Chapter Text
She frowned, thoughtfully, at the flimsy on the desk before her. It doesn't matter how many times she has seen it come across her desk, there's no way around it without displaying impudence. Another formal request from Harrowhark Nova to the Reverend Daughter of the Ninth: A duel for the position as cavalier primary. Of all the tasks and responsibilities bestowed upon Gideon as Reverend Daughter, this one she now dreads the most.
Under normal circumstances, a proper duel for cavalier primary would be fought between the current holder of the position and the challenger. However, the sad miserable lump, Ortus Nigenad, holds that title and is not the fighting type to say the least. Of course the Reverend Mother and Father knew as much and therefore wouldn't allow such an obvious win. Why would they? They have never been the sort to show any kind of benevolence to the very child they disowned, so it only made sense that they would make the difficult (easy) decision to have the Reverend Daughter duel Harrowhark instead. Some guff reasoning that “If Harrow can defeat the very adept she will be responsible to serve and defend, would deem her capable of protecting them.” Really this was just another attempt under a thin guise of decorum to keep Harrow from having any semblance of power or association to the Ninth. Bullshit is what it was, Gideon knew.
Now every once a month, Harrow sends Gideon a formal request to become cavalier primary by means of a duel. Another sheet of flimsy on Gideons desk for her to mull over as if she hadn't seen it on the same day just as the month previous, it was clockwork. By now Harrow has tried and failed 4 times to become cavalier primary but it wasn't for lack of skill, no definitely not that. In fact, Gideon thought Harrow was magnificent when she fought. Thrilling, almost exhilarating if it weren't for the fact that everytime they would duel Gideon would have to best Harrow and all of her fighting prowess. She absolutely hated it, hated how she had to maintain the status quo, it was requisite to everything that was required of her and what she held personally dear to her heart, what little there was for her to hold. It was really all just fucked up.
Even if it did mean she could see Harrowhark who had been elusive for the better part of the last five years, this is not how she wanted to see her. Harrow incapacitated and dragged out again by Aiglamene at the end of the match, just like every match thus far. Harrow was never one to back down as long as she could still breath, so it was inevitable every time for Harrow to fight until Gideon took her down and it was lights out . She never wanted that no matter how much they hated each other. Well, Harrow more than likely abhorred Gideon’s whole existence entirely. For Gideon, it was unbearable to just be around Harrow, what she did to her and the chasm that formed between them a dreadful reminder of her becoming the Reverend Daughter, even if she never wanted to be. She could never truly be angry that Harrow froze her out after everything, she deserved it.
The time and place was set, just as all the others were. Mid-day, at the base of the long vertical tunnel that the bright bead of Dominicus can be seen from, that was the shuttle field. There was no deeper meaning to this, it was simply the largest open space in Drearburh where they could have a proper duel. “She dropped it off at First Bell as usual. We'll need to leave soon my lady…we're already running late...” Ortus informed Gideon. She gave a deep sigh, “I’ll tell the Reverend Parents and meet you there.” Ortus, seeming to be somewhat relieved not having to be the one to relay the message, briskly walked out of the library. Begrudgingly, Gideon made her way to the Reverend Mother and Father's shared study to show them the request and let them know of the fifth attempt Harrowhark will be making to gain the title as Cavalier Primary. There was no need to inform what little remained of the Ninth, Aiglamene and Crux would already be there along with the ghastly great-aunts. Harrow probably had been there since she dropped the note off earlier that day. Gideon hated that it had to be such a spectacle.
She made her way to the clearing, as she suspected, the collection of severe osteoporosis were all there gathered on the sideline. Surprisedly, even the Reverend Mother and Father decided to make an appearance after Gideon had informed them and joined the viewing party. They had stopped gracing the duels with their presence after Harrow's first attempt and Gideon had absolutely obliterated Harrow. She hadn't meant to go so far but she had been feeling particularly agitated with a number of things that day, to then add having to fight Harrow—not that it was Harrow's fault, Gideons irritation was with the Reverend Mother and Father, but Harrow unfortunately was the one to catch the brunt of it. They must have felt it unnecessary to make an appearance from then on and only seemed indifferent when Gideon would inform them of Harrow's subsequent attempts.
Even so, what was even more surprising than that was Harrow was actually not there yet. "I thought I was late. Where's the lady of the hour?" Gideon asked, throwing her hand up in question as she approached Aiglamene at the center of the field.
"You are late, Reverend Daughter." said Aiglamene with minimal deference, unmoved by Gideons normal bullshit, "Haven't seen her today…however, I'm sure she will arrive here shortly."
"I mean, sure, but usually she's here bef–"
"Don't worry Griddle , I have not forgotten our arrangement. I only dropped it off this morning after all." A voice came from right behind Gideon, startling the Reverend Daughter.
"WHat! The fuc–Harrow, where did you—nevermind. Anyway, that's a lot of spite coming from the person who's late to their own ‘arrangement’ . If I remember you–"
"Griddle, I don't have patience for your frivolity. I would like to get on with today's agenda." Harrow curtly interrupted.
"Well we're waiting on you sunshine." said Gideon, sarcastically giving a half bow and gesturing to Harrow to take her place.
Harrow vehemently rolled her eyes at Gideon as they got into position. Drawing her main hand, a plain hilted rapier, almost pitch black if it weren't for the immaculate shine it held. Gideon would expect nothing less from Harrow who goes through painstaking lengths to exhibit only excellence. Harrow's off-hand she carried in her gloved fist and laid across her chest, the Chain of Samael Novenary. The same that she received a brutal lashing for when she had stolen it from the Anastasian monument. Now it remains in her hands and her main-gauche.
Gideon on the other hand has the spectacularly unfair advantage of having her Necromancy, it's even the strongest the Ninth has ever seen, at least outside the tomb keepers line. She knew having her necromancy to duel was incredibly unfair, that was the whole point of it, yet she still somehow managed to convince the Reverend Mother and Father to issue some form of limitation on her. Even just for looks so that for posterity it will show that they weren't complete monsters; They absolutely were. So now her "main-gauche" is a ridiculous looking small pannier tied around her waist with all the bones she's allowed to use, which she only ever allowed herself a handful and even removed her bone vambraces and ear plugs. Of course her main hand being her necromantic abilities.
Aiglamene began to arbitrate the match, "To the floor! Call!"
"Reverend Daughter, Gideon Nonagesimus!"
"Harrowhark Nova!" Gideon always noticed how Harrow winced just the slightest every time she was to call her full name. It was the constant reminder of all her shortcomings. Aiglamene continued, "Seven paces back!" A short pause as she looks between the duelists, giving herself space from between them. "Begin!"
Without wasting a second, Harrow is making her first move attempting to close the short distance between them and swinging her chain at Gideons feet. She's small but she is astonishingly quick and her movements are flawless. Both her rapier and chain are just an extension of her compact body and moves them effortlessly. As Harrow is closing in, Gideon is moving out of the way, maintaining their distance and tossing her first two bone pieces in the air fabricating into two large constructs, their feet ardently meeting the ground. One large with bulbous fists for clobbering, the other almost chain-like with tendrils for whipping and slashing, both made of regenerating ash. She learned and mastered regenerating ash, so her constructs are never to be felled with a single swing of Harrow's chain or thrust of her rapier. Not for a long time now at least. Today is different.
Harrow hardly flinches when both the fists of the larger construct come closing on her, aiming for either side of her rib cage. She ducks underneath the oncoming fists and jumps over one of the tendrils that immediately go sweeping at her feet from the other construct. Harrow wraps the length of her chain around the legs of the bulbous construct and yanks to throw it off balance leaving it distracted and vulnerable. Simultaneously she begins to swing the heavy end of the chain striking right above where she had it wrapped, shattering the legs creating a cascade of crumbling construct.
It doesn't regenerate. Gideon is briefly startled before she realizes what's happened. She doesn't have time to dwell on it, Harrow is already moving in on the next construct directly between her and Gideon. Gideon needs to keep going, figure out how Harrow was able to destroy it so quickly as she makes her next move. She already has a small suspicion. Carefully she watches Harrow as she tosses another bone fragment in the air. As Harrow continues to advance on the chain-like construct, she takes a quick glance and Gideon can see her focusing on where the new construct begins to form while Gideon creates it. Forming from the right acromion process, a fairly generic yet oversized skeleton with a two-handed sword made of bone is cast.
Just as she guessed, Harrow had figured out the construct's weak point. It was simple really, Gideons constructs made from regenerating ash can be destroyed easily if you destroy the initial piece of bone the constructs erupt from, they can no longer regenerate, the remaining thanergy is destroyed. Harrow just needs to watch where the constructs erupt from and memorize where to strike. She had probably figured this out already long ago somewhere after the first two fights, there was no denying she was incredibly astute, but Gideon had admittedly felt herself becoming overtaxed with some of her other duties and found herself making simple mistakes quite often as of late. Leaving her construct's weak point open for an easy strike was definitely one of those mistakes, even if Harrow hadn't figured it out.
Fortunately, the construct with tendrils still had Harrow occupied currently, though it seemed Gideon would be losing that one as well very soon. Soon enough, the tendril construct came tumbling to bits. Gideon had already grabbed another two bone shards from the small pannier and threw one on either side of Harrow. These were awful looking, resembling nothing like a human and barely like the creatures from the incredibly old texts Gideon had found—she couldn't even read some of them to know what they were but the illustrations had been detailed enough for her to use at least for inspiration—both approached Harrow standing two feet taller than her, a medley of the creatures Gideon had seen with added limbs. Where the phalanges were supposed to end erupted into grotesque curled points, incredibly sharp to match the teeth in its large thickened skull. Their tails are equipped with a bony hammer at the end and begin swinging at Harrow.
Gideon made sure to make their weak spot hard to reach this time so Harrow wouldn't be able to destroy them as easily as the last two. She still hadn’t managed to destroy the two-hander construct yet either, but that one had always been one of Gideons tried-and-true creations with a strong defense and mean offense even with its somewhat open weak spot she gave it. The large monstrosities now kept Harrow's attention, swiping and slashing at Harrow with the occasional swing of one of their tails or snapping of their jaws. She continued to avoid the incessant strikes while trying to formulate how to get an opening and coming short with every attempt.
Their fight had stretched out far longer than their previous ones and both Harrow and Gideon were beginning to tire, this was becoming a battle of attrition. Gideon’s face was beginning to feature the tell-tale signs of a nearly expended adept, with red streaks and beads seeping through what was left of her sacramental paint and blood starting to drip from her ear(gross). She hadn’t been this worked up in a fight with Harrow in years, since they were probably still children. Harrow wasn’t looking much better herself, sweat dripping off her brow and blood slowly seeping from the few superficial wounds she had acquired during this match. She normally went unscathed other than the final knock-out she would receive from their fights. Gideon knew how much further Harrow would push herself from past experience and knew she needed to end this soon before she really hurt herself.
With everything she had left in her, Gideon charged all her constructs on Harrow all at once, barraging her in an endless stream of attacks. She threw in her last remaining bone pieces onto the fighting floor in aid. Not letting up for a moment to allow Harrow to breathe let alone think of a plan of attack. Harrow continued avoiding and deflecting attacks, smashing limbs with her chain or boot even if they grew back. She managed to effortlessly destroy a few of the constructs that were made hastily. They were beginning to move more sluggishly, enough for Harrow to notice and take advantage.
Gideon was starting to realize the mistake she made. She had way less fight in her left than she realized compared to Harrow and pushing an all out attack like she did only hastened her enervation. She was beginning to fade, her vision was darkening around the edges. Her surroundings became hazy around her. She couldn't focus on the fight anymore, everything seemed to be spinning. She could hardly see the blurry dark line coming towards her face…...all of a sudden she could see the bright bead of Dominicus down the long tunnel……then everything went black.