Of Silence and Scars, Chapter 16

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XVI Sona played a merry melody on her etwahl as she hovered through the streets of Ionia. She was in a wonderful mood after band practice with Pentakill and had convinced them their next tour should end in Noxus. She was excited to surprise Draven with a visit and to hear his laugh again. The noise that made most others cringe or become quite angry with the cocky executioner had become music to her ears. Children followed her down the street and played with the trailing ribbons from her dress flowing in the light breeze. Some danced clumsily to her tune and she giggled silently at the antics of the children. She loved their energy! She played a while longer, then reached home and waved goodbye to her miniature parade that had formed. All the kids waved back and a few begged her to stay, but she declined politely and headed inside. It had been almost a week since Draven had left, she wondered how he was doing. His last letter had said he was in Piltover for a job, but he didn’t elaborate. She worried about his task considering the time she had come to know him… She was still lost in the fog of thought when she entered her apartment. It took her a couple of moments to process what she saw. There was a panel of her friends waiting for her, all sitting around the worn wood of the table and talking in hushed tones. The conversation died as she approached. Kennen, Akali, Shen and Soraka sat together on one side of the table, while Karma, Irelia and Varus sat on the other end. The latter group looked angry for some reason. Sona frowned slightly and asked why they broke into her apartment. Shen cleared his throat, “An investigation was ordered by the head of Ionian Affairs to see what link you had with Noxus and to discern any malicious intent. Irelia led the search, and found nothing. I oversaw that nothing illicit was done outside of the search parameters.” Irelia jumped to her feet and slammed her hand on a pile of letters, “Nothing? What do you call these? Draven has been writing to her for weeks!” Shen cocked an eyebrow, “Oh yes, the maliciousness of “I miss you” and the ever feared, “I look forward to seeing you once more” have thoroughly rattled my bones with fear. They are innocent letters Irelia, calm yourself.” Irelia did the opposite and pointed an accusing finger at Sona, “What has he said to trick you? Are you being blackmailed?” Sona shook her head and her frown deepened. She signed rapidly asking what gave her the right to barge into her house uninvited and accuse her of being a traitor for writing letters. Irelia huffed but said nothing as Karma laid a hand of restraint of the Will of the Blades shoulder. Karma interjected calmly, “I apologize for the intrusion Sona, but you must understand the government’s concern. The recent disappearances, the rare visit of a Noxian to Ionia days before. The government is trying to find out what is going on before anyone else is hurt. Noxus seems the most likely culprit.” Akali spoke, “You cannot harass someone because of their relations with another person who is from somewhere that wronged you one time though. We cannot condone this labeling and intrusion! That is why Kennen and I came with Shen to watch over you three.” She gestured at Varus, Karma and Irelia. Sona tried to ask who had been attacked this time, but a roaring argument burst out between Soraka and the ninjas against the inquisitors. The fighting grew in volume and intensity steadily until it was a roar in the deafeningly small space of the one-person apartment. Sona’s frustration built at the raucous and intrusion of privacy. She grasped her etwahl and struck viscously at the strings, letting out a resounding and explosive wail. Everyone at the table clasped their ears, then all was silent. All eyes were on Sona as her cheeks reddened, but she didn’t bow out now. She asked who had been taken. Everyone became quiet, Shen said quietly “The Demacian team. Garen, lady Lux, Quinn and Valor, Galio and Shyvana.” Sona asked why Shyvana was there. Where was Jarvan? Irelia chimed in once more, “he is in Noxus undergoing an investigation to the burning of the Demacian palace. He isn’t taking the news well. Noxus hates Demacians, and their team hasn’t been hit yet! That is why we suspect foul play from them.” Akali interjected yet again, “Noxus is vile and lacks honor, but they do not have any capabilities we know of that would explain this. There is no evidence leaning in any direction. They would be an obvious scapegoat for a third party, so we must not jump to conclusions.” Another fight was mounting, but Soraka intervened. “Whatever is the next step, surely this investigation of Sona has ended. You searched the entire apartment, you found nothing. Can you take this discussion elsewhere and let her relax?” A grumbling agreement came from all parties and they shuffled out of the confined space for fresh air. Shen lagged behind the group and gave a curt bow to Sona, “I am truly sorry for the intrusion, but do not mind Irelia. Her actions are rash, but she is trying to defend her home. You understand. Thank you for your compliance and hospitality.” Sona’s frustration ebbed away. She could never stay mad at Shen, he was too polite. She managed a small smile and returned the bow. He left and closed the door gently. She turned to the one remaining guest, Soraka. The Starcaller pulled three pieces of parchment from her robe and handed them to Sona. “These are any letters containing information about actions on the night of the palace fire. You shouldn’t keep these,” She scolded. Sona rolled her eyes and began cleaning up the mess the investigation had made. She signed that she didn’t expect a raid on her house and she liked the mementos. She thanked her friend for hiding them. “No problem, the others were pretty irked about you and Draven once they found out, but Karma and Shen kept them in line and focused on their original task. Varus didn’t take the news well. You sure you know what you are doing?” Sona replied that she didn’t fully, but she felt right doing it and that counted for a lot. She liked talking to Draven and seeing a new view on things. She didn’t have any Noxian friends and they saw the world in such an odd way. That and he was handsome. Soraka stuck her tongue out, “Ugh! No thanks! You can keep his dead cat moustache thank you very much.” They laughed for a while and Sona said she had gotten used to it. Soraka looked uncomfortable for a moment, “Hey, Sona. I’m on your side, you know that. But I must know to sate my curiosity, does Draven know what is going on? The kidnappings I mean. Is Noxus involved?” Sona told her that Draven has mentioned confusion at the predicament, but hasn’t indicated he has any idea who did it. He was being private about his current business except where it was. Soraka pondered that for a moment, but sensed Sona’s hesitation to continue talking about it. She changed the subject. “So I hear Pentakill is touring again, is a trip to see lover boy in order?” Sona nodded and began to explain the trip plan.

Darius was still finding sand in his armor after the entire trek home. Irritable and exhausted he stormed into the Spire. Cool air felt good on his sunburned neck. Entering the dark conference room, the doors sealed behind him ominously. Swain stood reading a report from the field and greeted Darius casually. He asked what Shurima had yielded.
Darius answered “Nasus scoured the Great library searching for your answer.” He dropped a scroll on the table, “He found nearly a hundred items of lore and legend that could describe the events occurring at the Institute.”
Swain nodded, “Good. Good. Well made progress. I have another assignment for you, head to Zaun. Take the list and ask Singed about any chemical items on the list and ask Viktor if you come across anything technology linked. We need to narrow this further.”
Darius growled, “Why waste our time? We have a hundred possible items here and those are only what we know of, from a ruined library in a ruined city in an ancient desert! How can this help? We should be acting on the issue at hand! Whoever this is had the balls to attack Demacians! They are arrogant, but not weak. March on the institute, take the fight to whoever is doing this! Not dawdle about asking people who don’t know about something we can’t find.”
Swain put a hand to his mouth and locked eyes with Darius. His frustration was understood, but a lesson needed to be learned here. Dropping his hand he said, “Would you care to play a game?”
Darius didn’t even know how to answer as Swain casually strolled over to a chess table. The Hand of Noxus didn’t question Swain as he approached the table as well. More confused than before, Darius asked what was going on as his superior cleared the board of all pieces, and replaced them with stones of various shape and color. Each side had a different number of stones in different positions on the board, loosely arranged into two teams. 
Swain gestured to the board, “You can go first.”
Darius shook his head, “How does this matter? I don’t know how to play.”
Swain repeated the gesture, “You. First.”
Darius rumbled curses under his breath but hesitantly grasped a small stone in the front of his side and moved it one space forward. Swain eyed the board for a moment, then grabbed a stone of his gingerly and hauled it in a large L shape to take Darius’ moved piece. 
More confused by the second, Darius moved a stone three spaces forward and gingerly grasped Swain’s piece. Looking quizzically at his general to see if there was any objections or indications of the rules to this stupid game, Swain nodded that he was in the right. The Master Tactician then snapped up a rock and flicked his wrist, sending the stone flying into Darius’ line. All of his stones clattered to the floor. “You lose.”
Darius was angrier than when he came in, “What was the point of that? You won at a game you made up! You wasted my time!”
Swain raised a hand to calm him. “I did not, I proved a point. You cannot hope to win in the scenario you propose for the issue of the kidnappings. We need intelligence Darius, we cannot march blindly into a game where we do not know the opponent, their strength, their numbers, who they are, what they are using, what pieces we have to work with and what we need, the objective, and ultimately how to win the game or issue. I do not know if a person is doing this or a monster. What if there is no fight to be had? What if a portal was opened in one of the locker rooms and people keep falling into it? It isn’t ideal, I know. But this is what we have and we must deal with it.
Darius hated being chastised, but Swain was right, as usual. He calmed down a great deal and put his faith in the Tactician. He hadn’t failed so far. Swain stood and paced over to him and laid a crooked, cracked hand on his shoulder plate, “Your loyalty, determination, courage and strength are unquestionable, but you think too rashly and lack patience. In time we will discover the truth. Until then, work with me.”
Darius nodded and asked when he should head to Zaun.
“With the sunrise. Take the rest of the day to recover.”
Darius grunted and left for home. Swain stared out the door after him, wondering how far that man would go on blind faith.