When, in a half-intentional motion, the needle pricked her fingertip and drew blood, Alinore lifted her finger and considered the bead of red for a moment. It would be so easy to pinch out a few more drops of blood and summon a little creature to entertain her. Nothing overly destructive - there was an alliance to maintain, after all - but perhaps she might enjoy the company of a small, bird-like beast that would likely give any passing Arynnite a nightmare or two. She deliberated, then a glance to the side showed a figure approaching, and her new company made the decision for her. Isolated as they were behind their massive wall, which as far as she knew was still under construction, so few of these men and women had any idea of what Nevermerean witches were capable of. Alinore saw no reason to change that.

Indeed, the man who had seated himself at the nearby bench would likely be one of those interested in such a display - as if any Arynnite wouldn’t be, she corrected herself a moment later, given that the entire kingdom seemed to exist only to attempt to unearth every mystery on the continent. Nevertheless, Clovis Belcourt was one who would undoubtedly consider the militaristic uses of her magic, just as Lieutenant Warren Woodwick had hopefully given some thought to the strategic applications of Arynn Frey’s enchantments when they had talked at open court. As far as Alinore was concerned, only one of those conversations was necessary. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t engage the other man in a pleasant chat as well, especially since he had so unwittingly given her the opportunity to do so.

Gathering up her belongings, she paused a moment before standing up and strolling casually in Belcourt’s direction. As she did so, dark eyes surveyed the ocean view before her, and the corners up her lips turned upward in a small smile when she finally approached the man. “Lord Belcourt,” Alinore greeted him, nodding politely when he looked up at her. “What a pleasant surprise.” She glanced around as if she hadn’t already noticed his solitude. “Do you mind if I join you?” A brief pause. “Please, forgive me if I’ve interrupted any terribly important thinking you might be doing. Simply, I would appreciate the company, and I wondered if you might as well.” If invited, she would offer another small smile and sit down on the bench beside him, the image of a proper Nevermerean woman. “I would have expected you to be at the training yard for many hours still, Lord Belcourt,” She would say after a pause, once seated. Neutral with perhaps a touch of curiosity, her words held no accusation or criticism. And then, a touch of dry humor: “I do hope your Peacekeepers haven’t chased you away already.”

He was ever the gentleman as he invited her to sit beside him, and the flattery went neither unappreciated nor unnoticed. With an upward quirk of the lips, she cast a sideways glance at him before directing her gaze out to sea as well. “On the contrary, the honor is mine. I understand it’s quite an accomplishment to become—“ not a Captain, for they did not call them Captains, here “—Head of the Cavalry so early in one’s career. How has your new position been treating you?” Dark eyes slid toward him once more. “Well, I hope,” Alinore added politely. “It must be quite an adjustment.”

The Nevermerean did not know the Arynnite well enough to recognize the traces of amusement that laced his words, but she noticed the raised eyebrow and the general lack of self-righteous indignation in his tone. Those who frequented the court were well-practiced at hiding offense when there was some and feigning it when there was none. Although she was not currently seated among vaulted ceilings, this interaction was not necessarily any less political, so she treated it as such. “None at all, Lord Belcourt,” Alinore responded smoothly, her gaze finding his again. “After all, we are both seated here, are we not?” She could hardly accuse him of negligence or running away from his duties without incriminating herself alongside him.

Belcourt settled back, crossing his legs, and she kept her hands folded neatly in her lap. “That is certainly heartening to hear,” The witch said. “I should hope they appreciate your dedication to them as much as they do their day off. Training is going well?” Polite small talk, nothing more. A childhood spent among Nevermerean courtiers ensured that she was well-equipped to carry on an easy conversation with a stranger. As he offered his own veiled question, the corners of her lips quirked upward, and she arched an eyebrow in turn. “Do I detect some kind of accusation in your remark, my lord?” She allowed the silence to linger for a moment, then answered lightly, “Your troops and yourself are not the only ones allowed an occasional day off.” Dark eyes returned to the water. “And I have yet to find a view elsewhere in the city that rivals this one.”

Belcourt was, apparently, quite the humble man, for he spoke without any particular pride regarding his new promotion. Alinore nodded when appropriate, listening politely as he discussed the hardest aspect of his job. “A challenge inherent to peace and prosperity,” Alinore agreed, thinking of Lieutenant Woodwick explaining his attempts to ready his soldiers for a war none of them could comprehend.

But Nevermere was different than Arynn Frey. Hers was a kingdom that viewed battle as a when, not an if, and mandated that everyone spend time in the military. With their philosophy and reason, the people of this kingdom viewed even the prospect of war in a hypothetical light, and the reality of such was made even more distant by the fact that they all only knew peace. She wondered idly how much the man beside her understood of battle; surely, it was difficult to effectively warn of horrors which he himself had never experienced. “Though, I suppose, hardly the worst problem to have. Are you expecting a war, Lord Belcourt?”

They both turned their attention to the water. “I will admit, I haven’t spent much time on the ocean myself, but I still appreciate its beauty.” And its power, as white-tipped waves crashed into the rock below and receded in frothy swirls. “I find the waves rather mesmerizing to watch.” She glanced over at her companion. “What do you think of the sea, Lord Belcourt? Have you ever ventured out there?”

Alinore suspected that very few in Arynn Frey ever saw the contradiction inherent to their existence: for a people so knowledgeable, they were quite limited by their own worldview. Nothing words can’t resolve. How quaint. “Foolish are those who underestimate the power of words,” She offered instead, lips quirking upward. “And there are many fools in this world.” A considering glance in his direction. “You do not strike me as one of them, Lord Belcourt.” At least, not insofar as he was not notably more foolish than anyone else from Arynn Frey.

Their conversation turned toward the sea. “The waves are certainly peaceful,” Alinore agreed. “And their sound quite soothing.” A glance in his direction at his offer before she inclined her head, a polite smile on her face. “That would be lovely.” As elegant as any proper Nevermerean noblewoman, she rose to her feet, and if he offered his arm, she delicately took it. “I do hope you will one day have the opportunity to sail upon the ocean.”

Tone light, Alinore continued their conversation as they began walking. “It is my understanding that no citizen of Arynn Frey is particularly lacking in any way.” A disgusting display of coddling by the monarchy, in her opinion, but no one needed to know that, least of all the man beside her. There was no heat to her words, only perhaps a slight teasing note, as she asked, “Could you not acquire a small boat and venture forth? Or do your men, or perhaps your horses, keep you too busy for such frivolities?”