More people enter the Oaken Standard than had originally left. The duel had drawn a crowd, and if there was such a scene going on outside, the inside must have been just as lively; and thanks to the duel, it was; all of the tables were loud with conversation as men telling tales of their past duels, each trying to one-up the last in an attempt to impress the barmaids—all but one table.

  The five were silent. Osmund and Dyder, both patiently waiting for Luthalwyna's break to end so they can eat and drink; neither wants to rush her and seem rude. Luthalwyna has returned to her spot on Gyores's lap; grinning ear to ear, she runs her palm over the stubble on his chin. Gyores pays no mind to Luthalwyna; he has been staring at a knot in the surface of the table. Arn looked at the spot where his beer once was; both he and the wooden coaster were bereft.

  Arn looks up as an elderly man approaches them, the hinged doors of the kitchen swinging behind him.

  "Gentleman." Gepeth Wourynwyr says, getting the attention of the group. "I appreciate the entertainment, it has brought in many new faces—your meals are on the house. Eloannah, when you are off break, please serve them promptly."

  He pauses, looking at Gyores. The young man seems to be far too sullen for one who has just won a duel and has an attractive young woman sitting in his lap. He sighs, not wishing to cast more gloom upon Gyores, but he has to keep business in mind. "I would also appreciate it if you were to pull up a chair, Eloannah."

  Luthalwyna stands up from Gyores's lap. "All right." She pulls up a chair next to Gyores, placing it as close as she can.

  "Excellent." Gepeth returns to the kitchen.

  The men stay silent even after Gepeth has left.

  Luthalwyna fidgets with her feet, tapping her heels on the wood floor. She stands, the silence too much. "I fetch us some drinks." She hurries to the kitchen.

  The moment Eloannah is out of ear shot, dissappeared into the kitchen, Dyder speaks. "You can bring her to the wedding if you would like. I'm sure she would be happy to see her sister again."

  "All right." Gyores has not looked away from that knot. The way the wood grain warps around it makes it appear to be dripping.

  "Was that your first actual duel, Gyores?" Arn asks.

  Gyores nods.

  "Scared you killed him?"

  Gyores nods again.

  Arn laughs. "That's what being in the Queen's Guard gets you—all training; no experience."

  He leans in. "Listen here, if I've learned one thing dealing with the plebs who try to cross my bridge and even those who live in the Commoners' District to some degree, it is this: the life of a man is worthless—especially a man like that; a man who lets his body rot in the night, who would rather drink hidden away from Our Lady's light than better himself beneath it, thinks he is entilted to a woman from coins alone. Let us posit that Gelox dies? what then? hmm? nothing but another ‘x’ in the archives of the Keeper of the Ledger, there is no value in a non-Wylh?lmian man other than labor. Tomorrow, tell High Priestess Seliani you killed some short degenerate who thought he was too good for his wife and she might like you more—might even pat you on the head."

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "She would." Dyder concurs. Memories from a decade ago creep back in, the moribund look in Bryn Lydhrawyr's eyes, the sadistic joy in High Priestess Seliani's eyes. With a sharp breath, Dyder buries the memory once again, deeper than before.

  He places a hand on Gyores's shoulder. "This is a right of passage, Gyselle did not just fall into Wylh?lm's arms [1]; behind every great man is a woman he had to prove his strength to—sometimes through a lynn? trials, sometimes in combat; you did the latter."

  Gyores shakes his head. That was not his qualm; the fact that Gelox might die is not what was disquieting him; it was the fact that it was Gelox's specifically.

  "No, that's not it—" Gyores stops as Arn kicks him from under the table.

  Luthalwyna sets the five steins down with a thud. All the men save Gyores quickly snatch one up.

  "Gyores." Dyder says.

  "Ah. Ely," Gyores turns to her. "You can come to Dyder's wedding with me if you would like."

  Luthalwyna lets out a sound akin to a 'squee' while nodding frantically. "I would love to."

  She directs her attention to Dyder. "I don't have anything fancy, is that all right?"

  "As long as you do not come in rags or your uniform, I have no issue with what you wear," Dyder answers.

  "All right."

  The conversation becomes lively once more with the topic of tomorrow's wedding. Gyores does his best to contribute and distract himself from Gelox.

  [1]This is said in reference to a story from book seven of the Seven Guardsmen, 'On How Wylh?lm Herst Won Gyselle ?nnywella Fyan's Hand in Marriage With the Help of Kaladrae'. To briefly summarize, Gyselle's hand in marriage was the grand prize for Ensitz's Tourney in 4984 EotTS. The final round consisted of the remaining twenty-four contestants of the original ninety-six in a free-for-all style of gladiatorial combat. Because of time constraints, the final round was held at night. The final round lasted fifteen seconds; five seconds for Wylh?lm to line Kaladrae up with the moons above and recite a chant, and ten for the conjured moonlight to disperse and reveal the charred remains of the other twenty-three contestants. Thus, winning him Gyselle's hand in marriage (even if the two had already eloped a few maidens prior).

  It is still widely argued that the tournament was rigged from the start to favor Wylh?lm because of his and Gyselle's elopement, specifically allowing him to use Kaladrae beneath the moon in the final round. Ensitz has been asked about this—he is yet to provide a mature and/or relevant answer.

  On Dyder's use of Gyselle ?nnywella Herst's f?dhyrbrunem: it is considered acceptable to refer to her as 'Gyselle' by decree of The Order of the Three Moons in 0203 EotG. This was a topic of contention as she is more commonly addressed as Gyselle than she is by ?nnywella throughout the Seven Guardsmen, due to the Magistrates' traveling scribes being either ignorant or not concerned with Ianyan customs.

  This led to severe issues with printing and standardization, as the Ianya version of books seven and eight addresses her properly, whereas all other versions do not. In an effort to benefit relations with the rest of the powers in Gedhagnyr (specifically in hopes of the magistrate giving the sisters of the Sisterhood of the White Orchid permission to use healing magic on Ianyan soil—something which was fruitless), they agreed to alter only the names of the Ianyan version of books seven and eight.