The Duel Begins

I can't help but be extremely nervous as I watch the duel get under way. As a Champion, my husband can't be killed, something that of course we haven't told Jadis or she would surely have cried "foul". But he could certainly be injured so badly that recovery would take a very long time. The Celestrials whom we work for have always been reluctant to go into details about what would happen, but if the body should be totally destroyed - for example by fire - then my guess is that fully regenerating might take many decades, perhaps even centuries.

I would find waiting that long for Jarlath to return to me very, very hard. Without realising it, I clutch Astra's arm so tightly that she has to ask me to loosen my grip. She herself appears outwardly calm, but I'm sure that she must be experiencing similar fears to myself. Of course, in the past she has had to fight at least one duel to the death herself, though without the added element of magic. I suspect that it's much harder for her to watch than to take part.

The two opponents have started by warily circling each other, no doubt attempting to probe for the other's strengths and weaknesses. We observers are standing well back, of course. It wouldn't do for one of us to be hit by a fireball, for instance. Will the first move be an offensive spell such as that, from one contestant or the other? Or perhaps this will be a purely mental battle, using illusions or maybe trying directly to impose one's will on the other?

As it happens, my fears are needless.

1. In the end as Jadis breaths her last as Jarlath's last blow had broken her neck (not without a lot of bruises done to him), both Winifred and Aslan (who's looking a bit out of it still) finally make the scene.

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