Authors Note: Hey everyone! PM me if you have any questions about the book or its chapters. I am currently working on a few original works that you can find on my (site that makes money and starts with a p) I also have the cover for book 3 ready. I am also looking for someone to help with making some audio books for these, so PM me if you are interested.
Chapter 16: A Tedious Start
An arduous month came and went. From the northernmost regions of the Freljord, Kaldur and the remaining survivors wandered south unto the valley that lay at the base of the Ironspike mountains, and next to the borders that led into Noxus. Ashe knew firsthand the depth of the threat that loomed over her tribe and people, but now others had to be made aware. Noxus was as good a place to start as any, and hopefully it would bring Demacia and all the other countries of Valoran into the fold. At least that was what Kaldur hoped.
The journey getting here was just as difficult, if not more so, than the one they just made. With so few people, everyone was forced to share in the labor it took to survive. Kaldur himself was forced into the role of hunter and gatherer on many occasions. Ryze looked after the wounded as no one else had the skill nor means to carry on the task. If he regretted his decision to accompany them this far, he did a very good job at hiding it.
As luck would have it, the ragtag expedition encountered a raiding party of Winter's Claw nearly three weeks in. The encounter went very much as expected, and with Sejuani still in a coma there was a hard-fought attempt at convincing them of their good intentions. Thankfully, Kaldur had all but fully recovered and he was able to forcefully persuade them that a ceasefire was their best bet. With Jax and Ezreal at his side it was an easier task than he thought to convince the raiders to lead them to some camp that would help in their leaders' recovery.
Ashe and Udyr exchanged shifts in watching Sejuani the entire time. Some of the recently freed Freljordians held animosity towards the Winter's Claw and that hatred was not lost on the young warmother. By the end of the month, they had finally made it to the valley entrance and one of the main campgrounds of the Winter's Claw tribe.
The field of yurts and wooden structures reminded him of the Avarosian home in a way. Despite their differences the architecture was the same, and the people still decorated themselves in furs and skins. The sweet scent of fires and smoked meats filled the air as the group came closer. Kaldur watched as the tussle of Winter's claw members created a busy scene. People worked, drank ale, and played with their children in the makeshift pathways. There was very little in terms of trade that Kaldur could see, but it seemed that the entire community was just as friendly to each other as the Avarosians were.
At least that was until Kaldur entered.
The group of raiders were the first to be noticed, and a roar of cheers and greetings filled the area. Slowly it died, however, as people began to notice the strangers trailing behind them. Angry stares were directed at Kaldur and Ezreal, fearful ones at Ahri and Ryze. Only Jax seemed to receive confused looks. All in all, Kaldur was just glad he was not the sole focus this time. Once people got a good glance at the Frostguard soldiers and Avarosians, stones and snow went flying at their heads until a few of their escort managed to numb down the rage. Ashe in particular was frowned upon as people took one glance at the bow and scowled.
Kaldur couldn't help but wonder what she was feeling at the moment. She had always strived to unite the tribes and build a better country for her people, but at seeing this it was no wonder the task felt a tad hopeless. Due to this response, he was very glad they had covered Sejuani's body the way they did, preventing those in the crowd from seeing her this way. He had no idea what would happen if they did find out.
Some people began running out towards the small group, many asking questions that Kaldur surmised were about the whereabouts of their loved ones. Many received only a cold quiet response. The concept seemed foreign to them. As Ashe had explained, a true Freljordian death was in battle, and that was especially true for the Winter's Claw. Most expected to be told that their husband or wife died a heroic death, but this time it was not the case. The only good thing to come from this was when a young woman darted out of the crowd and slammed into the chest of a large man with a big hug. With a nod of his head Kaldur remembered that the warrior was one of the few who escaped Lissandra's prison and lived.
The raiders began to peel off in different directions, leaving only a few that led Kaldur and the rest towards the edge of the campgrounds. Some members of their own expedition began to saunter away as well. The Avarosians and the strangers followed Ashe, and the Frostguard followed the Avarosians most likely expecting fairer treatment from the fairer leader. Kaldur didn't know what would happen to them, but a month of wandering the wastes together did create bonds between people. It was only when they came across a raggedy yurt did the first Winter's Claw actually speak directly to him.
"What happened foreigner?"
Kaldur wheeled around to see a woman standing beside him. Dressed in a sleeveless skin with tattoos covering her face and arms, the woman wore bones and talismans that interweaved into her hair and clothing. In her hand was a staff decorated with the skull of a bird and the horns like a deer's.
"Who are you?" He asked, stopping.
"I am Thorva, Sister of Frost. What has happened to our beloved warmother?"
Kaldur's eyes immediately shot back to the covered form of Sejuani to make sure the tarp had not come undone, but when he realized it had not, he began to get an uneasy feeling about the woman beside him.
"Ummm…." Kaldur began no knowing how to answer.
"Perhaps this is a question that can be answered someplace else," Ahri intervened.
The woman looked Ahri up and down for a brief moment before nodding her head in agreement and beckoning them to follow.
"Bring her," she ordered, pointing at Sejuani.
Kaldur's party followed suit as Ashe and Udyr brought forth Sejuani's unconscious form. The Avarosians and other members rested outside as they began to make arrangements with the raiders and folk that came for answers. The mucked-up yurt was decorated in the traditional collage of furs and weaponry, but it also contained trinkets and books that he never expected a Freljordian would touch in a million years.
"Place her on the table," she said, tossing burnt out lamps and various objects onto the floor. Ashe and Udyr complied before removing the cover and backing away. The Sister of Frost stepped forward and began to examine Sejuani's unconscious form.
"Who is she?" Kaldur whispered to Ashe.
"She is Shamanka. She is similar to Udyr in many respects. They are emissaries of the gods in some way. Each has unique gifts."
Watching Thorva run her staff across the body, Kaldur raised an eyebrow. "We just met your gods. Lot of good she's gonna do her. If Anivia couldn't wake her up, what makes this lady think she can do better?"
"She does not know. It is not as if the gods speak to her. Most likely it is just a feeling she gets. She is also our best chance at smoothing over the rest of the tribe to our plight."
"Gotcha."
The Sister of Frost maneuvered herself around Sejuani and chanted for a good fifteen minutes before coming forth with any answers. By this point, Ezreal was wandering the tent and picking up every knickknack he could get his hands on.
"It seems the gods have touched her," Thorva announced. "A blessing to be sure, but her state can only be cured by her own power."
"Knowledge of her state would only invite panic," Ashe warned.
"That is not for me to decide, warmother. What I want to know is what caused her malady in the first place," spinning around she pointed a direct finger at Kaldur. "And the gods suggest it has something to do with you."
"Wow… She's good," Ezreal remarked, nearly dropping a dais.
Kaldur breathed a sigh and told her the events that unfolded at Frostguard Citadel. Initially the shamanka showed little emotion, but as the void came into the picture and the escapades of Lissandra became known, her attitude drastically worsened. By the end her eyes were in a near panic.
"You witnessed a fight between the gods!?" She screamed. "This is … This is …"
Fumbling backwards she stumbled onto the floor as her eyes looked into the distance at all the implications. "The foreboding in my stomach. This was it. We are all doomed."
"We are not doomed," Ashe said, moving forward and kneeling down in front of her.
The conversation immediately switched to Freljordian unto which Kaldur could only catch every fifth word or so. If he hazarded a guess it had to do with what the gods would want and all that nonsense, in his mind it made the most sense with what the woman seemed into. After a bit, Ashe ended her speech and stood up holding her hand outstretched. It took a moment, but the shamanka nodded her head and took it before standing up once more.
"You cannot leave her here," Thorva warned. "If the tribe were to discover her state then worse events will come to pass. Her death is most assured."
Kaldur raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Your people seemed to love her. Wouldn't they protect her?"
"Many would, and many would view this as a sign of weakness. Warriors flocked to Sejuani because she represented strength. Without her, there will be unrest."
"There will be more than that," Ryze began, looking out the flap in the tent. "So far people who know have kept their mouths shut. I do not expect that secret to last long. Your tribe is already divided. Raids against the Demacians and Avarosians separate your people. Meanwhile this army sits here at the border waiting for any excuse to pilfer a Noxian warband. Everyone believes Sejuani to still be north fighting the demons that keep your children awake. But when the snow settles, choices will be made that will split your tribe into many. Smaller wars will rage across all that Winter's Claw owns."
"Will not then the Avarosians swallow the smaller tribes?" Thorva asked, eyeing Ashe. "Is that not what you want in the end?"
"We do not force tribes to join us," Ashe claimed. "We let them come as they will. But even if the stray pieces from Winter's Claw came to us it would be a long and tedious task. We do not have the time for that, nor does any other who lives in the Freljord."
"What would you have me do then?"
"Spread word." Ryze answered. "Spread word of her fight against the void. Tell them she fights by the side of the gods."
"What about her then?" Thorva asked. "This lie can only work if our warmother is nowhere to be seen."
"It's not a lie," Kaldur corrected. "Sejuani is fighting for her life. The void did this to her and I bet that when she wakes up, she's gonna be pissed. Which means she needs a safe place to stay until then."
Turning around he looked at Ashe. "You and Udyr should take her with you to the Avarosian camp. She's safest with you and Tryndamere, and I doubt Udyr would leave her side."
Ashe shook her head slightly as she thought of the repercussions and avenues this plan would have. Ultimately, she agreed.
"Then who will lead the tribe?" Ezreal asked. "It's not like they got warmothers lying around."
"Sejuani's bloodsworn and many scarmothers are just as capable for the time of her absence." Thorva answered. "I just hope it is not too long."
"Ashe, how long would it take to reach Rakelstake from here? On foot," Kaldur posed, doing math in his head.
"At least half a season. The warmer months would be over by that time."
"I'm assuming you're taking a boat then?"
Ashe nodded.
"So, two to three weeks there … and then we'll be in Noxus by that point," he thought out loud. "Well hopefully Sejuani will be awake by that time, but if not then you are going to have to be the representative for Freljord."
"You have a plan young warrior?" Jax grunted.
"Well it's the same as the old one. Noxus is at war with both the Freljord and Demacia. If I can get them to listen and at least have peace talks, or something like that, then they may want someone from Freljord and Demacia to show up. You, Ashe, will be especially important because it may tell them how important this actually is."
"How much experience have you had with Noxian customs and politics, Kaldur?" Ryze posed.
Kaldur gave him a wayward look. "Really? I'm from another planet. Take a wild guess."
"Think that's his point," Ezreal chimed in. "Look, Noxus is a political nightmare. They got secret societies inside secret societies. Flash magic around and every single eye and ear in the walls will be looking at you. Trust me, Noxus is not known for fun times. Great tacos though."
Kaldur raised a finger up. "I … Okay we are going to get back to those taco's in a minute, but what do you mean secret societies?"
Jax chuckled.
"You have been lucky, Kaldur." Ryze clarified. "Demacia has its share of troubles but their government is like their people: steadfast, honorable … even if a bit draconian. Freljord is full of warriors who think strength is a right of leadership. Piltover values intelligence and innovation. Ionia is built on the principles of balance. Noxus, however, is a beast of cunning. Like the Freljord they value strength above all else, but to them that strength takes many forms. Might, guile, and vision are their biggest traits. Where one man attacks his foe head on, a woman is planting poison in his drink. Magic above all is prized."
Standing up, he walked over to Kaldur and looked him straight in the eye. "Once they learn what you are there will be nothing they won't do to get it."
"Okay… so what do we do?" Kaldur asked. "I already got the feeling I couldn't walk in there and say 'hey, look, the void is coming', but I at least figured we could try and see the king."
"Again, Kaldur, you're one lucky duck," Ezreal pointed out. "You knew the right people in order to see Jarvan. And with your magic it wasn't that hard to attract the Warmother's attention, no offense Ashe."
"None taken."
"You start fighting the guards to get to see the Trifarax, they don't have a king by the way, and you will be gone within the hour. Probably sold to some noble with a fetish for the color turquoise."
"Ez, I seriously doubt I would be taken when I am surrounded by you all."
"Hey, I'm just saying." He defended, hands raised. "I doubt they would listen to you unless you made a big enough ruckus, or had the right connections."
"Big enough ruckus huh?"
Ahri shot Ezreal an annoyed look. "Do not give him any bad ideas."
"Isn't giving me idea's the point of this conversation?" Kaldur asked.
"Not if they get you killed or taken away from me." Ahri stated, leaning against his shoulder.
"Wait, why can't I just walk up there, guns blazing and ask to see them? You said they valued might, right?"
"Consequences," Ryze said, irritation in the back of his voice. "You never consider the consequences of your actions. Let's say you succeeded. The leaders of Noxus might listen and acknowledge, but you would be letting others know of your existence as well."
"It's not like I'm telling everyone I have a world rune…" Kaldur retorted, watching Thorva to see how she reacted. "Besides, those secret societies can't really touch me if their leaders are on my side."
Ryze sighed. "They are not the only ones who will take action. For now, Malzahar has only been playing a game. With events now in motion, who knows what he will do. We have fallen out of his sight, but if you make noise before the right time, he may make a move against you. Remember, he does not have to attack you to hurt you. There are people whose lives you would put at risk by being reckless."
"It is not as if we cannot handle ourselves, Ryze." Ahri stated. "This task was always a risk."
"It's not just that," Kaldur intervened. "If I tell Noxus that the void is on its way, that alone is going to get people to notice where we are. It may stop these cloak and dagger groups within the country from coming after us, but just my name is enough to bring Malzahar around. When we get there, questions are going to come up about how we know what we know. What am I supposed to tell them? Lie? Yeah, that's gonna go great when they figure that out."
"Games of politics have always been gruesome and unsavory, but that does not mean you have to play by their rules. Be honest, but know what to say and what not."
"I hate politics," Kaldur groaned.
"I would be worried if you didn't," Jax noted.
With that, the group worked out their next steps carefully. Due to the amount of food they brought with them, Kaldur's party and the Avarosians were welcome for at least a day. Thorva made sure to conduct a small feast that night where drink and food were shared in abundance. However, after the morning sun came, these groups would have to leave. Kaldur and Ahri did little to share in the celebration, opting instead to spend their time in each other's company for the rest of the night till they fell asleep. Ashe, Udyr, and Sejuani followed suit as the rest of the makeshift army drifted through the entrance throughout the evening.
When morning came, Jax was the first to wake Kaldur. He never let go of a training session if he could help it, and normally it resulted in a series of bruises for the rest of the day. After an hour or so, the sun finally peaked over the horizon. Ashe's crew were quick to pack up and get ready to leave. Ezreal was the slowest, as usual, but it gave Kaldur time for farewells.
"Knowing you has been … interesting, bloodsworn," Ashe commented.
"Well it's not as if our circumstances for meeting have been exactly normal," he pointed out.
"I would expect nothing less."
Kaldur smiled and gave her a hug before waving her off. "I'll send you a message when I get anywhere with this. Hopefully it won't take too long."
"And I shall inform you when Sejuani wakes," she smiled.
Before leaving, Ashe met up with Ahri and the two bid their farewells as she rested her forehead atop Ahri's. After a few words Kaldur couldn't hear, the Avarosians and stragglers departed Northbound. Now it was Kaldur's turn to leave. Jax, Ryze, Ahri, and Ezreal joined him as the crew headed south into the base of the Ironspike mountains.
Noxus had no active front lines against the Freljord, not like in the past. Recently it has only been warbands that spawn from a fortress which fought raids from the Winter's Claw. As Kaldur was only able to get that tiny bit of information, he figured it was a good a place to start as any.
Since everyone rejected any idea that led to unwanted attention, the plan was now in the hands of Ryze and Ezreal who were more than happy to show Kaldur the ropes of political intrigue. Oddly enough, Ryze seemed quite versed in this form of negotiation despite his aversion to lying. Ezreal, on the other hand, would lie through his teeth if it got him anywhere.
"You've got to work your way up the ladder," Ezreal explained. "People who show power or strength get noticed, but we can't just spawn fireballs that destroy cities. You have to make sure it looks like you have power without making a spectacle."
"You make a spectacle all the time," Kaldur noted.
"Yeah, but I'm not worried about multi-eyed assassins coming after me … or at least I wasn't until recently."
"Either way," Kaldur interrupted, "as I said the other day, the moment it becomes public that the void is coming then Malzahar is going to know where we are. If we are avoiding attention, then I can't use my magic crazily, and I can't tell people what is coming directly. How do we tell them then?"
"We keep the information to ourselves until such a time that we can tell the members of the Trifarax without other ears listening," Ryze said.
"Which means…?"
"We need an excuse to meet them without tipping our hand," Ezreal answered. "If we can find a way to talk with them about something else important enough, we might be able to slip them the message and go from there."
"Can't we just write them a letter and send it?"
"Ha! You think those things are private?" Ezreal laughed. "With magic, people have been peeking at other people's mail since before Ryze was even around."
Kaldur shot Ryze a concerned look who just nodded in affirmation.
"Then how do we get up the ladder then?" Kaldur asked.
"Well, merchant goods are always a good way to start… but it might be a bit slow."
"There are ways to coerce important individuals," Ahri noted with a sly smile.
"Please no," Kaldur pleaded. "If you are suggesting what I think you are, I would rather not have you risk the use of your memory charm if we can help it."
"I think she was suggesting something a little more intimate," Ezreal smirked.
"That's even worse!"
Ahri just smiled and leaned in close to Kaldur. "I would not normally. Just remember that things like this only happen when we have no other choice."
"No," Kaldur stated, "I don't even want to think about it."
Ahri's smile turned into a slight frown, but she said nothing.
The journey up the mountain range was surprisingly pleasant, and Kaldur was glad to finally have some natural warmth return. With no horses or any form of transportation, they had to walk the rest of the way. Each day was filled with planning, practice, and deliberation. Kaldur would sit with Jax, Ryze, and Ezreal in order to learn more about physical, magical, and political skills which felt more like a class session than anything else.
Jax was determined to have Kaldur master the use of the sword. According to the grandmaster, there were hundreds of swords styles and different variations of the weapon itself which supported said styles. Kaldur himself utilized a mixture of Noxian wind-style and Ionian Wuju, along with the use of a slim pointed double-edged sword of his own making. Kaldur never knew the names of the styles his teachers used and was quite surprised that Jax could identify them at a glance. He was however, a little disappointed when he was told that his self-made dual wielding style was pathetic.
"You lose power," Jax explained. "You're trying to force two single bladed styles to work with two swords. In a battlefield with multiple weaker opponents it works, but it's also the reason you have suffered so many wounds."
"Are you saying I should stick to one blade?"
"I'm saying you need to learn to adapt to the situation, young warrior. Most of the time a single blade works best in a one on one fight, other times it works best if you have two. You need to determine your opponent's style and adapt."
"Be adaptable, got it."
Jax reached behind himself and brought forth a sanded and smoothed wooden sword. It looked like a bokken but slightly straighter and taller. Taking it from his hands, Kaldur swung it around to find that it was a little light, and that it had been forever since he held an actual weapon in his hands.
"From now on, I forbid you from conjuring swords."
"What?" Kaldur looked up surprised.
"I'll get you a real sword when we get into town, but for now you need to use that. Got you a second one for dual-wielding practice too."
"Wait, but what if we get into a real fight!?"
"I never said you couldn't use magic, I just said you can't make swords. Your weapons are weightless, you are losing strength in your arms because of that. You need to rebuild that feeling."
"Okay… but what happens when I switch back to my normal blades? It's gonna feel unfamiliar."
"I'm not cruel," Jax defended, "We will practice with those as well, but only when I tell you to."
Kaldur grumbled.
"Plus, it will allow us to keep your identity a secret as well. People who walk around without weapons in Noxus are looked at with suspicion."
"Fine, fine. When do we start?"
Kaldur barely blocked the blow to his head.
"Right now."
Aside from the bruises he received, Kaldur found that he was exhausted nearly every day. Ahri and him would discuss magic with Ryze as they progressed up the mountain. Since Kaldur had finally understood the aspects of the dark magic within himself, Ryze was more than willing to teach him advanced techniques that would work in tandem with his skillset. It was one of the few times Jax allowed him to conjure his weapons.
Most lessons circled around runes. Unlike a world rune, the written words held no power on their own unless drawn with magic from the spellcaster. The runes that adorned Ryze's skin were drawn by himself many years ago as a way to conjure and cast larger spells quickly. Runes themselves are very versatile. As Kaldur listened to Ryze he learned that they could suck in magic from the surrounding area, act as triggers and traps, work as seals or locks, and replicate a designated type of magic. There were any number of uses to runes if one learned how to make them… and Kaldur was good at it.
Being a short to mid ranged fighter, Kaldur noticed that he always struggled with fights against longer ranged opponents. In those he was forced to close the distance and attempt to fight the enemy on his terms. So far it had been power, skill, and a little luck that allowed him to prevail; but Kaldur got the feeling that those excuses wouldn't last long. Now he had more options.
"Since you have little to no charm, we might want to make you the strong but silent type," Ezreal thought out loud as Kaldur was working on drawing runes into his shields.
"Hey, are you paying attention?"
"Not really," Kaldur answered.
"We're going to be there in an hour or so! If you don't have this down, we might as well give up."
"Ez, how in the world am I to pass for the strong and silent type?"
"So you were paying attention."
"I'm not dumb, you dingus," Kaldur insulted. "I got everything you said for the last four days, but you keep wanting to adjust the plan like it's gonna make much of a difference. Right now, I want to figure out how to connect these runes together to act as a signal."
Ezreal gave him a sour look. "Just cross thread the 'un' symbol and you should be fine. But what's the point of that? If you're planning on setting a trap, you can just make it so that it triggers when someone walks in the radius of influence."
"Yeah, I know. Ryze said the same thing. But, as I pointed out to him, any mage worth their salt can sense that radius from a good distance away. With this I can, hopefully, reduce radius and be able to trigger it when I want. Plus I might be able to use this later to sense if a trap was triggered. At this point I just wanted to test some stuff."
In Kaldur's hand he fiddled with two small stones. The first was a little smaller than his palm but smooth and circular, on its face was a chiseled rune word. The second was a red quartz oblong sphere the size of a quarter, on it were many smaller repeating shapes.
"That's cool and all, but I think we have more important things to talk about. And if I recall correctly, you can only make shapes. Simple shapes."
"Hence spikes."
"Spikes?"
"Yeah. For some reason I can't create anything elemental, which means explosions are out of the picture. But I can make spikes appear from the rune source."
Pouring a little power into the quartz sphere, Kaldur could feeling a small string of magic reaching out from one stone to the other. On the face of the flatter rock the rune began to glow a low turquoise and a triangular spike began to protrude from his palm.
"If someone senses that activation string, you're hosed," Ezreal warned, grinning. "Look at the baby mage. They grow up so fast."
"Oh, shut it! It's a work in progress."
Jax gave an inquisitive look at the pair over his shoulder. "How long have you both been the same person?"
"We're not!" they both said.
Ahri flashed a smile and glanced at Jax. "It's the subtle things. And what's underneath," she finished with a lick of her lips.
Kaldur's focus on his stones intensified.
"Speaking of what's underneath, are we going to change outfits now?" Ezreal asked.
Ryze paused and looked up into the sky where their supposed destination was located. "I suppose."
Since each member of this group was easily identifiable, the disguises were hard to determine. Ezreal, of course, had a history with Noxus. Surprisingly it was not anything that couldn't be handled with a simple wardrobe change. Ryze was nothing more than a legend to some, but his skin and tattoos were a dead giveaway to anyone who was looking. Ahri was definitely unique among the other vastayans, but according to Ryze there was a plethora of their kind within Noxus. Jax's look was apparently normal. Since warriors of all shapes and sizes scoured the promenades of most Noxian cities, he was quite at home.
Cloaks, however, had to do for now. Keeping any semblance of Ionian clothing out of the picture, Kaldur and Ahri changed to something simple and grimy while Ezreal switched back to his normal look and buried his gauntlet under torn cloth.
Within the hour, the walkway spun around the corner to reveal a fortress embedded into the mountain rock. Towering dark walls of iron and stone encircled the outer perimeter of the structure while jagged towers loomed over the ragged terrain where armies would crash upon the walls like waves of water. The gate and portcullis which blended into the walls' pattern were open only slightly as a caravan of carts and mercenaries wandered in.
"Let's go," Ezreal said, his face becoming serious.
The group matched tempo with the ensuing riders and fell in behind the caravan. Guards were posted at the gate, but both seemed too preoccupied to pay attention to their existence. Wandering under the rustic iron and steel, Kaldur looked around to see a busy market resting in the mud and rock that stood under the towering buttresses and mountain shadows. Blacksmiths were the most prominent faculty here, and everyone who was not dressed in rags sported armor and tools of war despite their being no threat.
"Alright, I'll start looking for a good blacksmith with Ryze," Ezreal began. "Hopefully I we can find a mask for Kaldur. Jax, you know what you're looking for. We meet back here in an hour."
Ahri and Ryze disappeared with Ezreal down the line of blacksmiths and shop vendors as Jax steered Kaldur the other direction past where the caravan had entered the bridge leading into the fortress depths. Cold mud caked their boots as snow lingered on the window lists where the sun never seemed to reach. Here people seemed to take no second look at Kaldur nor Jax as they made their way through the crowds. Their attention was, instead, focused on a gaggle of noise and people just ahead of them.
Curious, Kaldur began to meander through people as they jumped up and cheered for some reason. When they were finally able to see anything, Kaldur's heart dropped as he saw a man and a woman going toe to toe in a muddy circle. Both were bloodied and dirty. The man wielded a pair of gauntlets that had iron spikes tipped at the ends like brass knuckles. His skin was scarred and tanned from excessive sun exposure while his height stood at a towering six and a half feet. His opponent was a woman who held a single dagger with a serrated edge and stood no taller than his chest. She had dark skin and long hair bundled into a mashed braid, but her smile told Kaldur all he needed to know: she was going to gut this man.
The hulking man dove forward and went for a pummeling strike at the woman, but it hit nothing but mud as she leapt into the air and cross cut the man's jugular. In an instant the man fell forward and collapsed dead in the muck. The crowd went wild as a collection of disappointing groans and joyous shouts collided.
"Oh hohoho!" Someone shouted from the side of the pit. "Well that's Vaseera for you. Wouldn't be surprised if she's the next reckoner."
Kaldur turned to Jax. "This what we were looking for?"
Jax nodded.
"Great," Kaldur groaned. "remind me again how this was a good plan?"
"Come on!" Vaseera sneered, circling the crowd with her blade hung low. "I am bored here! Tell you all what: I'll give five-hundred for the next person who walks into the ring with me."
The people who were cheering went deadly silent. Kaldur shook his head. What idiot would take money just to die for someone's entertainment? In an instant, Kaldur could feel a large hand slap him on the back and send him tumbling into the circle. Apparently he was going to be that idiot today.
"Ah!" Vaseera praised. "So there is one of you who has the stones."
Kaldur glanced back at Jax. The man may be wearing a mask, but he could tell there was big grin crossing his face right now.
"Always an arena, always a test of strength," Kaldur moaned. "Just once I would like to visit a country that isn't going to kill me for sport."
"Got a weapon kid?" She asked, returning his attention back to the fight.
Kaldur pulled his hood down a little and shook his head.
"Aww, the boy's shy! Tell you what, kid. I'll fight you with my bare hands today." Vaseera laughed as she tossed her dagger into the air and landed blade first into the mud. Readying herself, she took a step back and began to bounce up and down like a boxer.
Kaldur rolled his eyes and took a stance. The woman bound forward quickly, closing the distance. Kaldur backed up just in time to avoid a jab to his chin, but missed the second one to his stomach. Exhaling the breath in his lungs, Kaldur grabbed hold of Vaseera's fist and twisted his body, his leg catching hers. With a sharp jerk, Kaldur flung Vaseera into the air. It was a good throw, but Vassera spun her legs below her body and caught the ground with gentle grace… right into Kaldur's fist. Striking her stomach, Kaldur backed away and watched as she recovered her breath.
A big grin was spread across her face when she looked up at Kaldur. "You're full of surprises kid. But didn't nobody tell you? You never let your opponent recover when you have the advantage."
Kaldur groaned. He had no intention of hurting her, he just wanted to tire her out. The magic coursing through him made it so that he was stronger and faster than a normal human, but skill normally compensated for someone's lack of magic, and Kaldur had a feeling that unarmed combat was not her forte.
Launching herself forward, Vaseera sent a flurry of punches and kicks that kept Kaldur on the defensive, but he managed to block or avoid each one. Occasionally he managed to get a small blow in, either to her face or abdomen, but she was determined and getting more and more frustrated. After about a minute, Kaldur noticed that her eyes were glancing over to her knife.
Ducking a flailing kick, Kaldur raised up for an uppercut when he saw that she was running in the opposite direction.
"Shit!" he called out, running forward to catch her.
He was faster, but she had a head start, and with a blink the blade was in her hand. Vaseera spun around and glared at Kaldur with rage. With a simple bound she launched herself into the air and raised her blade to strike. An airborne strike always had power and ferocity to it, but as Jax claimed it was a stupid maneuver unless you could change your direction mid jump. By now it was far too easy to predict where the enemy would fall.
Kaldur took a small step forward, watching as the blade sailed over his head, and delivered a heavy punch into her stomach with enough magic to send her careening backwards. Vaseera shot away into the mud and rolled to a stop. Tucking her legs in, she tried desperately to breath and recover.
The crowd went ballistic, some even fell into the circle to see if they could believe their eyes. Kaldur immediately pulled his hood even further down. Turning away, he was about to head over to Jax when another man stepped forward to check on Vaseera. He was about Kaldur's height with Vaseera's same skin tone if a little more ragged. His hair was buzzed short while spots of grey lined it, in his eyes there was a sense of worry in their dark brown haze.
Looking up the man caught Kaldur's eyes and narrowed his own. "We're done for the day everyone. Nothing to see here."
People scattered as if they all had someplace better to be, now all that stood in the mud were Kaldur, Jax, Vaseera, and the older man.
"Sorry. I didn't want to hurt her," Kaldur apologized.
"Are you a gladiator?" he asked.
"Uh, no. Not yet at least."
Looking down, he shook Vaseera's shoulder. "Hey, are you alright?"
"Get off me old man," She groaned, shaking his arms away.
"Then get your butt off the ground," he replied.
The pair stood up gently, Vaseera leaning on the older man reluctantly as her eyes glared at Kaldur. "I am going to make you pay, k'naad."
"Don't mind her. My name is Jur'gan. This is my niece and student Vaseera."
"Student?" Jax intervened. "Are you her benefactor?"
"No, that honor goes to someone with deeper coffers than I." Jur'gan paused and glanced at Kaldur once more. "Why didn't you kill her?" he asked.
"Just not my style," Kaldur answered.
"Well if you plan on being in the arena for longer than a day, you best change that quick. Morals don't survive long in the pit. It's them or you in there."
"I'll be fine," he said, eyeing Jax.
"Well suit yourself…" Jur'gan seemed like he was about to turn around, then paused. "Would the two of you care to join us for a meal? Least I can do."
"Pa!" Vaseera exclaimed, outrage lining her voice.
"Keep silent! That man spared your life."
Vaseera remained quiet but eyed Kaldur with as much hatred as she could muster.
"We're the hut around the foreman's square. Hard to miss," Jur'gan said, turning around and dragging Vaseera with him.
When they were gone Kaldur took another look at Jax. "I thought we were going to wait until I got a weapon? What was that about?"
"You seemed able to handle yourself young warrior," Jax replied, clearly grinning.
Kaldur sighed. "Fine, at least step one is down. Hopefully we can get a hold of that benefactor before tomorrow."
"I am less worried about our part and more with Ezreal's."
"The dude can pop in and out of existence. I am pretty sure he can get in the quarters easily enough."
It was Jax turn to sigh. "I wish this plan was less complicated."
"Hey, without a benefactor we don't get in the big arena. Maybe the smaller ones, but we don't have time to build up a reputation. And I sure as hell am not going to enslave myself in order to be added as an extra."
"Don't mistake me being cautious for being ignorant. I'm still your teacher," Jax said, pointing his massive finger at Kaldur.
"I'm not saying you're ignorant, but no one could think of another way. Heck, I never knew that arena's were such a big deal in this country until a bit ago."
Jax just groaned and turned around. Kaldur followed him away from the circle of blood, the dead body of Vaseera's previous victim still littered on the floor. It was nearly an hour before the rest of the crew met back up near the city entrance. After a simple explanation about the events near the stables, Ezreal leaned forward and dropped a pair of blades in his hands.
"It's all I could get with the coin we got. Who knew the exchange rate for silver cogs would be five to one? Five to one!" He emphasized.
"I did," Jax noted.
Kaldur shook his head and looked down at the blades. Two short swords lay in his lap both thin and double edged. The handle was small and black without a hand guard, while the blade itself had a larger cutting side and a shorter brace to form the back of the blade. The tips were right angled triangles and longest at the edge of the blade, growing shorter near the back.
"Not quite what I was hoping for."
"Well, then you're really not going to like this," Ezreal said, handing him a wooden mask.
The mask was completely grey with no eye slits or mouth piece of any kind. On its face were two red predatorial eyes where the slits should have been as a blue tear fell from one and a dark black strip permeated through the center. Turning it around, Kaldur could see a few runic etchings that spelled out a simple word: "Sight."
"The spell on the back should allow you to see through the mask," Ryze explained.
"Isn't someone going to be suspicious that I am wearing a bowl over my face? I thought these things had rules?"
"There aren't many actually," Ezreal said. "It's all about the entertainment. If it entertains, it's allowed."
"Great," Kaldur grumbled, fitting it onto his head.
Taking off his cloak, Kaldur tore a small hole in the back before connecting one of the swords onto the strap that held his armor. Anchoring it so that it stood straight up in case either hand needed to grab it, he strapped the second blade onto his right hip. Putting his cloak back on, he fit the first blades handle into the hole near the base of the neck and tested to see if he could grab it smoothly.
"We're going to have to work on you fighting with a scabbard," Jax noted. "It's a completely different feel."
"Good to know."
"What is the next step?" Ahri asked, looking around to make sure no one was listening.
"Well, for now we have a dinner to attend," Kaldur said, looking at Jax.
"Remember, we are not here for fun," Ryze lectured. "Get the information and get out."
"What are you talking about?" Ezreal asked, a goofy grin on his face. "This is the most fun I've had in weeks."
Kaldur sighed, wondering if this plan was doomed from the start.