If you missed the last episode, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/222772600/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous episode, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/220441594/0/0]Master Post[/url]. Please give a bump, upvote, or leave comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! *** [i]The ketch hums with the hundreds of whispers from the Lovos. I steal a quick peek to my uncle at my side, but he’s looking determinedly forward, eyes fixated on the Lo Ge, Virixias, as he spreads his arms wide to address the crowd.[/i] * Lovos!! * [i]he cries, and the gathered attendants fall silent.[/i] * Today is a new dawn for our people! The Sha’Ir of Earth have a new force to fear – Dra Bovos!!! * [i]The Lovos cheer in response, and Virixias lets the crowd roil for a moment before settling them down.[/i] * We have been graced with the presence of a King today, a gesture from their House for our coming alliance. * [i]He reaches behind him to gesture to me.[/i] * Solis, Daughter of Hatiks, Kell of Kings! * [i]I step forward perfunctorily as the crowd cheers like they’re supposed to. Despite the strength I summon to convey to them, I feel hollow inside, empty as the gesture itself. [/i] [i]I remember eavesdropping on the conversation between my father and my uncle shortly after he’d arrived – despite Skolas’ misgivings, my father had been adamant about his plan.[/i] * The Lovos must join with us, * [i]I’d heard him tell his brother.[/i] * On the day we retake She’Lot, we must have all Houses united as a single force. Any less and our assault will break against the walls of their City. * * You know how to unite them, * [i]Skolas had growled back.[/i] * There’s only one thing that will truly unite all the Houses – * * Enough! * [i]my father had snapped, slamming his fist down.[/i] * Myths and legends won’t help us, brother! We must put aside our petty squabbles for the sake of She’Lot. Is that not enough to unite us? * * Has it been before? * [i]was all Skolas had retorted I look below to the roiling Lovos and wonder as well[/i] – Is it enough to unite us? I shake the memory away just like the others, thinking that maybe all the recent upheavals have contributed to my bouts of sentimentality. [i]My father’s gone, the Houses are more divided than ever – if not for the hope of Dra Ge, I don’t know how we’d ever find a way to unite.[/i] But luckily for us, we don’t have to imagine a world without Dra Ge. I watch his ship descend into the Cinders, seeing out of the corner of my eye the dozens and dozens of Winters watching with me. [i]There are so few of them now[/i], I think painfully, fist clenching at the thought of the Sha’Ir’s brutality. [i]But we will replenish their ranks with Wolves. There is only one banner now, after all.[/i] Dra Ge transmats out of his ship to land above us. Anixias and I bow respectfully, the Winters following suit around us as Dra Ge turns to consider them. Next to me, my servitor hums as it considers him, and I put my hand on its surface comfortingly to calm it. * [i]My children,[/i] * he croons. * [i]Too long have we been scattered. Too long have we been weakened by Sha’Ir, forced to scavenge and skulk and scratch out our survival. NO MORE!!![/i] * The Dregs below him are enraptured – I flick my eyes to the neighboring caves above, and see the remaining Captains, Vandals and leaders of House Winter watching Dra Ge shrewdly. * [i]We will rise, but only if we stand strong. Only if we stand united![/i] * At the word, Anixias raises the Lo Bo before House Winter. * [i]The Wolves stand strong![/i] * Dra Ge bellow. * [i]Cower before the Kell of Kells!!! [/i]* We lead the Winters in a cheer, but a wrenching, mechanical sound cuts us short. I follow Dra Ge’s eyes as he turns – and see three Sha’Ir standing at a nearby doorway, watching him curiously. For a moment, there’s only silence, and then only chaos reigns. Dra Ge quickly transmats back to his ship as the Sha’Ir open fire – the Winters scatter as Dra Ge’s ship soars away, and I draw my blades – But Anixias grabs my arm before I can join in. * [i]No, Solis![/i] * she cries. * [i]Not this fight![/i] * * [i]I don’t fear the Sha’Ir!! [/i]* I growl back, rage pumping through my veins. * [i]I will bring their heads as trophies to Dra Ge –[/i] * * [i]NO!!![/i] * Anixias insists, and I can see genuine fear in her eyes. * [i]There are too few of us here! They’ll kill you, and you’re too important![/i] * Her words hit me like a scorch blast – [i]I’m too important? * We are all united under Dra Ge,[/i] * I growl to her. * [i]The old divisions are gone –[/i] * Chaos reigns around us as I glare at Anixias. Dregs flee as the House elders disappear back into their labyrinthine Ember Caves while the Sha’Ir leap overhead, firing down on us all – * [i]There’s no time, we must –[/i] * Anixias begins, but a stray shot from the Sha’Ir hits our servitor dead in the eye – with a whir and a grumble, it falls to the ground. We bolt away from it just in time before it explodes. I rise, shoving Anixias off of me as I stand and take my stance. * [i]Can’t you see we have to leave?! [/i]* Anixias screams to me. * [i]Then leave, coward,[/i] * I growl. * [i]I will earn glory for – [/i]* But then I feel a sudden blow on the back of my head, and everything goes black – *** I wake up in darkness, my head still throbbing. I roll over and shut my eyes against the light of a small fire – I peek again, and everything adjusts for me to see Anixias watching me nervously across a small campfire. I bolt up and look around, seeing the overgrown jungles of Venus around us. There’s no sign of where the Sha’Ir are, or the House of Winter, or even the Cinders – just an endless expanse of trees and moss and roots. I wheel on Anixias. * [i]How dare you –[/i] * I begin, but Anixias holds up her hand to stop me. * [i]I have been entrusted with your care,[/i] * she begins, but I interrupt her with a snarl. * [i]You have been entrusted into my service,[/i] * I jeer cruelly. * [i]When I say we stay and fight, we stay and fight! * * And what then?[/i] * she asks, glaring at me. * [i]You die a martyr? You’re remembered for your brave sacrifice? Our people speak of you as they speak of Dra Ge?[/i] * I feel my blood boiling, even as a part of me knows she’s right. * [i]They would speak of me as the most faithful. Perhaps they’d even take your title away and gift it to my memory.[/i] * Anixias hangs her head. * [i]And you’d still be dead. Do you think Dra Ge would grieve for you? Fight a battle in your name? Would you even be remembered?[/i] * The question hits home. [i]No[/i], I think inside, even as I continue to growl at Anixias. [i]He wouldn’t. * That is not for us to decide,[/i] * is all I respond with, though. * [i]This war is greater than us, the prophecy has – * * The prophecy can be used for anyone’s purpose[/i], * Anixias interrupts. * [i]As can all prophecies. Who’s to say that Skolas is the true Dra Ge? * * Blasphemy![/i] * I hiss. * [i]Truth![/i] * Anixias snarls back. * [i]And prudence! I have been honored to protect you, Solis, to teach you and to be your friend. But I won’t let you throw your life recklessly away on a whim. If and when you choose to do so, it will be for a true purpose, a true badge of honor, not to prove yourself to someone who’d already run away![/i] * I silently glare at Anixias, and I can see in her eyes that even she knows she’s gone too far. * [i]You have always been the most faithful of all I’ve served with,[/i] * I begin coldly. * [i]And the most loyal. You were the first to bend your knee to Dra Ge, and have never questioned him until now. * * Because I care about you –[/i] * Anixias tries to interject, but I silence her with a hand. * [i]To the detriment of your duty.[/i] * We remain silent for a moment, just watching each other as I steel myself for what I know I have to say, despite the small part of me screaming to keep quiet. * [i]You have served your purpose, Anixias. Leave me. * * Solis, no, I – * * Leave me,[/i] * I repeat, drawing my shock blades. Anixias looks heartbroken as she gazes at the blades, knowing what will come if I have to tell her again. * [i]Yes, Princess.[/i] * I feel a sharp pain in my chest as I see her bow and turn away from me. A part of me screams inside for her to stop, to come back, that I didn’t mean it – but I just keep silent, watching her as she disappears amongst the trees and into the jungle, leaving me all alone.