Blind Eyes
Her response makes the scouts grow tense. "You're lying! No Noxian force large enough to take the volunteers could have gone unnoticed," a scout yells from within their ranks.
You scouts are one of the reasons so many were lost. A growl cuts through her throat as she retorts, "Your incompetence is the reason why a Noxian force that large could cut through unseen. I've seen with my very eyes what all of you failed to prevent. All cut down because they eyes of Demacia failed to watch. You decided to take part of the festivities over performing your duty to your country," Quinn had stepped closer to the scouts and noticed that one of the higher ranking men had fully notched an arrow.
"You say you are the lone survivor," the man says keeping the arrow pinned between her eyes. A rage consumes Quinn causing her to lose sight of her actions. "You do realize the penalty for craven soldiers?" He clears his throat as he recites a line from memory, "Soldiers that flee their comrades in arms are a disgrace to Demacia. Demacians fight till the bitter end to ensure that others will fight another day. Any soldier proven guilty of fleeing their post shall be met with the swift justice of the axe. Now tell me, and my fellow soldiers why your justice shouldn't happen with an arrow?"
"You think I'm craven?" the word tastes like venom in her mouth. "I fought till I was ordered to retreat. I was willing to give my life for my country, but my superiors felt the lives of what volunteers remained should be saved. We would have been able to make it out if we weren't attacked by two Noxian Corps. Do you even realize the threat that has just crossed the mountains? Do you realize how many lives were lost because we had absolutely no idea what savagery we were up against? They've even sent mages that control the very weather! Demacia itself could see complete destruction due to your scouts failing to serve."
"If you wish to flap your tongue you best make sure you stop insulting me and my men. I can't determine if what you tell is the truth or not, but it isn't my duty to give you a trial," he lowers his bow as he turns to a few scouts. "Take a few horses and see if this girl speaks the truth. If you see anything out of the ordinary return immediately." A few scouts salute him and run off into the woods. "Now, Quinn was it? Well Quinn you have two options that are in front of you. You can die here by my blade being forever known as a traitor, or you can follow me back to Jarvan's camp and be given a trial for your crimes. What path shall you take?" he saws unsheathing his officers rapier.
"Enough life has been lost. Does another one need to be cut down as well?"
"This is up to you."
She looks down at her blood soaked garments. Enough blood has been spilled this day, and my promise has not been fulfilled. I just pray that the soldiers won't be looking for a scapegoat once the news reaches their ears. "We aren't savages. We shall do this as it is written, and give a trial." Her words cause the man to sheath his sword.
"We best not waste any time then. The camp just sits about an hour from here." Valor looks at Quinn pride and concern equally filling his eyes. Quinn follows the scouts standing in the middle. She can feel their eyes already deciding she was guilty. Do I serve Demacia or the Volunteers? What will I do if Demacia gets in my way of vengeance? She is startled when the officer pulls her out of her thoughts, "What's your rank Quinn? I couldn't find anything on your person to tell of any ranking."
"The volunteers called for anyone that was willing to fight to hold off the Noxian corps that descended on our camp. I would have gained a rank in a few weeks, but many of us that fought sat green, unblooded. Our officers seemed to be prideful of our efforts. Our camp consisted a few thousand, about half of us stepped forward to halt the Noxian advance. We were able to hold the line until the Noxians summoned lighting to do their bidding. Less than a hundred of us stood to fall back to where the rest of our men retreated to. We arrived to find another noxian corp had swooped in from behind and slaughtered all of our men. Noxian assassins played with the remainder of us until only I stood."
The officer walks taking what Quinn said in slowly. "So you're truly what remains of the shield? The shield has never fallen. Hell your volunteers have never even seen total defeat before. Did they truly send two corps for the volunteers?"
"They aimed for the prince. The volunteers stepped in their way, and like an obedient shield we were forced to take the blunt force of the blow. My commanders knew they could hold against soldiers, but they didn't expect the mages. One single strike tore our line in half. Several other strikes caused the line to shatter. I counted seven mages, I've never even heard in legends of more than three on a single battle field."
She sees the officer begin to bite at his lip. "It seems like the gods have planned a new wind of change. It is unfortunate that the volunteers got caught in the first gust. I trust in your story Quinn, but I fear that others may look for your blood. They'll likely want someone to blame for the loss, and you'll be an easy target. I can't change your judgement, but I will speak for you."
She bows her head slightly, "I thank you for listening to my story. I shall try my best to keep my head." The sounds of the camp hit her first. A sense of urgency fills the air as she approaches the camp. The scouts that walk with her seem uneasy from both her presence, and the tale she brought with her.
"How many Noxians did you slay? You are covered in blood, but none of it is your own,".
"Ten fell onto my blade, twenty-three more fell victim to a crossbow I found,". She found herself looking down at herself yet again. She shook with the sight, even knowing it was the blood of her enemy the amount of life that was lost was quite a bit for her to handle. The cut we gave Noxus was merely a scratch from a small child, the one they gave us will wound us for years to come.
The officer sparks interest at hearing thirty-three men fell to the girl that looked barely past her eighteenth name day. "You show great promise if you hold that skill girl. You may keep your head just for your prowess for the sword if you truly speak the truth,". Quinn nodded, but she understood the severity of her charge. She recalled the story of a fabled knight that they told small children to engrave Demacian values at a young age.
The knight was strong with the sword, and could outsmart even the brightest of tacticians. The man could lead armies into swarms of enemies, and come out on top. Many stated the gods themselves aided his ability to fight, but it turned when the man showed weakness in battle. It was one of the first instances magicians had been used to fight. Prior they had been used for defensive capabilities, and the healing arts.
Pyromancy was the first combative fire technique to be used. Fire breath from red hooded individuals of Noxus slowly crisped the knight's faithful soldiers. The knight sat in horror unable to lead as his men asked him for guidance. When the magicians approached the knight he fled instead of holding his ground like every demacian before him. The men seeing their commander flee soon shattered, and the Noxians claimed many lives that day.
The knight ran as a fugitive slaying those that impeded his escape. When authorities finally caught the man he was a mirror image of what he once was. The man attempted to slay the demacians, but an axe cut his life short. The Demacian guards allowed the body to rot, and his armor to rust. They saw no need to give a man who had fallen into the worst ideals a burial.
If they truly think I'm craven I'll be dead before the night falls upon us again. She finds herself among the camp as she pulls herself away from her thoughts. Many soldiers in the camp look at the party as they walk through. "What 'er you 'ave der? 'Ore prisoners for us to laugh at?" a soldier asks, as another butts in, "Why is she covered in blood?" The officer turns towards the men.
"You'll learn soon enough. Go back to about your business, this is businesses for the prince to handle." A few of the soldiers seem to show interest at the sound of royal business. She lowers her head in shame as they look on her. The act raises suspicion within the men. They'll have quite a bit to talk about for a few hours now.
"Why is this royal business," she asks after they have passed most of the soldiers.
"We are too far away from the capital to give you a judgement in front of the courts advisors. The prince and his advisors will have to do,".
They walk, and she can feel the word of her presence passing around. She can hear whispers wondering how many men in blue she had slain. Her teeth grind as she hears their accusations. She wishes to defend her honor, what little she finds herself with, but knows that it'll just hamper her situation. The party soon makes it close to the center of the camp. The other scouts salute the officer and head off before the two enter the center of the camp.
She soon takes in the weight of what is about to occur. Her appearance makes her seem guilty before even words of defense are spoken. A surprise attack against a force they had seen just a day ago makes her claims unlikely. Her being a lone survivor itself makes her seem guilty even if they believe her. I must do all I can to prove my innocence, not only for myself, but for all the lives lost.
They soon approach a tent, and she feels her feet become lead. "Don't turn craven now girl. Carry yourself with pride. How you present yourself will likely decide where your fate will take you," he says dragging her along. His words make sense to her, but fear holds her by the throat. She allows the man to drag her towards the tent. The guards outside look at the pair, and show no sign of what their thoughts could be. "Is the prince, and his advisors free?" One enters the tent and appears within seconds. He nods his head, but they point at Valor. Quinn understands and she turns to Valor. He playfully nips at her ear before he slides down by the guards. Quinn feels herself pushed inside.
Laughter fills the tent as the two enter. It is cut short when they notice the pair who enter. Their eyes fall on Quinn before they rest on the officer. "Leron why do you bring this recruit before us?" The prince asks the officer.
Leron clears his throat, "She tells a story of the volunteers being slaughtered by a Noxian force. She claims to be the sole survivor, and have slain thirty-three noxians. Me and my men haven't spotted any signs of any Noxians in this area for years. We just saw her volunteers a day past. I have brought her here before you to judge her on killing of her sworn brothers, and fleeing her duties as a sworn sword of Demacia."
Many of the advisors seemed taken aback by the claim. A man with a bowl of fat where his neck should sit blurted out, "The volunteers are our greatest fighters. Can this turncoat truly believe we'd fall for such a fancy tale? She probably thinks Leron and his men a bunch of imbeciles that can be easily manipulated." The prince stares at the fat man a fire in his eyes. The man shrinks in the chair he sits at the prince's glare.
"Thank you for the news," Jarvan tells the man before motioning for the man to exit the tent. Leron bows for the prince before he exits the tent. Quinn stares at the grass below her feet as the officer exits. "I recognize you girl, and Ser Garen seems to as well. You were the one who fought dishonorably in our tournament. I hold great trust in that scout and his men, and very little in you. What makes you innocent of his accusations."
Quinn stares at the floor unable to reply. A man she cares not to look at shouts at her, "First you don't kneel and now you fail to either reply or even look at the prince when he talks to you? My Prince you should slay her now for simply her disrespect." Quinn looks up slowly. She finds herself visibly shaking, and attempts to calm herself. She comforts herself with the sound of her brother's laugh, and her memories of their play with the sword.
"I-I'm Quinn last of th-the volunt…" she clears her throat. Carry yourself with pride. "Last of the volunteers, and I bring grave news. My brethren have been slain by a Noxian group that came for your head my prince-"
"Blasphemy! You heard Leron Noxians haven't dared set foot on our land in years why would they start now!" the heavyset man yelled at her. The prince glared at the man yet again before standing.
"Coinmaster this matter doesn't concern you and I ask you sit out on this discussion," the prince says with a coolness in his voice. The coinmaster sits a similar fear holding him in place. He quickly notices his error and raises himself from his chair, before he hobbled out of the tent. "I'm sorry for his interruption. None of my other advisors will interrupt your statement." Quinn stares at the ground yet again, and finds herself unable to continue. "If you don't give your statement I fear I'll have to find you guilty."
Quinn takes a breath before looking at the prince yet again. "We attempted to stop the Noxians from advancing towards your camp. We were able to stop their advance, but we suffered the ultimate sacrifice. Our three thousand men held back a force at least ten times our size. We would have been able to hold if it wasn't for Noxian mages. Seven of them conjured lighting storms that ripped our line in half. My commanders attempted retreat, but all but a few of us were cut down." She finds herself holding back tears as she begins to grasp the severity of what happened at the battle. She finds herself unable to hold them back, and a few start to roll down her face. "My friends, and family all died on that battleground. The same will happen here if we don't flee."
Garen turns towards Jarvan, "I know what you are thinking Jarvan. I talked to this girl and she doesn't hold the values of a turncoat. She is actually exactly what you wanted in a soldier. I'm sure what she tells us here is the truth." The prince begins to nod.
"While it is odd Leron, and his scouts didn't find anything I must say that no proof here shows you to be a turncoat. The scouts should return here soon with word of the butcher, and you'll be free of all charges." With his words acting like a summon two Demacian scouts enter and kneel before the prince. One pulls a letter out of his pocket.
The prince takes a look at the seal and his smooth skin begins to furrow. He shows her the seal. She sees it as one for the volunteers. The prince opens the letter and begins to speak aloud. "A female warrior has turned against our men. She has slain thirty of our brethren, and is deemed an immediate threat. Should you come across any woman her calls herself Quinn, or find a woman with a demacian eagle you should take immediate action. She is a threat to our nation, and all that it stands for." The prince shakes his head, and his eyes lock on the scouts. "What is the order of the volunteers?"
"They are recovering from the men she killed, but they are all alive. They ask for her head to show the recruits what happens to those who have no honor."
"These men spout lies from their very lips! I saw what happened with my very eyes. I held the corpse of my friend as the light escaped his eyes." Rage fuels her as she turns toward the two men. "You dare call me the one with no honor, when you two have turned your backs on the nation I still serve! You dare say that men cut in half still breathe!" She finds her head on the floor within seconds as she began to approach the men.
The prince's voice is unable to keep back his anger, "You dare lie to my face? You dare slay your fellow men? You dare cheat in a duel? You dare run from the justice that seeks you? You dare claim my most trusted scouts as turncoats? You've done enough crimes to kill one hundred men. You are deemed guilty of lying to royalty, murder on thirty accounts, and evasion of justice. Take her to the cells,". She is pulled off of the ground and immediately outside. She hears the voice of Garen as she exits, and the prince raises his voice even more.
She looks for Valor to see him caged by one of the guards. "You dare cage a bird of that magnitude? Does no one in this camp have any honor?" She falls onto the ground as an iron gauntlet slaps into her jaw. "You are all fools! Noxus will soon march and kill us all! More blood will spill because of these damn scouts!" Another gauntlet hits her this time smashing into her skull causing her to black out.
Authors Note: Bit of an early upload for you guys. Been in the writing spirit, and have sat down and found myself more time. I'll be in finals week next week, and uploads may be a little short or exempt. It'll depends on how much I'll study _. I'll try my best to get out something next week, but be prepared for a week without a new chapter.