"What a luxurious place to bathe, I knew I said take the offer but I didn't expect you of all to actually bathe in the kings bath."

Aloy opened her eyes to peer at the intruder. "Vanasha, wonderful of you to barge in."

Vanasha strode with elegance as she leaned against one of the pillars. "The doors were unlocked darling."

Aloy swam to an edge of the bath, where soap laid in the hands of a statue. Plucking it from its place she began to lather herself.

Vanasha watched unblinkingly as soap mixed in the water that dripped from her back. She could see the faint outlines of scars marred across her pale skin.

"I wasn't aware this was Avad's, I thought it was open to the people in the palace."

Vanasha glanced over at the door she left open. "Most of the men from the meeting already departed last night."

Aloy scrubbed the dirt from under her nails while she opened her ears to Vanasha. "So you and Uthid?"

Vanasha's head rolled on the pillar as she crossed her arms and looked at the ceiling above them. "He is a charming man indeed."

The memory of talking to them before the battle played in Aloy's mind. "I assume you two have grown closer."

Vanasha's eyes roamed on the display of art, "Eager to hear about my sex life are we huntress?" The sound of Aloy emerging from the water caused her to lazily turn her gaze on her.

"Not in the slightest, I'm just curious."

Vanasha held out a white towel and tossed it to Aloy who gently caught it. The soft fabric enclosed in her fist. Tightening the towel around her she walked to her clothes. Her eyebrows furrowed as the items she folded and stacked were nowhere to be seen.

"If you're looking for your clothes I put them to wash." Vanasha headed to the open door where a female servant stood.

Aloy walked backwards to look at what she was holding in her skinny arms. With a bow the servant left, leaving Aloy with a woman who held a mischievous grin.

"Here I insist you borrow a spare of mine."

Without care Aloy ripped the clothes from her grasp. In return Vanasha pulled up her arms in mock surrender. Bringing the top in front of her eyes Aloy widened her eyes in shock. "You may have them back I'm sure I can buy a new spare from one of the merchants."

Giving off a two fingered wave, Vanasha shut the door. The clicks of her shoes echoing down the hallway. With a groan Aloy sat the outfit down and dropped her towel.

"Your Radiance, she'll be here any moment."

Avad drummed his fingers against his throne as he waited nervously for Aloy to arrive. "She isn't one to be late, she always makes it on time, sun and shadow you should check on her!"

The sound of silverware hitting a glass plate came from the end of the table making Avad turn his brown hues. "Your highness, I believe the huntress is here." Vanasha grinned inwardly as she crossed her hands underneath her chin.

Aloy uncomfortably fidgeted as the garment rose with every step. Feeling all eyes on her she strode quickly to an open chair. The bottom half of her outfit rising up, leaving her cheek on the borderline of the cloth.

"A.. new choice of style perhaps?"

Aloy pushed in the seat as far as she can in the table without squishing herself.

Grabbing a spare fork Aloy stabbed a piece of meat and brought it to her mouth. Tongue encircling the meat and chewing it, the spices mixing in her tastebuds.

"A spare for now until my clothes are done washing."

With a nod Avad stood upright in his throne and gestured for Marad to come closer. "You are ready to report on the crime scene, yes?"

Licking the spice that caught on her lips Aloy smiled and nodded at Avad. "It seems they were ambushed by one person."

Avad's eyebrows shot up immediately at her response. The scribble of pen on paper signifying Marad taking notes.

Waiting for his facial expression to cool down she proceeded onwards, "What makes it even more unusual is that it was a battle fought up close and personal."

Avad furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Aloy deep in thought. His eyes wanting to swim in hers, to see what thoughts swam in her mind.

"I also managed to discover a new method of tracking, by fingerprints." Aloy held her hand up to show him. His eyes following. "Sadly I could only track someone if I scanned them beforehand."

"That could really be of use to us, as always you're coming up with unworldly methods." Bringing her palm down to rest on her thighs she smiled brightly at the king.

"Are you aware of anyone who would have a terrible grudge on you, even after the battle against the eclipse?"

Crossing his legs in a male manner like way Avad brought his hand up to his chin. "Grudges can remain in ones heart for a long time, I suppose there will be some people who would still put their hatred my way."

Turning his head he looked at her as a curious animal would. "Why do you ask?"

Bringing a lock of hair behind her hair she scooter closer to him and placed her hands on the table.

"I feel whoever ambushed these soldiers may have done it in spite of their hatred towards you."

In the back of the table, Erend's loud mouth boomed in, "Like Dervahl?"

With a wave of the hand Marad dismissed his comment, "Dervahl's hatred was for a petty reason, this person must have a valuable reason."

Vanasha piped in, "The ones who truly hated Avad could only be the shadow Carja, but after the battle I'm not sure who else would take up that grudge."

Aloy's mind was going haywire as she thought of all the possible candidates. Helis was dead, and along with him was the motivation to overthrow Avad. Who would the shadow Carja take on as their leader?

"Avad."

The kings head turned to hers, his features softening. "Who would you place, as strong as Helis?"

Erend's voice once again piped in the conversation, "Wouldn't matter! He'd be dead by now or too afraid to try and take him down."

Aloy ignored his comment as her expression hardened. If a new threat was reappearing itself she'd have to take every precaution she could.

Standing up quickly, the table moved slightly as all heads shot up to the red haired. "I request to speak with the king alone please."

There was a pregnant pause as The blameless Marad stared at the king expectantly. Avad in turn merely nodded and watched silently as Vanasha and Erend bowed and excused themselves.

Marad bowed to Avad and sent a smile to Aloy, "Your Radiance, Aloy, i'll be off then."

Aloy sat down once she saw him take his leave down the stairs, signaling the guards closest down with him.

"There was a hunter I met on my travels towards Meridian, he joined in on the battlefield."

Avad adjusted his headpiece but nodded at her in acknowledgment. "He fought like a warrior would, without any remorse, the way he held his bow..."

Avad's face showed no expression at her words. His head turned to gaze away from her. Although a thought reached through his mind pulling him to turn to her. "What was his name?"

Aloy refused to meet his gaze, instead she stared at the untouched food that grew cold on the table. "Nil."

Avad grew silent as he searched through his memories in search for hearing the name. His lips grew tight. The name brought a bitter taste in Avad's mouth.

He didn't know who Nil was to Aloy.

He only knew the boy that turned rouge on him and left their friendship a tainted mess. A boy that turned into a pet for his fathers killings.

"The name does sound familiar, you fear he may have a grudge targeted at my head?"

"A grudge? No, Nil is many things but keeping a grudge on someone sounds awfully uncharacteristic of him."

Avad felt a knot tighten in his gut. He wondered to himself if she defended him to others like she did with Nil.

"Then perhaps he done it in spite of his bloodthirst, I thought for sure he learned how to control himself after I sent him to sunstone rock."

Aloy was quick to dismiss the thought, "No, he doesn't kill without good reason."

Avad could feel himself spit out an alright. Which made Aloy look up at him with mild confusion. Wondering why the king was being more upset than she.

"Maybe it's just been the machines then?"

Aloy was also quick to shoot down his accusation, "No, the bodies would have been more mutilated and the machines have calmed down significantly after Hades was demolished."

Avad's face grew stern on the mention of his fallen men. "The tenakth could have played a rule, they are foolish enough to barge in just to sport a kill and they too prefer close encounters."

Aloy's face brightened up at the theory. "That sounds much more reasonable, do you know of any Tenakth clans lingering nearby then?"

The King could tell by her tone that the conversation was nearing the end. "I am doubtful on it, however I'll talk to The blameless Marad on the matter and schedule another meeting."

Aloy could feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins at her next adventure. "Thank you Avad."

As Avad made way to stand up from his throne to bid her farewell, Aloy thought to do something else. Grabbing a hold of his arm she motioned for him to sit back down.

Avad knew it was against regulation to have her touch him but felt flustered instead. Having no intention to have a guard send her to the jail cell.

"I feel like now is the best time to ask but, would you mind if I scan your fingerprints?"

She didn't know if it was rude to ask a Sun God to scan his fingerprints. She felt like she was overstepping some sort of boundary. If a guard took note of this she wondered if she would too be sent to sunstone rock for a form of blasphemy.

"Aloy."

The soft and warm touch of his hands on her own brought her worries to the void.

"Of course you can, it's the least I can do for all you've done for Meridian."

She knew he meant it. She didn't take it the same way merchants or the citizens said it. After all she knew how grateful he really was, how much of a generous person he was and still is.

Her finger pressed lightly on her focus as it zoned in on his hand. "This might feel a bit foreign to you, but don't worry I've tested it out on myself already."

He didn't respond, instead relishing in the contact of her cool skin. The blue rays came to life as she studied the tips of his fingertips turn a bright blue. Reminding her of the bluegleam she discovered up North.

She didn't dare look him in the eyes. Feeling the contact of their hands too intimidating as it was. The warmth from his skin on hers felt, well comforting to say the least. It felt long, feeling the eyes of his staring down at her. She could practically feel her own heartbeat thump behind her rib cage.

She's never held this long of a contact with a man before. Such a simple and innocent grasp still made her feel uneasy.

A message popped up on the side of the screen that read 'Avad's Fingerprints'.

Letting go of his hand she turned off her focus, "Scan complete."

Taking his own hand he wiggled his fingers and analyzed it. Looking as if he grew another finger. "How marvelous."

This time Aloy was the one to stand up. "Thank you for your time Avad, it's time I take my leave now. I've held you for too long."

Avad smiled as he interlocked his fingers, "Of course, time with you is most valuable."

With that she turned around and descended the steps. Brown hues watching her fiery hair grow farther and farther downwards. He didn't look away until guards made their way back to their posts.