The King's Study

A woman entered the room, her official robes of blue and gold billowing behind her as she hurried across the marble floor. She bowed as she approached the king's ornate desk, saying, "Your grace."

King Lightshield looked up from his ragged reading, drawn from his reverie. His face was lined with age, but his expression gentle, his brown eyes glinting with youthful spirit. "You may speak. What's the matter?" This question came nearly involuntarily as he observed her demeanor. She seemed distraught, her hands clasped tightly, her brows knitted.

"Your grace, the head chairman of the council of Zaun arrived moments ago. The court was unaware you were expecting his visit," said the official.

The king blinked, "I wasn't. Did he happen to state his business?"

"He asks simply for your audience, my king. The nature of his visit he did not impart." She bowed her head as she spoke, as though apologizing herself for the disruption.


"Ah," the king replied, rubbing his neatly kept beard. "Interesting." He glanced at the hextech clock upon his desk: a recent gift of which he was very fond, from the Academy of Science and Progress in Piltover. "Shame about his timing... I meant to hold council with the Seneschal. Nevertheless, if he has come to Demacia from Zaun in such a hurry that he could not send word ahead," the king sighed, resigning himself to what was sure to be an unpleasant ordeal, "his business must be important. Show him in."

The official bowed again and swept from the room. She emerged into the dome-ceilinged hall in which she'd left her charge. First she motioned to the guards who kept vigil at the door, whispered to them in low tones, then her countenance grew wary. She turned to the Zaunite executive. "The king will see you, Chairman," she said, holding open the heavy door to a grand, book-lined room.

The king raised his bushy eyebrows. "I have been informed of their escape. Demacia thanks you for your willingness to co-operate. We, also, will strive to defend and protect Runeterra, setting aside the quarrels of our countries in the face of this larger threat."

He toyed absentmindedly with the clock on his desk before adding, "Surely you did not travel across the continent only to inform me of your country's intentions. What can I do for you, Chairman?"

The king's face darkened the moment the word, "weapon" fell from his Zaunite guest's lips. Then the mention of teleportation techmaturgy? King Lightshield was not a man of science, but he was an experienced statesman--and unchecked access to his city by anyone who shared such a transporter brought to mind one thing: invasion.

Caught between desire to remain on cordial terms with the chairman and the instinctive suspicion growing in his chest, the King got to his feet. "No," he said firmly. "Demacia appreciates your willingness to fight alongside us for the greater good of Valoran, but my military is the best in the land. We will bring swift justice to those who threaten our peoples--as we always have done, and our fathers before us: without the aid of Zaunite 'inventions.'" His chest swelled as he spoke, he lifted his chin in dignity. "And so, Chairman, it is with firm resolve and a tempered spirit that I graciously decline your offer."

The king inclined his head in the slightest of bows before dismissing his visitor with a stern, "Good day to you," and returning to his seat beside the Piltovian clock.

Xin Zhao entered the study and walked over to the desk, he gave a light smile and bowed at the King. Another meeting, probably about what has been occurring. It would have been nice to have good news but, he was sure Demacia would pull through this for the better.

He now waited for the King to speak. His spear in one hand, resting the back of it on resting on the floor.

Xin Zhao nodded and sighed lightly. "As your son said, both of them escaped, and well... That meeting didn't go so well. A couple of times it seemed to get close to exploding into chaos." He rolls his head and shoulders before continuing. "And to add to things, it does certainly make the Institute look weak. It could mean bad things in our future. I'd suggest we keep an eye out for anything else that escapes, and especially if anyone decides to make any moves to gain some power."

He breathed in slowly then continued once more. "And it is understandable to fear for him, things seem like they might get worse before they get better. But I'm sure we'll pull through for the better." He finished and gave a smile. "That's about all, the one thing that I slightly fear is if the other Void creatures have escaped. Either way the last thing we should do is watch for anything strange passing the borders. Icathia might be a trap or distraction."

Xin's mouth curves upwards, grinning. "It'll be an honor to go alongside the Prince. I shall make my journey to Bandle City with haste." He rolls his shoulders, hopefully he won't be late again. It probably didn't look so good to arrive after Noxus.

Xin tilts his head at the mention of a visit from Chairman Dunderson. "Hmm.. It is a definite possibility, If this trip to Icathia goes smoothly, I expect we shouldn't be gone for long." He then waited to make sure that was all before heading off on his journey.

((Because I totally didn't post the Bandle City post first, nope.))