These days, the orders almost felt natural rolling off her tongue. She even managed a gracious nod as Oksana merely bobbed another quick curtsy and hurried off to prepare the princess.

"I have asked the kitchens to prepare us a hamper. Nadezhda is so fond of her picnics along the river. Perhaps the flowers will be out and she can weave one of her flower circlets.”

“Of course not, your Highness,” Oksana demurred with a deep curtsy. At the end of the day, she would always defer to her Prince’s judgment. “I will come to collect her half a bell before the midday meal."

“Surely you would not begrudge me time spent with my sister in the sunshine?” Katya knew it wasn’t a fair tact to take. She also knew it was one Oksana wouldn’t refute.

"As her brother, it is my duty to do whatever I can to ensure that. Surely you would not expect me to neglect my familial duties?” Katya looked at the nurse sidelong.

Trying to seem both confident and casual - and like he wasn’t desperately reminding himself that the Rider explicitly told him to come through when he was ready - Shad crept through the doorway. He didn’t immediately see the Rider, distracted by his first view of the Carriage. Whatever he had imagined, it wasn’t this. 

Finally, he stepped back into his slippers. There had been some talk of alternative footwear, but in the end, no one had any idea how else slippers might be made. He would just have to hope they would be enough for the ride.

The clothes were unfamiliar in his hands. His Clan - his old Clan - had a very short cold season, one that could be weathered with an extra layer and a scarf. His new Clan...well, he'd had something more robust made in anticipation of this journey. The shape was rough but hopefully the garment would be serviceable.

The most difficult part of healing Jexper was the number of times he’d already done it. Any body with powers was liable to subconsciously fight the healing. Any body that had been healed dozens of times was in danger of becoming resistant to any healing at all.

"You are easily distracted, though." Smugly, he nodded down at Jexper’s arm. The most difficult part of healing some people was working around their powers, or sometimes directly against them.

Eventually, Jexper managed to sputter out, "I'm not a fucking simpleton." Wildon snorted. "No, you're not."

She wasn't willing to invite strangers in her head without at least a little personal vetting. Some things were a necessity in the field. Here, at the Hub, she wasn't willing to accept it.

Unfortunately, this morning, she had somewhere to be. After eleven months of this, she had the introduction process down to something of a routine. First meetings didn't happen in the Rig.

Consciousness drifted in slowly. Mornings like this were the exception rather than the rule, and she knew it. Usually, she would try to draw her morning out, luxuriate in the slow creep of light.

Either the new pilots would work or she was absconding with her Rig and disappearing into the disputed territories. They would never find her out there. She would ensure it.