Intrigue over Lunch

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

"Not at all," I responded without hesitation, smiling at him. "I find you very thoughtful and considerate, actually, as well as having a rather infectious laugh."

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

"Well, thank you for the compliment. I'll figure out how to take it later." I downed yet another glass of wine and poured another glass.

I moved on to another topic. "You are attending Beltane?" I was certain I already knew the answer, but I thought it polite to ask.

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

"I don't think I can get away with not," I responded with a smile, holding up my finger to a passing waitress to indicate I'd like another glass of wine. I wouldn't be as presumptuous as to assume I could have some of Xantias's.

"I rather enjoy the festivities, actually, and I think Beltane will be no different. Are you planning on going as well?"

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I saw her motion towards the waitress and smiled, reaching out to lift my pitcher and pour some wine into her glass. "I bought the pitcher to share." I set it back down on the table.

"I had not planned on going. In truth I did not know I could. I figured it wasn't for the likes of a lowly Guardsman."

I had never attended any sort of fete or the like. "What's more, I don't know the first thing about attending one. I was always out on patrol come the time of anything of the sort."

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

"Thank you," I replied, smiling warmly at him as he filled my glass. It was a kind gesture, and I didn't tend to forget such things.

"Lowly guardsman..." I tsked softly, leaning towards him a bit. "Don't sell yourself short. If you'd like, I'll accompany you and see you outfitted well for the event. Dashing enough to blow even the most prim of duchesses away." I took a drink of my wine, my eyes smiling at him.

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I sat forward, leaning my elbows on the table as I listened to her.

"Certainly there are those more...suited to you position...that would care to attend you better than I. A Duc mayhaps, or even a Prince?" There I had assumed once more that I was not of proper position to accompany anybody, let alone a Princess, to Beltane.

I sighed softly. "I'm sorry. We just discussed that...didn't we. Thank you, Aza. I would greatly appreciate any help you would offer." I smiled then, a little wanly.

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

For a few seconds I was confused, left looking at him and wondering why in the world it was a big deal. Then realization set in, and I blushed, deep pink and rosy, fusing my high cheekbones with a color no makeup could match. "I would honored if you attended me to Beltane, Xantias," I began, trying to search the subject out delicately. "I'm afraid I'm not so forward as that, though; I had meant looking for clothing."

Ah gods.

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I had read her words wrong, I suppose that was to be expected. "My apologies Azabel, I had not meant to infer anything. I suppose I am simply not familiar with the slightly more, if you'll pardon, flowery talk of the City." I steepled my finger, letting the base of the glass swing back and forth as a pendulum between my hands. "I would not know the first thing to wear and would be gracious the help." Camael deliver the final stroke now. "I should not have presumed that you were asking to attend with me, and surely you must already have somebody with which to do so." This time it was my turn to blush, which I couldn't recall doing in quite some time.

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

Oh gods. More surprising that he took my comment the way he did was the fact that he blushed - actually blushed. Tanned, weathered face before me, large, hard frame, and colored like the first rose of the spring.

Eager to leave the awkward moment behind, I sat my glass down, smiling gently at him. "Actually, I do not have anyone attending me to Beltane," I said almost nonchalantly. "Would you like to head out now to find attire, or would you prefer to stay here longer?"

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I unceremoniously quaffed the rest of the wine in my glass trying to get rid of the blasted flush in my face. "Now, later. Whatever would suit you Aza. I have no real schedule today. I have been granted some time to see the City, and do what I must."

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

"Lets go now, then," I said, more to help give him a distraction than anything else. I needed a little bit of one, too. Rising, I left a coin on the table to pay for my wine, then tossed Xantias a flirtatious smile. "Shall I show you the sights then?"

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I stood, and upon her words made as if to run my eyes over her. I didn't, and instead let them travel down her face to a shoulder, and then out along the arm she had extended to the table to leave payment. It was a joke and one I didn't want to take too far lest I ruin our budding friendship.

"I suppose the sights may not be a bad thing at all to see. Somebody has to see them to make them 'sights' after all."

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

For a moment I thought he was going to let his eyes dance over me, and then he surprised me by merely looking down my arm. Tease.

"I'll make sure to show you only the good ones," I joked, taking the first few steps towards the door.

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

This time I let my eyes follow her. Most women, court-bred or not, had a sway about them. It must have been on of those things bred into their nature. I also noticed that I wasn't the only one in the Cockeral that let his eyes wander, but those eyes didn't stay long. Perhaps they knew who, or at least what, she was and that's why.

I suppose I should have thought the same thing. I didn't. I thought of Azabel more as a friend, in the short time I'd known her, than I did anybody else in the City thus far.

It was a good thing that my senses were finely tuned though. I could watch her with interest and still be able to watch where I was walking to ensure I ran into none. The Cockeral was a busy little place. I would have to remember it. Especially since it didn't water it's wine.

"Good sights are nice..." I said to her as we finally reached the door. I let my eyes come back up to her face. Well, I forced my eyes back to her face.

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

Having struck out on the path first, I led the way to the door, Xantias tucked in just behind me and out of my line of vision. By the time we reached the door the crowd as well as the tables had lessened, and I turned to bring us abreast once again. "That they are," I said, glancing at him as his eyes seemed to return to my face. "But if you'd prefer the lesser, scummier kind, I'm sure I can arrange that as well."

I flashed him a teasing smile as I made my way out the door, nodding a thanks to a dark haired gentleman who held it for me. Once out, I waited for Xantias, then gestured to our right, indicating which way we had to go. I felt oddly secure walking with him, though exactly why I couldn't say. Maybe it was his height and breadth, the way he carried himself. Maybe it was just the fact that he was a soldier; either way, I gave him a partially warm, partially flirtatious smile. "Shall we?"

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I, too, nodded to the gentleman who had held the door for her. Stepping into the street, I smiled. "You know of the less scummier kind,Aza? I would have never thought." I flashed her a grin from my sun-bronzed face.

I started walking, keeping my stride small to match her pace. This was a leisurely walk, after all. "Yes, I think we shall."

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

I laughed, deep and mirthful as his playful side came out more and more. "Do you not think me capable of enjoying such palces, Xantias?" I asked, peeking at him from the corner of my eye.

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I shook my head almost instantly. "Oh, not so, Aza. I simply think that the people who frequent those places would enjoy your 'company' far more than you would enjoy the place itself. I have been in a couple of well known cities, and there were areas where women did not go without welcoming jeers and remarks not suited for a lady's ears." I shrugged slightly then. "That's all."

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

I laughed, shaking my head in turn at his response. "I hadn't meant quite so literally, but you win that round." My smile was full and teasing as we strolled along the streets. It occurred to me a few moments after we'd left that he must have been curtailing his walk to match mine; I found I didn't have to hurry my pace or stretch my legs further to keep up.

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I laughed. I would, I think, have to get used to the subtleties of speech here in the City. I was used to riding with men who told it like they thought it was. "I'm sure there will be countless rounds that you will manage to win." I offered with a smile, looking down at her as we walked.

"So, Lady Princess, what do you have in store for this poor country bumpkin?"

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

I gave him a gracious smile, though it was hinged a little by the same former teasing grin I'd given him. "What, indeed," I said in an all-too-thoughtful voice. "Well, the colors are fire colors, so I was thinking about a bright, canary yellow, fringed in reds, maybe a couple of pinks for contrast."

I paused, looking up all those inches at him, my face holding a mask of sincerity. "What do you think?"

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

My brow rose, first when she mentioned yellow, and then again when pink came up. "Do you intend, also, to collar me and display me as some exotic bird to the gathered crowd?" I grinned broadly, eyebrows still marking their descent, albeit slowly, back from incredulous.

[Princess Azabel de Somerville]

"That depends, I suppose," I said, giving him a pretty smile. "Will you sing as well?"

[Xantias d’Amarante (I)]

I shook my head. "We of Camlach are known for our arms and martial prowess, my dear. Not our voices." I smiled back at her. "Though some few of us are known for our cavalry gait and crude words. I however, am not the latter. I spent time on horse only when necessary, preferring my own two feet to the four of a horse." I shrugged then and gave a wistful laugh. "I will however, try to sing for you, should you really care for me to try." The look I gave her was one of hope that she wouldn't.