A Will and a Shadow
Gone
Talon stepped out of the lavatory and rubbed his hands which were cold from washing. He turned his palms over and over again as he checked them for injury. Bashing Katarina's face in like that was not like him. Talon barely struck anybody with his bare hands. He preferred the cold, reassuring sting of steel. But he was so angry he just couldn't control it anymore so he sent a message.
Talon walked quickly and quietly to Irelia's room where he pushed open the door. Inside Irelia lay on her bed, barely awake. She rolled to face him but he climbed onto the blanket and cradled her in his arms. She snuggled into his arms and drifted back to sleep. So much for staying up to talk to him.
But Talon didn't mind. He laid next to her and petted her hair as she slept. Talon breathed deeply and calmly; not befitting his agitated state. As he lay he thought about the ruthlessness that was Katarina Du Couteau.
During the war with Ionia, Katarina and Talon launched several missions against the Ionian forces. One captain Katarina assassinated by forcing him to commit suicide with threats to kill his wife and children. After he drove his own sword through his stomach Katarina crept into the rooms of the captains children and slit their throats anyway. Talon killed his wife while she slept.
He bit down hard at the memory for it was painful for him. At the time, Talon had no trouble killing people so long as they made no sound or felt no pain. Talon was sensitive to the suffering of others. He was a killer, not a torturer.
Katarina didn't care, she liked killing. And she was good at it. Noxus used her brutality to demoralize Ionia and it was working. As Noxus trampled, burned, and slaughtered their way inland, Ionia cringed back in fear. It wasn't until the impassioned efforts of Irelia and Karma that the war was halted.
Now Noxus had forts inside Ionian borders, but the march was halted. Talon knew that more open conflict would arise. When he joined the League of Legends, he never realized that the battle for Noxus would change so dramatically. Now Talon was on the opposing side because he found love.
Talon looked down at Irelia's sleeping form and smiled at the thought. He loved her. He loved her deeply. Talon was not prepared at all for how in love he became. He smiled more in the moments he shared with her than any other year in his life.
Talon laid his head down and drifted slowly off to sleep. The last thoughts drifting through his tired mind were Irelia, and how he needed to keep her safe.
When Talon awoke he did so in the quietest way possible. Irelia lay sleeping where Talon left her. Talon smiled and left the room. As he turned into the hall he spotted two figures in purple robes moving towards him. Talon walked closer to them until they stopped in front of him.
"Talon Du Couteau," the first spoke with authority, "You are to be summoned to the chambers of Arch Conjurer Durin immediately."
Talon recoiled but spoke, "What for?"
"That is none of your concern," the second robed figure spoke with equal sternness.
They gestured back the way they had walked. Talon followed their lead to the Arch Conjurer's office. Inside was an older man, about the age of General Du Couteau, sitting in a chair writing on a piece of parchment. The scratching of the quill against the paper made Talon's skin crawl.
"You wanted to speak with me, Arch Conjurer?" Talon began.
"Hush," Arch Conjurer Durin hissed, "One moment."
After a few seconds Durin looked up into Talon's eyes.
"Last night, several hours before dawn, you assaulted another champion of the League: a miss Katarina Du Couteau. The gravity of your crime coupled with the regulations of the League dictate that this Institute banish you from the grounds forthwith."
Talon swallowed hard.
"And you are not to be permitted on the grounds or admitted into another League match until the terms of your punishment expire in three months. Do you have any questions?"
Talon couldn't breathe.
That bitch. She knew she'd get him expelled from the League giving her the opportunity to make a move against Irelia. 'Oh what have I done?' Talon thought as he walked out of the office. He made his way to his room. His door was open.
Talon pushed his way in to find a completely empty room but the bed. She had taken all his equipment. Talon assessed his personal inventory. His clothes, his boots he had on, and two daggers. Talon bolted out of his room and ran full tilt towards Irelia's room.
He smashed open the door to find Irelia sitting there yawning. She jumped as Talon burst in.
"Hey, Knives? What's going on? What are you doing?" she asked as Talon paced around the room.
"I fucked up darling," Talon said trying to think.
"What do you mean you fucked up? What did you do?" Irelia asked worried, yet getting angry.
"I got expelled from the League grounds and now your life may be in danger," Talon spilled. Oh shit.
Irelia grabbed Talon by the scruff of his neck and held him in place. She glared into his eyes and whispered, "What is going on, Talon?"
Talon took a deep breath, "I can't tell you right now."
"Why not?" she almost yelled the words.
"I just can't right now. I promise I will, but please get ready to leave. We need to disappear."
"Where?"
"I can help with that!" a voice called to them from the floor.
It was Teemo. He had a traveling pack on and face paint of black and green. He 'looked' up at them with his closed eyes and said,
"I've been keeping up on the situation and have had a safe house prepared in Bandle City, you'll both be safe there."
"What situation? What safe house? What the fuck?" Irelia exclaimed.
Talon brought Irelia into his arms and kissed her. She hesitantly returned his kiss and then pulled away. Before she was able to say another word, Talon stopped her,
"You have to trust me right now. Please get a bag ready and let's go."
Irelia grimaced but complied. Talon's built up trust with her was going to be strained, but it was holding for now.
They both followed Teemo out and off the grounds and to a carriage Teemo had waiting. Teemo took the reins and they were off. They headed south towards the Shurima Desert. If they moved quickly it should only be a days travel. It was just becoming midday.
Talon settled in the seat opposite of Irelia who was glaring at him. She the softened her expression and spoke quietly,
"I'm not mad at you Talon, I just-" she exhales long and slow, "I just want to know what's going on. I have a match today."
"It won't matter if Katarina poisons you at breakfast."
"You think she's going to make a move on me?"
"I know she will. I know how she operates."
"Why now?"
"Because I am expelled from the League. I'm your greatest advantage against her."
"Wait, I remember you saying that. Why are you being expelled again? What rule did you break?"
"I assaulted another champion."
"You assault-" she narrowed her eyes, "You assaulted Katarina?"
Talon just nodded lamely.
"You assaulted Katarina Du Couteau, one of the highest ranked Noxian champions aside from Jericho Swain, and the foremost voice in the war against my homeland?"
Talon nodded again.
Irelia laughed, but not in the sweet way. More a laugh of the 'wow that's funny but srsly wtf' variety. The carriage ride was steady and quiet. Irelia didn't speak to Talon for most of the trip across the dunes of Shurima. When darkness folded around them as night fell, the carriage came to a stop. Teemo darted into the cab and spoke in hushed tones.
"Get out, get ready, we're surrounded."
Talon and Irelia exchanged glances of mixed fear and anger. Irelia activated her orb and the blades hovered around them. She hopped out of the carriage. Talon followed close behind with one dagger in hand and one on his hip. Teemo climbed up to the top of the carriage and took aim.
All around them from the dunes of the Shurima Desert came ten shadowy figures. Men dressed in black. Red cloth trimming the shoulder. Talon recognized them. They were his students once. Talon took a vain attempt to spare their lives.
"I know all of you. You cannot win against us. Don't throw your lives away."
A figure stepped forward, the leader, and raised his hood to look at them. His expression was stoic and his features were hard and cold. He was thin. Talon recognized his face, one of his lower pupils, Kazzar.
"I'm sorry master, I know we aren't supposed to talk before a mark. It's you by us, or us by house Du Couteau. You know how it goes," Kazzar spoke sternly.
"I do," Talon whispered. Kazzar knew he and his fellows were going to die. But he was going to try anyway. Talon gritted his teeth and charged forward.
He and Irelia attacked in unison. The assassins met their charge and were swept aside. Talon thrust his dagger into Kazzar's throat before he could ready his own. Talon twisted over and kicked another assassin in the mouth. He pulled the dagger from Kazzar's throat and then threw it into another assassins chest. Talon knew others were dying around him from Teemo and Irelia.
Talon pulled his second dagger from his belt and shadowstepped behind his last mark and stabbed him in the temple. His body went limp in his arms. Talon looked up and watched Irelia deliver the final attack on the last assassin. All ten assailants lay dead around them. Talon and Irelia got back in the carriage and Teemo drove them off towards Bandle City.
Irelia wiped the blood from her brow and looked at Talon. Her eyes were fierce, yet sad. She understood Talon at that moment. She was still annoyed with him though, so she didn't speak. At least she wasn't glaring at him anymore.
