Fighting to the death. Interesting. Rupert was sure that they frowned on that kind of thing in most civilised societies back now. But the addition of soldier is less surprising; isn't that a soldier's job?

His smile flickers a little; feeling mawkish about death and necessity doesn't become Rupert, and it very rarely solves any problems anyway. Better to make a joke of it.

"I bet you make a lovely old woman," He says charitably. "And being an old woman is infinitely preferable to being a soldier, of that I am sure."