Quinn's knees buckled out beneath her and her sweaty hands slipped against the icy basin as she realised that she was staring right into the crystallised green eyes of the Duchess, framed with sweeping dark lashes and dancing with the shadows of war. The ranger slumped across the basin, starting dumbfounded through her sassy eagle's vision at the anxious leader. In her delirium at the sudden telepathic connection, it took a while for the ranger to realise that Karma was talking to her without even a quiver of her lips. Yet her words still zipped across every tense fibre of the ranger's scrambled brain, and with a stunned gasp, she realised that the Ionian war-lady was communicating with her the same way that Valor did.

Quinn? Can you hear my thoughts, ranger?

'Y-yes,' she spluttered awkwardly, but she frowned to herself as she tried to answer in her head instead. Yes?

Good. Don't worry, I heard you the first time. But given where you are right now, it's probably best you don't share your thoughts too loudly. Quinn bristled somewhat at the lick of disapproval in the Duchess' last few words, but was too transfixed by the surreal feeling of tapping into a fellow human's mind that she curbed her silent protest. Karma, however, grinned and could not suppress a little giggle. You shared that one a little too loudly.

What is this? Quinn asked in shock, staring into the Duchess' swirling emerald irises through Valor's eyes, her vision darting across her kind face.

Is this some branch of Ionian magic? How are you talking to me like this?

You're a mind binder, Quinn. I knew it from the moment you and Valor interacted when you arrived, because I sensed the connection between you both in his head. I'm so sorry – I don't mean to be intrusive, but this is the only way I can talk to you without being overheard by the Kinkou.

Okay…well…I have a lot of questions about this, and I can't say I'm totally happy about having you invade my mind without warning. But if you need to talk to me this urgently, then the enquiries can wait. What's going on? Why can't you speak to me in front of the Kinkou?

They don't know about our gift. They wouldn't understand. The Duchess' face drooped with sadness, but she pressed on quickly, stroking Valor's feathers. If word gets out that I am a binder, it will make me even greater a target for the Noxians, but it will also make the Kinkou doubt my mental capacity to rule. We are a magical nation, Quinn, but we are not a mythical one. Any power an Ionian doesn't understand is considered dark power by default.

Like Yasuo, for instance? The ranger asked snippily, and she experienced a strange thrill of satisfaction as the Duchess looked uncomfortable for a second before apathy draped across her face.

Yes. Like Yasuo.

He's innocent, Karma. You know he is. He told me that only you and Irelia believed him, and yet the word of two elders did not suffice. Your precious order cost him his job, his love and ruined his life. Now the very people he fought to protect would rather slit his throat than embrace him. How is that fair?

It is only because of me that he is still alive, Quinn. If the Kinkou had their way, he'd be lynched on the spot. You saw how Captain Irelia was around him. It was only on my orders that he should be brought back alive if ever found.

It's still not good enough.

The Duchess leaned back from the eagle, cracks in her characteristic tranquillity beginning to show, before she sucked in a deep breath and turned back to gaze calmly towards the ranger. It's not. You're right. But you must understand that I simply don't have the time to fight for the life of one man right now when I need to be saving thousands. Which is why I wanted to talk to you.

What use can I possibly be to you? The ranger asked disparagingly, retreating into one of the cubicles to sit down and resting her hot face on her balled fists. I'm not even a soldier anymore, courtesy of King Jarvan and his lackeys. You saw what happened.

Not a Demacian soldier, no. But nothing's stopping you from becoming a mercenary.

What? The ranger froze for a second, digesting the Duchess' unexpected words, and the first stirrings of hope in her stomach sent her heartbeat into overdrive. An Ionian mercenary?

Your talent is rare, Quinn – far too rare to be squandered by the Demacians. Any commander wants their soldiers to seamlessly realise their visions, to translate their tactical inklings into hard-hitting reality. With you in my ranks, I would have an alternate oversight of any battle that all generals would dream of. You, in turn, would have a purpose, a home, a place to come and rebuild yourself away from Demacia. It's a win-win situation, ranger.

Quinn's instinctive response to say yes came to a screeching halt as she mulled over the remarkable offer, trying to blot out Valor's squawks of approval as she considered her options. How her heart ached for the roar of battle, for wartime camaraderie, for some sense of stability in her life. Demacia's rejection of their blood daughter would sting for some time, but at least she wouldn't be sat doing nothing once her journey with Yasuo finished. She remained somewhat suspicious of the aggressive and overbearing Kinkou, but she figured that she would not have to deal with them much on the battlefield. She had been sick to her stomach after learning that Noxus had begun to deploy chemical weapons on innocent communities, and her judicious heart told her that she could not allow such destruction to continue raging in Runeterra. The fires of war would engulf them all in the end, she was sure of it. Yet something – or, rather, someone niggled in the back of her head, and she saw Karma wince as the thought took shape in her head.

What about Yasuo?

What about him?

Would you hire him too?

I think you know the answer to that.

Then I think you know mine.

Quinn, think about this. There's a Demacian bounty on your head if King Jarvan gets word of your existence. I know the Prince would try his best to protect you, but the Lightshields have influence in all spheres. You don't know what may be heading your way, and I know we are not too familiar with one another, but I would hate to see any undue harm befall you. If you serve under me, they legally can't touch an Ionian soldier. And I promise Yasuo will remained unharmed. Remember that he is on the Demacian blacklist too. He'd be safe from them if he has my official sanction of protection – from both sides.

The ranger considered her proposal briefly, hating the fact that the Duchess had made several insightful points, but she stopped and searched for her face through Valor's eyes. But I'll be just as bad as you all are. He's had far too many people abandon him in his life. I do not want to be yet another person the Kinkou took from him. I know what it's like to love and to lose, and if I can provide him with the companionship he needs to rebuild his life, then so be it. I wish I'd had someone when I was left alone to fend for myself.

What is this? You've only known him for two weeks. The Duchess' frustration was beginning to bubble up despite her languid tone, and anger sizzled within the ranger's insides.

And already I care for him more than you ever did. More than Irelia ever did too, probably. At least I actually trust him.

Quinn watched Karma's mouth twitch, biting back a potential retort as her forehead crinkled during her rephrasing of the next thought. Let us not go there. All I ask is that you consider the offer, and for you to watch your back. I know how charming Yasuo can be, but that man is a magnet for danger. Also, guard your heart with all you have if you don't want it to be broken by him. The Captain learnt that the hard way.

Honestly, Karma? After all I've been through, there is no heart here left to break.

I'm not so sure. I'll be in contact again shortly to see if you've changed your mind.

Duchess, look, I-I'm sorry for being sharp with you. I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful for this offer. I'm sure that one day I'll be fighting by your side, and if I find out anything useful in Noxus, you'll be the first to know. But there's a few things that both Yasuo and I need to sort out before I can come back with a definitive answer.

Noxus? You're both going to Noxus? The sudden maternal worry of Karma stung at Quinn's chest and she frowned in front of the ranger. No, Quinn. Fall back. You don't want to become a bargaining chip. Yasuo should have known better than to lead you to Noxus. Noxus!

I have to go find Sona. And he has to find whatever he needs to clear his name.

Sona will be secured soon enough. And his mission is an impossible one.

He doesn't know if it's impossible until he tries.

I'll give you a week to come back to me via Valor. One week, Quinn. Stay safe.

The Duchess' buzzing mind broke away from Quinn's and she found herself reeling at the experience, gasping as she bent across the loo and held her weak arms up by pressing onto the sides of the cubicle. The ranger's head swung with disorientation as she stood up, slicked down her clothes and took a few deep breaths. She had not realised just how long she had been gone and mentally berated herself for having stuck out in a place where subtlety was the key to survival. Squeezing in another breath, she stepped back out of the toilets and snaked through the vociferous crowds until she overhead Yasuo and Gangplank in deep conversation. Wrinkling her nose at the sweet pastel smoke, she drew a stool up next to them and a concerned look flitted across the exile's face until it was smoothed over by convivial nonchalance. Gangplank, fortunately, was too stoned to have clocked the ranger's absence.

'So the Pilties couldn't give you any answers, then?' she heard Gangplank growling as she re-joined the animated conversation. 'Well, can't say I'm surprised. I've always found them to be fucking useless when it comes to business.'

'Totally,' Yasuo groaned in exasperation, taking in another drag of his cigar and shuddering as the narcotic flushed through his veins. He caught hold of Quinn's arm, shifting her back onto his lap as he spoke without missing a beat, ignoring how she stiffened as she was placed in closer proximity to Gangplank. 'I wasted 200 gold trying to find that psychotic little yordle your first mate recommended. Turns out he wasn't even at the Academy – they'd got rid of the little tyke for blowing up half their headquarters, apparently, but didn't bother to tell me that right up until I wanted to see him.'

Gangplank guffawed, waving his tankard wildly as he threw back his mangy head and exposed each tombstone of his teeth. 'Good ol' Ziggs. I love that little guy. He's the only creature I've ever met that makes me look sane! So, young Yasuo, where to next?'

'Noxus,' he confirmed unflinchingly, though he lowered his voice as his eyes darted around the room. 'It's the only major city I've not yet ransacked from top to bottom. It's the most dangerous place right now for an Ionian, I guess, but…'

'But when has danger ever stopped you before, lad?' the Saltwater Scourge pointed out with a rumbling laugh, snapping his fingers at a passing maiden and rudely placing an order before turning back to Yasuo. 'I charge more for ships to Noxus, though. Much more stringent security, especially against undesirables like you. More official documents and the like.'

'I have gold,' the exile responded smoothly, sinking a heavy bag of gold onto the table with a metallic chink and sliding it over to the eager pirate lord. 'Piltie gold, too. The currency rate spiked upwards last week, so make the most of it while you can.'

The captain surveyed the money with hunger flickering in his eyes, turning around the coin embossed with the unmistakable cog emblem of Piltover. 'You always bring the best booty, lad. My boys and I would dine well tonight. But I'm feeling lucky today. Beat me at cards in the cabin tonight and I'll give you it for free.'

'I'm game,' Yasuo confirmed quickly. 'Poker?'

'Of course,' he smirked, before he stubbed his cigar in the cracked ashtray in front of him. 'What are you going to do with this broad in the meantime, though?'

'W…what do you mean?' Yasuo enquired curiously, staring over at Quinn and flicking his chocolate eyes back to the intense captain.

'A lassie ain't coming on my ship, Yasuo,' the Pirate Lord stated firmly, fixing his steely gaze on the befuddled ranger as he lit up another cigar. 'We'll be fed to the sea-bed before we even reach sight of Bandle City if she's on deck. No, no. Bad move, lad. She'll have to go.'

'Well can't you smuggle her onto another ship?' the exile asked, a muscle pulling in his jaw and brow furrowing at the unforeseen complication. 'I thought women being bad luck on a ship was just an old superstition.'

'In my experience, a sea-faring filly is always a recipe for disaster,' Gangplank grunted, throwing Quinn a pensive look. 'She'll have to come back the way she came, or stay in Bilgewater until you come back.'

'Can I not just sail with someone else?' the ranger asked innocently, but the pirate lord's bloated chest wheezed with dark laughter and he leant back, grinning with his tar-black teeth.

'Who are you gonna sail with when I have the monopoly on all western-bound shipping, hmm? Answer me that, my little flower. No one, that's who!' The captain was chuckling, but the razor-sharp edge to his voice implied that she had somewhat offended him. She recoiled from the threat in his voice and stared helplessly at the rattled Yasuo.

'She's not safe here on her own, Plank. Just look at her. The men will be all over her.'

'I know, I can't help but look,' the lecherous pirate confirmed, peering salaciously at the affronted ranger. 'I mean, I could get my men to protect her from other gangs, but I can't guarantee that they won't take their own payment…'

'Fine. Forget it.' The ranger had heard enough. She slid out of the booth so quickly that she painfully clunked her knee against the scabby table. Suppressing the tears of pain and anguish creeping into her ducts, she turned and walked away without a further glance.

Yasuo called after her, but she blocked out his terse voice and stormed out of the tavern. Irritation licked at her chest as she kept on walking, her mind snarling with the frustration of not one single plan falling into place.

Quinn bumped into Fate on the way back and he tipped his hat to her, before stopping her as soon as he saw the look on her face. 'What's up, darlin'? Where's Yasuo gone?'

'Nowhere. He's still in the tavern.' She gave him a weak smile and made to sidestep him, but he caught hold of her arm and she flinched automatically.

'Easy, I ain't gonna hurt cha. What's happened? Why you stalkin' off on your own?'

'I'm sick of listening to him and Gangplank,' Quinn growled, folding her arms defiantly and glaring with resentment at the tavern in the distance. 'Just being treated like a little plaything. Being talked down to like I'm a child, like I can't interfere in their men's talk, and he won't let me sail on his ship because I just happen to be a woman. It's disgusting.'

'I'm guessin' you're new to these parts, huh.' The Card Master scratched his chin, tilting his head sympathetically at her. 'Not used to being treated like this?'

'Nope.' She ripped her disguise off, stuffing it into her satchel so hard she hurt her fingernails. 'Ah, well, guess I won't be needing this now.'

'Hey, that's better,' Fate commented appreciatively, smiling as her brunette locks tumbled down and she picked a curl away from her lips. 'I knew there was more to you than meets the eye.'

She laughed harshly as she tied her hair back into a ponytail. 'I wish Gangplank thought you like did.'

'Ignore him. That man's scum, but he's powerful scum. I'm sorry you had to play his game.'

'Don't be,' the ranger sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead. 'Sad I didn't win, though.'

The card-master grinned widely at her before looking out to the docks. 'Well, darlin', sorry to interrupt but I've got an appointment with an old friend. Go back to Yasuo when you've calmed down and discuss your options. I doubt he'll go gallivanting off without you.'

'Wait…Fate!' the ranger called towards the retreating magician, and he turned back to look at her quizzically. 'Do…do you know of some way I could sail to Noxus without having to go through Gangplank's shipping?'

He fell silent momentarily, peering around anxiously before stepping closely to her and dropping her voice. 'I might, but I need to be able to trust you, gal. What's your real name?'

'Well, it's-…wait…how do I know you're not part of Gangplank's gang?' the ranger asked seriously, taking back a side-step. She really could trust no one.

'How do I know you won't denounce me to the Captain if I help you?' the mage countered, though an amused smile tickled his scratchy cheeks. 'I need to know I can trust you to cover my back and that of the person who can help you.'

'Alright…well, it really is Quinn,' the ranger sighed, shifting her weight to the other foot. 'Is your name really Twisted Fate?'

'Well, no, it's Tobias. But that doesn't sound as badass.' The dejected look on the mage's face elicited the ranger's first giggle in a long time and he grinned at her again. 'And no, you don't get to call me that. I don't trust you that much.'

'Fine,' she replied mockingly, warmly returning his smile. 'So how can you help me, Fate?'

'It's more who can help you, Quinn. Her name's Sarah. She's an old friend of mine, a bounty hunter,' the magician told her quietly, scribbling an address onto one of his playing cards. 'You can find her over by the White Wharf. I'd take you there myself, but this appointment cannot be cancelled. But you must not tell anyone that she is in town, let alone where she is. She's our only hope of slaying the old bastard,' he added, nodding towards the Brazen Hydra. 'I can sense that you're a girl in need, though, and she'll know exactly how you're feeling. Best of luck, darlin'. I'd get going now before it gets dark.'

'Thank you,' the ranger whispered, surprising the card-master with a grateful hug and fiercely gripping the playing card in her hand. 'When you're done with your appointment, can you pop into the Hydra and tell Yas to wait for me when I get to Noxus?'

'Sure thing,' the mage confirmed warmly, his whiskery face curving into a smile as he sincerely took her hand briefly before letting go. 'Stay safe, Quinn.'

'I'll try my best,' she muttered, suspiciously casting her eye at the tanky crime lords crunching through the billowing crowds. 'See you around, Fate. Thanks again.'

'Anytime.' She was puzzled as he appeared to vanish in thin air among the crowds, shook her head with bemusement, and continued her journey as she kept clutching the card.

22…24…26…and finally 28 Cobbler's Cove materialised in front of the vexed ranger. She ignored the litter snaking around her legs, the ugly moss bleeding through the chipped masonry, and the foul stench of sewage drifting from the sewer, taking a quick shallow breath to compose herself. Feeling the playing card slip under her sweaty fingers, she double-checked the address and tucked it into her satchel before knocking gently on the door. 'Hello? Anybody home?'

As she knocked again, she heard something bustle behind the door and a stressed keening of metal as the deadbolt released. Curious, she took it as a sign to enter and swept the warped, sea-fret stained door open. No one was behind it. Quinn was confused as she realised no one was behind the door and she gently closed it behind her. 'Hey, there? Sarah?'

The ranger's nerves began to frazzle as she heard only her boots echoing against the stone flooring, and she found herself tiptoeing to ease the harsh sound. 'I was sent to see you about getting to the other side of the Guardian Sea…?'

Her gut dropped as she heard nothing else in the abandoned house and her instincts began to tug at her heart. Oh, God. Was this a trap? Had Fate been aligned with Gangplank all along?

Making her way into what appeared to be formerly a parlour room, she surveyed the scratched wallpaper and dusty furniture with apprehension and turned to walk back to the door, before something small and hard slammed so hard into her that she fell over with a painful thump. The ranger heaved in her winded breath and she turned up her head to look down the barrel of a mini-musket pointed straight at her head.