[url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/246624086/0/0]Table of Contents[/url] “Traveler above,” Derik gasped under his breath. The entryway to Natalia’s fortress was a massive hall. If the vaulted ceiling and marble floors and walls hadn’t been enough to impress, the decoration would have made up for it tenfold through intimidation alone. There seemed to be hundreds of weapons mounted on the walls, ranging from small knives to bulky rocket launchers. Rows of them stretched to the end of the hall in a monstrous display of blades glistening like sharpened fangs and barrels staring out like hollow eyes. Banners of a variety of colors and shapes hung from the ceiling. They were torn, tattered and stained, bearing symbols that Derik didn’t recognize. The most frequent was a red flag marked with the contour of a devilish skull. Avery grabbed Derik’s wrist, snapping him out of his gaping with a surprised flutter. She took a step forward and tugged him after, releasing his hand in an instant. He stumbled after her as she strode down the hall, fighting the butterflies that had suddenly materialized in his stomach and tearing his eyes away from the trophies around them. Two of the guards escorted them to the far end, where another set of massive doors blocked the way. Avery opened them herself, planting her hands on the painted wood and shoving them inward without showing any sign of effort. The guards didn’t enter, and they closed the doors behind Derik. Now they were in a circular room with a domed ceiling. Lanterns affixed to the walls provided enough light to see. Everything in the room seemed to be made of the same decorative stone, and every polished inch shone under the flickering flames. A throne of the same material was set on a podium as the centerpiece. Derik spotted six guards distributed around the room, standing against the walls like statues. A woman lounged in the chair, her elbow propped on the arm of her seat to support her head and her long black hair cascading over her shoulder. Her leg dangled over the other side carelessly and her dark armor glistened in the dim light. “Lady Avery,” the woman greeted smoothly, her lips curling in a small smile, “It’s been awhile.” Avery stopped and Derik nearly bumped into her. They stared at the woman in silence. “What?” The woman asked, lifting her cheek from her knuckles with a concerned expression, “Wasn’t that good?” “Put your leg down, Natalia,” Avery scolded, “You’re embarrassing yourself.” Derik’s jaw dropped and the woman blinked in surprise. After a moment, the woman’s face split in an elated grin. “Oh, I missed you, Avery!” She hollered, springing from her throne. Avery braced herself to catch the flying Warlord. Her foot skidded back at the impact, and Natalia’s arms wrapped around her in an enthusiastic hug. Derik was completely aghast, with his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Avery released Natalia, but the Warlord’s boots were already touching the ground and she cuddled Avery with her chin propped on the Exo’s head. “It’s been so long!” She laughed joyously, “Aw, you’re still so little and cute!” “Exo’s don’t grow, Natalia,” Avery reminded tiredly. Derik finally regained control of his jaw and started to speak, but Avery shot him a murderous glare. He shut his mouth so quickly that his teeth clacked together. “What did I do wrong?” Natalia pressed in a pouty voice, returning to the previous subject, “I was trying to look powerful AND seductive, just for you! I even practiced...” “I’m not here so you can practice acting,” Avery berated, “I’m here to make an offer.” “An offer?” Natalia asked, finally releasing Avery. She seemed to notice Derik for the first time and perked up, “Who’s the new guy?” “Uh...I’m-uh,” Derik made an attempt to introduce himself, but was at a loss for words. “Derik Magnate,” Avery answered. “Where’s Brenon?” Natalia questioned. “Cleaning up Rotan’s mess,” Avery replied. “Rotan?” Natalia inquired, but her confusion passed in an instant and she clapped her hands together, “Traveler, did you kill him?!” “Yes,” Avery confirmed. Now that Natalia was closer to Derik and the lanterns, he could see that she was very young. Her eyes were blue -as far as he could tell in the low light- and her skin was ghostly pale. “I can’t believe it!” Natalia exclaimed turning and walking back to her throne, “I never thought you would actually do something like that. Why? Why’d you do it?” Natalia sat down, listening eagerly. “I’m creating a united rule,” Avery declared, “An alliance of Warlords.” “Ooh,” Natalia cooed, “That sounds exciting. What for?” “We’re going to try to get Humanity together to fight back the Fallen.” Natalia leaned forward, “Wow. That is definitely exciting. How’s it going so far?” “Daedalus has joined,” Avery listed, “Rotan is dead and we have his sector.” “Ooh, that’s vicious!” Natalia smiled knowingly, “He said no, didn’t he?” Avery nodded, “That’s correct.” “How did you convince Daedalus?” Natalia questioned. “He wasn’t any trouble,” Avery dismissed, “He knows we stand a better chance together.” Natalia was at the edge of her seat, “And that leaves me.” “Yes,” Avery folded her hands behind her back and addressed Natalia, “You are the only other Warlord in the area. No doubt the Fallen have been giving you trouble recently.” “Maybe they have,” Natalia deflected casually. “The population of Fairmont seems to have grown rather quickly since my last visit,” Avery remarked sharply, “I’d assume that has something to do with the current state of your territory. Refugees, perhaps?” Natalia groaned audibly, “You got me. Some of my towns have been attacked. But the Fallen are hardly a problem. I don’t need any help with them.” “For now,” Avery agreed, “Daedalus felt the same. He’s in the same situation as you. But what happens when the front comes here and the Fallen start organized attacks? What will you do when they focus on us?” “I’ll keep fightin’ them, of course,” Natalia replied offhandedly, “But what about you? What do you plan to do? What have I got to do with it?” “With several Warlords and all our resources, we can keep the Fallen at bay,” Avery retorted, “But that won’t be possible if I have to worry about fighting you and them at the same time. Dealing with two invasions is impractical.” “Impractical?” Natalia giggled, “Okay, then, tell me about my role in your little alliance.” “You’ll work alongside Daedalus and me to prepare for the Fallen assault,” Avery enumerated, “We‘ll recruit gunmen, set up patrols, fortify towns. There will be some risk of armed rebellion, since we’ll be arming civilians.” “Isn’t there always?” Natalia sighed. “In the end, we’ll have an army to defend ourselves with. We can help protect your territory. If we don’t work together, we’ll just be picked off one by one.” “That is a very good argument,” Natalia complimented, seeming to think it over. “Of course…” she reclined in her throne with a teasing grin, “You know my answer is no.”