Yes!

"Lady Trina, Abdul of Al-Mansoura," you say to both of them as you approach close enough for them to hear. "Enough blood is spilled. Let this be ended now."

"I will let her cut me before I surrender my honor!" Abdul says, and though the fear is now clear in his voice you have no doubt he means what he says.

"Listen to me, Abdul," you say. "The crowd cannot see Lady Trina's blade; they are too far distant. Only those of us on this field know the position you are in. You can end this without humiliation and with your honor satisfied, I promise you."

"What would you have me do?" Abdul asks, his voice both defiant and ****.

"Lady Trina will yield, on one condition," you say, looking her in the eyes now. "Tell the people that Lady Trina has fought as well and as bravely as any man. For this reason you have found a new respect for her, and renounce your claim. I promise you, they will cheer for your gallantry and any favor you have lost among the people will be regained. You can then claim your prize from the contest, which is yours by rights - and I guarantee that as the victor of the Contest of Swords and with your coin purse stuffed with gold, you will find dozens of women at the feast tonight eager to accompany you to your tent! Your only other choice is to take her life, because I can assure you that Lady Trina will never submit to your claim upon her; and, I can also assure you that she will use her last breath to do exactly as she has threatened. This is your one chance to end this without grave consequences, Abdul. Do not make yourself a fool... or a eunuch."

Abdul takes two deep breaths... and then backs his sword away from Trina's throat by one inch. "If you will yield, I will follow your King's counsel," he says to her quietly.

Trina likewise moves her blade away. "Then I will yield," she replies.

The two of them back away from each other, and lower swords. You nod once to Sir Magnus, who turns and announces to the stands that Abdul Hai El-Anwar is the victor. The crowd reacts with uncertain applause, and you watch Abdul as he steps forward and makes his own announcement. To your vast relief, he says exactly what you suggested; and it is an even greater relief to see the crowd respond with overwhelming enthusiasm, just as you had predicted. Abdul's demeanor improves immediately, as he spreads his arms wide as if to soak in the cheers of the people.

You can't help but think that he hardly deserves it... but better to let him have this moment than to see Lady Trina's life-blood spilled on the tournament grounds.

Satisfied that Abdul will cause no further trouble, you turn back to Trina. She stands still and stares straight ahead, not meeting your eyes, and her face is a wooden mask which betrays no emotion. Then, without even asking to take her leave, she turns and walks from the field. You take half a step to follow, but then Subhi's hand lands on your shoulder.

"A wise man does not **** his presence upon a woman who wishes to be left alone, my friend," the Sultan says to you. "She leaves this field with dignity; let her have that much."

Lady Trina is not present at the feast that night, although she was to have been on duty. Captain Navarre explains to you that both Sir Magnus and Sir Benedicht approached her after the tournament and offered to assume her duties for the evening, and that she had accepted, then put on a dark cloak and left the castle. You have little concern that she may run afoul of some danger, as there are few who can defend themselves as well as Lady Trina; but the only other time she has ever accepted an offer to take over her duties as Kingsguard was the previous winter when she was too sick to rise from her bed. Even then, the Captain had to give her a direct order to rest.

It is difficult for you to put on the face of a gracious host and enjoy the feast, but it is what must be done. Fortunately, the people are in very high spirits indeed; as none directly witnessed the true drama of what happened during Trina and Abdul's duel, as far as anyone knows it ended amicably and with both combatants satisfied. They enjoyed the thrill of watching a duel to the ****, but not the tragedy of the **** itself, and so the atmosphere is one of excitement and jubilation.

The feast itself is not held in the castle as it was the night before; rather, it is held in the town square, with everyone invited to attend. Great bonfires burn surrounded by long skewers of meat and roasting vegetables, offered to all for free. It was no small expense to procure so much food, but surrounding the square are cart and wagons laden with bread, fruits, exoticly-spiced foods prepared by visitors, and of course barrels of ale and wine. Lord Heinrich, the Master of Coin, has assured you that the special tax levied on the vendors this evening should almost cover the entire cost to the Crown.

This had been the event which you were most looking forward to; rather than the stuffy and formal feast in the castle, the public feast in the square is much more of an unrestrained party, with dancing and laughter and free spirits. But, there is too much on your mind for you to be able to appreciate it.

As you had imagined, Abdul Hai El-Anwar is thoroughly enjoying himself - he even partakes freely of the ale and wine. This is most surprising, as his religion forbids such indulgences, and at one point you catch a glimpse of the Sultan who scowls at Abdul in clear disapproval. Surely, Subhi holds his tongue only because he does not wish to cause a scene at the feast; he is not usually so restrained, but he likely feels that Abdul has been the source of enough public spectacle this day.

At the ten o'clock bell, you feel as though you've put in enough time that you can leave the party, and Captain Navarre walks with you back to the castle. With only a few guards on duty, the building feels utterly deserted, the celebratory sounds of the feast in the distance only adding to the dark loneliness of the Great Hall.

"Captain," you say quietly, "do you know if Lady Trina fares well? I cannot help but be concerned."

"I have not seen her since before the feast, Sire," Navarre says. "She did tell me what happened in the duel, the parts which we could not see from the royal box. She was obviously shaken, though I could not say exactly how troubled she felt. Until and unless her state of mind affects her duties, I did not feel it was my place to inquire further."

"Do you have any idea where she might be now?"

"That I do, Sire. She rode up to the high meadow, bringing with her a stack of firewood and a sleeping fur. She said she wished to be alone, and asked me to tell no one where she had gone." He pauses for a moment, then adds, "Of course, I informed her that if you asked, I would tell you, and naturally she understood. She will return by sunrise."

"Thank you, Captain," you reply. "If you would be so kind as to undo the buckle on this breast-plate, I can take care of the rest myself; there is no need to summon anyone to my chambers. I believe I would like to be alone now as well."