"I am plenty competent at self defense! But while you were out playing, things became a little more complicated here!" she snaps back at him. "A priest has come to the city, and he's looking to interfere in the war. I have convinced him I have no part in it, aside from a helpless bystander watching her city used as a battleground. He will be very useful in eliminating our enemies with minimal effort on our part. Therefore I now must participate in even higher secrecy than before."

Higher secrecy... the thought makes her pause for a moment. As much as she enjoys manipulating the actors from backstage, she also has her own role to play. If Rider is going to make such a huge fuss over her not going into battle with him, then maybe she should find some way of concealing herself in plain sight.