The next two weeks were a blur of activity, clandestine meetings, and constantly looking over my shoulder for signs of pursuit or surveillance. I was paranoid, with good reason, that at any moment Noxian commandos would be kicking in the door of the inn Lux and I were staying in. Despite my fears, several meetings were held with various members of what became known as "The Loyalists". Drax soon roped in a few of the other individuals I had been considering reaching out to, including Sera Cahl. Sera had been my bunk mate for my first year of service in the Noxian military. We had shared the hardships of being a recruit together, and I was pretty sure I could count on her. Along with Sera there was Rodger Harr, a former Sergeant in the Wolf Runners who had been dismissed from service for dubious charges of disrespect and failure to follow orders. It was a poorly kept secret that High Command had one or two members that possessed a score to settle with Rodger, and he was lucky to have gotten off so lightly. In any event, Rodger's disdain for the current leadership was a given.

There were several other individuals I had not heard of before as well, but they all held grudges. Amongst the many conversations I participated in while creating preliminary plans I heard many voice the opinion that The Noxus High Command had betrayed its people, that the corruption was sending the city state into a spiral of destitution, and the numerous ways in which the government had wronged whoever it was that happened to be doing the talking.

Not once did anyone mention the Ionian massacres.

I knew I shouldn't have been surprised, but it still stung. Noxian's weren't in the habit of extending sympathy towards those outside their inner circle. Even then, it was a rarity. Still, the people I met with certainly weren't in support of furthering hostilities. Many of them viewed the war as a useless drain on resources considering how the past few attempts of invasion had gone. The only time Ionia was mentioned was to hammer home the incompetence of the current regime.

It may not be sympathy. I thought, as Sera made some gesture accompanying her current speech to the dozen odd people in the Wagon Wheel's back room, but at least they aren't advocating invasion. It's a step up from what we have now.

It bothered me that nobody else seemed concerned with the huge loss of life the previous campaigns had caused. The only other Noxian who seemed to share my feelings in any capacity was Drax. He never voiced them, but we had shared a few glances during the meetings. He had been there too, after all, the day Noxus had murdered just about everyone I had known. Everyone I had cared for. He knew what it had been like.

"So, while we start a few riots in the southern quarter to draw out the palace guards, you and your team will infiltrate The Citadel and eliminate High Command?" A bearded, middle aged individual asked me from across the long table we were seated at.

Sera had apparently stopped speaking. She had short, raven colored hair that hung down over one eye. She and everybody else in the room turned to look at me, and I noted with a little discomfort the reverence in the gazes of the newcomers.

Lux was right again, they really do expect me to lead them.

It felt a little odd because I didn't consider myself qualified to be doing anything of the sort. Then again, after everything I'd been through I was an excellent fighter. That was no secret, and perhaps that was why they looked to me. I knew the appeal of wanting to have somebody to look to for answers. That was how I had been for my entire career in the military. There was something calming about the knowledge that those in leadership positions knew what they were doing, and that every action was part of some master strategy. I'd since become thoroughly disillusioned of the concept, but even I knew that maintaining it in this case was critical to our success.

"Yes." I replied with as much authority as I could muster. I stood up and placed my hands on the back of my chair. "My team is handpicked from some of the most skilled fighters from Valoran, and all a part of the League of Legends. We've been making these arrangements for some time, and are almost ready to strike. All members of the League are highly trained experts in the art of combat. We will crush the treacherous High Command."

It was mostly true. Close enough, I reasoned.

A murmur of approval ran through the room. I sat back down, feeling a little foolish. Lux had advised me to keep my addresses short and to the point, which was completely fine by me. Even short speeches were an alien experience to me, however, and I was glad that the room was too dim for anyone to see my face flushed from nervousness. Still, it seemed to have worked.

Lux and I had come up with the initial idea together, and Drax had approved. Rallying the citizens to march against The Citadel (and the Noxian army) would have been next to impossible. Even if we had managed that, their defeat would have been assured against a far better armed and armored force. On the other hand, inciting riots was much more achievable. Rioters could disperse once the soldiers showed up, and even those who were captured wouldn't be killed (most likely). This accomplished two critical tasks for us: It allowed us to recruit more liberally from populace. More people were willing to riot than they would be to openly rebel. It also would create an opening. When the majority of the guards were sent out to quell the riots I would be able to slip in to The Citadel using Ezreal's outrageous plan. Following that, I would hunt down Swain and any other members of High Command present. With their removal, the city would be ours to seize.

Somewhere between when I met Lux and now, I actually began believing we could do it.

I wasn't sure when that moment had been, but after several meetings that left us with dozens upon dozens of volunteers and recruiters, I was beginning to think we had a real chance. The only question was how many of The Citadel's forces would be sent out to deal with the threat. We needed as big of a distraction as possible. I was confident I could defeat Swain, but I was less confident I could do so while being assaulted by dozens of armored knights.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. A dashing looking blond young man looked down towards me, and with a start I realized I was the only person still seated. Everybody else was filing out of the room, murmuring quietly to each other. There was a positive energy to the conversation.

"Come on, time to go." The man said, and I stood up to follow the small crowd.

"Riven." I looked back at the table. Sera was still seated, looking up at me with her dark eyes. "You can really do this, can't you."

"It's not a question of 'can'. It's one of necessity. Just as you must sometimes cut off a limb to save the body, we must carve out the disease that has corrupted Noxus."

Sera smiled. "You've changed in some ways, but you're exactly the same in others, Riven. You always were fiercely loyal."

"Loyalty that was misplaced for far too long." I replied. "We will restore our city."

She nodded, and I left the room.

"Well that was exciting!" Lux said, dispelling the illusion of the blond man with a wave of her hand "Was that the last one?"

I tried not to show a reaction to her sudden change in appearance, but probably failed. By now I knew Lux was a master of disguise and illusions, but the apparent ease with which she wielded such powerful magic was startling.

We were back in the inn we'd been staying at for the past two nights. Upon discussion, we'd decided against staying in one place for too long. The consequences of discovery were too dire to risk anything less.

"Yes, that was the last one." I said, dropping down onto one of the two beds in the small room. "We've picked out leaders and instigators, they're already starting to spread word and recruit. In a week or so, they'll be ready."

Lux sat down on her own bed, letting her legs swing freely off the side.

"After that, we just need to give a signal?" She asked.

"Yes, and I have an idea of how to do that." I replied. "There's a summoner in the Institute that I trust, at least somewhat. I may be able to convince him to help."

Lux shot me a look. "I didn't realize you had so many friends."

I snorted. "I don't. A soldier's life is war, their trade, death. Friendship is a luxury I can't afford."

I thought back to Katarina's words of a few weeks ago.

I can see it in your face, Exile, you just want revenge.

Despite Lux's reassurances the words still hung in the back of my mind like a poison, seeping into my thoughts.

I heard a soft sigh escape my companion across the room. I glanced over and was surprised to see Lux's head down, her blonde hair obscuring her face.

Her hair is so bright.

I'd wondered before if she used magic to enhance it somehow. But this wasn't the time for these thoughts.

"Ah, are you ok?" It was all I could think to say. I'd rarely seen my partner look downcast. Her default demeanor usually bordered between hyper and gleeful.

Lux didn't respond. I sat up, turning to face her across the small gap between our beds. The soft light of evening filtered through the small window behind me, illuminating Lux as if a spotlight lay fixed upon her.

I hesitantly reached out and grasped her shoulder. She glanced up at me, one eye still obscured by her hair.

"You don't have time for friends?" She sounded hurt.

It took me a moment to realize what she was talking about.

I hadn't meant it like that.

At some point since I'd met her I'd gone from viewing Lux as something of a nuisance to a valued and reliable companion. This realization startled me, as it had been a long time since I'd been with anyone I could consider 'reliable', or whose company I actually enjoyed. But it was at this moment that I became sure of it: I enjoyed Lux's companionship. Her constant quips and positive attitude let me forget, for a few moments, the horrors of my past. I hadn't realized how much that meant to me.

Of course I realize this now. I thought, feeling like banging my head against the wall. Am I really that insensitive?

It occurred to me that several moments had passed without me responding. This wasn't helping.

"No, that's not what I meant." I said. I wasn't good at this kind of conversation, but I squeezed her shoulder in what I hoped was a reassuring manner.

"I spoke with haste, Lux, forgive me. You are my friend. The first I've had in a long time. I'm still getting used to this. For the longest time I was stuck in the past, and it's only now I've been able to drag myself back to the present. I have you to thank for that, too."

She brushed her hair out of her face and raised her head, grinning again.

"Is the stoic, somber Riven actually bonding with me?" She raised her hand to feel my forehead, "Hmm, you feel fine, but I can't rule out illness yet."

I rolled my eyes and let go of her shoulder, leaning back. As I did, Lux grasped my hand.

"Really though, Riven. Thanks. You might not believe it, but being a spy doesn't allow many opportunities for relationships of any kind. So having you here..." Her voice trailed off, but I understood: Having someone there to watch your back, to share a laugh with, to rely on. It was a feeling that you couldn't appreciate until you lost it. I found myself thinking back to Fury Company, to the friends I'd once had. Their deaths had torn a hole in me, and I'd shied away from filling it for far too long.

"We both have shades in our past." I said, giving her hand a squeeze. Then I grinned back at her. "But we'll look out for each other now. We'll have to, with what we're planning."

She smiled at me and released my hand. The warmth of her touch lingered. It was comforting, in a way.

"So, where were you?" I asked, laying back down and propping my head up with one arm as I looked across at her. "You arrived at the meeting late today."

"I was in the streets, making sure we weren't followed. We can't be too careful."

I nodded. That was an understatement, to say the least.

"See anyone?"

"Not really. I thought I was being watched once or twice, but I didn't see anyone other than the standard city guards. Maybe I'm getting paranoid." She laughed. "It runs in the profession. Relaxed spies don't live very long."

"Even so, it's probably best we're leaving tomorrow. We shouldn't linger. As careful as we've been, I'd wager there are some people looking for us by now."

Katarina found me quickly enough, after all.

"Are we going back to the Institute, then?" Lux asked.

"Yes, I need to speak with the summoner I mentioned. The swordsman, Yasuo, too." My stomach tightened at the name, but I pushed away thoughts of the past. We needed everyone we could get. If Yasuo were half as skilled as his former master, he would be a formidable warrior.

"I should be able to secure us some supplies." Lux offered. "Demacia won't supply any troops or forces to as risky a venture as this, but I do have some influence. It'll help, at least."

I nodded. I was sure that the Demacian government wouldn't mind Swain and his cohorts being suddenly and violently removed from their positions, but they couldn't help directly. Doing so would be political suicide for a city state priding itself for its justice and loyalty.

A soft pattering sound emanated from the window as rain began to fall, and I heard the rumble of distant thunder. Outside our door several footfalls in the hallway announced other guests returning to their rooms on the upper floors.

Lux stood up and strode past me and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. She peered out the small pane onto the street 3 stories below.

"After we get what we need from the Institute, all that's left is to meet Ez in Piltover." Lux said, her tone serious. "Are you sure you're ready?"

Ezreal had left two days prior after instructing us to meet him in Piltover in two weeks' time. Apparently he had to make some preparations for the airship he insisted we would be "borrowing". I still wasn't sure how confident I really was with the plan, but I didn't have an alternative and Lux seemed to be all for it. Approaching The Citadel from the air would most likely be the easiest way past most of the defenses, after all.

"I am." I replied, and then took a deep breath. I was about to elaborate, perhaps to confide in her the sense of foreboding that had been encroaching on my thoughts ever since we'd arrived in Noxus, when I noticed Lux's eyes narrow.

"What is it?" I asked, standing up and walking over to look out the window as well.

"That cloaked man out there." She nodded towards a figure standing in an alleyway on the other side of the street. He wore a brown cloak with the hood up, obscuring any notable features. "I saw him yesterday outside the Wagon Wheel."

I thought back, a feeling of anxiety creeping up my spine. Tons of people walked the streets of Noxus, but that cloak…

"Wasn't he outside the Poro's Palace last week when we met there?" I said slowly, struggling to recall.

Lux glanced sharply at me. "Was he?"

I shrugged, brow furrowed with concentration. "It's hard to keep track. Could it be a coincidence?"

"Not likely." Lux said, her voice dropping to a murmur. "I've found there's no such thing in this line of work."

I reached over to where it leaned against the wall and wrapped my hand around the hilt of my broken sword. Then it hit me. Alarmed, I looked over at Lux and found her staring wide eyed back at me. She'd realized too.

"Did you hear those footsteps walk up the next set of stairs?" She whispered. I shook my head. There were no other rooms on this floor of the inn. Which meant…

Lux and I both turned our heads to look at the door. It was plain wood with a simple lock and hinges on the inside. It wouldn't hold up to much force.

There was a soft creak of floorboards from the other side.

"Out the window, now." I hissed.

Lux nodded and swung the pane inward, letting in a brisk breeze and spray of rain. She swung her leg over the windowsill and, reaching up, began clambering up towards the roof.

They'll have the surrounding streets covered. I thought, mind racing. We'll have to get creative. If we can jump across a few buildings, we should be able to get away.

Bang!

The door shuddered under a heavy impact, small cracks splintering outwards from its center. I was out of time. Leaning backwards out the window, I caught sight of Lux standing on the windowsill of a room directly above me. Fortunately, there was only one floor between us and the roof.

Just as I positioned myself to grab the ledge above me, the door to our room burst open with a loud CRACK! And 4 Noxian Soldiers stormed into the interior, swords drawn. The lead one pointed at me with a gauntleted hand.

"Get her!"

Time to go!

I leapt upwards and grabbed the windowsill, hauling my body skywards as if I were doing a pull up. Lux had just reached the roof, and I saw her turn around and extend a hand towards me.

"Hurry!"

No. Shit.

Just as I swung my leg onto the small ledge, one of my armored pursuers stuck his torso out through the window I had just escaped though. He glanced up at me and thrust a longsword towards my legs with a snarl.

I twisted out of the way and, in doing so, almost lost my footing on the slick and narrow ledge. As I reached out to steady myself my adversary's sword sliced a deep groove through the wood where my foot had been resting just a moment before.

I really don't have time for this!

I swept my shattered great sword downwards in an arc, catching his weapon in the middle of the blade and wrenching it from the grip of my attacker. He cried out, ducking back inside the window as his sword fell 40 feet to the cobblestones below.

Momentarily safe, I reached up to take Lux's hand. Only it wasn't there. She was gone from the edge of the roof. Concern spiked through me as I jumped once more, swinging myself onto the gently sloping slats of the rain slicked roof. As I stood up, I immediately understood why my companion had vanished.

Six figures garbed in black robes stood in a loose semicircle on the rooftop, hoods up against the pouring rain. A wary Lux stood at their center, eyeing the group cautiously. She spun her baton from hand to hand and glanced back at me as I stepped up to join her.

"Looks like they brought friends." She said.

Six against two. Not great odds.

"Stay behind me." I replied, raising my blade and taking a step towards our foes. As one, each cloaked figure drew a long bladed dagger.

"Well aren't you the noble one."

Doesn't she ever run out of quips?

I resolved to ask her later how she managed to joke at times like this. Besides, it made the most sense for the mage to stay at the rear where she could cast spells unmolested.

Lightning flashed overhead followed quickly by a crack of thunder that shook the roof. The bright light glinted off of the blades bared before me, and the man farthest to my left flinched from the sound. With no hesitation I leapt into action, sweeping my broken blade down and cleaving his weapon in half with a single strike before he could reset his guard. My opponent gasped, stumbling backwards in surprise and fear as he struggled to put distance between us. Seizing the advantage while I still had it, I spun around and kicked the assassin in the stomach sending him tumbling off the roof with a yelp.

Behind me Lux shouted something, and there was a bright flash of light. I turned to see another black clad figure thrown off of the roof by the force of a prismatic blast of energy that warped and cracked the air.

Then the other four were on us. Two of them came at me at once, daggers swinging. One aimed high at my head, while the other swung low. It was a classic maneuver designed to overpower an outnumbered opponent. Unfortunately for them, I was no ordinary warrior.

I concentrated on my blade, which responded by blasting a lance of ki energy into the stomach of the man on the left. He doubled over, momentarily dazed by the blow. Turning to face his partner, I ducked under the blow aimed for my head and spun my blade towards his chest. He nimbly dodged to the side, and I pursued.

These men are skilled. I need to end this quickly.

I followed through with a flurry of jabs. The assassin parried one strike, then two, as he backed away from me. With a yell I feinted right then swept my sword around to the left left, striking him on the head with the flat of the blade before he was able to react. He collapsed with a groan, his dagger falling from his hand and sliding away down the roof.

I spun around just in time to see the other figure, apparently having recovered, stabbing towards me with his weapon. With no time to block and too off-balance to dodge, I called upon the ki energy in my sword to form a barrier around me. I was just in time.

The dagger deflected off of the shimmering energy, angling away from my heart and slicing a gash on my left forearm as I spun away from the blow. I gritted my teeth as I felt the stinging pain lance up my side, but ignored it. With my left arm I grabbed the assassins wrist as he stabbed past me, yanking him off balance. As he stumbled forwards I pulled down sharply and brought my knee up, striking him squarely in the face. There was a burst of crimson and a sharp crack as the impact shattered his nose. With a cry he collapsed, clutching at his face.

Lux!

I spun around and dashed for my friend. Lux had dispatched a second enemy, leaving one standing. He had gotten in close to her, however, and was slowly forcing her to the edge of the roof with a series of quick stabs the mage was just able to parry.

"Yaaah!"

I charged forward and cannoned into her assailant from behind, knocking him off balance. Seizing the opportunity Lux spun her baton around and blasted him with another flash of light. He dropped to the ground without a sound, the smell of burnt flesh and hair rising from his body.

"Come on!" I yelled, grabbing Lux's hand and pulling her towards the far end of the roof. The adjacent building was both close and lower in height, we could make the jump.

Together we ran through the rain, leaping over the void as the ground dropped out beneath us. We hung in the air for a long moment, and then slammed into the flat wooden beams of the adjacent building's roof. I rolled with the impact, tucking my shoulder and springing to my feet.

Below in the street, a troop of 4 soldiers on horseback cantered around the corner and began pounding in our direction.

Lux followed my gaze, panting, as she hauled herself back to her feet.

"Horses." She gasped, pointing. "We can't fight them all."

She was right. Now that the garrison was alerted, the reinforcements wouldn't stop. We had to escape, and it would be far more difficult on foot.

"That building there!" I pointed to the next one over. It was a short house with a roof that sloped steeply almost all the way to the street. "We can slide down and ambush them!"

Breathing heavily from the exertion, we charged for the next gap. We were only halfway when something small and fast glinted in the flickering torchlight from the street below. Acting on instinct I dropped to my knees and skidded across the soaked rooftop as two daggers whizzed past overhead. I slid to a stop, Lux right beside me, as another cloaked figure resolved out of the darkness and rain, shadows whipping around him like mist. It was just light enough for me to see a razor thin smile curling on his lips from under his pointed hood.

I stood up, gripping my sword in two hands in front of me. Beside me, Lux readied her baton.

There was a clicking sound as our foe flexed his wrist. A long, wicked blade slid out from under his sleeve and extended out past his right hand. He drew a second dagger and then brought them up in an 'X', sliding them together. The sound of the steel on steel sent a shiver running down my spine.

"You aren't going anywhere, Exile." A hard voice, dark as the stormy night, emerged from him. "My sister seems to think you're a nuisance. I disagree. You're a threat."

I knew that voice. I'd heard it before, on the rare occasions where I had fought against him on the Fields of Justice. The legendary assassin and brother to Katarina Decouteau. Talon.

Does their whole family have it in for me?!

I pushed the thought aside, there was no time. We had to get past him before more soldiers arrived.

"We're not a threat to anyone but the scum who run this city." I replied, leveling my blade at him. "But I'll defeat anyone who stands in my way."

My eyes met his, and from his gaze I knew there would be no running from this foe. With a deep breath, I charged.

A/N: It's back! Once again I apologize for the long wait. This story will be completed, and I'm hoping to get these chapters out a lot faster now. In fact, the next chapter is already written! I was going to release it all at once, but once it passed the 7,500 word mark I decided to split it into two chapters. It should be up by tomorrow, so don't forget to follow the story if you want to see the harrowing conclusion to our heroines escape from Noxus! Please remember to leave a review, all feedback is appreciated.