When Yasuo got back to Sinful Succulence, he simply left a thank you note for his Sponsor before gathering up his bag and taking off. Now that he had money, Yasuo could afford a reasonable inn and a meal. He relished the taste of food that wasn't preserved with salt for weeks before being cooked.
As Yasuo paid for his meal he heard a call from outside. A man wearing official looking black noble's clothes and a red cap was shouting to the street. "Grand General Swain invites you all to a rally starting in twenty minutes at the Grand Spire's steps!" Yasuo left a few extra gold on the table and went outside.
"Swain is having a rally?"
"Yes sir. The Grand General wishes to make announcements to do with Demacia."
Yasuo did not like hearing this. Noxus was constantly in conflict with another city-state from the other side of the continent called Demacia. Demacians fancied themselves to be the champions of justice and all things good. While Yasuo didn't go quite as far as to think of them like that, he certainly preferred Demacians to Noxians. If Swain was having a rally, Yasuo could bet that it was to do with attacking Demacia. Taking no interest in this, Yasuo though initially that he would not go but then he had an idea. If Swain was at the rally, that would be as good of a chance as he would ever get to talk to the leader of Noxus and find out about the assassin.
Yasuo didn't really have a plan beyond asking for the truth and he figured that it wouldn't matter if he had one. Swain wouldn't confess anything that he did not want to confess and if Swain wouldn't help him find the killer, the trail would be cold. Swain killing him would simply quicken the timing because without Swain's information, Ionia would kill him. It was an all or nothing situation.
On the way to the rally Yasuo thought of another bright idea. He might want to buy a new cloak. It would help him fit in in Noxus and it would keep him warm on his way back to Ionia after he found the assassin in Noxus. Yasuo found a shop and decided on a pitch-black cloak with a deep hood that tied around the collar area and fell like a cape at his back and around his shoulders.
The rest of the way to the rally was not long and the roads were filled with people babbling on about Swain's glory and Demacia's foolish leadership. This city truly was brainwashed as to the rest of the world, no doubt about that.
Upon reaching the rally, Yasuo drew his hood over his head and obscured his face with shadow. He found a place in the crowd with relative ease and listened to the speaker, an official for a few minutes. He did not really have anything interesting to say but after he finished, Swain stepped up to the podium with two identical cloaked, pale skinned women with mage staffs in his wake.
"Greetings, citizens of Noxus. As you know, I am Swain, Grand General of Noxus. It is my pleasure to speak to you today of the future; the future of Noxus and the lack of a future Demacia. In the coming months we will begin a barrage of assaults upon Demacia that will force them to respond. When they do, we will be ready. Our best soldiers are preparing even now for the glorious battle that will lead us to supremacy." Swain paused for a moment as the citizens cheered in agreement. "With Demacia on the offense, we will be able to better find and target their weak points. In order to destroy this beast, we must first lure it out of its cowardly hiding place. Our brave General Darius has ceased his siege of Ionia and taken his talents west to Demacia's front door! He will be engaging them in battle within the coming weeks! I urge you to prepare to serve your purpose in Noxus very soon as we will require every man woman and child's aid in defeating our enemy. But I assure you, my citizens. We will be victorious." As he delivered the final line, his demonic looking crow let out a shrill, cold cry into the dark skies. The women behind Swain simultaneously began to clap politely for Swain and the crowd followed suit. Swain lifted one hand into the air and left the podium. Right on queue, the official ran back up to the stage and began to speak again. Yasuo did not care what he had to say so he turned and skirted the edge of the crowd, following Swain.
Swain and the women left the rally and turned onto a main street. Yasuo made sure not to get too close and followed. Swain and his entourage continued on, stopping to shake hands with various important looking people. Yasuo avoided making eye contact with anyone, wrapping himself in the cloak tightly. Swain took a left off of the street, back towards the spire and his cloaked pursuer hurried in an effort not to lose sight of the trio.
Yasuo rounded the corner and was immediately hit in the throat by a scepter and pressed against the wall, the cold cane like scepter putting intense pressure on his neck. Swain ginned at Yasuo, a crazed look in his redish eyes. "Who are you?"
Yasuo coughed and clutched the scepter with both hands, trying to push it off. Swain was deceptively strong for his frail appearance and dug the cane in further. "I just had a question!" Yasuo choked out.
"Then ask. Then, I will dispose of you," Swain laughed, holding out the cane to one of the women. "LeBlanc, take this." The black haired woman stepped up and grabbed it. "And get rid of your double. No need to carry on the illusion just for this filth's sake." She nodded and touched the shoulder of the other woman. Yasuo stared in awe as the second woman started to dissolve into smoke before his eyes.
"Who is she?"
"A trained killer of Noxus, my right hand, and a political titan of Noxus. But don't mind her now, you have me to deal with. What do you want?"
Yasuo thought for a moment of what to say but figured a direct approach might help in talking to the man he obviously couldn't fool. "I'm looking for an assassin who killed my village elder in Ionia."
"You've come all this way for one little assassin? I have a thousand assassins."
"They are blaming me for the elder's death. I need to find him."
Swain looked Yasuo up and down for a minute, sizing him up but then spoke. "Alright. Well as it happens, I do know of the assassin who killed an Ionian elder. In fact, they worked for me directly for some time."
Yasuo's spirits lifted. "Really?" But then it hit him. "You aren't going to tell me where he is are you?"
Swain turned away from Yasuo for a moment. "I wish I could. I want the assassin dead too. But they fled Noxus a week ago. However, I am not without mercy. I will let you go and find the killer."
"You just want me to do your dirty work," Yasuo accused.
"Does it matter why I am letting you go?" Swain said, turning back abruptly.
"I suppose not," Yasuo admitted. "Thank you for your help." Swain shrugged and walked away, signaling LeBlanc to follow.
Back at the inn Yasuo sat at a tiny wooden desk and thought. "Where does someone go if they are on the run?" Yasuo sat and considered this for a moment before realizing the irony of the question. "Rather, where would a Noxian run to?" Yasuo pondered this a while. "Not Demacia or Ionia, nobody in either city would take in an assassin of Noxus. Maybe they'd go south to the desert or the jungle. But how would he get past the Great Barrier? And beyond that, why bother?" No, the assassin wouldn't have gone south. "Where would I go if I wanted a new start in a neutral place?" Yasuo thought for a while and was about to give up but then "That's it! Piltover!" Piltover was a mostly neutral city-state to the far north, known for their amazing technology and innovations. They had a beautiful golden city and were not at war with any other city. It was the perfect place for a new start.
Yasuo wasted no time and filled his bag with food and supplies for the long journey ahead. He also went to buy a horse for the travels but found them all requisitioned by the Noxian military for war purposes. Yasuo did not much like the idea of going to Piltover on foot but he didn't appear to have a choice.
Yasuo was ready to go but before he set out he decided to write to Yone again.
Dear Yone,
I have been on the run for a long time now. The road is cold and often lonely. As you might assume, the blade makes poor company for a long road. I'm on the way though. I know where my travels will take me next and there is still a golden light at the end of this long lonely path. I believe know where the assassin is headed next. I am sorry that I cannot tell you where that is or detail it any further but again, I can't risk someone else opening this mail. I hope to write to you again soon brother. Until then, I send my love.
Yauso
After he had finished writing, Yasuo was not entirely satisfied with the letter but it would have to do for now. The road was calling. Yasuo asked the inn to mail the letter and then left Noxus through the front gates and headed north to his journey's next stop.
From high in his tower Swain watched the gates open and Yasuo step out. "Do you think he knows the bounty on his head has gone up to five thousand gold?" LeBlanc asked.
"No," Swain replied, "but that will make watching his progress all the more interesting."
Author's Notes: Get ready for a weird chapter 8. I promise that it won't be like any other chapter (at least for a long time) so if it rubs you wrong, don't worry! Here's what you get to know now: It will be called "The Wanderer and the Wind."
Thanks for reading as always and thanks to everyone for the continuing support.
