Should We Meet Again

Chapter Fifthteen

The bells that accompanied the opening of the front door of the inn drew Riven's gaze away from her meal. She wasn't eager to show her face freely lest she be recognized, but she would make an exception this time. There were scarce few people around to even visit this inn, and with these new guests arriving in the dead of night, they were bound to be interesting people. Light brown eyes searched for the newcomers, aided only slightly by the dim light of nearly burnt out lanterns. The kindly innkeeper had gone to sleep for the night, trusting Riven would do no harm, and all but certain that there would be no more guests to attend to. As such, Riven was left to her late night meal, which she enjoyed in darkness and, formerly, solitude. Eventually, she made out their forms, a tall, lean man with long, unkempt hair, followed by a much shorter girl whose hair stood up almost perfectly straight.

"I trust you're not planning on causing any trouble with that sword," Riven called out to the pair.

"It would be nice for the 'trouble' we face to have been of our own doing for once..." the man answered, "But no, we are only here for a meal."

"The innkeeper's asleep," Riven informed. "I can wake her, if you like. Just grab a seat and I'll have her out shortly."

The girl was quick to object. "Oh no, we couldn't impose. We can just-"

"It's fine," the exile interrupted. "The old lady needs the business anyway. I'll be right back."

"Thank you," the young woman replied. The pair watched as the white-haired woman disappeared into the back halls of the inn, her steps fading further and further out of earshot.

"I wasn't expecting company, Little Sparrow," the man said. He turned to his partner, noticing how her usually gleeful expression had turned sour. "Something troubles you?"

"She's worse than 'company', Yasuo," Taliyah explained. "She's a member of Noxus's Crimson Elite, a regiment of elite fighters under the general spearheading the Ionian invasion. I only saw her once during my time in Noxus, but people like her are hard to forget. We should leave."

The swordsman didn't spare even a moment to consider Taliyah's proposal, taking a seat in a booth at the edge of the room. "Sit. We're in this situation because of me. The least I can do is fill your stomach before sending you off on your journey. Besides, we came all this way for a proper meal; I won't have that effort be wasted."

"But they're looking for us! We killed Ionian officers back there; we don't have time to deal with people like her. I don't even know if we can beat her."

"We won't have to," Yasuo stated. "Didn't you see her? The war has already defeated her. Why else would she be so far away from the army she holds such a prestigious position in?"

"I... I don't know." Taliyah sat down across from Yasuo, eventually relenting to her companion's offer. "I hope you're sure about this."

"So..." a voice called from elsewhere in the inn. The pair immediately recognized it as their fellow patron. "What brings you here, Taliyah? From what Talon told me, I didn't peg you as the type to abandon ranks and run away with a wanted criminal." The woman had returned alone, and wielding a shard of the large blade she carried before.

"I could ask you the same thing," Taliyah spat back. "What would a Crimson Elite soldier be doing all the way up here?"

"Running. Same as you, I guess." Riven gestured to the swordsman. "You know this man is wanted for murder, right?"

"The elder's death was not my doing."

"Then why don't you stand trial?"

"Because the trial will find me guilty, and rob both myself and the fallen elder of true justice."