Passing Through Part II

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I think that could be arranged." Well, perhaps not a full account depending on the events, but that didn't need to be said aloud. He was intelligent enough to understand that. "Though you might have to give me a couple days after."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

“Just send me word,” I replied, not wanting by any means to ask for details. It was his business, and as a Valerian adept, he was likely fraying with the Kushelines. From them, the mental leap to figure out the nature of the Fete he would be attending was easy. I’d been a patron of Valerian, ages ago, and so I didn’t need to ask – nor did I want to.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I was glad he didn't ask why, the flare of understanding in his eyes showing he already knew and wasn't about to be a boor about it. "I take it you're attending the fete then?"

[Gillermo Stregazza]

“I am,” I replied laconically. “It will be my protégé’s debut, an important night for her.” I didn’t add more, but it was an important night on so many levels, I couldn’t begin to explain. I did grin rakishly, though, and added, “And I wouldn’t miss an occasion to dance with the woman I love for the world.” I smiled absently, remembering the dance at the Coronation Fete, and how I loved to dance with her, how the perfection of our bodies’ movements had been the catalyst of understanding the very deep truth that Mirielle had me under her spell. I longed for that moment, for the sheer perfection of it.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"A busy night then," I replied with a grin. "Best of luck to you, and your protégé."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

"Thank you," I replied with a smile. "I don't doubt we will both have many updates to share when the madness of the Fetes wears off."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I chuckled. "Yeah... If nothing else, it should prove to be entertaining."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

I gave a philosophical shrug, and downed a little more of the ale. I was starting to develop a rather good tolerance to all this ethyl. "Eh, better entertaining than boring, isn't it?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I chuckled. "Some days I would vehemently disagree with you, but those are the most entertaining. But what's live without a little adversity?"

[Gillermo Stregazza]

"A long, tranquil and boring river," I replied with an amused grin. "That's what they'd say in Menekhet, but then again, they have cause," I added, laughing a bit more. "That's exactly what the Nile is, even if it is majestic."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I laughed. "I thought the Nile flooded every year. Doesn't sound too tranquil to me."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

"That's correct," I replied with a grin. "But from the point of view of a felouque, it's smooth sailing, and might I add, from the point of view of a Serenissiman, quite boring."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I chuckled at his obvious pride. "I take it you've travelled a bit then?"

[Gillermo Stregazza]

“A little,” I replied with a grin. True that it was a euphemism – I’d spent several years on emissary missions, I was well traveled. Likely, the City of Elua, like any, was a temporary post as well. That made me reflect on the matter of Mirielle. If she accepted me, I would have to make a decision on it. Already I knew I could give up anything for her. “Have you yourself?” I didn’t think so, because adepts I knew were confined to their houses, but I didn’t want to presume.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Only from Camlach to the City," I replied. I would not think of the long, lonely trip.

[Gillermo Stregazza]

“I’m not familiar with Camlach,” I noted absently. “I always came to Terre d’Ange by sea, through Marsilikos.” It was so easy, with the Immortali’s fleet, that I’d never bothered with the long rides. Besides, it allowed me to see Lessa, which was always a bonus. That set me to wonder how she was – I hadn’t heard of her since my last letter.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

“It’s worth a visit. Honest, hardworking people and beautiful, beautiful countryside,” I replied, thinking on the memories I had of the place before I left.

[Gillermo Stregazza]

“Mayhap I will change my habits, then, and go through Camlach next time I go home.” Elua, why not? After all, my main interest in passing by Marsilikos was in the City, now.... I gave him a smile, and asked, not really prying, but making conversation, “A Cammaelline, then?”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"You couldn't tell?" I asked with a raised brow and a chuckle. "I hadn't realized the City had such an effect."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

In truth, I hadn't paid that much attention to it. "I don't think I've met other Cammaelines before, if you'll forgive my saying," I told him as I tried to recall if I had, indeed, or not. I didn't think so.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Well then I'm honoured to be your first," I told him, unable to keep in the laughter from the jest.

[Gillermo Stregazza]

I laughed with him, and asked in turn, “Am I your first as well?” I grinned, and added, “I could claim it on both the Azzalese count and the Serenissiman one….”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"My first Stregazza," I conceded with another laugh. "But not the other two."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

I laughed more widely. “Well then,” I asked with a smile. “Who did you meet then, that may have stolen my honor from me?”

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

“Let’s see… I had a patron last year that hailed from La Serenissima.” I replied, thinking on that night with a smile. She had made my blood boil that one, and not entirely in a bad way. “And one of my father’s friends was Azzalese. They fought together.”

[Gillermo Stregazza]

His smile almost made me beg him not to tell me more, and I was thankful that he moved on to war. “Your father was a soldier?” I asked curiously. Now… there was the matter of war. My personal battle – that which I tried to counter with all I had. No wonder I’d been named after a spokes person for peace…

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Aye, and the a farmer after the war was over," I replied, taking a long drink. I didn't generally like thinking on him, but the ale had loosen me up some. "He was was to be discharged when it started."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

Humble beginnings, then. I gave him a look of understanding. From a soldier’s, a farmer son, to an adept of Valerian, there was… I didn’t want to think on it, but it seemed somewhat drastic.

“And so he went to war once more?” I asked curiously.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I nodded. "Did his duty for the country, and even made it home again." I thought of the last time I had seen him on my brief trip home for the funeral. "All us boys were trained in the basics."

[Gillermo Stregazza]

"A good training to have," I replied with a grin. "Maybe one of these days we can practice, you and I," I offered with a smile. "I've been short a sparring partner for a while." I missed it, as well. My time in Aragonia had been golden by many ways.