We begin at dawn on the surface of Deep Core 104 as the drizzle rains down and, in the background De Havilland lifts off in the Explorer to head to Suryada.
The duelling ground as the fighters face off from one another.
Baron Christopher has gone all out and invited a host of luminaries and socialites from the Midden Barony to watch the spectacle of the duel. His men have erected a pavilion for him, covered stands for his guests and are busy serving breakfast.
Hemlock, on the other hand is stood in the rain accompanied by two retainers, Sir Mal and Lady Chastity (with her guards).
Ralph, the Baron's aide, advises Hemlock they are ready to begin when he is and so Hemlock announces his charge against the Baron, that he showed disrespect and ungraciousness when a guest in Hemlock's home. The Baron responds that he refutes the charge and accepts the challenge. He questions who Hemlock's Second is and is disgusted, as are most of the assembled throng, to hear that it is the outcast Sir Mal Hawkwood. The Baron, as is formality confirms his second is Sir Hasimir.
The two Seconds review the weapons to be used and check for any malefaction, deceit or treachery. While this is going on Lady Chastity approaches Sir Hemlock and asks if, as he has been so kind to her, he would agree to wear a token from her for luck, during the duel. He agrees and she pins a small but fine looking brooch on his cape.
The Field of Honour is cleared and the two combatants draw their blades, salute and begin...with remarkable speed Hemlock gets the drop on the defensive Baron, rushes to him, steps within his guard and slips his rapier slowly through the Hawkwood’s shield, cutting his tunic and grazing his side. Blood is drawn and honour satisfied. There is a moment of stillness as the crowd awaits the Baron's response. He stops, pulls back and salutes Hemlock. The duel is over in moments. There is polite applause from the spectators and Hemlock and company pack up to leave.
Sir Hasimir is enjoying the breakfast feast when he overhears the Baron's raised voice coming from his pavilion tent. He goes to see what is up and finds the Baron ranting, not that he lost, but that Hemlock didn't put on a proper show of it. He expected, and wanted, a decent fight. As far as he is concerned going in to win straight away was disrespectful and frankly rude. He knows Hemlock's reputation as a competitive fencer and he was expecting a real bout, to be toyed with and to spar properly, getting the measure of each other and having a too and fro. Essentially he thinks Hemlock spoiled what could have been an exciting spectacle with a worthy adversary. He was "playing to win" rather than for the sport. He says that this is typical of upstart, corrupt Justinians and he punctuates his dialogue with thrown objects and smashing the contents of the tent. Hasimir tries to calm him and has some success, the knight's words seem to divert the baron from rage but he then turns on Hasimir and demands to know how his investigations are proceeding. He responds by outlining what he and De Havilland discussed and that he is certain that the Marquis had no part in Tonbei's actions. He also says that his investigation into Sir Tarquin continues, but slowly. He then delivers the message from Father Helsing to ask that the Baron considers being more lenient with the peasantry. Christopher seems unconcerned and practically mocks the priest's concerns. He asks Hasimir what he would do in his situation and he duly outlines two possible routes; continue as he is (and risk rebellion) or spare the rod to appear a more caring ruler. This seems to ignite inspiration for a plan in the Baron who suggests that there is a third way. He tells a servant to notify a "Sir Terrance" that he wants to speak with him when they return to the barony.
Meanwhile Hemlock and his party are travelling back to Sector 42. They chat pleasantly and Lady Chastity seems to be far more relaxed since her confession to Hemlock the day before. Mal speaks to Hemlock about who he should consult if he wants to discuss communications in the fief and Hemlock suggests contacting any local guilders. Chastity asks if they will have their postponed tour of the lands today and Hemlock agrees to show her the city (or at least his family's part of it).
It was Sir Hasimir, in the library with the cunning scheme...
When they reach the Midden Mansion Hasimir and Virssu locate Sir Tarquin studying in his library. Hasimir passes on to the young noble that he has spoken to Father Helsing and the priest's concern for the people. Tarquin is obviously moved and wants to meet with Helsing but his movement outside the mansion is watched and heavily controlled. Hasimir convinces him to write a letter to the priest, expressing his intentions to meet and leave the details to him. The letter is dispatched and they await a response.
Before leaving for the city Hemlock takes the time to show Sir Mal and Lady Chastity a photo of Hemlock, his twin sister Tiger Lily and Arcadia as children. The photo obviously means a lot to him and he notices that Chastity seems to linger over the image of Arcadia. Hemlock also offers her favour back to Chastity but she declines, saying that he should take it as a gift of thanks for taking her in and treating her so well.
Once in the city, Mal makes enquiries as to the best person to speak to about communications traffic in Sector 42 and he is directed to Mitnick, the Scraver he spoke to the previous day. The Scraver deals in information and as such he monitors telecomms, telegraph and squawker traffic using a host of Think Machines to catalogue and collate the data. Mal deals with the Scraver using a combination of his Streetwise smarts, natural presence and hefty bribes to find out that there has been some irregular scrambled or encrypted traffic that Mitnick has tracked but been unable to decode. It started about nine days ago, just before Mal and Hemlock returned to the fief and the last message was yesterday (after Tonbei's death). The messages seem to originate from the mansion and mostly occur in the early morning or late evening. Mal pays the Scraver to try to decode the messages (he had given up doing so as there was no potential profit in it).
While Mal is busy Sir Hemlock shows Lady Chastity (and her guards) around the fief. She seems politely interested in everything he shows her, particularly his anecdotes about his childhood. She walks with her arm in his and seems genuinely to consider him a friend and seems to neither be flattering nor attempting to ingratiate herself with him, nor be attempting to portray a persona or mask.
When they return to Hemlock's family mansion Mal waits until he can get Hemlock alone and reports back to him about what he has found. Hemlock suggests that he may need to make some investigations at the times the messages are being sent to see if he can find the culprit. He also takes the time to examine the favour Chastity had presented him and discovers that it is a high quality duelling shield! Mal is intrigued, immediately thinking of it's possible resale value...
Back in the Midden Barony Tarquin accosts Hasimir after dinner to advise him that he has heard back from Father Helsing and he can visit him the following day. Hasimir and Virssu plan to sneak the knight out of a window and manage to do so the following morning. They manage to sneak away and meet with the priest who is over joyed to see Sir Tarquin safe and sound. They speak at length with the young knight who is obviously moved by the plight of his people. They are then joined by Potter, Dame Helena's old major domo (now on the run from Hawkwood forces) and Clodius, the peasant leader that Hasimir previously encountered with Dame Arcadia. They are keen to impress on Tarquin that there are people who stand ready to fight for him, if he will lead them. Encouraged by this Tarquin seems energized and roused to action and says that he needs to speak with Baron Christopher.
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