[It is a most cherished horse. Worthy of accolades. All things considered Vlad probably likes the horse better than he likes most of the members of his court right now, because at least the horse has proven itself useful and doesn't complain.]

There's isolation, and then there's isolation.

[She knows his habits, of course; he's her son. She knows how he and Vlad both withdraw in their ways, detaching from the world around them and putting up their walls, and only emerging when someone arrives to knock them down.

It really is sort of strange, how she's the one most personally affected by the events that had transpired, and yet somehow also the one most willing to continue engaging with the world around her in spite of it.]

You can come with me, if I need to make a house call. Some patients won't always be able to make it here to the clinic. You can be my assistant.