Slivers of golden light began sneaking their way through the windows of the Du Couteau household. One happened to land on Katarina's scarred eye, which slowly opened in response to the sign that a new day was here. She lazily got up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, and making her way to her private bathroom. She showered quickly and dressed in her usual attire, a small, somewhat revealing, black jacket, and skinny black pants with her combat boots. She walked over to her personal chest where she kept a diary, her two signature daggers, and anything else of importance to her under lock and key.

She picked up the daggers, sheathing them into their scabbards on her back.

'And now for the day's dull affairs' she thought.

She walked into her father's (now hers for the time being) office and began looking through any paperwork that may have come in. All that was on her desk was a letter with the insignia of the High Command stamped on a wax seal. She opened the letter and began to read.

'So Swain wants to talk?'

She decided she may as well go.

'Who knows, I might finally get another assassination mission.' The very image of someone's throat turning into a red smile made herself smile.

She took the fast route, through the tunnel cutting its way over the ivory ward. As she neared the High Command's generals gate, she noticed the guards were absent from their posts.

'Someone's going to pay for that.'

The fact that the security of the High Command was at risk because some guardsmen couldn't keep their posts annoyed her.

She yelled up to the gatekeeper's nest, "HEY! Open this door or do I have to open you!"

A startled and frightened gatekeeper snapped awake and began turning the crank to open the large granite doors.

"Idiots…" she whispered under her breath.

She walked through, getting a slight chill from the trapped air escaping and fresh air entering the "cranium" of the mountain. She quickly made her way to Swain's office and knocked once, loudly and clearly as was military tradition. Swain's reply was muffled by the door, but she took it as her cue to enter. Swain was standing by his raven, hand feeding it carrion, and looking like he hadn't slept at all.

"Good, you've arrived." Swain said, his voice hinting at a very, very slight slur. His breath also had an odd smell to it, odd for him at least.

"The note you sent said to come as quickly as possible. Just wondering Swain, have you been drinking?" Katarina replied.

"Hmm? Oh, well yes. Believe me you will want one as well."

Katarina was surprised. Swain never drank. He said it hindered his thoughts, and a General must always be alert. Truthfully she thought of alcohol the same way.

"Why would I want one?" Katarina dared to ask.

"Because… because…"

He was trying to force the words out, and that was starting to make Kat lose her nerve.

'What is he so worried about?'

"No offense Swain, but just spit it out already." She told him.

"It's just… well you see… It's not an easy thing to say because…" Swain continued.

"BECAUSE WHAT!" she yelled at him.

Swain finally forced the answer out.

"Because Talon's gone. We have no idea what happened to him…" Swain started, but Katarina stopped listening after the first sentence.

She felt her mind retreat within itself, and all she heard was that phrase, over and over again. "Talon's gone… Talon's gone… Talon's gone…"

She would've stayed there forever, if Swain didn't snap his fingers in front of her eyes.

"Katarina, are you even listening to me?" Swain scolded. "Honestly, I know it is disturbing news but I'd think you would at least listen to reality." Kat just looked at him, then at her reflection in his mirror, a lost confused look. She shook her head no; slowly at first then gaining speed as the seconds drew on, her lost/confused look turning to a sneer of hatred and anger.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S GONE?!" She screamed at Swain. "He was in the mansion last night! I said goodnight to him! He can't just be gone!"

Swain was silent, so she tried to regain her wits and compose herself. When she did, she started her own little interrogation.

"Did he just leave?" She asked.

"As far as we know. All we know is in the Ivory ward this morn-" Swain started.

"The Ivory Ward?" Kat asked. "The Ivory Ward!?" She was back to yelling now. "Goddammit Swain, what the fuck do you think this is?! Some sick joke!" She demanded.

"No! I'm simply giving you what evidence we've collected so far!"

Her rage was beginning to take over her now.

"What happened, what clues are there?!"

Swain, trying to keep his wits about him answered, "All we know is he vanished and the only clue we have is that it was in the Ivory Ward."

"That can't be everything! Tell me every little fucking detail, and don't hold one thing back!" She threatened. "No wait, I bet I can guess exactly when and how you know too!"

Katarina was seething with fury. Swain only nodded his head, and looked at the floor.

She turned to leave and ran out of the room.

Swain only closed his eyes, and mentioned something about pissing everyone off today. He then turned to the nearest guard and said, "She must not leave, get down to the Ivory Ward as fast as possible and alert the guards that she is not to leave."

The guard nodded, answering "Yes, Grand General."

Katarina began sprinting for the Ivory Ward. Maybe this time there would be something that would tell her where who she was looking for was at. When she arrived, her breath caught in her throat. There was nothing, not one damn thing. She walked around, looking for anything out of the ordinary, and found nothing. No signs of struggle, no footprints, just nothing but a completely normal market, besides the investigators. Just as she was going to give up, something caught the light in her eye.

She walked over to the fountain, and noticed that in the water under the shadows was a silver pocket watch, barely catching a gleam of light. She picked it up and opened the latch. Inside was a picture of her family, possibly a few weeks before her father disappeared? And in the background was Talon, actually smiling. Again, memories flashed by, this time of a few assassination missions before the League even existed, or the rare occasions the two would leave to simply walk around and talk. She refused to lose herself in the past again, however, and began rallying guards for a search party. "I don't know why you left, but I will bring you back." She vowed quietly to herself.

They left shortly, just missing the guard arriving with Swain's orders.