide circle. "I told the prince the same thing: this weapon is no normal sword. This blade has been so drenched in blood that it thirsts for it… it craves blood." Lambert's sneer grew wild. "The thirst is so great that its malicious will protects me now that it has tasted blood! You can't hurt me. You can't even touch me."
Quinn frowned as she sunk low, her gaze set on the weapon. It hummed with a low, menacing tone and it glowed almost red in color. It had serrated teeth with a vicious, almost animalistic nature, like a wolf that hungered for blood. How do you beat a weapon that responds of its own volition because it simply has so much malicious intent? Quinn sunk back, her frown growing deeper as she took a deep breath and looked around. She stood up straighter. What? What's a deer doing here?
The massive brown and black splotched animal reared its head up and looked back at her through the forest. It had massive antlers that rose up atop its head, twisted and gnarled by years of bucking heads and fighting with trees as it protected his herd. So that's how it's going to be… Quinn hung her head and sighed softly. Looks like I have to outsmart him. I'm not going to beat him in a straight up fight. So be it.
"What, giving up already?" Lambert growled, letting his blade slump in front of him, a moment of confusion showing on his face. "And here I was thinking you had some life left in you. What a pity."
Quinn let her head back and laughed aloud, a thin smile settling on her face as she pulled her hood back and lowered her crossbow, clipping it to her belt. She unclipped the bag on her shoulder and pulled out a length of rope before tucking it back along her back. She pulled out a rock half the side of her fist, knotting the rope around the stone before coiling the loose end of rope around her hand. Quinn closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as an easy smile slid onto her face. "No. I'm not giving up. I'm just doing something I saw someone I greatly admire do once in a seemingly hopeless situation."
"What, surrender, roll over, and die?" Lambert snarled, putting on a snarky smile to mask his confusion.
"This, you gigantic cunt." Quinn grinned viciously as she extended her middle finger to the sky and stuck out her fist, sticking out her tongue at Lambert as she spun and sprinted off. Quinn heard the faded echo of an enraged, anguished cry as she put as much distance could between them, leaving only the sound of her labored breathing in her ears for several moments as her heart raced. She leaped over the roots of a tree and skidded along the shallow slope, kicking her feet under herself and launching herself through the air. She whirled the rock above her head by a short length of the rope, sending it flying upwards into the branches of one of the trees. Quinn felt the rope tighten around her hand and nearly rip her arm from its socket, sending her up through the air. The only sound she could hear was the thunder of her heart in her ears and the heavy panting of her own breathing as she reach the apex of her swing. Quinn looked down and prayed that her plan was going to work as she grabbed her knife, sliced through the rope, and sent herself arcing through the air. She slammed her knife back into its sheath and braced herself.
Quinn slid onto the back of the massive buck, the animal yowling as it jumped and started violently, bouncing about as Quinn wrapped her arms around its neck and held on for dear life. The deer bucked and thrashed about for several seconds as Quinn screamed, barely holding on. She grabbed the buck's antlers and dragged it around, steering it towards the slope that lead away from the furious cries of Lambert as he struggled after her. The deer thundered down the slope as Quinn laughed aloud, cheering to herself as the deer bounded along effortlessly through the snow. Quinn giggled as she approached the bottom of the slope, looking back as Lambert as he slogged along, fumbling with his weapons, struggling to make his way down the slope without falling onto his face and crashing into a vulnerable mess. Quinn heard him snarl as she laughed aloud, kicking her heels into the deer's side. The beast roared and started to slide, shaking its head from side to side as it neared the bottom of the hillside.
"Woah!" Quinn shouted instinctively as the animal panicked. Quinn clenched her teeth as she looked for what could have panicked the animal and felt her stomach twist about. At the bottom of the hill, barbed wire had been stretched along the trees to form a makeshift fence. "Oh fuck." Quinn loosened her grip on the buck as it skidded the last few feet towards the wire, the animal's pained cry echoing through the forest. Quinn threw herself to the side as she felt the animal start to rise up underneath her, flipping up and over the heavy gauge metal wire, going end over end.
Quinn hit the ground and rolled through the snow as the ground shook underneath her. Her head bounced off a rock and pain shot through her mind as the world turned black around her.
Several long moments of pure darkness swallowed the tracker into a barren void before a heavy thud was followed by a face full of snow crashed over her, dragging her back to the mortal plane.
Quinn opened her eyes and saw stars.
Am I dead?
The pain came rushing back as her head throbbed, the sting and chill of the ice on her face finally bringing back the realization of what had happened to the young tracker. Quinn sat up and shook the snow from her face, her vision still filled with stars and red tinged her field of view as Quinn looked about, expecting to see Shyvana step forward, her crimson hair swirling about her in the still air. The tracker blinked a few times and tried to shake the disorientation off, running her arm across her brow. Her arm came away bloody, the sting of the cut above her eyebrow reminding her of the nasty fall she had taken, bringing the past few minutes rushing back.
I busted my head open. This isn't good. Quinn took a deep breath and she struggled to her feet; the world around her was unsteady, her vision swimming for several seconds.
Quinn froze as she looked down at the deer that had flipped end over end, ejecting her from its back before it had come crashing down onto the ground. The animal snorted weakly, sending out a great cloud of steam from its nostrils as it struggled against the wire that had tangled around its legs. The beast cried out as it tried to move itself forward. Quinn stepped closer and looked at the animal; it was twisted about a tree, its back was clearly broken.
Poor thing. Quinn grimaced as the deer groaned weakly, shivering violently before it dropped its head to the snow, one eye looking up and following Quinn as she slowly circled the beast. Blood stained the ground, melting snow and dripping from the animals' legs where the barbs had dug into its flesh. Quinn kneeled down and bowed her head, reaching out towards the animal. The deer thrashed violently as Quinn tried to touch its fur, braying in pain and anguish. Quinn jerked her hand back and blinked several times, casting blood about the snow. I'm sorry for this, but you've given me an idea!
It bucked and kicked, but its efforts to free itself only worsened the bindings and the pain, blood pouring from the deep gashes in its legs, twisting it about at an odd angle. The animal grunted as Quinn approached, eyeing a silver blade that Quinn had produced. Quinn frowned, she had killed to survive in the past, but this was something different; the beast was suffering due to her incompetence. She grimaced as she kneeled next to the deer and pulled out her water canteen, running her arm across her brow as blood poured down into her eye. She blinked away the rest and uncorked the bottle, turning the bottle upside down, emptying the contents into the snow against the tree.
"Sorry about this…" Quinn muttered as she took the knife and deepened one of the gashes on the deer's limb, making sure to cut through one of the veins that ran down the beast's thin, muscular legs. The animal shook its head in a violent shudder before it fell silent, watching Quinn work with large, shiny black eyes. The blood that poured from the wound steamed and stunk of undercooked venison and iron, melting the snow as it dripped. Quinn looked over her shoulder as she pressed the lip of her bottle again the deer's leg next to the gash, letting the flow of blood seep into her canteen. Quinn felt her stomach stir uncomfortably as the animal thrashed again restlessly before falling still. She waited till the beast had fallen completely still before she continued collecting blood.
The distant crunch of boots signaled that her time had run out. Quinn corked the bottle and then stood up, sawing at the steel wire with her knife, trying to slice the bindings that held the deer down. The animal looked up at her, remaining unmoving for several long seconds as she continued to hack at the wire. The deer thrashed violently, braying as Quinn stood and backed away, sheathing her knife.
"I'm sorry." Quinn bowed her head, spun and took off in another sprint, headed for the next rise. She leaped over the top and skidded down towards the base of the rise and the creek at the bottom. Quinn froze, already, slowing her breathing unconsciously. "Alright. Here is better than never." Quinn shivered as she looked at the icy burbling water. "This is really, really going to suck." Quinn opened the canteen and lifted it above her head, pouring the canteen of blood down the front of her body. She dropped to her knees, uncovering a rock from the ice. The tracker took a deep breath and let out a blood curdling scream, cutting herself off suddenly, dropping towards the ice, laying out flat on her stomach, one arm left in the icy river.
Quinn closed her eyes and continued to slow her breathing, struggling to calm her racing heart.
Still heart, steady aim. Let's hope that works for this too!
…
Quinn heard the heavy crunch of snow as a body dropped down the embankment sloppily, sliding and crashing down along the ice, snow and mud.
"Fuck… FUCK!" Lambert's snarls of anger sent Quinn's pulse racing. The tracker exhaled slowly, heavily, slowing her heart beat as much as possible. The deer's blood still stunk as is dribbled down her face, the rock her head was pressed against was ice cold, and water ran along her neck and arm. She suppressed the urge to shiver and exhaled and inhaled one last time, slowly, before rolling her eyes back into her head and freezing perfectly still where she lay. "Well isn't this just peachy." There was a mix of confidence and mirth in Lambert's voice as he looked over her body. His boots splashed and Quinn felt the splatter of water across her cheek as Lambert crashed through the water around to her front. "I don't even get to finish the persistent little bitch for myself. Of course." He shifted closer, and Quinn could feel the snow had stopped falling on her face. Quinn resisted the urge to scream or even flinch as pain shot through her head; Lambert lifted her up by the hair. He snarled out a sharp laughed.
If only I had thought to grab my knife… Quinn's lungs were starting to burn as she felt something warm press against her neck. Lambert held his fingers to her neck for a brief second before he grabbed her cheek and twisted her about to look down at her face.
"Bah, she was pretty too. I could have had some fun with this one."
Quinn suppressed the urge to gag at his comment before he shifted again. The sound of a knife getting drawn from a sheath caused her mind to blank. If he guts me here to make sure I'm dead, I really will be! Caleb, help me… The painfully sharp cry of an angered eagle descending from on high sent shivers through Quinn's chest as Lambert dropped her back into the creek. Valor? Valor, you glorious bastard!
"Not the fucking bird again!" The sounds of splashing steps covered most of his cursing as he stumbled away. Quinn's chest burned like she had inhaled fire, but the sharp peck of something on her head caused her to flinch.
Valor squawked at her before pecking two more times. She remained frozen for a few seconds longer till she couldn't hold her breath any longer. Quinn sucked in a breath, supplying immediate relief to her burning chest. Quinn inhaled deeply as she pushed herself up, coughing raggedly and sucking in sharp breaths over and over.
"I thought I was going to die!" Quinn hissed as she held a hand over her throat. She shook her head, trying to clear the pounding in her head before she looked up at the golden eyed bird that danced about on her shoulder, trying to stay upright as she twisted about into a sitting position. Valor squawked and panicked as Quinn reached out and grabbed him, his wings flapping wildly as Quinn hugged him tight, squeezing a pained honk from his beak. "Valor, I love you so much! You saved me again!"
Valor squeaked weakly as Quinn hugged him again, before blushing and releasing him. Valor bounced away, giving her a derisive squawk as he flipped about and struck her shoulder with a wing as he shook his tail feathers, straightening his plumage. He squawked a few times, pointing up the slope with his wing, snapping his beak at Quinn.
"I know we need to go after him." Quinn grunted, pulling herself up to her feet, shivering as water ran down her body. "But I don't fancy chasing after him in the cold. I'm soaked to the bone." Quinn ran her hands over her body, checking all her equipment was in place. "I can't beat him right now, and short of an ambush, I don't think I can do anything but keep following him." Valor hooted softly twice, getting Quinn to look up from the snowy ground before slapping her with a wing, sending out a harsh, derisive squawk that sent shivers through the tracker's chest.
"Give up?" Quinn muttered, shaking the water out of her hair and pulling off her cloak. She rolled it up in front of her and twisted it into a roll, wringing what water she could from the garment before returning it to her shoulders, shivering. "Hardly. But I can't do this by myself."
Valor squawked again, spitting her with a harsh, golden eyes glare.
"I know you know which way he's heading, but what good does that do me?" Quinn grabbed a scrawny tree, tugging herself up the sharp slope up after the Noxian's tracks. She stuck her head up above the edge of the rise, and satisfied the area had cleared, she hauled herself up before collapsing into the snow. "I'm exhausted, Valor. I'm in no position to fight."
Valor squawked, annoyance causing the bird to fidget with his wings.
"Another person is approaching?" Quinn frowned. "Demacians?"
Valor hooted a no before hopping forward along the snow, flaring his wings, gesturing that Quinn follow.
"Interesting…" Quinn said, hauling herself to her feet, brushing snow from her body. "Can you take me to the point where they're going to meet?"
Valor squawked excitedly, hopping forward. Quinn shucked her soaked jacket, and discarded her water logged bed roll. She shivered in the air, but tightened her belt and the strapped on her armor before taking a deep breath.
"This is going to be close, isn't it?" Quinn mused to herself as Valor took to the air, circling about before descending down to swoop over Quinn's shoulder. "You're right, Val. Let's move!"
Quinn settled into the crook on the tree, lowering herself down as pulling her cloak around herself, shivering against the cold air. The ragged woolen cloak was splattered with mud and ice, and the tracker had managed to pick up a multitude of twigs and sticks in the frayed lengths of the garment. She leaned back against the tree and pulled the hood down low over her face, slowing her breath. Quinn took deep, slow breaths, though her heart thundered in her ear drums. She had always had a knack for camouflage, but it never failed to get her excited while she waited for her prey to approach. The snow that was falling may have hurt her ability to see into the distance, but it only amplified her hiding spot, blending her into the gnarled tree as if she were simply another knot amid the branches.
The sound of boots crunching in snow echoed through the empty wilderness, snow silently falling.
Quinn's pulse quickened, the sound of her heart beating was thundering in her ears like war drums.
"Fucking Demacia… fucking snow…" The voice belonged to her target, Lambert. The man crunched to a stop somewhere beneath what little shelter the arms of the tree offered, out of Quinn's limited field of vision. Luckily, he was loud enough that the tracker had no issues hearing him through the wilderness. "I'm finally home free and now I'm stuck waiting for that crazy bi-…"
"You might wish to watch your tongue, Lambert."
Quinn frowned, this was a new voice. The tone was liquid and seductive, pouring in one ear like liquid gold before it ripped your heart out. It was painfully evocative, and it Quinn had to suppress a shiver at the thought of what that voice could get men to do. Quinn cleared her mind and focused back on the voices below.
"You may have eluded your pursuer, but do not think that your voice does not carry in the perfect silence of this snowfall."
"O-of course, Mistress Emilia." The man shivered as he spoke, though he dropped his voice down to a low tone. His voice was deep and hushed, but he did not whisper because he didn't want the sounds to carry any further. "I let my judgment slip because I killed the young tracker who was following me. She was not Demacian Military, but she was definitely in the service of the prince."
"A tracker you say?" The voice purred with curiosity. "I remember seeing reports of a fourth individual who was in company of the prince when he slew the dragon outside Askay. There were the two soldiers, and then there was the half-dragon, but the fourth was a mystery even to Swain's spies. She hasn't shown up in Demacia either from the reports of my spies, but it is of no matter." There was a short sigh. "If she died at your hand, she is no concern of mine now."
Spies? In Demacia? Quinn's stomach flip flopped at the thought, but the confirmation of Lambert's thoughts that she was dead was enough to quell her stomach's feeble attempts at nausea.
"Of course, my mistress." Lambert exhaled slowly. "Is your spy safe? Word is that Demacia recently ousted a spy, though I was uncertain if it was the escaped general or one of your own…"
General? Quinn frowned. What general escaped? Could they be talking of Lorcan or Jormander?
"All of my pawns are still in play right now." The female voice mused softly. "But it would seem that the General was ousted from his hiding spot within Demacia, but it is of little relevance now. Our plans are well enough underway that it is of no matter. Anything he has to offer Demacia will be met with doubt and distrust."
"Very well mistress." There was a momentary pause in the conversation that Quinn could only assume was Lambert bowing. "I must ask, were there any complications with your obtaining the prince's blood?"
"Tch." There was a momentary sound of annoyance from the female voice. "So you knew about that? No one was supposed to know about that." The enticing tones and welcoming manner was instantly gone from the female voice, replaced with icy precision and tinged with annoyance.
Something's changed. Quinn took a slow breath, her pulse rising again. Something was going to happen, she could sense the malevolence settling in the air.
"Ma'am?" There was confusion in Lambert's voice. "General Swain told me…"
Swain too!? What's going on?
The female voice let an agonizingly sharp cackle escape before she was able to reign the laughter into a deep chuckle. "I see. Well played, Swain. You win this round."
"Ma'am? What are you…" The sound of a boot crunching in snow echoed upwards, and Quinn could only guess about what was coming.
This isn't a meeting. This is an execution.
"My apologies." The female voice was still cold, but it now carried a mocking sense of superiority to it that sent chills down Quinn's spine. "I didn't think things would end like this, but with the Demacian forces closing in, I need to leave them something to find. I can't have them searching for a leak or another spy if you don't manage to escape. Enjoy the afterlife. You have served Noxus well."
"Wait! Ma'am!" The voice had grown desperate as the thunderous crunch of flailing footsteps in snow could be heard.
"Valor!" Quinn hissed. "Don't let him out of your sight!" The bird spread its wings and dropped from its perch high in the bare branches of the tree, screeching as he extended his claws.
"What!?" The female voice snarled.
"Fuck!" Lambert took the moment of surprise to turn and run, putting as much distance between himself and the Noxian named Emilia as he could. "Thanks for the save you fine, feathered fuck!"
"Lambert!" The female voice shouted. "I'll see you dead!"
"Fuck you!" Lambert cried as he disappeared into the forest.
That was way too close. Quinn shook the snow off as she pulled herself from her hiding spot. She looked down, just in time to see a woman clad in a dark cloak fade into nothingness, a crooked staff clutched in one hand. Quinn slid out of the tree and down one branch, pausing to look down about the forest. Tracks led off to the southeast, heavy, careless footprints marking which direction Lambert had fled. The tracker looked back down to the ground below her and her frown deepened. No tracks other than Lambert's? Where did the woman's go? Quinn frowned as she dropped the rest of the way to the ground. She landed on her feet and started to absorb the shock into her body, but one of her legs had fallen asleep and crumpled underneath her.
Quinn ended up on her face in the snow, grumbling. "Of all the mistakes I could have made, I end up face down in the snow…"
The quiet footsteps approaching in the snow sent ice through Quinn's veins. She slid to her feet and her hand shot to her hip, but she refrained from drawing her weapon. She shivered as she pressed herself up against the tree.
"They got away again, didn't they?" The voice was deep and guttural, anger lacing the gravelly tones.
"Apologies, colonel." A younger voice said softly. "It appears something tipped them off just as we were closing in."
"Blast and damnation." The deep voice growled. "Send word to the king that we are continuing to pursue Talon. Have units on horseback try and circle about and close the net. I refuse to let this bastard escape after what he did to the prince."
Talon? Prince? A smile blossomed from the confused frown on Quinn's face. Demacian forces!
"Excuse me?" Quinn stepped out from behind the tree, her hands raised away from her body as she approached the two figures clad in snow white cloaks. The first only turned his head, but the second thinner of the two turned, his hand jumping to his waist, producing a matte black combat knife.
"Don't move!" The younger voice hissed. "Throw down your weapon or you will be shot dead where you stand."
"Hold on…" Quinn said uneasily, keeping her hands raised as she glanced around. "We're in this together."
"Easy Lieutenant." The older voice growled tiredly. The man pulled his hood back and tugged his scarf down, pulling two fingers to his lips and whistling sharply. The sound of bows being let off could be heard from every direction, and Quinn felt her stomach tighten into a knot. The officer looked her up and down as he took several steps forward, circling her predatorily. "A tracker of some sort judging by your gear."
There were that many of them? Quinn craned her neck; she couldn't see another soul other than the two before her, but she had counted at least eleven other bows.
"Who are you?" The officer growled, his hand hovering near his hip.
Quinn opened her mouth to speak, but slammed it shut, glaring at the soldiers. "You first."
The older man's eyes darkened noticeably. "Colonel Horrace Jerome of the First Demacian Scouting Battalion." His voice was just tinged with annoyance. "And I'm just going to assume you're the blithering idiot who spooked our mark?" The man growled, glaring at Quinn. The skin around his eyes had been darkened with something dark, matte, and oily where his face wasn't hidden by the hood or scarf. He paused, looking her up and down before sighing. "You're shivering and soaking wet. If you're planning on trying to track someone when it's snowing out, I suggest you don't get soaked before doing so."
"I took a swim while I was tracking them, smartass." Quinn growled, frowning as she shivered. The younger soldier shifted forward, growling, but the officer held up a hand, an aggressive smile flashing on his face before he cleared his expression.
"How about you explain what exactly you're doing out here, little girl, before I throw you into the stockades and lose the damned key?" The colonel growled. Quinn could see the markings on his collar now.
"Go get the prince and he'll straighten everything out." Quinn said, smiling. "I'm on assignment for him right now, and as far as I can tell, you're the one who spooked my mark."
Colonel Jerome narrowed his eyes, a frown deepening the creases in his face. "Prince Jarvan IV was rushed to the hospital by his pet dragon." There was annoyance in his voice. "Last I heard, one Demacian was dead in addition to three of my own scouts, and there were some twenty some unmarked soldiers found dead, and every single one of the remaining Demacians are fighting for their lives in the hospital. Far as I know, thanks to whoever did that, we might not have a prince anymore, and here you are covered in water, blood and dirt. In my book, that makes you a likely guilty party." There was quiet menace in his voice. "So I ask you again, girl: Who are you?"
Jarvan… dead?
Quinn shivered in her boots.
He can't be… Jarvan can't be dead!
