Duel

"Princess, wake up!"

Liandra woke in her feathered bed, her body exhausted after all the debauchery in the previous night.

She opened her eyes slowly, and saw the worried face of her nanny. "Liandra! tragedy happened! Prince Mortimer is here, and he heard about the engagement annulment... He is furious! threatening War!"

The princess went to court as soon as she was able, properly cleaned and dressed. She thought she still stank of sex, but was assured that wasn't the case... maybe it was just an unsated desire for more.

As promised, there was a ruckus in court, but it quieted considerably as the court became aware of the princess presence. She found an aflamed Mortimer accompanied by four burly nobles, presumably knights under his service.

"Princess Liandra! I demand you explain to me at once what these rumormongers are saying!"

"I have but just arrived, what are they saying?"

"These vipers are saying our marriage was annulled?"

"Of course that isn't true, Prince Mortimer. You and me were never married"

"A king´s word should be unbreakable!"

"It is, so why do you think acting like a spoiled child would change anything?"

"How dare you? It is the honor of your family and kingdom! Nobles will despise you! Bards will laugh at you! Their songs of mockery will draw the name of luxius through the mud!"

"How harsh, we actually enjoyed Yonda´s performance" If he didn't recognize her up to that point, Liandra hoped he simply wouldn't. But his eyes widened when she said the name, and it was as if he was looking at her for the first time. But this was her court, her friends, and Liandra still felt safe. She took advantage of the befuddled state to say "Good, perhaps now you see the truth. Let us be, Prince Mortimer, and let there be peace between our Kingdoms" Slim hope.

"You! It was you!"

"Yes, it was me. I did ask my Father to break our engagement, and apparently I was right."

"Harlot! Prostitute! Whore!" A lot of people drew steel then, on both sides. The infuriated Prince didn't even think about stopping, and Liandra felt a hush of excitement knowing they were all true "Cocksucker! You are nothing but a slut, a virtue less tramp ready to bend to any stiff penis!" but he couldn't hope for any support in the foreign court.

"ENOUGH!" The king yelled, and all but the prince grew silent "How about the king, did you spread your legs for him as well? your very father? nothing would surprise me anymore!"

Liandra´s father unsheathed his sword, and the court opened the floor for the two of them. "Father, no!" called the princess, but it was too late. The King of Luxius lunged at the flat footed Mortimer, and pressed his advantage with uncanny fury. Perhaps Mortimer could hope for his youth and experience to triumph, but a couple of blows dug deep, and he was bleeding copiously. To Liandra, the bloody show was frightening.

Mortimer threw down his sword, finally "I yield!" The King was panting heavily, so Liandra went for him. She embraced him, she had been so worried she would lose her father. "I am so sorry" The King told his daughter, kissing her forehead. And for a moment, everything was ok.

"I wont let you win" Mortimer said, picking up his sword. He lunged at the princess in a deadly thrust, but the king pushed her aside, taking the killing blow that was meant for his daughter. "Father!" The court became a pandemonium of fight, Mortimer´s companions fought valiantly, but they were too outnumbered. The prince himself managed to get to the window, and jumped out before he could be captured.

"The King is dead" someone finally said.

"Princess Liandra, stand up" She mustered all her strenght to comply. It was the same ancestor that married her to Kendra. "Yours is the crown, Queen Liandra." Everyone, even her mother, was kneeling. "Name your cohort prince, for a sword will be needed to lead the Luxius armies into war"