"Valor's shadow is the last thing you'll see."~ Quinn, Demacia's Wings
We are getting into the thick of it now! Let me know if you want to slow down the pace a bit, since we are blazing through right now.
Also leave a comment. Or stones. Or a review.
I'll take anything at this point.
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Quinn stepped forward and led them as they approached the stronghold. The entrance to which had a three guards keeping watch.
"Halt!" A guard stepped forward. "State your name and purpose!"
Quinn replied. "Ranger Quinn, here to meet Garen Crownguard."
The guard nodded. "Ranger Quinn, where were you stationed?"
"Uwendale."
"Quinn of Uwendale..." The man muttered. He turned his attention to Gregori and the rest. "What about the others? Are they with you?"
Quinn nodded. "I have led them here to meet with the Commander of the First Shield." She specified Garen in his official capacity so that the guards understood why she had brought them here.
The guards nodded. "You are vouching for them." He stated but it was for confirmation.
"Yes." Quinn answered.
The guard looked at the Avalance beasts. "Are those creatures violent? We cannot let it in if that is the case."
"No." Quinn answered. "I have not seen them do anything violent in our time spent travelling."
The guard sighed and then shrugged, "You ARE vouching for them." After which the guards moved to the side.
Quinn smiled and led the group inside the enclosure. They walked past various groups of soldiers and those stationed there. Their own curiosity was met with equal curiosity from the soldiers.
It was out of place for a group to arrive so suddenly and a group consisting of children and a couple creatures? It seemed unlikely.
Word of this would spread quick.
Annie, Daisy, Faye, Daani and Briar looked around in fascination. Other than Daisy, they all had seen how the Noxian army operated and looked but the Demacian army was different. They were strict but the place didn't feel morbid. The soldiers did not look emotionless, as if death was looming over them at any moment.
The group walked toward a large tent.
"Quinn?" A gruff voice called from the side, "What brings you here?"
Quinn smiled, "Good to see you Merrek." She gestured to those behind her. "I'm bringing these people here to meet the Commander."
Gregori took the man in. He was large. Large enough to pass off as a Freljordian. He was fully decked out in Demacian armor. The silver and gold covering the entirety of his body, leaving only a gap for his eyes. He leaned with both hands on his large shield.
"Well you will have to wait." Merrek spoke. "The Commander is talking to another."
Quinn looked surprised, "Another Commander?"
Merrek nodded. "One of the Commanders of the Dragonguard."
"Long way for one of them to be here." Quinn frowned.
Shaking his head, Merrek replied, "Not really. The dragons are south of here. Sometimes they slip through the gaps."
"But that is no reason for a Commander to personally move here." Quinn retorted. "They would usually send an Officer or a Lieutenant."
Merrek shrugged, "Maybe quite a few dragons slipped through." He turned to the tent. "It is not our place to question their decisions Quinn." He sighed. "We just follow orders."
Quinn smiled. "You and I both know you aren't one to follow orders blindly Merrek."
"Yes." Merrek acquiesced. "But if I know the reasoning.... then I would almost always follow."
Quinn nodded but stayed silent.
A moment of silence passed between them.
"Where are the rest?" Quinn asked.
"Over there somewhere." Merrek pointed with a shake of his head. He continued, "Something's happening and they went to watch the spectacle."
"Daddy can we go too?"
Merrek's attention shifted to the group with those words. "Who are these lot Quinn?" He kept his attention to them as he watched the father talk to the pale white haired daughter.
Quinn answered. "Met them past Uwendale. The man is here as a messenger and with him are his children."
One of Merrek's eyebrows lifted. "A messenger? And he brings information that was important enough for you to personally escort him here?"
"I cannot share the details here Merrek." Quinn answered with a sheepish expression.
Merrek nodded. "I understand but what about the two startlingly large creatures?"
"They are harmless beasts of burden." Quinn waved him off.
Gregori heard those words but chose to not correct Quinn. It was better for them to believe whatever they wanted. But in the momentary lapse in his concentration, he had lost sight of Briar.
"Excuse me?"
Merrek looked downward.
"Is your armor really heavy mister?" Briar was in front of the man asking him.
Dumbfounded, Merrek answered, "Yes." He lifted his arms and flexed them, the metal over them sliding over each other as he did. "But I am strong enough for it to not matter."
"Woah!" She exclaimed.
As if hypnotized, Briar reached out to touch the shield.
"NO!" Gregori voiced urgently as he grabbed her wrist.
Briar looked back at him questioningly.
"Is that Petricite?" Gregori asked Merrek.
Merrek nodded. "All weapons and armor here have a bit of it."
Gregori turned to Briar. "You cannot touch it. It is dangerous for you."
Merrek's eyes widened. He turned to Quinn. "You brought a mage here?"
Quinn looked equally shocked as she looked at the interaction.
"Mages." Gregori corrected without turning back. "She brought mages here." He ushered Briar back to the group. "Keep an eye on her. " He instructed the other children before walking up to Merrek and Quinn.
Merrek's pose became more threatening. "A spy...." He spoke slowly.
Gregori shook his head with a smile. "No. Just a messenger. We will leave as soon as we pass our message along and then you will most likely never see us again."
"Who do you bring the message from?" Merrek interrogated.
Gregori answered without missing a beat. "From the Avarosan tribe as a favor to the Warmother."
"Do you have proof?" Merrek asked.
Gregori sighed, "It is your decision on whether you want to believe it or not. I am not here to convince you."
Merrek frowned at the reply.
The two stared at each other for a while, none speaking but silently assessing the other.
"Shield-Sergeant!" A strong voice called from behind them as a man emerged from the tent.
The tall and built man walked to them. His armor was different, large shoulder pauldrons and chest plate were all that adorned the man. Arm guards were the only other armor on the man. The rest were various leathers and blue cloth that wrapped his body. The thing that stood out was his massive sword. A broadsword. One bigger than Tryndamere's own weapon. His hair the same shade of brown as the wood from the trees. The man had a rugged look. The same one soldiers have after being dispatched for a while.
"Commander." Merrek greeted.
Another figure emerged form under the tent. A woman. Her armor was different from the usual white, blue and gold. It was red and gold. It covered her chest, arms and legs. With her, she carried a spear of a similar color scheme, its tip was sharp but jagged on both sides. Her hair was also brown but a darker shade and her eyes were of the same shade. Just like Gregori.
"Commander." Merrek greeted once again.
"Commander." Quinn greeted.
"Quinn!" The Commander exclaimed. "It has been a while." His expression softened. "How have you been faring?"
"Well enough Commander, well enough." Quinn answered.
"Bah!" Garen waved her off, "That is Garen to you Quinn. We have lived through battle, you do not need to state my title."
"But I have to do it in official capacity." Quinn answered.
Garen's eyes sharpened. "What brings you here Ranger Quinn?"
Quinn gestured to Gregori and the group. "I bring to you a messenger from the Freljord."
Garen's attention shifted to Gregori. "Speak messenger."
"My name is Gregori. I am here on behalf of the Warmother of the Avarosan tribe of the Freljord. "
"What message do you bring?" Garen asked.
"One of war." Gregori answered. "We had received word of a plan of attack on the kingdom of Demacia."
Garen grit his teeth as he heard the words. Both Merrek and the other Commander had their eyes widen.
"Other Freljordians?" Garen questioned.
Gregori nodded, "An allied tribe to the Winter's Claw. But it is not just them."
"Who else?" Garen asked impatiently.
"They are being led by the mage that had caused a revolution." Garen's eyes widened. "The one named Sylas."
Gregori watched Garen's fists clench in anger.
"How sure are you of this?" The other Commander asked.
Gregori turned to her. "Extremely."
"Are you sure of his presence there?" She asked.
"Yes. I have seen him myself." Gregori answered.
Garen looked at him, "You have seen him?"
Gregori nodded. "Open fur cloak, bound in Petriciteshackles, immense amount of magic."
"You speak as if you have met him in battle." Merrek pointed out.
Gregori nodded. "They tried to invade Avarosa during our stay there. We fought back."
"Fought back?" Sydell laughed, "Daddy face-"
"Sydell." Gregori warned sternly. "Do not interrupt when the adults are speaking."
Sydell nodded and shirked back.
But his words did not go unnoticed, both Commanders looked to Gregori with a little bit of suspicion and apprehension.
"That is all?" Garen asked.
"That is all." Gregori answered. "I have delivered my message to Garen Crownguard of the noble house of Crownguard and..." He turned to the other Commander asking her to introduce herself.
"Eileen Spiritmight" She answered. "Of the noble house of Spiritmight."
"Daddy!" Annie exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes Annie." Gregori tried to shift the attention from her, "Wait till I'm done and then I will entertain you."
The outburst was overlooked.
"Yes." He spoke as he faced the two. "I have delivered my message."
"Where are you from?" Eileen asked with a frown.
"The lands between Noxus and Freljord." Gregori answered without missing a beat.
Eileen did not stop however, "Did you serve?"
Gregori nodded. "Served Noxus in the invasion of the Freljord and retired after my first was born."
Her spear was at his throat at the reply. "A Noxian dog."
"I never claimed to be Noxian and they killed my pregnant wife." He replied calmly. "I'm here to relay my message and continue on with my journey." He pointed to his children. "I would be pretty bad of a spy if I brought my children along wouldn't I?"
Her spear dropped but her suspicion lingered.
"Where do you plan on going from here?" She interrogated.
Gregori sighed before answering, "I left behind something here over a decade ago. I will collect it before heading to the capital to collect something else and then we will leave to Mount Targon." He laid out his entire plan in front of the woman.
The woman who was his sister. The girl he hadn't seen in over two decades. Her features overlapped the young face he remembered.
"We will accompany you to the capital." She stated.
Garen looked at her surprised. "We?"
"Weren't you planning to head there anyway?" She asked. "We can watch over him."
Gregori smiled. "I would be honored to have two escorts of your stature journey with us." He words were warm.
The two turned to him in confusion at the ease at which he accepted.