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Here's Chapter 15 for you. My housing situation is in flux so I will keep working on this as much as possible.

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Get married in less than a week, it sounded simple enough once I bought into this notion of his. But no, nothing was ever simple, and there was one particularly irritating complication I had to deal with tonight after I finished with the Capitol Guard Commander.

My target had been ineffective in dealing with the attacks on the black powder weapon factories Jericho had helped establish since the meeting at Solstice. They'd been dismissed as the acts of agitated citizens, inflamed by the reshaping of the waterfront district for the optimal placement of the steam-driven machines. Jericho had interpreted them as personal attacks on his supply line of the new weapons. He claimed it was likely another move in the plot against him, maybe even nothing more than a distractionary tactic, nevertheless, the Commander would be the one to pay.

The Guild ledger snaps shut as I finish reviewing contracts and assignments. Seated across from me, Inara impatiently drums her fingers on the desk, head leaned on her hand. "Everything to your satisfaction, Commander?"

I glower at the spiky attitude but decide to give it a pass since so much falls to her when I have to deal with official Intelligence business. "You know this all needs to pass through me eventually, I'm supposed to be in charge here." I think of the meager size of the member logs again, still not nearly as many names as I'd like to see. "I'll get us an invite to recruit from the Military Academy, see if we can find anyone more talented than an infantry grunt. We're the only operation in this damned city, we should be thriving."

"Well." She shakes her head side to side as if she's trying to decide, it's too expressive, like a performance. "I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you. I'm hearing from some old contacts, someone is recruiting against you. Independents are moving underground if they don't want to take a side. It would appear they are looking to topple your regime." There's an odd inflection to some of her words, again, like she's rehearsed this.

"Damn it." I slam my fist on the desk. I'd let myself get complacent after my stalker had seemingly disappeared. And now this, everything I fought for is being threatened. I should have made more of an effort to catch them. "Then we recruit younger, build some loyalty from the ground up." I fling the ledger book adown, looking at it is tiresome.

"I assume that can wait until you've said your wedding vows, Madame Swain." She grins at me, a much more natural expression than earlier, daring my wrath to come down on her. She hasn't let up with the name since she found out about all this.

"Someday I'll have a Second that doesn't test me." I push myself back from the desk, suddenly anxious to be out on the rooftops tracking down my target. "Speaking of, have you seen Lark lately? I've noticed a bit of hesitation to take on assignments."

She fiddles with the ledger in her hands. "He's with Alrich quite a bit. That poor little thing has been quite sick lately."

"While I empathize, he's neglecting his duties here." I would hate to have to reprimand Lark, I've grown quite fond of him.

She shrugs. "Young love. You should know how it goes."

I refuse to acknowledge the teasing tone that has returned to her voice. "Since you've kept everything in such a satisfactory order, I'll leave you to continue it. I've got a private assignment."

"Have fun. Don't go getting your face bruised up again before the wedding." I wave her off and head out into the night to hunt down my target. This one could be problematic, I've been instructed to keep it deniable.

Alessa Braun is a veteran of a harsh reputation. She's kept an iron grip on the Capitol Guard even during the upheaval of Jericho's ascent to Grand General and the purges that followed. Either her age was beginning to catch up with her or she had been caught up in the plot that was winding its roots into every facet of the Capitol. She couldn't be easily dismissed from her position either, due to heavy support from within High Command. Gwen's ring of servant-spies came through for me again, Commander Braun was just finishing dinner with her only son, a burgeoning battle mage, when I steal in and conceal myself to lie in wait.

It isn't long before I hear them exchanging heated words on the stairs. The tone of harsh whispers carries to me, but the words themselves are lost. I ponder if it is about her rumored weakness, some were saying frailty was creeping up on her even before this latest turn of events. Another tidbit from the spies tells me some of her closest staff are working to hide something. It won't matter much longer either way. I slip into the bath, her destination, as I hear her dismiss those attending her. She's a soldier first and noble second, she'll not want to be fussed over in her private moments.

She never checks behind her, intent on filling the tub, her movements slow and a bit stiff. With hands that clearly lack the strength of their younger days, she begins to disrobe. "Hello, Commander Braun."

She freezes. "Ah, the Blade herself comes to me. How have I offended the Grand General that I am graced with your presence?"

"You're failure to protect the future of Noxus." I've already moved between her and the door, there is no escape.

"So you've come to kill me for that? Because I cannot stop every act of violence done in this teeming mess of a city?" Her frustration is palpable and her eyes are haunted with grief. In this moment I believe that she is not part of that plot, but she is hopelessly beyond her prime, and that famous iron grip has finally faltered.

"No, you're going to kill yourself for me." I hold out one of her own personal daggers I lifted from her room when I first arrived. "You're going to get in that tub of lovely warm water, and open up your veins."

She starts forward, as though she means to shove her way through me, but her hands tremble so much she sharply pulls back. "Why would I do that?" She snarls, trying desperately to sound like the intimidating warrior she no longer is.

"For your son. Prove to me that you are indeed still loyal to the Trifarix, to Noxus, and he will be clear of suspicion. His magical talents could lead him to a brilliant career, but if he is the son of a traitor he will be nothing." She tries to interrupt, but I raise my hand and with a gesture silence her. This is why they all deride me, they fear me. I am an extension of him, of his will and power, in a way that haunts their nightmares and causes their souls to quake. "You are old, your body is quite obviously failing you. Even if you lived through tonight, you would not hold your position long. Accusations surround you, many say you have been bought. Show me your loyalty, give your son his future."

Hot tears fill her eyes and spill out. "Damn you and the monster that sent you." She snatches the blade from my hand, and turns from me, placing it on the edge of the tub. With the water at its peak, she cuts off the tap before finally removing the last of her clothes. Even with her age, she's maintained the lean muscle of a warrior, covered in the scars from a lifetime of battle. She lowers herself into the water with precise care, but without a trace of hesitation, I note. I cross my arms and wait, eyes never leaving her. If she decided to fight, it would at the least draw unwanted attention. "Bear witness, this is my pledge of loyalty. For Noxus." The dagger rends the flesh of her wrist easily and quickly she shifts hands, the second opening just as efficiently.

Crimson tendrils flow into the water around her as she lies back and sighs as though her burdens have been lifted from her. I remain with her, keeping watch as her breathing slows and the flow from her wounds turns into a trickle. When at last there is no life left in her, I take my leave.

If only my next task was as simple. I backtrack from the modern little estate of the Braun family in Goldstone to the aged monoliths of Old Town, the path where I'm headed so horribly familiar. I slip over the garden wall where I know the guards have a blindspot and make it to the weathered stones I've climbed a thousand times before anyone can catch sight of me. The window I'm looking for is open to let in the cool night air, as I anticipated. I don't hesitate, instead leaping through it before I let myself overthink this.

She looks up from the pristine desk she's working at, the second-floor study has always been her little kingdom. "Well, this is unexpected."

"Hello, Mother." I stride toward her, intent on remaining intimidating.

"Have you come at last to kill me, Daughter?" She stares me down with that glower I know so well from childhood.

I haven't seen her since the night of the Solstice revels. I'd been admittedly out of my element in the pressing crowd and she pounced on that weakness when she'd seen it. Her words had disarmed me, making me that small child being disapproved of all over again. Its familiarity had been awful, and to my humiliation, I'd frozen, trapped in the past. Now here I was confronting her. After we'd come to an agreement on his proposal we'd both realized this little snag. It had fallen to me to handle this and clear the way for our wedding.

"Sadly no, it's been deemed unnecessary." I loom over her, one hand resting on the handle of a dagger, the other removing a document from a pouch on my belt and tossing it on the desk. "I only require your signature, and then I'll be on my way, nothing more than a slight interruption to your evening."

She snatches it up from where it landed and quickly scans through it before howling with laughter, much to my irritation. "You want my permission to get married?"

"No, legality requires permission from my head of household. If you refuse I'll be more than happy to remove you from that position." I keep my tone neutral, any sign of the resentment that burns against her and she'll twist it to her own advantage.

"Oh my dear little girl, why ever would I stand in your way? Wife of the Grand General, that's a match I could never have dreamed of, even for Cassiopeia. Then again, look at what it has cost to get you there." She focuses back on the document, pouring over every detail.

"Will you just hurry and sign it! I'm not feeling particularly patient tonight." I shove the pen on her desk at her with no small amount of violence.

She holds her hand up in a gesture to silence me and I let our frustrated growl. " 'She comes into this marriage with no familial assets.' We have to change that." She's scandalized.

"I have been living with him this whole time with nothing from you. It. Is. Fine." I spit the words at her and my hand goes back to the dagger. This would be so much easier if I was allowed to kill her.

"This is a legal document. It will become a matter of record that I sent my daughter off to her marriage with nothing to call her own." That would be the real tragedy, that her name would be dishonored. It is always about her.

The blade flashes out of its sheath and I bury it in the desk. Much to my satisfaction, she jumps back a bit, colliding with her chair. "Just sign it."

She huffs. "Fine, always so much like your father." I feel my jaw tighten, how dare she mention him. She's the one that led him down the path to his destruction. She takes pen in hand finally and applies her immaculate signature. When the ink is dry she hands it back to me finally. "I hope your marriage is everything you desire. You and Jericho Swain deserve one another."

I pull my dagger from her desk. "Throw stones if you must." I've already begun to walk away, intent on leaving her behind.

"Then allow me to offer you a warning instead, even though you've refused to listen to others that have been offered to you. The Usurper will not retain his hold on Noxus forever. You will share his fate if you remain at his side." Her words drip venom, her hatred is a living thing, creeping about in the space between us.

"More talk Mother? That's all you and the Black Rose seem to be capable of. My decision is made and I will hold to it." I try again to walk away from her.

"This has always been your problem. You're stubborn beyond reason and insist you are never wrong. No wonder your Father…" I don't think, the blade cuts through the air towards her. I know it goes wide, I only want to scare her again. In seconds I'm back through the window, taking a leap toward the ground. I land, tuck and roll. I need to get out of here, I feel like I can't breathe. No turning back, over the wall before anyone can see. Damn it all, she wasn't supposed to get to me. Damn her.

To my shock, the sound of the guards being roused doesn't follow me. I still sprint away from the house, not wanting her to change her mind. When I finally slow my head is spinning and I've pointed myself in the direction of a much seedier area of the city. I need a drink and a drinking partner. Thankfully I know where I can find both.

I find Draven occupying his usual table at the Maiden's Bowery, a few lovely young things surrounding him. For him it's not so much man or woman, but what flattery you can give his ego. He waves some of his retinue away when he spots me headed towards him, full bottle of wine in hand. "Look what the cat dragged in." He chuckles like it's not the thousandth time he's said that.

"I see you're still a bastion of wit." I drop in the seat cleared for me while his companions eye me warily.

"That's a big word, fitting for the wife of the Grand General." He grins widely but it fades after a moment. "Speaking of, should you be here the night before your wedding?" There's trepidation in his voice. If anyone knows what Jericho is truly capable of, it's him.

He watches my face, looking for tells, wanting to assure himself he won't wake to a world of trouble in the morning. "It's not until later. Plenty of time to sober up." I lift the bottle to my lips and take a drink, continuing for several seconds, to prove my point.

The showman in him can't resist and he begins to clap and cheer, encouraging those around us to join in. I continue the long pull until my stomach lurches a bit and I slam the bottle down on the table, nearly half of it gone. The room begins to spin almost as soon as I release my grip on it. Draven hoots again and roughly claps me on the back. "Well, let's enjoy one more wild night before you're too important and proper for all this, eh Kitty-Kat."

I groan as he motions to the barkeep. "As long as you promise to stop calling me that."

Bottles and cups appear almost instantly around us as Draven settles into the seat next to me. "How about I treat instead? All the questionable quality wine you can stomach!"

His enthusiasm lifts my mood and I find myself giving him a genuine smile. "Deal." I pour a glass for us and raise a toast. "To Draven, best friend to those in need of a strong drink." The haziness I was feeling continues to wrap around my mind and I surrender to it, letting myself float away in the moment.

I'm on my second or maybe third and an immense shadow falls over the table. I lean back in my seat, my head lolling to the side so I can peer up at the shadow's owner. "DarDar!" I stumble out of my seat to rush at him and attempt to throw my arms around his impossibly broad chest. "When was the last time I saw you?"

He puts his massive hands on my shoulders and pushes me back ever so softly, causing me to relinquish my hold on him. "Been a while. What're you doing in this hole? Isn't tomorrow important?"

I huff, everyone wants to ruin my fun. "Don't worry about it. I'm just blowing off a little steam." I nearly fall back into my seat and gesture to the raucous crowd around me. "Why don't you join us?"

To my left Draven snickers and slides a bottle across the table toward his brother. "Yeah 'DarDar' have some fun for once."

He snorts before finally giving in and sitting. "I'll join, but only to keep you two out of trouble."

"Don't be so mean." I pout and pour myself another glass. "We're celebrating tonight. Here's to me, finally achieving my Mother's dreams." I drain it in one single drink.

He sighs. "Nothing but trouble, the two of you."

I feel myself fading as the wine goes down my throat. The tavern becomes sweltering, and all the light and noise blur together, the edges of my vision becoming an indistinct haze. Slowly, the sights and sounds begin to spin. I close my eyes, head resting in my hand for a moment.

Draven is leading the crowd in a song. I think it's about him. It's an old melody all children know and every so often you need to clap. I clap loudly at the wrong time and laugh to cover my mistake. I glance at Darius and he at least seems to be bearing his brother's antics with amusement. I try to pour myself another glass and lose control of the bottle. It smashes into the table and cracks. I stare at it, for some reason it's heartbreaking and I fight back tears.

Darius is removing me from his lap, just forcefully enough that I comply. "Aww, what's wrong? It never bothered you before. Back when we used to…"

"That was then. You have had way too much. Sit down and sober up Kat." The stern tone he takes irritates me.

"Don't scold me. I'm not a child!" I sit back in my chair anyway, I'm suddenly too tired to do anything else.

I'm being separated from a man roaring with fury and covered in blood. I think it's his. "He had it coming. Get off me."

The barkeep sounds at his wit's end. "Can someone keep control of her?"

"Stay out of it!" I snap, shaking off the hands clasping at me.

"That's quite enough Katarina." His voice always sounds like silk, even when I can tell he's displeased.

"Jericho!" I turn behind me and leap at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder. I'm overjoyed to see him until I realize why he sounded so aggravated. "Oh, you're mad at me, aren't you?"