And you can complain at me, at great length - when you are well enough to make it through the whole sentence without shuddering in pain.

[ Each step reaches longer, and her mind - it balances in between loudness and stillness. Each thing cut down to measurements. The exact weight of Annie in her arms, where her sword hits her side, the catch of the long robes at her legs. The insists upon, move, move, move. ]

Then I promise I will give you words in Hindi you haven't heard before to insult me in. But right now, I need you to keep an eye out behind me.