Table of Contents: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/244705039?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1 [b]Chapter 3, Part 3[/b] "...it is too soon, my Lord. We have suffered great losses, just as the Wolves; but they are still far greater in number. They have withdrawn from our sector. We should be grateful! We should rest!" Glancing upward from his blade, which he had been sharpening absently for some time now, Ikoris stared around at the other Chosen gathered before him. He felt no anger at their objections, only annoyance. "Rest, you say? You want [i]rest[/i]? And what have we done for the last week, if not rest?"  "Well, don't be absurd!", the other Lord chuckled nervously. "Those were [i]funerals[/i]!" "Yes, they were. And you enjoyed them very much, did you not?", Ikoris questioned. He was growing weary of this particular individual's antics. "Well yes, I suppose, but-", the other began hesitantly. "Would you like another?", the Awoken interjected with mock excitement, not quite concealing the tone of malice in his voice. The other, sensing this, wisely remained silent. "No? Then it is settled. I will convene, and then we shall march against Radegast and his traitors. We must strike while the iron is hot, and that time is now." With that, Ikoris stood, sword in hand, and walked from the room. The gathered Lords and Ladies sat silently, waiting. None dared to speak. Then, as always, they heard the familiar thud of flesh on stone, and the tension broke. "This is absurd", one of the Warlords offered. Several others nodded. "He would rather seek council from his own subconscious than his colleagues." "If I were him, I would too. He tends to agree with himself quite often. It is terribly easy to become convinced of what you already belief, and rather gratifying too.", another added. Of the eleven gathered in Ikoris' war-room, only four felt any true loyalty to their leader or his cause. The others sought only war and its spoils...not that greed had played any part in their joining the order; they had been given no choice, aside from exile. They were not loyal to Ikoris, but that was not to say that they lacked respect. Even the Wolves held a degree of respect for the one true Lord of Ambros. He was unstoppable-their very presence here was a testament to that. But his greatest strength was also his direst weakness. He was destined for victory...and he knew it. It was this sense of destiny that fueled Ikoris' personal ideology. He believed that the Risen were fated to save their Mother, and that he was to lead them. Recently, this belief had driven him to some extremes. Most notably, ordering a complete counter-offensive against the Wolves, to ensure their defeat and liberate the Traveler from their seeming indifference once and for all. At the current moment, as he always does prior to major occurrences, Ikoris lies on the floor of his room. His saber, coated in crimson, is clasped at his side. He sheathed it in his final moments, as the blood drained from his dying veins. He seeks council beyond fellowship. He seeks wisdom beyond knowledge. He seeks life beyond death. And he shall find it. [b]End of Chapter 3[/b] Link to Chapter 4, Part 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/244665505 [i]Tips, criticism, questions, etcetera are greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading my work.[/i] [i]Sorry if this chapter was somewhat lacking in both length and substance. Chapter four is well underway, and this seemed like the best place to split the two. Not that anyone follows this regularly, but the new chapter should be up by the week's end.[/i]