^{IN ALL THAT SHE DOES, SHE IS SWIFT. however, now is not —or at least, does not seem to be— the time to be swift. he wants not for the obvious answer or the curious answer. he does not want a boy’s answer !!! he wants the answer he is entitled to. she finds, to her surprise, it is not all that difficult to give it to him. “ am i to be doing something else, my king? ” teeth glint like the head of her spear, gleam like gold against their skin. a perfection they share, a perfection that will not fail them, even if they fail one another. one thing is certain, and it will have to do — she will never fail him sitting down.} 

                           ^{“ this is an important trip, is it not? who else would accompany you? ”}