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“These are cursed artifacts,” Sona hissed, and reached out to her daughter’s temple, intending to pull the glowing device off her face. A brilliant flash of sunlight reflected on burnished steel sparked her eyes, and her hand struck by lighting. Pulling it back, she saw the shimmering blade just below her chin. The fiery green eyes of the steel woman returning her outraged glare. Her two guards made to move, but Pela and Vala had arrows nocked before they could. “Sacrilege.”

“Your superstition undermines your effort, War Chief,” Aloy said, her voice shockingly calm. “My directive is to repair the broken system. If you are in the way of that directive, I will eliminate the obstacle.”

“But, you protected the Proving,” Vala pointed out. “That’s not in your directive.”

“I was charged to protect the Proving,” Aloy clarified, her eyes not moving from Sona’s.

She had not been a War Chief because of her stupidity. There was something there. The machine in front of her, so protective of her daughter and Pela, was not speaking the whole truth. If she were like other machines, her primary directive should be the only thing guiding her.

“Who?” Sona demanded. She saw the eyes widen. Really? Had no one thought to ask? “Who charged you with protecting the Proving.”

Seeming to sense no imminent threat, the metal woman rose, pulling her weapon away, and nodding to her companions. She looked Sona up and down, nodded and turned to leave. Sona was disturbed at how her daughter silently moved to join her squad, barely glancing her way.

“Who charged you with protecting the Proving, Seeker Aloy?” Sona demanded, again.

“Rost,” Aloy answered, quietly and began to walk away.

“I knew Rost,” Sona said