The fun thing about tossing a sword to someone who only really knew the theory of how to catch one was getting to watch them try, fumble, second-guess themselves, and drop it onto the grass. All of which X did. Thank Asri it was only wood, or he'd probably have speared himself through the hand.

"Wasn't she," X murmurs, less bemused and more withdrawn now that Bobby had been brought up. "I'm a little attached to the past tense, where she's concerned. You met her too?"