Chapter 4
Hot Choclate, S'Mores and Geopolitics
The boy was running…
No riding, an animal she'd seen in pictures…
Running from something dangerous, he was lost, confused, alone high up where the sky caressed the earth. Lands so high the air was thin and the wind harsh, his blue gray horse was puffing small clouds out of her nostrils as he shivered from a brisk cold wind. He was holding something in his hands, a spear? A lance? A walking stick? Maybe he was a mountain Shepard looking for a lost goat, no it was more than that. He raised his head there was something close by a monster roaring to signal the boy was in its territory and he was unwelcome. He turned his head green eyes fixated on the thick fog around him as the animal revealed itself, it had snapping jaws of white fangs baying gif blood, two of them!
Then Powder woke up yelling "Look out!"
Her scream woke up the other kids Vi jumping out of her bed still in pajamas ready to punch whoever was stupid enough to sneak up on them while she slept. Both boys; Mylo and Clagger tumbled out of bed hitting the hard wood basement floor groaning. "Powder what's wrong?" Vi asked her baby sister walking over to check on her, the blue haired 7 year old girl was clutching her pet rabbit tightly "I saw- I saw- I saw-"
Vi hushed her putting her arm around her shoulder "Whoa whoa easy now it was just a nightmare." Vi said, patting her on the arm.
"Did she wet the bed again." Mylo snarled, popping his neck as he stretched and tan his fingers through the tangled brown hair, Vi shot him a left hook with her pale blue eyes under pink hair.
Clagger just yawned into his fat fingers before he flopped back down on the bed snuggling up to his pillow without saying a word. Powder was still shaking when Vi looked back at her "It was a dream Powder, nothing more."
"No it wasn't, it was real I saw some monsters were after them, and I… I…" they heard a door open above them at the foot of their bedroom stairs and someone walked down the steps yawning. He was a large mountain of a man with graying auburn hair, a nose broken and put back in place, he had more muscles than a bear and a better smile.
"Alright loves where's the fire?" He asked with a gruff city voice.
Mylo answered "Powder wet the bed."
"I did not!" Powder shouted throwing her pillow at Mylo'who dodged it laughing at his own joke.
Vi looked up at their surrogate "It's nothing Vander, just a nightmare about magical monsters or something; I'll get her back to bed."
Giving the two girls a deep rumbling chuckle Vander put his hands on his hips "You know, my mum use to have an old family remedy for nightmares, a magic potion called hot chocolate, sends all the nightmares running to the abyss, what say I make you some Powder." The offer made powder smile under her blue locks.
"Come on the lot of you, I think we could all use a cup." Vander said, leading them up into the bar for some warm drinks and good company. By the time all four of the gang were assembled Vander had put a groovy song on from the The Last Drops jukebox as he bald dance bald mixed the ingredients lighting the stove, with a match and dropping chocolate bars into the pot with milk to mix it in all together in a spoon dancing along with the beat before taking out four mugs usually held for beer. Vi, Powder, Mylo and Clagger watched Vander distribute the hot chocolate into each tankard in a single pour before pulling a whip cream can out of thin air like a magician and sprinkling marshmallows on top before serving all in time to finish the song. His four kids all gave different responses of admiration Powder clapped still holding her bunny, Vi smiled seeing Vander had worked his own spell to calm her down, licked his lips eyeing the hot chocolate and Clogger patted his hands on the counter tops in excitement.
The four of them all drank up the sweet warm liquid warming them down to their toes smiling with red rosy cheeks. Vi took a great gulp before giving off a sigh of satisfaction when Powder noticed it, she saw her big sister had a whip cream goatee. She burst out laughing followed by Mylo and Clagger before Vi saw her own reflection in a glass, she smirked "Not bad."
"You call that a whip cream beard." Vander said his back turned "This-" he spun around with a Snow White whip cream covered face fists on his hips posing "Is a man's whip cream beard." He'd even done his eyebrows to match and added a bit on his head with a cherry. The laughing didn't stop there neither did the whip cream makeovers; Mylo creamed himself a curly white mustache and Clagger made a fat unibrow before Vi snatched it and turned around they all gathered around as they heard the whip cream can go empty before she spun around her face absolutely frosted in whip cream to look like a yordle but not just any yordle eccentric streaks of spike hair and bushy creamy
Mustache "Councilman Heimerdinger Hahahah!" Vander and the others exploded into laughter, Powder falling out of her chair over laughing. Vi laughed out loud elating the rest of the gang in jubilant noise, Vander smiled then frowned.
Being who she was, Vi noticed first as if something was wrong in Vanders eyes, "Vander, something wrong?" She asked as the whip cream fell off her head.
He smiled again, handing her a towel "It's nothing Vi, just savoring the moment."
MEANWHILE, THE GREAT BARRIER MOUNTAINS
Zachariah was freezing and in bad company once again, if you could consider a pack of murkwolves company of any kind. Bess trampled the rocky highlands, even after taking her three days up the mountain he was on closer to the summit then when he started. The dense fog and freezing nights made traveling all the rougher now that he had those monsters after him. Zachariah had seen a murkwolf one before a dead one, when he was eight Hamlet had a visit from one that was tearing apart cattle every night before two hunters from Bilgewater arrived they didn't look like any hunters he'd ever seen. One wore a hat weird and was always shuffling a deck of cards the other wore a mutton chops mustache with a double barreled blunderbuss, honestly he was surprised they even worked together the amount of arguing they did. But he had to digress because he was once more running from certain death only this time it was certain dinner for the murk wolves should they catch him. He remembered Grandpa teaching him they were mammalian creatures that are magically altered by runic magical energy scattered across the continent or Valoran. usually live near caves and dense forest growths. The color of their fur varies upon how much a murk wolf was altered by magical energy in the womb, either a light brown color or a murky gray color. There have also been instances of mutations in this species, where some murk wolves are born with two heads, like the one chasing him right this very second. He could feel it snarling and panting with every step looking over his shoulder the two sets of glowing blue eyes from the purple haired and spiked back wolf eager to devour him.
It's left had snapped and Zachariah could feel Bess was about to panic if he didn't do something that quick. He'd strapped the staff to her saddle so he could hold on with both hands and before he reached for it he summoned another fireball to throw back at the murk wolves. Half of them scattered but their alpha wasn't even bothered by the flames, "Come on Bess we can loose'em." He said trying to urge her on, the old girl had been giving it her all and when Zachariah wasn't looking where they were going Bess stumbled down almost losing her footing before she took advantage of the downward slope to kick up speed. Just in time too because there was a massive gorge at the end of the hill and they were moving too fast to turn away or stop. Zachariah squeeze his legs against her side hunching down she yelled "Come on Bess let her buck!"
Wailing loudly as if she understood him Zachariah felt the charger jump the gorge looking down into the dark abyss below he heard the murk wolf crumble to a halt before Bess landed on the other side. He looked back, the Murk wolves were on the other side barking and snarling at his house escape. A smile jumped on his face and Zachariah laughed out loud patting Bess on the neck "Hahaha that a girl, No dinner for you dogs hahaha!" He let Bess move to a trot walking down the cliff side till the wolves were nothing but noise in the distance when they too faded he decided it was time for a break. He was lucky the first two nights finding empty caves to sleep in and stay dry but so far he had no luck. The ground was rockier, less trees and more loose boulders. After searching for a near hour Zachariah made camp in the only patch of grass he could find up against a boulder the size of the barn. He had to remember to thank the next Noxian stable hand he met for keeping their saddles so well provisioned. The one he strapped to Bess was stocked well; a tent, blankets, even an animal skin pillow that he could inflate by blowing into. The rest was a pot for cooking, a skewer, a flint to make fire, shovel for something he found out later after he first made dinner, rations or dried meat and bread, then a water skin already filled and there was no shortage of streams thankfully.
Setting up camp was like taking care of the farm in a lot of ways, and had to make sure Bess had water and food. He tied her to a nearby boulder, then gave her some water before she enjoyed a well deserved dinner of eating grass. What followed next was getting the shelter up; he'd set up tents before when he and George explored the fields sleeping out under the stars. This wasn't a lowland pasture, these were the Great Barrier Mountains, Zachariah quickly learned the two things that kept him from life and death here was shelter and fire. It was becoming harder and harder to find wood to build a fire. The foot of the mountain was covered in trees and old wood, the higher he went they became sticks to twigs to nearly nothing. Managing to scrape together a pitiful excuse for a fire he used the flint to get a spark conserving his energy in case he needed to use magic, which led him to his last chore of the day studying.
Each day after he'd climbed a bit higher he would read from one of the books he'd brought along he started off with one of his study books he'd added to the pile Magical Amplifiers of the World and How They Work by Isolt Sayre. He had mostly been interested in staff artifacts like the one he had propped up against his tent wall looking for anything he thought useful such as the paragraph he had been stuck on for the last minute.
Like wands the essence of staffs are meant to amplify and focus the users magical power depending on the form and spell. Unlike wands however that require the user to draw the runes he, she, they wish to cast a staff wielder would simply need to think from memory of the runes required for their spell. However in addition the amplified power comes the danger as enormous magical energy is needed to channel the spell from the user's mind through the staff and into reality; staff crowned with crystals or other magical artifacts can vary from staff to staff. The standard issue battlemage staffs of Demacia and Noxus are mass produced for military purposes countering the argument for the mage needing the staff rather to be used in great numbers for rapid spell usage.
It went on like that for the next three pages listing off different staff's, from different countries but nothing specific about his. Crystals were very common in using spells but they usually had runes carved into them, his didn't, it was smooth to the touch but the staff did or so he thought? Zachariah had looked over the staff six times and saw no shield rune which then made him wonder about his theory of there was a storm rune too but no it was just plain looking wood.
He had skimmed through the book on Combustion magic by Tim the Enchanter which had a portrait of him inside the cover, a white bearded man in black. Dressed in black with an epic horned hat holding a staff. But his only held the runes needed to make things explode, expel fire and the story of a deadly rabbit versus a holy hand grenade.
Whatever that was.
Then nothing about what a Dragonlord was, none of his books had anything not even the Adventure of Lina Inverse the Magnificent, and she had the craziest adventures. There was a Golem who had a spell so powerful it could destroy mountains, which he wished he could right now to get through.
He decided he needed to get to the bottom of this getting out of the tent. He was wearing all the spare clothes he had to stay warm and even then he was cold. Picking up the staff he looked for a good spot to practice ten feet away from his camp so he didn't destroy anything. Looking at a small rock that reminded him of Commander Cyrus, Zachariah thought of a flame rune and just as a bolt of fire blasted the rock he saw the rune appear bright as flame on the staff before it faded. When he rubbed his hand on the staff there was no rune like the wood had erased it from itself "What are you?" Zachariah asked, touching the crystal at the top.
THE SKY WAS IN FLAMES, PEOPLE SCREAMING FOR THEIR GODS TO SAVE THEM ANYONE TO SAVE THEM, THE EARTH SHATTERED AND SEAS BOILED— ENTIRE CITIES WERE WIPED OFF THE MAP THE WORLD WAS—
"Gyah—" Zachariah dropped the staff after what he saw, it was all a blur and at the same time so real, he fell over onto the loose rocks ears ringing from the vision. That's what it was a vision of, he wasn't sure what but he knew it was real and he knew the staff showed it to him.
Too bad he wouldn't be able to think on it more, because he wasn't alone anymore he saw a flicker in the distance, the sound of footsteps echoing, louder and louder. A Minotaur, they'd come for revenge after he stopped that black one from killing Draven and Darius, he hadn't struck the killing blow but he might as well have. He looked at the staff then at the light a monstrous shadow with horns, a large head and broad shoulders it was almost on him should he go for the staff— then he saw it.
"A hamster?" Zachariah asked.
Standing in front of Zachariah was an alien creature standing no bigger than his hip covered in light beige fur, wearing matching green boots and gloves, brown pants, no shirt except for the fur on his chest. A purplish link of fur around his collar and a raccoon like face minus the snout brown around the narrow eyes and short ears he'd mistaken for horns under a green helmet with goggles, topped with blue fur. Those road shoulders were in fact a back park with a lantern hanging up behind him to light his way as he looked down at a map.
Zachariah looked down at him, his eyes Harley opening "Hello." It said with a voice like a child.
"Ummm… hi?" Zachariah greeted back.
The creature rolled up his map "Well this is a great I didn't think to run into anyone else up here." He said smiling.
"Ummm… likewise, who-what…" Zachariah was unsure what to say to the strange little furball.
He poked his head around "Hmm, looks like your camp isn't up to snuff." Zachariah watched him.
"Wait what are you-" The fur ball started to rummage through Zachariah's camp, tossing it around pulling up his tent stakes. Zachariah ran after him trying to put things back together "Hey stop it— you're making a mess?" He said a hamster scout ran around altering things. But when he looked at the knots he'd tied for the steaks they were too tight, harder for him to pull out. He looked back at the campfire, the stranger had dug a far more impressive fire pit and even added a few stones around the border. He even spotted a few torches lightning around the camp, it looked way better, safer, up to code.
Standing up Zachariah glanced around the crowd "How did you… where'd you go?" He asked, looking around the camp before he could smell something being cooked. He looked down at the fire and saw the stranger roasting small white cylinder shaped blobs over the fire on a stick , already starting to turn golden brown.
"There we go, up to code just like in the Scouts." The stranger said before he reached into his backpack next to him. Zachariah watched him unfold two other sets of food, the smell he immediately recognized as chocolate, a bundle of them in a bag and beside it were a stack of crackers smelling of herbs.
Zachariah watched the strange furry creature take what he was roasting off the fire, stick it between two of the crackers and a piece of chocolate before offering it to him "S'more?" He asked.
"S'what?" Zachariah asked.
The furball just smiled before he gasped "What, you've never had a s'more, come on try it." The high pitched voice cheered, patting the spot next to him so Zachariah would join him. Not sensing any danger from him Zachariah sat next to the stranger and took the snack from him. It was warm to the touch and already the chocolate started to melt against the strange white now browned thing in the middle. Gulping he held it up to his mouth and took a bite. The feel of the cracker crunching underneath his teeth, sweet chocolate melting against his tongue and finally the splendid gooey warm bonbon released a cornucopia of deliciousness in his mouth. Zachariah closed his mouth moaning as he chewed "By the gods that's good." He said mouth was full.
The furball gave a hum of approval "Congratulations, your first s'more… oh I'm sorry I didn't get your name-" Zachariah saw the creature slap his own head "And I didn't give mine, I'm Teemo." He said, offering his small furry gloved hand.
Zachariah held him up licking his fingers after he finished off the s'more "Zachariah." He said, shaking it.
"Now that we have introductions out of the way, I hope you don't mind. I rest here, I've been hiking for days." Teemo said.
Unsure if he was friend or foe, but leaning toward the former Zachariah looked at the other s'more he was making, he was running low on food as if "No, it's fine." Zachariah said.
"Great, here help yourself to my marshmallow supply." He said pulling out a bag of the bonbons, the white cloud like candy soft to the touch after he picked one out.
"Uh Teemo, is it?" Zachariah asked, taking a stick nearby and stabbing it into the 'marshmallow' and holding it over the fire like Teemo did.
The critter gave him a grunt wondering what he wanted "What… who… are you, exactly I haven't seen anyone or anything that could talk up here for three days?" Zachariah asked him.,
"What, you've never seen a yordle before?" He asked.
Zachariah repeated the word over and over in his mind 'yordle', what an odd name? "What's a yordle?" He blurted out.
Teemo blinded his narrow eyes thinking "Hmmm, me I guess I came here all the way from Bandle City, there's millions of us there."
"Bandle City, where's that?" Zachariah asked him.
Teemo reached into his backpack and pulled out a map, one that was far more updated then the ones he'd snatched from Commander Cyrus's tent. There was the main continent Valoran and Teemo pointed to the center of the Great Barrier mountains "We're somewhere around here, Bandle City is all the way over…" Zachariah followed Teemo's finger but Teemo paused before he rolled the map up "Actually it's complicated." He said putting the map away.
"Is it, well I'm from Hamlet, it's north of these mountains but now it's part of Noxus now." Zachariah said, shrugging.
"Hmm, are you a refugee?" He asked the boy.
"Not… exactly, I'm going to Piltover to find someone. What about you, why are you here?" He asked.
Pointing Zachariah at marshmallow to signal it was ready, he let Teemo make him another s'more "Visiting an old friend, at his mountain village said he needed my help."
"Help, for making s'mores?" Zachariah asked.
Teemo gave a light laugh "No, no, nothing like that though I wish it was." Teemo said his smile was fading as he held the delicacy. "His village isn't far from here, and if you're trying to cross the mountains you'll need more than a few cloaks to get over there, winter's almost here."
Zachariah hadn't even thought about that, Teemo was right, winter was on its way by now all of Hamlet was probably storing up crops, getting sure their homes would be sealed tight to keep in heat. Zachariah's mind drifted back to the farm, what had happened to it. Had they found Jack's grave, the cows, chickens and pig were probably sold or gone to market. But what about Grandpa's library, all those books and such, so few people could even read Hamlet. They either burned them for tinder or maybe they burnt the whole farm to the ground after what he'd done to the Wesley's. He sure hoped George was okay and Clark too, he was also thinking about Jill. That blonde hair, blue eyes, the taste of her lips, she probably hated him now for running away. But he had to leave them behind to protect them or did the Magehunters do what they said they would.
He tried to steer his mind away from thoughts like "You're probably right, but I don't have enough money."
"That shouldn't be to much, Minotaurs love to trade things they can use and gold isn't much use to them." Teemo said.
Zachariah gulped before asking "Minotaurs."
Teemo nodded "Well who else do you think lives up here?" He asked.
PILTOVER
Council Chamber
Unlike Noxus or Demacia, the great city of Piltover wasn't ruled by a king or a queen but by the greatest of its citizens the Council. Ruling high above the city in their towering chamber the leaders of the city of progress decided the fate of thousands below them and how the rest of the world would see them. "The Noxians have launched another invasion of the Great Barrier." A short yordle said with grey whiskers and blonde hair said at the head of the congress looking with blue eyes to the others he turned to a young gorgeous woman with raven black hair and dark melanin skin adorned in gold and a white dress.
"Councilwoman Medarda, should Piltover be concerned?" He asked.
She sat up in her chair emerald eyes gazing out at the other six council members, "Should the Minotaur Council fall or join them our treaties with Noxus are still in tact, this is all a matter of how far the Empire will go to secure the Great Barrier."
"And we're certain they won't violate them?" Another woman asked, older, with greying brown hair blue earrings wearing a more conservative dress than Medarda her skin was paler than her counterparts and more skeptic of the situation.
An elder councilman scoffed from his seat "Mrs. Kiramman, Noxus wouldn't dare attack Piltover we have over a hundred contracts with their capital any inkling of conflict would be stamped out by the Stewardships." He was a pot bellied bald headed man with a thick dark beard and high black collar and red suit underneath.
While they debated a gold plated cybrog sat tapping his metal finger under a blue suit of regal style before he asked "Unless the Empire is dead set on conquest, could we survive an invasion?" He asked.
"Unlikely Councilman Bolbok, if they committed all their forces to us Piltover wouldn't survive unless we refocused all our workforce from under city into a war time economy." Merdarda told him.
"That would make matters worse in the under city." A bald headed council woman with an eccentric spinning necklace and long gold claws that she tapped on the table.
The final councilman spoke then "That means we'd either have to pay them more or less, such a matter would be hard to argue to the families and factories?" He had blonde hair, was skinny and wore a red coat and aristocrats attire.
"I think the safety and well being of our city is more important then wages Salo, but Councilwoman Shoola is right we should do our best to protect the people and avoid war with Noxus, I'll draft a formal message to the Emperor about opening talks to assure the our treaties remain in tact." Medarda said holding her hand up to call the council to vote a bright light appearing over her.
"But what of the Minotaurs, should Piltover not offer to mediate a peace between the two sides?" Heimerdinger asked the council.
No one said anything so the young and beautiful Medarda did "Piltover has little in common with the Minotaurs, all our attempts to establish trade or commerce have been met with cold shoulders, this is there right between Noxus not ours." She pointed out. Bolbok held up his mechanical hand and soon the others did too and finally Heimedinger did as well so it would be a majority.
Later the head of the council was standing alone on a balcony overlooking the city, from the sea to the great ridge into the under city. The sky was blue to the south but to the north were the Great Barrier Mountains and were a storm was gathering quite literally dark clouds were pulling overhead and behind them he knew battles were being fought and to his fear he knew it could be in his own streets one day. "Your attempt to mediate peace talks for the Minotaurs is Admirable Professor." Medarda said coming up behind him he faced her discontented at the out come still.
"I would prefer to have the Minotaurs as our allies but if we did we would give cause for the Noxians even more cause to treat as hostile, we must remain neutral or I fear for our city." She explained.
Heimedinger sighed knowing she was right, "I know Noxus is your homeland but your devotion to this city is beyond admirable Lady Medarda, but are we not putting our own well being above others when not stopping what we know is wrong?" He asked.
She paused considering it, deeply and for a long time "As leaders doing what's right is harder than anything but we're trusted to do what's best for Piltover, not the world."
"I suppose, time will tell." He said watching the mountains and whatever may lay beyond. "I feel bad for them though."
"The Minotaurs?" Councilwoman Medarda asked as
Heimedinger turned his head to her a fickle look on his place "Heavens above no, the Noxians Minotaurs aren't known for their hospitality."
GREAT BARRIER MOUNTAINS
After the sun rose, Teemo and Zachariah had packed up the camp and doused the fire, Zachariah fastened Bess's saddle and helped Teemo to ride on the back, where the small yordle sat on Bess's backside holding onto the saddle and Zachariah when the ground became to steep. He guided Zachariah so high they left the boulders behind and were now walking across a narrow mountain trail wide enough for Bess to pass, but so narrow he felt his legs scrape against the rocks till they came out onto a road jutting out the side of the mountain. Coming out he saw they were headed for a large cliff side settlement no, a fortress. "Whoa…" Zachariah gasped.
Zachariah felt Teemo lean over him "There it is, my friend's village." Teemo said.
"Village, that's a castle." Zachariah said.
The fortress was built in the side and under a large ridge in the mountain a narrow road led to the iron gate five stories high and when opened at the sound of horn the gate rose up between twin towers. The wall snaked around the cliff and up to a large keep that was halfway sticking out of the mountain and the rest looking like it was carved into it. When he was brought in he saw the fortress was more than that, a large village resided in its walls, houses made of rock were dotting the open yard and Minotaurs walked the streets, all of them tall as trees coming in and out. When Zachariah got close to the gates he saw two armored Minotaurs holding axes, pulling up the blanket he'd fashioned into a cloak to form a hood he gulped as they got close.
One Minotaur approached them and held up his hand, the sentry said something in his own Minotaur language and before he could speak Teemo popped his head out and in a high pitched version of the same language. Zachariah wasn't sure what they were saying but the Sentry approached him and Teemo started to talk. The Sentry looked at Zachariah and Teemo gave a shrug behind him and said something quick making the Minotaur snicker.
They were all looking at Zachariah as strange as he was looking at the sentry. He patted Bess on the side and she clenched before Zachariah patted her neck "He said we can go in." Teemo said.
When they walked through the gate, inside they were all bovine, muscled, horns on every head except for the children, they were already the size of full grown men. Unlike the noxians they wore little armor except for the warriors who captured him. All had on some sort of armor like shoulder guards, waist armored belts. Other than that the Minotaurs were dressed in loincloths, kilts, togas or some loose cloth easy for them to move in and a few wore heavy cloaks that draped over their bodies. The older Minotaurs all had long braids adorned with metal bindings, many with nose rings or piercings. While passing into the large village, they saw many wounded or recovering Minotaurs. Zachariah pulled his makeshift cloak hood down to hide his face worried they'd still recognize him.
"This is my stop." Teemo said hopping off of Bess and Zachariah climbing down off her back, they were at a fork in the road one leading to a market of some kind the other toward the citadel. "You should have everything you need down there." Teemo said, pointing to the market.
"What about you Teemo?" Zachariah asked him.
The yordle pointed over to the citadel "Told you, going to see a friend, maybe I'll find you at the inn?" Chirped teemo.
"Probably if I have anything left to trade." He told him.
Teemo nodded before scampering off toward the citadel, Zachariah on the other hand took Bess by the reins and led her to the market. Filled with mostly minotaurs there were a few humans there none of them looked like Noxians, less armor, scars and blood thirsty looks in their eyes. No, they were all different looking in some ways, there were men and women with long hair tied behind their heads wearing thick fur lined coats and funny tricorn hats or caps haggling over a barrel of something with a merchant. He passed next to what he thought was a Minotaur but turned out to be the largest man he'd ever seen. Wearing a horn like helmet that curled in at the top carrying a massive greatsword, his bare chest exposed unbothered by the cold. He had to calm Bess down as he started to get scared of all the commotion looking around Zachariah spotted a stall with a smoking Minotaur at it, hanging from it were fur lined clothes, boots, pants, a long sleeved sweater with a hood fur coming out of each sleeve. Zachariah started to walk toward it when he stopped feeling a tingling sensation on the back of his neck. Looking to his right he saw someone walking toward them wearing thick blue robes, with pale purple vestments around his torso with a thick scarf matching around his neck and head hiding his face. Hands covered metal gauntlets and on the top of each gauntlet and his cowl were three sets of three blue crystals, all glowing like his eyes. Zachariah froze when he walked by him, the two sharing a long stare.
This man was a mage.
He passed on ignoring Zachariah but it felt to the boy like he'd sensed it to, the magical aura of both of them attuning for a few moments before he disappeared into the market. Shaking off the feeling Zachariah approached the stall clearing his throat to get the Minotaurs attention "Um… uh- how much?" He asked, pointing to the winter gear.
The Minotaur took out his pipe and raised a set of bushy eyebrows "Trade or gold?" He asked.
Pulling Bess up, Zachariah found his purse pulling it out feeling it was lighter from when the Doctor took some out. He looked in and started to count the coins he had left, 42 pieces that was it still not that bad but he wasn't sure it would get him what he needed. He was about to ask when a set of big hands wrapped around his face and he felt another hand pick him up. Bess was neighing loudly in the background but suddenly a gag was thrown over his mouth, then a bag pulled over his face and he was picked off the ground kicking and screaming into the gag as they tied his hands together. Whoever had attacked him they were carrying him off somewhere a few people started to murmur around him but nobody did anything. Then there was only muffled footsteps, he heard something moving metal grinding on wood. Doors opening more walking where were they taking him, who were they, what did they want? He froze, stopping his thrashing fearing these were Magehunters but the last two had attacked him out right. Would the third and fourth be more stealthy and take him someplace remote to finish him off.
He felt himself dropped on a hard stone floor, pulled up to his feet, held by whoever had grabbed him before the bag was ripped off and a rush of light assaulted his eyes. His attackers were two Minotaurs each of them a different shade of purple. He was in a great hall carved from stone with purple banners hanging from the wall columns carved to look like Minotaurs holding up the ceiling as light came in through open windows letting in light. Among the Minotaurs there were people sitting around a crescent table five of them in all from the left going clockwise Zachariah looked at a old man with white hair tied back in a wild pointy tail with thick beads, his lip held a thin but long mustache, dressed in gray and teal robes. Short sleeved showing muscular arms held in vambraces, his left shoulder had a pauldron made of leather dyed teal that wrapped around his stomach in overlapping leather tied together. Beside him was a radiant woman with bleach blonde hair combed straighter than a sword, her thin face held sharp eyed fixed on Zachariah, each shoulder had a pauldron twice the size of her head adorned with golden eagles. A blue cloak wrapped around her neck and he could see a steel breastplate under her armor and even a sword poking out from under the table. At the center of the table was someone Zachariah had seen before, the giant purple red eyed Minotaur with four horns, Alistar. he had a bandage over his chest and right arm, injuries from the battle at the Noxus camp no doubt. Beside him another intimidating character but he was a man, he had a gray beard running down over his chest a black hat crowned upward matching a thick black frock coat lined with red. His right arm had bronze armor running down and the left arm was exposed with a black cuffed glove. He was smoking a cigar puffing on it before he heard a 'psst'.
Zachariah and everyone else looked to the left to Teemo sitting up on a box in his chair waving at him "Hi Zachariah."
"We'll discuss that later." The purple Minotaur said standing, "Behold my friends, a Noxian spy already attempting to infiltrate our ranks." Alistar pointed an accusing finger at Zachariah.
The strangers shared looks before Alistar spoke "How long till it's your borders Noxus challenges, High Marshall Crownguard you know these Noxians best how should we deal with him?" He asked the woman looking at her.
Zachariah wasn't sure what a High Marshal was, but she looked like a military commander like Cyrus, "In Demacia we kill Noxian spies after long and often painful interrogations." She said, smiling at him.
"Bah, strap him in front of a cannon and he's done with it." The bearded man said, ``Take out his cigar."
The man with the mustache in robes scoffed "How elegant of you Captain Gangplank." Captain, it all started to come together for Zachariah after that the man was a pirate.
"That's King Gangplank, Mister Cashew." The pirate said, slamming his cigar fist into the table standing up.
The mustache man stood, "And I will remind you that's Master Kushu." He was standing too drawing a long curved sword halfway out of a sheath. Gangplank reached into his coat pulling out a large bronze hand cannon. Zachariah wondered if these were all really friends like the Minotaur had said. Quickly that Minotaur held his hands up "Put away your weapons we've come here to put our differences aside." Alistar shouted, raising his voice "The Noxians are the enemy not each other."
The blonde haired woman stood up leaning on her table spot "Really then how does the Yordle know him?" She asked, pointing at Teemo.
"Oh what, I met him on my way here. He was lost in the mountains trying to get to Piltover was he?" Zachariah nodded trying to say 'yes yes that's it' under his gag but all it came out was:
"Yhhhyhhhthhgg." His baffling noises got their attention.
High Marshall Crownguard gapped at his attempt to speak to "Piltover, did you search his belongings to secure an alliance with Piltover's Council." She asked the guards.
The Minotaurs behind him poured out the contents of his pack, letting his books, clothes, coin pursed, the last of his food, and then finally they tossed down his staff hitting the floor with a rattle. It drew the most attention falling next to Grandpa's coat and hat "A mage." The High Marshall hissed.
"Odd, Noxian Mage assassins often hide themselves with magic, and are far older?" The one called Master Kushu said.
Gangplank gave a grunt "Getting younger every year."
"Teemo, can you tell us more on how you met this mage?" Alistar asked him.
Teemo nodded standing up and hopping on the table "Okie dokie, so I was heading your way in the mountains when I found his campfire, we had some great s'mores while we talked."
"Talk about what, did he tell he was a mage?" Alistar asked.
Zachariah looked at Teemo, shaking his furry head "No, I didn't ask, he didn't say."
"All the more reason to assume he's a spy, keeping secrets." Marshall said, pushing back her blonde hair.
The Pirate captain chuckled "Anyone think of asking the kid?"
Alistar waved his hand to one of the guards who came up behind Zachariah and undid the gag on his mouth, he coughed spitting out the stench of wherever the rag was from "Talk spy." The guard snapped.
"Who washes those… oh gods- ack." Zachariah said looking up at them "Look, this is all just a big misunderstanding, I met the hamster in the mountains and I-I'm not a spy." Zachariah coughed out.
"Yes, yes, we know that." High Marshall Crownguard said "But you didn't tell him you're a mage." She said pointing to the staff.
Zachariah looked at her, he could feel the anger in her voice, something about how she really hates mages, "I'm… I'm a farmer."
"A farmer with a crystal mounted staff, spellbooks and all in a Noxian saddlebag I think you Noxians would be more subtle." She said to them.
Zachariah rolled his eyes "Okay lady I don't know a lot about Noxians or whoever you are, but if I was a spy would I really be riding on a Noxian cavalry saddle?" Zachariah asked.
"And if you really were a mage you'd have used some spell to get yourself free." She snapped back.
"And get torn apart by Minotaurs?" Zachariah asked looking up at the two guards behind him "Have you seen the size of these guys?" The adults looked at the High Marshall and she just kept frowning at him.
Master Kushu twirled his mustache "Alistar, what makes you assume he's a spy or a Noxian he hasn't even done any magic?"
"He's Noxian, I saw him when we assaulted their camp at the foot of our mountains." The one called Alistar said, so he was the same Minotaur who led the attack. "He stopped one of my Captains from killing two Noxians, he's on their side."
Zachariah shook his head furiously "No, no, I mean yes, but I'm not on anyone's side." Zachariah argued.
"Then why did you intervene, the Minotaur you killed was a great hero among my people, a father of a full herd, beloved by all now he lies beneath the ground, all for the defense of his home and people, against naked aggression from Noxus" The Minotaur challenged standing up, his voice thundering across the room. Zachariah felt the war chief shout go right to his soul, the anger, the fury, he'd killed or at least been another accessory to another one. But Draven and Darius had saved him, so he had to return the favor. How could he explain it to these people? These weren't farmers or gardeners like in the hamlet. From the woman's title and the pirate being called captain these were commanders of some kind. And the Minotaur, Alistar it was one of his people he was still a murderer. "I…"
The Minotaur snorted "Take him to the cells, we can figure out what to do with him later."
Before the Minotaurs could close their grip Zachariah pulled forward "I'M SORRY!" Zachariah screamed at the table stepping forward, stumbling a bit. Alistar held his hand up to stop the guards from grabbing Zachariah to drag him off to some dungeon or whatever.
Zachariah waited for the Chiefs leave to speak, Alistar turned his hand over to signal he could speak. Zachariah scanned their faces, Kushu was curious, the High Marshall still looking like she wanted to carve him into little bits and eat him. Alsitar's purple snout was stone faced. Captain Gangplank looked more bored than interested and Teemo just smiled at him. "… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill anyone, I didn't mean to hurt you or any of your people, my world was turned upside down only a few… feels like a lifetime ago." Zachariah said. He walked toward Alistar and held his hands out to show he wasn't going to try anything. "I was with the Noxians, yes, but I'm not a soldier, I was their prisoner." Slowly reaching up he revealed the bullet wound under his shirt to show the bullet scar, "The Noxians learned Magehunters were after me, then they imprisoned me when they discovered I was a mage wanted to ship me off to their capital." Zachariah said. "But the two boys who your— friend, almost killed saved my life, whatever it's worth." Zachariah pointed to his chest.
"I owed them that much and now I owe you." Zachariah took a final step then he knelt down on one knee, then the other in front of Alistar, "I can't bring him back or any of the other people you've lost, so I offer you my life in exchange." Zachariah bowed his head, waiting if Alistar was going to accept his offer.
A long silence dragged out across the hall.
Alistar sat there looking down at Zachariah "Take him… to a cell, but treat him with dignity."
"Alistar I have to protest, he's too dangerous to be left alone, mages can't be trusted." High Marshall Crownguard snapped.
"In Demacia, yes, but we aren't in Demacia." Alistar said.
The guards picked Zachariah up off the floor and led him away, he looked down at the staff laying there on the floor along with his books and things, but still had his Grandpa's ring, and that was enough even if it was his last night on Runeterra.
Later, after Zachariah was sitting in a cell somewhere deep in the citadel he was sitting on a bed at the back of the cell a bucket next to him and a dim torch lit in the hallway. He was fumbling with his grandfather's ring, holding it between his finger and thumb still on the string around his neck "You look pretty glum."
He saw it was Teemo, "Second time I'm someone's prisoner this month, I wonder if I will get a prize when I get to Piltover for a third time." Zachariah said, shaking his head "There's a game during our Harvest festival, they probably celebrated it already, you bob for apples in a barrel and when you get three, they give you a pie." Zachariah said remembering it fondly playing with the ring. "You knew I was a mage didn't you?" Zachariah asked him.
The Yordle leaned on the bars of the cell "I did, but I just assumed you had a reason why you didn't tell me, Magehunters that's a new one."
"Noxians said the same thing, before they threw me into a cage like this one." He said.
"Why haven't you used your magic yet, you are a mage?" Teemo asked him.
Zachariah looked at the ring, eyeing the dragon engraving thinking of one of Grandpa's most important lessons "Like I said… I'm a farmer, sure my Grandpa taught me magic but he taught me it couldn't solve all my problems, I think it's why he raised me on a farm and not in some magical school of witchcraft and wizardry. Teach me to work with my hands, learn patience when growing crops, the reward of a hard day's work in the fields and then at night we'd pour of tomes teaching me magic." Zachariah put the ring away and drew some runes in the air, a ball of light appeared in his hand he raised it up to the top of the ceiling illuminating the chamber.
Teemo watched the ball of light rise up, like a star plucked from the heavens shining brilliantly reflecting in their eyes, "I used magic to kill someone, magic is life and life is magical to take it life with magic is…"
He didn't finish the sentence "is what?" Teemo asked.
"It's an abomination." Zachariah said "Maybe that's why the Magehunters are after me, I can kill so easily with magic." Zachariah said, balling his hands into fists "I'm not a murderer, but I did kill that Minotaur to stop him from killing the two soldiers who saved me and a Magehunter trying to kill. I killed to protect life, mine, there's, and if I have to face justice for it I won't use magic to escape what I deserve." Zachariah confessed to Teemo laying down on the bed. Teemo squeezed the cell bars, and looked to his left to see Alistar standing in the shadows out of view, having heard it all. "I'll let you get some rest." Teemo said before he left.
Both the yordle and Minotaur walked out of the dungeon past the Minotaur guards and walked out into the main hall where the others were waiting. The High Marshall and Master were speaking, arguing more like it and Gangplank was cleaning his pipe. They all got silent when Alistar and Teemo re-entered "So, will you join me in stopping Noxus's march?" Alistar asked.
More silence filled the air, finally Gangplank made a grunt "No." he growled. Alistar waited to hear his reasoning "Half of Bilgewaters captains are privateers for the Noxians, the other half hate my guts, the ones I still have, it'll be the excuse for them to cause a civil war, or an angry mob with a lot of cannons."
"Demacia will not support you without the full pledge of the other Minotaur clans. The Monarchy has ordered me to offer you and your people amnesty in Demacia in a province of your choosing." The High Marshall said regretfully to him.
Alistar looked to Master Kushu, the old man closed his eyes and pressed his left fist into an open left palm bowing "WIth great humility and respect, the Kinkou Order must decline your alliance we do not have the strength to face Noxus not after the last invasion."
The Minotaur sighed frustrated , holding up his fists. "Which is why we must unite, before all of Runeterra is under the heel of Noxus, if we don't unite now then all of us will suffer the consequences."
Gangplank stood up grumbling "Maybe, but that's then this is now, best of luck to you bull." Gangplank said, walking toward the exit. Crownguard and Kushu didn't say anything, no apologies would be worth anything so they followed Gangplank out of the hall.
The only one who stayed was Teemo, "You don't have to say anything Teemo." Alistar said, knitting his eyebrows, "I know Bandle City won't join us either."
"If it were up to me, I'd join you but the Scouts of our orders." Teemo said sadly.
Alistar turned around "I know old friend, perhaps this is just the Minotaurs fight, the other clans and tribes are too suspicious of the outside world they don't see the danger and hope it brings."
"I know, all that leaves is the boy?" Teemo said to him.
Alistar nodded "His fate is sealed."
THE NEXT DAY
Zachariah awoke to the sound of his cell door opening, rolling over he sat up with two Minotaurs waiting for him to get up. He did so slowly, his heart wasn't beating fast nor was it drumming in his ears. He was calm, Zachariah couldn't place the feeling while he walked out of the cell. Down the large corridors of stone and torches the clopping of Minotaur hooves behind him, then he saw a bright light, the cool crisp air of the mountain mourning. He raised his eyes to shield from the cold and blinding light, was this it was this the end it was.
Bess.
His heart lifted when he saw the horse staring back at him as she was saddled, ready to travel. Standing beside her was Teemo and Alistar. The bull was wearing a dark black cloak with a gold enseem stitched with spiraling patterns. "I… I don't understand?" They were standing on some back road outside the fortress, on some other side of the mountain it was in. He was still in the Great Barrier, but not sure where exactly.
"War has begun, I can't afford to keep you prisoner if you're no use to me." Alistar said, reaching into his robe to hold out Zachariah's staff.
"But why, why not kill me?" Zachariah asked him.
The Minotaur looked down at the staff "I considered it, then I heard what you said to Teemo. You fought not just out of a need to survive, but to honor my people and respect both." Alistar offered the staff once more, Zachariah looked at it wary, before he took it back.
"Thank you Chief." Zachariah said bowing.
His horns bowed to Zachariah "Teemo has taken the liberty of supplying your steed with provisions for the higher mountains, though I suggest you return to the lowlands your horse will freeze before you even get to the peak."
"I've come this far but I know she can't." Zachariah said patting Bess on the head, Zachariah pressed his head against Bess, then looking at Alistar "I've got no right to ask, but can she stay here or at least can you release her back down on the other side of the mountain?" He asked.
Alistar approached the horse, his massive hand stroking the back of her neck like she was a dog, "I'll see to it she's taken care of, good luck Zachariah." Alistar said his farewell. Walking back into his fortress Teemo held up a bag for Zachariah, kneeling down and he took it "What's this?"
"S'More supplies, it's really cold up there." Teemo said before he patted Zachariah on the arm, "Thank you Teemo." Zachariah said before he stood up. Next was harder then escaping the Noxis camp, he undid Bess's saddle, removed her bags and pulled the reins off her head.
He gave her one last part on the neck "Stay Bess." He said, tossing the saddle bags over his shoulder with the other bag. He looked down the mountain road, not far from it stretching up into the clouds was the peak of the Great Barrier Mountains, the final obstacle and then, Piltover. Hidden from view in dark snow storm clouds reaching under his shirt Zachariah pulled out the Dragonlord ring and kissed it for luck heading for the heart of the storm.