"Ready to go?" Jarvan asked, pulling the hood on his cloak up over his head. Shyvana nodded, standing next to him, both of her hands resting on the baseboard of the bed. Jarvan paused, looking around the room at their meager possessions. His lance and Shyvana's gauntlets sat against the far wall, the heavy steel of both weapons secured in the corner. The small room was the only accommodations that they could afford since Shyvana's winnings had been confiscated by the Noxian forces when she had been seized by Darius' men. Talon had given them a few silver pieces to work with, and Jarvan had figured they could stow their gear here and then come back for it. Jarvan didn't like the idea, but he had little choice else; they needed their armor and money. He grunted in disgust; he didn't like being in debt to the Noxians, despite the rift he could see building between the two camps.
Jarvan sat on the bed, leaning on his hands and frowning underneath the hood, contemplating just what would happen when they left Noxus. Somewhere out there Kampf still sat, waiting, biding his time till he had the strength to launch an attack on the city and begin his reign of terror. Jarvan's gaze landed upon Shyvana as she bent over to retrieve her own cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders. When Swain had learned that Jarvan and Shyvana were in cahoots, it had made things that much worse without Jarvan realizing it at the time. If Kampf really did mean to launch an attack on Noxus and start another war, Swain would make sure the blame would ride solely on her shoulders, despite what protests Jarvan would ever try to raise from Demacia.
Jarvan grimaced. If Kampf was able to besiege the city, if open war wasn't the direct result, the only thing he could do to stop a war from breaking out would be to hand Shyvana over to be executed by the Noxians. If he wanted to keep Shyvana at his side, they had no choice but to slay Kampf. It was no longer just about revenge for his men and Shyvana's father. It was a matter of king and country, a matter of peace for the coming years, their future together was now at stake. Jarvan felt his fists convulse as he gritted his teeth.
Jarvan sighed heavily, his elbows resting upon his knees as he frowned. He had gone on this journey to escape the politicking and stress that came with his station as prince. Even now, that responsibility had tracked him down and he was now wrestling with more responsibility that he had ever faced before. Jarvan lay back on the bed and let his eyes close as he listened to the sound of Shyvana's quiet footsteps to calm himself. It was no longer his choice whether he slew the dragon, it was his mission. He had asked Katarina about any reports of any other Demacian prisoners being captured, but she had told him that she hadn't heard any talk of such. That bode well for the fate of his men and hopefully meant that Forsythe, Isaacs, and Quinn had evaded capture and had managed to track down the dragon. If they were lucky, they would be able to back track towards Mogron Pass and find them. With a tentative plan in mind, Jarvan opened his eyes and yelped, Shyvana's head hanging over his, a curious look in her eye. Jarvan clutched his chest, trying to slow his breathing.
"You really need to stop doing that." Jarvan panted. He pulled himself into a sitting position, shaking his head.
"Sorry." Shyvana said with a mischievous smile, returning to adjusting her tunic. "Ready when you are." The tight fitting body suit clung to her curves better than Jarvan could have expected and he had to tear his eyes away from her form, grinning as he did. It clung to her slender waist and arms, and squished her chest together more than was necessary. Katarina hadn't owned anything in Shyvana's size; the dragoness's shoulders were slightly broader and she was taller, but her bust just as large as the Noxian assassin. They didn't make for a great combination when it came to clothes, but Jarvan wasn't about to complain.
Jarvan pulled the Balaclava up over his nose, opening the window in their room of the Inn. He stuck his head out the window, giving the deserted street a cursory glance just to make sure it was clear. A patrol of Noxian soldiers marched away down the street, the rhythmic sound of boots on cobblestone filtering down the streets as they disappeared around a corner. Shyvana wrapped her scarf around her face. She frowned, looking down, the relatively low cut tunic squishing her chest out.
"Doesn't look like you're ready." Jarvan said with a smirk as he brought his head back inside the room. He watched with interest as Shyvana fidgeted with her tunic as she had before, trying to keep it from riding too low, but as she pulled it down, she threatened to spill out the top. Shyvana growled softly, a frown forming on her lips. "Here, tuck the ends of your scarf into the tunic." Jarvan said, gesturing with a flat hand down along his own chest. Shyvana watched, frowning. She took the ends out of her hood, spinning the scarf around so the ends hung low over her chest, tucking them into the front of her tunic. She fidgeted with them for a while before she finally seemed satisfied.
"There we go." Shyvana stuck out her chest, trying to make sure that it wouldn't slide free. Jarvan coughed, turning away as he blushed, checking to make sure the strapping on his weapons were intact. He wore the polished Demacian blade from the assassins on his shin, a longer blade upon his waist, strapped to his belt, the grip facing left. He had the two remaining throwing knives strapped to his right thigh, just within the reach of his arm.
"You sure you don't want a weapon of your own?" Jarvan said.
Shyvana frowned but shook her head. "I'm clumsy with weapons." She flexed her fists, looking at the lance against the wall. It had been a brutally effective weapon, more useful for the amount of force she could generate with it rather than the utility that Jarvan used it for. "I work best with my hands." She snapped her fingers, a mote of flame dancing above her fingertips. The black leather shone in the firelight. "Metal would be best, but this should work well enough."
"I'm sure." Jarvan mused, glad the balaclava hid his blushing at her unintentional joke. Jarvan straightened the clasp on his tunic, pulling the deep black cloth around him. Shyvana tried to do the same, but it fell away, the cloth snaking down over her shoulders as it pooled on the ground around her. She sighed, frowning. She pulled the clasps together again and was fidgeting with it when Jarvan grasped the edge of the fabric. He pulled the clasps together and clipped them, the dull golden clasp bearing the Demacian emblem. Shyvana smiled at him, watching as his hands worked. Satisfied that it would stay, he gave it a tug, the motion surprising Shyvana, nearly sending her toppling over.
"What was that for?" Shyvana griped, sticking out her tongue. Jarvan grinned, unable to keep a straight face around the infectiously happy young dragoness.
"Just checking." Jarvan mused, turning to the window, giving her a quick wink and a grin as he did. "Time to go."
Jarvan slipped out the window, standing on the ledge of the balcony. He gave Shyvana a hand up, her leather booted feet barely making a sound on the wooden ledge. He turned, leaping up into the air, catching onto the balcony above theirs, pulling himself up with a grunt. He crept to the edge of the doorway leading into the room above and looked inside. It was clear, so he waved Shyvana up. She clambered up, nary a sound. Jarvan had a dumb look on his face, and Shyvana grinned, patting him on the leg. Jarvan shook his head as he leapt the gap towards the balcony next to them. He checked that doorway, and while the room was occupied, the occupants were both asleep. He placed a finger over his lips and waved Shyvana forward as he clambered up onto the roof from the railing. Shyvana sidled up beside him, sitting on her haunches as Jarvan crawled up the roof to the crest. He poked his head out and looked about.
Jarvan was a bit surprised by the complete lack of guards as far as he could see, but he wasn't complaining. He put the Noxian High Command on his direct left and looked out into the city, towards the river, recalling the map in his mind. He couldn't see the building that Talon had described on the map, but he suspected it would be easy enough to find. He nodded to Shyvana and they began moving along the roof tops, using overhangs and archways over the street to wind and leap their way towards the river front, only the occasional barking dog and the clatter of boots below to slow their advance. They were looking for a courtyard with a fountain, a tall tower rising over it, Jarvan saw three towers that more or less fit the description, and decided to work left from right.
They were making good time, and across from a run in with some roosting birds, they had done very well to keep their presence hidden. Jarvan was getting a running start across a gap near the base of the first tower when a Noxian soldier stepped into view on the roof across the way. He took his last step and jumped, throwing himself across the gap, his attempt to stop was going to leave him just short of the ledge. He hit the edge of the roof with his stomach, struggling with the shingles, disturbing a flock of pigeons who had been roosting just underneath the overhang. Jarvan dropped, his fingers screaming when he clasped onto the edge of the rooftop, hanging just barely. He tried not to wheeze, closing his eyes and hoping to god that the guard above wasn't paying attention. He looked over his shoulder just in time to see Shyvana's cloak disappear behind the far roof. She stuck her head up, meeting Jarvan's gaze, her eyes wide as saucers. She shook her head quickly, putting a finger over her mouth and then pointing up. Jarvan nodded, exhaling silently as possible, doing his damnedest to keep absolutely silent.
"Trouble?" A female voice said from above.
"I really need to get reassigned to something besides guard duty." Jarvan heard a guard say, a heavy sigh followed by a curse. He heard the strike of a match and then the acrid scent of tobacco drifted down. Jarvan nuzzled his mouth into his arm, the stench burning his eyes.
"I hate when you smoke those revolting things." The female voice said. Jarvan heard the shift of someone's stance, and could only imagine the man shrugging.
"I forgot you didn't like them." The man said. "It's just been a long day, and I'm realizing how screwed up this post is. Captain's had me running all over the city searching for some escaped prisoners or something and it's running me ragged."
"So, you're telling me you don't enjoy our late night meetings like this?" The female voice said with sarcasm in her voice, the tone not enough to be malicious, but just more than playful, a chuckle coming from the male voice.
"Oh I enjoy it plenty, but if the captain or my wife found out about this, it'd be hell to pay." The male voice said. "I'd never get out of here." Jarvan rolled his eyes, his fingers burning.
Don't do it here, don't do it here... Jarvan thought over and over to himself. The unmistakable sound of armor being lowered to the roof and the dropping of fabric caused Jarvan to let his head droop as he sighed quietly. He looked about for a ledge he could jump too, and was happy to see one below that he might be able to land on if he was lucky. He didn't think he would last too much longer hanging here anyways. Jarvan heard the unmistakable sound a man and a woman make together, and it took a lot to keep himself from sighing heavily. Little gasps and moans drifted over the edge of the roof and Jarvan had enough. He swung, kicking his legs back and forth together to get his body swinging, dropping onto the ledge below. He grabbed onto a shutter, accidentally ripping it from the wall, the wooden covering falling to the cobbles three stories below and breaking apart.
"What was that?" the female voice gasped, out of breath.
"Who cares?" The male voice said with a grunt.
"What if it was something important?" The female voice said, her voice faint and panting. "You're on guard duty, aren't you?"
"I can check it out when we're finished." The man said. Jarvan moved slowly along the balcony, accidentally kicking a sleeping cat. The animal hissed and growled at him, turning into a ball of fur and claws. "See, just a stupid cat." There was an audible pause, the woman's moans growing louder as the man busied himself with distracting his companion. Jarvan slid along the wall, rounding a corner and then continuing along the ledge, where he came across a ladder attached to the side of the building. Sweeping his cloak behind him, he jumped onto the ladder, pulling himself up to the edge of the roof. He stuck his head up, and satisfied that the couple was still busy with their own pleasure, Jarvan slid onto the roof. He looked to where he had left Shyvana, and frowned when he didn't see her. He began to turn, when Shyvana leap from a distant building, landing next to him with only the whisper of her cloak. Jarvan sat back, covering his mouth to mask a yelp.
"I told you to cut that out!" Jarvan hissed, frowning at her. Shyvana pushed a finger to his mouth, jerking her head to the side. Jarvan exhaled slowly, letting his heart drop out of his throat, following her around the edge of the rooftop and then across an archway into the courtyard they were trying to get to. Jarvan peered over the edge, looking down into the courtyard.
Water burbled in a small fountain, a tree covering most of the courtyard in darkness, despite the bright moon high above. Jarvan dropped into the courtyard, rolling as he hit the ground, coming up in a crouch behind the tree. Shyvana followed, dropping to the ground much more gracefully than Jarvan had managed. He ran his fingers along the bark, finding a small square hole in the tree, pointing towards the first tower. Jarvan peered around the tree, sighing heavily, pealing his hood back, running a hand through his sweat soaked hair. He rolled the balaclava off his face, gasping for breath, as he leaned against the tree.
"That was too damn close." Jarvan muttered, his tone low. It would carry less on the slight breeze that rustled the leaves above him if a guard were to approach without their notice. He grunted as he sat down, his back against the tree. He breathed slowly, his breath hot and ragged from holding it so long. He pulled out a small water bottle, the soft sided pouch swishing about as he uncorked it.
"What exactly were those two doing?" Shyvana asked quietly, her eyes set intently on Jarvan as he raised his water bottle to his lips. Jarvan choked on the swig of water he was taking, spewing it out and coughing as he pounded his chest.
"What?" Jarvan hissed, looking over his shoulder, wiping his face with the hem of his cloak. Jarvan was relieved his outburst hadn't brought any attention their way, sighing, leaning back against the tree, letting his shoulders droop. "Oh man..." He scrubbed his hand over his face, peaking at Shyvana through his fingers.
"What is 'O-man'?" Shyvana said, sitting down on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest. She perched her chin atop her knees, watching as Jarvan brushed water from his clothes. "Is that what they call mating in Demacia?" She furrowed her brow. "But he spoke of her 'husband' as if it were another man. A 'husband' is another word for a human life-mate, isn't it?"
"No, no, it's called..." Jarvan ran a hand through his hair again, frowning. "It's not exactly easy to explain what they were doing." He paused, looking at the bottle of water, fidgeting with the chain that kept the cork handy. He tilted it up, pouring some into his mouth again.
"Would it be easier to show me?" Shyvana asked innocently. Jarvan choked and spewed water again, coughing as he gasped for air. He took deep breaths as he tried to figure out how exactly to explain act of love-making to a half-dragon female. An extremely attractive half-dragon female who Jarvan was quite taken with. The thought of taking her entered his mind and Jarvan blushed, shaking his head to banish the rather devious but obviously enticing thought.
"Yes and no." Jarvan said, running his hand down his face, finally corking the bottle. He wasn't sure if he was ready for that stage of the relationship, but he was pretty damn sure that Noxus wasn't the place to start. He sighed again, heavily this time, scrubbing his face with his hands. While he had admittedly good self-control, he didn't want to get caught with a name said aloud in a moment of passion. It was already bad enough with wanted posters for the both of them up around the city. "I'll explain it later." Jarvan said, shaking his head. "But yes they were... 'mating'." Using that word felt odd to him, but she obviously knew what that meant. She blushed, her pale cheeks pink, a surprised look on her face as she nodded slightly. "Let's just get what we came for and get out of here." Shyvana nodded, standing, stretching out her hand.
Jarvan shook his head and took her hand and pulled himself to his feet, letting himself slide into her arms. She looked up at him with her big magenta eyes, frowning at him.
"If I did anything wrong..." She began to say, but Jarvan grinned, brushing his nose against hers and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll explain it all later, don't wor-... shh." He held her close, a finger pressed to his lips.
"Damn that was good." A guard said from the head of the courtyard, strolling into view, one hand raised behind his head, the other holding a halberd with a hook on the barrel, a lantern swinging about freely. It cast harsh shadows through the courtyard.
"That was fast." Another guard said, chuckling. "Done with your mistress already?"
"Yep." The first yawned. "She was hot to trot tonight, didn't take long to get her to come." He fist bumped the other guard, leaning on his halberd.
"You got me covered for the rest of the night, right?" The man said grinning. The guard from before nodded, still leaning on his halberd.
"As per our deal." He said, nodding. "Keep an ear open for the Cap'n though. Don't wanna get caught sleeping on guard duty."
"Yeah, yeah." The man said, waving his comrade off. He yawned, walking off towards where Shyvana and Jarvan stood silently. "Damnit, I need to stop taking these extra late-shifts. I wouldn't have to cover for that lecherous scumbag." He took his helmet off, scratching his head. Jarvan felt his breath begin to burn in his chest, not willing to make a sound. The guard leaned against the tree, slumping down. Snores began to echo from around the edge of the tree. Jarvan pressed his finger to his lips, Shyvana taking a silent step back. Jarvan drew his knife, but Shyvana put a hand on his shoulder, shaking her head. Jarvan frowned, looking down at the man, heavy snoring now echoing from the man's mouth.
Jarvan's shoulders sunk and he nodded his head, pulling his hood and the mask back back up over his face. He slunk to the wall of the courtyard and getting a running start, he took a step forward and launched himself up onto the roof of the one story building next to the courtyard, barely able to get a hand hold on the roof to pull himself up. He turned, preparing to give Shyvana a hand up, when she landed nimbly on the balls of her feet on the edge of the roof, a sly grin on her face, just barely visible behind the scarf. She winked at Jarvan, heading in the direction of the tower, disappearing over the edge of the roof. Jarvan turned to follow, but paused looking over his shoulder. The man's snores still echoed from the empty courtyard, the burbling fountain even drowned out by the man.
"You coming?" Shyvana asked, sticking her head up over the edge of the roof.
"Yeah..." Jarvan shook his head, scampering up the rooftop. "I'm right behind you."
Jarvan clambered up and over the rooftop and paused, Shyvana perched upon the top of a window, looking up at the tower. Jarvan slid down the roof next to her, looking up at the tower as well. Standing a good fifty paces across and vaguely circular, the tower contained weapons and men of the Noxian Guard. There was a short squat stone building attached to it, a heavily armored metal door set deep in the stone. The symbol over the main entrance of the small building bore the words 'Armory' in big letters.
Jarvan grinned. "The directions were correct." He watched as a roving guard passed the main door.
"I have another question for you." Shyvana asked with a curious look on her face. Jarvan paused his observations of the guard post and turned towards her. He arched an eyebrow, still watching the guards over his shoulder. A platoon moved past, the click of their heels on stone echoing through the city streets.
"Was that guard going to meet his mate again?" Shyvana frowned, scratching her cheek. "Where was she coming to meet him at?"
Jarvan blinked a few times, turning his full attention to her. "Wha... what?"
"And what was that man's fascination with her chest?" Shyvana tugged on her tunic. "I mean, I understand they're used for raising young, but he was hardly a child, and wasn't getting anything from them." Shyvana pressed her chest together, examining her cleavage curiously. Jarvan felt his face burn as he teetered on his haunches, a dumb expression on his face behind his mask.
"I... I..." Jarvan stammered, snapping his jaw shut as he tumbled over. He hit the roof, sliding a few feet before coming to a stop, his face burning up. Shyvana watched him with a curious expression, still pressing her chest together in a provocative manner as she leaned over Jarvan, her face hanging just over his as he looked up at the sky.
"Jarvan? Are you okay?" Shyvana asked, helping him into a sitting position. She clung to his arm, her chest pressed against his shoulder.
"I'm..." Jarvan glanced over at the dragoness, her bright magenta eyes shining a deep purple in the moon light, staring up at him. Jarvan scrubbed the top of his head viciously, gritting his teeth, his entire body clenched as he growled. He look up at the sky, frowning. "This is your fault, isn't it, great-grandfather?" Jarvan exhaled heavily, shaking his head dismissively.
"Great grandfather?" Shyvana repeat, frowning. "You think he was her great-grandfather? Did you hid you head, Jarvan?"
Jarvan turned and looked at her, blinking slowly. "What?" He exclaimed, catching himself, not realizing just how loud he had been. "What?" He hissed, shaking his head, letting his shoulders sag. "No, no, that's not what I mean at all. I'll explain it all to you later, okay?" Jarvan said, shaking his head. "Any questions you have. Just... not here."
"Promise?" Shyvana said, looking up at him with big pleading eyes. Jarvan blinked a few times, incredulously, and then rolled his eyes, letting his head hang back. He stared up at the sky, exasperated.
This is SO not happening on the roof of some Noxian house. Jarvan looked over at the dragoness, and shook his head. You really have no idea what you're asking.
"I promise." Jarvan could see the smile in her eyes. He shook his head again, groaning. "Now follow me." He pulled himself up onto his haunches and then crept along the roof, following the road along the open square. He paused, waiting for the guards patrolling the street to move past the archway he was poised over, kneeling at one end. The archway separated two districts within the city, and Jarvan could see the difference even in the street. Even, flat paving stone lined one side and roughhewn cobbles paved the other. He shook his head; the separation of classes was so evident that it hurt. Guards stood below, keeping unwanted visitors out of the upper class neighborhood, politely but firmly turning away beggars and rabble that tried to escape the filth that lined the streets.
Jarvan waved Shyvana forward as he began to cross, the archway just wide enough to hide him if someone looked straight up. He made it to the far side and hunkered down, waiting and watching for a stray guard to notice them, preparing for the worst, his hand upon his blade. Shyvana crossed without incident though, and crouched next to him as he scanned the buildings. He moved slowly along the rough rooftop, the sound of boots echoing up from the streets below, the din of voices just audible above the rhythmic clank of armored boots. The roof of the armory was a floor down and the gap between the building they sat on and their target was just going to be long enough that they would have trouble making it silently. Jarvan frowned as he paused, thinking. There was a window that led into the armory, dim orange light glowing from within and its glass panes swung open in the night air.
"ALWIN!" The shout surprised Jarvan, the voice booming up from the streets below. Jarvan crept to the corner of the building and grinned, watching a man with a beret atop his head stand fuming at a guard. His fists were posted on his hips and he growled at the man who stood at attention before him. "Asleep on duty, again!" He bellowed. "I've told you time and time again to stay awake or I was going to have you court martialed!"
"Now's our chance." Jarvan whispered, waving Shyvana forward. He took three large steps back from the edge of the rooftop and with two massive strides, he threw himself across the gap. He landed a bit harder than he wanted, but he rolled up and out of the leap, landing in a crouch, his feet skidding on the metal roof as he came to a stop. He froze, listening for an alarm, but no calls, no cries of anger came forth to bring guards down upon him. He turned back and waved Shyvana forward, and watched in amazement as she simply dipped her legs and leapt, sending herself flying through the air towards him. She landed just before him with nary a sound, rolling from her toes down to her knees, the rustle of her cloak the only sound. Jarvan shook his head, a jealous grin on his face as she looked up at him, her magenta eyes glowing playfully in the moonlight.
Jarvan turned and slipped through the window, dropping onto one of the beams that ran across the high-ceilinged room. He ducked around one of the support beam that ran up to the underside of the roof as he felt the beam bow slightly as Shyvana dropped down behind him. Jarvan watched as two guards patrolled the room below, a heavy steel cage sitting on the far side of the room from where Jarvan sat atop the beam. The men paused before it, one of them listening to the captain outside screaming at the man who had fallen asleep before. The guard below shook his head, and turned, strolling back along the route he had come from, slowly making his way around the room. Jarvan spun, holding onto the support beam, pointing at Shyvana and then towards another beam. He balanced on the beam carefully, then formed a fist and brought it down in his open hand, pointing at the guard who stood next to the gate. Jarvan pointed to himself and then the roaming guard.
Shyvana met his gaze and nodded, leaping silently across the gap, swirling around the top of the beam. Jarvan wound between the support beams as he moved along the rafters. He paused above the iron door, looking over his shoulder as the roaming guard approached again. Shyvana watched him as he waited for the guard to come to a stop and lean his weapon against the iron cage, digging in his pocket for a cigarette.
Jarvan raised three fingers, then lowered one, and then lowered the third.
He dropped off the rafter.