Chapter 7: Wheels Turn
At first the crowd cheered at his entrance. Children hopped over their parent's shoulders to get a better view at the spectacle in the middle of the city. Even some of the patrolling soldiers gathered alongside the crowd.
He, however, did not share the jovial emotions of the citizens. Exhausted? Frustrated? Fear? None of those words seemed to describe the anxiety Garen Crownguard was feeling right now. Every consecutive step he took felt heavier than the last as he walked down the marble tiled grounds of the great Demacian city.
Soon the parading around him stopped, as the citizens of Demacia beheld the soldiers that marched sluggishly behind him. Four of them lugged a stretcher made from simple branches and a cloth. On it was cloth that bulged out slightly, a dead body.
"What's going on? Garen?" The Demacian commander turned his attention towards the high pitched voice he heard. He saw his golden haired sister, Luxanna Crownguard, run towards him.
Garen's hard stare turned to the stretcher that the soldiers carried. His gaze then went back to the castle at the end of the street. "...come with me Luxanna, there is something we have to talk about with the king." Garen looked over Luxanna to see the young Summoner, Jessica Cross. "Summoner Jessica, I think you should come too. This might be important to you as well."
The sandy haired Summoner raised a quizzical eyebrow.
Inside the castle Jarvan Lightshield the Third, current king of mother Demacia, sat attentively at his marble made throne. Like most of the city, the castle interior and exterior was intricately designed with marble as the base material. A red carpet was rolled throughout the halls of the large castle, ending at the throne room.
A soldier of noble stature knelt several feet in front of the throne. The man bore a large spear in his left hand; the double pronged tip reminded most of how eagle talons can tear flesh quite easily. His hair was shaped in a long ponytail, the ligaments of hair segmented into three by three ties.
"My king, Garen Crownguard has returned. He wishes an audience with you immediately along with the presence of the council."
The king sat at his throne with a calm, yet prideful, demeanour. His dark blue eyes looked towards the ground, pondering for a moment about the request.
An audience with the entire council? Something serious has transpired...He thought to himself. Jarvan brushed a piece of the dirty blonde strand of his hair aside. "Please relay to Commander Crownguard that we shall see him momentarily, Xin Zhao." His tone was youthful, yet surprisingly commanding. The king's presence exuded what most Demacians looked up to, pride, courage and a great sense of calmness. These characteristics coupled with his sense of justice made Jarvan Lightshield a great figure in Demacia. The majesty of his red and white robes played in the lights as he rose from his seat, golden decals on his sleeves shimmered lightly in the light. "I shall gather the council at once."
"As you wish." As Xin Zhao strode out of the throne room, Jarvan was left with a worrisome thought.
Hopefully this has nothing to do with that issue...
High Summoner Rem toiled in his laboratory, scurrying back and forth from one side of the room to the other. He caressed his ruffled white beard as he referred to the texts. Turning his old grey eyes from the book towards the center of the lab, he beheld a triangular pattern carved into the white floor. "It still isn't working properly...hmmm..." He scratched his bare head. The only hair he had left were the long unkempt strands dangling from ear level. A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. Much to his own reluctance, he was forced to address the intrusion.
"Enter..." The High Summoner straightened the collar of his robes. Unlike most Summoner's violet robe, the High Summoner wore a white robe with a blue cape that cascaded around the upper torso. The sleeves were adorned with the patriotic Demacian emblem.
"High Summoner Rem, his highness wishes for you to be present immediately at the throne room." A Demacian soldier in blue and silver armor relayed. The soldier's silver helmet covered his entire face, save for the deep blue eyes, with feathered wings adorning the sides.
Rem nodded in confirmation, "Thank you. Please tell his majesty that I will be there shortly." The old mage already had several guesses as to what this meeting was pertaining to.
"Summoner Alicia was killed?" One of the Summoners of the Demacian Council shouted from the back of the throne room. Murmuring could be heard surrounding the court as The Might of Demacia knelt at the base of the throne. The Demacian commander felt several gazes, even glares, bear down on him.
Luxanna Crownguard stood alongside a vigilant Xin Zhao and Jessica Cross behind Garen. Several other captains and Summoners were crowded around the area as well. Luxanna exchanged a glance of concern with Jessica.
Garen's gaze remained on the red carpet on the floor, his head unable to lift itself to meet his king face to face. "My king, I am sorry I have failed. I-!"
"That is enough Garen. The blame is not solely yours to shoulder." King Jarvan raised a hand, stilling the wave of noise. His expression remained a complete calm despite the grave news that had been relayed. "Please, stand." At his command Garen rose and eyed the council members standing at the side of the king. High Summoner Rem subtly shuffled in amongst the wall of violet. "I would like to know in what manner was Summoner Alicia killed?" Jarvan added.
The champion of Demacia gave a respectful nod before complying, "Three days ago, we found several of the soldiers posted at Lady Alicia's residence had been knocked out and bound. We proceeded inwards and found Lady Alicia dead in her research lab." The murmuring began once again, though the animosity was not directed at the Crownguard elite this time.
"And the wound? What kind of wound did Lady Alicia bear?" A council member abruptly demanded.
Though a bit perplexed by the odd question Garen nonetheless responded, "A piercing wound, the murderer stabbed her in the left side of her chest. There were no signs of a beating or a struggle of any kind. Also, the artifact that Lady Alicia was carrying was gone."
High Summoner Rem's eyes shot wide open with shock at the news Garen bore. "Your majesty..." He gave the calm Jarvan a quick glance.
The king sat on his throne went into deep thought, "...hmmm...yes...but it could be just a coincidence..."
"My lord, May I ask what is the purpose of all these odd questions?" Garen asked while eyeing the both the High Summoner and the king curiously.
"While you were away, Garen, a meeting was requested by Noxus with the League and all the city-states. Noxus stated that there was an urgent matter that had to be brought up. At first I thought it was one of their petty complaints about the Kalamanda mines. It turns out however that Noxus too has had Summoners murdered in such a manner. Last week, three of their Summoners had been found dead on their own streets. Noxian High Summoner Terzer was amongst one of them."
It was not that murder was an uncommon issue in Noxus. Homocide had always been a common occurrence in Noxus. The surprising fact was that Summoners had been murdered, an offense that easily warranted the League's execution penalty to the perpetrator. "So Noxus is putting the blame on other city-states for the assassination?"
"They did questions us and some other city-states about the matter. However, their baseless accusations only earned them a suspicious eye from the League. However...I don't think that they plotted the deaths of their own Summoners either. Lady Alicia's manner death was tragic...but it has confirmed that there are a group of people out for their blood."
King Jarvan directed a stern command to the military might of Demacia, "Commanders and captains of the Demacian guard, I ask that you double the security patrols at the arcane spire." The soldiers mechanically saluted the king and bowed.
"I don't understand your reasoning, Morde. Why are you so adamant about not going into details about the killings to High Command?" Katarina's arms were over her exposed chest. She leaned on one of the large paintings that hung off the wall in the classy mansion. The Du Couteau residence was large and as classical as Noxian mansions got. Red and black striped wallpaper adorned the insides along with high hung chandeliers near the stairs. Katarina was currently in the living room where a large special square with expensive furniture and a grim fireplace decorated it.
The ominous Master of Metal stood at the opposite wall of the living room. He adjusted the weight of the gigantic mace over his shoulder. The flaring crimson eyes underneath the ornate helmet narrowed slightly, "In time you shall see, Noxian. For now, you must heed my words."
Katarina scoffed at the unearthly words of the dark one. "You, who cares about nothing except for disease and death, are actually worried about something? I think I might actually be getting goose bumps." She brushed a piece of crimson hair that dangled in front of her scarred eye aside. "Well since you're not gonna tell me the reason why I had to do what I did, perhaps you should explain why you're in the Du Couteau residence…or better yet, what exactly are you waiting for?"
Mordekaiser paused for a moment, weighing the decision of whether or not to tell this impertinent creature his reasoning. The long pause was stopped as Morde's growling voice responded to her question, "…I am here for your father."
This response caught the Noxian assassin's attention as she unfolded from her cocky stance. "My father? You mean to say you know where my father is?"
"No. However I do know what he has done..."
Katarina took a threatening step forward and scowled at the metallic titan straight in the eyes, "Tell me…" she growled lowly.
A foreboding click echoed throughout the mansion, prompting the two to look towards the giant double doors at the front. Oak made gates swung open slowly and revealed a black hooded figure entering the mansion. Rough hands pulled the black hood down.
"Father?" Katarina cocked a shocked eyebrow.
"Ah, Katarina, and Mordekaiser. This makes things easier." The aged Marcus du Couteau walked towards the living room in long strides. "I trust you know what is going on?"
Mordekaiser narrowed his crimson eyes, "It has begun once again, and he has started acting once more. Where does he reside now?"
"I told him of a Summoner who was doing research at a bordering city. He has probably already made his way to Demacia." The armored entity brushed the Noxian general aside and walked past him. Du Couteau looked at the black caped back of the metal master, "And what are you going to do?"
"There is a specific…someone I would like to see in Zaun." The Master of Metal swiveled about and turned towards Marcus, his cape swung around maliciously alongside his own shadow. "Perhaps you would like to accompany me…General." The low bellowing voice seemed to tremble through the air.
"Wait, what the hell is going on here? Someone better damn well explain something." Katarina gave a displeased huff, turning her father about by the shoulder. Marcus exchanged a rather amused glance to the tall suit of armor behind him.
Morde returned with a tedious glare accompanied by a grumble. "If I must…"
He is here, there can be no doubt! The prophet was right! High Summoner Rem rushed into one of the doors off to the side of corridors in the arcane spire. The arcane spire was the heart of Demacian research on magics. All information pertinent to magic, ranging from just lighting a fire to summoning magic, was kept in this tower.
The room he entered was cluttered with scrolls and books on the floor. Even the desk in front of the balcony seemed to be buried under a grave of texts. It did not help matters that the room was not illuminated well enough, giving off an abandoned feel to it.
He closed the door behind him in an erratic manner, and then proceeded to rummage through the shelves and piles of books. Where did I put it? Blast my disorientation! He screamed in his own mind. The Demacian High Summoner paced nervously around the dark room, kicking books and scrolls as he went along.
Rem stopped, noticed the door open and rushed to close it shut. A realization shocked him as he closed the door. He stopped moving, fingers still wrapped around the door knob, and felt some of the blood drain from his face. His body trembled subtly. A nervous grin played itself across his usually composed face, "Impressive…how did you do it?" The High Summoner attempted to speak in a calm voice, though some of the trembling seemed to have crept into his voice as well.
Though there was no response, Rem felt something move.
The shadows of the confined room whispered a faint footstep.