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[h3]Duchess Altina Freya Bastille, The "Valkyrie"[/h3]
At Hathforth Castle, Throne Room, The Hearthfire Gala, on 14th Hearthfire, 1402
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[center][b]III: Cracks[/b][/center]
[center][@Estylwen][/center]
[justify]Altina would let out a mischievous chuckle at the duke's comment. As the towering duchess attempted to meet the Rockhold duke at eye level, it occurred to her just how significant the disparity in their heights was. Not that it was of any consequence. Altina knew very well the strength that Duke Dadreak possessed, having received the brunt of an axe swing from him in the past.

She listened intently to the duke's musings on the state of Rockhold. And when the duke returned her own question to her, she would respond in kind.

"Agrovia fares just as well, Duke Dadreak!" Altina began, her voice teetering into a yell loud enough to compete with the duke's own. For the umpteenth time in the night, her lips would once again curl into a smile. But, contrary to all other instances of it, this time, there was no pretense. No deception, no posturing — none of that. This was as close to 'genuine' Altina could get. 

"I am sure you have heard these words from me many times, but Rockhold has truly contributed much to Agrovia's current prosperity." 

Lowering herself into a bow, "For that and more, Rockhold has my eternal thanks."

Forgoing her formality from earlier, she would eventually rise from her position, making for the refreshments, and downing another glass of Gold-touch wine, flashing the duke a toothy grin all the while. 

She would follow up with a playful wag of the finger. "Oh, Duke of the Dwarves! When ale is involved, I can sing in [i]any[/i] language!"

She had not forgotten their arrangement, of course, to meet after the gala. She would remind the duke of this before leaving him. "Well, I must bid you farewell for now, Duke Dadreak." Waving the glass in her hands, "But rest assured, we will not be parted for long!"

Catching a glimpse of Lady Justitia, Altina would saunter off towards the dignified noblewoman. Before she could make contact, however, a scene would play out before her that would catch the attention of everyone present. 

"Why don’t you tell these good people what you’re hiding!"

Altina turned her head.

"Is everything a business exchange for you? Do you see us as pawns, not people?"

It was Duke Willowsteel.

“And you. Don’t get me started on you. You have all these fancy spells, all these tricks. But I’ve figured out the dark secret behind your powers.”

And in his drunken stupor, he spewed out accusations both founded and unfounded. Perhaps the most egregious of them was...

"Court Jester Britesong uses human sacrifices to fake her illusions!"

First, silence. And then, all at once, a chorus of gasps. Even Altina herself could scarcely believe what was unfolding. 

[i]Sigh[/i]. This was why the duchess did not overindulge. Alcohol frees one from all inhibitions, for better or worse, and in the process, lays bare all truths. And for Duke Willowsteel, his truth was that he disdained the Wizard Queen's rule. This bottled-up frustration must have finally bubbled to the surface. In this maelstrom of pure, unbridled emotion, Duke Rhinecliff and Duchess Agustria were unfortunately caught up. 

... And they would not be the only ones.

A teasing remark would flutter from Altina's lips as she walked closer to the Duke of Nordor. "Duke Willowsteel. Strange as it is coming from me, I must advise you — a party is not the place to pick fights." 

Her face darkened. "As a warrior yourself, surely you realize this, no?"

As if flipping through masks, Altina would all too quickly turn a serious expression into an impish one. Her eyes landed on the ornamental swords hanging from the castle walls. 

"But if you insist on continuing this... farce..." 

She would take a pair of blades from their displays —

"Here." 

— and toss one of them at Duke Willowsteel.

"I implore you to clash with me. Speak to me in a way only a warrior can understand. That [i]I[/i] can understand." 

One look at her blade was enough for anyone to tell that it was dull. It was decorative, after all, not intended to be used as a weapon. By all accounts, the chances of injury for either party were minimal. Altina saw an opportunity. For what, one could hardly guess, the machinations brewing in her mind still too cryptic and unclear. Nevertheless, her voice would ring out across the room, putting them into action. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know how most of you regard the art of battle," she prefaced. "Barbaric, uncivil, lacking all sense of humanity." 

"But, nay! You would be mistaken — all of you. There is beauty in it." A familiar smile would return to her features. "Allow me and Duke Willowsteel to demonstrate." Shooting a glance at the Wizard Queen, "With Your Majesty's permission, of course."
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