It was annoying to be walking in the harbor, watching the ships arrive and leave. Renaud knew he should be grateful he was not in house arrest, his connections had spared him that indignity as well, but right now it almost felt like it. The fact that he still had his healh made matters worse, he had all the energy of a young man, and nowhere to spend it.

He had not expected it to be this bad, he had counted on difficulties to be sure, but this felt like more than the natural distrust of anything magical. To be stripped of his rank (albeit temporarily) stung, and what was even worse was that he was fairly certain that somebody was out for him and had just got the opportunity of their lifetime.

Too bad that list was a long one, and he had little opportunity to do anything about it here.

And so he took walks, but wherever he went, he ended up down at the harbor all the same. He felt so very nondescript without his uniform.

When a very familiar man with silver-streaked jet hair and sparkling blue eyes approached. "Ah. Pardon me, young man...but I heard there was an imperial ship in the harbor. Would you know which that is?"

As always, it took a moment for Renaud to remember that people no longer recognized him unless they knew him well, and Admiral Romain had not exactly been on friendly terms with him last time. He could not conceal a brief hint of surprise, because though Iolanthe had told him that there were rumors about him being very much alive, he still had trouble thinking of him as anything but dead.

"There are several in harbor, monsieur" he replied in Aquitanian, watching the man perhaps a bit too sharply. "Is there any one in particular that you want?"

The older man smiled at the familiar language. "Oui, oui," he answered. "I am looking for Monsieur le Grand Commandeur Moreau."

"Ah, you have not heard then?" Renaud replied, with the faintest of smiles on his thin lips. "The Grand Commandeur is temporarily relieved of his post, pending investigation. There is currently a thriving betting pool whether he will be kicked out of the navy entirely or not."

"Investigation?" The Admiral asked, warily. "But I heard he was in port here! What for?" he asked the young man. "Did they say what crimes he had committed?"

"Oh there is quite a list" Renaud admitted, rather amused despite himself. He would tell the other man who he was, but he figured he owed him some confusion first, he was after all not the one that had come back after having been shot in the head.

"The main charges last I heard was possible cooperation with pirates, murdering a superior officer, and conspiracy against the crown. The last bit seems to rather recent, he is under suspicion for making deals with the faeries, and the assumption seems to be that what he had to sell, was the secrets of the Aquitanian Empire."

The Admiral nodded slowly. "Ah. I see," he replied. "Could you tell me who is in charge of his ship, then?"

"Most likely Commandeur Beaumont." Renaud nodded in the direction the ship lay moored. He then waited for a moment, before shaking his head. "Mérde, I really am that unrecognizable these days it seems." He smiled wryly, offering his hand to the other man. "Renaud Moreau at your service Admiral Romain, it seems we both have changed a little since last time we met."

The older man blinked. "What?" he asked. "Ah. What?"