Something to behold? Oh, yes. Yes, it would be. Renar had long envisioned exactly how such a duel would play out, and now it was almost within reach. He just needed to hold on just that tiny bit more. Maintain all he'd built until then. Which meant shaking off the pleasant dream and returning to the situation at hand.

At least the little chit had the right idea in a tourney such as this. For likely the wrong reasons, but still. Though that did beg the question...was she of age for that irritating little hundi ritual? As far as Renar recalled from cultural education and talks with Lein on the matter, the talk of a marriage duel had to be consensual on both ends. And while it would be both utterly hilarious and entirely necessary to see some people (Gerard) get shackled with a good noble marriage at last, the fact remained that Dame Lizaelea was foreign nobility. A possible wrinkle, despite the potential advantages.

"Allow me to hazard a guess then, Dame. Is this a step upon your obligatory rite of marriage? If so, allow me to stop something at the pass: should we duel, I do not consent to it being one of potential marriage. Take solace in that this is hardly a slight against you so much as that I've obligations that I'm expected to meet." He inclined his head in brief apology, catching Rolan's eye to implore him to not audibly wonder what Renar was talking about with that last bit.

Because it was worded exactly vague enough to be truthful, while obfuscating the fact that he didn't have a good excuse. He just wanted a more advantageous match for Thalnan politics.

---

With what he had seen of the other Roses fighting against threats as a united force, and assisting in such battles where he could, Rolan considered something to behold an understatement. He held no disillusionment about his own place among the Captain's retinue, hence his consideration to not participate before being asked, but there was no shame in being bested by another Iron Rose. The declaration from Lady Beaux on the idea of being lucky to witness such a thing got a brief nod.

"With how contests like these can go, I would be surprised if two of the Roses did not cross blades at some point."

Rolan expected it, the only question was who would end up facing who. Most of the Captain's retinue paired against the other should prove to be enlightening, as far as contests go, though he excluded himself from those particular matches. Should he cross steel with another of the Roses, he would not hold back but also not hold his breath. Ser Renar, in response to Lady Beaux mentioning facing one of the Roses in battle, already voiced his stance on it not being for potential marriage. Ah, right, that Hundi tradition. He mentioned it was hardly a slight but instead a matter of obligation, and Rolan recognized the look he had when glancing his way.

"With how seriously Ser Renar takes his obligations, I would consider it high praise that the thought even arose as a possibility."

No audible questioning, simply a reinforcement with the subtle mention of praise in that Lady Beaux would conduct herself well enough to find herself facing off against Ser Renar in one of the tournament duels. If Rolan were to hazard a guess, Ser Renar was holding out for a more valuable union, for whatever reason that may be, as political maneuvering and marriages for the sake of stronger positions were not unknown to him. His own father, curse his grave, had considered such as viable options to impart as a tool to consider. Fortunately Rolan did not have to consider that implication nearly as much as others might.

"Scary..."

Gertrude leaned back, crossing her arms under her chest and putting one leg over the other. How best to please both siblings? Generally more information would be better if it was important to clearly communicate their activities to a political ally, but the king likely got a full report from Arken. This was mainly a storytime, so comfort was more important.

"The Hunt was a frightening foe, to be certain. Not to spoil the story, but you may notice that our more prestigious knights have all made it to the tournament in good health, and with morale to spare. The duke's wits were returned. The story has a happy ending."

Gertrude smiled.

"I can skip the more... gruesome parts of the fight, if you wish."

How the hell was she supposed to even start on Tyaethe's mad bloodlust carrying her through that gorefest of a bloody fight? A good none of that would appeal to Maletha, and might actually make her scared of Tyaethe.

On one hand, that would be entertaining. On the other, Gertrude was finally starting to make friends.

---

Tyaethe's body wouldn't be good as anything but a battery if all her organs didn't quite work, but it was a good battery at least. One of the best in the world, really. Gretchen frowned, but nodded.

"I can't fix your body permanently as much as I can't fix mine permanently. At least, not yet. But I could force it to work how it's supposed to. Maybe enough for one bout? I haven't done it before exactly, but I know the theory well enough from my own studies and I can use Yaya as a battery."

Saying this, she leaned down and pressed an ear to Tyaethe's chest. It wasn't often one was invited to listen to an arrhythmic vampire's heart. It could be valuable as research material at some point.

Maletha shifted uncertainly, but with Elisandre stretching an arm back to wrap around her, and the child nodded. "Okay, I want to hear it."

"You really fought the Midnight Hunt?" The prince, quiet as he had been until now and focused on the tournament preparations, turned his disbelieving gaze over to Gertrude, "And you won? This sounds more like some fey ploy to me."

"Enrich!"

---

While Tyaethe would have liked to jump to the defence of the order – and, surely, her testimony would be more persuasive; if nothing else she had fought the Hunt twice – the sudden weight pressing against her chest was a distraction. A very embarrassing one. "I didn't think you'd do it…"

But the vampire made no move to shove her off, giving Gretchen all the time she wanted to try and puzzle out the beating, as well as she could hear it. Fast, far too fast, but that was a given for any vampire – yet, once past that, distinctly uneven, not just skipping but generally sticking to an odd three beat pattern more often than not. Then there was the sound of… something.

"Only one?" Haizea's voice dipped in disappointment, but then she brightened up, "Well, I just need to make sure it's the right time to join in!"

@Octo