Miles laughed a little, because it was all so absurd. "You're not the only one." Then the smell of blood properly hit him, and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. The static in his head spiked.

He shook his head and glanced down at her arms. "Jeez, Valdis, what, did you get in a fight with a gyroshei or something? You're all scratched up." His tone was light, but he knew that wasn't the case. Those were nail marks. "You'd think getting all bloody would enhance death magic, right?"