Light. Exploits; Book I.

Part 21. House of Blades. Kings of Snakes.

I had heard of these Executioners before.
Claimed the Light of too many venturing out this way.
Where we were.
They were near exiled for trying to usurp hierarchy.
Deemed Kings of Snakes, they keep to their own broods.
Wizards to Spawn.
Acolytes to train.
Thrall to torture.
And Ogres to do Traveller knows what with.
This seems pretty high value, Priest mumbles. Why do you think no one has ordered Guardians here like a righteous hammer to cleanse this damn place?
I couldn't help but smile at his exuberance.
Plenty of reasons, I reply.
The Vanguard claims to not have the resources. And who knows what the reasons is between the War Cult, New Monarchy or Dead Orbit, but, I say as we keep shuffling foreword.
I wholeheartedly agree that this should have taken priority over Phogoth. I say referring to the famous Strike upon Luna.
But had we not destroyed Phogoth, and a clan of the Spawn of Crota, we'd have never known His plans to come for Earth, Ghost reminds me.
Eris helped us against Crota. Were it not for her, even Ikora wouldn't have known Omnigul would have been right in our back yard, Farah says.
Priest laughs as we continue to trudge deeper into the tunnels.
Eris is a fool. She lost her mind in that pit.
I feel a knot in my stomach.
My opinion of Eris Morn is quite well known to the people that temp to know it.
She lost far more than her mind, I say softly.
This coming from the kid who went back in time to see Crota eat her Ghost's Light and meet Toland himself, he says.
Nevertheless, I say sharply, Eris gave up a lot for the Traveller. At least show her respect for that, I say as if defending her.
I respect sacrifices, Priest says seriously.
Not foolishness.
I purse my lips tightly.
So many things I'd wanted to say.
To... Do.
To defend the honor of a friend.
But I let it fester.
There was more important things to do.
Teridia is close, and it seems the Executioners are right on her track. Ghost says.
We hear Fallen cries in the tunnel.
Then the Hiven roars.
Arc light pierces the air and we can smell the exhaust from the Shock Rifles.
Hive Shredders throw their Void out too.
Fallen and Hive... Already skirmishing. I whisper.
We keep ahead, soon catching glimpse of the Daughter of The Blades.
There she is! Get her! I shout as I run foreword.
No! Priest says trying to grab me, but is too late. He just misses my coattail.
Teridia hears me and draws her swords.
She takes stance and snarls at me.
My eyes flash purple and I crash into her, blowing a hole in the wall leading to the snowy, parched earth outside.
The Hive scream as they retreat to the Darkness.
The Servitors block the hole.
Dylan! We're stuck in here! Priest shouts.
We'll take care of Aspear and Dirtuk! Kill Teridia! She's who we came for! I hear Farah's voice call as I stand up and comms cut out.
No... They're in Darkness. Ghost laments.
And yet I'm here questioning who got the worse bargain, I whisper reply as I look at Teridia.
Just like Meriva.
Tall.
Ruthless.
Almost intriguing.
Were it not for the ice in my blood.
She mocks and laughs as she puffs her chest, taunting me.
Oh you- I say as I grit my teeth.
I fire my pulse rifle at her.
Her shield wisps as my mag runs dry.
Really? I swear as I throw the weapon down and look at Teridia.
Fucking figures. Well alright! I yell.
Here I am! Now come and get me!!
She laughs and stares at me.
She calls out in her Fallen tongue.
Guardian... She says she knows you... I hear Variks caw in my ear.
She says... For her mother, your blood shall clean her cape.
I ball my fists.
Remembering Sar.
A Guardian I lost.
To her mothers hand.
Payback then... I whisper.
She rushes me.
I run at her.
She swipes at me wildly, but I bob and weave my way around her blades, planting punches and chops to her vitals.
I hear her thin bones break and I palm her chest repeatedly.
Then I notice the sheer drop into a chasm beyond her.
If I can get her to the cliff, I say to myself.
I moved with purpose.
She senses my advance and sought to keep me away.
She cut me along my chest, blood dribbling out from my wound.
She reached for my throat and lifted me up. I felt air scream from my lungs and she stabbed me repeatedly before she threw me back toward the complex.
Ghost had my wounds healed before I stood up.
She's getting tired Guardian, Ghost says.
S'what I was afraid of, I say trying to stay light on my feet.
My head began to vibrate.
Oh bearer of Mine... Said that familiar voice.
Such a Delusion of Grandeur... Do you forget your own temperament... A boon from I..? The voice says.
Auditory hallucination from a long dead Ahamkara.
But ask me if I thought it was useful.
Nova Bomb ready. Ghost assures.
Teridia shudders.
She knows this is her last chance.
Kill or be killed.
I run at her.
She keeps her ground.
Folds her inner arms around herself to protect herself.
I can feel time slow for me.
Immense focus.
Bending all of it to my whim.
My wants.
I throw out my hand and palm her.
I test her defenses.
She rocks but stays firm.
I throw my foot up to her head.
It connects and sends her dizzy.
I push her balance closer and closer to the cliff.
I hurl my Nova Bomb at her.
She claws for me just a hair too late.
As she is pushed backward, she takes a cloth and throws it.
It's connected to a string on her finger.
She wraps it around my neck, and yanks me down, clawing into the rock trying to climb up.
My breath was stolen from me, my recoil taking me by surprise.
I see her eyes as she climbs for me.
She gouges for me; breaking my helmets glass and claws inside.
I feel her nails on my eyelashes.
My eyes darting around as I try to rip off my helmet.
I do and bash her with it.
Over and over.
I take the cloth and plant my foot in her mouth.
I look down and with my other hand, I throw out a wave of Void Light.
My Energy Drain.
She screams as she falls to her death.
I pant and fall back, my Ghost remaking my helmet.
I hear boots step behind me.
Ooooooo weeeee. That's quite the fall little miss too, Priest mocks.
But pretty good. For a Wizard. He laughs.
Are you okay Dylan? Farah asks.
I will be, I say lowly.
And you two? I ask.
Commander Zavala will be happy to see these Knights' scales, Priest laughs.
And Fallen House of Blades is broken. Well done, Guardians, Variks chips.
I look down at my hand, bloodied and scrapped.
But still clutching that piece of cloth.
I almost dropped it, until I noticed a peculiar Mark.
My eyes widen, my mouth falls open.
For the first time in a long time.
I was at a loss once again.
Oh no... I say silently.
What's wrong? Priest asks.
I don't even recognize that I had Guardians with me at this point anymore.
I was so lost on the small piece of cloth.
What it represented.
Who it belonged to.
Ghost... Scan this cloth... I whisper.
It's just a Mark, Priest says as if I'm crazy.
I look over my shoulder at him.
My eyes welling almost with tears.
No Priest... It's never "just" a Mark...