The day of the party came with only a single update from Adelhard.

  Found the location.

  It had come in the early morning. I had been awake because of a nightmare, one I couldn’t remember for once. The only impressions left were of loss and helplessness. Rather than linger on that though, I went and did something productive. Training.

  So, in the early morning when the light was still thinking about shining on the city, I started running laps around the Rosecrest manor. I didn’t put up any obstacles or anything, I just wanted to try and burn off enough of this tension I was feeling. I wanted to push myself, so I also turned off all the limiters I’d put on myself.

  After a couple of laps, I decided to test my Sprinting skill. I had learned from the first time and started off at the lowest amount I could. The idea was that it’d only give a small boost to my running speed if I didn’t put it all the way to the maximum.

  I also didn’t start it while running this time. Instead, I took a few breaths and stood on the longest part of the yard, all the way by the wall. The pain from last time was bright in my mind, as was the fix Grimoire had done. The sickening crunch had been like something from a nightmare.

  Shaking my head, I looked forward and just… activated the skill. Nothing happened since I was standing still. I had started counting anyway as I started at a slow walk. No change in speed.

  I picked up speed to a jog and still nothing changed. It felt like the skill was active, though. Like there was a faint charge running through me, urging me to go faster.

  So I did.

  Things quickly got out of hand as I picked up speed. My legs seemed to move on their own as I ran, and when I went to turn I almost lost my balance. I slid briefly, almost going completely horizontal before my footing caught and I was able to take off again. The world was a blur around me and I couldn’t make any details from my surroundings.

  The next turn was a little better. I had started it earlier this time, though only because I was counting my steps instead of keeping an eye on my surroundings. I tried to slow down, but it was a struggle. And then I got a sudden reminder that the boost was on a timer.

  What started as a stumble from my legs moving slower turned into a tumble due to momentum. My world spun as I was sent head over heels once. Then twice. And then I stopped. Well, was stopped. By the wall. Again.

  And just like last time, my arm didn’t want to move properly. On top of that, I’d cracked my head and I could feel a lot of blood going down the back of my neck. Groaning, I shifted, wincing as I more injuries made themselves known, but it didn’t seem like anything too bad. I could even feel as my Regeneration took care of some of it.

  With a grunt of effort, I cast Heal on myself seven or eight times before I tried standing. My arm still didn’t want to work properly, so I held it in a more comfortable position and went back inside. Grimoire was already waiting at the door, shaking his head. “Lady Danielle.”

  I sighed as I walked past him, through the door he was holding open. “Grimoire.”

  He closed the door as he took a position next to me. Without a word he held his hands out. When I got closer, he pushed it back into place with that same sickening crunch it had made last time. I fought back a scream of pain and the nausea as I cast Heal one more time just to be sure.

  “Thanks.” I muttered.

  “Of course, Lady Danielle.” He replied with a cordial bow. “Might I recommend a change of clothes and a shower, before Lord Calmar wakes?”

  I flinched at the bow. I didn’t know how he put so much disapproval into the formal gesture with such a neutral face. I turned away, “Sorry… I didn’t know what else I could do to…”

  “Running from your dreams?” The elf asked as he rose from the bow.

  I nodded.

  He hummed in consideration before speaking, “If you wish to train to keep your mind off of it, I will wait for you in the training room. Nothing too extrenous, but I will assist you as I am able.”

  Smiling, I nodded again, “Thanks, Grimoire.” I started for the stairs. Halfway up, I paused and turned to look at him, “Would it be too much to ask for breakfast there too?”

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  The butler blinked at me in surprise before letting out a small puff of air in what, I was choosing to believe, was amusment. “Very well. I shall have it prepared.”

  Apparently, he’d chosen my words to mean everyone would be there as well, so when I got to the training room, Calmar and Porter were eating from plates full of eggs, mushrooms, and bacon. There was another one set aside for me, with a set of throwing knives next to it. There was a target set up on the other side of the room.

  “So, when do we have to be there?” I asked, picking up the fork that was on the table instead. I took a bite from the eggs and sat down.

  “Closer to sunset.” He said between bites from his own breakfast. “Are you going to need help getting ready?”

  I shrugged, “Maybe with my hair. I don’t think tying it up like I have been makes the right impression.”

  “I can get someone to help you braid it.” Grimoire stated, pouring me a cup of tea. “There area number of styles female warriors use to keep it from their faces that are also acceptable in noble gatherings.”

  “It would also send the right message.” I said, picking up one of the throwing knives and standing up. I took a second to aim and flicked my arm forward, the knife embedding in the target. It wasn’t in the center, but it was firmly in the right area. “Calmar, what’s your plan for the party?”

  There was silence as I picked up another knife. He waited until after I threw it to respond. “I’m probably just going to be doing my job. I’ll be mingling with the merchants and trying to get good deals. There’s not a lot I can do to help on your side of things.”

  “We’ll be getting Tulio and Palen to help keep an eye on Jason for you, however.” Porter said. “Deacon should be having tea with them now to get everything setup.”

  “What is there to setup?” I asked, turning to look at the two. “I just have to accuse him in front of witnesses for the duel to be valid, right?”

  Calmar nodded, hesitantly, “Yes… but he can say no. We need him to want to say yes, and even to think he can win. That second part shouldn’t be hard, but if he’s got someone backing him that might mean someone will try to act as interference. Maybe even offer to champion him in a duel, which is within his rights.”

  I double checked the trait I had intended to activate for the duel.

  Honor thy House

  There are times where the only course of action is violence. Grants the Challenge option. Challenge someone to a duel. Terms can be set and experience wagered. If to the death, all experience and items in external storage (alternate dimension, spacial bag, etc) of the slain party are rewarded to the winner.

  “Does that include if I have whatever the Challenge option is?” I asked.

  Calmar nodded, “Actually, proxies are more common when there’s system involvement, not less. Especially if safety is a concern.”

  “So… how do we get him to accept?” I threw another knife before walking to the target and collecting my knives.

  “There’s a few ideas I’ve got, but I think Deacon is working on something himself.” Porter said. “Just… let him talk.”

  I stopped halfway back to the table and stared at Porter. “What?”

  “What?” He asked back.

  “Just… talk to him?” I asked, returning to my seat.

  “Oh, no. I mean we get him talking about you, Calmar, your friends, whatever.” He shrugged, “It probably wouldn’t be too hard to get him to step in something he can’t recover from.”

  I ate the rest of my breakfast thinking about it. This close to the party, my lack of an actual plan was starting to worry me. Can I really stop myself from stabbing him before he says something foul enough? Something even the host of the party couldn’t forgive would be the best, but… how?

  When Calmar and Porter left, Grimoire had the servants take the dishes away before ordering me to sit. I did, and he started to work with my hair. “Lady Danielle, may I offer a suggestion for your upcoming endeavor?”

  “What is it?” I asked.

  I tried to turn my head to look, but he took my head in both of his hands and forced my face forward. “Don’t move or I will have to start over.” He said before resuming twisting and maneuvering the strands of my hair.

  “Sorry.” I muttered.

  “You are too busy thinking about what you can say to get him to respond in anger.” The butler said in a calm, almost detached voice. “But in reality, there are a great many more things he could say to you that would be unforgivable.”

  “Why does that matter?”

  “Because, you are not skilled in duplicity. Word games are not your tools.” His voice was right next to my ear, “But can you imagine how much he is dying to brag about what he’s done?”

  I blinked, my eyes flicking towards Grimoire, “What do you mean?”

  “He is the textbook definition of arrogant, from all reports I’ve seen on the man. Now he’s finally gotten at least one of the things he’s wanted. And it was someone you held close. Don’t you think he’s dying to let you know about it?” I felt him stop working and I turned to look at him. I caught sight of a small handheld mirror.

  My hair had been done up so there was a braid going around the crown of my head. I reached back and found that there was all tied into a little bundle at the back of my head, just above where my head and neck were connected. It looked… weird on me, but I didn’t hate it. “Not sure I like this style on me…”

  “You’ll appreciate it when someone grabs you by the hair and doesn’t rip part of your scalp out.” Grimoire replied simply. “Now, I want five knives in the center before you are ready to leave. If you don’t, I’ll make sure the next party you go to will be in a dress.”

  I stood up straight and looked at him, “You can’t. You don’t have the power to.”

  The butler was silent for a moment. “Lady Danielle, that’s a lovely bow around your neck. I recommend changing it before you go.”

  I reached up to my neck as he left and felt a ribbon there. It was tied in a neat bow on the side. How the… that wasn’t there in the mirror… I cut it off with one of the practice knives and got to work, suddenly more nervous about Grimoire than the party.