Prologue
The Wild Wanderer was a small ship, only about seventy feet long. Moored in Piltover's main port, it was dwarfed by the hundred-thirty-plus warships and frigates that were docked around it. It was late night, the soft springtime air begin to show the warm tendrils of summer. The cool breeze blowing in from the sea made for a pleasant environment punctuated by near silence, save for the sound of the waves. At such a time as this, everyone had either gone home, fallen asleep, or gone to the pub. All but one person.
The lone occupant of the Wild Wanderer sat alone in the captain's quarters, writing notes in her log. On her desk, notes, logbooks and records were scattered everywhere. Surrounded by silence, she didn't seem to mind the alone time.
Katheryn had let the rest of her crew off early, letting them head to the tavern for a job well done. The last deal had been a complicated one, but they had all survived to see another day, and in Katheryn's book that was good enough. The profit hadn't been great, but it was enough to keep everyone happy. When it came to arms dealing, nobody really knew if they were going to see the sun the next day. The last few days had been hard enough, with the woman having to split her time between managing her business and helping an old friend and his companion reach the mainland. She had finally dropped him off earlier in the day, saying a heartfelt goodbye. Now that he was gone, she could fully concentrate on her trade.
Just looking at her, it would have been hard to pin her as someone who partook in such a shady business. The hair on her head flowed down her back like fire, the rich crimsons and gold burning bright. She peered at her records through deep, violet eyes, the only feature of hers that betrayed her appearance. They were the sharp, calculating eyes of someone who had been around the block more than a few times. Her appearance would have attracted many suitors, thought the large, deadly looking rifle that leaned against the wall behind her probably would have most of them thinking twice.
Mulling over her log, the woman constantly mumbled to herself. "Last month wasn't bad… may have to cut back on fresh food and go more with preserved stuff…maybe go with a ten percent hike on prices." Clicking the pen in her hand furiously, she finally set it down and sighed. Running her hands through her long, red locks, the captain leaned her chair back against the wall. "Gonna really have to put it in high gear for this next quarter. I'd hate to have to let some of the crew go."
Interrupted by a knock at the door, the woman settled back down and opened the main drawer of her desk. Reaching in, she pulled out a large, semi-auto handgun. Pointing it at the door, she dropped the safety on the weapon.
"Yeah?" she called out rather brusquely.
"Back from the tavern early, Captain Katheryn," the voice from behind the door stated. "Yu got a bit tipsy, so we might need some help getting her up the gangplank."
Katheryn laughed. "Is that so?" she asked. "Alright, be out in a second." Still laughing a bit, she then fired two shots through the door. The two shots cracked out of the barrel of the gun, plowed through the door, and dug into the body behind it.
Scooting her chair back, the woman stood, her gun still smoking. She made her way to the door and opened it, peering down at the man who now lay behind it. Two holes in his chest were steadily flowing blood, and in his hand he clutched a knife now flecked with red. Weakened, he couldn't keep his grip on it as Katheryn kicked the blade away. The weapon skittered harmlessly away across the deck of the ship, knocking into the mast. Cursing, the stranger stared up at the woman who had shot him, anger in his eyes.
"You got a couple things wrong, bub, so let me tell you what's what before I off you," the crimson haired captain said. "One: there is no way in HELL my crew would come back early from the tavern. Two: Yu doesn't drink. Trust me, I've tried to make it happen, but it just doesn't." Still making eye contact, the woman took her pistol and leveled it with the bleeding assassin's head. "Finally, there's three: nobody around here calls me Katheryn. It's Ryn, got it?"
The man smiled a bloody grin, his lungs now pooling with the liquid. "You got enemies, you know that Ryn?" he grunted.
Ryn smirked. "Of course." Then she pulled the trigger.
Authors Note: Hey all, whats up? For those of you who don't know, this is a direct spin-off from my other story Nine Tails and Six Strings. This story picks up right after chapter 12. I'm not gonna sit here and make this a story that you will only understand if you read Nine Tails, so if you haven't read it, don't worry. I'm not quitting my other two stories, but I just needed something new to write about. I like Ryn as a character, so I hope you do to. Take care!