The borders were officially closed, with Ulric heading regular patrols both to keep an eye out for the beast that had murdered two of their own and to keep an eye out for travelers from other courts. If someone came into Delumine unaware of the danger, they needed somebody to keep an eye out for them. It was not only citizens of her own court in danger, it was anyone who might catch the beasts eye, and while Somnus was not entirely ruling out foul play Eulalie had a feeling something much more fantastical was behind the murders.

The ivory maiden walked the streets of her court, like she did so often, only now the threat of danger lurked over their shoulders again. First with the fires and now this. A gentle sigh passed through Eulalie’s lips as she thought about it. Would their court ever see peace again? She wanted to believe, so faithfully as the sun set and rose each day, that all would be well again. They merely would have to work for peace and not expect it to just happen. They would need to do their best to discover what had killed Moore and Casper and prevent any other tragedies from falling into their laps.

The fighting spirit inside her, the one that had not given up on her freedom once upon a time, still reared its head in the face of uncertainty. She would do whatever she could to protect these people, her family, her friends, from whatever dared hunt them in the dark. In fact, she was headed to find Ulric for a patrol with Tabbris in toe when he saw the stranger darting from alleyway to alleyway, hanging in the shadows, creeping along walls, and brought it to her attention. The sight brought a pause to Eulalie’s movements as her earth brown eyes caught finally found them. Strange was her thought.

Thus she intercepted her own progress and turned toward where she’d seen the stranger disappear down an alleyway, one which she knew did not have an outlet at the other end for them to escape out of, and she waited. She waited for them to step back out of the mouth of the alley, no doubt clinging to the shadows they so hoped were hiding them. But with Tabbris’ keen eye, for the gryphon missed little in his observations of their vicinity, they were not missed. He stood just the otherside of the alley, effectively surrounding the stranger.

“Is there something I can help you find, perhaps?” was her question, poised on her lips for when the wanderer stepped free from the confines of the dark lane. Oh, and if there was perhaps a little suspicion in her tone could she help it? Tabbris was perhaps even more outright wary as his eyes narrowed upon them. The crest of ivory feathers upon his head rose slightly, his tail lashed back and forth behind him. He looked like a predator squaring up to a percieved threat, and most everyone the gryphon did not know he considered a threat.

When the stranger laughs, Eulalie has to sharpen her features so as to not show her offense. How dare they laugh at her, when they are the ones acting so distrustfully, so suspiciously. Their actions are the absurd thing here, for there is no reason to go creeping all around Delumine and risking to threaten her people or to frighten them. Her dark eyes narrow, ears standing tall atop her head as she listens to the other woman speak.

Eulalie is not normally so wary, but with the borders closed and such horrible things happen not only here in their home but all across Novus, this is no time to let things slide. And she has a duty, not only as the sovereign’s Lady but as a warrior of the Dawn Court, to patrol, guard and protect.

On principle, she wants to believe the statement, but it does not sound quite right and Tabbris is no less calm for the spoken answer. “If you must stretch your legs you needn’t do it in the dark, in such a manner. The court would have you happily out in the open, and all would no doubt be better for it.” Eulalie wants to tell this woman that of all those tasked with keeping Delumine safe she is probably the easiest to get along with, the most likely to trust and forgive. But she does not. Somehow, she feels like it would not matter.

The emotions on the stranger’s face switch almost rapidly from one to the next, and the gilded woman cannot help but wonder what exactly is going on in her mind. Something is amiss, and Eulalie can’t quite put her finger on what it is. What comes out of the woman’s mouth next shocks her, however. It is certainly not what she expected to hear, and it catches her off guard easily.

For a moment, Eulalie panics, fearing that this stranger is someone from Solterra, who will recognize her for the slave she used to be and return back to turn her in to Albrecht. But just as quickly she is moving on, asking of books and knowledge and a library. “...We have, perhaps, the grandest library in all of Novus, actually,” Eulalie says, slowly. She remembers when the library appeared out of nowhere, built of trees and lit with cozy glow of lanterns.

Tabbris stiffens at mention of him, and Eulalie is confused at this woman’s quick change of topic. Are her thoughts truly this fast-paced or is she trying to keep Eulalie on her toes? It’s hard to tell, though she does seem genuinely curious about her bonded.

“Tabbris is a gryphon. Part eagle, part feline.” What, she wonders, is this stranger’s motivation?