Lunch with a Friend: Renard and Eulalie

[Renard de Valliers]

I picked Eulalie up in a carriage, dressed in semi formal clothing. I was eager to talk to her and find out how her week had been and if she had met anyone new. I told Owen that I would bring her back promptly and then I gave her assistance into the carriage. The carriage ride wasn't long, it took us to the palace district and then stopped in front of the Lord and Lady Inn. I had been told that this place was for peers and nobles, so I thought it might be a place that Eulalie would enjoy.

I offered her my hand to help her out of the carriage and led her to the restaurant, opening the door for her. "How have you been? Keeping out of riots, I hope?" I gave her a small wink, letting her know that I was only teasing her.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

Renard arrived at the Town House punctually for our lunch meeting. Not wanting him to remember my appearance the last time he saw me, I had actually taken care with my appearance for once, making sure that my blue dress was immaculate and not a hair was out of place. We took a carriage to the Lord and Lady Inn, in the palace district which I was yet to fully acquaint myself with.

"Of course," I smiled at his jest as we entered. "I've been keeping myself busy with my head buried in books. And how about you? Saved any other damsels in distress this week?"

[Renard de Valliers]

My lips moved up slightly when she mentioned that she spent hours with her head in a book. That seemed rather boring. I led her to a table and pulled a chair out for her. Once she had sit down, I settled across from her, "Let's see....I rescued a woman's earing, I found a craftsman for a woman's broken chair, and I chase down a thief who stole a woman's purse!"

I gave her a small grin, "Okay...so the last one didn't happen, but the other two are true. There are quite a few un-escorted women here in the city. I guess they have a mind of their own.."

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

"My, aren't you the gallant knight," my lip curved upwards in amusement as I brought my chair in closer. "I suppose the women don't feel they need escorts considering that it's usually safe here. But now with the riot and impending war..." I shook my head, it was too early to be dwelling on such a serious matter. "It's good to hear you're meeting new people though. Did you end up presenting yourself at court?"

[Renard de Valliers]

I smiled when she scooted forward. I shrugged my shoulders at her compliment, "My behavior isn't considered ordinary in Camlach...perhaps the other men need to step up." I considered her words on women feeling safe. "I also heard that there was a plague a year ago, and that a woman was kidnapped from her home. Safety is a frame of mine. Just because you feel safe does not mean that it's true."

I laughed softly, "It's funny that you mention that. I ended up sparring with someone on the royal grounds, but I didn't enter court just yet. I did manage to get entrance into the war, however."

I called a server toward us, "Ladies first." I gestured for her to order first.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

I ordered something at random, absently picking it off the menu then waited for Renard to order before continuing to speak. "Sparring before properly introducing yourself to court." I said flippantly. "Typical Camaeline behaviour."

Then, because I couldn't resist, I turned back to the topic of safety. "You are right, safety is a state of mind. It's interesting to think of it that way. I suppose that no one is safe though. The Countess was abducted in her own home, by Skaldi no less." I looked at him with interest. "As a native of Camlach, what do you think about the fact we'll be fighting an official war on your borders?"

[Renard de Valliers]

I chuckled softly at her words and nodded, "Many say that the people of Camlach think with their swords, that saying can be well attributed to me."

I listened to her speak about the philosophy of safety. I nodded when she spoke of a Countess being abducted by Skaldi. My face hardened in a response. Surely she must have had guards, were none of them paying attention? I paused in my thoughts at her question. I considered her question for a moment before I answered, "I fought the Skaldi on our borders for three years when I was younger. I have a lot of anger when it comes to Skaldi. I don't want them on our borders. If they put one step on our land....I'll do whatever I can to ensure that they do not live anymore." My eyes looked down at the table for a moment and then back at her. I hoped that I had frightened her, but it was my genuine feelings.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

The vehemence of his response was somewhat surprising, I had not expected to see this side of him for all he was Camaeline, yet it made sense to me. I had not grown up with the constant threat of raids and pillaging on my very border. He had.

"So you approve of the war then?" I asked, taking a sip of water. "I understand your animosity towards them."

[Renard de Valliers]

I nodded at her question, "Definitely. The Skaldi are ruthless, brutal boulders of men, and they don't understand anything unless it is with a blade. I only speak to Skaldi with my blade because it is all they understand. They wish to take over our land, rape our women and kill our children. I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening, even if I must give up my life to protect the people and crown of my country." I spoke the words with passion and intensity. I looked down for a moment, trying to calm myself.

"What are your thoughts?" I asked politely.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

Leaning forward, I leaned my chin on my hands as I thought about it. "I can understand why it's happening, though I don't know what I really think about it. There's something odd, I believe. How could the countess, for one, be abducted from her own home? Something was amiss there. I think back to the Battle of Troyes le Mont, stories of that. Isidore d'Aiglemort had been acting as a double agent in the end, though he came clean. I wonder if maybe some of our countrymen aren't as honorable as we think they are."

Then, realising that I was probably boring him by thinking aloud, I shook my head. "I'm sorry. It's merely speculation, farfetched speculation. I'm not in a position to judge since I don't know all the facts."

[Renard de Valliers]

My lips curved up slightly when I saw her lean forward and listened to her speculate. The sun was reflecting through the window and making her blond hair glisten in the light. I turned my eyes from her hair to focus on her eyes and then on the table.

I shook my head at her, "No...don't apologize. I think that's a very good speculation. One that I had myself. Although I don't like to think ill of my country men, I know that not all of them have the same degree of loyalty that I have. Some men turn a blind eye to those in danger, and others will take advantage of it to profit or gain power."

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

I nodded in agreement. "It's a sad human failing. In some cases people are brought up that way, it's the ones who do it out of pure ambition or apathy that I can't fathom."

There was determination in his gaze, and though I knew what the answer was like to be, I asked anyway. "So I suppose you're going to be at the frontline of the battle?"

[Renard de Valliers]

I listened to her philosophy on humanity. I looked down when she asked if I would be on the frontline, "I wish that I could. Nothing would brighten my blade more than the blood of a Skaldi, but my archery skills are far better than my fencing skills. So no..I'll be in the back, that's where most archery soldiers stand."

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

"That must be a relief for your sister," I commented. If I knew my brother would be serving on the front line I would be worried sick. I was already anxious enough that Owen was going too. "How is she anyway, your sister?"

[Renard de Valliers]

I shrugged my shoulders, "I honestly don't know how she felt about me fighting agianst the Skaldi. She knows that it's something that I have to do. She's never mentioned her feelings on it, but I suppose it would be a relief for her to know that I'm less likely to be injured...like other men.."

I smiled lightly, "She's doing well. She enjoyed the Eisheth necklace that I sent her a few weeks ago. I am hoping that I will get the chance to see her when I get to Camlach."

"How are you siblings?" I tried to remember if she had mentioned something to me about them. And I vaguely remembered her stating that she was the youngest in her family.

I looked up at the server as our food was brought to us. I had ordered a steak with roasted potatoes, and green beans. I took a sip of my red wine before I began cutting into the meat. It looked perfectly cooked.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

"It's good to hear that she's well," I said warmly. "And you should get the opportunity to see her, at least before they set up the camps in earnest."

I thanked the server as he brought my food, a plate of beef drizzled in some unknown sauce. "My siblings are well, though I should probably write to them. My sisters are busy being wives and my brother will probably ride to war as well. Maybe by some chance you might encounter him."

[Renard de Valliers]

I took in the sight of her warmth before chewing on a piece of steak. It had been cooked perfectly, and I tasted the seasonings and juiciness of the steak. I nodded at her suggestion for me to see my sister. Family was important to me and it looked like family was important to her.

"What's your brother's name? I'll keep my eye out for him," I mentioned as I took another swallow of wine.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

"Nicolas," I replied before starting on my own plate. "Knowing him though he'd probably be trying to help plan strategies. He's more of a thinker than a warrior."

[Renard de Valliers]

I committed the man's name to memory, so that I could keep my eye out for him, "I can understand the thrill of strategy. I enjoy being involved in the process when I can. Will you be joining the war?"

I picked up green beans with my fork and slipped them into my mouth. I chewed thoughtfully as I listened to her.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

For a moment I was silent, thinking about it. "To be honest, I hadn't really considered it," I said eventually. "I guess the threat hadn't seemed all that real until now; and I'd rather be doing something useful than sitting at home worrying."

I figured Owen would probably be annoyed if he knew I was signing up for the healer unit, but as illogical as it was I felt like he'd be safer if I were at least helping those who were serving on the battlefield.

[Renard de Valliers]

I nodded at what she said, but I didn't fully understand what she meant. Whenever I heard of Skaldic raids, I felt it as surely as if they were right outside my door. But then, when I lived in Camlach, they really were. It did make sense that for people in other places, the raids might not seem so close or so threatening. I didn't know if I should encourage or discourage Eulalie, but if you did decide to go- I hoped that she wouldn't be hurt.

I cut off another slice of my steak and ate it quietly. I picked up my glass and took a large sip. I set it back on the table, "How are things with Owen? Has he forgiven you?"

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

"He's thawed," I said drily. "Not angry, per se, but still a little on the chilly side. I don't know how he'll react once he finds out I've signed up for the healer unit."

I stirred my tea idly. "I think you two would have gotten along nicely, had you met under different circumstances."

[Renard de Valliers]

I chewed a piece of meet and swallowed it while listening to her answer, "I think so too. Had he not been looking for someone to blame, we may have gotten along quite well. I'm not sure how people of Elua think of women, but I'm not one to force a woman what to do...even one as young as you. You can make your own choices, I respect that, and I wouldn't want to interfere....even if I don't think your making the right choice. Sometimes we have to make mistakes to learn..."

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

I was slightly ruffled at his comment to. Even one as young as you. Girls my age were old enough to get married, to head households. It certainly meant I was old enough to make my own choices and stand by them. Although he didn't say it outright, he more or less passed off my decision at the riot as wrong. "If I were older, I would have made the same decision regardless. I bet if any other woman had done it no such reaction would have happened."

Then I shrugged. "True, we have to make mistakes to learn, but regardless of whether or not you're sixteen or one and twenty, or an old man in his dotage, you still make those mistakes."

[Renard de Valliers]

I could feel her defenses coming up, and I smiled and spoke casually, "I only spoke of your age in regards to what Owen said. He wanted me to forcibly remove you from where you were, because of your age. I only meant that it went against my own value."

"I agree with you that people of all ages make mistakes. I make mistakes. I didn't mean to pass judgement on your decision. Only to say that I didn't agree with it, but I disagree with a lot of things. That doesn't make them wrong..." I added before cutting into my steak and picking up another piece to chew.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

I nodded, relaxing a little more. I probably came across as overly defensive. "Have you ever found yourself in that situation before though? Having to forcibly remove someone from being in danger?"

[Renard de Valliers]

I considered her question and shook my head. I spoke after swallowing my meat, "No, I don't usually find so many women in distress as I have in Elua. The women in Camlach tend to have either military experience, or skills with some kind of weapon. Many of them handle themselves quite well. I admire the quality, but there are some....downsides to it as well.."

I lifted my glass up and took a long swallow.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

It interested me, hearing about Camlach. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to grow up in such an... aggressive province.

"Downsides?" I repeated curiously.

[Renard de Valliers]

I nodded to her, "Yes...some of the women are not as interested in romance. I'm sure there are women in Camlach interested in romance, but I can't seem to meet them. I do believe I'm meeting more of such a woman here in Elua. Yet, I am no where near close to the goal that I have set out for myself. It has been a month, perhaps all I need is patience." I gave her a thin smile before turning to my plate to finish off the vegetables.

[Eulalie de Perigeux]

Intrigued, I stopped concentrating on my food and leaned in a little closer. "It's like that in Siovale, only we're more studious. The way to a girl's heart is through her books. What sort of goal are you working towards?"