First and Foremost, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me for this fanfiction. Even though I started it a year ago and have been unable to write due to some issues I've gone through, thank you for supporting me.
I really enjoy all the reviews I get and I read them over and over again to inspire me. Thanks for reading this run-on-the-mill fanfiction and I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you always for your support. Here's my (late) birthday treat to you guys.
Chapter 10 : Jeopardy
A purple haired girl with a lean build made her way through the bustling flea market. Settled in her arms was a caged blue roc, calm and perched to a makeshift wooden pedestal. Her sharp golden eyes was scanning the crowd, trying to drown out the various cries from the traders. Everyone in the vicinity was scampering to buy something or for others, to sell their goods.
The scout surveyed the produce on sale and even the wide array of weapons on display for mercenaries and warriors alike to purchase. It was busy as ever and she had to make haste so that she can be on her way back on the road. Quinn wasn't particularly happy with the change of clothes but she knew that if she had donned her usual dark blue uniform with the Demacian flag stitched on every side, she'd be locked up in Noxus in no time or perhaps even worse.
She sighed inwardly as she check the area once again, Garen had told her that she would meet up with one of the local traders who would help her out on getting to Noxus. She was a bit on edge with the little decision since it could spell out her own execution after all. She maneuvered herself from one stall to another, her arms securing the caged bird to her frame. She won't be selling her companion, it was all a farce.
"Ah, ye be the one to sell that bird?" A raspy elderly voice caught her attention and immediately amber eyes narrowed on a figure. He was a thin man with a long white beard. He was grimy and mud clung to his clothes, his sodden attire was matted with dirt but his showcase of weapons was quite pristine and well polished. The scout could not help but settle her caged companion on the weatherbeaten table. She lifted one of the daggers and raised it up to her gaze for a better look. It was well crafted. There were vine-like etchings on the blade making it look elegant yet deadly.
Out of curiosity, the marksman ran her finger along the blade. A ribbon of blood bloomed and she swallowed grimly. Weapons as sharp as these were readily accessible, she couldn't bear to think what these weapons would be used for. Shaking off the odd sensation, the Demacian placed the blade back on the table with a clatter.
"The bird's been bought and I'm bringing it to Noxus for the buyer. " She spoke evenly, pulling the cage closer to her frame. The elderly man scratched his chin in confusion, clearly there was something odd with the statement that Quinn said. "Funny. The lad said you'd sell the bird to me."
Golden eyes narrowed at the speaker and she could sense a number of individuals closing in on her. Her trigger finger itches but she didn't want any scene. Not yet, not this soon. Quinn puffed her chest, trying to look menacing. It was a shoddy effort but it was the best she can do at the moment.
"If you're threatening me, then you'll have your head served on a platter on Noxus. Didn't you know I'm delivering this creature to the High Command?" At her statement, they visibly paled. Noxus was quite notorious with their transactions and they've built up a reputation of slaughter in their trade. One would think twice on crossing that thin line of being alive when it comes to Noxians.
The old man scratched his chin through his beard and thought deeply. It would do no good to take the bird by force and have the Noxians breathing down his neck. "All right, ye lass, you keep the bird." Quinn let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. It was a rough start but things don't progress smoothly when it comes to dealing with the black market.
"What time do we leave for Noxus?" The scout questioned and she eyed the old man as he sifted through some yellowed parchment, marking this and that with a worn quill. The aged brown eyes appraised her, "Eh? A little over sundown. I haven't had my share of loot."
Loot? Were they mugging some of the buyers here? Then again, people in the outskirts don't always play fair. Quinn slammed a fist on the table, jolting the man a bit, "We need to leave now. They'll be expecting the bird soon."
He narrowed his gaze at her while drumming his fingers on the table. The young woman could feel the tension of the older man but she had to put up a brave facade. Time spent waiting her was time wasted on getting to Noxus. It was a day away from where she was and she had to carry out her mission already. "I've told you lassie, the loot ain't enough."
Quinn gritted her teeth, "If that's your choice. I'll be heading with another caravan and reporting to the High Command of your insubordination." The marksman quickly took hold of the cage and proceeded to walk away from the seated man.
"Blasted girl! All right, we'll pack up and go!" The trader exclaimed and he grumbled on his seat. Quinn stopped from her tracks and smirked at the man. It made the bearded man even more aggravated but he had to settle this now. Anytime later would mean his head off his shoulders.
Golden eyes watched as the men grudgingly packed up the items. She bit her cheek, this was something she wasn't used to. The archer wasn't always a forceful person by nature but if push came to shove and for this case, this was when she'd have to fight back. She absentmindedly stroke Valor's feathers through the cage, seeking for some comfort before their real mission was going to start.
Barrels were rolled to the wagon and the stall was packed up. The older man from earlier motioned for and she quickly jumped up on the transport. She gingerly eyed the space before settling Valor's cage beside her. She couldn't help but let her eyes wander. The weapons were haphazardly strewn upon barrels. There were fabrics covering various objects but she didn't want to be too nosy.
"We'll be arriving by tomorrow morning, so ye better be hanging around tight and not talking dirt about us to that High Command of yers." A man spoke harshly and she didn't say anything back. With the sharp crack of a whip, the wagon started to move. She settled her pack beside her and sifted through her belongings. No sooner the marksman took out a small piece of bread with which she start to feed to Valor. It was going to be a long trip and she needed all the energy to maintain the brave facade in front of the traders.
….
Night came quick and everyone made camp. Quinn was seated a little way off from the camp, opting out from the rowdy noises of the men feasting on their dinner. She had brought the cage with her but had released Valor to let him get his meal.
Munching on some bread and paired with cold cuts that Lux had forced her to bring, the scout was busy studying the Noxus layout. She had to find the best way possible to get into the castle and investigate about the tidings between Zaun and Noxus. She was not the best person for the job but in Demacia, she was the most well equipped and ideal one for the task. Her cheeks warmed up at the thought of the mission being personally assigned by Jarvan himself.
Quinn shook the unnecessary thoughts away and tried to study the map again. Her gaze followed the twists and turns of alleyways and the roads that led to various buildings. Noxus was quite a labyrinth and she was afraid of getting lost.
A pair of Sienna eyes flashed in her mind. Would she encounter him in Noxus? She doubted she would. Noxus was quite a big place to be in and with her mission, it'd be a surprise to find the assassin in the same path as hers.
Why is that blasted man in my head again? Quinn scolded herself and ran her suddenly sweaty palms over the fabric of her breeches. A shrill cry pierced pierced the sky, everyone in camp stood up in shock but Quinn could not help the chuckle from her lips.
"That bird's just showing off." She let a smile break on her emotionless face as soon as Valor was in her view. The roc swooped down and landed gracefully beside her. She caressed his blue feathers and he cooed in appreciation.
"Time to get back to the cage, Val. Wouldn't want them to think we're fooling around with them." She raised her arm and Valor landed on her forearm. Thankfully the thick leather she had bound on her arm was enough to prevent the roc's talons from piercing her skin. She couldn't help running her palm over the blue feathers, they both needed a respite before having to cage Valor again.
"Everything all right there, lass?" A gruff male voice came upon her. Quinn found the owner of the voice, a lumbering wide man. She sized him up, despite being seated upon the grass. "Nothing's wrong. This bird here just wanted some food." Her hand was situated on Valor but if push came to shove, Valor would immediately attack the man should any harm come upon her. Of course that would make their travel to Noxus even more difficult than it is now.
The man eyed her incredulously but shrugged his shoulders and headed back to camp. The Demacian turned to the bird and shrugged. She didn't think he'd buy her excuse at all but it did work. There was some boisterous cheering from the campfire but aside from that, the night was serene.
Quinn didn't want to sleep close to the men even if they offered her some space in the wagon. It was just not her thing. Even if she did unintentionally share a room with Talon in Freljord, these men would not think twice in subduing her. Not that Talon couldn't but oddly enough she trusted him not to.
The Demacian wasn't too far away from camp but she also didn't want to risk on feral creatures jumping on her in her sleep. Gold eyes surveyed the trees and true enough, there were branches that were wide enough to support her. She could sleep there for the night.
She let Valor perch on a higher branch and hid the atrocious cage in a thick bush. Good. No one should find that here. No sooner the scout started her ascent on the tree, taking each cautious step up until she could find the best branch to perch on. Valor was truly rubbing off on her.
Quinn hauled herself upon one of the high branches, the canopy was thick enough to hide her but she could enjoy the view of the stars from her seat. She let out an exasperated sigh and proceeded to wound the rope around her legs and unto the branch. If she'd fallen in her sleep, that would a really sad excuse to die. Valor flew to her side and she shooed him away when she couldn't wrap more of the rope on her.
Once she secured the rope and the knot was tight, Quinn leaned on the trunk as she appraised the starry sky. She could hardly see the beauty of the night in Demacia with all the tall buildings and the smog covering the clothes.
"I miss this kind of scenery, don't you think so too Valor?" She murmured, exhaustion creeping up on her. She could hear the sing-song voice of her winged companion. No sooner she was out, sleep conquering her senses and immersing her into the world of dreams.
….
She could feel the wind against her skin as she rushed through the shadowed archways. She was catching what little breath was left in her. The cobblestone path was slick with rain water while lightning cascaded in the evening sky outside.
She had to keep on going even if her lungs were burning for respite. The thunderous sounds of foot steps echoed through the walls. They were close. Who they were she couldn't identify. She just knew they were out to get her.
Quinn ran down a set of stairs. Just where was Valor? Splotches of red blinded her but it was just an illusion. A mess of blue feathers and blood painted on the wall opposite from where she was. There was Valor, or better what was left of him. The Demacian retched on the floor beside her, the acrid taste of bile on her tongue made her nauseous.
There were voices behind her. She shouldn't stop. With a heavy heart she left the bloody corpse and ran down the steps, it was much darker now. The footsteps were getting louder; they were shortening the distance away from her.
The marksman rounded to a corner and tried to blend herself to the wall as much as possible. The darkness was her friend as a group of men rushed past her. They were heavily armored with bloody pikes poised in their hands. They were Valor's killers.
The thundering footsteps slowly lost their volume and Quinn sank to her knees in despondency. Weary golden eyes finally have the time to assess the damage they've done. She had an assortment of cuts adorning her; some of the blood had caked but some still ran down her skin. She winced as her fingers came upon a fresh cut. They would scar.
Quinn shook her head, clearing the muddled thoughts. She felt sluggish, probably due to blood loss. She strained her ears in listening to where the guards were. There was no sound to listen to. That was good.
The scout pushed herself off the wall and looked around. There was a wooden door at the corner. She didn't remember this one in the map but if she did go back, there would be more guards stationed to catch her. Leaving no room for second thoughts Quinn rushed to the door, it was locked.
"Do you hear that?" A voice asked from nearby. There was another group looking for her. Quinn cursed under her breath and furiously pulled on the door. It was heavily barred.
"There she is!" A loud voice cried from behind her and Quinn spun to face them. The sharp points of pikes were aimed towards her and Quinn prepared to meet the weapon head-on. She didn't have much of a choice.
Cries of agony echoed through the hall as a dark shadow crashed on them and no sooner the men were mere puddle of their life essence. Quinn swallowed the lump but it did not abate the tension coursing in her veins.
The dark figure made its way towards her, she could distinctly see the bladed tips of its cloak. This individual should be familiar but the fog of pain blurred all coherent thought in her mind. She tried to be as far from the assailant as possible. A hand shot out and pressed itself on the wooden frame of the door, the newcomer had barred her from exiting to the right. She cast her eyes downwards, anywhere but the person in front of her.
"Well, well, look what the sparrow brought in." His deep voice drove shivers down her spine and she didn't even want to look at him. From her hindsight, she could see the person inching towards her. A gloved hand seized her chin and her tired eyes found sienna. There was a malicious edge to his gaze and an eerie crimson glow. It was Talon, she knew deep down who it was but she tried to think of someone else.
"Fancy seeing you here, Demacian." His cold voice slid over her skin, his breath upon her lips. She struggled for freedom, he was too close. His gloved fingers caressed her skin kindling a burning sensation in her gut. "I didn't know you'd snoop into the Noxian High Command's quarters so easily. Now where is that wretched bird of yours?" His voice was a venomous upon her ears that the mere mention of Valor had her spiraling back into a nauseous state. She wanted to retch but he was in the way, the burn of the bile on her throat was agonizing.
The shadowed man cocked his head, scrutinizing her face and looked quite amused at her pain. "You look much better this way, bloodied and broken. Just like how a Demacian should be. However," With a swift move, the long jagged blade pierced through her abdomen. Quinn choked on the blood and sputtered it all over the assassin's face. "Only I can have the right to kill you. You were too close, far too close."
The marksman hacked on the blood clogging her windpipe. Her pain-laced eyes glared at the assassin who chuckled in her agony. My was he amused.
"Remember girl. Only I am allowed to kill you." He wiped some of the blood off her lips and drove his blade deeper into her body. A garbled noise emerged from her throat and then there was sweet darkness.
….
Quinn jolted awake to Valor's incessant squawking. No sooner did her eyes land on the avian creature, her arms shot out and pulled Valor to her body. She was shaking, out of fear and out of relief. He was alive, they were alive. It's just a dream, a stupid dream. No need to sweat it out.
Valor let out a confused tone but it only caused Quinn to hug him tighter, "Just a little second, Val. Just let me be for a while." She let a few tears trickle down her face as the image of a butchered Valor was slowly being erased in her mind. Nothing could prepare her for that, nothing at all.
Slowly she loosened her arms and released Valor. The Demacian hastily wiped the wetness from her face and studied her environment to calm the few jittery nerves left in her system. It was early morning with the sun peeking out from the mountains. The scout let out a shuddering breath, it was a good thing she had tied herself to the tree. That dream could have been the death of her.
Carefully, she undid the bindings on her legs. A sense of feeling rush to her lower limbs and Quinn couldn't help the grimace at the sensation of blood coursing back to her extremities. This will take a while.
Once freed from the binds, she let her feet dangle while she ran her fingers along her scalp. Some parts of her dream had vanished to the deeper recesses of her mind. She tried to put some bits and pieces together but the way Talon had drove his blade into her was the most jarring memory. She shuddered in fear at how bloodlust glazed his brown eyes. They didn't even look familiar.
Quinn let out a frustrated sigh. How did this morbid fascination for a Noxian assassin start? It was almost like a badly written Satire. Valor was silent beside her but she knew that he could sense her inner turmoil. She massaged her temples, best not to let the dream get to her any further since there was a whole day ahead.
"Well, morning to you too Val." She mumbled and took out some of the food she had packed for breakfast. The blue roc crooned and set off to get his own meal. It was going to be a long day ahead for the both of them.
The sun was slowly ascending to the sky, lighting up the fields with a soft golden glow. The Demacian munched on her last piece of bread while she watched life stir in the camp below her. Wisps of smoke rose from a dying spit while men sluggishly moved about from one tent to another. They were packing some of the barrels of food into the wagon. It was probably time to head down.
"Val!" She cried and no sooner the trusty roc was beside her. There was some pieces of flesh on his beak and it did make Quinn's stomach queasy. The graphic images her brain could concoct was astounding to say the least. The young woman started her slow descent down the tree, carefully stepping on the right branches as the ground got nearer.
Quinn took out the cage, she opened the door and looked at Valor. She didn't want to cage Valor not because of how majestic his kin is but because she had always considered him more than just a bird. Valor was an important friend and the living memento of her deceased brother. Even if they did not meet, she was pretty sure the two would be friendly to each other. Valor walked into the cage and she shut the door, bolting it to maintain the facade of a wild bird.
The scout lugged the cage towards the camp which earned a few sleepy stares from the crew. She nodded to some greetings of good morning but beelined to the wagon she was staying a little earlier during their trip.
"Had a good sleep eh lassie?" The old man who was the head of the caravan asked her, he had a bit of a suspicious edge to his tone. She eyed him warily and pushed the cage a bit behind her. "No need to worry about me, good sir. I can take care of myself." She spoke in an even tone. The old man's lips turned a thin line and made his way away from the wago, "We'll have to see."
Alarm bells rang in Quinn's mind, she can't stay too long in the caravan or else her mission would fail before it even started.
The morning passed by quickly and no sooner they were on the road. Quinn was hardly amused along the trip due to the boredom. She did try to sketch on some parchment she brought with her but with every stroke she saw Talon in every one of them. The arch of his cloak or the sharp tip of his blade, it haunted her. The dream didn't help her at all. It still brought shudders down her spine.
With the option for drawing out of the picture, she had taken out the maps. Based on the sun's position and the length of their travel since they got up, it was almost noon. They would stop for lunch soon which should be about,
"All right, halt!"
now.
The wagon she was staying in halted and there were the various noises of men grabbing the supplies to prepare for a quick lunch. She peeked out of the wagon, there were no patches of grass from where they were stopped. It was the right road. She let some of the men pass by her, forgetting her presence with the loud rumbling of their stomachs. Once everyone had settled to eat, Quinn unlocked Valor from his cage and he perched unto her right arm.
She peeked at the surroundings, there was no one around but there was also a sparse number of trees which means it will be tricky to get out of sight as she had hoped. Throwing caution into the wind, Quinn propelled Valor up to the sky and made a mad dash to the few vegetation at the side of the wagon.
"Hey!"
"The girl's running!"
"The bird's loose!"
The cries from a nearby group exploded onto the sweltering hot air. Quinn dashed under the branches, hearing the thundering steps and the clanking of weapons. She took a quick glance up and Valor was soaring freely above the canopy. She made a turn to the thicket avoiding the clearings in fear that they might catch up to her.
There were quite a number of thorn bushes in the area. That didn't reassure her of her current predicament, it appeared that Noxus twisted nature has tainted the environment nearby. She rounded another corner and breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted a large tree, she'd be safe enough to hide herself along its huge trunk.
Funny enough, an innocent looking bush was situated quite conveniently along the tree. The fates must truly be in her favor. She ducked into them, hearing the steps pass by her. It was almost like her dream. The tension coursed in her veins and made her actions jittery.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" She was too deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice someone creeping up on her. The individual was a skinny man but held a very sharp looking machete. "Thought you coulda escape did ya, girlie? Now, com'ere!"
He made a grab for her but Quinn was quick enough to create some space. She took out a dagger from her pack just as Valor swoop down and clawed at the man's eyes. The scout immediately plunged the dagger along the man's throat, effectively rendering his voice box broken. He choked at his own blood while his mouth was open in silent agony. Quinn quickly retracted the dagger and flicked the blood off the blade. Her lips pressed onto a thin line, this was going to be the start of a really gory business.
"Never expected I've had to resort to this again." She murmured and replaced the dagger back in its holster.
The marksman appraised her friend, they had to leave the area quickly.
….
If Demacia was all bright and shiny, Noxus was the exact opposite. Quinn's golden eyes looked at the grim spectacle that was Noxus. There were large spiked walls that ran high in the state. The sky was a dark gray or maybe it was just the transition from the day to the evening. Quinn munched on the remnants of her packed food while she sat on an ashen tree for some brief respite. She lazily looked at her companion and fair enough he was busy grooming himself, a feather there and a feather here.
"We're finally here, Val. Time to get to work." She pushed herself off her seat and Valor straightened up. It would be awkward for Valor to keep her company so they would have to split up for the meantime. She pet Valor one more time and no sooner he was off. She'd wish he'd be safe for the entire duration of their stay.
The young woman trudged along the muddy soil, cringing at each splosh the earth made. The walls were looming over them but it didn't stop anyone from getting in, odd. It was almost like Noxus was daring their enemies to get into the walls with the unguarded entrances. She shrugged her shoulders, she wasn't the one governing this place.
The purple haired woman easily blended into a crowd of peasants carrying some dirty sacks as they walked into the entrance of the city. They were murmuring about various topics. Food, money, their achievements but she had a sharp ear on the latest gossip of the government.
She weaved her way around the pathways, the streets were slick with rain. There were some drunk men laying on the floor contributing to the stench. Quinn wrinkled her nose in disgust but made no move further, it would isolate her from the crowd. Being different in this city would put her in jeopardy and she didn't want that.
Golden eyes looked up at the telltale signs along buildings. A pud, good. She made her way to the establishment and found it to be quite warm despite the slowly cooling night air. "A room if you please" She spoke to the man behind the counter. He eyed her oddly and polished some silver coins on the table top, "Yer not from here are ya lassie. Ye got that words of yers. Too classy to be here." Quinn swallowed a lump, she was used to being so polite in Demacia due to her addressing the higher ups.
"Well, excuse me. I was just bein' nice." She complained, her accent a little off but this got the man to smile. He slapped his hand on the table, "Well, that'd be a girl. Wonderin' why yer talking so nice, we ain't got need of them pleasantries here." He placed a worn looking key in front of her.
Quinn smiled wryly and placed a few silver coins unto the table, "For the few nights."
"By golly, take the room at the end of the hall." He greedily took them and shooed her away. The scout hastily took the key and proceeded to make her way towards some flight of stairs but a movement from the side caught her eyes. Was that a cloak?
Dismissing her thoughts, the Demacian made her way to her room. She placed the key unto the lock and proceeded to unlock the room. Warm breath caressed her neck and an all too familiar voice whispered upon her ear,
"Fancy meeting you here, Demacian."
Author's Note: Sorry it took me a while. I was supposed to post this last Oct 9, my birthday, but I didn't get enough inspiration or the mood to write. Also, there were no recent updates from the TalonxQuinn fanfics here to push me to write something worthwhile.
A bit of a drabble this time but I wanted to show you Quinn a little more to build some character into her. Also, I do hope you enjoy the effect Talon has on Quinn. I do hope you're looking forward to the next chapter because I am, it's gonna be exciting.
Once again, feel free to review. Let me know if it's okay or if it's not.
