Well, that was nice of you Selena!

[Torben]

To: Selena Jonatosdaughter
Lt Warlord, Eaglebrown Warlocks

It is now common knowledge that you brought influence to bear upon Adjutant-General, Lt General Otip to secure a formal charge of cowardice against me, a fellow Orlanthi.

I've no idea why you should choose to have taken such action, what personal evidence that you have that would support such a claim, having never served alongside me? Indeed, on many of the occasions that I have seen action at the Front, engaged in combatting His Majesty and our City's enemies I do not recall you being present.

I offer you the opportunity to justify your action in speaking up against me to Lt General Otip, an opportunity you clearly choose not to extend to me by first asking for my words before you immediately decided upon turning against one of your own Orlanthi comrades. Permit me to hear your reasoning and witness your evidence of my supposed cowardice because the only person who has ever made such a claim is Otip himself, a man I have never met and who I have certainly never seen on the Frontline.

[Selena]

My reasons for urging a proper investigation were fully set out in my recent message in this very place. I have no reason to believe you a coward; but equally I have no reason to believe you are not, and unless the matter is fully investigated neither will anybody else. City Ring member Vadar has frequently expressed his view that you are untrustworthy; if he is wrong, I would have thought you would welcome the opportunity to clear your name

I may add that a challenge from an officer who has carefully arranged to be unscathed to one who has been badly wounded in the service of our King will do nothing to improve your reputation, either for bravery or for decency. I should have expected nothing better from one of those grey-robed freaks who serve Lhankor Mhy.

[Torben]

My reasons for urging a proper investigation were fully set out in my recent message in this very place. I have no reason to believe you a coward; but equally I have no reason to believe you are not, and unless the matter is fully investigated neither will anybody else. City Ring member Vadar has frequently expressed his view that you are untrustworthy; if he is wrong, I would have thought you would welcome the opportunity to clear your name

I may add that a challenge from an officer who has carefully arranged to be unscathed to one who has been badly wounded in the service of our King will do nothing to improve your reputation, either for bravery or for decency. I should have expected nothing better from one of those grey-robed freaks who serve Lhankor Mhy.

Your words speak volumes snake, one doesn't need to be a devotee of the God of Knowledge and Understanding to recognise the venom and disdain they exude. Since your intent is now most clear I'll dispense with any attempts to make peace with you, especially as you chose to make a direct insult towards Lhankor Mhy and all of his followers, surprising in the very least since both Gods you allege to follow are fellow Lightbringers sharing friendship together.

I now formally challenge you to a Duel to the Death, unless you are prepared to apologise and withdraw your comments, the shame of your name needs to be expunged from Boldhome, we need no subversives or internal enemies here to threaten the peace and harmony of our city, lice who choose to insult and undermine their own compatriots have no place here.

As it seems your worthless hide is currently in no fit state to duel, having been sent (or perhaps begged?) back from the Front I'll willingly pay Chalana Arroy for the full price of whatever it costs to bring you into a condition where you can drag your carcass onto the duelling field without bleating that I'm only putting out a challenge due to you being injured. Get yourself as fit as possible and let's see how careful you can be to remain unscathed....no hang on, that should be to remain alive as I will kill you.

I ask my friend and former employer Lord Erik Stargazer to act as my Second.

[Erik]

To Lt Warlord Selena Jonastosdaughter,

Selena, firstly let me congratulate you on your service last month and my commiserations on your grave wound. I hope and trust you will make a speedy recovery.
However, I must censure you for two recent actions. Your meddling in the Adjutant General's investigation of Drighten Torben's decision to remain in Boldhome for this season was both unwise and unwelcome. He resigned his commission, at great personal cost to himself, at my request in order to act as my liaison with the City Ring re the current Road building scheme. I have no doubt that he would have preferred to lead his regiment to the front and his actions do him great credit. If you had any doubts as to his courage you merely would have had to look at his military record. You could have asked me about the matter and I would have assured you of his good service to Boldhome. Instead, you interfered in an affair which did not concern you and have slandered the good name of a brave man. I strongly suggest you apologise to him at the earliest opportunity.
Secondly, you have made scurrilous and libellous comments about the noble cult of Lhankor Mhy. I can only assume that your wits have been damaged by your recent wound. The Cult of Lhankor Mhy is an associate of both your own cult of Issaries and my cult of Orlanth. All three cults were involved with the Quest of the Lightbringers. I expect that you will be reprimanded for your words by your Temple superiors and, should you not issue an apology to the Cult of Lhankor Mhy and it's members, I will ask the authorities of the cult of Issaries to open an investigation into your comments which, in my mind, have brought dishonour to your own noble cult.
I sincerely hope that you have not been egged on to your actions by a certain Malign member of the City Ring. Disputes within the elite of Boldhome only serve to hinder our forces and give succour to the Lunatics.

I am very sorry that I have to write this letter. Your only have yourself to blame for forcing me to do so. I most strongly urge you to make amends.

Lord Erik Stargazer,
Bvt Warchief, Warlord of Eaglebrown Warlocks
Chief Priest of Orlanth
Colymar Tribe

[Selena]

My Lord Erik,

Concerning my letter to the Adjutant General, I have little to add to what I made public previously. Allegations of cowardice have been made (not by me) and a brave and honourable man would allow- nay insist- that they were properly investigated so that the Drighten's reputation can be shown to be spotless (as I said that it was). A sensible man would have shown the Adjutant General that his actions were needless, perhaps by providing a character reference from yourself. Drighten Dungshuvler did neither, but instead instantly issued a challenge, without reading the public reasons for my actions. It makes me wonder whether he will challenge the Adjutant General and his judges, both of whom are simply fulfilling their duties, as I was; my reading of his character is that he will not, since that would put him at risk. I am willing to meet the Drighten when healed if judged necessary; but perhaps the heroes of Boldhome will decide that a man who issues a challenge to the death against an opponent who has always been weaker than himself and is confined to bed with honourable wounds is both a coward and a bully, and will remain so no matter how many colleagues he kills.

As to my speculation about Lhankor Mhy; a senior officer like yourself cannot be expected to be everywhere on the field, and so you dd not see the burning of a library by grey-robed, bearded figures. You don't get to judge me man, because you weren't there. You just weren't there, man!

[Erik]

To Lt Warlord Selena Jonastosdaughter,

Selena, I thought you a better officer than this. You mention the burning of a Library by "grey-robed, bearded figures". but wait until now to report this to me? This is information which should have been passed up the chain of command at the earliest opportunity, not left to a postscript to a letter about something else. So please report:
1. When did this happen and where?
2. What were you doing, and why did you not prevent the burning? Who was with you and also witnessed this?
3. Were there any survivors? Did you interview any? Were any of the attackers taken alive or dead?
4. You directly accuse the Cult of Lhankor Mhy of this atrocity. How could you tell they were followers of the Lord of Knowledge and not, for example, followers of either the Red Moon Goddess or Chaos Cultists, trying to spread confusion? (You do realise how unlikely it is for seekers after learning to burn a Library? Have you never seen how angry they get if anyone handles a book with dirty fingers?).

Send copies of your report to myself, the Temples of lhankor Mhy, Issaries and Orlanth and to the City Lawspeaker, Tosti Runefriend.
I will address the Torben Dungshuvier affair later, this matter takes precedence.
I hope you are recovering from your wounds. let me know if you require funds to pay for the services of a Chalana Arroy healer.

Lord Erik Stargazer
Bvt Warchief, Warlord of Eaglebrown Warlocks
Chief Priest of Orlanth
Colymar Tribe

[Selena]

My Lord Erik,

I regret that my physicians have specifically forbidden me to comply with your request. Indeed, their orders are to avoid mention of the very name of - that cult- if possible, an instruction with which I would be more than happy to comply were it not that it renders me unable to comply with the orders of a superior officer. This letter is written by a scribe since I am too weak to hold a pen at present, let alone a sword.