Of Silence and Scars, Chapter 17

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XVII Draven whistled as he strolled through the gates back into his home. He had been gone for longer than he wanted, but Swain had sent a raven telling him to go to Zaun for some reason. That delay had cost him a few days as he met with Singed and Viktor to find out more about a list of objects. The process had confused him slightly, but the why was not his problem, he was getting a sweet vacation after this Sherlock Holmes crap was finished! His smile broadened as images of beaches, sun and bikinis filled his thoughts. The Spire loomed over him as he came to report in and get one step closer to finishing this task. Entering the Spire, the receptionist called to him. She informed him Swain was not in the conference room, he was in his personal office at the top of the Spire. Draven nodded and headed for the elevator… He hated that thing. An iron box hanging from a mesh of rusty chains lifted by prisoners pulling it up. It was part of the hard labor prisons implemented on their detainees. He always felt like they would slip or drop it. Entering the elevator, he heard a light jingling. What was that noise? It almost sounded like… bells! He slammed the close button on the doors repeatedly. The doors slid shut and he was alone. Leaning against the wall and letting out his held breath Draven silently thanked the heavens. Then the voice pierced his calm veil, “How about a magic trick?” Shaco stood with his permanent smile and dead white eyes as Draven nearly jumped out his skin with a yelp of surprise. “Fantastic, the clown. I hate clowns.” Not discouraged, Shaco asked again, “How about a magic trick?” “Let me guess, there’s two of you?” He said with no excitement in his voice. Shaco disappeared in an orange smoke, then reappeared with a clone. “Oh joy, there’s two of you.” The Shacos both held that eerie smiles and bobbed in unison. In unison they said, “I’m going to cut off your skin!” “Wait, what?” Laughing hysterically the two clones tackled Draven and he struggled to fight them both off. He punched one hard and knocked him backwards as the other dragged him to the floor of the elevator. The cramped space made it hard to move, much less fight while laying down. He felt a dull pain in his leg, and he managed a glance down. The urchin was gnawing on his leg! Grumbling and grunting curses he kicked violently at the Shaco gnawing on his leg and held the knife from the other inches from his face. Struggling as the elevator door creaked open, he gasped out, “This….. is….. urgh….. bullsh-“ but didn’t get to finish as the Shaco holding the knife let up and stood to stroll casually into the room. Swain’s circular office was something straight out of a horror movie. Sculptures of Gargoyles sneered from inlets in the dark stone walls. A dark green carpet covered the floor like a dark moss and a black oak desk dominated the room. Books lay open next to a lone candle that was almost entirely melted. There were no windows in the office, paranoia and secrecy overcoming aesthetic. Draven stood and kicked shook off the still-gnawing Shaco clone, sending it flying with a loud bang into the metal wall of the elevator. The executioner cringed and grunted as knives exploded from the fake clown and a few found their way into his leg. Minor cuts not leaving long term damage, the short term damage to Draven’s patience was palpable. Swain cocked an eyebrow at Shaco but proceeded as if nothing had happened. Urgot and Sion were waiting next to Swain as Draven reached the desk and the meeting began. Draven asked, “Why is the clown here? What is going on? Why did I have to take the elevator? And” Gesturing to Sion “How did he even get here? Like seriously, he is larger than the elevator, and it’s the only way in here that I can see.” Swain ignored Draven. “We have an issue gentlemen. Darius went missing after his return from a mission to Shurima. Draven cleaned up his pending mission to Zaun while my spies located him. He is in Demacia. From what I can gather, Jarvan did not take the news of a Demacian team being captured well after his palace was set ablaze, so he kidnapped Darius to try and get the admission that both actions were Noxus’ doing out of him. This is not true however, so Darius cannot help them. We need to get him back. The plan is relatively simple, we bring in Shaco to break Darius out with support from Draven if needed while Sion, Urgot and I go to the Demacian command directly for a distraction and conduct a diplomatic attempt to get him out. It will not work as Jarvan will deny any activity, but this will mask your approach to the city.” Swain locked eyes with Draven, “You must not be caught. Any alarm will leave my team trapped in the Demacian command while you run for it.” Draven sighed, “Oh Jarvan, love that guy. Do I really have to go with him?” He jabbed a thumb at Shaco. “Yes.” Shaco sneered at Draven, “This will be fun!” Draven cupped his head in his hand. “Fantastic.” Shaco still bobbed energetically, “I will cut off your skin!” Urgot whined into life, “Skin is cuuurgh…. overrated” Swain shook his head, rethinking every decision in his life up to this point.

Sona nursed her tea in the same run down bar in Noxus that she had first run into Draven. The last letter they had sent agreed to meet here when he returned. The Pentakill short tour had gone well, but she was very excited to see the cocky Noxian again. As if summoned by her thoughts, calloused hands clasped her shoulders gently. “Hey there beautiful. Room for one more?”
She smiled and stood up to hug Draven. He embraced her, then took a seat across from her. Small talk proceeded for a couple of minutes. Sona told him about the investigation in her house, but they had not found anything. Draven toyed with his moustache as he listened. Then he told her about his trip to Zaun and what had befallen Darius. He asked if she would accompany him on this mission, saying he had ok’d it with Swain saying she would be a good cover while he waited for Shaco. Them being together looked less odd than a solo Draven hanging around the prison. She agreed, saying Demacia shouldn’t have taken Darius, but Jarvan was desperate. She asked if she would slow him down, she didn’t want to be a burden.
Draven insisted “You will be a great help to me! I like my skin firmly attached to my body…” He shuddered. Seeing her questioning gaze he shook his head, “We head out tonight. Are you good to travel?”
She nodded and he led her out into the night.