The Salle, Thursday Afternoon, After Classes

[formerbrat]

Elspeth found the local oddities to be more intriguing than overwhelming, in general. Still, it was a relief to retreat to the salle and work through her sword exercises. It was one tiny spot of normal in a great sea of something else entirely.

[Open!]

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[future_sandworm]

Of course, finding the salle empty was unlikely to happen. He would have liked to release several blades, but one would have to do. Leto found a corner and walked over to pick up a few knives and a short sword, shaking glitter out of his hair.

[formerbrat]

Elspeth watched the new arrival as she ran through a few exercises. She still needed to find a few good sparring partners to practice with.

[future_sandworm]

There was a girl there he didn't know, so Leto approached slowly. "I don't believe we have met," he said. "I am Leto Atreides."

[formerbrat]

"I am Elspeth of Valdemar," Elspeth said, pausing in her sword work. "Are you new here, too?"

[future_sandworm]

"I've been here for a few months," Leto replied. "I take it you are a new student, then?" He smiled at her.

[formerbrat]

She smiled back. "Oh yes. The salle is familiar but it seems like I've spent most of the week walking around with a look of stunned disbelief!"

[future_sandworm]

"That seems to be the usual reaction. Is your home from a different time and place as well?" Leto nodded towards the sword. "You have had plenty of practice with that, I notice."

[formerbrat]

"A different place, at least," Elspeth said. "How are you with the sword? I could use a sparring partner. As long as you don't have problems fighting a woman," she added with a touch of annoyance.

[future_sandworm]

He grinned. "If I had, my sister would have subjected me to public humiliation for it, I suspect. Is that reaction common where you are from? And I will be happy to spar with you." How good he was was something she could find out for herself.

[formerbrat]

"At home, women fight all the time," Elspeth said. "But I met a prince in here the other day who said he wouldn't face a woman on the battlefield."

[future_sandworm]

Well, Leto suspected he knew him. "Arthur Pendragon?" He couldn't help smiling and shaking his head.

[formerbrat]

"Oh, you know him?"

[future_sandworm]

"He is my roommate," Leto replied. "I would advise you to just ignore him if he can't treat you respectfully." He paused for a moment, then added: "But Arthur took the initiative to put together a Reserve of fighters prepared to protect the island in the event of an invasion, and we have been working together with that." Somewhat reluctantly lately, bust still. "And despite his prejudices, there are many good women fighters who have joined us, and someone with your skills would be most welcome."

[formerbrat]

Elspeth frowned. "Is the island invaded often?" Someone's big brother forgot to mention a few pieces of information, ah-ha!

[future_sandworm]

"Quite often, I've heard," Leto replied. He had unfortunately been a tree the last time it happened.

[formerbrat]

Elspeth smiled wryly. "And I was sent here for my safety."