"Fire," he agrees, voice husked, dissected. Unstitched and turned over, and its innards shown, belly up to the heavens. "Later."

Later, when he can yet prevail on the tender instinct to shield her, to hold her close, when nowsuspects Emilia will manifest it despite his pleas. And what can he do, to object to her? She has the right of it. A villain vanquished is one denied courtesies.

"She weighs as nothing. A small burden."

If he convinces her, if he can simply — he starts to walk, unwaiting. Let her stay him, if she must.