The silk sheets of the abnormally large bed hugged onto Aloy's body. She let herself take refuge in the cool fabric as she lazily stared at the sun rising from the window to her right.

She felt out of place from her Nora home that Rost had built for the two of them. For the bed she slept in last night put every other cabin in the Nora Lands to shame. Her braids were undone as the red tresses unruly fell down the bed. She had completely forgotten to bathe herself.

She didn't feel inclined to do so right away either. Though she knew it would be best to do out of respect for Avad to not have him smell her. She wouldn't want to taint such blessed sheets any longer with her odor.

Slowly she pulled herself up from the bed and stood on the wooden floor. The chill from the morning air bringing her to her senses. Taking ahold of her focus she placed it back to the side of her face. The comfort of the metal making her feel less vulnerable. She didn't bother with getting properly dressed as she tiptoed to the door barefooted.

Popping her head outside the door she scanned for any other presence to be lurking nearby. No bodies were highlighted. Her hands were gentle as she slowly closed the door until she heard the click.

"Now I just need to find the baths."

The sound of her feet made pitter patters that echoed throughout the empty hallways. The light of the sun would lit up the palace and she knew servants and guards would be parading around.

Not that she didn't mind, she just wanted to get there before any offered their service to her which she would highly disapprove of.

She wandered through the endless halls. Trying every door only to find them locked. She would occasionally stop to take in the paintings that were littered on the walls. Most of Avad on his thrown, even some of him as a child. Though others were pictured in the paintings she didn't have a clue on who they could be. Keeping in mind to ask Avad.

Her tracks stopped as she came upon a door with orange light seeping through. Her gaze widened as she looked at the beautiful door. Cherry wood was carved in a vine like appearance with a golden door handle. Walking to it she slipped her small hand through the door handle and opened it with ease.

Her lower lip dropped as she took in the sight of the room before her. Her body felt warm as her feet took in the feel of marble under it.

Lanterns far above her lit the room in a summer glow as a variety of flowers littered the room, vines crawling up the orange brick walls. In the center of the room was a pool that was surrounded in pillars. That stretched as high as the lanterns, a stone picture on the ceiling that displayed the sun.

Steam radiated from the water as she approached it. She was sure this was the bathhouse, no doubt in her mind. Placing her bare foot in the water she marveled at the temperature. It was just the right amount of heat. Hurriedly she undressed herself, untying her trousers and slipping off her clothes. She neatly folded them out of habit and placed them on a pedestal a safe distance from the water.

Standing in the middle of the pool she quickly took notice on how far the depth of it went. It wasn't as deep for it to touch her neck but stopped just below her breasts. She knew the Carja weren't as short as the Oseram but she didn't take the women to be as tall as this.

Moving to rest her shoulders on the stone floor she propped her arms above it and kicked the water playfully with her legs. The room was big, but she didn't feel as exposed as the times she bathed in the rivers.

She supposed there would be more embarrassment if someone walked in on her than an animal or machine. She brought her head back and looked at the picture of the sun that was high above her naked form. She was thankful of there not being much hunters to encounter in the wild.

That when she snuck away from machines edging too close to the river bank she wouldn't run the risk of any prying eyes to see her sneak away.

She brought her hair in the water and submerged her head under. Running her hand through the thick mane and scrubbing the dirt and leaves that could have made its way through.

All the while not noticing the door open, nor would she hear the door close.

The flame from the only candle in the room struggled to remain lit. As the man with the steel eyes was forced to his knees. His arms bound behind his back and his hair stuck to the sweat of his forehead.

His chest heaved without rhythm as he struggled to remain still. The wound on his cheek stung as his head was forcefully slapped to the right once more. His fingers worked with the sharp rock in between. Slowly but surely ripping through the tight rope.

"I said face me you imbecile!"

The gruff voice of an older man made the flame shiver as his face grew closer. The light bringing life to the features of his aged face. All the while the rest of him and the others behind him were shrouded in darkness.

With a smile the man bound in chains bobbed his head up. His mouth in a bloodied grin. "I have many different faces old man, which one would you like to see?"

The old mans hands shook as he pulled back a fist ready to strike the man held down. Before he could even bring it down long fingers clasped tightly around his wrist. The old man froze as he remembered who was in his presence.

A tall lean man came out from the dark, his clothing of no origin to a tribe.

Catching the attention of a certain pair of grey eyes, he brought his hand up to signal for the old man to leave. To which he quickly did, scurrying out like a fox.

Pulling out a chair the man sat directly in front of him. "It wasn't in my favor to have you captured and bound."

Lifting an eyebrow, the grey eyed man moved from his kneeled position to a more comfortable one. "Is killing ex soldiers also not in your favor?"

The other man laughed as he snapped his fingers. Steel eyes followed a man climb the cobblestone steps as the door above opened and the sound of laughter filled the room for a split second. Until the door slammed shut, the flame dying along with it.

"Ah, my apologizes." The scrape of metal brought to life a flare in a rectangular box as the lighter male brought it to the candle. Clamping it shut with the flick of his wrist, before slipping it into the pocket of his trousers.

Familiarity in seeing the strange object brought an unwanted image to his mind. The smile he wore fading as his expression grew grim. "Why did you have me kill them?"

Light from the door shun through as a scrawny woman hurried down the steps. A tray in hand with what seemed like two teacups. Bringing it up to the green eyed man she stood agape. There was no doubt in mind that the man was attractive.

Light brown waves fell down his face in the most charming way. The charming smile he gave the server didn't go unnoticed by the man sitting on the floor.

Waiting until the woman left he handed him the cup until he paused and sat it back down on the table. "You're one of the most notorious murderers of the red raids, I wanted to leave it to the very best."

The rope snapped as his fingers dropped the rock, small cuts forming from the friction of the edge.

Steel eyes locked with the mans green eyes as he stood up from the ground. Bringing his arms to the front of him, he rubbed his hands over the tender flesh of his wrists. The men hidden in the shadows turning to each other in shock as they reached for their weapons.

Bringing his pale hand to the light, the other man simply dismissed the men with a sloppy wave.

"But sir-"

Handing the unoccupied teacup to the sun kissed man he shot a glare behind him.

Leaning against the brick wall the grey eyed man brought both hands to be heated by the hot liquid from the cup.

"I can tell that killing those men wasn't a priority for you."

Closing his eyes the man ran his hand through his mop of waves and sat the teacup down. "None of it is your concern, I brought you here to tell you that your part is done."

"Where would you go now, I hear you carved out a legend with a certain red headed Nora, killing out the bandit clans?"

A pregnant pause filled the dim lit room as neither men made a move to speak. They remained in silence until the man leaning on the wall brought his head up to look at the water dripping from the ceiling.

"I am a bloodthirsty killer, with no concern for my life or for others, I was a top rank soldier with many valuable assets, enough to know that you would have sent for my head if you didn't need me for anything else."

Green eyes looked down at the remaining liquid in his cup. He twirled the cup in his hand and watched as the liquid swirled, nearing the edge. "As smart as I pictured, yes I do have another use for you."

Placing the teacup down for good the man smiled. "Head towards the sundom, tell them I sent you."

Standing up he made way to leave, "One more thing."

Their eyes locked on each other, "If you make any contact with the Nora girl on your journey there, I want her dead."

There was no reply. Nodding his head, the paler man made his way up the stairs. Once again extinguishing the only light. Leaving the man to his own once again. To the unwanted image in his head and the unwanted feeling in his chest to burn with return.

The sound of glass being shattered was the only source of sound in the dark room. His heart pounded painfully as the wound in his rib returned. He could only succumb to the curse he put himself through.