Now there was an ache in Silco's legs as they continued the hike up the winding road. "I should make you a cane for your next birthday, old man," he imagined her saying. Though she's not in the giving vein today.
He glanced back. Despite his lack of vigor, the envoys were lagging behind. They were speaking in low voices among themselves. That was fine with the underground leader as he used the time to analyze what he'd learn.
The young have kept their hands busy. Ekko may lack the will to create a doomsday weapon with the hexgem, but Jinx should be a positive influence. Maybe she's rebelled because I've been a disappointment in realizing the dream of Zaun. Though she hasn't shown that type of zeal before.
"Are we going to be taking the same path the whole way back?" Heimerdinger asked loud enough to be heard.
Turning back to them, Silco nodded. "Yes, though our trip should be expedited. Certainly by the time we're back to the Lanes."
There was a soft grumble from Jayce, but no other questions or comments as they approached the light of the neon eye again.
Jayce, the man who enables great weapons but won't make them. If Ekko and Jinx credibly militarize it, then we won't only be breathing cleaner air. We'll be breathing free.
"Why did you prioritize the light before finishing the water tower?" Shoola asked.
"It is challenging to live in total darkness, even for Zaunites. Some light is needed. Also, it tells the people in the Sumps they are not forgotten. They are seen."
Though how they felt seen matters. The tent city area could become a prime recruiting place for the Firelights and other dissidents. We created the light after Jinx had learned and confided to me who the Firelight leader was. Getting it to hold more than rainwater has not been a priority.
A few people were traveling down as they passed. One of them, a tall woman, stopped and glared at him as they passed.
After the neon light was on their backs, two motor carriages pulled up. A little late, but…. Silco frowned as Chross rushed out looking distraught. Silco surreptitiously pulled his knife from his pocket in case his spymaster had turned and tried to steel himself for bad news.
"The arrests will be very soon, but there have been two new developments. First, Stillwater was attacked. My source and I had little opportunity to communicate, but it was done by Jinx and the Firelightfs."
Were it not for years of knifework, Silco would have cut himself clenching his concealed blade. "They were trying to free a captured Firelight? Get someone out for information?" Endangering themselves on something trivial when they can rush a victory for everyone down here?
Chross shook his head. "They were trying to break out Jinx's sister, Vi. Not sure if they were successful. A lot of dead or wounded inmates and even enforcers, so only our loyalest moles and dirtiest enforcers are giving information. One claimed a couple of the hoverboards went a different direction than the others, but that could just be a decoy or unrelated."
Silco felt the rock he was standing on become quicksand. The sister. She had been in Stillwater? This entire time? Jinx hadn't been carrying out a star-crossed lovers rebellion or launching her own power plays for Zaun. It was the dead sister. That's why she killed Marcus, recruited Ekko, and rejected me. She wants her old family back and blames me for their separation depending on what she got from Marcus and how much he lied.
"Was there a Captain Caitlyn Kiramman with them?"
Chross nodded. "She was and must still be. I would know if she was dead, injured, or free topside."
Silco wanted to get back to the Last Drop and plan with Chross and Sevika as soon as possible. He glanced back and the envoys, who seemed curious.
Returning to Chross, he breathed out. "The other development?"
Chross raised his hands. "A group of Finn's Slickjaws tried to kidnap Viktor, Jayce's partner and steal a different type of hextech."
Silco wanted blood. He knew not to lash out Chross or display his fury obviously to the Piltovians, so he tried releasing some energy on a short walk with Chross around the vehicles. "Tried?"
Nodding, Chross pulled out the encoded message to read directly. "Viktor, his assistant, and we think all assailants are dead and buried in an explosion. The new hextech was likely lost."
Always a silver lining. Though certainly not helpful for a peaceful secession.
"Find out more details. Jinx, Caitlyn, and Vi's location is more valuable than the Firelight's base if they aren't there. I'll show them off and…" Silco trailed off. They won't want to release Sevika and the others. Not unless I can demonstrate we weren't involved.
"And operate from the Last Drop as much as you can. I've got more persuading to do."
As he turned around the vehicle and began to return to the dignitaries, he caught they were wide eyed. He paused, which saved his life. The tall woman from before appeared from around the vehicle and swung a chef's knife at his chest. The tip slit through his jacket and vest and he leapt back as adrenaline slowed time for him.
"Silco! For Flange!" she bellowed and flipped the blade around in her hand and started a back swing.
Revenge? Focus on the fight. He evaded again. He made a counterswing with his blade, but she went low and tried to sweep his leg. She didn't get him down, but it did make him stumble back.
More reach, strength, and perhaps speed. Silco heard Chross opening the motor carriage door. He's not physically up for a knife fight, even if he was inclined to be.
The attacker screamed and gripped her knife with both hands at gut height; she charged forward in a full assault. Silco waited for the last second before doing a side spin that kept him unbloodied, but brought him almost off the precipice and needed a half-second to rebalance.
She must have noticed, as she semi-circled around him like a predator cornering its prey. Silco took a breath before switching tactics.
"Flange is gone. Revenge, even if you're successful, won't ease his absence. I know," he claimed.
"Shut up! You know nothing of me!"
She advanced forward fast again, the knife high for a chop. Silco staked it all on his cunning. He went for a low tumble for a seeming up-and-over maneuver.
"Ha!" she scoffed at the ploy. She slowed and crouched to deliver the blow when he stopped.
Silco finished the roll and before he got within her reach threw his knife. She titled and turned her hand in time for the blade to only graze her ear. I've lost.
She delivered a couple of hard kicks to his chest, knocking the wind out of him. Clasping her hands together she started the power stab downward when there was a sudden thud. The woman dropped the knife, but it still cut him a little on the bounce after the tip chipped on the stone.
She stumbled forward and Silco saw what happened. Chross had struck her with a collapsible lug wrench. Silco tried to get up and reach here, but she disappeared over the edge too fast. It would have been useful to question her. This feels too tidy.
Chross helped Silco up. "My gratitude. The chemtank's lover?" he asked quietly as the Piltovians were approaching tentatively.
"Brother. Her name was Quinli."
Tired but unrelenting, the revolutionary and crime boss greeted the diplomats. "I apologize for the base violence. She lost her family member in my employment and blamed me." Makes sense. I almost decapitated him because he almost decapitated Jinx.
Silco appraised them. Jayce was incredulous; Heimerdinger was troubled; Shoola was collected. "Let us offer our motor carriages to bring you into Piltover. I regret that I have devastating news to deliver."
The three whispered again, but started to move in. Silco brushed his hair back and decided riding back Heimerdinger would be best. He took a couple of steps and came to another sudden stop.
In front of him, the Father of the City was standing still, holding something he had picked up. "By the Wheel and Axle!" he exclaimed and held the object up better.
The other ambassadors came around to see it. In his hands was a long, electric blue braid of hair. Silco reflexively checked the pocket over his heart and felt the cut fabric.
"Chross, direct the drivers to take the scenic route. We have a lot to discuss."