Warlock

by Blitzkrieger

Set in the Arcane series, a young mage Zachariah arrives to the city of Piltover. But will magic consume him or will the city politics. It doesn't help that he met a bare knuckle boxing girl, her combustible little sister and a mad scientistintent on turning his magic into the next experiment.

9. Melody of Trouble

Chapter 9

The Music of Trouble

PILTOVER,

Mouth of the River Pilt

Enforcers dragged the wet degrading corpse of Cletus Morningstar from the banks up to the feet of Sheriff Grayson and Captain Marcus, the two Enforcers gazed down with mixed expressions. Grayson was stone faced , not even batting a flinch to the stench as Marcus put on his gas mask, "Is that the corpse or the river I smell?" He asked as two forensic enforcers came over to examine the body looking at it with instruments and taking photos of it with cameras. The sky had an eerie sea fog rolled over it making the clouds spread across the cold city, gentle snow fell down on the muddy waters of the river, snow foam rolled over their boots as harsh north winds carried it out to sea.

"Whoever got to him gave this bounty hunter the thrashing of a lifetime." The forensic scientist said as they looked through a pair of blue tinted goggles at the corpse, "You're saying one person did this, looks like he was beaten and trampled to death by a mob?" Marcus asked.

The forensic enforcer nodded "Looks like that, waters messed him up pretty good so did the mutated fish, but these wounds are post mortem." She said, pointing to bite marks on the shredded face, then down to the neck where there was a crater in Adam's apple, "This was the killing blow, the skins yet to rest, he got hit, hard and a lot."

"I warned the Council this would happen, the Lanes don't take kindly to outsiders, we're done here." Grayson said turning away to leave as the rest of the enforcers started to clean up the crime scene.

Marcus followed her up the banks back to the docks "I'll have a detachment of Enforcers ready to go into the Lanes."

"No." Grayson said.

"No, but if the mage didn't kill the bounty hunter one of the fisherfolk did." Marcus accused.

Grayson stopped just short of a tackle shop, dock workers bringing in and loading out products to be shipped from Noxus to Ionia, their work giving their breath puffs of steam with every push, and carrying of product "And your proof?" Grayson asked.

"Proof, everyone knows the undercity people are thieves and murderers?" Marcus countered.

Shaking her hawkish features, Sheriff Grayson knitted her brows "Think for a moment Captain, we used the bounty hunter as a third party, none of our people are dead and we don't know if the lanes lost anyone, for now we report to the Council, see if they want to keep this bounty business going." Grayson said walking to the Palace to give their report.

THE LANES

The Last Drop

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!" Vander screamed at the top of his lungs smashing his knuckles into his desk like a gorilla barring down on Zachariah who sat, not wearing the red dragon scale coat anymore but the regular clothes he'd been given by Vander to pass for a fisherfolk, his hat was off in his hands as Vander berated him "Running off in the middle of the night, trying to take on a hardened bounty hunter?" Vander said, his voice lowering knowing full well the kids were all easevedroping at the door trying to guess what Zachariah was in trouble for. The snow had turned to rain down in the lanes dripping off the rooftops and spitting at the windows while people passed by down below. "I told you to put the staff back, to not worry about it, and this is what you do, dammit Zachariah you need to listen to me when I tell you what to do, it's for your own good." Vander said, sitting down in the chair at his desk rubbing his forehead.

Zachariah remained silent looking at the floor "…. It's over, for now at least." Vander

"You killed him." Zachairah said.

Vander glanced at him, Zachariah's first word since last night "Aye, aye I did… didn't want to." Vander said taking out his pipe to smoke, he lit the match and breathed life into the embers in the pipe cup. "He would have killed you, the both of us if I'd let him."

"You didn't have to…" Zachriah whispered.

"Aye, but say I let him go, he goes back to the Enforcers, they storm in here, throw me in irons, you too. Then what about Vi, Powder, Clagger, Mylo there out on the street and then there's the Lanes, Zachariah you need to think about others before you go off and do reckless stuff like this." Vander reminded him, Zachariah kicked his chair back jumping to his feet.

"That's exactly why I went, I had to do something, he was after me what was I supposed to do, be a coward I-I-" "Didn't have a plan." Vander said standing up to meet his son's gaze, still towering over him like a great tree.

Zachariah looked up and Vander huffed his pipe "No ones calling you a coward son, but a fool's courage is still foolish." Vander added walking around the table and leaning back on it, he folded his arms over one another holding his pipe like a ruler scolding a student in class and Zachairah was the only one in detention at this lecture. Zachariah looked over at the staff leaned up against the cupboard which it would surely be locked up in soon enough, Vander had already taken the spell books and bag placing them there as well "Now, take a breath, and tell me what was going through your head last night son?" Vander asked.

Doing as Vander asked, Zachariah exhaled "When I was still a tyke, bandits came to Hamlet, started stealing livestock, threatening the farmers on the frontier." Zachariah started to tell a story, Vander curious didn't interrupt "They even threatened Grandpa and said they'd be back for money and anything else we had, they didn't even know he was a wizard, then one night the whole town of Hamlet came to the Dancing Boar to have a meet. I played with the other kids as the adults all talked. We all stayed there that night." Zachairah said walking over to the pictures of Vander and the kids, he looked up at the one where Vander was hoisting Vi with the trophy for boxing. "Then one night, the bandits were gone."

"Why?" Vander asked in a low tone.

Zachariah looked back, "Pa Wesely, he's got a large family, big strong man like you, never got pushed and didn't push back. Lot of the men in Hamlet are like that, you see the village was founded by soldiers or mercenaries depending on who you ask. Thing is the homesteaders we hadn't forgotten either, sure we carry pitch forks, plows, but there wasn't a home in Hamlet that didn't have a sword, crossbow or ax hidden somewhere, I learned the night of the meeting Pa Wesely and eight men left that very night…" Vander knew something was coming but he didn't say anything. "Eight men left, six came back, bandits never showed up again."

"Hmmm sounds like they had a plan." Vander said, sucking on the pipe.

"Probably, but they didn't wait around for someone else to come save us." Vander saw Zachariah turn around as he spoke, he fixed his jaw similar in angle to Vanders strong chin "A man defends his home, his hearth, his family, so that's what I did I don't care how dangerous or foolish it was, it was my fault the Bounty Hunter came here, my responsibility"

Vander inhaled the pipe and sighed out the smoke, than looked at him with a soft face, walking over to him he patted him on a shoulder "Hard to argue with that….You're right, a man defends his home, his family, but you're not the man of the house, Zachariah, I-am, it's my job to protect you now, you, you focus on staying a kid as long as possible."

Zachariah looked up at him and then away "I messed up didn't I…" Zachariah confessed admitting it.

"Eh that's just life, we learn from it and right now the best way for you to learn is to start cleaning all the pots, glasses and silverware in the kitchen." Vander said, walking him to the door. In a moments notice all the kids ran from the door unsure of what had been said scrambling to get down stairs to hide before they came out, "And no magic." Vander whispered. Zachariah smirked thinking about the tale of caution about Yinsed's apprentice, he'd have to make sure he didn't get tempted to use an animation spell on any of the knives lest he be skewered.

THE COUNCIL'S TOWER

The Council all stood in silence at Sheriff Graysons report, Heimerdinger had his back to them looking out at the still snow blanketed city, "Where is the body now?" Medarda asked.

"Taken to the nearest Guard tower, we'll begin an autopsy to see if we can find any evidence or leads, but the river most likely washed any and all away." Grayson told her.

"This is unacceptable, first a mage now a killer mage." Hoskel said as he tapped his boney fingers together.

Grayson and Captain Marcus stood at attention "There will be other bounty hunters Councilmember, but I do not think this was the mage entirely, the injuries appeared to be blunt force trauma." Grayson reported.

"So you're saying the citizens did this?" Councilmember Bolbok asked.

"Most likely?" Captain Marcus replied before Grayson shot him a glare to be silent, "We can assume, the Lanes are often a rough place even for experienced hunters, your permission I'd like to assess the situation more if indeed this mage is the killer we may want to rethink our strategy." Sherif Grayson explained.

The other Councilmembers waited "What did you have in mind?" Mrs. Kiramman asked.

"Word has spread that the mage was seen casting spells in the Lanes, brandishing the staff Captain Marcus described but dressed in a crimson coat made of scales, with this updated description it could inspire those in the lanes in need of coin to give us more information, perhaps their whereabouts." Grayson told them.

Rolling his eyes Salo cleared his throat "Begging your pardon, we know where he is, in the under city we should flood that rats nest with Enforcers, smoke him out."

"Begging your pardon Councilmember how much do you know about Mages?" Sheriff Grayson asked.

"What was that Sheriff?" Salo almost insulted her and contradicted him.

The Sheriff didn't bend, "We all know Piltover was founded to escape the warmongering of Mages, only the head of this Council knows what havoc they can cause, it's better to be cautious than overzealous."

"The staff." Heimerdinger asked, turning around his morbid face "What did it look like?"

THE LANES

Last Drop

Zachariah was polishing the last spoon and couldn't believe he was about to think this, but he'd rather be in that pile of crap then doing this it was so boring and mind numbing. Inside, Zachariah was starting to go numb in his fingers and could feel the soap start to make his hands all chemical. Maybe that The printers who created the broom that fetched water had the right idea, then again maybe not considering these are cutlery and if you were to try to break them they would most likely skewer him in the face.

After he finished with the silverware he walked up to the bar to start washing the glasses, even for midday the last drop was totally lively as there were men and women drinking, playing pool smoking and having various conversations where if you would listen in on you most likely lose hand. Reaching for the dirty glasses at the end of the bar he noticed some patrons over by that strange music machine Clagger called a Jukebox.

"Damn thing is still busted." One said.

"Vander tried to fix it, apparently the parts are some mad expensive." The other added, to his surprise he could hear music coming from somewhere, walking to the nearby window he spotted a fiddler playing a violin with a box at his feet hoping someone would throw some money in his box for his talent, the violin played a sad song that almost fit to the gloom and grime of the lanes.

And I wouldn't do it all, Zachariah I thought to himself, A tavern without music is like a forest without birds, unnaturally the two men walked off from the broken juke box and Zachariah finished his current glass and started on another one. A short ride glass meant for whiskey, you could tell it was whiskey because it could still smell the fiery liquid that left some residue at the bottom. Personally he had never liked whiskey that burning feeling was just too much, but there was a song he knew about it that he always like to listen to at the dancing boar, he and the Wesley's would join in after Pa Wesley would pour himself the men, and an older boy if he were lucky a glass of whiskey.

"Hmm hm hmmm hmm hmmm hm hmmmm…." He hummed the tune to himself and started to whisper the lyrics to himself. The melody was simple and the rhythm just had to be maintained, anyone could sing it as long as they could hold a tune and if they were old enough to have a few drinks with it, Zachariah had no such age for Whiskey but still, it was a great song.

"Let your quacks and newspapers be cutting their capers

About curing the vapors the scratch and the gout

With their medical potions, their serums and their lotions

Upholding their notions, they're mighty put out."

He finished the glass he was on and grabbed another one, also a whiskey glass with red lipstick on it.

"Who can tell the true physic to all that's pathetic

And pitch to the devil, cramp, colic and spleen

You'll know it I think if you take a big drink

With your mouth to the brink of a jug of whiskey."

Even as he washed the glasses, one after the other his back turned to the bar, some of the patrons inside the Last Drop hadn't heard the tune before, let alone a voice that wasn't from a record or speaker.

So stick to the cratur' the best thing in nature

For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys

Oh what botheration, no dose in the nation

Can give consolation like whiskey me boys.

As he moved onto the tall glasses, the patrons who had started to listen got silent and watched him pick up a full set of glasses and stock them away under the bar as he kept up the singing.

"No liquid cosmetic to lovers athletic

Or bodies pathetic can give such a bloom

As the sweet by the powers in the garden of flowers

Ever gave their own bowers such a darling perfume

And this liquid so rare if you willingly share

To be taking your hair when it's frizzled and dead

Oh the sod has the merit to yield the true spirit

So strong it will shake all the hairs from your head"

"Then stick to the cratur' the best thing in nature

For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys

Oh since its perfection, no doctor's direction

Can cleanse the complexion like whiskey me boys"

Down in they're little hideout, Vi and the kids had noticed upstairs had gotten really quite, poking their heads out to see and hear Zachariah's singing, everyone else seemingly entranced by the music without him even notcing to lost in the song.

"While a child in me cradle, me nurse with her ladle

Was filling my mouth with a notion of pap

When a drop from her bottle fell into my throttle

I stumbled and capered clean out of her lap"

"On the floor I lay crawlin' and screaming and bawling

'Til me mother and father were called to the fore

All sobbing and sighing they feared I was dying

But soon found I only was crying for more."

At the window a man in a hooded coat walked

So stick to the cratur' the best thing in nature

For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys

Oh lord how they'd chuckle if babes in their truckle

They only could suckle on whiskey me boys"

"Through my youthful aggression, through times of depression

My childhood's impression still clung to my mind

And at school or at college the basis of knowledge

I never could gulp 'til with whiskey combined"

Zachariah hadn't noticed it but now the entire bar was listening to this strange new boy singing a song about whiskey like they'd never heard music before. Even Sevika was listening as she smoked her cigar.

"And as older I'm growing times ever bestowin'

On Erin's potation, a flavor so fine

And how ere they may lecture on jove and his nectar

Itself is the only true liquid divine"

"So stick to the cratur' the best thing in nature

For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys

Oh lord, 'tis the right thing for courting and fighting

They're not so exciting as whiskey me boys."

The silence of the bar and the music of the song even brought Vander down to the edge of the stairs looking out from under to see Zachariah had totally enraptured the Last Drop with the song. Vander was guessing this was magic at first but in reality he could tell nobody in the lanes had heard a voice like that in years. Maybe ever, there was no time for simple songs sung just by the skill of someone's voice, or so calm and soothing it made the factory worker forget his aches like it seemed to be doing right now.

"Come guess me this riddle, what beats pipes and fiddle

What's hotter than mustard and milder than cream

What best wets your whistle, what's clearer than crystal

What's sweeter than honey and stronger than steam"

"What'll make the lame walk, what will make the dumb talk,

The elixir of life and philosopher's stone

And what helped Heimedinger to build Piltover

Wasn't it whiskey from old Inishowen "

Zachariah thought adding the Heimedinger and Piltover City felt natural considering where he was, but he'd never been to 'ould Inishowen' no one in Hamlet had, Zachariah was pretty sure it was a made up place, from a mythical island somewhere in legend that sailors and adventurers dreamed of.

"So stick to the cratur' the best thing in nature

For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys

Oh lord, it's no wonder, if lightning and thunder

Weren't made from the plunder of whiskey me boys.

"You maidens pathetic, with lovers athletic

For liquid cosmetic, you can't beat the drop

With a glow to your cheek, it will make your heart leap

It'll quiet a stallion or cure an old cob

At the mouth you would drool, be reduced to a fool

You'd kick up your heels and you'd peel to the buff

Then 'tis he'd be pathetic while you'd be athletic

If only you'd take a few drops of the stuff"

"So stick to the cratur' the best thing in nature

For sinking your sorrows and raising your joys

For there's nothing like whiskey to make maidens frisky. It soon separates all the men from the boys."

Zachariah always smiled at that last part for the dirty joke it had, and how it would make all the men and older boys laugh, but he didn't get any laughter after that what he did get was a roaring applause that made him drop the glass glass. Shattering at his feet Zachariah spun around to see the entire Last Drop had erupted into thunderous applause, people blew their fingers on they're lips to whistle or banged the tables in fanfare. Looking around Zachariah blushed bright red so embarrassed he'd gotten carried away in the song he was so used to singing them on the road and alone at home he had completely forgotten he was in a bar full of people.

He heard a heavier clap and looked over to see Vander clapping softly on the stairs, the rest of the kids watching their step dad then looking at their step brother "Uh farm boy can sing, and he can knock Vi on her ass." Milo said before Vi socked him in the jaw.

Vander walked over "Where'd you learn to sing like that?" He asked.

"Uh well uh we don't have uh- whatever those are in Hamlet." Zachariah said pointing at the jukebox "Everyone knows how to sing there."

"The jukebox, been trying to get it fixed but maybe we won't have to now." Vander said, patting him on the shoulder, and walking around the bar as two people with empty drinks pushed them forward for a refill.

Zachariah, still embarrassed at the praise, Vander looked down at the glasses, seeing they were clean. "Hmm good job on the glasses, go on and take a break unless you feel like singing another song." Looking at the Last Drop patrons who were all smiling, a few leaning in hoping for another song Zachariah gulped, he never knew people liked his voice that much or if they were just looking for a reason to laugh at him. Summoning up his courage and a bit of fear, Zachariah started looking through his mental catalog of songs he could remember. This was a bar, and they all looked like hard men, something up beat "Uh… just one second." Zachariah said, he pushed through the crowd and ran out the bar to see the fidler packing up no money in his box.

"Hey fiddle." He called out to him, "Can you play…" He leaned in and whispered a few words and the fiddler nodded "Course I know that one."

Zachariah gave a big grin.

Moments later he appeared back in the pub and hopped onto a bar, "Okay so, this is an oldy… and oldy from where I'm from, ready?" He asked the fiddler who was making sure his fiddle was tuned just right, before giving a thumbs up. The fiddler started to play the string like lighting in a whiskey bottle and Zachariah started to get into the rhythm waiting for the note to start him off:

"T'was up in the Bluestack mountains, D'arcy kept a bit of a still

We were sneaking home a bottle, when the guards came up the hill? Lose the booze? cried D'arcy and before we could reply,

He'd dumped it in the nosebag of his donkey standing by.

The donkey had a ganky leg, and only one good eye.

When he got a lick of the whiskey, he'd swear that he could fly

He rocketed through the roundabout, and down by Jamesie's bar,

Then he vaulted through the hedges at the track at Ballintra"

For the most part everyone starred at first listening to the music, the high paced string mixed with Zachairah suddenly hopping from one table to the next making everyone grab their drinks gave everyone a laugh. As he told the story of Darcy's Donkey and sang along with it.

"Here's to you, to me and one and all

To the garda, and the gargle, and the trophy on the wall

Here's to you, to me and one and all

The day that D'arcy's drunken donkey won the race at Donegal

"The garda chased the donkey, and we followed in pursuit,

For fear they'd spill the whiskey, we begged them not to shoot

We barreled through the turnstiles, we got there just in time,

To place our bets before the lot of? em reached the starting line.

The flag was up, the race was on, the donkey looked behind

He saw the guards were after him but sure he didn't mind

He had himself another sip, and a second one as well,

Then bucked and kicked and knocked the competition all to hell."

Vander was smiling as the other kids looked entertained too except for Vi who was more annoyed then anything at everyone getting in such a good mood over Zachariah acting like a clown. The fiddler suddenly started to see a box filled with piltover cash and coins, he started to play faster and Zachariah leapt to another table singing the chorus, at that point more people started to join the chorus.

"Here's to you, to me and one and all

To the garda, and the gargle, and the trophy on the wall

Here's to you, to me and one and all

The day that D'arcy's drunken donkey won the race at Donegal"

Zachariah took his hat off and pressed it to his chest and stood up straight as if acting serious.

"The donkey passed the post about a lap or two ahead

He finished off the whiskey, then toppled over dead

We went to check the bets and found when everything was done

The garda came in second and paid 25 to one!

So we dragged the donkey's carcass down to Jamesie's for a pint

To drink up all our winnings, and to celebrate the night

We missed the poor old donkey, but still we had to laugh

When Jamesie made a trophy of the donkey's better half"

The whole bar laughed hearing that, the idea of a donkey's ass as the trophy hadn't even crossed anyones mind, Zachariah grabbed the nearest pint out Sivka's hand and she looked ready to cream him if she wasn't laughing so hard. At that Vi couldn't take it anymore she ran down to the kids shared room and slammed the door.

"So raise a beer in the air, to the famous derriere

Everybody raise a glass to D'arcy's ass! D'arcy's ass!

Everybody raise a glass to D'arcy's ass! D'arcy's ass!"

"DARCY'S ASS" the whole bar including the kids all cheered

"Here's to you, to me and one and all

To the garda, and the gargle, and the trophy on the wall

Here's to you, to me and one and all

The day that D'arcy's drunken donkey won the race at Donegal"

Everyone was singing along and chanting the final chorus

"So raise a beer in the air, to the famous derriere

Everybody raise a glass to D'arcy's ass! D'arcy's ass!

Everybody raise a glass to D'arcy's ass! D'arcy's ass!"

Zachariah finished taking a big gulp of the pint and set it down before he jumped from the final table back to the bar and the fiddle gave a final note to rounding applause and roar of laughter, MIlo, Powder and Clagger were clapping to with Vander blowing a whistle between his two fingers as everyone tossed money into the fiddlers box filling it to the brim, as the laughter died down everyone came up and patted Zachariah on the back as he felt his hair ruffled and his back starting to get sore from the pats. Svika came up to him then smoking her cigar "Take my beer again, you'll regret it, either way good song." She said as Zachariah gulped a bit afraid but also excited.

The kids came up to him next "You never told us you could sing?" Milo said.

"Yeah, how many songs do you know?" Powder asked curiously.

Zachariah blushed bright red "Everyone in Hamlet can sing, we do it all the time for… everything, cooking, farming, and yeah drinking."

Vander smiled seeing most of the kids getting along, most but not all, he headed down to the basement and opened the door to see Vi sitting in her chair moping about, sighing he shut the door behind him and sat next to her "You want to talk?"

"No." She grumbled.

"Fine, I'll talk then, hope you listen." Vander said, scratching the back of his neck.

"If you think for a second that I'll be caring for Zachariah more than you all, you're dead wrong." Vander said.

Vi didn't look convinced "But you hugged him the second you saw him, you're telling us to be nice to him and we barely know him, it's because he's blood-" "It's because he's your brother, just as much as Powder is." Vander cut her off.

"NO HE'S NOT!" She yelled.

Vander was unfazed "I can't force you to like him Vi, but sooner or later you'll have to realize he's here to stay."

Vander got up and started to leave "I know what you did last night."

Stopping just short of the door, Vander's face was a second of terror. "I know you brought him back when he tried to run away, you should have let him go, he doesn't belong here."

"No kids do really." Vander said in relief knowing she wasn't aware of what really happened "I sent him away knowing he'd have a better life outside of Piltover and the lanes outside in… better to show you really." Vander said as he smiled back.

"What?" Vi asked.

Vander opened the door "Get your winter clothes on, we're going ice fishing."

COLLEGE OF PILTOVER

Jayce was sitting in the library looking over some notes of a long dead professor, with the title 'The Similarities between Science and Spells' by Horatio Cinder, combing through the pages he saw a few hand drawn motions between an engine and a spell ring. How the different runes looked like gears connecting to one another, Jayce dropped his pencil as he copied down the notes, but he had no idea what the runes meant. He could recognize equations like reading a menu at his favorite noodle restaurant but reading them along he stumbled by another passage.

From the accounts of the mages and wizards who were willing to speak with me, many did not condone the actions of the Battlemages decades prior. Those in Noxus have achieved marital status in military service as opposed to the Demacians draconian method of mages being hunted for simply existing. This arrogant act of barbarism will truly hinder the Proud Military Kingdom in the future as it has worked for Noxus's favor. From my research the Ionians combine both magic and martial skill, which has allowed them to resist Noxian advances for centuries. However, despite the advantages to knowledge and the betterment of Runeterra, it is unlikely that such magic could ever be found in Piltover, for only a mage could truly understand the Arcane.

Looking up, Jayce closed the book "I need a mage." He said to himself.

"A mage in Piltover, the rumors are true, a bounty hunter went into the lanes last night and washed up on the River Pilots shores." He overheard one student say, they were both carrying stacks of books to restock the shelves in the great library. Towering shelves lined the hall with hand carved wooden tables in between them The boys all dressed like Jayce with a black and gold vest, white shirt and red ties and matching black pants. The female students wore similar clothes but skirts instead.

Jayce stood up and followed them down a row of books, listening or pretending to look at a row of books labeled 'Manure Usages', "You'd have to be a mage to go into the under-city, those fishfolk down there aren't even human anymore." The other student said.

"Still, though a mage, you think more bounty hunters will show up?" The first student asked.

"Probably or that mage gets the message to leave." The other added as they restocked the shelves, Jayce listened in taking a few notes writing down.

Bounty Hunter

Mage

As the two students kept restocking they said "They should just send the enforcers in, smoke the mage out, so what if a few fishfolk get killed, hear the hunter was killed on the docks or something." Jayce wondered if he should say something at how heartless they were being

Docks

Jayce closed the book and walked out of the shelves having heard enough, heading to the exit he walked through the hallways of the school till he came to a notice board looking at what the Headmaster thought the students should be aware of. The Demacian Royal Ballet was going on tonight, students were encouraged to attend a night of culture, no. News from outside Piltover, the northern mountains and frontier were now annexed by Noxus, but the borders of Piltover are still respected so far, political lecture tuesday, no. Tonight's dinner would be fried octopus with a side of Minotaur Cheese… Jayce didn't even want to think about that one, till he finally saw it.

NOTICE BY ORDER OF ENFORCERS: All Students are Hereby Ordered to remain out of the Under City for their own protection, a wanted criminal is on the loose and is a known mage, magician, warlock and or neerdowell. Described as short with a scale red coat carrying a staff of evil magic, any sightings of rumors are to be directed to the nearest Enforcer at once.

Jayce wondered what idiot wrote this, how could they have any sightings or rumors without going to the under-city.

He guessed he'd find out, because that's where he was going.

OUTSIDE PILTOVER

"I still don't see why we have to walk all this way out just to eat lunch." Vi groaned as she carried the basket of food, Vander carried the blanket under his arm as Zachariah carried a basket too, Powder had a bag over her shoulder and so did the other boys. The family had left the boat behind tied to a nearby post with Benzo and Ekko fishing on the river bank while they went to scout out a spot.

Vander in lead glanced over his shoulder "A change of scenery does the body well, plus it'll give you a taste of some real fresh air."

"Fresh air smells like river water, dirty animals and crap." Vi groaned.

Zachairah took in a deep breath of cold dormant trees, crisp clean air, and frozen crap "Yep, fresh air." Zachairah said as they trudged through the snow.

"Watch it twinkle toes, just because you can sing doesn't make you a bird that can fly away from me." Vi hissed behind him.

"Where did you learn to sing like that anyway?" Milo asked next to him.

Zachariah smiled at him "Like I told Da- Vander, everyone in Hamlet knows how to sing, it's how we pass the night away at the Dancing Boar."

"Wait, you have dancing pigs?" Powder asked.

Laughing, Zachairah glanced down at her as she trudged through the snow "No, well maybe once, there was one farmer who swore his pigs would dance when he wasn't looking, then again he did grow seven star leaves." Zachariah said.

Heading into a nearby clearing where the snow wasn't too deep, Vander laid down the blankets setting them up in a circle, "Clagger, Mylo set those bags down and get stuff ready, Powder come here and show these two how to make a fire." Vander said, waving her over.

"Careful not to blow up the wood." Mylo laughed before Vi shot him a nasty glare, "Vi, Zachariah firewood duty." Vander ordered.

Setting down the baskets, Zachariah nodded and Vi just rolled her eyes following him into the woods. Zachariah hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time, outside the city at last away from all the noise, garbage and people "Gods above this is great." Zachariah said. After a few more songs Vander had decided the family needed some fresh air, at last. Taking a short boat ride out of the Under City across the nearly frozen bay they landed on the coast of the nearby woods that Zachariah had passed through on his way into Piltover for a picnic and some ice fishing.

"How, it's freezing out here?" Vi asked.

"That's the point, winter reminds of us of how lucky we are, get a roof over our head, a warm hearth, good food stuff people take for granted like in Zaun." Zachariah said over as he picked up a fallen branch and started to claw away at the bark with his fingers "Make sure you get the bark, it'll help it burn faster." Zachairah said as Vi lazily grabbed twigs and broken limbs.

"Won't the wood be too cold?" She asked.

Zachariah picked up a forked stick and broke off the skinner bits, "No, it'll take longer but once it's fully engulfed the flames will eat it all the same."

"Eat it, you say it as if the fires are alive?" Vi asked, giving him a funny look.

The farmer, secretly a mage, realized how weird it sounded. "Yeah, guess it must sound weird, everyone in Hamlet talks like that, we don't see nature and us as two different things, we just borrow some from it and then it borrows some back."

"Huh?" Vi asked.

Sighing, Zachariah realized how alien he really sounded to her "Okay, so you eat fish right?" Zachariah asked.

"Sometimes." Vi asked.

Rolling his eyes ``Well fish comes from the ocean, little fish get eaten by bigger fish, and little fish eat the plants under the water, same as us eating the animals up here." Zachariah explained "In Hamlet we grow crops from the ground, we have to make sure we don't overuse the soil or else it'll go rotten, so we have to make sure we take care of it so we can have more food, that make any sense?"

Vi scratched her sock cap "Uh no not really, look farmboy, I'm a city girl and your… a farm boy."

"Yeah… two different worlds, still I wish you and the others could have seen Hamlet, Powder especially." He said.

This got her attention, anything involving her little sister did "Why Powder?" Vi asked, grabbing another stick.

"Just feels wrong, you have to watch over her so much, so little space, if she grew up in Hamlet she'd have whole fields to run in, flowers to smell, a real rabbit as a pet. All I'm saying is, she's my sister too, you both are, just want what is best for you." Zachariah said holding a faggot in his arms.

Staring at him sneeringly Vi said "Hey, we don't need your pity we got along just fine until-'' Zachariah suddenly dropped the wood "LOOK OUT!" Zachariah he screamed as a loud neigh and the sound of thundering hooves, turning around he saw a black stallion charging right at him, "Move!" Vi tackled Zachariah out of the way before the horse stampede past them tearing off into the woods. The only reason Zachariah hadn't moved was because he was entranced by the sight of the jet black horse and that it had a rider who was completely out of control. What followed was a loud scream "HELP I CAN'T STOP!" Getting softer and softer in the distance, at first glance was a person with blonde hair dressed in riding garments but they were shrinking away in the distance to tell anymore.

Getting up Zachariah watched her go "We have to help her."

"What why, she almost ran you over?" Vi asked him, perplexed at his charitable nature.

"The horse is spooked, it doesn't know any better now come on." Zachariah said before running after the tracks, Vi groaning followed knowing Vander would be upset if she didn't. They galloped after the frenzied beast seeing the horse trail go deeper into the frozen woods and further stull Zachariah could see broken and mangled branches with shreds of torn fabric on them probably from the riders clothes. Zachariah passed by one dark branch and noticed it dripping dark red drops of blood on the edge of thorns. "Shite, it's hurt." Zachariah said following the nearest horse's cry. Zachariah and Vi followed the noise of horse and rider deeper into the frozen forest until they came into a clearing at the end of a large cliff surrounded by thorny bushes any time the horse tried to get through it would reel back kicking and trying to buck the rider. Who was holding onto dear life, their riding garments were made of fine but now torn cloth and leather wearing a set of goggles and a scarf to protect from the cold wind along with a riding helmet to protect their head.

Vi scowled seeing how nice the clothes were. "It's just a pilte lets go."

"What?" Zachariah asked, shocked.

"Some rich ass lost control of his horsey who cares." Vi said when they heard another scream, Zachariah and Vi looked to see the rider flying off the saddle and into the snow stumbling back the horse was in a rage stomping its hooves down and snorting hard, the stallion was hurt, spooked and now it had a target. Zachariah took off sprinting into the clearing as fast as his legs could go as the rider crawled away before he jumped in front hands up waving to get the horse's attention "HEY, HEY LOOK AT ME, RIGHT HERE BOY! He yelled and whistled

The stallion rose up to its hind legs towering over the two of them before Zachariah slowed his waving making soothing noises lowering his voice "Hey, hey, easy boy, easssssy." The Stallion continued to snort and snap, Vi watched as if the horse was about to trample Zachariah but whatever this farm boy was doing it seemed to be working. "Thats it, that's it boy easssy, eassy now." Zachariah said again shushing the angried and frightened animal. The rider watched him too face hidden by there scarf and goggles Zachariah reached and took the reins the horse tugged and Zachariah moved slowly with it trying not to scare it anymore. Zachariah stroked the black stallions mane and it calmed down even further at the touch "I gotcha you boy, I gotcah… " Zachariah said whiserping into its ear he looked at the horse wondering what could have caused it to go beserk. It was to cold for snakes or mice to be out, looking over it's saddle and harness he saw bits of thorn branches stuck in the saddle reaching for them gently he pulled them out and the horse seemed to still be agitated it's head reeled back. It's glossy mane was shinning in the dim light of winter, it's black coat trimmed perflectly showing the strong muscles of a healthy stallion. Zachariah saw a few cuts on its side from the thorns but no serious damage. Looking at its legs the back were good strong legs, stripped arround the back to show it's strong lineage and the front there it was tall around in good health.

"What are you doing to my horse." Zachariah heard the rider snap under there scarf.

Zachariah patted the horse a few times and felt its heart beat, it was breathing fast but starting to slow, the horse hadn't been majorily hurt to begin with but the cuts from the thorns had worsened from it's pumped up blood. Zachariah knelt down and scooped up a big clump of fresh snow "Shhhhh, shhhh I got you I got you."

Vi starred in amazment as Zachariah calmed the animal three times his size, pressing the cold snow into the horses cuts to clean the blood but also help stop the bleeding the horse jolted but Zachariah pressed his head against its neck as if he were another horse "Shhhhh, shhhh…"

"Excuse me!" A load snap brought Zachariahs attention back to the wridder who was unwrapping there scarf and taking off there goggles to reveal a girl with curly silver hair, purple eyes and light brown skin "I said what the hell are you doing to my horse."

Zachariah's soothing hushes to the horse vanished and he had a glare like a wolfs "For one thing making surer you don't hurt the poor beast anymore, who the hell taught you to ride?" Zachariah asked looking up at the saddle. To his absoltue horror the saddle was a seated one with one stirrup, and a guard on the left side and th belts were all strapped tighter then a bag of grain, pratically choking the horses body.

"I'd beg your pardon if you weren't a fisherfolk— hey stop that?" She snapped as Zachariah ignored her undoing the saddle, it was off in a matter of seconds and when it fell into the snow the hore gave a happy neigh.

Patting the stallions black mane again "There you go boy."

Vi came up beside him "Don't look now but I think you pissed off the Pilty."

Zachrariah looked over at the silver haired rider who's face was bright red "What?" Zachariah asked.

"Do not what me you plebian, I am Asheline Cornelia Elizabeth Xing Holdington heiress to the Holdington Family of the Upper North Side and that is my horse, Titan your fondling with your dirty hands."

Zachariah just starred at her then at Vi, "So your names Titan?" Zachariah asked turning his attention back to the horse, clearly more intrested in the animal then the pretty girl.

The horse responded to hearing his name and Zachariah felt the horse nudge his head up against his face and lick him "Hehe guess someones feeling better." "Don't ignore me!" The girl snapped.

Vi was holding back her laughter at how flustered she was getting, Zachariah spun toward her he pulled his own scarf down and Vi saw the look in his eyes was different, Zachariah was mad, mad at her "You…" He growled "Who the hell saddled this horse, the sadle was way to tight, no wonder he went berserk, all that pain it's likely to spook any horse." Zachariah snapped at her.

The girl named Asheline and five other names stood perpelxed liked she'd never heard anyone speak to her like that, and probabky hadn't "You- how… how do you know about horses?" She asked. Zachariah looked Asheline up and down, yes she appeared to be about Vi and his age, slightly taller then them both do to her riding boots and her silver wavy hair that could only be described as radiant in the snow her cheeks were flushed either by the cold or something else.

"Anyone with eyes could see the horse was in pain, you got no right to treat this beauty like that… uh whoever you are." Zachariah said patting Titans head, sounding as if she'd taken hands to one of his siblings.

Vi cocked her eye confused at how serious he was being, the girl, who actually smiled for a second before she went serious "Well…. I'll be sure to tell the Horsemaster, but first my sincere apologies if you hadn't come along who knows what Titan would have done." She said before she took one step back and gave a polite bow.

"Uh yeah well, don't mention it anyone would have done the same Ash was it?" Zachariah asked unsure which was her name?

The girl brushed her blonde hair through her fingers "Asheline but… yes Ash will do." She said testing out the sound of the shortened version of her name, her lip curling up hearing it, "And your name sir?" She asked politely.

"Sir?" Vi snorted in humored shock.

Zachariah realizing he was speaking to a lady, not a simple girl pulled his hat off hiw brown locks a bit sweaty from the running "Z-Zachariah."

"Zachariah…. What, where is your family from?" She asked.

Zachariah looked over at Vi wondering waht she meant by that, but Vi held her hands up no intrested in getting involved a clear 'you're on your own' look'. Zachariah looked back trying to be well mannered "Well about that-" before he could get into any explianton he was yet to make up they heard more hooves on the snow, bursting out of the trees were at least a dozen enforcers on horseback. Vi scrambeled away before she could be seen dropping the sticks as one of the riders was none other than Captain Marcus holding a pistol in his hands. He pointed it right at Zachariah "Step away from the lady horse thief." Zachariah was more afraid he'd recognize him then the gun before suddenly Avaline jumped in front of him.

"Captain Marcus!" She snapped standing up straight and tall in front of all the men.

"Lady Asheline, thank goodness you're safe, we feared the worst when your horse ran." He saw pointing his pistol up safely away from her. He took his attention away from Zachariah and to Asheline, not paying him any attention, he didn't recognize him then again. Zachariah was dressed head to toe in three inch thick pelts and a Murk Wolf pelt when they last met.

The Lady stomped right up to Marcus's brown mare "I'll have you know this young man is my savior not my horsenapper, if not for him I and my families prized racing horse would be dead" She declared somewhat dramatically, the enforces all seemed to relax at her commanding tone, or tense up Zachairah couldn't really tell.

Marcus holstered his pistol and glared down at the boy "Then you have my thanks boy." Marcus said as Zachariah held tight to the reins on Titans head, gulping he squeaked out "… thank you."

Behind the Enforcers came another set of hooves as another familiar Enforcer appeared: Sheriff Grayson alongside another young girl, dressed in similar fine riding garments with a slender frame, pale skin and slightly bluish black hair. "Asheline there you are." She said, it was Caitlyn, but to Zachariah the frill design of her striped coat she looked more like a pastry.

A cupcake?

"I'm fine Caitylyn, thanks to this young man, his name is Zachariah." She gestured to him.

Sheriff Grayson rode up next to Captain Marcus who gave a halfway knod having to take Asheline's word for it, "Well, thank you citizen you've done a great service to the Holdington House." Sheriff Grayson said as she rode up to Asheline and gave her hand out to her. "Marcus take the stallion, now come Lady Asheline your parents are worried sick."

Asheline smiled walking over to where she'd thrown her scarf, picking it up before heading back over to the Sheriff's horse and stopping, "Zachariah, Was it?" She asked.

"Yes, um- my lady?" Zachariah said, thinking that was the proper term to address her.

"Please, take this as a token of my favor." She said offering the white silk scarf to him, there was a murmur from the Enforcers and, Caitlyn's eyes went wide, Zachariah just looked puzzled, his nose scrunching up.

Zachariah reached out his hand moving on its own "But… uh I have a scarf and you'll get cold." He said as she smiled "i'm sure I'll mange, please." She insisted, so Zachariah, not wanting to be rude took the scarf and she smiled her purple eyes at him.

Getting up on the Sheriffs own mount she held on tight, "Should you find yourself in the upper North Side, please call on me Zachariah so I can thank you properly." She said before the Sheriff and Caitlyn road off, the enforcers followed while Marcus gave him a sneering look before he too followed leaving Zachariah confused and with a scarf. He looked down at the scarf seeing a golden seal of two horses prancing on a golden field, their tails together to look similar to an H. Holding it up to his nose he sniffed it and it smelled like fresh artemisia and roses.

Later, Zachariah tucked the scarf away into his coat and picked up the sticks before he headed back to the others. When he got back to their little 'camp' Powder had a fire going and Vi hadn't seemed to report his encounters with the enforcers of the silver haired Asheline. "There you are, Vi said you could carry the rest of the firewood?" Vander asked.

"Oh… yeah." He said still thinking about the girl and her horse as he brought the fire word over and set it down, thinking more on the girl he'd met.

Eventually, the kids were all linned up on the frozen water after Vander cut a hole in the ice, they were all sitting around on logs, both Milo, Clagger and Vi were shivering as Zachariah sat in silence next to Powder, Vander sat between him and the others smiling as he smoked his pipe "Ah this is the life ain't it kids."

"S-s-s-s-s-ure th-th-th-thing V-v-v-Vander." Mylo said, shivering.

Vander chuckled "Pull out your line Milo, go warm up by the far, rest of you too all that shivering is scaring the fish" Vander said letting the three older kids go. "Anything bite yet?" Vander asked Powder.

"No, not really can we go back to home now?" Powder asked.

"Oh come on, at least try to act excited, when I was your age I'd go out fishing all the time with my mates, we'd see who could catch the biggest fish out of the river pilt. They fished gif over an hour as Mylo's teeth chattered, Zachariah breathed a little Easter even if the air was cold it was clean and fresh, powder was the first one to catch anything and one after another the boys didn't get a bite but the blue haired tyke was a natural soon she had a whole basket full. She laughed and stuck her tongue out at Mylo and Clagger each time she had a new one. Vi and Clagger eventually caught some so did Zachary but Mylos shivering made it nigh impossible for him to hold his rod still and his hook was barren except for the wet ray meat he used as bait.

Vander saw the kids laugh and he smiled at the music, "Any fishing songs son?" He asked Zachariah?

Searching his memory for the many times he went fishing with grandpa and the Wesley boys. "Not a fishing song but a fish song I learned from one of the a former sailor who settled in hamlet before I was born."

Vi let out a long groan "Not another one." She bemoaned.

"Then again nature has its own song." Vander said listening to the babbling river and cold wind.

Except for Mylos' clattering teeth "You know you'd made a good fish wife P-p-powder." He teased her..

Compliment or insult powder dropped her pole and ran off "Powder!" Vi shouted before she started to throw insults at Mylo.

Sighing, Zachariah got up "I'll get her." He said following powders tracks up river and then into the woods. He followed it till… till he stopped… he saw Powder was standing at the edge of the woods, looking up at a towering figure who was knelt in front of her. An imposing young man that Zachariah knew all too well, black armored with a crimson cape, with spiked shoulder armor, matching the rest of the dark iron, he was holding a great ax leaning on it "Lost something have you, Zachariah?" the champion asked.

Zachariah went white as the snow, "Darius." He gasped and out from the trees came Draven, his wild tomahawk wielding brother, and a dozen Noxus soldiers. Draven walked out hands behind his head showing off his massive biceps "Sup Zachariah, did you miss us, we missed you."