Irene had been looking forward to blowing off some steam in the forests after the morning she had had. She knew there would be monsters to catch, considering the time of year it was and since the rain hadn't set in for the day.
Being able to go out without armor and a trusted apprentice at her side made her feel more determined than ever. It would be nice to test his skill and see how they worked alongside each other. Felix had his eyes on other apprentices, and she was toying with the idea of finding one for herself.
As Irene cast a subtle glance towards the apprentice at her side, she was happy to see the determination on his face. He wrote with his horse's head even with Sammy's hip. His pointed showing of their rank while they rode was a good sign.
The situation with the Nok had worried her that he wouldn't be able to get used to her well, but she thought easing into more of these situations would be a good idea to fix his hesitance because she was a woman.
