thegoodfellas/blogset-br huggingface dataset:
Uncle.Imcaelsgaze returned to his nephew. Gone were the ire and overt hostility inRohyrs mien. In their place were sorrow and disillusionment.Rohyr...Why?Imcaelswallowed. You favored your leman overmuch. I feared you wouldmake him your consort. He looked long and hard at Lassen. Amere commoner and a Half Blood, mate to Ylandres Ardan... Icouldnt allow that to happen. I couldnt bear to watch you makea mockery of our hallowed traditions.Yovangently intervened. We may revere certain of our traditions butthey are hardly hallowed. Imcael, you have ever lived your life inutter accordance with such customs and with little to no regard foryour own wants or needs.Dutyshould always come before personal desire, Imcael stifflyprotested. And since when did mere tradition become immutableduty? Yovan countered.Dutyshould be rooted in our laws, whether legal, moral or spiritual.There is no law prohibiting marriage between True Bloods and HalfBloods. For that matter, there is no statute that proscribes theentrance of Half Bloods or commoners into the Royal House. What youhave been upholding isnt duty, Cousin, but prejudice.Imcaelturned his face away, as if the counsellors words offended him orperhaps hurt. What does it matter? he gruffly said. Rohyrdesired to end the marriage and he has found the means to do it. WillI, nill I, the Ardis coronet shall now adorn the head of alow-born sedyr.Hewill have to take it from mine!Tyrdesoutburst drew everyones attention. He stared balefully at Lassenbefore turning a defiant glare on Rohyr.Iwont let you put me away so easily, Rohyr.Rohyrcoldly regarded him. Had you shown me even the faintest sign ofconcern or affection, we wouldnt have come to this pass. But everdid you make it clear to me that I am no more than a means to yourend and cared naught about taking away what little happiness I stillpossessed. Well, your hold over me is gone and I see no reason toprolong my imprisonment in a worse than loveless union.Noreason but my own, Tyrde shot back. I claim the rite ofchallenge! In the appalled silence that followed, he snarled, Youare mine, Rohyr Essendri, and what is mine, I keep!Acacophony of protests erupted. Yovan and Zykriel had to restrainDylen when he lunged at Tyrde, a murderous gleam in his eyes.Keiransvoice rose above the rest. The rite of challenge has not beeninvoked since the turn of the millennium!Whichdoesnt make my claim any less valid, Tyrde crowed. He looked atYovan, his smirk just this side of smug. You spoke of the law,Uncle. Well, the right to challenge is mine by law and I demandsatisfaction.Rohyrhad risen to his feet. If you think I will stand for this!Tyrderefused to flinch before his glare. You are not above the law,Rohyr. Notevenyou can gainsay my claim. Seeing Rohyr at a loss for words even inhis fury, he turned blazing eyes on Lassen. You want him? hetaunted. Fight for him. Lets see how determined you are to winyourself an Ardan when the cost of it may be your very life! Hesnickered at Lassens bewilderment.Nay!Imcael cried out. Tyrde, are you mad? Youll bring grief upon usall! Tyrde scowled. Surely you dont doubt my skills, Aba.Ido not. But this will
only worsen matters.Howso? The law will uphold my right to reclaim my spouse and marriage.They are bound, Imcael reminded him. A widowed soul-spousewill languishafterhis mate without cease. If you slay the Half Blood, you will condemnRohyr to never-ending grief. That is the nature of soul-binding!Tyrdestared at him then glanced at Rohyr. The king was regarding him withmingled rage and apprehension. Tyrde scowled. He knew at whom Rohyrsanger was aimed and on whose behalf he was fearful. Tyrde faced hissire.Imhardly to blame for that, he haughtily declared. Shocked, Imcaelsputtered, Rohyr is your cousin! Who cares as much for me asI do for him.Hellloathe you evermore!Tyrdeshrugged. What need has an Ardis for love? Before Imcael couldreact, Tyrde pointed at Lassen. Meet me in the sparring yard atthe fourth bell, Lassen Idana. That should be more than enough timeto shrive yourself and bid your child and my dear spouse farewell.Bloodneed not be spilled, Rohyr cut in. I wont press for divorce.You will remain Ardis.Andever will I come after that whoreson even if he bears no title.Tyrde sneered. In making him your soul-spouse you ensured that hewont live to enjoy it. And I shall take great pleasure in yourmisery over your part in his demise.Heswept out of the chamber, motioning to his sire to follow him. Imcaelhesitated but seeing the expressions on the others faces, heheaved a shaky breath and departed. The rest gathered around Rohyrand Lassen in dismay and anger.Youcant let him do this, Roh, Dylen protested. The lawGilmael unhappily began.Hangthe law! Dylen growled. That this one hasnt been invoked innigh a thousand years is evidence of its barbarism.YetTyrde is right, Jareth reminded them all. Its still the lawand one that grants him the right to challenge his rival. Thequestion is whether Lassen is ready to fight him.Theylooked at Lassen. His brows were knitted in confusion.Idont understand. What is this rite? And why must I fight him?Rohyrblew his breath out. Its an ancient ritual, harking back to thebeginnings of our race. And even then it was seldom invoked unlessthe chances of victory were great. In this day, even fewer rememberits existence as the last time the rite was practiced was manycenturies ago. He took Lassens hands in his. Essentially,its a means by which a spouse in a failed union where there isanother party involved can salvage his honor and at the same timekeep his marriage intact. The aggrieved spouse challenges the loverof his partner to a duel. To the victor go the spoils. In the case ofthe challenger, that means keeping his marriage intact. His mate hasto abide the outcome and return to his side.Andthe loser?Rohyrsgrip on Lassens hands tightened. Its a duel to the death,Las. The winner takes everything including his opponents life.Lassengulped. Sweet Veres, he whispered. He means to do away withme once and for all. He knows I have little experience in actualcombat.Butwhat if Lassen refuses? Keosqe asked.Hecant refuse, Yovan heavily said. Once the challenge isissued, it must be answered. The only way to avoid fighting Tyrde isfor you to flee. But that would make you an outlaw and fair game forevery
bounty hunter in the land.Shouldyou leave Ylandre, you wont be permitted to return either,Eiren added. Nor will you be allowed to bring Vyren with you sincehe is a scion of the Royal House. He paused then quietly said,And because you are bound, youll both feel less than wholeevery day of your lives. There is no assuaging the grief of sunderedsoul-spouses.SoI wouldnt lose my life but I would lose everything that would makelife worthwhile, Lassen murmured. He gazed at Rohyr, eyes brightwith frustration. I have no choice, do I? I mustnt only fightfor the right to have you, I must win to secure your freedom. If Ilose, I shall die and Ill do so knowing Ive condemned you to atwilight existence. And if I flee, well both suffer a lifetime ofpain. Tyrde has chosen his revenge well. He pressed his facebriefly into Rohyrs shoulder. After a tense moment, he lifted hishead and said, I had best spend what time I have left with you andVyren.** * *Lassenheld little hope of surviving a duel with a more seasoned fighter.Tyrde was not as proficient in the field as his cousins but he hadfought in a number of local skirmishes in his day. That was far moreexperience than Lassen had.Heheld his son close, breathing in his baby sweet scent, listening tohis cheerful coos and first stuttering attempts at speech and feelinghis small body snuggled against his, perhaps for the very last time.He crooned a lullaby to Vyren, hoping to make him sleep before he hadto leave him. More than anything, he wished for his childs finalencounter with him to be a happy, peaceful one.WhenVyren nodded off, he looked up at Rohyr in relief only to grimace amoment later. The kings expression quite broke Lassens heart.Rohyr had lost the struggle to hide his feelings. Anguish, guilt andhelplessness played across his face and showed in the droop of hisshoulders and listless clench of his hands on his knees. Lassen laidVyren in his crib and went to his mate.Itwas obvious that Rohyr was berating himself for failing to avert therecent troubles that had beset the both of them. He was blaminghimself for not having known the details of an obscure law exclusiveto one fief and one clan in all the land, for not anticipating theinvocation of an ancient rite that had long been forsaken andforgotten by all but a handful, and for trusting one he loved as aparent even when that one had often tried his patience to distractionand stretched the limits of his tolerance.Lassenknelt before Rohyr and, cupping his face in his hands, pressed a kissto his mouth. No one faults you for not being perfect, ariad.Why do so yourself?Rohyrpulled him onto his lap and held him tight. My incompetence hasimperiled you, he whispered.Incompetence?Lassen shook his head. That is so far from the truth, tis notin the least amusing. I must insist thatYoucan flee, Rohyr cut him off, eyes bright with uncharacteristicdesperation. I can arrange for you to live in comfort in anycountry of your choosing in South Vihandra.RohIllfind a way for us to meet with you, Vyren
hope for were their sturdy leatherjerkins. The point of the duel was a fast and decisive finish, not aprotracted fight or show of skill.OnceVaeren was done with his search, Lassen clasped Rohyrs hand onelast time before proceeding to the middle of the field. Tyrde eyedLassen malevolently as they came to stand opposite each other.Acarefully impassive Vaeren spelled out the rules of combat to them.They were few and simple and drawn up to ensure a quick and lethalcontest.Noone may intervene once the duel starts and neither of you may seekaid should you suffer injury. A swift and merciful slaying ispreferable but should one of you be incapacitated, the other will bedeclared the victor. Whereupon he is to execute the loser throughdecapitation.Theywould start with knives, which almost all Deira learned to use fromadolescence onwards. Most duels did not proceed beyond this point.But in the rare event that the combatants were too evenly matched andthe fight promised to turn protracted, they would resort to swords tohasten the end of the duel.Afterascertaining that both were ready, Vaeren handed them two knivesapiece. One had a long thin blade made for stabbing and parrying; theother was shorter and wider with a wickedly sharp edge that couldeasily slice a throat or belly open. Lassen tensely waited for thesignal to beginthe blare of a heralds horn.Hetried to recall everything Rohyr had taught him. Still, hisinexperience showed almost at once. Whereas Tyrde took the offensive,Lassen remained largely on the defensive, more intent on blockingTyrdes blades than inflicting injury on the Ardis. Moments inwhich he could have dealt blows injurious enough to debilitate theother if not outright kill him came and went with alarming frequency.Itappeared it would not be Tyrdes skill that would decide theoutcome but rather Lassens readiness to kill or the lack of it.Hestifled a cry when Tyrde cut deep into the back of his left hand,only narrowly avoiding the follow up stab to his chest. He lungedsideways then ducked under Tyrdes swing at his throat and took theArdis by surprise with a feint to his thighs. Batting Tyrdestardily positioned long knife out of the way, he had the satisfactionof wiping the latters grin from his face.Tyrdestared disbelievingly at the rent in his jerkin through which a longshallow cut across his torso was visible. Only the thick leather hadsaved him from being gutted outright. That and the fact that Lassenhad once again tempered his blow.Givehim no quarter, Las!Lassenbit his lower lip as he and Tyrde circled warily once more. Rohyr wasright. He could not afford to pull his punches. Tyrde went in for thekill with each and every move. Sooner or later, highly skilled ornot, he would wear Lassen down and find another opening in hisdefenses. He would not hesitate to use that opening.Thehorn sounded and Vaeren called to them to halt. Thankful for thechance to catch his breath, Lassen watched as the captain tookTyrdes knives and handed him a sword in their stead. He swallowedhard. Swordplay had never been his strong point.Hemanaged a small nod to Vaeren when the latter handed him asilver-hilted sword along with murmured words of
encouragement.Lassen did not have to heft the weapon to know it was perfectlybalanced nor did he doubt that it had been honed to lethal sharpness.He experimentally swung it, the grip sitting comfortably in his hand.Aninscription on the gleaming blade caught his attention. His eyeswidened when he recognized the Naeren runes spelling out Rohyrsfull name. He glanced at his lover, managing a small smile before heturned to face his nemesis once again.Tyrdescarcely waited for Vaeren to step out of the way before he chargedat Lassen. Stroke and counterstroke. Circle and lunge, swing andparry, the clang of the blades astheysmashed against each other seemed deafening amidst the spectatorsshouts and comments.Astrike at his shoulder proved a ruse and Lassen barely managed toevade the hewing blow to his belly. But he stumbled as he skippedback and lost his footing. Horrified cries rang out as he fell. Tyrdehurled himself at his rival, bringing his sword down on him withshocking savagery.Lassenscrambled desperately to get out from under the shadow of the blade,avoiding it with only a hairs breadth to spare. He somehow managedto twist out of harms way and lashed out with his foot to tripTyrde. Without pausing to think, he got to his feet and snatched uphis sword in one smooth rolling motion. A motion he had notpreviously practiced in any sparring bout. Yet his body had acted asif he had.Tyrderushed him in a blur of movement and he scarcely evaded the downwardarc of the latters sword. But in the next moment, he was bringingup his own sword to ward off a blow to his torso, again in a movethat was instinctive. Except Lassen knew it was not.Hewas being guided. Nay, more than that. There was a presence in hisconsciousness that took over from him whenever he was at a loss as towhat to do. Saintsabove!Lassendid not know how but Rohyr had become one with him. Momentarilydistractedby the discovery, he did not anticipate Tyrdes next strike. ButRohyr did.Lassensaw his arms move of their own volition. Felt them pull up and raisehis sword in time to block the attempt to disembowel him. RecallingRohyrs plea, Lassen willed himself to surrender to the strangemerging of their minds.Thetide turned. Tyrde found himself on the defensive for the first timeas Lassen seemed to cast aside his qualms and go on the attack. Heignored the onlookers, focusing solely on besting his opponent, hiseyes glittering with newfound confidence.Watchinganxiously from the yard perimeter, Imcael wondered at the change inLassens demeanor. Not to mention his sudden mastery of the swordwhere just minutes earlier he had been barely holding his own. Hestared at Lassen with a mixture of fascination and apprehension. Hisstance, his tactics, the very way he held his sword where hadImcael seen them before?TheHerun swore under his breath as Rohyr appeared in his minds eye,looking as he did in the battles where Imcael had fought at his side.For the next several heartbeats, it was Rohyr whom Imcael sawduelling with his son. He angrily shook his head as if to free histhoughts of the impossible imagesLassenpivoted on his heel to avoid being skewered. As he came
around, hebrought his sword down and in to slice across Tyrdes flank. Tyrdescreamed as the blade cut through the leather of his jerkin and bitdeep into his side. He backed out of reach, a hand pressed to hiswound, and stared at Lassen incredulously.Letus end this, Lassen suggested, lowering his sword fractionally toindicate his willingness to stop the fight.Tyrdescowled. Only when youre dead, he spat.Herushed Lassen, repeating the tactic that had earlier so rattled thesedyr,he had tripped and fallen. Lassen evaded him then struck him in theback with the pommel of his sword, hard enough to make him stumble.Tyrde fell on one knee then attempted to right himself. Lassen swepthis other leg out from under him. Tyrde landed on his belly, hisbreath forced out of him with a whoosh.Hefrantically grabbed at his sword but yelped when Lassens foot camedown hard on his wrist and forced him to let go. With a swift kick,Lassen sent the weapon skidding out of reach. Tyrde quickly rolledover only to feel the tip of Lassens sword pressed against histhroat.Muchas I hate to admit it, we are quite alike, Lassen icily told him.I, too, keep what is mine. And like it or not, Tyrde Kardova,Rohyris mine.Tyrdeseyes widened at the stark possessiveness in Lassens voice. Youwouldnt kill an unarmed Deir, he said imploringly.Youreright, Lassen agreed a shade contemptuously. And in that we areworlds apart. He pressed the blade ever so daintily into Tyrdesflesh. Yield and I will spare you.Tyrdeswallowed, feeling the faint prick at his neck. I yield, hemumbled. Louder!Iyield! Rohyr is yours!Lassendrew back his sword and lowered it. At once, a murmur of confusionand protest broke out. One voice rose above the babble.Thelaw decrees that the victor takes all!Lassenswept the dissenters with a glare. And cant the victor choosewhat he desires to take? he demanded. A hush descended on thecrowd. He looked down at his ashen-faced foe. He is kin to theArdan, the son of his sires brother. I wont stain my hands withthe blood of an Essendri. He searched for the Deir who had spokenout loud. Can youstomach it? he challenged, holding his sword out to him. When thelatter looked down abashed, Lassen grimly smiled. I thought not.Therewas movement to his side. He saw Rohyr striding swiftly toward him.He beamed and went to him.Obliviousof the onlookers, Rohyr swept him into a tight hug and pressed hisface into the gold of his hair. Through the corner of his eyes, hedescried Imcael helping Tyrde to his feet. Behind them, a guardretrieved Tyrdes sword and approached them to return it. Rohyrreleased Lassen and turned to address his uncle. In the next instant,he was staring at a javelin as it shot through the air straight athim.Tyrdehad shoved the guard aside and grabbed his spear as the otherstumbled. He hurled it with all his might at Rohyr then hurtledhimself at his cousin almost as soon as the weapon left his hand.Imcael tried to grab at him as he sprinted forward but failed to geta good hold. Everyone else was so stunned by his audacity that theyreacted more slowly than was their wont.Witha cry,
Right after Dyraeldied. But he followed your addato the grave too soon. The Herun sighed. If only he hadlistened to the grooms when they warned him it would be too dangerousto ride his new zentyr unbroken.Rohyrsaid nothing. He had been present when his sire was thrown. The fallresulted in a fractured skull. Keldon had not woken again and diedthree days later. With Dyrael gone as well, Rohyr began his reign anorphan with only Imcael and his distant sons counting as immediatefamily. Imcael seemed to recall this as well for he grimaced andwaved his hand in front of him as if to banish the memory.Idoubt you asked to meet with me to reminisce over the past, Rohyrsaid, pushing the wine cup across the small table toward his uncle.Imcaelaccepted it. I wished to talk about what happened, he repliedafter taking a sip. What Tyrde said ... did...Helooked away a moment, squaring his shoulders. Barely two weeks hadpassed since the duel. Imcaels older sons came to Rikara to fetchtheir sire and brothers body and bring both back to Qimaras. Rohyrknew that Tyrde had been cremated just four days ago and that his urnwas now interred in the burial vault of his Kardova father. WhenImcael returned to Rikara the previous day, he at once sought anaudience with his nephew.Itrust you know that I dont desire to take the crown from you,Imcael continued. You are the rightful ruler of this land and Inever deemed it otherwise.Inever doubted that, Uncle.Tyrde...I dont know how he came to believe that... Imcael shook hishead in frustration. I do not know. I tried to be a good parent toall my sons. Tyrde didnt always abide with me however. And when hegrew up, he didnt enjoy living in Qimaras as much. He came toprefer Anju.Notsurprising, Rohyr commented. In Qimaras, he was merely thelast-born son whereas in Anju, he was Javans heir. It seems heplaced much stock in bloodlines and titles.Imcaelflinched. My influence, my error, he muttered. I should haveseen the changes in him each time he returned to my house. He oftasked me if I resented having been displaced as heir when you wereborn. No matter that I denied it, he always discussed the matterwhenever he visited.Didyou deny it the first time he asked? Rohyr inquired.TheHerun stared at him then looked down. He first broached the issueafter you and I had just quarrelled over some policy and I...Imcael grimaced again. I complained that youd refused to listento my counsel.Sohe did think that you were resentful and only hiding your feelingsout of duty. He might have, Imcael grudgingly conceded. Heheaved a testy sigh. Ill neverknowfor certain. He suddenly regarded Rohyr accusingly. Theressomething thats been puzzling me since... During the swordfight,your lemanLassen,Rohyr interrupted. He has a name, Uncle.Imcaelpursed his lips mulishly but finally said, Lassen Idana is noseasoned warrior. Yet there came a point when he seemed to gainexpertise he had not previously possessed. He leaned forward andstared hard at Rohyr. I recognized some of the moves he made, histactics. Id seen you make them many a time in battle. It wasalmost as if youwere