The High Marshal, clearly unhappy to be present, yet bound by constraints of honour to answer the chamberlains call, speaks up.
A sad day, from whom few will gain glory. I will outline what I saw and heard - though note I was not at the full forefront as some, and so such testimony should be heard not as divine truth, but rather as perception of one man amongst a crowd.
While many may question the exact legalities of challenge and acceptance, acceptance was given - a duel, to either death or surrender, before the gates of the Cathedral. Both Baron Tshalen and the duchess agreed to such terms. Similarly though I can see no reason why the Green Knight should have been involved, the Duchess accepted his substitution and thus I will offer no comment on it.
I am aware of no appointment of seconds, no attempt by either side to accept mediation of apology, no arrangements made at all by either parties or those to whom they were beholden to arrange for safety measures - a respected third party to mediate the duel, nor guards to ensure it passed without interference. But the codes applying to such things vary from church to church and realm to realm - so perhaps I am not the best person to speak of such.
The Baron was greatly distraught, indeed he continued to offer insult to the Duchess as the preparations commenced apparently paying no heed to any thought of apology -even after personal request from the Pontiff - but then he is not, as far as I am aware, required to do so - he is a noble and has right to defend his honour and challenge another noble's honour and title should his own honour so demand.
The Sword Mage was calmer, and offered a certain measure of respect to the Baron, but was also unwilling to apologise for the insults given to her, nor her past actions that might have granted them merit. Despite being clearly outmatched however she pressed on, I cannot fault her pride or courage which are both clearly possessed in noble measure, perhaps had she been less Anuirean in her manner then the days events might have been avoided.
The Green Knight's manner was odd, I had hoped he might be remorseful and encourage some peaceable ends, but rather he seemed to have some personal interest in the duel. He did however speak to calm the Baron, though not it seems to offer some suggestion of apology that might leave both sides to end the duel in honour.
Matters then progressed for a while as one might expect in a duel between a hardened knight and a woman half his size trained in magic not swordplay. The Sword Mage was beaten and disarmed, the Green Knight paused, but not, as I hoped, to offer her chance to surrender honourably and offer some apology that might peaceably end matters to the satisfaction of both sides, but to continue boasting of his hatred for her brother, and gloat of the joy he would gain from her death. A pity he did not challenge her brother if he fet he had some cause, it is unseemly to challenge a man's sister should the man have wronged you.
Robhan pauses for a while, clearly biting back further words.
The Green Knight, as appointed champion of the Baron was, technically not granted the power to make such offer for surrender or apology, though I can see none challenging him if he had. Rather such offer should have been made by the Baron, or appointed seconds, or the Duchess should have taken the chance to apologise herself - though whether she could speak at that point was unclear for she had been sorely beaten.
As the Green Knight gloated, Baron Arvour shouted that the Knight should offer the duchess chance to live, for she had clearly fought with honor and had been sorely provoked by Baron Tshalen - though as has been said, not without cause, ancient though it was. While noble in spirit, it was at best rash for Baron Arvour to then seek to declare the duel ended - but then in the absence of any judge, seconds, or will on the part of Baron Tshalen or a more senior noble, I suppose Baron Arvour had grounds to consider that he was as good as any other to point out that the duel was long since won - indeed long since become an embarrassment of bullying that only the participants seemed unaware of.
The Archduke, quite rightly interceded to stop Baron Arvour from interfering - I called out to Baron Arvour also, but sadly he heeded neither my words nor the Archduke's imposition - perhaps had the Archduke had aid in interceding with both Baron's Tshalen and Arvour then again things might have been different.
What followed was a disgrace.
Baron Arvour burst past the Archduke, and challenged the Green Knight to fight him if the Green Kngihtfelt further need for glory. The Green Knight could - easily - have tossed Baron Arvour into the watching knights and demanded they hold him - the Arch Duke and I, feal lord of Baron Tshalen and lord of the Baron's home church respectively, had already spoke in the Knight's aid, and the Knight had the skill a hundred times over.
The knight did not so act, instead he met Baron Arvour not steel on steel in defense, but instead striking with clear intent to kill. I have seen such things many times and am certain that the Knight he had no interest in merely throwing back a rash challenger and concluding matters in the duel, but rather in further bloodshed.
This desire for bloodshed was not however mere anger - I possess the divine wrath of Anduiras myself and have suffered it or been blessed by it as one measures such things from time to time. Mere interference in a duel should not have sufficed to inflame so veteran a knight - yet it did. The Green Knight lashed out berserk at all nearby - I saw Duke Ghorien - armed with no blade seek to impose a shield to stop the knight's rampage, the Green Knight turned on him inflicting grievous wound, and continued to the next victim even as all about called on him to stop.
That the Green Knight launched himself at the Patriarch of Elenie without apparent provocation - unless seeking to pull a bleeding man to safety is somehow provocation - injuring the Patriarch and slaying several of his guards, I tried to press forward to dispel any charms that might be present - no knight of honour fights with such abandon - but was driven back by the fleeing crowd - many of whom trampled each other in their frenzy to flee and so I saw not the next few minutes.
I heard tell of some gloating apparition that floated above the Green Knight when finally he was subdued, but saw it not myself and so offer no testimony thereon.
In all, I suppose, a strident reminder of how not to arrange a duel - and why.
The High Marshal, returned to his seat, sighing deeply.
