Knight of Ashes - Council of War: Eventually, Luk's and J'madus' Knights recovered their mobility after sufficient repairs. Limping through the corpse-choked streets of Minosaal, the Exiles reached the edge of the Ironfields where the two ruling House Nobles were bound to meet. Lauret Tan Pegasson and her Exalted Court dismounted, bidding the Knight of Ashes to join them as the formal envoy of the High King. Taking Ekhatarina with him as his second, Luk went to meet the ruler of House Minotos.As they approached the gathering of Imperial Knights and House Minotos militia, Luk's eyes fixed on Grandmarshal Kurt Tan Minotos. The young leader of House Minotos looked shaken, his once perfectly coiffed and waxed mustache having grown into a messy tangle. The Grandmarshal's youthful features were now marred by a fresh scar down one cheek and he leaned heavily on his finely wrought Minotane warhammer. His ornate brass bodyglove was also dented and scratched, further evidence of the desperate fights that had raged in the Iron Maze's corridors.In contrast, the Marchioness appeared regal in her unblemished bodyglove, her silvery eyes and data-tresses conferring an almost ethereal aura. Lady Ekhatarina was the first to notice that only three of Kurt's Exalted Court were with him, the remainder having been slain.Both groups faced each other in silence. As the quiet stretched into long minutes, Kurt Tan Minotos finally broke the awkwardness by addressing the leader of House Pegasson directly. With a nod of her head, Lauret replied, acknowledging the presence of a fellow ruling Noble. The tone in their voices was icy. While Grandmarshal Kurt thanked House Pegasson for their intervention, he did not deviate one bit from the ritualistic answer featured in the Chivalric Code. This distant formality caused some grumbling among the Knights of House Pegasson."Allow me to extend to you the fullest thank of my house. You rode to our aid, unbidden and unlooked for, and you have my gratitude for the help you have rendered," the Grandmarshal said."Your gratitude should not be directed solely at me and mine, Grandmarshal," replied the Marchioness. "You owe thanks also to the Knight of Ashes. Without his counsel and his selfless example, we would still have been ensconced within our mountain fastness. You did not, as you say, choose to call for aid."An expression of shock filled the Grandmarshal's face, reacting almost if the Marchioness had slapped him. Used to the constant courtesy of the High King, the ruler of House Minotos was unsettled by the harsh words directed at him by the Marchioness. But she had been playing the game of politics far longer and knew full well the effects her words would have on him.At the mention of his name, the Grandmarshal's attention fixed on Luk and his companion, something like hate briefly flashing in his eyes. "Luk Kar Chimaeros, the Knight of Ashes," said the Grandmarshal. The Freeblade bowed as Lady Ekhatarina sketched a curtsy that stayed just to the right side of mocking. As Luk stated that he had come upon the High King's order, the Grandmarshal ignored him, choosing confrontation over obedience."Your father," the Grandmarshal continued, "betrayed this world and everyone on it. His deeds weakened us when we needed strength. He's partly to blame for all this. And now that you have taken the Freeblade oath, I know that, and despite it I promised myself that in my father's name, if I ever met you I would take this hammer to your skull, oath or not."A collective gasp marked the shock of every Knight present. Some of the Pegasson Knights' hands inched closer to their weapons and even Kurt's own Knights now distanced themselves from their ruler."But here you stand," the Grandmarshal continued, "returned from your hunt, to a war you had no part in. Returned, I presume, to offer your blade. You bring the Knights of House Pegasson when I was too proud to ask them for aid. You bring word of the High King, still fighting when I have left him alone... You shame me, Knight of Ashes, and even as one part of me wants more than ever to strike you for that, the other knows this would be the act of a child and a fool. I have played the part of both for too damned long. My people have paid the price."Silence greeted the Grandmarshal's words, only broken by the crackling of fire and the sound of distant gunfire, the last sound of House Minotos' retaliation against the Orks. With all eyes fixed on him, the Knight of Ashes walked into the ring of high-ranking Nobles and took a genuflection before the ruler of House Minotos, swearing to repair the damage his former House had caused to House Minotos.Assuring the Knight of Ashes that he had already done so, Grandmarshal Kurt Tan Minotos did not accept the pledge. The Grandmarshal pledged his House to their current venture and amidst the cheers of the gathered Nobles and the booming of their Knight's Vox-horns, House Minotos joined the race to save House Draconis.