We ride through the woods without saying a word. So Zeke was dead. Emerald knows the way pretty well, so I don’t need to worry about leading her. My mind wonders off. Zeke was an average Celodian but a loyal one. Devoted. It is times like these that the fifty year gap catches up with me in the most painful ways. I should have known that Zeke was long gone. I just don’t want to believe I was gone for as long as I have. Why? No idea. I don’t want to face the reality that most of the soldiers who fought by my side were long gone as well. I hear a noise in the distance. I think someone’s calling me.

“Breeze!” Crile’s voice reaches me.

“WHAT?!” That one slips out a bit harsher than I intended.

“No need to get rough. Just wanted you to know we’ve almost reached the city. You seemed a bit out of it. That’s all.”

“Thanks.” I don’t know how to deal with this. In my mind he and I were never supposed to see each other again. Definitely not after what happened the last time I saw him. The image of Crile under Viroma, the night before the battle, pops up in my mind again. I feel the same feeling of darkness consuming me now, as I did fifty years ago. I grip the reins tighter.

“Child?”

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me, Child.”

“Sorry.” Emerald has a knack for making me feel like an infant. “Won’t happen again. Promise.” Emerald doesn’t respond. I’m a mess. Right when I don’t have any room for mistakes. I’m so screwed.

“Try not to get killed or kill someone else for that matter.”

“Excuse me?” I turn my head to where the comment is coming from.

“For the record, I’m not a fan of the whole arrangement either.” Crile tells me. I know that much! Yet he isn’t even batting an eyelash in my direction.

“Let me guess. You just needed me to know that, right?” I see a grin play on his lips.

“You know me so well, Breeze.” Of course, I do! I was engaged to you, damn it!

“Let’s just get this over with it.” I grip the reins tighter and push Emerald to go faster. She takes off in an instant, leaving Crile and his Celodian behind us.

The Bastard king stands in front of the royal stables. Did he come here to greet us? How sweet. Not. I guess he wants to make sure I actually bring Emerald. Not that I can replace her with a different mount, anyway.

“I’m pleased to see you could comply with my request so quickly.” Tahon smiles at me. Bite me.

“Request? It felt more like an order, your highness.” I get off Emerald and bow grinning. I will snap your neck one day.

“Call it what you want it.” He gives way to us and speaks again.

“I will take you to meet the ship’s captain once you have your saber in place.”

“Why your majesty, one more generous action like that and I will begin to think you like me.” I put my hand on my cheek and pretend to blush.

“Not in this life time.” He turns his back to me. How easy it would be to just run my claw through his back and rip out his spine.

“Child!” Emerald growls inside my head.

“I know.” I look at her. She can always tell when I’m full of bloodlust.

“Be good now, I’ll see you soon.”

“Right.” It’s obvious that Emerald isn’t pleased with my jokes. You and me both, sister. Just as I walk up to Tahon, Crile and Axe emerge from around the corner. Tahon greets him.

“Ah! I’m glad to see you weren’t killed. I was about to take Lady Deathbreeze to go see the captain, would you like to join us?

Crile gets off his Celodian and looks both of us over. “Do I have a choice?”

“No.” Tahon answers him straight.

“Very well.” Crile leads his mount into the stables. We follow the king’s lead as soon as Crile steps outside. Nobody says anything. There is no reason for chatter. It takes us about half an hour to get from the Royal City to the docks. By air of course. The Dragon Trail is the fastest way there. Another good thing about it - you can sit comfortably in a carrier too. Although, I do prefer the howling winds more than awkward silences. The docks are busy as ever. I gaze into the distance of the wide blue ocean. It brings back memories.

Finally, we reach the docks. I steal a glance at Breeze. Her expression has changed. I want to ask if being here now brings some memories back for her, but I can’t do it with the King present, so I keep my mouth shut. We proceed following the King’s lead all the way to the far side of the docks. Huh. I guess the King doesn’t want this to be an official mission. That is probably also the reason why he’s wearing less royalty looking clothes as well.

“Ahoy!” The King shouts out to one of the ships.

“What!” A voice answers a bit displeased.

“I wish to speak with the captain.”

“Who are you?”. A goblin like head shows itself from the side of the ship. A male Balli. The race that, as the legend has it, clawed its way out of the depths of the earth. Giving them abnormally large limbs and all kinds of shades of red as their skin, in a way they resemble Noxians…

“He knows.” That’s all the King says. Breeze is inspecting the ship. I can tell. Her eyes have shifted. She isn't able to see through it or anything but her hawk eyes let her see things more clearly, as well as giving her the ability to see even the tiniest details. I can bet my blades, she’s already making a full report in her mind about the ship’s crew, based on the condition of the ship itself alone. A few minutes go by when an over grown Primerian shows up. He had military training from what I could tell. Strong, muscular body. Scars covered his arms. And to top it all off. He had that look in his eye. The look that said: Make one wrong move and you are a corpse. Not that he could ever lay a hand on me. I’m an Assassin. I was trained to be light and fast. To be invisible. A brute that only recognizes strength as an only weapon needed – is no match for me. I keep eyeballing him. Trying to guess his background. Meanwhile, he eyeballs Breeze more than any of us. For some reason that small detailed makes me feel uneasy. I have the confidence Breeze would handle herself if anything. Yet still. I place my hand over the blade attach to my side. The brute stands a couple of feet away from us when he addresses the King.

“So, these are the two I am supposed to be taking to Crepitus and back?” His voice sounds like he’s buried underground.

“Yes. Well. This one is.” The King points to Breeze. “This one.” He gestures at me. “Is to make sure she does not slaughter your crew.” Bastard. The brute smiles with a creepy psychotic grin and walks over, closer to Breeze.

“I’m sure I could find a way or two to keep you in check.” He whispers.

“Careful now, you’re not the first one to think that.” Breeze answers him with a psychotic smile of her own.

“Look down.” She whispers. The brute’s stare slowly goes from looking upwards to gazing downwards. Breeze has a dagger pointed between his left and right leg. That view is like a piece of red cloth to a bull-horse. He wants to grab her by the neck but Breeze steps to the side and presses the dagger against his throat.

“You were saying?” I ask the idiot. The brute just gives me a furious glance and backs up. That little show Breeze just put on makes me smile inside. I’m glad to know she hasn’t lost her edge completely. The King clears his throat.

“Now. As I mentioned in my letter. You will be taking these two and some men from the Army to Crepitus and back. You will be leaving in one week from today and return in two months after you leave. I expect all of you can handle playing nice for the duration of the trip?”

“Yes.” Breeze and I answer together. The so-called captain doesn’t seem so sure. He hesitates.

“Captain?” The King presses him to answer.

“I expect to be paid a generous amount for the trouble.” Why am I not surprised.

“Will this be enough?” The King takes out a leather pouch and tosses it to the captain. The guy looks inside.

“We’ll see once we get back. If we get back.” He looks Breeze over again.

“Need I remind you what happens to your family if you do not deliver?” Oh? That’s interesting. I wonder when did the King get into the habit of such threats.

“Be here in one week.” That’s all the captain says as he walks back up to the ship. The King turns around to face us.

“I expect you to pay any damage dealt to the ship or its crew for the duration of the trip, especially if you will be the one inflicting it. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.” Breeze answers without any hesitation.

“Good. You’re free to do as you please till the departure.” The King walks past us.

“Oh, and bear in mind, if you are wasting my time and resources with this – there will be consequences.” He says it with a hint of bloodlust. I might have misjudged our Highness.

“Would not dream of it, sir.” Breeze bows. We stand there watching the King walk away.

“So, now what?” I ask her still looking into the direction of the King.

“I am going back to the stables to be with Emerald till it’s time to leave.”

“I see.” There’s really not much I can say. So, I start walking. Breeze lets herself fall behind a few steps and we walk back to the landing site in silence. I sigh. Is there honestly nothing I can do to make it better?

“Ouch!” I hear behind me. “Give a warning next time or something.” I watch Breeze walk past me as she rubs her nose.

“Breeze.” I reached for her. Her hand slips right through my fingers.

“I’d rather you not.” She doesn’t even put the effort to look me in the eyes. Breeze walks away from me and soon enough I lose her in the crowd. I stand there like a lost puppy, not knowing what do to next. Eventually, I feel my lips rearrange themselves into a smile. She is the only being on this planet with the ability to leave me feeling like a total dumbass still. I look around one last time. Breeze is long gone.

“Ouch!” I knock into Crile’s back when suddenly he decides to take a break from walking ten inches. “Give a warning next time or something.” I tell him as I walk around him, rubbing my poor nose.

“Breeze.” I hear his voice behind me and feel his fingertips reaching for me. I slip my hand out of range of his grip in an instant.

“I’d rather you not.” I say and keep walking forward. I don’t even put the effort of looking him in the eye. What for? There is nothing he can say or do, to make me feel better. Nobody can. So, I keep walking. Moving forward without looking back is something I am good at. So then why? Why did I want him to take me by the hand back there? Even just for an eye blink. Shit. I know why. I’m simply too stubborn to admit it. The next two months will be such a pain.