Winter flinched away when the thief dropped a hand on her shoulder. She told herself the reflex fit with her cover, but… if she was being honest with herself, (which she wasn't) the action had been involuntary. Drained of energy, she could feel long-buried habits floating to the surface, and she'd yet to compose herself enough to shove them back down. Winter supposed she should be thankful that was the reaction that reared its head, and not a more… violent one. But soon enough the thief was gone, off to deal with the new problem.

And then the knight she'd been tending to was speaking, surprising mirth coloring his voice. Winter turned to him to reply, but she was careless with it and swayed. The knight was quick to steady her, and this time she was guarded enough to halt any reaction she had, and keep herself still. Winter's skin burned where he touched her over the fabric of her clothes, his hands too heavy, too controlling, too… [i]unwelcome.[/i] Winter typically did all she could to avoid touching others. The only time she allowed it was when she was healing or killing. And then he looked into her eyes and she had to try very hard not to glance away automatically. He was quite the gallant one, she mused to herself as he supported her with one arm and drew his sword with the other.

[i]A true knight of Waylox… I wonder if I will kill him.[/i]

It took all of her control not to sigh in relief when he released her to return to his queen. With shaking hands, she pulled another vile out of her bag, this time filled with a pale green liquid and drank it. She could feel energy seeping back into her blood, and her hands were now steady. It was the best she could hope for, for now. She looked at the people around her, many of them springing into motion to combat this new foe. Even before she weighed the options, she knew which action she would choose: this shrinking violet of a cover would have no choice but to flee the battle with the queen. Perhaps she would be lucky and an opportunity would present itself, and she could be done with this assignment. Done with the resentment locked deep in her very being. She darted up beside the cloaked foreigner, Jolu, and gave a small bow to the queen. 

"Your Majesty," the words were bitter as they fell from her tongue, "I will just be a hinderance here in the battle. I can heal any wounded once we meet up again, but for now I think my place would be with your party as well, if you would have me."