Far away from burning out (Harrow Nova)
Harrow wasn't sure it was right to call as "a duel" what happened. The third cavalier didn't have a chance against her.
It was perfectly unnecessary and if Harrow was honest to herself, her moves with the chain were without any chivalry, she wanted to hurt, really hurt, that prick from the third.
Now, she wanted to scream on the thought that her victory was nothing, but an another shame on the Ninth House.
She grabbed her chain, as strongly her fingers whitened. Vicious weapon, still bloody from the third cavalier's blood, and like its master, doesn't belong to a noble tournament.
The Reverend Daughter only arrived at the end of the duel, but still in time to see her last honorless moves.
"You were incredible, a shining star."
Harrow Nova was expecting anger and disappointment so she looked surprised (and truly shocked by this nickname) as she found a kind and proud smile. Her feelings must be on her face too because Gideon started to retreat.
"A nova is a shining star, so I thought you would like it." Said Gideon with sudden hesitancy in her voice. Puzzled and somehow cute which made Harrow forget about her place.
"They are not even the same thing, Griddle!"
Her surname had hidden meanings, insults from her parents. "Nova" means "new, foreigner, someone who isn't truly from the Ninth". She got it to mark her disinheriting but traditionally it was a name given to new settlers of the planet. In the old, happier times, before the flue, before her existence.
Harrow took a deep breath.
"A nova is a shining, new star, which burns out fast. A disappointment." Harrow avoided her glance as she spoke.
Gideon didn't know where she got the courage, maybe from her excitement to see Harrow in a fight but she stepped closer, touched her cavalier's jaw, and guided her to look up.
"I saw nothing but glory, trust me, you are far away from burning out."
Later Gideon would swear on that she saw her cavalier blush under her sacred face paint.