“ARGH!! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE! Is it time yet? Well?” I pace around the room again.

“Would you relax already. The baby's not due for a few more weeks.”

“How can I possibly relax! This is so nerve wrecking it's driving me insane!”

“I do believe you are overreacting.” Vona smiles at me. Somehow that ticks me off even more...

“Or maybe you're just not reacting enough!” I pout. My wife throws me a quick glare. “Sorry.” I mumble.

“Go take a walk or something. Your pacing is burning a hole through the marble.”

“Fine! Not that it will help!” I mumble some more. “You better tell me the moment you feel something!” I kneel down by her belly and kiss it. “The moment.” I whisper...

“Sure sure, now shoo.” Vona waves me off. I wish Ira was here. I can't handle this pressure by myself... I find Era napping in her usual spot, by the desk.

“Wanna go for a walk?”

“Is that supposed to help you calm yourself?” She gets up, stretching slowly.

“It'd better!”

“Very well.” She steps down and joins me by my side. “You look like hell.”

“Haven't been able to sleep much...”

“You needn't be so antsy. The child hasn't even been born yet. Save your worries for later.”

“You sure make it sound like it's nothing!”

“Ren.” Era's calm and low growl eases my mind every time. I exhale.

“I'll try.” We wonder around the Palace grounds... Everyone we meet bows to us... It's been years now and I still can't get used to it...

“Sounds like there's trouble.” Era stares to the side.

“What is it?”

“Something about bandits?”

“What's this about bandits? I will not have any bastards causing trouble here with my child on the way!” I walk over to the whispering men.

“My Lord!” They bow quickly and nervously. “Bandits? What bandits?” None of the five even try to look me in the eye. I notice one hiding something behind his back. I stretch my arm out. The soldier steps back. I step forward.

“Give. It. Here.” I growl.

“Don't you dare!” Lyma runs over to us and takes the paper from the scout.

“My Lord. I highly recommend that you remain off duty till your child reaches a respectable age to be married.”

“That... That will be decades!” I pout. The men giggle at me.

“Precisely.” Lyma nods.

“You're not serious.”

“I am. We'll handle any trouble that may or may not be happening. Excuse us.” He bows. The men follow his lead and scramble away from us.

“Those damned...” I growl. Another growl reaches me from behind me.

“Are you laughing?” I stare at Era.

“It seems you have been served? I believe?”

“Really? You too?”

“I agree with them. It's good for you to hang your weapons. You're a father now, after all.”

“I just need something to keep my mind off things and a fight sounds just right!”

“If it's a fight you want - I'll be happy to obligate.” Era walks next to me again.

“No. You are the last person I wish to fight.”

“Ren. I am a beast.”

“I said no.” I stop and stare at Era. “I won't be the one to hurt you.”

“Very well. Shall we look for a different sparring partner for you then?”

“Nah. Think I wanna see Vona now again.”

“You're thinking about the bandits, aren't you.”

I laugh and pet her. “Can't hide anything from you, either, huh?”

I return to our bedroom with Vona's lunch.

“Something the matter?” She asks.

“No.”

“Liar. It's written all over your face.” She takes the plate from me. "You've been on edge for the last two-three days? And it isn't the baby."

“Seems I can't hide anything from anyone...” I sigh with a smile.

“Well? What is it?” She asks between her bites.

“The Balli have sent word about some trouble that's headed our way... Lyma's handling it but...”

“You feel like it's your responsibility to handle it. Especially because you don't want your child to be born with fighting going round. Not again, after all this time. You wouldn't be able to calmly raise your baby at home if you knew that others are in trouble...”

A laugh bursts out of me. “That's my clever wife alright.”

Vona lets out a sigh. "If it will ease your mind then go. But make it quick.” She points a finger at me. I take her hand into mine and kiss it.

“I’ll be back in time to see our child take in their first breath."

“You'd better.” Vona pulls me in. We kiss and I hurry out.

“Era! We're going!”

“I advise against it. But. That look in your eyes tells me everything I need to know.” She gets up. We make a quick stop by the stable and the armory.

“We can catch up with them if we hurry.”

“My Lord! STOP!” Lyma's voice chases after us.

“Run!” I jump on Era and she takes off.

“Such a child.” She growls. If I remember right... I steer Era South from the city. With Era going full speed non-stop - it takes us only a day to catch up with the rest of the soldiers.

“My Lord! Why!”

“Easy now. Think of me as just another fighter. Nothing more!”

“The Vice-Chief will have our heads...” Another man sighs. Yeah. Lyma will be pissed. Better him than Ira. He'd have my head...

“Ira would kill you for this...” Era growls.

“Lets take care of this quick so he can't complain!” I answer and ask. “How much further?”

“We should be crossing their path in a few hours. According to Balli, the bandits only target small towns and villages, avoiding crowded areas.” Right. Most Noxian settlements are small in comparison. With exceptions of Astri and Ravenna. With the mountains surrounding the North and the South they are most likely to take a straight line across the land toward Cornutora. South is scares. That's mostly where the produce is grown now anyways. If we can cut them off here - we win. The Balli lands are too vast and their settlements are kept far apart from each other, due to their landscape and lack of suitable soil. Making them the perfect targets with low risk of getting caught. No matter. Our people areplenty capable of fending for themselves, but it would be too arrogant of us not to intervene... A painful groan breaks the silence. One of the men falls of his Celodian.

“It's an ambush!”

“Protect the King!”

“Ren!”

“I know!” I jump of Era and grab an arrow, an inch away from my face. “How many!”

“I count over a dozen so far. Probably more...” Damn it! Did they figure it out? Were we spotted? Was there a leak!

“REN! FOCUS! NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO GET DISTRACTED!” Era roars, dodging arrows.

“Are the woods safe?”

“A few behind us.”

“Right. Cover me!” I charge the trees, with Era jumping in front of me, smashing down a tree with her paw. The men follow my lead, struggling to protect their fallen comrades. I slash through a body and parry another attack. This won't save us much, but we can at least be clear from the arrows... Where the hell are they raining down from anyways? I ram my sword through another body.

“Shamans. Probably.” Someone says.

“How are they?” I ask.

“Not good. We already gave them potions.”

“Healer?”

“He is the healer...” Damn it... There's only a handful of us…

“There's over 30 of them.” Era tells me. Damn it!

“This isn't what the report said!” Another soldier screams out. “They lied to us!”

“We don't know that!” Another says.

“They could have recruited on their way here!” Another says.

“Doesn't matter!” I cut them off. “We need to get at least one of you out of here to get help. Anything will do. Where's the nearest settlement?”

“Too far. Because the land has been developing so much, most of the villages moved to Astri's or Ravenna's territories. Only a few remain around the borders for security reasons. And for working the fields…”

“I'm glad we're well off, but sadly that does not help us right now! Have you contacted anyone yet?” I ask again.

“I'm trying! No answer yet!” The girl screams out.

“Even if they'll answer - it'll take a day if not longer for them to get here!”

“It's not like we can just sit here!” Agreed... Think! Think! To hell with this! Fine!

“Who's the fastest here!”

“Her!” A finger points to Era.

“Besides her!”

“Me.” A girl raises her hand.

“Good. Then you will make a break for it. The rest of us will hold them off as best as we can. If we sent a flare or something then perhaps a scout will see it.”

“Then I'll go! I'm a Fire Mage.” A different girl says.

“REN! INCOMING!”

“WATCH OUT!” I throw myself in front of the blade, blocking it with my axe. “NOW! GO!” Era bites the head off.

“But. My Lord! You!”

“I SAID GO! GETTING HELP ARE YOUR ORDERS!” I roar. Another roar captures my attention. A spear sticks out of Era's side. No. No. NOOOOO!

“ERAAAAAA!!!” I kick the grinning bastard and hack him in half. I take out a potion and drop it.

“NO!”

“Ren!” I turn around and get a foot to the face. “REN!” Era jumps over and gets a blade to the foot.

“ERA!” I throw my axe, but the tree catches it instead. Damn it! Our cover is getting in the way. The others are struggling to keep up too. We're clearly outnumbered... Screams fill the woods. Branches begin slithering around. The wounded soldier! A Ravo! The branches on the ground spear the bandits, either killing them or maiming them just enough.

“Get in there!” Era roars to me, swiping at another bastard.

“Right! Don't let up!” I rush over to the Ravo and get thrown away by a block of dirt. I hate casters... I hurry back to my feet and pick up whatever's throwable off the ground. I hurl it at the caster's back. Next time make sure I'm dead. The broken spear lands in the Balli's neck. The caster drops dead. Hope the girls can manage... I throw my sword next and miss. Damn it! I dodge behind a tree. Era's down... No... Gorgeous... I scramble for another potion and run over to Era again.

“Here.” I pour it into her mouth. “Hold on.” I grab the spear and pull it out. She roars. I pour another vial directly on the wound. The slash on her foot looks bad...

“Behind you!” Era kicks me to the side and takes in another attack that was meant for me.

“Idiot!”

“20... 19...” Huh? The numbers. Their numbers are going down! Another scream. But so are ours... The Ravo lays on the ground with an axe in his back...

“Protect... The... King...” The last words the boy can manage are meant for my sake...

“The King? Who?” The Balli bandit stares at me. I reach for a weapon... Any weapon... “Hoooooo. So you're the King? Well now. You're supposed to be quite the big deal. I bet your head will make me famous!” He roars with laughter. Tch.

“Try and take it from me.” I grin.

“18...17...” Era's voice dies down. NO! I hold my hand on her. She's breathing. Good.

“Oh? You've got balls, King. Or maybe you're simply not that bright?” The man stares me down.

“What? Scared? Tell you what. I'll fight you with one hand. That should make things fair.” I grin again, hiding one hand behind my back. My fingertips brush against a blade. The man roars again.

“Don't! He's mine.” The man glares behind me. Another Balli lowers his axe. Too close. I pick up the sword. A long one. Not my style... It'll do.

“Shall we take this outside then?” I gotta lure them away from Era.

“Sure. We'll fight one-on-one.”

“Wouldn't have it any other way.” That must be their leader or something. I slowly stand up. The man and I lock eyes and leave the woods. A dozen men stand around in the open. No. More. Sounds about right...

“Surround us!” Damn it! Nobody moves. Hope they behave... “It's never too late to beg for your life, you know.” The boss says and the men roar.

“That's my line.” I ready myself. “Try and make it somewhat entertaining for me.” I grin again.

“Cheeky bastard.” The man grins back and we lock blades with sparks flying. I grip the handle tight with both hands. This will be a pain… The Balli is strong. I fought plenty of them back in the day. Still. I can’t help but feel uneasy… I block another swing. I kick the man off myself and charge in with a barrage of slashes diagonally and from above. I turn around, picking up momentum and switch out the blade for another kick. A hit. The Balli lands on his back. I jump over and kick the axe out of his hand, stepping on the wrist. I jab the tip of the sword into his throat.

“Call off your men. Leave now and I’ll spare your life.”

The man grins with a bloody lip. "Fat chance." I sigh. The man grabs the tip of the sword and tries to jab it into my foot. I jump back, dropping the blade. The big boss tosses the sword to the side. I take up a fighting stance. So does he. We circle each other. Screw this. I close the distance in one leap and batter in a hail of punches. The oversized limbs do a good job holding up the block. I get a leg up and hammer it down into the man’s skull. The heel connects, but so do the arms of the Balli. He begins to spin himself around, together with me, but the height difference does it’s thing. He loses balance soon enough and lets go of me. I stagger a little. My foot touches something on the ground. The axe! I quickly grab it and spin it in my hands. I take a step at a time, nearing the man again. He scrambles for the sword, a few steps away. I grab the handle firm again and hack the arm. Blood. Screams.

“Back off. This is your last warning.” I tell the kneeling man again. He roars at me again with his gurgling laughter.

“Go for it.” He holds his head up high.

“As you wish.” I slash his head off in one fluid hack. I pick up the sword and begin turning the blades in my hands.

“WHO’S NEXT!” I call out to the rest 16. The blades in my hands pick up speed. The slashes get louder with each swing. One man charges in, screaming. I swing the axe above my head once, letting the sword join it half way and hack the man in three with both blades in a single strike.

I open my eyes. My ears twitch to the sound of metal clanging. I look around. Everyone's dead... I try to move put my front paw caves. The wounds hurt... I feel dizzy... Few spots on my body feel wet... I'm losing blood...

“Ren...”

“ERA! THANK THE STARS! I'm glad you’re alive.”

“So are you...” I force my body to listen.

“Barely...” Huh? Only now I notice him. Beat up and bloody, with dead bodies around him...

“REN!

“STAY DOWN!”

“DON'T DO THIS!”

“I SAID DON'T!” My body freezes again. Ren lets the chain wrap around his arm and reels the man to him. “GET OVER HERE!” He snaps the neck in one quick turn. “WHO'S NEXT! COME ON!” Ren taunts the bastards. Their whispers reach me.

“It's been over a day now...”

“Monster...”

“WELL!” Ren does not let up.

“IDIOT! GET BACK HERE!” I try to move and fail.

“It's ok, Gorgeous. Stay put till help arrives. You'll be fine. Just don't move.”

“WHAT HELP! YOU DON'T KNOW! IDIOT!”

“I KNOW! I KNOW! I know... I made the stupid choice to be here and now I'm paying the price.”

“NOW’S NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR RIGTHEOUS BULLSHIT!!!”

I hear Ren laugh softly inside my mind. “That's the first time ever I heard you use that word.”

“Why!” My heart aches...

“Don't worry. Everything will be ok. They got smarter, but that works for me too. See? They are taking a break. I can catch my breath too... It's ok.”

“WHAT PART ABOUT THIS IS OK, EXACTLY! There's 10 of them and only ONE OF YOU!!

Another giggle. “There were 17 when you passed out... I'd say I did a pretty good job... Considering...”

“The bastards are healing themselves while you only exhaust yourself even more!!” Every muscle inside my body hurts… I can’t move…

“I have my potions. Plus. I get a bite out of them too. Some even have booze on them. It's ok. We'll get through this. I promised Vona I'd be there for our child. I intend to keep it.”

“THEN BE THERE! RUN!” I try to raise my head. It drops back down like a stone.

“No.”

“REN!”

“I SAID NO!” He sounds angry. “I'M NOT ABOUT TO LEAVE YOU!!” One of the bastards’ charge Ren with their axe. Ren throws the chain and it wraps itself around the handle. Ren easily pulls the axe out of the man’s hands and tosses it to the side. He uses the other end of the chain to capture the man. Ren pulls him in close, grabs the hilt of the knife, sticking out from behind the man and slashes the neck. A red stream bursts onto Ren. The body drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Another two charge Ren again.

“I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!! FORGET ME AND GET OUT OF HERE!!”

“I WILL NOT USE YOU TO SAVE MY OWN SKIN!! Sacrificing people isn't my style.”

“YOUR STYLE IS ABOUT TO GET YOU KILLED!!” I watch him fend off the other two bandits.

“THEN SO BE IT!! I'D RATHER DIE THAN BETRAY YOU!!”

“What about her then, huh! Aren't you betraying her by dying here! And the Child! What about it! Think here for a second!!” My body refuses to move still.

“I AM THINKING!! What kind of a father would I be if I used my best friend as a shield!! What kind of an example would that make me for the Child!!” He says, letting a dagger go straight through his right palm and punches the scum right in the nose with his left hook.

“YOU KEEP THIS UP AND YOU WON'T GET TO BE ANY KIND OF A FATHER!!! WHY MUST YOU BE SO STUBBORN!!” My head sinks to the ground again.

“BECAUSE I'M A MORON!!! ALRIGHT!! I'm an idiot... I know that... I should have stayed behind... I should have never brought you out here... I should have... EVEN SO!! If I run, I'll run from myself for the rest of my life. I can't do that. I can't live a happy life knowing that you cost me it...” Ren staggers to stand up…

“ANY LIFE IS BETTER THAN DEATH!!! LET ME HELP!!”

“I SAID STAY DOWN!! THAT'S AN ORDER!! DO NOT MOVE!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!” Ren's voice roars inside my mind... He drops flat on the ground.

“You'll regret doing this!!!”

“I regret this plenty already...” A few men surround him, one of them picks Ren up by the hair…

“WYKREEEEEEEN!!!!!” My soul roars in pain... His head falls to the ground. Something snaps inside of me. Rage surges through me. It burns me. My body moves by itself.

“What in the...”

“MONSTER!!!”

“RUN!!”

“HELP!!”

“IT BURNS!!!”

The voices scream in agony under my claws. Silver flames engulf the rotten bastards. The flesh burns. The blood sizzles. The stench fills the air. I stomp on the bodies, splattering the scum all over. I notice a few of them try to make a run for it. I try to go after them, but my body sinks down after a single jump. I push my useless body off the ground and with the last bits of my strength, I drag myself back to Ren’s side…

“How could you have let yourself get killed by the likes of trash such as this...” The fires around Ren's body continue to burn. The rage within me slowly subsides... I nudge him... Gone... I curl up around him... My heart bleeds... Forgive me... Hyra... Forgive me...

I hear voices...

“What in the...”

“No...”

“The King...”

“Oh Gods...”

“There's more over here!”

“Look at those scorch marks...”

“Just what happened here...”

“WHO CARES! THE KING IS DEAD! WE FUCKED UP!!”

“Hoof prints! That way!”

“WE CAN STILL TRACK THEM!!”

“Let's go!”

“DON'T!! OUR PRIORITY IS TO RETURN THEM! Especially the... Mistress...” A touch. I snap my eyes open and hover over Ren, growling.

“Nobody touches him!"

“Milady, please...” I swipe.

“Watch out!” I swipe again.

“Stop! Please!”

“We want to help!”

“I don't care! Get lost!” I growl again and collapse to my side.

“Lady Emerald!” I sway to the sides and crash down again. I lay my head on Ren and roar.

“Leave them. For now. There are others.” I know that voice... I pass out again...

I come in and out of my daze a few more times before I finally recognize the face in front of me. Lyma...

“Please. He's the last one. Let us take him home...” Home... I force myself to stand. I manage half a step and crash back to the ground.

“Tend to her now!”

“Milady!” A gentle touch reaches me. I don't have the strength to fight it anymore... I watch the soldiers pick Ren up and wrap him up with something... His severed head all wrapped up is the last thing I remember before passing out again...

More reinforcements show up the next day. More like extra transportation... They load the bodies onto the wagons. They offer me one, but I chose to walk. I walk next to Ren all the way back... The city does not make a single sound as we pass by. We arrive at the Palace. Lyma stops the wagon in front of the entrance. Six men take Ren off the wagon and carefully lay him down on the cold marble... We wait... People gather around us...

“Out of my way! MOVE!” She's here... His woman shows herself by the entrance... She falls straight to her knees and crawls to Ren... The woman crawls over his body. She takes Ren's head and cradles it in her embrace, with her pregnant stomach pressing against his body... A sudden scream breaks out of her. The woman takes in more air and screams again. And again. And again. And again... Devona's cries echo through the entire Palace... The city... The land... She screams his name out over and over, and over again... Her hysteria shatters my soul completely... Devona continues to shed tears with Ren's head in her arms till there's no more air left in her lungs... Her strength abandons her and she collapses, causing another hysteria amongst her people. Somebody takes her away. Some of the others take Ren away too... I drag myself to the stables and rot there... I will regret not being able to disobey Ren that day till the end of time...

Epilogue

“Emerald?” A distant sound breaks the silence inside my mind. Such a fragile voice...

“Hello, Child, it’s nice to finally meet you.”

That was the first time I saw her: the deep blue hair, the skin that's neither white nor grey, but something in between, and the eyes, as blue as the sky... A tiny copy of Wykren... No. A vision appears inside my heart. The smiling face of Hyra and the quiet gaze of Wolken, with Ren in the middle... Now I understand what Ira meant... She is everything that we have left of him... The little Ren stands there, frozen. Small, round-ish, in a word - cute. The light fright coming off her makes me smile... Yet there is courage in her eyes. Same as her Father, when we first met...