It didn't take long for Illyce to remember that Luna wasn't used to violence. Those blood-stained hands, her quivering, and her stammering—they were all something that Illyce couldn't combat with her words. She was too jaded; watching bloodied hands told her that all Luna did was defend herself. If this had been any other time, Illyce would have just told her to keep a stiff upper lip and move on. But surely, someone who risked herself just for her lowly knight would not want to be met with that disrespect. If anything, Luna taking on a man by herself was worthy of praise. She stared at Luna's bloodied hands, while lever letting her hands leave her shoulders—always trying to show stability, to be someone she could hide behind.

[i]But you did nothing wrong, Princess,[/i] she thought.

She clasped Luna's hands in one of hers, and caressed her cheek with the other—if only to try wiping her tears away.

"Luna," she said. "You did a very brave thing." And in some ways, Illyce felt she was right; when she herself killed her first man, she could barely sleep for a wek. "Come here, Princess. Lot pitched camp...hopefully. We can talk while we head back." She kept her voice as soft as she could manage for Luna, and to avoid any other unwanted attention...