The Legend of the Iron Lords: Episode Four: "Radegast's Fury"

[b]Episode Four[/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/103939962/0/0/1]Episode One[/url][/b] Saladin could no more extinguish Radegast's rage than he could throw a stone and strike down the moon. The air inside Radegast's private chambers was rich with the smell of blood, fresh linens, perfume, and the cooked flesh from the dead servants murdered by Solar energy. "Who did this?" whispered Radegast, moving the cloth over Moira's face. Saladin's Ghost bobbed over the corpse. "I examined the remnants of matter-particles left within her body and virtually reconstructed the Solar-infused bullets. Based on their density and weight, they belong to only one hand cannon in particular. A unique one." "Who owns this hand cannon." "Timur." Radegast's eyes grew glassy and unfocused, the kind of dark face he got when he knew he had to kill. The man was past mere sadness, anger, he hungered for his chance at Timur's throat. Saladin felt a twinge of unease as his lord looked at him with the same blank stare. "Gather my Guardians," he said, voice like burning silver. "Accept Efrideet's offer of assistance and have her ready for immediate departure. I want to strike Timur now while he's still recuperating from the Fallen attack and his battle with Perun." Saladin twitched. "My lord—” “That’s an order,” he grated with an edge of bellicosity. “The earth will crack and swallow this glittering, arrogant city before I would allow Timur mercy. Do not attempt to sway me.” He put a hand on Moira’s fingers that peeked from underneath her bed sheets. “Now go.” *** Two of the most powerful Iron Lords led their forces into battle. Radegast and Efrideet were at the forefront of their five-thousand strong Guardian force, about to march into Timur’s vast territory in the west. Legends told of ancient armies. Millions of soldiers that had done battle steel against steel. The Iron Lords may be leading a relatively small group, but each person was worth a hundred men. It would be a clash to remember. It was a clash that shouldn’t be happening. Saladin wanted to tell Radegast what a fool he was being, but there was no use. From the first day, the man had told him that Guardians were not born to fight each other, they were meant to work for a common purpose. Now he had shed that belief for revenge. A host of enemy Gunslingers rushed out from behind rudimentary barricades—hundreds of them wreathed in golden flames. Violent waves of electricity rippled across Radegast and Efrideet, and as one, they dodged the death bullets. It was magnificent to watch. By suffusing their bodies with Arc energy, they stimulated their nervous systems, which in turn accelerated their neural synapses so they were able to react faster and move at tremendous speeds. Saladin was only able to electrically charge his arms. For a Titan to be able to perform, maybe even outperform a Bladedancer, was unheard of. Radegast was the first to have done so. He weaved in and out of the Gunslingers, striking a precise, fatal blow with every turn of his bladed arms, not one movement wasted. The enemy moved beneath his sheer might like grass against the wind. He was an inevitable force of nature. Efrideet was similar, if not more graceful as she fought alongside him and her personal guard of Bladedancers. They cut a swathe through Timur’s forces. Saladin followed suit, taking out pockets of resistance through the streets of the city. Timur’s forces were disciplined and they did indeed dwindle Radegast’s forces, however, they could not match the sheer amount of Guardians before them. Timur allied himself with Felwinter, a lord with the smallest army, and took control of Perun’s fragmented soldiers, but it was still not enough. Timur’s Tower was forfeit for his weakness. Radegast leapt forward with static mist trailing behind him and roared like leaping flame. A sound that chilled Saladin to the bone. He struck the ground and the earth moved with him. Great slabs of concrete broke into the air for a mile around, disintegrating any life and threatening to topple the spired Tower. It was an attack fueled by his grief, his fury. They finally made it inside the Tower, where the guards practically gave up. Radegast kicked the doors open to the gallery where Timur and Felwinter stood side by side. “Ah, Lord Radegast,” said Timur, showing his white teeth. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Of course, I am somewhat confused as to the violence.” His smile turned crooked. “What do you think you’re—” Radegast drew his auto rifle and showered the man with Voidfire. The tyrant Iron Lord fell, clutching his chest. Felwinter, an odd Titan with the body of a driftwood scarecrow, gaped as color bled from his face. His eyes hardened and he jumped, arms in the air, with the intent of blasting them away with his fist of havoc. Radegast stepped forward. Felwinter struck the ground, turning the white tile to dust in a maelstrom of electricity, hitting a wall. Radegast absorbed most of the attack. He kicked the panicking man and he flew across the ground. “Wait!” screamed Felwinter, struggling to stand and moving his hands in a calming gesture. “Wait. If you spare me I’ll tell you who killed your wife. I know who did it and it wasn’t Timur.” “Pathetic creature,” said Radegast with quiet malice. “You’d say anything.” “It was Jolder!” he screamed. “We have spies in your Tower and they caught his Guardians in your chambers! He’s the one who ordered the death of your wife! It’s true, I swear it!” Radegast kept walking, auto rifle in hand. “Okay, okay, it was Efrideet! She killed her out of jealousy!” Radegast grunted and shot the Titan dead. Two Ghosts hung in the air before him, looking at him with inquiring eyes. For a moment, Saladin thought he would show the men mercy, but no. He crunched the machines with both hands. “The man really would say anything,” said Efrideet, slowly. Bolts of Solar energy soared across the gallery and into Efrideet. Before she crumpled to the ground, she spun and threw her spear at the intruder. Then, her chest burned and wisped away, like a red flower unfurling. Both Radegast and Saladin stood shocked. Skorri's pulse rifle fell from her hand and held the spear that impaled her stomach to the wall. “There,” she said, hair like ripe wheat. “I have finished it.” Radegast’s eyes grew wide. “What have you done?” he whispered. “Done justice,” she replied, voice fading. “You should know, Jolder is the one who killed your wife. Well, Jolder was manipulating Efrideet. A Voidwalker sees all.” She coughed and blood ran from her mouth. “Destroy my Ghost when I expire. I wish to join Gheleon. Wait, I forgot one thing.” Skorri threw an axion bolt and obliterated Efrideet’s Ghost. Saladin’s body felt heavy, as if his bones were made of lead. Then it dawned on him. Efrideet had been the one who killed Gheleon. She had thrown the first spear that brought them all to war. She had known that by killing him the link to the alliance would be severed and it would be her first step to gaining power. This was why Skorri killed her. Felwinter may have lied about Efrideet, but he spoke true about Jolder. Somehow, he was able to replicate Timur's unique hand cannon. The way Radegast’s face darkened, he must have came to the same conclusion. God help Jolder, thought Saladin, afraid. [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/105489558/0/0/1]EPISODE TWO[/url][/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/106570331/0/0/1]EPISODE THREE[/url][/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/109980399/0/0/1]EPISODE FIVE[/url][/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/100362914]DESTINY FAN FICTION ARCHIVE[/url][/b] [b][url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Forum/823422]JOIN GROUP FOR FAN FICTION UPDATES[/url][/b]