It would be very silly of you to get offended, wouldn’t it, Constance? Just because you can feel your heart hammering and your mind keeps twisting around to try and defend yourself, that doesn’t mean you should break your word. You said you were listening. So you will listen, even though you feel less like stone and more like a mudslide the longer you listen to him.

“The sword is not for me,” you say, very calmly. Such calm! Witness, birds and beasts and Cath Palug, your calm!! “It is for the rightful wielder. Unless you mean to say I will not recognize the rightful wielder when she comes.” You bring the box back to your chest and straighten up with smothering levels of calmness. “In which case, please, do reveal your wisdom, ageless one. And don’t even think of telling me that it’s you, because both Cath and I know that’s wrong.”