Forge of Darkness/Chapter 1

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==Dracons Hold==
On the lintel stone above the threshold to Dracons Hold are carved the words “THERE WILL BE PEACE” in the ancient language of the Azathanai. These words held meaning for those who understand them.
====Arathan====
Draconus, the Lord of the Hold, Consort to Mother Dark, whose pure-blood Tiste features are captured by Kadaspala of House Enes now hung with pride in the Citadel's Hall of Portraits in the City-State of Kharkanas, makes a sudden return to his home, bringing about whispered rumours.
Arathan is witness to his father’s return, and as always, feels inadequate as his son. Years of emotional torture at the hands of his three half siblings, Envy, Spite, and Malice, and negligence at the hand of Lord Draconus have led him to believe himself worthless. Yet at the heart of Draconus’ return it seems lay his future, and his fate.
His mother, of whom he knows next to nothing, had left him alone with a father who hadn't had any will or time to spend on him, before he had galloped off to the Citadel. Even Arathan's near death experience had not elicited a response.
====Ivis Yerrthust====
Ivis, master-at-arms of House Dracons, has been summoned to the Chamber of Conquest by his lord. At the door he meets the tutor Sagander, who he assesses as having aged a decade after his own meeting with Lord Draconus. This solidifies the uneasiness he feels at the abrupt return of his lord, which is uncharacteristic of someone who wasn't prone to sudden acts. Ivis knows that the ambitions of his lord are something the other Holds and Greater Houses do not like. The fact that Draconus has bolstered the compliment of his Houseblades to the point of being second only to that of Mother Dark threatens the other Houses, even if it is well within his right as Consort.
When his lord speaks to him, it is surprisingly regarding his son, Arathan. Asked about the boy's martial prowess and abilities, Ivis' impression is positive, apart from the fact that the boy has the nervous tendency to gnaw at his nails, leaving them soft and easily torn.
After hearing the assessment, Draconus tasks Ivis with readying a suitable horse and other items for Arathan for a journey outside of Kharkanas.
====Arathan====
For the first ever meeting with his father, Arathan surprisingly feels nothing, not even fear. His sister Malice delivers him to the Chamber of Conquest, attempting to baiting him with disturbing thoughts, but fails. Even when his father speaks to him for the first time, Arathan feels numb.
====Sagander====
Sagander will accompany Arathan to continue his studies. Sagander is one of the people Gallan derisively spoke of that like everything in its own ordered box. He is excited to do research that will make him a great scholar in the Citadel. Arathan points out some obvious issues with Sagander's baggage. This annoys the tutor, who believes Arathan needs to be taken down a peg or two. 
====Sergeant Raskan====
Gate Sergeant Raskan and four Borderswords will accompany Draconus and Arathan. The Borderswords Rint, Ville, and Galak talk about shoes. Feren is Rint's sister. Raskan surmises that power boils down to the ability of holding as many people's lives in one's hands as possible. And who would want that. But like Arathan he assumes there is something he doesn't understand and will never understand about it. The Borderswords praise Arathan's work with his charger and lament the loss of the natural world. The chapter ends with a discussion on architecture in the citadel and while Tiste architecture is nice, Azathanai is the best.
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