"Hey!! You!!"

Sephia stopped in her tracks and turned around to see Carter running up the hallway at her, holding the aluminum box in both arms. Carter skidded to a halt once she caught up.

"Finally found you," Carter said, and then added, "You're actually wearing your armor today."

Yeah, I'm not driving today. "Can I help you?" Sephia asked. She'd ducked out of the deliberation chamber for a drink of water, but it was only supposed to be a five-minute deal. Not to mention… Sephia touched the Artios, which was hidden away in her belt pouch.

Unaware of Sephia's tension, Carter explained what Astrid had told her. Sephia listened carefully, and then shook her head.

"I'm on duty. I can't leave." She turned around and took a step away, but in a flash Carter was in front of her, blocking her way.

"Come on!" Carter said. "Isn't it your duty to help me too? Plus it's not like the prince will keel over and die if you spend one more afternoon away from him."

Sephia grimaced. She had to admit, Carter was right that she had a responsibility to help her prepare. "I can't leave," she repeated slowly. "But I can get my friend to help you."

"You're just sending me further on this wild goose chase! At this rate I might as well just walk out of here and never come back!" Carter protested.

"The advisor will help you. I'm sure of that."

Carter paled as an image of small glasses flashed in her mind. "The… advisor? You don't mean…"

"Right, Advisor Atrocia," Sephia said. "She's off today. Go down to her quarters and ask her if she can drive you to the forest and back."

After some further grumbling, Carter acquiesced. 

Before she left, she shoved the box into Sephia's arms. "Here, I took out everything I want."

Sephia shoved it back at Carter and walked away. "Tell a servant to put it back in storage." 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Let me be honest with you, Miss Noelle," said Advisor Atrocia. She took one of her hands off the wheel to readjust the mirror. "I have a great respect for your decision. It takes a lot of guts to change your life in such a way, even with your low stature."

"Wow, how flattering," Carter mumbled. Despite her tone, she was almost enjoying the ride in Atrocia's little car. When she had shown up at Atrocia's room, the advisor had quickly come to an understanding of the situation, and seemed almost glad to oblige. So now Carter was in the shotgun seat next to Atrocia, and she found it much more pleasant than lying down in the back of Sephia's car, even though this one had taken a couple of times to start.

She looked Atrocia over. She had painted red lips; short, jet-black hair that stuck close to her forehead; and sharp eyes that seemed to nail holes in Carter's psyche. It was just a feeling though. Mostly she just talked. A lot. Here she went again— 

"Everyone has a motivation for what they do, and some are better than others. Queen Mawara wanted to make Hathorsha more powerful, which is highly admirable. Sephia and Ambassador Faizah and the advisors want to do their jobs properly, which is good so long as that's what we believe in." Carter opened her mouth, but Atrocia plowed on. "And His Majesty Prince Jacob… well, he of course is motivated by his boundless love for our country."

Carter's eyes widened. "Ah… the prince…"

Atrocia's face was lit with a beatific smile. "Miss Noelle, you are so fortunate. I've yet to determine your motivation, but I would understand if you only wanted to spend more time in His Highness' presence. I'm sure that even someone like you would glow with virtue after brushing hands with someone so noble, so fearless."

Carter jolted forward and rolled down the window and stuck her head out, hands on the sill, still deciding whether she was going to eject her generous breakfast or just eject her whole self out the car.

Atrocia loosened a hand from the steering wheel once again and tugged on Carter's jacket with surprising strength. "Come now, Miss Noelle. A first-hand demonstration of your immortality would disturb me on multiple levels."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

After the rest of the drive, and the walk in the forest (when the trees would permit them to drive no longer), wherein Carter heard of Atrocia and Sephia's joint workout routine— amongst other things— they finally arrived at Carter's house. 

The first thing Carter did was check her campfire. It had gone out before burning anything, but unfortunately the contents of the pot had been overtaken by flies. Carter left it for now and went inside her cottage. Atrocia followed close behind, saying how interesting the immortal abode was.

Carter's house was quite bare and neat. She had the front room, which contained her bed; some linens, books, and eating utensils on shelves, and a table she used for crafting or sewing various items. Next to the table was her empty quiver, and hanging above it were some meat carving knives, arrows, and her unstrung longbow.

In the back room, where Atrocia now headed after a brief survey, was Carter's food and clothing storage. And behind this, outside through the backdoor, was where she kept the fresh water and toiletries. Carter yelled a warning for Atrocia to not mess with her stuff or else, and then turned to her wall of sharp objects. 

In a few minutes she'd filled her quiver, attached the bow, and slung it over her shoulder. She stuffed some cords of bowstring in her pocket and decided to take a carving knife too. It was useful and familiar. But it wouldn't fit in her boot, and, of course, it wasn't weighted properly for her to throw it. Whatever.

Now all she needed was to go to the storage and grab some clothes. But once she crossed the room and opened the door, she was greeted with a blast of fresh air. The backdoor was open. She could see Atrocia standing out there on the stone floor. 

Atrocia turned around and frowned. "Hey, are you okay?"

Carter's heart raced suddenly. "Yeah, why wouldn't I…" She jerked forward and came to a stop in the doorframe and saw what Atrocia was gesturing at. There was a tangle of bandages on the floor, next to a half-empty water bucket, and they were covered in rust-red blood. Of course, of course. 

Carter scowled and turned away. She started grabbing clothes off the hooks on the wall. "Mind your business," she said.

"This is my business," Atrocia said, slowly, and Carter stopped and glanced back at her. "I'm an advisor for the prince."

"You think I'm injured and unfit for the mission? Are you stupid?" Carter shouted. "The knight killed me, and the bullethole in my head healed, and then I went with her. Do the math!" 

The reality was, she'd been overpowered. She'd come across a bear while she was out, and she'd gotten cornered. It had bitten through her arm, and after escaping she'd had to deal with that injury for days, and then Sephia came along and offed her. Complete regeneration, problem solved. Apparently this city dame didn't know enough about immortals for that to be obvious.

Ugh. She didn't want to think about this. It had been better when she was alone out here and could pretend it was nothing.

Or was it? Did she really think she could believe that? When all her actions recently were screaming otherwise.

Atrocia finally understood. "Ah, so all residual injuries healed as well, yes?"

Carter nodded.

"Alright," Atrocia said softly. "Let's just go back to the palace when you're ready."