For this solemn occasion I have appointed Lady Desdemona Fitz-Hendrake to be my champion, and the date set aside for this occasion to take place before any and all who would witness it is to be New Years Day of the year 25466 since the founding of Thelbane, which in Amber equates to the 16th May in the year 1340.
All the traditional forms of a Hendrake duel will be observed, and upon the honourable completion of her duties as my champion, it will be my pleasure, as is my due being daughter of a former Head of the House, to welcome Desdemona into full membership of House Hendrake. Desdemona will be served in the capacity of her second in this duel by her sister Lady Dynaldra Fitz-Hendrake, and the Archduchess has appointed Countess Romilda Hendrake to officiate, in honour of the line of the late Duke Borell Hendrake from whom my champion is descended.
The below has been lodged with the Office of the Arch-Duchess Lintra of House Hendrake (and is I believe a standard challenge as laid out by House Hendrake).
” To the office of the Archduchess Lintra, head of House Hendrake.
Let it be known that I, Prince William Macey, Duke of Cabra, son of Prince Brand of the line of Oberon, having minded to take for myself a Hell Maid as wife, hereby challenge the Countess Aðalbjörg Hendrake, daughter of the late Duchess Lintra Hendrake, of the line of Hendrake, to send forth her duly selected champion, to fight for her right to deny me her hand in wedlock.
Signed this 26th day of August in the Thelbane year 26138.”
Who have you got to act as your second?
That is a question I am considering at present.
Results from the wedding duel:
The main feature of the day, the duel between Desdemona and Bill is honorably won by Bill, though it goes on for quite a while.
However, once that is over, a young man who was sitting in the guest demon’s box stood up and started slagging off Bill, stating how he was traitorous Amber Trash, and challenging him immediately to duel for the hand of Aðalbjörg. He springs down into the arena and there is a war of words, during which it becomes apparent that this man is called Alaric Hendrake, supposedly the child of General Armin Hendrake (now a demon) and Lauren Helgram (Lead Defender of Animus). Alaric is revealed to have been using battle drugs to bolster his confidence, and to have been put up to this by his father.
Sergei starts countering Alaric’s words, during which he declares himself as King Mandor’s grandson, and reveals and draws on the power of the Signet Ring of House Sawall, long though to be lost – certainly Archduke Jurt has never had it. During this war of words, Alaric makes the following statement that attempts to invoke the power of the Great Dragon of Thelbane in his favour:
‘I cannot step back and let this travesty happen to Hendrake. I have to see this through. Even if it means I have to fight Aðalbjörg herself to stop her marrying this scum, then so it must be. The fates and the Great Dragon of Thelbane will see me right, even if the form book sees me eating sand.” Alaric says.
Meanwhile the crowd has gone quiet. They’re not leaving yet, but they’re not baying for blood any more.
And then the voice that everyone from Thelbane instantly recognises booms out over the stadium. Bances, the High Priest of the Dragon, in a voice that is clearly a projection through a powerful Logrus tendril, says “Alaric of Hendrake: You have called upon the Great Dragon of Thelbane, but your intentions this day are not pleasing in its sight. Woe to you who seek to slake the base lusts of your body on one who followed all the customs and laws of Thelbane with honour. Woe to you who would shatter the peace that was formed on the spilt blood of so many of your House. Woe to you who has been swayed by the honeyed
words of those with no soul. The Great Dragon of Thelbane will not see you right this day. Only once you seek atonement for your sins will its eye rest gently upon you again.
The Dragon Has SPOKEN!” and there is a clap of thunder.’
Eventually, Sergei and Alaric engage in a mental duel arcane, as their words spill over into mind attacks. As they become locked in magical battle, two assassinations are attempted in the stands:
In the Hendrake House box, Lady Ulrica Hendrake attempts to shoot Archduchess Lintra in the back from a vantage point high in the roof of the box. At the same time, Duke of Destruction Armin attempts to shoot High Princess of Annihilation Lintra in the back from a vantage point in the back of the demon box.
Aðalbjörg concentrates, and Ulrica’s shot is reflected back at her, blowing her out of the back of the box. She grows wings and wheels wound to tackle Aðalbjörg and Bill, and in the subsequent fight Aðalbjörg beheads her with ease.
Mathilda taunts Armin into coming down into the arena and facing her in combat, and Mathilda, Damiana and Lady Justine Hendrake (who had been Bill’s trainer for this duel) go to battle against Armin. Mathilda takes a potentially fatal hit, but at that moment has the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to Armin if she goes all out and relies on her comrades to heal her. She trusts her friends, and Armin falls in two halves onto the sands. Healers quickly have to resort to forcing a shape shift on her in order to stop her dying.
It is only after all this is finished that Sergei finally defeats Alaric, and he falls to the floor, unconscious. Sergei hands the unconscious Alaric into Aðalbjörg’s charge and then manages to walk unaided out of the arena and public view, before himself practically falling over from exhaustion.
Thus ends the wedding duel of Duke William Macey of Cabra and General Countess Aðalbjörg Hendrake. The wedding date is yet to be announced.
Congratulations!
Myself and Aðalbjörg thank you for that.