Catherine grabbed Byleth and Dimitri as soon as the day's lessons were done. She hustled them back into the classroom with a murmured order that they needed to talk and then proceeded to organise the three of them, so they were gathered together around one of the student's desks.

Once they were all seated, Catherine scrutinised Dimitri thoughtfully.

'It's certainly been a while, Lady Cassandra.' Dimitri said politely, meeting her gaze without abashment. 'Probably ten years or so by my reckoning.'

'Catherine, now your Highness.' She replied firmly. 'Hmm, yes, probably a decade or more… it was in Fhirdiad, I believe, and you were just a cute little pipsqueak. My, how you have grown.'

'Yes. I will never forget your first words to me.' Dimitri replied. ''Look at that young maiden wielding a giant lance. How adorable…''

Catherine guffawed. 'That's right! I remember. Oh, don't look at me like that!' She chided the Prince who was glowering at her. 'I was thrown off by your haircut. That's all.'

'I was absolutely mad about it at the time.' Dimitri stated.

'Hmm, yes, and my father gave me a stern reprimand for speaking so rudely to the Crown Prince.' Catherine grinned. 'I was always getting into trouble back then. Just like the incident in Duscur...'

'Speaking of... Do you ever think about going back to House Charon?' Dimitri asked quietly.

Catherine sighed. 'No. I'm happy with the life I have.' She said firmly. 'No offense, Your Highness, but I don't fight for king and country anymore. I fight for Lady Rhea.'

A cold curl appeared on Dimitri's lips. 'It doesn't bother you then? Being labeled a criminal?' He asked.

'How kind of you to be worried about my life as a fugitive from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus...' Catherine bowed mockingly. 'Don't worry your pretty little head about me, Your Highness. I'm here because I want to be. Being taken in by the church and given a chance to clear my name and become a holy knight suits me far better than the life I'd otherwise lead, as a noble lady of the Kingdom.'

'All the same…' Dimitri began.

'Shush now, kid.' Catherine ordered. 'I have things to say. Let's get it done. Plenty of time on the road to trade barbs if we want to.' She turned slightly to look at Byleth. 'Now you, I don't get at all.'

'Oh?' Byleth said mildly.

'Why does Lady rhea give you special treatment?' Catherine mused. 'You are not particularly strong or good-looking. Indeed you seem exceedingly unremarkable.'

'Now… wait a minute…!' Dimitri interrupted angrily. Catherine shut off his objection with a wave of her hand.

'I don't doubt that you were a skilled mercenary.' Catherine continued. 'However, Shamir comes from the same background, and she doesn't get nearly as much of Rhea's attention...'

'I have never even spoken to the Archbishop alone.' Byleth commented. 'We have already talked about this...'

'…Yet she talks about you as if you are some kind of deity.' Catherine continued as if Byleth hadn't spoken. 'I admit that I am wary of you, especially as getting you amusingly drunk garnered me no further enlightenment at all.' Catherine stood and paced as she gathered her thoughts. 'Being ordered to take the two of you on my mission is both odd and a little vexing. Add the inclusion of Lonato's foundling brat to the party, and I am frankly at a complete loss to know what to think. Especially as Lady Rhea refuses to pay heed to any of my objections on the matter.'

Catherine finally fell silent as she looked between the other two intently for any reaction. When neither of them spoke, Catherine shook her head and sat back down.

'I am a plain speaker.' She tapped her finger against the table. 'You will forgive my bluntness, I hope, but I wish to make it clear that I am leading this mission, and I will not tolerate any interference in the successful completion of my duties.'

'You will have none from me.' Byleth said evenly.

'I was friends with Christophe Gaspard; we were students together in the Blue Lions when we were at the Academy. He was a good man but was always far too trusting of people.' Catherine sighed. 'His execution was… unfortunate. The world was in turmoil, and his intentions and involvement in the Duscar incident was likely much overstated. Do not mistake me. I was correct in turning him in, but…' She swallowed hard. 'Christophe was the person who cleared me when I was falsely accused of involvement myself.'

'It is generally accepted that you were not culpable.' Dimitri agreed softly.

'Lonato's ''rebellion,'' given the circumstances, is understandable. I intend to make sure that this situation is handled correctly. I owe him that much.' Catherine's gaze became steely. 'It is not something I will allow any further confusion over.' She stated.

'I think everyone wants a swift and agreeable conclusion.' Dimitri pointed out.

'Make sure that it stays that way.' Catherine demanded. 'Well, I have said my piece, and we all know where we stand. We will leave the day after tomorrow, which should allow us to arrive no more than thirty-six hours after Captain Jeralt and the main force.'

'Understood.' Byleth nodded.

'Good. I suppose I will see you then.' Catherine rose again and gave a stifled bow before making her way to the door.

'I am deeply sorry, Professor, for the way Catherine spoke about you.' Dimitri offered as soon as the Knight was gone.

'It's not your fault!' Byleth gave him a small, confused smile. 'Honestly, I'm inclined to agree with her in wondering why Rhea has placed me within the Academy in this role.'

'Please!' Dimitri looked aghast. 'Professor, it is perfectly clear to me… and to all of us that you are quite exceptional.'

Byleth patted the Prince fondly on the arm, touched by his earnest expression. 'I am quite exceptional, I suppose...' She agreed. '… At managing to find trouble.'

~0~

After a dinner with the Black Eagles, Byleth requested a moment of Hubert's time and led him back to her room. Once there, she made a pot of coffee, then thrust a box and some wrapping paper into his surprised hands.

'It's a birthday gift for Edelgard.' She told him. 'I will be away, so I was hoping that you could give it to her for me on the day.'

'Why haven't you bothered wrapping it?' Hubert asked curiously, opening the box and examining the pair of hair clips, shaped as crossed axes, and attached to a fine set of red ribbons. 'Are you woeful at presentation?'

'No!' Byleth replied. 'I knew that you would open it and examine the gift before you would give it to her, so I saved us both a bit of time and work. It's the same reason the gift isn't anything edible.'

'Thoughtful of you.' Hubert admitted, raising an eyebrow. 'I do believe that my Lady will enjoy these very much… if you want my opinion.'

'Seteth picked them out.' Byleth admitted. 'I guess as he has stood in as both a father and a mother for his baby sister, he has had some experience in hair accessories. I'd have been lost on my own.'

'I hear it is your birthday next month.' Hubert said quietly. 'I will have to see if I can find a novel that adequately answers your ''quivering and throbbing'' dilemma, although… perhaps you could ask Seteth after all - if you are so close that you go shopping together…' Hubert looked immensely pleased with himself.

'I knew you were listening, you sneak. Can't I even have a girly conversation without it coming back to bite me on the arse?' Byleth grinned. 'Although, since you know about our query, perhaps you could answer it, Hubie…'

'How very inappropriate, Professor.' Hubert sniffed.

'Is this the bit where I get the assassination threat?' Byleth asked. 'Just so you know, you have competition now. Jeritza has expressed a desire for a fight to the death.'

'Is that so? Well, I suppose it proves just how irksome you actually are.' Hubert was grinning too now. 'Most beautiful ladies are actively wooed and receive chocolates and gems and songs of love. You, my dear Professor, just appear to invoke a desire in others to want to commit terminal violence…'

'Harsh.' Byleth groaned as he chuckled. 'Finish up your coffee arsehole. I have other loose ends to tie up before I have to get away on this stupid mission.'

'I'm also not entirely sure it's appropriate to call your students arsehole either.' Hubert pointed out as he drained his cup.

'I don't really see you or Dedue as a student like the others.' Byleth admitted. 'Technically, you are both only enrolled because of your duty. Sure there is some stuff I can teach you… but you both already fulfill your roles.'

'Oh… does that mean I can get out of homework then?'

'Not a hope.'

'Now who's being harsh?' Hubert muttered mutinously.

~0~

Byleth missed the changing of the guards by only a few minutes, but Myles was nowhere to be seen when she hurried to the front gate to grab hold of him. Irritated, she rushed round towards the stables and the guard's common room and accommodation that lay just beyond. As she bolted through the stableyard, she literally ran straight into Raphael, who was stood under a tree, talking up into the branches.

'Oop's, sorry, Professor.' Raphael beamed at her.

'It's okay Raph, I was the one that ran into you.' Byleth looked up into the tree. 'Um… who are you talking too?' She asked.

'I'm trying to find the talking bird.' Raphael said seriously. 'Marianne was talking to him earlier, but when I came lumbering into the yard like a big klutz, he got scared away.'

'Of course.' Byleth muttered. 'What else would you be doing…'

'I know… right? A talking bird. How amazing is that? Just think of all the things he would have to talk about!' Raphael agreed happily.

Byleth shook her head, bemused. 'I don't suppose you happened to notice Myles, the Gatekeeper coming through here recently, did you?' She asked.

'Sorry, Professor..' Raphael said sadly. 'I was probably too busy looking up. I can help you find him if you like. In fact, if we were both to look for the talking bird, I'd just bet he would know where Myles was, on account that he can fly around and all. Birds always appear to be mighty observant to me.'

Byleth patted the giant man on the arm reassuringly. 'Please don't bother yourself Raphael. I'm sure I can find him on my own.'

'If you're sure. It would be no trouble…'

'Please. Finding that bird is much more important.'

Raphael nodded. 'It's not often you see Marianne talking so happily to something. I felt really bad scaring off her friend like that.'

'Don't be too hard on yourself.' Byleth couldn't resist it. 'Birds do tend to be quite ''flighty'' after all.'

Raphael nodded seriously. 'Good luck in your hunt then Professor.' He wished her.

Byleth had a fruitless search for a couple of hours, although she did manage to pick up a stock of vulneraries from the infirmary, and return a pile of books to the library - both tasks she was pleased to get out of the way. Finally, it was catching Claude at work in the library that answered for her the riddle of her missing brother.

'Heh.' Claude chuckled when Byleth asked him if he had seen Myles. 'He went down to town directly after his shift, I believe he was seeking out the Inn with a few of his colleagues.'

'Ah, okay. I guess I can catch him tomorrow then.' Byleth decided.

'Go on, Teach… ask me why Myles ran off so quickly…' Claude's grin was huge.

'Do I want to know?' Byleth asked.

'Oh yeah!'

'Go on then!'

'He's hiding from Flayn.' Claude looked fit to burst. 'Seems her interest in him is rather aggressive… and it's terrifying him.'

'No!' Byleth started to snigger. 'Really?'

'Not only is he scared of her, but he's scared of you and Seteth too.' Claude's shoulders were shaking. 'I kinda feel a bit sorry for him… but it's actually too funny at the moment.'

'I think it's sweet!' Hilda piped up coming out of nowhere. 'Now if only Flayn would allow me to help her with her clothes and hairstyle…'

'No, you don't.' Claude elbowed the pink-haired girl. 'Flayn is completely adorable as she is. You leave her alone.'

'She is totally antiquated, Claude…' Hilda whined.

'It suits her.' Byleth agreed.

'Well, I don't know why I expected good taste from either of you two anyway.' Hilda sniffed. 'I'm not entirely sure why I am in the library either…' She added as if she had only just realised where she was.

'If you will both excuse me.' Byleth stood. 'I think I'm going to get an early night.'

'Yes. A wise idea. You need your beauty sleep.' Hilda agreed with a smirk.