I am the last of the Iron Lords. I am the last of the first. I am Lord Saladin and my vigil is unending. At least that is what I have thought. After my brothers and sisters gave their lives to seal away SIVA, I was alone to watch for the day that it returned. I believed that I would have to watch forever.
I have learned that this is not true. I have found someone, a Guardian named Zotra. She has proven invaluable to me in my quest to destroy SIVA forever. She has been so willing to risk her life to save the lives of others and put a stop to this terrible threat. I have sent her on missions so dangerous, that even Shiro seemed hesitant to do them. Every time she left I worried.
I lost my brothers and sisters to SIVA long ago. I did not want to lose her as well. She was so young and brave. She had so much to learn and see. Yet, what could I do? The Fallen had to be stopped and she was the only one brave enough to do it. I had asked both Zavala and Shaxx for their best Guardian, and they sent me her.
She always returned from her mission. Often she was bruised and battered, but she was alive. She never once complained about the difficulty of her missions. Her Ghost did, but she always quietly shushed him and went on her way. After she would leave, I would speak to Shiro about the mission and try to make sure that I had done all I could to insure that she was ready for what would come.
Shiro told me not to worry, but I couldn't help myself. I had been alone for so long without my brothers and sisters, that I couldn't bear the thought of losing someone I had come to see as a sister. She had the spirit of a wolf inside of her and I took to calling her Young Wolf.
When the time came for her to enter the reproduction chamber and defeat SIVA, I had to face the reality that she might not come back. It was difficult, but SIVA had to be destroyed. She understood that. I could see it in her eyes when I told her what had to be done. She knew what the consequences may be, and she was not afraid. She reminded me so much of the Iron Lords before we had fallen. That spirit was in her eyes.
As she fought the remnants of my brothers and sisters, I listened to her fight over the comms anxiously. When she finally managed to defeat them all, I told her to initiate the self destruct sequence. She didn't even hesitate. She just pushed the button and ran. I couldn't breath as she ran furiously, trying to escape the explosion. When she made it out, I let out a deep sigh before congratulating her and asking her to return to the Temple. I had something planned for the Young Wolf.
I met her in the heart of the Temple, in front of the statues of my fallen brothers and sisters. When she approached, I saw the helmet in her hands. Jolder's helmet. She handed it to me reverently and I placed it carefully on the pedestal behind me. Then I picked up the sword that lay above it.
I turned to her and presented it to her. I told her that she was the beginning of a new order of Iron Lords. She accepted the sword and held it as if she was born to it. I knew without a doubt that my newest sister would lead the Guardians and the Iron Lords to victory in the fight against the darkness. I had faith in the Young Wolf.
I am Lord Saladin. My vigil is coming to a close, and my order has been restored. No longer do I walk alone. I have a sister to walk with me and soon many more shall rally to our banner. We are the Iron Lords.