An Unexpected Encounter

[Lady Lisette de Lac]

The tension in the camp was starting to grate on Lisette's nerves, sending her into the woods in search of a quiet, unoccupied clearing where she could have a respite from the pressure of all that emotion and the sheer amount of people. She avoided the archery tourney deliberately, despite her interest in the contest, knowing it would be one of the more crowded events, all the more so where the gawkers could get a look at the main players in the most recent drama. 

Once she'd found the ideal place, she removed the light cloak she wore to conceal the slender blade she'd worn out of the camp. Only Laurent knew of her practice with the rapier and the skill she strove to achieve with it; after the mishap with Rupert the Younger, Lisette refused to allow herself to be cast in the role of victim again. Next time, if she was driven to strike a man in her own defense, or to preserve her own honor, she intended that it would prove a true strike. 

Drawing the blade, she appreciated the soft, metallic ring that it made on emerging from the leather sheath. Holding the blade up, she admired briefly the way it glinted in the light filtering through the canopy of the trees overheard. Lisette bent down, selecting a dessicated leaf before she shifted her grip on the blade to turn it edge up, then let the leaf drift down towards the blade. As it struck the blade, it sheared in half, falling silently to the ground and leaving her satisfied that the blade was adequately sharp. She took the maintenance of this blade seriously, aware that some day, she might need to use it truly. 

Taking up a stance, Lisette studied the thicket of slender saplings that would serve as her opponent today. A deep breath was drawn in, the kilted skirts leaving her feet and ankles free of confining fabric before she began the dance of lunge, thrust, slash and tag. Trusting that she was alone, she enjoyed the chance to vent some of her emotions on the saplings... 


Lady Isolde Carlisle

[Lady Isolde Carlisle]

Isolde sighed, running a hand through her curls as she explored the grounds. The Summer festival was turning out to be quite the interesting event to her. She'd met a few ladies and men and it was rather enjoyable to be amongst people. The young lady hadn't had the most personable life, but she was trying to break out of her shell and get to know the people around here. If she didn't start now, she was sure that people would start to see her has a bit of a pariah. However, she was far from one and she wanted to make sure that people understood such. Her brothers death had pushed the woman to lock herself away for a short time, but that was over and it was time to move on.

Stepping lightly through the camp, she found herself watching another woman practicing with a blade. A smile formed on Isolde's features. It was always refreshing to see a woman wielding a blade. However unladylike it may have been, the fact of the matter was that women could fight too. It was just a better idea to keep that part of themselves to ones self and no one else. Unless, of course, there was another woman to dally with.

Isolde crossed her arms over her chest, observing the woman's stance and the way that she moved, following each flick of her wrist at her target. Little saplings. Her smile grew wider and she let out a slow chuckle, "Well, now. What did those poor saplings ever do to you, my Lady?" asks gently, lifting a blond eyebrow in sincere interest.

Lady Lisette de Lac

[Lady Lisette de Lac]

The voice startled her almost into dropping the blade, but she recovered her wits. Embarrassed at being caught out, Lisette turned slowly to examine the pale haired young woman who addressed her. Cool hazel eyes flickered over her, narrowing slightly as she mentally sorted through files in her head, but came up with nothing. The curse of being too long away from Court. "Better the saplings than the courtiers, wouldn't you agree, Lady...?" She let the last part drag out, the better to entice her into an introduction.

Lowering the blade, she stood calmly as the color slowly faded from her features, her tone still guarded. Lisette, though she did not know it, was almost as intensely private as Isolde herself, and shared a shadow on their respective reputations. Perhaps, once she realized to whom she was speaking, she might realize they had plenty in common, but she was still cautious - memories in the Court were long, and some people remembered all too well what happened between Lisette de Lac and Rupert de Vere the younger. If this was an effort to mock her, Lisette was prepared, but she stood her ground, opting instead to wait and give the lady the benefit of the doubt.

The conversation with Tomas Rose was largely responsible for her continued wariness, for which she would likely apologize to Isolde later.