Requiem
Session Thirty-Three of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign [continued]

Vítday, 22 Heathaze 204 [continued]

"Lucien!" cries Ravenna running forward and giving the trusty retainer a hug and a kiss. Lucien takes the affection with stoic detachment. "Madame," he says simply. "I apologise for the heat. We have been suffering from an absence of clement weather for the past few weeks, although I am told it will break soon. Perhaps a chilled beverage?"

Ellyboodle looks around the stone garden and the colonnade with wide-eyed wonder. Above her, the noonday sun is burning in the sky. This place looks very comfortable. The Chosen step forward with a dozen questions for Lucien, who fences them all deftly. The party have been away from Uris for exactly seventeen weeks. Yes, King Yaddagon is quite as ill as Narramac reported, he retired to his bed a week after raising the party to the Order of Valour, and has seldom strayed from it; the Lady Aylisha sits with him continuously. Yes, Ralyon Artusi is about the palace. No, Misgon is not here. No, Lucien has not seen the Lady Drasha of late. No, the king has not declared an heir. Yes, it is said Galahyde's army is ready to march on Uris the moment the king dies.

As Lucien fences ten thousand questions with his indubitable skill, Narramac discreetly tells Ellyboodle what is going on. He says that the Chosen are here as the king's allies and that the king is dying. Ellyboodle listens as intently as she can. This place looks much more interesting than the monastery.

"One thing I would like to say if I may," says Lucien. "I would wish to give you my profound condolences at the death of Arvan. He was a fine man, and the world is lessened without him." Elias mutters that he is trying to forget about Arvan's death, but people keep reminding him. "Then I shall say no more, sir," Lucien says simply with no hint of hurt or malice.

"Enough," says Narramac. "You can question Lucien all you like later, first there is something we all need to discuss." Ravenna looks crestfallen. "But I wanted to go and see Ralyon!" she declares. "There will be time for that later!" Narramac snaps and walks through the reception room and to the lounge beyond. The huge windows onto the balcony are open, but they are not letting in much air. It is oppressively hot inside, almost as impressively hot as it is outside. "Take your seats," says Narramac as if he owned the place. As Lucien is leaving, Ravenna asks him to have a message sent to Ralyon – just to let him know that she is here. "Shall I also send a message to your uncle, Madame?" – "Uncle Jhasik is here?" – "Yes, madam, he is residing in one of the servant's quarters. He has not left the palace in weeks."

Narramac coughs discreetly to get Ravenna's attention, lights up and addresses the remaining Chosen of Narramac and Ellyboodle. Now, listen. I've brought you back now for a reason. "Today is Vítday. I have arranged for a certain ceremony to take place this Caladay." Nicos smiles. The next Caladay is the start of the full moon of Calafax. "Word has been spread that the Chosen of Narramac have fought and defeated a great evil that threatened to sweep the land. Your fame and notoriety has grown throughout this land and beyond. I suspect there are few in Norandor who have not heard stories of your accomplishments, and your tales are being carried by ship to places thousands of miles from here. Word has also been spread that your victory was bought at a terrible price. That Arvan is dead. Everyone knows that the Chosen of Narramac must be six, and therefore all are expecting a sixth person to join you. But we will not choose." Narramac removes Arvan's sword and lays it heavily on its end on the before him. "The sword will choose. On Caladay we will travel to the Hill of Heroes, there a crowd of tens of thousands will gather. They have travelled to Uris from all over Norandor in the time it has take you to travel here from Kerikal. Each in turn, will present himself to us. He will take the sword. Should it activate, the sword has chosen him, and he will join you. If not, then we move on, again and again. Until a worthy successor to Arvan can be found.

"You will never find a worthy successor to Arvan," Ravenna declares. "Why not just give the sword to Ellyboodle now. It's obviously what you intend." Ellyboodle looks around at the mention of her name. She was lost in the pattern in the carpet. "It has to be out in the open," says Elias. "We have to be seen to impartial. Right, Narramac?" The old wizard nods. "Everyone holds you up as heroes. From pauper to prince everyone wants to be you, to have your adventures" – Nicos mentions something about them being welcome to it, but Narramac continues – "I want them to think they have a chance. That anyone who turns up to the Hill of Heroes on Caladay could walk away as the sixth Chosen of Narramac."

"But there is no chance, is there?" Elias asks suspiciously. Narramac smiles and walks over to the gnome. "I would like you to try for the sword, Ellyboodle." – "Okay, Old Smokey," says Elly without looking at him, "sounds fun." – "It won't be fun, Elly, it will be incredible dangerous." – "Okay. I don't mind." Narramac shakes his head. He says to the group, "There are some things that cannot be left for chance. Some things that are too important." Ravenna smiles. "When you took us down from Mount Korvast and gave us the swords in the first place, you knew that they would accept us. You fixed it. You're going to fix it again." Narramac says nothing to confirm this assertion, but it is obvious that Ravenna is correct. The wizard lays a hand on Elly's shoulder. "We must give them a good show, Elly, but we can't run the risk of the sword choosing someone who is unsuitable. You understand." – "I understand, Old Smokey," says Elly, and everyone is certain that she does.

"Right," says Narramac, "both Elly and I will be staying here for a few days. I'll take my old room back again, I think one of the back rooms has been made up for Elly. Not Arvan's old room. Not yet. Have a relaxing few days. I do not advise you to go out into the city. It has swollen with thousands of people who have been waiting for this event. Everyone will recognise you and you will be mobbed or worse. I wouldn't put it past some bright spark to thing killing one of the Chosen would double his own chance of becoming one." Narramac walks out into the courtyard and opens one of the broom cupboards by the main doors. He deftly catches a mop that threatens to strike his head and sighs. He closes the door, opens it again and reveals a staircase winding upward. "I have much to think on and would prefer not to be disturbed tonight. Good day." He smiles at Elly and the others and walks slowly up the stairs. Elly watches him go. She has seldom seen Old Smokey so troubled.

Elias moves to ask Lucien a question, but the major-domo steps toward Nicos. "Master Nicos," Lucien begins, "I offer apologies for not mentioning this immediately. A package arrived for you two weeks ago. The courier said it was most urgent. It has been left in your room." Nicos nods and heads off. "Master Elias?" Lucien asks. "Are you sure you don't know anything about the Lady Drasha?" Elias is getting a little nervous about the letter he sent her while he was in Timberlake. Lucien shakes his head. "It is a mystery, sir. She has not been seen at court. I believe she left the city at the beginning of Lollmeadow. It is possible she has not returned. Would you like me to make further investigations?" Elias nods his head.

Suddenly, there is a loud bang from across the storm garden. Nicos strides briskly from his room throwing his travelling cloak over his shoulders as he goes. "Is everything all right?" Elias calls after him. Nicos is completely distracted and it takes him a moment to register that he has heard Elias. "What? Oh, gotta go. Gotta go." – "Do you want me to come with you?" – "No. No. It's cool. Um… I'll be back…. back for the sword thing, on the hill." Nicos yanks open the exterior door, and the assembled can hear his footsteps rapidly diminishing into the distance. "Have him followed," says a concerned Ravenna to Lucien. "Madam, I am all your servants. I cannot act against Master Nicos." Ravenna scowls at Lucien, as if realising for the first time he isn't her personal lackey for the first time. "You've changed," she says.

But Elias is very concerned for his friend. Narramac did say not to stray outside the city. He enters Nicos's apartments and sees cloth wrappings strewn all over the neatly made bed. He picks up some of the wrapping and expects where it has been folded. The package contained a small cuboid-shaped object. A small book, perhaps. Then Elias remembers the book Nicos had received when all of their possessions were returned from Castle Northmeet. The diary Julian Maynard had kept of Nicos's life. The diary Nicos later gave to the Bombastic Wren, because he thought she was the missing Rio Shai'ir. Abruptly Elias gazes at the door Nicos just left through. He wishes Lucien had sent someone to follow him.

"Is Alys in the palace?" Ravenna asks Lucien. "I believe so, Madame. Would you like me to summon her?" Ravenna nods and says that she is going to visit her Uncle Jhasik, and will be back in an hour. One of the servants will show her to where her uncle resides. Raza and Brack flop down into two of the plush chairs in the lounge. Shredder flops down in the sun, shedding hairs all over the carpet. Before Ravenna leaves she takes Ellyboodle into the library and shows her the two spellbooks Misgon has been working on. The book of the wizard, Wenneb is open on one of the tables, whereas the dark tome of Damodred O'Hare remains locked. Elly says she'll have a look through, but she isn't promising not being quickly bored. Elias tries to overcome his concern for Nicos by looking to see how much further Misgon has got in cataloguing the library in the last seventeen weeks. Not very far at all, it seems.

In the corridor outside, on her way to the servant's wing, Ravenna sees a tall and impressive nobleman walking toward her. He is over forty seasons, but is dressed very finely. He carries his a hat under his arm, and is wearing a look of grim determination under his thin moustache. The noble is stepping with such long strides that the servant is having to caper to keep in front of him. Ravenna recognises the noble, but she cannot quite place him. She things that she must have seen him at one of the many parties she and the others attended during Suntask. Rationalising that she has nothing to lose, she feigns a stumble and bumps into the noble.

"My sincerest apologies, my dear lady," says the noble, bowing extremely low to Ravenna. This endears him to her in an instant. Ravenna smiles sweetly, says that it was obviously her fault. "Not at all, Lady Ravenna. The blame must rest with me." Ravenna smiles. She tells the man that he has her at a disadvantage. "My apologies once more. I am Baron Leston of Umbria." When the baron says this, Ravenna instantly remembers where she met this man. Baron Leston is Drasha's husband. "Tell me my lady," the baron continues, "Is Clanlord Elias Raithborne at home to visitors." Ravenna pauses for a second, the baron's demeanour when he mentioned Elias's name changed to one of utter contempt and loathing. How much trouble could there be? "Yes. He is indeed," Ravenna smiles, and steps aside to let the baron pass. She stalks away to see her uncle while chuckling to herself.

Ten minutes later, Ravenna has crossed much of the palace and is closing on her uncle's room when she hears the sound of running in the corridor ahead. Before she can react Misgon flies around a corner as fast as his legs will carry him. As he passes Ravenna grabs him by the shoulder and spins the breathless lad around. "You're back!" Misgon exclaims, pleased to see Ravenna. "I heard you were. Have you seen Baron Leston?" Ravenna says that she passed him a few minutes ago on the way to the White Suite. "Oh no! Drasha is going to kill me! She gave me a letter to give to Elias. She said he has to see it before the baron called on him!" Misgon wriggles free of Ravenna's grip and charges off to the White Suite. Before he makes his first step, he is all ready too late.

"There is a Baron Leston to see you, Master Elias," says Lucien smoothly. "Shall I show him in, sir?" Baron Leston? Baron Leston? The name is familiar but Elias cannot place where he has heard it. "Yes," he says to Lucien, "I'll see him in the reception room. "Very good, sir."

Elias stands before the cold fireplace in the reception room when Lucien shows the baron in. As soon as he sees the man, the rusty gears in Elias's mind begin to slowly turn. He recognises this man. And then he sees the dog hairs on the man's coat, and it dawns on him precisely who this Baron Leston is. Elias swallows dryly and walks forward with his hand outstretched. The baron ignores that hand, as he removes a thick leather riding glove and slaps Elias hard about the face with it. The noise carries through the White Suite and within seconds Raza, Elly and Brack are at the door listening.

"Elias Raithborne," Leston spits with open hatred. "You have dishonoured me, and the sanctity of my wife. I challenge you to the Rite of Horann. You will meet me at dusk in the gardens of St. Bernice." With a click of his heals, the baron turns and marches from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Elly, Brack and Raza are quick to surround Elias as he collapses into a chair. Brack eyes him suspiciously and wants to know what he's done to deserve this. "Lucien!" Elias calls sharply. "Yes sir?" says Lucien entering with a drink for the guest. Seeing the baron is not present he places the tray discreetly upon one of the tables. "What may I do for you sir?" Elias is shaking, "What is the Rite of Horann?" Lucien brightens. "A very interesting point of history, sir. The Rite of Horann is a duelling convention that began in Horann many years ago. The first party considers himself to have been dishonoured by the second party, and challenges that party to a duel. It was believed that skill in battle would prove the truth of an argument. The duel was always to the death. The victor was proved to be correct and inherited the titles and possessions of the loser."

Elias can feel a terrible tightening in his chest. When Lucien enquires as to why Elias wants to know, Elias tells him. Lucien's voice does not change. "The Rite of Horann has not been invoked for several generations. It is considered too dangerous. If anyone was to invoke it, it would be Baron Leston, however. He is old school."

"Hey, look on the bright side," says Raza – a part of him pleased that someone else is suffering – "if you win you can marry Lady Drasha!" Elias is about to say something when Lucien speaks. "You misunderstand, sir. Under Norandon law the wife is the property of the husband. Should you fight Baron Leston in this rite and win, Drasha will automatically become your wife."

"There has to be some way out of this!" Elias announces. "Why didn't Drasha warn me?" There is an excited thumping at the door and Misgon hurtles in. "A letter for you from Drasha," he smiles weakly. "Sorry." Elias snatches the letter and rips at the seal. He scans it quickly, letting out small high-pitched whines as he does so. It reads:

Elias shoots a poisonous look at Misgon before returning to the letter; he then summarises the note for the assembled, but doesn't allow them to read it. "Is there any way out, Lucien?" The servant shakes his head thoughtfully. "Not that I am aware, sir. To refuse the Rite is to be branded a pariah with no more rights than a slave. Baron Leston would then find it easy to dispose of you, sir. Quite within the law." Raza tells Elias to look on the bright side – at least he will wind up with Drasha. Elias cannot deny it is something he hasn't thought about, but then the vision from Raza's monastery comes back to him, and he thinks of Alessandre. "Who would know?" he asks Lucien sharply.

To Lucien's mind, the only person likely to know a way out of this is the Chancellor. Part of Alberdark's job is to know all the ins and out of the peculiar laws of the land. If anyone can help him, then Alberdark can. Elias sends Lucien to see if Alberdark is free and sinks into depression. Raza heads off to see if Gaston is at home. Perhaps the wizard can identify the magical straps that Abbot Magen gave him. Elly who is bored with spells by now, and bored with meeting Misgon and bored with going through everyone else's things heads off into the garden with Brack to watch Shredder devour trees.

Ravenna in the meantime has found her uncle in an alcoholic stupor. She uses a ray of frost to freeze his bottle of scotch and then sits him down for a good talk. Jhasik is delighted to see her, but not as much as he is distraught by the news that Thorangrim isn't coming back. Jhasik says that he is at the end of his tether, that his creditors are besieging him from all sides. "How much do you owe?" Ravenna asks dryly. "Thirteeen thousand, four hundred and ninety-two crowns, fifteen shillings and ninepence." – "That may sound a lot of money, but we can pay it off. Who is the most important." Jhasik says that Grott is the most important. Grott was the half-orc Jhasik employed as a bouncer at his shop. He only owes him seven crowns, but Grott is the one camped outside the palace gate with a very large club, waiting for Jhasik to come out. Ravenna sighs, summons a servant and sends her out to find Grott with ten crowns. One debt done. Ravenna demands to see a list of Jhasik's debts. He hands her a piece of paper that contains the following information:

The list is long. Ravenna cannot believe that her uncle has run up debts of nine hundred crowns on freshly cut flowers alone, although it is the two-thousand and twenty crown debt to Fenton Pryde that she is more concerned about. Ravenna takes the list and promises to sort something out. She tells her uncle to pull himself together and sort out his life. She then returns to the White Suite to see what trouble Elias has landed himself in.

In the garden of the White Suite, Brack and Ellyboodle notice a gracious woman striding across the garden towards them. It is the Lady Aylisha. She smiles and sits down with them. Shredder wanders over. Aylisha tickles it affectionately, and the dog wags its tail. Brack looks at Elly. That is certainly not natural. Aylisha speaks candidly. She is very sad that Arvan has gone, but she needs the help of the rest of the Chosen. She is in the city to keep King Yaddagon alive for as long as possible. She knows that when he dies the entire country will dissolve into chaos.

"Then why save him?" asks Raza (Gaston wasn't in). "If the chaos is going to come anyway, why put off the inevitable?" Aylisha is thoughtful for a moment and then says. "I believe that I am here for a reason, Raza. If that reason is to hold the chaos from Norandor for a few more months then so be it. We do not know what advantage may be gained by the forces of light in such time." Aylisha continues that the fact that she is the only thing standing between Yaddagon and death has bought her some powerful enemies at court. Figures such as Count Kristus and Lord Bevverham are working against her. Brack remembers Lord Bevverham as Baron Linley Caled, the eldest son of the Dai Caled. Both the Caleds and Count Kritus as supporters of Galahyde the Black. Aylisha thinks that if the Chosen can be seen to stand by her as allies then her position at court will be strengthened markedly. Will they help her? Brack, Raza and Elly agree to help Aylisha. Elly had never met the woman before, but she takes an instant liking to her.

Ravenna returns to the White Suite and hears of Elias's encounter with Baron Leston. When she has stopped laughing, she does her best to console her friend. Then word arrives that Alberdark will see Elias and he hurries to the Chancellor's study. It is now less than three hours to dusk. The Alberdark that Elias meets has changed somewhat in the last seventeen weeks. Stress is beginning to tell on the consummate politician; the king's impending death weighing heavily on his mind.

"You're back then? Marvellous, just what we need right now. Ten thousand people have swollen the city, you know. There have been thirteen stabbings , two suicides and one man strangled with his own belt. Wherever you go you bring trouble with you. What do you want, Elias?" Elias tells Alberdark of his predicament. The chancellor does not see the humour in the situation that Ravenna found. "Baron Leston is the last of a long and noble line, and you are just going to butcher him! You should be careful on whom you bestow your favours!" Elias is angry and says that he never bestowed anything on Drasha than friendship. "Friendship is enough for one such as Baron Leston! You cannot be friends with women, Elias, any more than a horse can have two masters."

But Elias doesn't want a lecture, he wants to know how to get out of this. Alberdark sighs. "There are three ways, and only three ways that the duel can be stopped honourably. The first is that Baron Leston dies before the duel takes place. The second is that you die before the duel takes place. The third is that you get Baron Leston to retract his challenge. I cannot imagine that he will do that. The Rite of Horann has all the hallmarks of an ancient and revered tradition in that it is unworkable, crass and utterly dangerous. No-one has invoked it in three generations because they have had more sense. Baron Leston is a man with very little sense where his honour is concerned. I wouldn't worry about it, Elias, the baron is a fair swordsman but I am sure you could best him."

"I don't want to best him! I don't want to kill him and I don't want Drasha as my wife!" Alberdark stands in a cold fury. "Hard luck! I can't pull your fat out of the fire this time, and I wouldn't even if I could. Look at this!" Alberdark turns over a chest full of papers that scatter across the floor. "Thirty-seven separate attempts on your life since you came to Uris, that I have stopped. Thirty-seven would-be assassins that you knew nothing off. It's a job in itself trying to keep the six of you alive. I've had to employ another division for just that purpose! Why do you think Iltilmus Devries caused you no more trouble when you arrived in the capital? It was because I sent him back to Sorgar where he belonged!"

Elias looks at the sun. He hasn't long before the duel starts. Before he leaves, Alberdark informs him of some of the rules for the match. No seconds, no magic of any sort. Each combatant is on an equal footing. He leaves the chancellor without any notion of how he can escape this. His mind begins to wander to the concept of Drasha for a wife. He shakes his head and tries to keep his mind focuses.

Ravenna is all a fluster when he arrives at the White Suite. She has got in invitation to see Ralyon Artusi this evening. He wants her to attend his townhouse at dusk. She apologises for not attending Elias's duel, but she is certain he can take care of himself. Elias hasn't time to say anything before Ravenna summons Molly and Sarah and orders them to run her a bath. At least Brack, Raza and Elly will go with him. "Find Nicos," Elias says to Lucien. "I want him to be there." St. Bernice is a Justician chapel about an hour's walk from the palace. "How are we going to get there through all these crowds?" asks Raza. Brack smiles, stroking his beard thoughtfully, "Leave that to me," he says.

The crowds scatter from the ferocious foaming and snarling of Shredder as if their lives depended on it (which they very well might). St. Bernice is revealed as a pleasant church with a high steeple and a large churchyard and garden bordered by a wrought-iron fence. The crowds have recognised the Chosen of Narramac and are chasing Elias, Brack and Raza cheering and clamouring to get near them. They burst into the garden of St. Bernice a few minutes before dusk and lock the gates behind them. The crowd surrounds the garden, pressed up against the railings, watching everything that transpires within. Obviously, one of the Chosen is to fight a duel for his lady love.

In the gardens is Baron Leston clad in full plate armour. He has two servants, one of which is holding a tremendous sword, almost as tall as Elias is. A Justician priest stands as referee. Drasha is also present in a prim white dress. She looks at Elias with some distress when he enters the gardens, but she doesn't say anything. "I have brought some armour for you, sir," says Leston. "Don it and we will begin!" Elias looks at two suits of plate armour, and three suits of half plate in various sizes that have been brought for him. He has to think of something. Then it comes to him. The Justician.

"Baron Leston, I did not do the things you are accusing me. If you would allow the priest to use his magic to determine whether I am telling the truth……" – "No sir! The Rite of Horann will reveal the truth! Magic is neither necessary or permitted!" Drasha rolls her eyes as Brack helps Elias on with a set of the plate armour. "If I'm killed Brack, no reprisals!" says Elias sternly. He then goes to the priest. "This is silly," he says to the justician, "I did not do what he is accusing me of." The priest shakes his head. "You did not send a letter to the baron's wife?" – "Oh, I did that, but it was perfectly innocent." – "This is the reason no-one invokes the Rite of Horann any more, I am sorry." The priest steps back, as Elias takes an unenchanted longsword and shield. He does not like the look of this. He is a bowman, not a swordsman. Without his enchanted sword, magic ring and various other bits of paraphernalia he's just ordinary.

"Let me speak to him!" Drasha suddenly bursts. "Do not make this any worse, wife!" snaps the baron. "Worse?" Drasha almost laughs, "How can it possibly be any worse?" Without waiting for her husband to replay Drasha strides over to Elias. "I minute then!" the baron screams. "A minute for the lovers." Elias looks at Drasha hopefully, maybe she has a plan. "Please tell me you have a plan," says Drasha earnestly. "Tell me you've got Ravenna hiding in one of the bushes with a charm spell." Elias shakes his head. "No. This is perfectly honourable." – "This is perfectly stupid. Elias, my marriage to the baron had nothing to do with love, but he is my husband. Take no offence when I say that I don't want to be your wife." Elias understands completely, but the baron is pressing for a start and there is no way he can get out of this any longer.

As soon as the priest drops his red hanky, the battle immediately starts going badly for Elias. The baron puts three solid hits in with his two-handed sword before Elias knows what has hit him. With his visor down all Elias can see are the Baron Leston's eyes burning with contempt. Eventually Elias digs in and fights back, but as the sun sinks and the moons rise he seems to be coming off worse in each exchange. The crowd is completely behind Elias, but their support is lost on him. One blow from the baron takes Elias off his feet and lands him flat on his back. Drasha is impassive as she does not know who she wants to win. Then Elias swings his sword wildly at his opponent and connects with blind luck. The baron is knocked back, the crowd cheers and Elias presses his advantage. After several minutes of battle, both are very weary and very near death. The baron charges forward and takes a great swing at Elias's head. The swing is a whisker too high. Elias ducks beneath it and plunges his sword into the baron's chest. Leston collapses to the ground. He is dead.

"I name the victor, Elias Raithborne, Baron of Umbria!" announces the priest as Elias sinks to his knees. For the first time since the battle started Elias hears the roar of the crowd for the first time. They are cheering and waving banners. They are least are pleased with the outcome. He is not so sure. He looks up at Drasha staring down at him. "I'm sorry," he says. Drasha offers a hand and pulls Elias to his feet. "I do not hold it against you. When Joseph challenged you he knew what he was doing. In killing him in this way you have spared his honour. His honour was all he ever had – and his dogs. We should get you healed, husband." Elias looks at Drasha's face to see if there was any hint of sarcasm in her last remark. There is none.

"He's still alive!" says Brack. The dwarf is standing over the body of the ex-baron. Raza wants to save him. He wants the baron revived, and then he can convince him to join a monastery and start a new life. Elias is uncertain. Drasha advises against it, Joseph would consider being saved after he lost the duel as a slight on his honour, but she says the final decision must rest with Elias. Elias is a good man, and he doesn't want to see anyone die needlessly. He and Raza make this compromise. He'll have a priest of Vítaeous summoned to heal the baron, and Raza can make his monastic sales pitch. If it is not what the baron wants though, Raza must kill him.

Raza agrees. A few minutes later inside St. Bernice, Raza is alone with a conscious Joseph Leston. The baron is not receptive to Raza's argument of leaving Uris and starting a new life on a turnip farm. Leston refuses to live a lie or to die a lie. "There is no honour in running from dishonour," he says. Leston is almost catatonic, he cannot believe he has lost. He does not want Raza's pity and doesn't want to live with the dishonour and being a surviving loser of a Rite of Horann. Raza stuns him and breaks his neck.

Outside, Drasha has tenderly bandaged Elias's wounds. "There is a healer at the house," she says. "Come on." She helps Elias to his feet again and they move to leave the gardens. Brack goes first with Shredder to keep the exuberant crowd back. Raza slouches along behind. Elias turns to Ellyboodle. "Elly, please find Nicos. I need to see him. Bring him to the townhouse if you can."

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