A Challenge to Duel; for Roger de Rouen

[Nectorist 12869]

 

A Challenge to Duel; for Roger de Rouen

 

⊰━━━━⊱༒︎ •✦• ༒︎⊰━━━━⊱

 

To Roger de Rouen,

 

I have heard of the death of my distant-kin, Louis de Savoie. I cannot speak to the circumstances of his demise, nor even of the man himself, save what things I have heard about him from others, for his short life was full and well-lived yet so distant from my own. From the streets of Numenost to the roads of our Burgundy, word has spread of this man’s end. Even now, the many who loved him, who knew him best, doubtless gather themselves to seek vengeance. It is clear, even from those shared few acquaintances I have, he was a man whose deeds touched the hearts of many.

 

I am a mere boy of sixteen, yet to earn my spurs, to perform any great deeds, or to acquire renown in any regard. I believe we both would have scaled the walls of Salia beneath the banner of our good King Tiberias, but otherwise we have not even graced the presence of the other. You may have seen the name of my mother, of the House de Savoie, in the furthest reaches of a family tree somewhere.

 

Pure reason would say that there is no reason for me to offer to fight in his memory, a memory that I have no place within, and that it would sooner sully the name Louis de Savoie for an obscure relative, an unknown boy, to face the might of Rouen alone. However, as we emerge from an age marked by betrayal, petty intrigue, and the ruin of all high ideals and noble traditions that we once held sacred, there must be at least a reliable few who are willing to fulfill the ideal of chivalry in both deed and word. My mother’s family has been injured, and so it becomes my responsibility to see that at least part of that wound may be mended. It would be an insult to the memory of the dead to say I carry their blessing; all that I hoist upon my shoulders is the weight of obligation to a family that I will likely never truly know.

 

No matter how far a tie of kinship, no matter how meaningless my place is in this world, I would wish to leave this life knowing that there would be those who would be willing to lift a blade in my name. As it stands, there is only one who would for me, and certainly many who will for him, but I must proceed in the same way that I would have had he been as insignificant as I. Neither hate nor love drive my actions here, and know, Roger de Rouen, that you are no true enemy of mine. My heart yearns for us all to live in an age where ties of kinship, ties of friendship, and ties of fealty may all come to mean something again to a humanity that has lost them. If I wish to inhabit that world, then I must not retreat from my part in making it reality. 

 

That being said, we are battle-brothers in a war that still continues, and I do not believe that it would be fitting to deprive King Tiberias of another soldier, no matter the victor. I propose that this duel be settled by a bout to first blood, with the terms of victory as follows;

 

Should I, Cassius Mareno, emerge triumphant, then you, Roger de Rouen, will offer restitution to House de Savoie and build a wayside shrine in the name of Louis de Savoie.

 

Should you, Roger de Rouen, emerge triumphant, then I, Cassius Mareno, will swear a vow of friendship with you and fight alongside your retinue in our continued war against Balian and in subsequent occasions where our service to God and Burgundy compel us.

 

I await your response and wish you good health in the time intervening.

 

Cassius

 

@Vikenz

[amyselia 2962]

In the safekeeping of her bedchamber, Rosceline poured over the summons with fingertips bristling her lips and eyelids hung in disquiet. She held no fear in her heart tendered for Roger, for he had created plenteous testimony of his ruthless command over la Gloire Drusque in the months prior — no, her fear was a gripping thrum of furor like a heart that barreled against the chest conflating thrill with apprehension. She imagined the many mouths that now whispered of their villainy, venomous and spitfire, hungry for Roger’s humbling, thirsting for Druscan blood. . .

 

For the first time in her life, she was not afraid of watching eyes, which in her youth would feel like brands searing scars upon her skin. She lowered the letter, and lifted her chin.

[Jihnyny 5233]

A soul rested within the wastes of Elysium; from a challenge untaken by the Roger de Rouen.
Would he do the same as he had in past, or would the brave Cassius find himself a duel?

[Yeetboy0206 1574]

The Devil in Black read this missive, and learned for the first time that Louis was dead, killed by these disgraces to Horen. He resolves to be there on the day of the duel, to cheer the boy on, and to make sure that if the de Rouen cheats or tries to kill him too, that it will be the last thing he should ever do.

[Vikenz 1162]

Roger of Bourdon stood tall, the weight of honor pressing heavy on his shoulders as he faced the challenge issued by Cassius Mareno. Though his eyes softened with regret, knowing the boy meant well and carried no true malice, he gave a solemn nod. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his ancestral carbarum sword not out of eagerness, but readiness.

 

    A letter is returned.
"I accept your challenge."

[Nectorist 12869]

Having been defeated by the stronger Roger de Rouen and his brilliant carbarum sword, Cassius Mareno withdraws his grievance and adheres to the terms of the challenge. An oath of friendship is forged between the two!