Apologies for the delay
Chapter 10
A Matter of Honor
Zachariah pushed Powder behind his back looking up at the two towering Noxian boys and their small army spears sharpened to a point, Draven and Darius looked Zachariah up and down from the winter clothing he wore and then at the blue haired powder shaking like a kitten "She's a bit young for you, Zachariah?" Draven asked.
"She's not- I mean she's my little sister." Zachariah said, pushing Powder behind him even more.
"Is that so friend?" Darius asked both he and Draven to look at one another.
"It is Darius." He says "It's Commander Darius now, bro got promoted because of you know who." He said Zachariah thought of how he had intervened in the battle between the legions and the Minotaurs to save Darius.
Zachariah noticed the Noxus soldiers gripped their spears tighter, and Ahkilleon looked at Jinx. She was in a mix of awe and fear at the two giants, both boys nearly as big as Vander. "You left in such a hurry last time, we missed you, did you miss us?" Draven asked, smiling like a crocodile.
"Well rampaging minotaurs tend to do that." Zachariah replied.
"Indeed, the Minotaurs fought valiantly even till we laid siege to their stronghold in the mountains. It was magnificent, a shame you missed it young Zachariah, you could have shared in the glory." Darius said as he leaned on his axe like a cane, he examined Powder and Zachariah pushed her behind him even more.
He met Zachariah's eyes, and there was something there behind the green eyes. Powder saw Zachariah's handball tightly into a fist the knuckles popping and maybe it was a trick of the light powder though she saw blue light? "Come take a look at this brother?" Darius asked.
The axe boy came up close and looked at Zachariah who never took his gaze off of Darius, "Oh I see… what happened to you on that mountain, does she know?" Draven smiled down at Powder.
"Touch her and find out?" Zachariah said.
They heard a twig snap and snow crunch as Vander walked out the kids behind him, "What's all this then?" "Vander." Powder snapped and it made Zachariah let go of her arm and she ran into his, he scooped her up with his paws.
The Noxians looked to the behemoth of a man, and tensed all except the brothers, Darius whistled. "Big fucker ain't he?"
Darius analyzed Vander and then Zachariah, minus the scruff and gray hair, the old bear and the cub's lineage was obvious. "No problem sir, your son did me a great service, I would see that debt repaid when I have time while here in Piltover."
"You're staying in Piltover Darius?" Zachariah asked.
Vander walked through the snow Powder on his shoulder, "Friends of your son?" Vander asked him.
Both brothers looked at him, "Aye friends."
Draven smiled "I knew you missed us, why are we here again Darius?"
"To finalize the new borders of the mountains with your council, we will meet again Zachariah." Darius said, turning to go back to their horses, the others watched them go and Vander turned to the kids, "About time we got along too, we're cooking fish tonight."
LATER
Council chamber
Meanwhile up above in the ivory towers of the council, the Noxian brothers had arrived to stand before the council, "As you see all of Noxus now spreads from the northern guardian sea to the bandle, and now to the great barrier." Darius said as he stood before a large map showing the borders drawn in thick red lines, "I come here as ever a servant of the great Noxian Empire to bring news of this change, and we offer Piltover to be the first to recognize the new borders."
Mel, Bolbok, Cassandra, Hoskel, Salo and Heimerdinger sat there looking at the Noxians, Darius stood tall and proud hands behind his back and Draven leaned on a pillar picking at his teeth. "This unprovoked attack on the Minotaurs is upsetting to say the least." Bolbok said to them.
"Not to mention we must renegotiate our trade agreements." Hoskel said.
Cassandra, still dressed for riding in the winter, Mel sipped her tea as Salo said "And of course we must establish a set border for our city?"
"All valid points my fellow council members, but it is still early, perhaps we can discuss more of this tonight at a banquet honoring our northern neighbors?" Mel asked.
Darius looked at her and gave a polite nod "Mel."
"Darius daringl, how is my mother?" Mel asked.
"The General is well, her campaign against Ionia goes well." He said as Draven smirked at that.
Heimerdinger cleared the air with a hammer of his cup "A banquet, a fine idea, Mel."
"Alright, free books." Draven says walking out of the chamber "Call me when it's dinner time."
The council chamber started to empty one after the other until it was just Mel and Darius alone. She remained at her desk and drummed her fingers, "My mother's war goes well, against the Ionians?"
Darius waited till he heard the great doors close, " I wouldn't expect you to spy on your own people Mel?"
"Not spies just gossip from sailors, despite what many people think about Ionia, it's scattered provinces, temples of monks and near human beings, the so-called First Lands are resilient, to the end." She said in a sly voice.
Darius sighed " I hear tell that their warrior monks are worth 50 men alone, the assassin's there are unrelenting in eliminating our officers and their magic is an ancient, Piltover would profit greatly if-" "Oh stop trying to sound like a politician Darius I know you hate it." Mel cut him off standing up smiling she got up walking over towards the teenager, she wasn't much older then him.
There was a long, awkward silence between them till they both smiled and embraced a friend, "From a street orphan with the champion of the empire you come a long way, and so has Draven."
Darius smirked, " I believe he will not stay long with the Legion, my brother seeks glory, but hates military life, it's the arena for him."
"A gladiator? And you?" Mel asked him.
He took her by his arm and they started towards the door, "Noxus has given me everything, I intend to repay that debt for as long as I live, so that all the world can know its glory and opportunity like I had."
Mel chuckled as they walked out of the chamber and into the hallway of the council chamber. "This is why you'd be not good at politics Darius, because I know you believe everything you say."
"A man is nothing if he doesn't honor his word Mel." Darius said to her.
They walked out onto a private balcony, it overlooked the city of Pilt, the snow capped rooftops dripping in the sunlight, all the white making the city glow even more so with its shining metal pipes, gilded towers and rooftops. "I little bride told me your army encore is a rogue mage during your conquest of the barrier and then he suddenly just disappeared, could he be the same mage that's troubling our enforcers?"
Darius said as silent, knowing it was Zachariah they were asking about "Dead I'm afraid, the mage we had in custody burned to death in the Minotaurs attack."
"Well at least we can cross that off our list, you do plan to come to the banquet tonight do you not?" She asked.
Darius stepped back, bowing and kissing her hand "I wouldn't miss it."
UNDERCITY
The Last Drop
Zachariah dragged his knife across the fish as Vander chipped vegetables and the kids set the table, Powder watched as he moved the knife in and out of the fish they'd caught, they were in the back not yet open, and making lunch with the fish they'd captured. A small table was in the middle that the kids were setting, Zachariah helping with the fish. Zachariah knew that she wasn't looking at him for that. "Powder comes here." He said as he took another fish.
"You never know when you'll need to skin a fish." He said as he set another fish on the table "Place the fish fillet on a cutting board with the skin side down, start at the narrowest end of the fish, near the tail." He said as he did so with his kitchen knife ""Make a small, angled cut through the flesh, but not through the skin. Hold the skin tight and use the knife to wiggle side to side to start separating the skin from the flesh." Powder washed, and she scratched up her face when she heard the inside part of the fish cut away. She snickered, "That's gross."
"Just he glad it wasn't a pig." Zachariah said " With your free hand, grasp the loose edge of the skin." He did so with his free hand "Push the knife forward while pulling the skin back in one clean motion."
With one, Yankee was able to freeze the rest of the fish skin from his soft light oranges and pink meat "Use a knife or kitchen shears to trim any remaining bits of skin or scales."
She tossed the skin of the fish into a pot and Mylo started to take it away. "Mylo wait, we can use that for the stew."
"What for?" Mylo asked.
Zachariah shrugged "Not sure yet, but waste not want not and all that."
"Where did you learn to do this?" Powder asked.
Zachariah smiled "Farming wasn't the only thing I did in Hamlet, besides fishing in the river we'd hunt in the woods, see who could take out quails of slingshots, I wish you guys could see it someday it's beautiful."
"Huh if it's so beautiful why do you leave Zachariah?" Vi said as she set the table and sat down throwing her feet on the table.
It was a long, awkward pause between them, "Those soldiers, they annexed Hamlet, it's not my home anymore." He was telling the truth, just leaving me out part of how he ran away when Magi came after him.
"Yeah, those soldier
s don't look too tough. Imagine them coming into our neighborhood." Mylo says as Vander took the fish and started to cook them in a pan in the kitchen, everyone sat down at the table.
Vi cocked her eye "Those big meatheads seem to know you, hiding anything?" She asked.
Vander back was turned but he was listening, waiting to see what Zachariah would say "They tried to draft me. I ran."
Also true but not the full truth. "They wanted you to be a soldier, doesn't sound so bad, I'd make a great one." Mylo laughed as he flexed "Mylo the mighty, great soldier of fortune."
"That's a mercenary Mylo." Vander says as he seasoned the fish into the pan, he flipped the fish "Besides, no need to be a soldier we got everything we want right here." Vander said as he seasoned the other side.
The kids turned to Vander's back, "You fought in war Vander, what was it like?" Clagger asked. Vander stopped his cooking, and grew silent, they all watched him "Vander?" Powder asked, Vi slugged Claggers arm before Vander finished up the fish fillet, he tossed it onto a few plates with some nuts next to it, dried fruit, and tossed it with salt and pepper.
He set the plates down and sat down at the head of the table, "Alright, kids enough talking about those creeps we met in the in the woods, Mylo, Clagger the jukebox still needs work now I don't mind hearing Zachariah sing, but let's not rely just on it."
"Vi, Powder I want the two of you keeping an eye on the bar tonight, got word of some shady characters who may try to start something, Zachariah you're behind the bar with me, leave the cocktails to me, just refill the whiskey and grog." Vander said as he cut into his fish, after that Powder flung a piece of her food at Mylo who shouted at her, Vi laughed and Clagger snickered, followed by Vi making a joke at the stain on Mylo's face was an improvement to his rat face.
The other kids laughed and even Zachariah did too, it was actually a really nice lunch before they opened the doors to the bar.
Within an hour the pub was filled with patrons drinking, eating and talking, making shady deals and exchanging coin, Zachariah stayed behind the bar as he handed out drinks, Mylo and Clagger started to work on the jukebox, Powder was watching them while Vi kept her eyes out for anyone who would start trouble. Among the patrons Sevika chewed on her cigar ignoring the two girls as she played cards.
Back in the bar, Zachariah reached for a rag out of his pocket and pulled out the token handkerchief that Asheline had given him, he sniffed it thinking of her silver blonde hair, her dark brown skin and those eyes purple as amethysts, "Hey, I need a drink."
"Oh- s-sorry." Zachariah said as he filled up the man's tankard with beer. He filled it up, swatted off the extra foam and handed it to the customer. Zachriah looked back to the handkerchief, with AH initials laid in over one another with intricate stitching on them, he sniffed it one more time trying to guess the scent, lavender?
"Oi watch yourself-"
WHAM
A metal gloved fist slammed into a drunken patron as they left the bar sending them crashing into a table, both Clagger and Mylo groaned knowing they'd have to fix the table or build a new one, immediately everyone drew pistols, knives, blackjacks, brass knuckles a blunderbuss, hatchet and one short pudgy man with a knotted club. Facing Darius and Draven in the doorway, Draven smiled "My kind of place brother."
Darius walked in like he was grocery shopping passing by the weapons and the two brothers sat down at the bar, "I'm told this is the best place in Piltover for drinks, is that true?" Darius asked Zachariah who was frozen to the spot. Seveka stood up reaching under her poncho for something, and Vander waved her off.
"Aye, that's true." Vander said, patting his hand on his son's shoulder, "What'll it be lads."
"Give us your strongest big man." Draven said as everyone put away their weapons, seeing Vander had welcomed them.
Vander nodded "Two Last Drop Specials coming right up."
"And a coffee." Darius said.
"Ugggggh Darius I want to get drunk." Draven snapped "Two coffees.' Darius held up two gauntlet covered fingers.
Vander nodded "Zachariah, get the coffee."
The whole time Zacharia was brewing the coffee he was shaking, nervous of Darius and Draven sitting there behind the bar, the two Noxian soldiers stood out like sore thumbs, heavily armed and armored sore thumbs ready to throw down at any moment for a bounty on his head. What would happen if they did, would Vander kill them, could he kill them? Would the Enforcers come, or are they on their way right now.
"What are you looking at blue?" Draven asked.
Zachariah turned around to see Powder staring right up at him, "What's that on your face?" She asked.
Draven scrunched up his nose in confusion, and Powder dragged her finger over her upper lip "This is my glorious mustache." Draven said, said mustache was less than a patch of wispy hair let alone a full stash like Vander sported to his beard.
"Looks like a rat's asshole." Powder said.
Zachariah froze, almost spilling the coffee before Draven turned to his brother slowly, Vi who had been in the corner grabbed a nearby bottle "I like this one."
Darius nodded, as Vander brought the beer and Zacahriah brought the coffee "Thank you." Darius said as he took his coffee and Draven took the beer and started to chug, Vander leaned on the bar looking at the two stocky boys, "So, what brings a couple of brave Noxian legionaries to the Undercity?"
"We are on a diplomatic mission for the Noxian Empire, and we wanted to see the whole city, not just what you call topside." Darius said as he sipped his coffee and set it down, he looked at Zachariah "It seems the whole upper side is abuzz with, what did they call it Brother?" Darius asked Draven.
Draven burped out the response "A power hungry mage dedicated to destroying the City of Pilt, at least-" he burped again "That's what the wanted posters say."
"Mage, no fool'n in Piltover?" Vander asked, scratching his beard in curiosity as if he didn't have that mage standing right next to him.
Darius nodded "Quite, they also have a photo."
"A photo?" Zachariah gasped as Darius pulled out a wanted poster of a mage with a pointed hat, red coat, face shadowed with glowing blue eyes holding the Zachariahs's grandfathers staff with the runestone in it, and the red scaled coat, but other than that no description of his face "And there is a sizeable bounty for whoever finds them or leads the enforcers to them.'
Vander looked at the poster, "That set someone up pretty nice I'd bet." Vander said as he lit his pipe and sucked on it breathing out the smoke from his nose.
"Oh yeah, lots of mullah." Draven said as he took Darius beer for himself, "We heard a bounty hunter tried, came down here looking left half eaten by fish." Darius said.
"Is that what they say?" Vander asked Darius, the two locked eyes as if speaking in code.
Zachariah watched as Darius reached for something behind his red cloak, Vander never broke eye contact before Darius brought out a purse, setting it on the table"Have you ever met mages, Vander was it?" Darius asked him.
Vander sucked on his pipe making the embers of the hash glow from its cup, it lit his face up "Aye, in another life."
"In Noxus, Mages are free of such persecution, the Warmages are an honorable division in our army, they save countless lives with their magic." Darius said as he took out the coins, "Not to mention taking life, of who you fight, no?" Vander asked him.
Darius didn't bat an eye. "There are always the civic mages, builders, healers, artists and scholars in the Capital, many are sponsored by the Black Rose, and want for nothing, unlike in Demacia where they are chained like animals, or hunted like here."
Vander blew out smoke, "Well you seem to know a lot more about mages than us, don't he Zachariah?"
Zachariah waited for Darius or Draven to draw their weapons or throw him in a sack "They… they do."
"Zachariah, thank you for the drinks, I would like to further my gratitude." Darius stood up and reached back into his cloak, "Darius and I have been cordially invited to a banquet in our honor by the Council, I would like you to attend as our, Draven what did Mel call it?"
Draven hadn't been paying attention, he was in fact in an epic battle of silly faces against Powder, and was losing very badly to the blue haired girl, "Huh- oh Pucks Yun no Plus One."
"What?" Zachariah and Vander asked as Draven pulled out a letter with the City of Piltover seal on it, "I believe it's formal fashion, consider it a personal favor to my brother and I for our debt to you my friend." Darius said as Zacharaih took the invitation.
Zachariah looked at it, the paper was the whitest thing he'd seen in Piltover with a wax seal bearing the gear like symbol of the city, written in fine ink that smelled of sunflowers of all things? "Um thank you, I'll think about it but you really don't owe me anything Darius, or you Draven we squared that back at the Great Barrier.""Even if you say so, I insist, a life debt is not easily redeemed in Noxus." Darius said as he stood up to leave, he tossed the purse to Zachariah who caught it, it was heavy with something inside, Draven rolled his eyes as he got up downing the rest of his drink "You're in it now little brother, Darius won't stop until he pays it back in full, usually killing someone who tries to kill you." Draven said as he made one goofy face back at Powder who giggled before he left.
The rest of them watched the two brothers leave, and when they did they turned to Zachariah and Vander starting to whisper, "In the back now." Vander whispered, he pushed Zachariah to the back of the bar "Alright, show's over, back to your drinks you ragamuffins."
Zachariah walked back into the kitchen and opened the purse, he found a crumpled note in it and saw his name scrawled on it in heavy handwriting 'Zachariah'. But under it was something Zachariah hadn't ever seen, "Gold!" Mylo suddenly appeared behind him and Clagger, Powder and Vi came in, Mylo snatched the coin purse but not the note, and they poured the bag out onto the table, it was chalked full of Noxian gold coins. "Look at all that, we can buy a new jukebox with this." Mylo said.
"And who knows what else." Vi said as she lifted up the coins so many they fell through her fingers, "Alright alright you vultures that's enough, that's Zachariah's money you got there." Vander said as he came in, shutting the door, "Care to explain yourself son?"
Vi shot them a glare "But Vander you always say we have to split things fairly?" Vi asked.
"Which is why I'm asking for him to explain himself, if you'd all gone on a scam together then you split it evenly, but since it was Zachariah who earned it-" "Earned it, that muscle head gave it to him?" Vi snapped.
Vander held his hands up to calm her down "Which I'm sure we have an explanation for…. Right?" Vander asked Zachariah who hid the note behind his back.
Zachariah blushed as he thought back to the battle at the foot of the Great Barrier Mountains against the minotaurs, at how Darius and Draven had led the Noxians to victory, if Zachariah hadn't run into that big Minotaru would have killed Darius and maybe Draven too, they'd let him go in thanks but guess Noxian Honor demanded more. "I… saved Darius's life in a battle, didn't mean to, just happened." it had cost the Minotaur his life, to kill a life to save a life was something Zachariah hadn't yet come to terms with.
"Hmm Noxians consider a life saved in battle one of the most honorable things one can do, this Darius's brother is right, it'll stick around till he repays that debt" Vander said to them scratching his chin.
Vander looked over at the gold, "Well, your reward is your gold." Vander said as he scooped the gold back into the purse and offered it to Zachariah, much to the other childrens dismay, Zachariah knew they didn't fully like him, but what would he do with that gold? Blood money.
"Keep it." Zachariah said as he pushed the purse back "Use to buy whatever for the Drop, better yet give it to them." Zachairah said looking at his step siblings, Powder, Clagger and Mylo's faces all lit up but Vi looked at him skeptically, "You heard your big brother, here you go tykes." Vander tossed the coin purse to Powder who got it giddly before the three kids ran off. Vi waited a few seconds before she said "... Thanks, I guess."
Zachariah looked at the note that had been in the purse and opened it, it was written in the same heavy script 'We have to talk' - Darius. He showed it to Vander who looked at it, and hummed to himself.
She left the room and Vander was left alone with Zachariah, he turned to him "These Noxians, they know about your… affliction?"
"You make it sound like magic is a disease?" Zachariah asked him.
Vander waved his hands, "My bad, I phrased that wrong, look the point is these Noxians could be trouble, you're supposed to keep a low profile."
"I'm trying, I didn't know Powder was going to run right into them, or invite me to a party." Zachariah said as he tossed the letter onto the floor "Like I'd go."
Vander bent down and he held up the letter he looked it over and scratched his beard, thinking. He had a look in his eye, something, an idea, a plan. Vander looked at the letter and smelled it "Maybe you should?"
"Excuse me?" Zachariah asked him, "Listen, the only way we can know for certain that those blokes don't sell you out for gold, or keep coming back is that you make an appearance plus it be good for you to get out of here, you spend all day indoors working here or reading-" "Studying." Zachariah said cut him off.
Vander knitted his brow "The point is, you can't stay here all the time, you need a life?" Vander said to him.
"I do have a life… sort of, here, with you guys." Zachariah said to him, Vander shrugged "You won't go on scams with Vi-" "Because stealing is wrong." Zacharaih said.
"I'm not saying it's wrong, or it's right when the time counts. I'm saying it would do you some good to see how the other side lives, it'd help you understand why Vi and the others hate topsiders." Vander said.
Zachariah looked at the invitation, "What would I even wear?"
Vander smirked, he opened the invitation "Says black tie, what size are you again?"
PILTOVER
Later that Night,
Zachariah had walked from the undercity across the Bridge of Progress into the upper city, the snow was cleaner up here, and been swept out of the streets salt had been thrown on the cobbled streets and shoveled off the sidewalks, he hadn't been topside since he had first arrived in his wolf cloak and traveling furs looking like a nomadic wizard. But now he walked not dressed in his green trousers and brown shirt he'd worn earlier or the winter clothes Vander had given him. Instead he was wearing leather boots that were tucked under a pair of twill black trousers, with a black waist coat, a shirt as white as snow with a grey jacket that had intricate stitching up the sides, his brown hair that was usually hanging down to his shoulders was now tied up in a short ponytail behind his head, to protect from the cold Vander had given him a fur collared blue coat that had shiny bronze buttons on it, all in all Zachariah felt ridiculous.
"Don't worry where we got it, other boys don't need it." Zachairah muttered to himself as he walked the streets repeating what Vander had told him, he looked at the invitation and at the numbers on the address but he had never been in this part of the city, looking around he walked down one street with multiple stores and fine houses on each side of it before he stopped by a crosswalk.
One street read Progress Ave the other was Invention St, but the address said Council Way, "Are you lost, citizen?" Zachariah spun around and froze, looking right at Deputy Marcus, he was dressed in an enforcer uniform with his helmet on, a winter coat but no mask.
Zachriah remembered how the man had chased him when he first arrived at the city, "I… um… I."
"Whoa, whoa slow down young man. It's okay, may I see that?" Zachairah saw Marcus point to the invitation in his hand, he didn't recognize him?
Deputy Marcus took the invitation and saw the address "An invitation to Council's party for the Noxian Ambassadors, impressively allow me to escort you sir."
"Oh you don't need to-" "I insist I'm going there myself and a young man like yourself shouldn't be walking alone at night this close to the lanes, run into dirty fisher folk." Marcus said as he handed the envelope to him and led Zachariah to a Enforcer carriage, it had an engine in front of it painted bright blue and gold, with gold trimmed tires and seats.
Marcus opened the door and Zachariah was surprised at his courtesy, slowly he climbed in and sat down, how did he not recognize him, was it the change of clothes, the fact Vander had made him shower before he changed, "Off we go, I'll get you there in no time young man." Marcus said as he started to drive, Zachariah's heart was racing as if he felt he was walking into the lion's den.
"City is beautiful this time of year isn't it?" Marcus asked as they drove through the city, Zachariah looked out and as they left the mercantile district of the city, the buildings and city grew more and more lavish with every block they passed, "Yes, beautiful." Zachariah said as he looked out over the car's edge.
Depth Marcus turned onto a street that led up and up higher over the city where the houses were growing twice, thrice the size of other buildings, gilded pipes ran through each of them funneling hot air into the buildings heating them. The buildings began to transform from simple clean manors into elaborate mansions with great works of art deco carved into the very walls itself. They passed a park with trees and a frozen pond, statues in every corner, past great gates with golden arches and more, it was all so breathtaking that Zacahriah forgot Marcus was speaking to him, "So, how did you get an invitation if you don't mind me asking?" Marcus asked.
Zachariah looked at it, should he lie, what good would that do? "The ambassadors invited me um sir."
"Oh, does your family do business in Noxus?" Marcus asked him "Forgive me, I haven't introduced myself to Deputy Marcus at your service."
Zachariah gulped, Darius and Draven would know his name so lying would be bad "Zachariah."
Marcus looked back in a rearview mirror smiling "A pleasure, sorry for being such a chatterbox. There's a rumor in the Enforcers that the Council will ask Noxus for help dealing with this renegade mage in the lanes, but rest assured the Enforcers are up to the task."
"I have no doubt sir." Zachariah said as they rode higher and higher into the city, "Sir? Sorry about your accent, where did you say you were from again?"
Zachariah felt his gaze on him, and didn't answer "Ah we're here." Marcus had pulled the enforcer automobile into a grand driveway with a roundabout that had multiple automated carriages and carts parked outside, men and women in fine clothing walked out of them toward the stairs of the biggest house Zachriah had ever seen. But calling it a house was criminal or a manor, let alone a mansion it was a goddamn palace. "I'll be damned." Zachariah said, looking in awe of it.
Deputy Marcus stood up and exited the cart opening the door for him, "Heimerdinger Manor, the oldest and possible the grandest of all the Council members' abodes."
"Who's Heimerdinger?" Zachariah blurted out as he stepped onto the cold stone, Deputy Marcus grabbed his cap and turned unequivocal glaring at him, Zachariah felt like the man would blow a whistle and slap him in irons when Marcus burst out laughing, "Oh you're funny kid, I'll see you inside." Marcus said "Who's Heimerdinger, that's a good one."
Zachariah took in the main entrance, it had a dozen large marble steps with gilded rails leading to a door of the same fashion, two enforcers in heavy armor with masks stood out in front, a man in a suit with a golden, literal golden unibrow stood at the door looking at invitations, Zachariah looked at all the people entering all bundled up in exotic coats, furs, hats and even a man in a top hat that was more hat than man, had a literal chimney coming out of it to keep his head warm. Zachariah walked up the steps hand holding the invitation, among all the party goers he seemed to be the only one in line alone, he heard some whispering and muttering "Noxians in our city, how curious." one man with a pair of spectacles and muttonchops said.
"I'd rather take them than fisher folk." a woman with orange hair said to him.
"But if they can get rid of this pesky mage all the better I say." One person said, Zachariah started to sweat in his 'fine' clothes, and forgot he was next in line as he approached the golden unibrow man.
He took one look at Zachariah, "Invitation young man." he stood up straight with white gloves, a blue frock coat, matching blue trousers and a scarf, his hair was thinning on top but he combed it over in a vain attempt to cover a shiny scalp, the golden unibrow was the real thing that stuck out, "Oh right." Zachariah said as he held it up.
The greeter took a look at it, taking out a golden oculus with three lenses that extended to examine it as if it were a forgery, maybe it was, maybe Darius and Draven were in league with the Magehunters now, or they wanted him for their legions, "Please enjoy the festivities young man." the butler said before Zachariah was let in, taking a gulp Zachariah walked into the grand entrance and it was even more opulent than the exterior, checkered marble floors of white and black, radiant golden statues of men, women, minotaurs and creatures Zachariah had only ever seen in Grandpa's books, paintings of regal beings, kings, queens maybe. There was a staircase within the entrance covered in an azure and golden carpet, twenty six steps that led to another floor and it was all jam packed with men and women in fine clothing, hair in a dozen different colors, all of them gilded.
Literally every eight of ten men, women and even children had some sort of golden accessory, Zachriah saw one man entirely made of gold, Councilmember Bolbok speaking with some people. And walking through them were other butlers like the man outside, men and women dressed in the snug frock coats, carrying silver trays with glasses of bubbling liquid, and music too. Zachariah could hear music, a beautiful string orchestra was somewhere in the grand hall playing, a violin for sure but others he couldn't quite place. Zachariah felt someone bump him "Watch yourself youngster." A fat short man said with a purple beard in a green waistcoat and long white sleeves.
"Sorry." Zachairah moved from the main entrance and looked around, he had to just find Darius and Draven, thank them for the invite and let them know their debt was settled, nothing more.
Zachariah was then swallowed by the party, all the topsiders laughing and chatting, drinking and laughing. A buttler came up behind him and stripped Zachariah of his coat and scarf before he could say anything and handed him a ticket with a number on it before Zachariah saw him vanish into a cupboard.
Then he saw it, a gigantic table longer than the whole Last Drop covered in food, meats, vegetables and fruits, frozen chalices of what looked like snow but in a rainbow of colors, candies, deserts, the smell of spices that made his mouth water, their was more food on that table than Zachariah had ever seen and not a single person had even touched it. That is when Zachariah heard his stomach growl like the murk wolves on the mountain, he hadn't eaten anything since the fish.
Looking around the table he saw a boar with an apple in it's mouth being cut by a butler, there was a mountain of steaks, a cornucopia of chicken legs stacked in a spiral, large racks of ribs, an entire jungle of fruit but the strange snow like treat interested him, "See anything you like?"
Zachariah looked around and "Who said that?" Zachariah asked.
"Down here?" Zachariah followed the voice and looked down to see a small hairy creature, a yordle like Teemo, but this one had keen sharp eyes and blonde fur, he wore a blue suit with dark gloves and golden trimming, he must be the head butler he's dressed like all the others? Zachariah thought.
Zachariah pointed to the strange substance in the cold chalice, "Yes, what is that?" Zachariah asked pointing to one that was a white substance covered in what looked like chocolate with a cherry and some sort of chilled cream?
"Ah yes, a keen eye." The short little yordle hoisted himself up on the table and looked rather goofy doing it, but Zachariah didn't want to insult the Yordle by offering him help, the butler took the chalice off the table and grabbed a golden spoon handing it to Zachariah, "Enjoy." The Yordle said. Zachariah took it and the chalice was cold to the touch, made of silver with rubies in it, sticking the spoon into, whatever it is he made sure to get a bit of the brown chocolate, cream and some cherry juice in it before he put in his mouth.
It was at that moment.
At that very wonderful moment of jubilation, ecstasy, pure happiness and the start and end of the universe melted into one as Zachariah's taste buds unleashed in a symphony of bliss as he tasted for the very first time, "Ice Cream, a truly marvelous invention." The head butler said.
"Magic?" Zachariah asked him, the Butler laughed "No, no, just milk frozen and other droll instructions, but I say by the look on your face this is your first time having it."
Zachariah had another scoop and another "Oh yes, it's- oww."
"Ah yes, brain freeze, still working out the kinks I'm afraid, perhaps another invention would sooth it, come come." Zachairah followed the yordle away from the feast and as they walked the crowd parted for them, Zachariah felt some people looking at him but it was probably the head butler. At least these Topsiders respected a man doing his work, and that officer was nice at least when he didn't know he was a mage.
The Yordle led him toward the sound of the music and when they arrived, Zachariah expected to see an orchestra of men and women playing instruments, rather he saw a large gilded machine with rounded trumpets blaring out music as a series of rubber disks rolled on a series of counter trays all with needles attached playing the music, "Marvelous, wouldn't you say?" Yordle asked.
Zachariah looked at it and then down at the Yordle, "You made this?"
"Indeed I did, just a hobby really." the Yordle said, Zachariah turned to him and then back at the machine, three times as big as the jukebox that he and Vi had broken in the Last Drop.
"It's a jukebox?" Zachariah asked him. "Hmmm perhaps but this can play a dozen recordings at once, so that it simulates a real orchestra." the Yordle said.
Zachariah shook his head and it wasn't because of the brainfreeze "Why not just hire real musicians, machines can't work as good as a man."
"Not yet my boy but in time, progress conquers all." the Yordle said as he held onto his coat, "It's the dumbest thing I've ever seen." Zachariah said and suddenly the entire room of talking Topsiders gasped and froze turning to him, Zachariah was about to eat another piece of ice cream when he turned to see everyone looking at him, "What?" Zachariah asked.
Coming through the crowd, "Professor Heimerdinger, is everything alright?" Mel appeared in her white gown and golden jewelry when she noticed Zachariah "And who is this?"
A tall slender man with black hair, wearing a pinstripe grey suit said "This boy just called the Professor's invention stupid, the audacity, harumph." the man gave a literal 'harumph'.
"Sorry?" Zachariah said gesturing to it, maybe the ice cream was starting to slow his own senses, because it started to dawn on on him the man who had served him ice cream, the host himself and leader of the entire city of Piltover, Professor Cecil Heimerdinger was staring right up at him, and Zachariah had just insulted him to his face, in his own house, to his furry face. A long silence filled the air, if he wasn't going to get arrested for being a mage he'd certainly be arrested for this, and he was chuckling "I absolutely agree, it's a piece of junk." Heimerdinger said as he looked at the device "An over glorified jukebox, don't you agree Mel?"
Mel looked at Zachariah with a blank expression and then her lip curled into a smile "Be you ever so humble my dear Heimerdinger, and who would this grand judge of devices be?"
"A friend of Noxus Councilmember Madarna." a large voice that Zachariah had been trying to find all night said, Darius had divided the crowd of onlookers like a warship pushing through pleasure yachts. Draven had an entire tray of hors d'oeuvres in his hand using a dagger as a fork to stab at pieces of meat and cheese to stuff his face, "May I present Zachariah." Darius said as he placed a friendly but firm hand on Zachariah's shoulder. Darius had switched out of his traditional plate armor and was now wearing a long military coat as a cape with the sleeves dangling at his side, intricate red string ropes were tied around his dress uniform, with steel epaulets, Draven wore a similar outfit but no coat, rather a short half cape with a golden tassel around his shaft.
Mel looked him up and down like she was looking for something hidden, "Zachariah…?" she was asking for his last name, a family name, but did Vander ever tell him their last name, did Grandpa, the Wesley's were a family, and so were other families in Hamlet, but he'd just been Zachariah and Grandpa, "Vanderson." Zachariah blurted out to her, "Zachariah Vanderson." he said as he held his hand out.
"Vanderson, I'm not familiar with that family name. Have you recently arrived?" she asked.
Lady you have no idea, he thought as she shook his hand, it was like shaking hands with a porcelain statue. Her touch was so gentle, but something in her eyes made Zachariah nervous "Indeed, just ahead of us in fact a week or so." Darius said, hands behind his massive back.
Mel cupped her chin, "That would have put you in the path of that terrible storm through the Great Barrier Mountain, my goodness Mr. Vanderson how ever did you survive?"
Zachariah felt many eyes watching him, this was a bad idea, a very bad idea to come here he didn't know these people, "It wasn't that bad, I found shelter." Zachariah said as he pulled at his collar.
"Ah then you must have witnessed that strange pyrophilic phenomenon atop the peaks, did you see it's source?" Heimerdinger asked him scratching his harry chen, "Pyrophilic phenomenon?" Zachariah asked.
Draven sucked the meat off a chicken leg, "Talking about that big old dragon everyone saw." Draven said.
Zachariah remembered it, he had been caught in the eye of the storm, he hadn't meant to call on the staff's power, he just wanted to survive he needed fire, and a dragon was fire given form in magic, so he'd summoned a massive golden dragon to literally fight the storm, "No. I was hiding in a cave." Zachariah said.
"Smart, the last thing Piltover would need is a dragon rampaging through the streets but they may mistake that for you Commander Darius." Mel said as the topsiders all let out a chortle of laughter, some covering their mouths with many ringed and bracelet hands at the joke. Zachariah wasn't sure if it was an insult or a compliment and Darius didn't seem phased at all by the humor.
Zachariah forced himself to chuckle as he didn't want to be rude, "Mr. Vanderson you must join us at our table tonight, I'd love to hear about your travels in the Great Barrier, it's been so long since I took a hike there." Heimerdinger said hands clasped together.
"So long as you don't mind killer Murkwolves and Minotaurs?" Zachariah said and people actually laughed at that like it was a joke, it wasn't meant to be "Splendid, splendid."
What the hell was he doing?
"Councilman Heimerdinger, we have other guests to attend to, House Kiramman has arrived." Mel said to him, the yordle nodded "Tata." he said as they walked off leaving Darius and Draven on each side of Zachariah.
Darius leaned down "You play the role of politician better than you think."
"Politician, I had no idea who he even was." Zachariah said to Darius who cocked a brow "Neither do they, my apologies now they seem to have taken an interest in you?" Darius said.
Zacahriah gaped at him and wanted to shout but he forced it to a whisper, "Interest, after that stunt in the Last Drop talking about bounties, I came here to… he cut himself off, can we talk in private."
Darius nodded, and the two plus Draven who had single handedly devoured his entire tray in record time tossing it to a butler, they walked away from the main hall and into an elaborate hallway with paintings of Piltover till they arrived to a balcony, "I need some air." Zachariah said as he opened it to the cold winds setting the ice cream down, it was crisp and fresh and Zachariah took in a deep breath as Draven closed the door behind us.
"You wanted to talk?" Darius asked him.
Zachariah turned to face him, "Look Darius, Draven, as much as I appreciate getting a bag of gold from you, we're squared I saved your life, you guys let me go, even?"
The two brothers looked at one another, "Well not entirely, brother." Draven said as he drew his knife, Zachariah's eyes went wide "Did you think we'd invite you here with out ulterior motives, that bounty is pretty big." Draven said as he got closer, Zachariah looked at the blade and where before he'd have leapt off the balcony to flee, his hand curled into a fist like at the woods, but this time flickers of lightning coursed through his fist, powder wasn't here to see him use magic "I may not have my staff, but I-" "Draven enough." Darius said.
Draven sighed, sheathing his blade "You're no fun brother."
It was a joke, "Dammit Draven, this is serious people are after me, the Enforcers if they found out I was here they-" "Won't, that's what I wanted to talk to you about Zachariah."
He stared up at him, "I told the Council that the mage we encountered, the one they think is here is dead."
"Dead?" Zachariah asked "You got shit in your ears little brother?" Draven asked him, "We did you a favor Zachy boy." Draven said.
He looked at the two of them and Darius sighed "Despite all these muscles my brother and I have, we do know what we're doing, we are aware that this city has a less than approved idea of Magic, a superstition of the old world. Therefore in order to settle this life debt, we'd like to help clear the slate." Darius said arms folded over his breastplate.
Zachariah waited, "Tonight at dinner we will make up whatever we need to so that they never think of you as a mage, and that will hopefully clear you of any suspicion."
"Okay, that… that would be nice, makes me wonder why they'd even care did you see that feast they had, all that food." Zachariah said as he sighed in relief, "All that gold, all that space it's ridiculous compared to the lanes."
Draven nodded "Piltover is as gaudy as Demacia, those elitist snobs wouldn't last a day in Noxus."
"Even so. This is the only way I know how to repay our debt to you fully, besides two other options." Darius explained.
"You mean killing someone?" Zachariah repeated what Vander had told him, "It's usually the easiest, messy but easy." Draven said, cleaning his teeth with his dagger.
Zachariah shrugged it was brutal, but true "And the second option?"
"Come back with us to Noxus, and not just you your family too, your father, your siblings would be more than welcome in Noxus that they are here, look at the decadence these people live in, when all this wealth and prosperity could be sent to the under city, and not held behind a guarded bridge with guns." Darius said, gesturing to all the posh around them.
Zachariah thought it over, would it be better to move on like he'd thought before, but with his family than away. Would they even agree to it, the Lanes were their home, but they hated topside, "But I'd have to join the legion?"
"It would gladen us to have you with us, a mage of your raw talent, Zachariah?" Darius said to him.
"I'll think on it, but lets get through tonight, deal?" Zachariah asked him "Deal." Darius said as they shook on it, after they did they heard a loud bell to signal dinner, "Finally I'm starving." Draven said.
"How are you always so hungry?" Zachariah asked, since he'd been in Piltover all he'd done is stuff his face.
Draven grunted as they headed back into the party, where the large crowd of rich snobs were heading to an even larger room, the tables and chairs were set out all over the room with a large table in the center with multiple grand golden chairs around it. Zachariah saw Mel and Heimerdinger talking with the metal Bolbok, and the rest of the council, among them a skinny boy with a cane and short brown hair, pale in complexion behind Heimerdinger. "Vanderson is that you?" Zachariah heard a melodic voice say.
He turned around to see Asheline Holdington, he couldn't remember the rest of her names the silver haired and dark skinned girl he'd met in the woods with Vi, she was no longer in her riding gear but had replaced it with an beautiful silver and blue dress, it went down to her ankles but fit her in all and he meant aaaaaaaaaall the right ways, like Mel's but with intricate floral patterns in it, with long glove that went up her arms, her neck shoulders exposed except for radiant jewelry around her neck, her silver hair tied up in intricate braids, with ear rings, but she looked twice her age dressed like that "Ashe- I mean Lady Ahseline, I wanted to give this back." he fumbled into his pocket and pulled out her token he'd given to her.
"We'll save you a seat lover boy. Draven teased as he patted Zachariah on the back, Darius leading him forward as others followed in.
"Sitting with the Council and Noxian Ambassadors, and I took you for a simple fisherfolk who knew horses, you are full of surprises Mr. Vanderson." Asheline said as she held a bronze van carved with butterflies to her face hiding her smile.
"Mr.- Zachariah is fine, if you don't mind." he said as she shut the fan, "And what do I owe such familiarity to the talk of the party, it's not every day someone insults the Father of Piltover and he agrees."
Zachariah blushed "That was… I didn't mean…"
"I'm teasing, sorry I forget that not everyone enjoys the game." She said as she swatted him playfully with the fan, "Game?"
She rolled her lovely, lovely purple eyes "Oh you poor boy, they'll eat you alive if your not careful."
"Wait, is that why nobody ate any of that feast out there, they eat people?" Zachariah asked her, she chuckled at his attempt to be funny. "Some of these houses would eat each other if it would grow their power, just smile and agree with everything they said and you'll be fine. If they found out where you were really from then you'd be in trouble." she said in a hushed tone.
Zachariah furrowed his brow "Why are you helping me?" Zachariah asked, confused.
"Why?" Asheline asked and she shrugged "You're different, and I like different things. Not to mention half the people in this room would kill just to sit next to Heimerdinger and you did it with an insult, rather than brown nosing. The irony is palpable."
The slender boy who had been speaking to Heimerdinger came up "Begging your pardon but Professor Heimerdinger requested you join him, Mr. Vanderson was it?"
"That's your cue, good luck." Asheline said winking at him before she strode off her heels clicking and hips swaying, Zachariah ogled before the boy cleared his throat "This way."
Zachariah turned to him and saw him walking with a limp, and followed him "Sorry, I was distracted."
"Well I won't tell if you don't." he said as they headed to the dinner table, "What's your name?" Zachariah asked.
"My name?" the skinny boy asked "Viktor." the boy said as they came to the table "Thank you Viktor." Zachariah said with a smile before he sat down at the large table, it was so strange seeing all these rich high class people, all he had done was clean up, and Deputy Marcus treated him like anyone else, he'd insulted the founder of Piltover and they'd invited him to dinner, even though they had a feast outside in the grand hall no doubt growing cold. All of it wasting away for whatever they were going to eat now? And as if on cue a small army of waiters descended into the ball room and started to put trays of plates in front of everyone, Zachariah saw literal barrels of wine being rolled out emptied and replaced, and when the opened the trays Zachariah was astonished to see all that was in front of him was a small bit of steak no bigger than his hand with fruit he couldn't name, and what looked like half a cup of potatoes, Zachariah went for the food when he heard Heimerdinger hitting his goblet of wine.
He stood up on the table the only way he could be tall enough for everyone to see "A toast to our new trade agreements with Noxus and a long standing friendship between our peoples. To Progress." Heimerdinger
"TO PROGRESS!" The hall said toasting to it, progress having all this food, all this wealth and they didn't even care to share it with the people in the lanes he'd seen starving in the streets, if the Last Drop had half that food he'd seen or the wine they'd never go hungry again. He noticed Deputy Marcus in the corner of his eye who toasted as he was speaking with a dark haired woman with a hawkish face who hadn't noticed him.
Heimerdinger sat back down "Now, Zachariah was it, do tell us of your adventures?"
"My adventures?" Zachariah asked and Darius cleared his throat, "Mr. Vanderson comes from a well established family across the mountains, recently joined with Noxus who has trade in the undercity." Darius said.
Zachariah nodded "Right, right. We gave their legions food, not that it mattered Draven ate most of it."
"Guilty." Draven said as he swallowed the filet of meat in one bite, the Council members all laughed though most faked it, "Hamlet, I'm not familiar with that city?" Councilwoman Kiramman said as she looked at him "Is your family there?"
Zachariah opened his mouth to speak but stopped. "Well, yes and no." he said he didn't like lying but "Well which is it my dear?" Mel asked him the way she looked at him with those golden flecked eyes as if seeing right through him like she said 'I know you're hiding something, I will find it'.
"Well I-" "Forgive him, he recently laid to rest his dear Grandfather before he departure, his family believed getting out was the best thing for a young man like Zachariah." Darius half lied, he had laid his grandfather to rest when a Magehunter had chased him from the town, and the Wesley's.
The Coucnilmembers looked at one another "My condolences." Mel said as she sipped her wine "No, no it's fine. My grandfather was old, so old I wasn't sure exactly how long he'd been alive." Zachariah said as he thought back to him, he felt the chain under his neck where his grandfather's dragon ring was hidden "But he lived a full life, respected by all in Hamlet. There wasn't a man, woman or child he'd turn away from his door in need of help, taught me everything he knew and more. When he passed he did so in his sleep in his own home, next to his earth made a full life of himself and everyone in Hamlet came to pay their respects. His only wish was for me to leave, and come here to see this grand city." that was a partial lie but he was playing along with Darius and Draven plan "One night I was sleeping under the stars in the mountains freezing my ass of and now I'm here with some of the finest people in Piltover, with all this food wine and wealth some people never even dream of, I just hope I can be the man my family needs the way my Grandfather was to me, being the best I can be."
There was another long silence, Zachariah hadn't mean to speak so reverently "Here here." Councilman Torman said "To be the best we can be." Mel said toasting to it, they all raised their glasses and rather than feel admired by it Zachariah felt a horrible disgust at their eyes, all the wealth and power these people had, and he started to see why Vi and her siblings despised them.
"Well if we are trying to be the best we can be." the slender blonde haired Salo said, he stood up "People of Piltover!" he said loudly, everyone turned to him and Zachariah downed his wine to calm his nerves.
Salo strode over to center of the room "I'm sure all of you have heard the rumors of a terrible threat looming over our beloved City!" he said loudly.
Heimerdinger and the other Council members turned to Mel, "Don't look at me, this is all him?" she muttered.
"A Mage in Piltover!" Zachariah looked to Darius and Draven, Darius gave a soft shake of his head for Zachariah not to move, "A terrible warlock causing murder and mayhem, the very thing our great founder Heimerdinger built this city to withstand, and as we have lived in centuries without this threat, I have taken it upon myself to sponsor a new effort to combat this evil." Salo said hand clasped together as he walked towards two large white doors at the end of the room, Zachariah felt his heart start to race would it be another bounty hunter, were enforcers about to spring out in full riot gear to seize him. "May I give to you our saviors, the Magehunters!" and out of the white doors in full cloaks and iron mask walked three Magehunters all of whom were armed to the teeth with the strange assortment of weapons, the iron skull medallion around their necks. "Trained in the Demacian arts of seeking Mages, they have offered their services free of charge in Piltover's time of need."
Among them Zachariah could see the one eyed mask, that one leaned into the one in the middle a tall imposing hunter in a black cloak, his mask was carved with ancient writing and welded together from old cracks, and he heard the one eyed one whisper "These brave hunters, will work with our brave Enforcers to- what?" The leader of them whispered something to Salo "That's… that's not possible."
The lead Magehunter walked forward, "Ladies and Gentlemen of Piltover, know that we have come here to help your fair city, the city of Progress so that it may be free of Magic once more, so we do not wish to alarm you when we say this." He held up his skull medallion that started to shake in his hand without any movement of his fist "There is a Mage among us."