Marcus rubbed his chin and heaved a heavy sigh. Katarina stood in the doorway behind him, her arms crossed under her chest. "They're here," she said, and he nodded.
"How many of them?"
"Isabella, Xavier, Sherriff Caitlyn and Chief Deputy Vi. Four in total."
"Set up chairs for them and we'll set plans to move. Let's make sure everyone is on the same page. I want this to go as smoothly as possible."
She nodded before turning away. She paused for a moment before speaking. "What about Swain?" She asked.
"Swain is my responsibility and my mark. You will leave him to me, and you will not bring it up in front of the others again," he said, taking a swig of his whisky and setting it on the table.
"Father…-"
"If that response isn't good enough for you, you are more then welcome to leave now," he interrupted her. She sat in silence for a moment before storming out. He took the last swallow of his drink. "I'm getting to old for this." He looked down at the distinct claw marks on his chest before following her shortly after.
Katarina sat at the table with Garen at her side when her father finally decided to join them. The lines around his eyes had grown deeper with the lack of sleep and he almost always held tension between his brows. Anger and frustration bubbled up in her chest, but she shoved them down deep and her face was one of perfect neutrality.
The small talk around the table began to silence when Marcus took his spot at the front of the crowded table. He shrugged off his cloak and sat. The group waited patiently in silence until he spoke.
"Allow me to formally introduce Sherriff Caitlyn of Piltover. An expert marksman and tracker with more than one notorious criminal in her prison as we speak," he gestured to Caitlyn who nodded respectfully. The pink haired ruffian next to her gave a rueful smile. "I would like to thank her and her companion for travelling quite a distance and thank her for joining our cause. Would you like to say anything, Ms. Chapman?"
"Nothing more then to thank you for welcoming us. Your camp has been more then accommodating. I do hope we can be of as much assistance as we will need," Caitlyn said diplomatically.
"Your very presence is going to help us present a united front. With the representation of Piltover, we might have enough political prowess to avoid bloodshed. But, we now have enough military power to hold our own if it comes to that. Everything we have worked for; years of espionage and months of careful preparation are coming to fruition. We are on the cusp of a very important and delicate altercation. Taking down a head summoner without throwing our world into chaos is going to be difficult enough, but ending a threat caused by an ancient organization by taking out the head is going to make this historic. We will be written down in history as heroes. Bards will write songs about each and every one of us when this is over. Each one of us, around this table and outside this tent are going to be instrumental in this."
Each member around the table gave a solemn nod. Marcus looked at each in turn before resting his eyes on Garen. "So, first order of business, we will delegate responsibilities and gather our forces. First, Garen Crownguard of Demacia will lead the majority of our forces-"
"Wait, what?" Talon interrupted with several others around the table echoing his shock.
"I thought you were going to father," Cass said, her face scrunching up in concern.
"I will be managing the political side of this endeavor. My goal is to avoid battle at all costs. If it comes down to it, I believe that Mr. Crownguard has more than ample experience when it comes to leading in the chaos of battle, wouldn't you agree?" He asked, turning his attention to Jarvan.
Jarvan was surprised. "Absolutely. Especially if each city-state has their own representatives under Garen that are more trusted by their men. I have trusted my life to him on multiple occasions and my presence at this table today is a representation of Garen's tenacity and leadership. I am biased, but I believe this is the most sensible option."
"Then it is settled," Ashe said coolly.
"Wait, I've never commanded anything more than a couple squadrons. I can't manage an entire army," Garen said.
"Which is why each city-state should have their own commanders under you, you will not have to manage each man on your own," Jarvan said and Marcus nodded.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Crownguard, we don't exactly have a lot of options and you are one of the most qualified amongst us to take on this position. If you don't believe you can handle it…"
"I never said I couldn't-"
"Then it's settled," Marcus replied and moved swiftly into the next subject. Garen looked around helplessly when he finally looked at Kat, who held on to his hand tightly.
Soon the meeting adjourned, leaving the pair, Marcus, Talon, Quinn and Cass. Katarina stood and closed the distance between her and her father and brought her face up to his. "If your plan is to get him killed to separate us, it won't work. I will never leave his side," she hissed.
"I'm counting on it," Marcus replied. "As strange as this must seem to you, I actually like the boy. Try to keep swords out of his back, okay?" He said and turned away. Talon joined his side and they began to walk out when Katarina spoke again.
"You're doing this so you can confront Swain yourself."
Marcus froze, and Cass gasped. "What?" Cass asked.
"Marcus?" Talon asked.
Marcus turned and looked at Kat over his shoulder. She glared at him and planted her feet into the ground. "It's true. He plans on trying to kill Swain by himself while we are all busy with battle."
"I never said-"
"You didn't have to. Weither or not we get Lucinda or even LeBlanc, you are planning on attacking Swain, on trying to kill him."
"Kat-" he growled.
"Father, pleasssse tell me ssshe issss wrong," Cass said.
"He will be heavily guarded, and I doubt he will ever be alone for you to strike. And there is a reason he has stayed Grand General for as long as he has. He may not look it, but he is powerful. A fight between just the two of you would be a fair match. But as I mentioned earlier, it won't be just you two," Talon said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's suicide," Quinn said.
"He is making Garen lead so he doesn't have to. So he can sneak away and get himself killed."
"He killed your mother Kat," Marcus said, finally turning to meet her gaze.
Silence hung in the air before she spoke again. "What?" Kat asked.
"He is the reason your mother never came home. He killed her years ago and tried to kill me as well. I don't plan on letting him get away with it," Marcus said.
"So that's what this is about? Some final sacrifice to avenge mother? You're not going to kill him, we already pointed that out. This is so you can die but still feel like there was a purpose to it. Because you are to much of a coward to do it yourself," Kat spat.
"Katarina-" Cass started when she held up her hand.
"As Quinn pointed out, it's suicide. I'm just putting words to what he is doing."
"Katarina Du Couteau, your behavior is out of line-" Marcus started.
"What are you going to do? Ground me? Bench me? Go ahead. It doesn't matter what you do because you aren't planning on living long enough to actually do it," she challenged. He glared at her for a second before letting out a shaky breath.
"I hate how stubborn you are," he said, his hair falling in front of his face.
"Then you know what I'm about to say," she said.
"The answer is absolutely not," Marcus said and spun on his heel, almost running into Talon.
"I am making it my own personal assignment to not let you out of my sight. If you want to sneak off, you'll have to kill me first," Talon said, and Kat smirked.
"You need to sleep sometime," Marcus said, glaring at Talon challengingly.
"Which isss when I will watch you. Being part sssnake meansss I don't need as much ressst," Cass said, moving to take Katarina's side. Marcus transferred his glare to Cass and she jutted her chin out stubbornly.
"We fight together, or we don't fight at all. We're family and we will protect our own. You're the one who taught me that," Kat said, and Marcus growled in frustration.
"Fine. But the bird man is mine," Marcus replied through gritted teeth. Kat felt the knot in her chest relax.
"Deal."