<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/QmRfzG7.jpg)</div><br/>Eren sighed softly as Pipa began reading her book, and twitched aside one thick curtain to look out the window.  Pipa couldn't help but notice that the woman was looking out the window to her left, an action that hid the ugly red scar from view.  They rolled along in silence for a while before Pipa finally spoke up, asking cautiously,<em>“Do you know anything else about the curse?”</em><br/><br/>Eren made a soft sound and red flowed to her cheeks as she shook her head no curtly.  It was obviously a sore subject.  It also made Pipa realize that she didn't know what would happen if that scar would somehow disqualify Eren from competing.  Certainly there would be a fair amount of shame on her family, but what other repercussions might happen?  She was about to attend her book again when Eren suddenly gasped,<strong> "No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry please... please just...just...just talk to me?  I've been riding in this coach for three days now and..."  She shook her head and sighed.  "I'm used to being treated well, I was born noble after all, but this... this is totally different.  They look at me like I'm some great hero, or some saint, or... I don't know.  You'll see it soon enough too.  I mean I guess it makes sense, we contestants have kept the entire world at peace for over three hundred years.  But, the distance... the only time one of the soldiers talked to me, she... well... she maybe..."</strong><br/><br/>It took a gentle prod from Pipa to get the gorgeous woman to speak again.  When she did it was in a soft hushed tone, which was ridiculous because it was doubtful that anyone would have heard anything lower than a full volume shout from outside the coach.  Finally with crimson cheeks she said,<strong> "The soldier propositioned me, said that maybe when we break camp for the night, she and I could have some fun."</strong>Eren covered her face with both hands and moaned softly,<strong>"I know the soldier would never do anything to risk my maidenhead of course, but she said she could help 'jumpstart' my education.  I've never been with... err... done.... well.. anything...  Oh gods, I don't even know what I'm saying.  You must think me a silly child."</strong><br/><br/>Eren looked up at Pipa and the quarterorc saw something she'd seen before, but never when someone looked at her.  She saw in Eren's eyes a mixture of jealousy and respect.  Eren's eyes were obviously noting Pipa's strong frame, attractive face, and Pipa realized that the girl thought she was inferior to Pipa.  Never in her life had anyone looked at Pipa in Oreford as if they were inferior to her.  But here was this nearly devastatingly beautiful<em>(even with the scar)</em>noble woman, rich of birth, given probably every advantage, and in that moment it was obvious that Eren very likely envied Pipa.