"Taox…"

Savathûn speaks the name with venom. A Dredgen and a Lucent Knight stand before her, deep within the bone-white towers of her throne world. The Knight does not bow, nor avert his gaze from the Witch Queen, even as the Dredgen known as Bael lowers his head in respect. She knows this Knight—Geist—but not why he limits himself to fighting alongside a Lightless Dredgen.

Savathûn's face contorts in a lipless smile. "Taox is surely dead from a lifespan long exhausted. Why bother bringing another rumor to me?"

"Taox is alive," Bael asserts. "She's gathering strength in the Vex network, on a simulated Fundament." Bael meets Savathûn's gaze and steps forward with a well-hidden limp before planting himself. "My master offers passage to her location for your service in ridding a thorn from our side."

Savathûn spreads her wings and flexes them as she stands. "Awfully bold for planetary dust and their meat-puppets to come here asking me to do their dirty work. They're playing the same game I am, and for all the foresight in the world… they're much worse at it."

Geist strides into place beside Bael. "Slay the Conductor, and with her death, VI will open a path through folded Vex space—"

Bael raises a hand to Geist, who sneers, but then quiets. The Witch Queen's eyes shift from Bael to Geist and back.

"It feels like I'm doing all the heavy lifting here," Savathûn says churlishly.

"VI offers you the Echo, and all the control it conveys." The Dredgen's words land with heavy gravity. Savathûn's eyes widen. "Take it and crush your enemy. Turn her to your will, if you wish."

"Is that so?" Savathûn purrs. " Where does this path lead for VI, my dear new friend?"

Bael's face hardens. "Where do paths take any of us? From where we are to where we must be. To escape—you know."

"These are the terms," Geist spits over Bael's shoulder. "All that is required is that you sweep aside a weakening upstart and tithe her death to VI. What say you, Witch Queen?"

"Taox." The Witch Queen's smile widens.