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Apologies.

On the 23rd July in the year 25466 since the founding of Thelbane, Lord Harold Hendrake and the Princess of Annihilation Hebe heralded the arrival of the two monarchs, who entered and sat on the two thrones, which were in fact the only two seats in the entire throne room of Thelbane Palace:

“Let all who have business before their Imperial Majesties King Mandor and Queen Hera of  the Golden Throne now step forward and be heard!”

Through the silence of the crowd standing around the throne room, a female figure not previously seen in Thelbane stepped forward and spoke:

“It is my duty this solemn day to inform your majesties of the passing of the Archduchess Hendrake. She died as she had lived with her sword in her hand.”

The King’s reply was thus: “And who is it who brings this news to us at this time?”

“I am Lyntra Hendrake, neither younger nor older, so I chose a new spelling of the name. I am the first born daughter and heir of the late Archduchess.”

“Are you now? And there is evidence to support this claim, we are to assume?” asked the King.

Archduke Bances Amblerash then spoke up: “Indeed it is so, your majesties. The birth was recorded by my own hand over 9000 turnings ago, under the reign of the Great Swayville, may the Dragon preserve his memory.”

Mandor then spoke again: “And is it your wish at this time that we will confer upon you the lands, titles and honours of the late Archduchess?”

“Actually it is not.” replies Lyntra. “Let it be here heard that I do claim the House of Hendrake, and all lands titles and honours of that estate, by right of blood and birth according to the laws of Swayville, may the Dragon preserve his memory, but I do not require that these things are conferred upon me by any monarch. With the passing of Archduchess Lintra the Younger, the time of Hendrake as a House of Thelbane, or Sarrabann, or indeed any nation state is also past.”

“There is a new enemy that has come. I and my line have lived and trained our whole lives to fight this enemy. And now circumstances give us the forces and resources to make this fight practical. This is the fight to which Hendrake will now be committed, because it is that fight for which we were destined. The very events, initiated by my mother in ages past, by which my birth occurred, also brought this enemy into being, and thus it is our duty to pledge ourselves to this battle. Therefore I am making at this time a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Geography places the nation state of Hendrake on the borders of Thelbane, and for that I am truly sorry. But this enemy will come to you as it will to every Realm and State, and perhaps you will fare better with us here than you would if we were elsewhere.”

“I claim the title Hell-Marshall Archduchess of Hendrake, and declare that any who are descended from Hendrake the Warrior and the Archduchess Bellissa Minobee are welcome within my House, with the full name of Hendrake, if they pledge themselves to the cause. I further declare that I freely release any descendant of Hendrake the Warrior and Bellissa Minobee who do not wish to pledge to this upcoming battle from their membership of House Hendrake. They will be entitled to use the name Fitz-Hendrake, and your majesties may chose whether you wish to welcome them into the Realm of Thelbane, or not. From among their number, whosoever of us that make that choice, you may appoint a Head, if you are so inclined.”

“As should be self evident, I will not be available to serve as your Minister of War, so I will spare you the burden of having to decline to offer it to me.”

At this point, another female stepped forward to stand beside Lyntra, accompanied by a large tiger that walked at her side. This female was one more know in Thelbane. “Your Majesties, I am the Lead Defender of Animus, Honoured Princess Lauren Helgram. Let it be here heard that I killed Lintra Hendrake the Younger, in a battle of honour regarding the disposition and state of my first born son Alaric Hendrake. Until a very few days ago, I would have been Lintra’s heir, and I would have today stood before you and stated that House Hendrake was satisfied that all matters of honour had been concluded regarding the death of Lintra, and claimed her House, lands and honours.”

“But that was then. This is now. I therefore offer my personal apology to your majesties for depriving you of the further services of your minister of war. And further, I submit myself to the new Archduchess Hendrake to settle any outstanding matters of honour between myself and House Hendrake.”

At that point, Lyntra turned towards Lauren, and a sword with a glowing blue blade which had appeared in her hand was plunged into Lauren’s chest until it protruded through her back. Lauren sagged forwards, only held up by the strength of Lyntra’s arm as she kept the sword held out in the lunge. Lauren cried out in agony as steam and smoke emerged from both both chest and back where the sword was penetrating them. At a count of five, Lyntra withdrew the sword, to the accompaniment of much more smoke and steam, as Lauren fell to her knees, and a minute passed before she again rose to stand before Lyntra. Those sensitive to such things would perceive  massive invocations of ley-magic between the tiger and Lauren as her wound was healed.

Lyntra then said “If you will pledge to bring such aid and assistance as you reasonably can afford to the battles which Hendrake undertakes, then matters are settled between us regarding the death of my mother.”

Lauren said “I will so pledge. And if you will pledge to make no claim upon my son save that which he freely gives after he has completed his rehabilitation to my satisfaction, then matters are settled between us regarding Alaric, my son, from the theft of my genetics by Armin.”

Lyntra replied “I will so pledge.” The two women then hugged each other before both falling back into the crowd which broke out into uproar at this point, forcing the ending of Court for that day.