"The general will be back momentarily." The young, blonde secretary said, bowing in Jarvan's direction. "If you'd like to wait, he won't be long." Jarvan eyed the secretary up as she bowed, surprised at the sheer amount of cleavage she was showing off as she stood up. Jarvan looked away nervously, rolling his eyes. I had heard Lorcan was once a ladies man, but if he's content to simply ogle his secretary... Jarvan shook his head and then met her stare, refusing to be distracted by her rather curvacious nature. What kind of officer is he?

"Thanks." Jarvan nodded to her, noting how she blushed as she looked up at him. Jarvan turned away and stepped deeper into the office of General Lorcan, glancing around at the various different paintings that hung upon the wall of the long, narrow room, noting that what pictured didn't contain nude, though elegant, depictions of women. Despite his choices in art, he is Councilor Crownguard's subordinate and my commanding officer. Jarvan sighed and shook his head slightly, turning his attention to how many of the various landscapes depicted within the frames came from all over Valoran. He recognized scenes of Demacian coastlines and Noxian wetlands, Ionian rice paddies and even what looked like the jungles of Kumungu. Jarvan strode slowly along the wall, his eyes glancing across the pictures, though he paused in front of one painting in particular, his brow furrowing as he struggled to remember where he had seen the picture before.

A sea of brilliant blue was crested by white lines of surf, two sleek ships-of-the-line in a rolling gun battle, crashing over the storm wracked waves as they traded gunfire and concentrated bursts of magical energy. A violent rainbow of reds, oranges and blues colored the sky a garish shade of red, as blood poured down the decks of the ships, waves crashing against their sides, like two great beasts of burden crashing into each other with every stride as they trundled next to each other. The wave of realization crashed over him, nearly staggering him. Katarina had this exactly picture on the wall of her mansion... Jarvan shook his head, looking down towards the corner of the picture, but frowned. No signature, damn.

"Beautiful, no?" General Lorcan mused as he stepped up next to Jarvan, interrupting the prince's thoughts. Jarvan started momentarily but quickly turned back to the painting, as the general's gaze ran over the painting with a satisfied smile on his face. "Twas given to me by a close friend many years ago." He brushed his fingers over the edge of the frame, his smile fading wistfully. "A real shame that he didn't continue painting for long, he only produced several of this painting before he moved on to... other pursuits." He sighed and then turned to face the prince. "Regardless of my taste in art and friends, it is good to see you out of the hospital, your highness. Now, what can I do for you?"

"Thank you, sir." Jarvan said, accepting the general extended hand and shaking it. He turned back to the painting and took in the outline of the naval ships, trying to sort out his thoughts as he processed them. "I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the artist. I really admire this painting."

The general scratched at his beard for a moment, frowning slightly. "Well, he doesn't paint anymore." The general shrugged but turned to face Jarvan fully. "He found he could better express himself through a, ah, different medium." The general waved him to follow, moving towards a different section of the room. He gestured to a sword that hung upon the wall, tucked away in its sheath. "He did a stint in the navy where he learned metal smithing as a trade, going on to work as a ship's blacksmith and armorer. He now makes special swords and weapons for those who can afford them from his little shop, just outside the city."

"I see." Jarvan mused, examining the sword. The metal working was ornate but familiar. It's similar to the daggers that were used in the assassination attempt in Noxus. Jarvan turned to the general. "May I?"

The general looked hesitant for a moment, eying Jarvan's arm, but he nodded, pulling the sword down and holding it by its sheath for Jarvan to draw. "What's the point of containing such a thing of beauty." The general chuckled. "Just be careful, it's a one of a kind sword.

"Of course." Jarvan said, sliding his hand around the hilt and letting his grasp settle. The blade was cold to the touch, even through the leather wrappings. Jarvan pulled the sword free of its sheath, the blade ringing proudly as it came. Jarvan held the blade up to the light and marveled at the rainbow of blues, greens, grays and other faint ribbons of color that decorated the thin sword. It had a faint curve to it, and Jarvan noted that it was only sharpened on the outside of the curve. "It's curious, it reminds me of Ionian craftsmanship, yet..."

"But it has the weight and guard of Demacian steel, yes?" The general chuckled as he nodded with the prince. "Constantin was experimenting with some ideas for new weapons, but it's much harder to craft these blades compared to more traditional Demacian weapons." The general gestured to the thin blade that glimmered brilliantly even in the dim light. "It was deemed too expensive and too difficult to produce, despite its amazing sharpness and light weight."

"A shame." Jarvan echoed, as he turned and swung the blade in a gentle arc. "It's a beautiful thing." And exactly like the blades that were used to try and assassinate me in Noxus. Jarvan smiled, gently returning the blade to its sheath and watching reluctantly as the general returned the blade to its cradle on the wall. "Perhaps he would make another?" Or at least he can answer for why he struck two daggers in exactly the same way.

"I do not know, to be perfectly honest." The general said with a faint smile. "You can try inquiring though. He goes by the name of Constantin Steelsword now. " The general's smile widened just a bit as he glanced back to the blade. "Fitting, no?"

Jarvan matched his smile and nodded politely. "Indeed. I shall find him and see if he can make me a sword, or even a lance of such beautiful craftsmanship."

"Good luck." The general said, cackling wildly. "He doesn't do much anymore." The general wore a smile for a few moments as he wandered aimlessly about his office, looking at paintings, letting Jarvan follow in his wake. "But I suppose asking about swords isn't the real reason you're here today, young prince." The general smiled slyly at Jarvan. "I may be old, but I'm not stupid." He chuckled softly. "Perhaps you could tell me what it really is you want from this aging man?"

Jarvan nodded and smiled, acknowledging the fact that he wasn't trying to take the general for a fool. Jarvan cleared his throat, meeting the general's gaze earnestly. "I was wondering if you had any contacts within the Demacian Security Brigade."

"The Security Brigade?" The general arched an eyebrow, turning and watching Jarvan silently for a few moments, but eventually he slowly nodded. "I have a few, yes, as well as some acquaintances, but what ever could you need them for?"

Jarvan kept the frown from forming on his face, instead, he stood up straighter and smoothed the hair on top of his head slightly to hide his nerves. "I have reason to think that their prisoner, the one they captured after the recent assassination attempt, may have actually been a compatriot of mine."

The old officer blinked a few times, surprise playing out over his face. He removed his glasses and made a show of inspecting the lenses and then he produced a small cloth and then rubbed them over the glasses before returning them to his face, pushing them up the bridge of his nose. "So, what you're telling me is that you knew one of the spies who tried to kill you? That is not a good position to be in, my prince." He gestured towards his office, and turned on his heel, slowly strolling towards the end of the hallway and the doorway yonder.

"That's just it." Jarvan said, matching the pace of the older officer, measuring his longer strides. "After speaking with my subordinates about the incident, I have reason to believe that the young woman who was taken prisoner was opposing the others, rather than assisting them."

"Interesting." The old man mused, slowing his paces slightly. Jarvan again matched the older officer's walking speed, noting the look of amusement that slid onto his face as he increased and decreased his pace randomly. Jarvan paid the man rapt attention despite the game he was being subject to, the deference he showed hopefully doing enough to show his respect. The smile that brightened on the general's face showed his approval, confirming it with a nod. "I'd be willing to try and speak with some of my contacts to give you access to the prisoner, but I hope you understand that you'll need to convince me of why I should try first."

"Of course." Jarvan said nodding, taking a deep breath. "Most of my reasoning comes from one of my subordinates, Sergeant Delancey." Jarvan turned and gestured towards the doorway at the far end of the hall where Delancey and the sergeant major were standing at parade rest along either side of the main doorway to the reception area of the general's offices. "She was among the forces who were posted as sentinels when I had Colonel Dillich increase the defensive presence of the Palace Guard a week and a half ago."

"Pardon my interruption, but I had a question regarding that." The general said with a frown. "How did you know to increase the guard?" An ironic smile slid onto his face, as he glanced at Jarvan's wounded shoulder. "Not that it seemed to do much."

Jarvan wore a thin smile and nodded once. "It was a hunch that turned out to be correct. I came to believe I was being followed, starting during the day when I was spending time with my... consort. I noticed it at the very end of the evening, not long before returning to the palace. I wasn't able to identify either of the persons tailing us, unfortunately."

"Indeed, unfortunate." The general mused with a soft chuckle, tugging on his wispy white goatee. "Very well, please continue."

"Of course." Jarvan said, following along beside the general as he wandered along the hallway, his gait sometimes picking up as he moved from picture to picture. He would look at a picture whenever Jarvan started to speak, as if he was concentrating on something he could not see. "After I had been released from my stint in the hospital, I was conversing with my staff about the incident, trying to familiarize myself with the proceedings due to my foggy memory. The description that was given to me by my sergeant was heavily reminiscent of a young woman who was accompanying me on the last leg of my journey."

"The dragon girl?" General Lorcan paused before a large painting of Targon Mountain, the sun setting along the crest with a peach colored sky beyond, the white capped mountain gleaming majestically.

"Not Shyvana, sir." Jarvan said shaking his head tersely. "The other, a young tracker named Quinn."

"I see." Lorcan nodded slightly. "I read your reports regarding that matter. Grizzly business, dragons. Though, what makes you think that it is the young woman you speak of and not just a spy who is trying to impersonate her?"

"Several things." Jarvan said confidently. "The first is the coloration of her eyes. Gold isn't exactly a common color." The general glanced at the prince, but slowly nodding. "The second is what she was saying—shouting during the fight. According to Sergeant Delancey, she was trying to protect the Demacian forces rather than cause us harm or protecting the other combatants. Several times she knocked Delancey and Lieutenant Vorscham out of the way of the marksman, and she even tried to prevent me from getting hit as well."

"That could have all been a ploy." The general suggested, though Jarvan could tell by the curious tone of his voice, that he was merely voicing concerns that would be asked eventually.

"Perhaps, but unlikely." Jarvan said with a shrug. "The reason I say so was the last thing that convinced me of why she is the same young woman."

"And that would be?" Lorcan prompted expectantly.

"She was accompanied by a Demacian Eagle." Jarvan said firmly, watching as the general gave him a disbelieving glance. Jarvan nodded affirmatively. "Rare and quite distinctive, I don't believe its something that Delancey would be able to confuse. She stated that her father was a birdwatcher; she was quite adamant about what she had seen." A smile slowly spread over the general's face as he tapped his chin with a spindly index finger.

"Yes, I heard the DSB had sought treatment for a Demacian Eagle from one of the veterinarians within the city, though I wasn't convinced that it was true." Lorcan mused. "And this bird is the young woman's companion?"

"Yes sir." Jarvan said nodding. "Together they formed a formidable ranger team that helped us track down the dragon we were hunting. She was immensely helpful and I haven't been able to pay her back. I believe that she has been wrongly imprisoned and I would like to try and alleviate this problem."

"Very well." Lorcan said, nodding his head with a smile. "I'll write you a letter of introduction to one of my friends within the DSB. I don't know if it'll help you much, but it might get you a chance to confirm your friend's identity if nothing else. You should be careful though, the DSB operates under its own rules: many of which you do not know."

Jarvan paused, frowning for a moment. "Then please, tell me what I do not know."

The old man craned his neck and let out a deep laugh, the sound echoing through the hallway and drawing the attention of officers and other soldiers as they went about the business in the side offices that branched off of the hallway. The general reached up and clapped Jarvan on his good shoulder. "Prince Jarvan, my boy, I don't think there is ever going to be enough time for the likes of that." The old man wiped a tear from his eye with handkerchief; he had obviously found the joke hilarious. Jarvan smiled politely at the rather inflammatory statement, deciding to take it as a well meaning jest rather than the thinly veiled insult it could have been. "Forgive me, I've heard the stories from your grandfather and his daughter, your mother, many times. They are fond of stories of when you were young and impetuous. You thought you knew everything from the moment you could walk."

"To the moment I had my legs cut out from under me." Jarvan said somberly, clenching his fists. "It took two years and the deaths of many close friends to realize my stupidity."

"Then you have already learned more than I could teach you." General Lorcan said, smiling, turning towards the prince and nodding sagely. "You were strong before, and now you are wise as well. A fine young officer."

"Sir." Jarvan nodded stiffly, but Lorcan paid him no heed, refusing to acknowledge the reservations Jarvan had about the general's opinion of him.

"Now all you need to do is find yourself a strong young wife and you'll be fit to be king!" The general cackled maniacally as he moved towards another picture. Jarvan lengthened his stride to catch up, but as he finally closed the gap, the general turned and looked up at him with deadly serious eyes. His glasses shimmered menacing in the lantern light, a thin smile forming on his lips. "Though I suppose you've found yourself a strong woman already." He mused, his smile growing wider and seemingly more vicious. "Part dragon, part human, vicious and utterly dedicated. She adores you and she is willing to undergo the racism, anger, and frustrations your father has deemed it necessary to put her through. I am jealous of you, lad, not many men have found partners such as yourself."

"You disprove of my choice?" Jarvan growled, standing up slightly straighter as the older gentleman underwent a transformation. By merely lowering the volume of his voice, tilting his head forward slightly and narrowing his eyes, the general had transformed from a thoughtful and energetic, aging officer to the very definition of cunning and strategy. His expression had dropped from warm and inviting to ice-cold and menacing, his smile alone enough to send a shiver down Jarvan's spine.

"Quite the contrary." Lorcan purred, his smile growing beneath his mustache, the white goatee rising with his smile. "I've done my research: I think her to be perfect. Beauty, power, grace and poise, she is both capable of and willing to remain at your side." His grin turned to Jarvan, meeting the prince's stony facade with amusement glinting in his eyes. "As quick as she learns, I'll bet it was a real surprise when she turned out to be fucking smart, too." Jarvan's mouth fell open as the general paced away with a maniacal cackle as he read the blushed look of shock on Jarvan's face, the prince nodding his head as he laughed. Lorcan turned and slowly began walking down the hallway, an entertained grin riding on his lips as he nodded to himself. "She has a certain sense of nobility to her, and though she is unrefined, the strength she possesses has yet to be truly tapped. I suspect that with training and some guidance, she can truly become a fearsome power within Demacia, both politically and martially. I fear for those who seek to do you harm, lad, lest they anger the slumbering beast with in her heart. I see great promise for when she is finally given her position. I think she will find it both rewarding and challenging." Silence filled the hallway as Jarvan walked beside the officer, clearly mulling over the elder's words. Jarvan set his jaw as he looked over at the general.

"Should I be worried that my commanding officer has expressed that my love will find her time serving the Demacian Military challenging?" Jarvan said, trying to match the man's cunning.

The general nodded and chuckled. "You should, lad. You should." Jarvan felt a shiver run down his spine. The general continued to chuckle to himself as he brushed his hands down his uniform tunic, smoothing the fabric. He paused and picked a piece of non-existent lint from his shoulder and cast it away before turning back to Jarvan with a warm smile. "But back to the matter at hand! Your friend is being detained by the DSB. Let's see if my writing skill have not degraded so much that I cannot help with that."

Jarvan took a moment to compose himself and tugged on his jacket, smoothing it over his chest as he adjusted where the sling hung. "Thank you, sir." Jarvan said, bowing in thanks. "If there is anything I could do..."

"Think nothing of it." Lorcan said, patting the prince on the shoulder. "I may need to call upon you in the future. Besides, you probably know just how valuable the loyalty of your subordinates can be. It's a small price to pay to gain your support." The general cackled as he turned and headed towards his office. "Now if you'll just give me a few minutes, I'll get you that letter."

"Of course, sir." Jarvan said, stopped just outside the door to the general's office, glancing at the massive Guardsmen who stood on either side of the doorway. Lorcan hobbled through the door and Jarvan exhaled, breathing a sigh of relief as he watched the man go. Delancey and the sergeant major approached and stood by, both of them at parade rest again, falling in close enough to protect him, but not so close as to intrude on his personal space. "Well that takes care of one problem." Jarvan muttered to no one in particular.

"Typical bureaucrats." The sergeant major mumbled under his breath, though Jarvan had a sneaking suspicion that he had purposefully said it just loud enough to be heard.

"Something to say, Sergeant Major?" Jarvan said, turning back towards him with a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. My grandfather did warn that he was opinionated... His grin grew slightly. He didn't mention how entertaining it was.

"Nothing sir, just admiring the flowers and the bullshi-..." The sergeant major coughed, covering his mouth with a fist as the clicking of boots of stone signaled the return of the general.

"Here you go, young man." General Lorcan produced a parchment envelope, a stamped wax emblem with the general's crest sealing the heavy paper document. "I don't know if it will do you any good, but I should hope it might smooth things over for you."

"Thank you, sir." Jarvan said as graciously as possible. "And if anything need arise..."

"I shall let you know when it does." The old man said with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. "Now, I have some paperwork I must attend to, and to you and your friends, good luck."

"Sir." Jarvan bowed as the officer turned and retreated back to his office, letting the door creak shut behind him. "You were saying, Sergeant Major?" Jarvan said with a grin.

"I stand by my statement sir." The noncom growled.

Jarvan shrugged as he headed for the main doorway, back through the hallway of art. "He's the first officer who hasn't had an issue with Shyvana. I'm not complaining."