Ivan was brusque as he urged the horses forward. He had hope to earn a moment of respite, but the Inquisition's hounds were tenacious in their pursuit. Even no they snapped at his heels, striking flint to steel against the kindling of their stakes. On top of this Ivan was preparing a meeting with a rival, whom held no love for the man. It was a small matter for Malovo de Rosini to whisper a warning to the Inquitition of where Ivan intended to rendezvous. It was all too much, too quickly. Now, as the crowds called for their blood, Caroleen distracted him with trite conversation. He replied with little more that the occasional grunt or nod.<br/><br/>News of the Inquisitor had frayed Ivan's nerves. The mounting pressures made him reserved and succinct towards Caroleen, but this was not true. Ivan could handle the pressure. It was something else that made him act so coldly towards a woman who simply sought some basic human interaction. Why was he in such an uncomfortable state? "Teresa wants to know if you like the scent I am wearing. She picked it out in market today.” The sentence cut through the grey haze that Ivan had rendered Caroleen's words. Ivan knew the cause of his discomfort.<br/><br/>He reigned in the horses, eliciting an alarmed whinny from them. Still gripping the reigns tightly, he looked at Caroleen, who looked back with Teresa's eyes. She seemed foreign despite being so familiar, like a family member returned from abroad. Ivan realised that he had been averting his gaze from her face as much as he could. He was silently distraught at seeing Teresa, but speaking to another.<br/>"Never wear that scent again." The words were as cold as steel at night. "You are not Teresa. Although you wear her flesh, you are not her. Do not imitate her." Softening his visage, he addressed Teresa directly. "My Love, please do not entice her to such acts again. I fear that my I may cry for my ardent want of you. I can see you, but you are not here. I can hear you, but they are not your words. I can hold you, but it is not your warmth. When I restore you to your body, we will dance beneath the stars and know only pleasures, but for now, my heart can scarce endure your distant closeness. That scent of lavender call back too many memories of a better time." Without waiting for a reply from Caroleen, he drove the vehicle onward. There was still a long journey ahead.