Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoyed this one as much as I did writing it. As always, leave a comment with any thoughts or concerns.
XI. Karma
Darkness loomed over her, a towering behemoth with a hooded cloak. At first she thought it was only a shadow, but each step toward her left imprints in the soil. It had become a tangible beast.
"What do you want?!" she screamed.
"Power."
The whisper lingered, echoing in her ear with the quality of an omnipotent breeze. Power? She looked around them, the shadow golem drawing closer. There were faint images of people attacking one another. Feral rage substituted coherent speech. Peace was replaced with war. Steel clashed against steel and in each scream of agony were the throes of magic on flesh.
It was nearly too much for her to stomach, seeing such chaos. There was just so much death. The people grew a little clearer as she looked closer, much like images in a dim room after retreating from a bright day. There were not only humans. Yordles. Minotaurs. Techmaturgical warriors. Voidlings. Abominations. The scene before her was the hate-induced world she lived in. Valoran lay before her in bloodshed and turmoil. The shadow reached for her.
"Power." It repeated.
The sound of another voice drew her back. It always seemed like someone's voice was the only thing to snap them out of thought. Karma had been meditating, trying to reach a better understanding of things beyond their world. She had no idea that she would see Valoran.
"Duchess Karma, the pirate is awake." Irelia's voice was a comfort after what she saw.
"Thank you, Irelia. One moment and we will go to him."
Irelia nodded and waited patiently outside the tent. Karma prepared herself in the cloth walled room. The Ionians were a humble people which explained why they refused any boarding. Elaborate tents and hast shelters were both set up as a camp for themselves. The method was old fashioned but it served two purposes. The Ionians would have control over their own area for security and a gesture to Bilgewater that they would not be any expense during this aid effort.
"Let's go, dear." Karma said. She pretended not to take notice of the peculiar look she was given at the informal address. Irelia never did get very personal with her no matter how much she tried to get the captain to relax. She was all duty.
The building they came to was better than most of them. The city was far from lacking so it would be inaccurate to say the buildings looked bad. 'The pirate king's' quarter, however, was more ornate. Irelia stepped forward and knocked on the door. A large man answered the door, stinking of rum and sweat. His suit was clean, despite being mottled with a few specks of alcohol, but it was all a contrasting moment for the senses. Both women recognized the Freljord native, but it was not often they saw him in such attire.
"Gragas," Karma began, "it is a pleasure to see you. I trust you have been well?" She decided not to question why exactly he was in Bilgewater.
"Aye, 'cept havin' to deal wit this ol' grouch." His accent was heavy with Gaelic and alcohol. Irelia only turned sideways between them to avoid being rude.
"Well it's always a joy to see our friend from the Freljord." She said. No one else in Valoran had a Gaelic influence. It made Karma wonder just where in Runeterra he came from. "I imagine the Captain is a joy after his injuries."
"Ehehe," he gargled. "He's a bloody sot, that one. Drank as much as me 'n still ain't drunk. We got that in common at least." He gave a guttural laugh.
Irelia and Karma both smiled and gave a stunted laugh as Gragas motioned them inside. They made their way through the house, shadows lurking from the scattered candlelight. It reminded Karma of her vision. She was quick to put the thought away once they came to the patient's room.
"So the gurls come te check on the pirate, eh?" Gangplank said. He stood over a large map table looking at a carved overhead of Valoran. It was like a war room for pillagers.
"Yes, Captain. I wanted to ensure your wounds were healing well. My abilities are well developed but I remain cautious," Karma said.
"It's doin' jus' fine muh'lady. I'll be a sailin' in no time fer sure. I never thought that kinda hole could close so fast. I'm much obliged for yer kindness in comin' here."
"I appreciate the kind words. I came on good will and in hopes that this would show we can all exist with some semblance of peace." She wanted to avoid the cliche but didn't know any other way to say it.
"Aye...I hope yeh didn' come hopin' yeh could change muh ways."
"No, nothing like that." She expected that answer but fired back. "I only hope to shift focus, perhaps."
"Eh..?" He looked intrigued now.
"Yes, I hope that you might focus your efforts in a more specific direction. Let's say, a Noxian one?"
Balance, she thought. There must be balance. This was only an effort relieve her own people's suffering and satisfy what might be more Kinkou than Ionian. She reminded herself that the resistance had a more fervent belief than the traditionalists at home.
"Hrmmmm," Gangplank grunted in though. "I s'pose I could make sure some of muh friends see Noxian sails instead of Ionian. I won' be able teh stop 'em all, yeh know?"
"I know," she said and nodded. "I only want relief for Ionia and an understanding with Bilgewater."
"Aye, then yeh got it, muh'lady."
They shook hands by the candlelight of that room with the scent of whiskey and rum. Gragas offered a mug of his fine brew, which the women respectfully declined but the men drank with eagerness. After some small talk, the Ionians gave a beg for pardon and started to depart. The burly drunkard escorted them out again. Before making it to the front door, however, Gragas stopped the Duchess.
"Eh, m'lady. Might I have a word with yeh?" He asked. She stopped with only a second's thought and nodded. She motioned for Irelia to wait in the foyer.
"What is it, Gragas?"
"Just somethin' I noticed, really. I thought it was only in the Freljord, but it seems I was mistaken."
She nodded in acknowledgement, waiting for him to continue.
"There's all kind a fightin' up north, but there always has been. Leas' now there's a little bit a peace. Sejuani still don' like the Queen Ashe and say there be a lot of things amiss." He took a breath. "That's all a differen' story. We all know the north'll never settle down. I'm more talkin' 'bout the crazy folk ever'where else..."
"You mean in all Valoran?"
"Aye, there've been attacks ever'where. Bilgewater, Demacia, Noxus-"
"Wait, Noxus?" Karma didn't know about this one and wondered how Gragas did.
"Aye. There was killin' in Noxus and not by any Noxian."
"How do you know this?"
"I know a good many a people in Freljord and they all talk to an old drunk with joy." It did not answer Karma's question but she understood his intentions.
"So there are attacks happening everywhere that look like attacks from our worst enemies.."
"Aye...even in the North, it looks as though a bear ripped through an Avarosan village. Tore 'em a new arse, really." He took a drink of the brew he'd been ignoring. "This coulda been a real attack, but I'm not so sure Sejuani would 'ave tried to start an open war like that.."
They stood in silence for a moment. It was as though another conversation was taking place without words. Finally, the Duchess spoke.
"I appreciate this enlightenment, but why share this with me?" She asked.
"You're the only one without a darkness, meh'lady. If anyone should know, it be you."
"Well, thank you, Gragas. Your observations are a welcomed thing."
"Aye, jus' le'me know if I need to butt heads with anyone!" He laughed again while finishing his drink. She smiled as they parted ways.
The walk back to their camp was a silent one and Irelia asked no questions. Karma was absorbed in thought, so much that she nearly took the wrong path through the city on their way back. She waved for Irelia to remain outside her tent. Meditation was the only thing on her mind. There had to be more answers, more light to shed on just what was going on. Attacks in Noxus and Freljord also? This can't be a coincidence, she thought. It's almost too sloppy, like the guilty party WANTS someone to figure it out. She began piecing it together. All the attacks, the specific targets, the only person with the influence or power to make it all happen...
"No..." she whispered at the realization.
She didn't even see it coming. Her entire body sprawled across the ground the instant after she felt the blow at the base of her neck. Consciousness lingered a moment more and a shadow loomed over her. Was it the same one she saw in her vision? Perhaps. She didn't have the time to find out. Her vision blurred until the world dissolved into darkness.
