A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"FOUR!" ~Jhin, The Virtuoso

I was really tempted to just have the entire chapter be a collection of fours. But its not April Fools yet.

Also let me know if this chapter makes Gregori sound intimidating.

6 Chapters in total. Enjoy you bastards!

Leave a comment or multiple!

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Deciding not to go back to his room, Gregori made his way to a nearby tavern and took a seat in a corner.

He sat still with his eyes closed for a while.

The news that his child might be kept in that fortress was filling him with rage. Rage that desperately needed an outlet.

The breathes that left his body were shaky.

But a few moment later they calmed. He reached into his cloak and pulled out the letter. Staring at the letter in his hands, he contemplated not opening it. Leaving the invitation unopened. Leaving Ambessa unanswered.

But that could set her on his back.

When Harris had said that new parties were in Noxus. He just assumed it to be up and coming nobles from other areas. But it was probably Medarda. She had come to stake her claim on Noxus. The tower being built outside the gates were in partnership with her.

A few minutes of contemplation later, Gregori caved in and walked to the tavern keeper and asked him for a letter opener.

After receiving it, he cut through the wax seal and went back to his seat.

Pulling out the letter, he unfolded it, took a deep breath to calm himself, and started reading it. And it was just as he expected.

An invitation to meet.

To meet and discuss a favor owed.

Gregori moved his right hand to his head and held it as his eyes went out of focus. Running his hand through his hair, he clenched the hand holding the letter, crumpling it in the process. 

He couldn't avoid the meeting now. Not when a meeting for a favor is called. In any other case he could avoid it, but he needed to have Ambessa look the other way as he did whatever he wanted in the place. Everything only worked through sufficient secrecy anyway.

That would mean he needed to give Ambessa something she needed.

The first thing however, was to talk about the favor itself.

He walked outside the tavern and slid the letter into one of the braziers that had been lit for the night. As the letter turned to ashes, Gregori walked in the direction Ambessa's newly established headquarters. It was new, but it spoke for the power she wielded.

That authority could cause a lot of problems.

But the same authority could be useful.

His arrival in the area was instantly met with guards placing spears at his throat.

Raising his hands in the air, he looked at the guards. "Lady Medarda has asked for a meeting." He stated.

The spears receded an inch, "Invitation?" The guard facing him asked.

Gregori nodded.

"Where is the letter?" The guard asked.

"Among the ashes in one of the braziers."

The guard cocked his head in confusion. Never had he seen someone destroy and invitation and then come to the meeting.

Didn't destroying the one thing that was a key to a meeting mean that you weren't interested in the meeting at all?

But why was this man here?

"Send a messenger. Tell her that if she wants a favor repaid, she shouldn't keep me waiting." Gregori spoke calmly.

This man wanted to send a messenger to the Lady? And she shouldn't keep HIM waiting for a favor HE should be repaying?

The entire thing was a contradiction. But who was he to keep questioning this interaction, this was way beyond his pay grade.

He turned to the guard next to him, and gestured to do as the man said with his head.

Gregori smiled as he watched the guard jog inside the large building. Ah these men were in for a fun time after his meeting with the Madam.

A few minutes later the guard came back out. "The Lady is awaiting you sir." He said with a bow. Or what Gregori assumed was a bow. They couldn't really bend properly with that armor on. And a low bow was not something it was built for. 

He followed the guard in and came face to face with the guard dog. Another massive man. Quite common in Noxus but this man was something different. Always armed with a spear. Always prepared. Always watching for threats. Ambessa's shadow.

"Rictus." He nodded.

The man in question nodded back. "Gregori."

"Shall we go in?" Gregori asked.

Rictus nodded and turned to open the gates of war.

As he walked in, Gregori's eyes landed on the woman facing away from him, her hands on a table looking over something. Her back was imposing. In front of her was a wall, adorned with weapons. Weapons taken from worthy enemies. Her own weapons that had broken in battle. There were all placed almost reverently on the wall.

"Lady Ambessa." He spoke in greeting.

"Gregori Hastur. Or if you'd prefer...-" She started, as she turned to face him.

Gregori cut her off at that moment, "Gregori is enough my lady."

She smirked as she nodded. Her chin raised, giving him the feel that she was looking down at him.

"Gregori. I did not appreciate you playing politics earlier." Ambessa spoke. "Imagine my surprise when my ally recognized you at the library..... librarians are often overlooked don't you think so?"

Gregori looked at her without word but giving a small smile when she had mentioned politics. By making her send for someone to let him in after sending an invitation, it made her look rude. Giving him the advantage in a negotiation.

Ambessa continued, "Either way, you owe the Medarda a favor and I would like it repaid." 

"I need a bodyguard for my daughter. You remember Mel, I hope?" She stated. "Now lets discuss when and how you will be getting there."

"No." Gregori replied calmly.

Ambessa frowned. "A favor owed..... is one that must be repaid. And the both of us know that you owe us a favor."

Gregori gave her a chuckle, "No." His eyes hardened, "My favor was owed to one person only. Your son. And unfortunately, the dead can't be owed favors."

Leaning against the table and crossing her arms, she spoke, "Kino was a Medarda and he had gotten you the opportunity to become a Hastur using our name."

"No. He did not." Gregori spoke as he walked closer to her. "I remember your conversation with him Ambessa. And he gave me that opportunity under his name and his name only."

Ambessa stood silently.

"You cannot call a favor not owed to you." He spoke.

"He was my family. You owe him. You owe me." She replied slowly.

Gregori stood even closer, making eye contact with the woman, he was the same height as her. And he did not give an inch. "He was your family and you failed him."

"I did not fail him." She spoke, anger creeping into her voice. "Do not speak of what you have know understanding of."

"I know that he looked up to you. He would have expected you to be by his side as he faced the world. That was all he wanted." Gregori continued. "You left him and you dare to call on a favor owed to him."

Exasperatedly he asked, "Do you have no shame?"

A moment of silence passed between the two. Which Ambessa broke, "Kino left me no choice. You do not what I had to do to keep my daughter safe. You do not know what I am willing to do to keep my daughter safe safe." Spittle flying as she spoke, fully enraged at his words and her voice raising.

Gregori instantly replied, "You will see what I'm willing to do for mine." His voice icy and sharp.

Ambessa's eyes widened in realization. "That is what brought you here. A child." Her anger dropped and was replaced by intrigue. "They have taken your daughter from you."

She then asked, "Are you sure of her survival?"

Nodding, Gregori confirmed, "She is alive. I will not be saying how I know of her being alive but she is alive."

Ambessa gauged him silently.

"Drop your call for the favor and I can do one for you. Free of charge." Gregori spoke. His eyes looked down at the table.

She was looking over blue prints. Schematics. Of the tower being built outside the gates.

Silently changing her opinion of the man, Ambessa asked, "What will you be doing?"

Gregori shook his head, "That is something I will not be revealing. But all I can say is that a petal will fall. There will be a power vacuum. Do with that information as you will. But do not stand in my way."

His eyes shot toward Ambessa's own. "Because if you do... You will not live to see your daughter again."

Raising an eyebrow, she asked, "Is that a threat?"

Gregori turned around, "No. Its a warning."

"A warning from the Hastur or The Gray?" Ambessa asked.

Gregori let out a sigh and let his shoulders sag. "A warning from someone worse. Someone who has been holding back for decades. Someone you would dread to face on the battlefield." He turned his head slightly to look at Ambessa, "Leave me alone Ambessa and you will reap the rewards of that decision within the end of the month."

He heard a movement as he stepped to the side. A knife went whizzing past him and plunged into the door.

THUNK

Turning completely he saw Ambessa with her right arm outward, in the throwing motion. His eyes flitted toward Rictus, who had his hand on his spear.

Ambessa wanted to test this man who had waltzed into her chambers, made her seem rude and managed to deny a favor owed. Not only that, he had left her with a threat all while asking to be left alone.

The nerve of the man.

As he turned his back on her without an ounce of worry, she had to take the chance. There was no way one was that sure of themselves without reason.

Someone worse than a Hastur and the Gray?

Just the thought alone had her lusting at the thought of possessing him.

She watched as he dodged the knife aimed at his head. She slowly dropped the hand that threw the knife.

FWOOOOOM

And then she couldn't move at all.

"You know Ambessa..... you shouldn't keep weapons you do not have control over around you. Who knows what could happen...." The man in front of her left the question unfinished. She moved her eyes toward Rictus who seemed to be struggling in order to move as well.

And then she noticed it, all the weapons that had been adorned on the wall behind her, aimed at her. They just stayed in the air. Ends pointing at her.

"Leave me alone Ambessa. Use what opportunity I provide for you. Don't make me kill you, not when I owe your son." He spoke sadly.

Raising his left hand, Gregori lazily waved it.

THUNK

The knife embedded in the door leading outside, dislodged itself, flew to her hand and placed itself there.

"Rictus." He nodded. Rictus looked at him, still struggling to break free.

He half turned and gave a small bow, "Goodnight.... and goodbye." He finished as he walked out of the chambers.

Ambessa watched his back disappear as the doors closed. As it closed, she regained control of her body and the weapons around her clattered to the ground.

She leaned back against the table. "Don't Rictus. Let him leave." She said as Rictus opened the door to go after him.

Someone worse... She thought. He definitely was something like that.

Ambessa had never felt that helpless. From the corner of her eye, she had spotted the Wolf in the darkness.

The man was fully willing to kill her.

He chose to let her go.