"And here I thought you knew ever so much about me," she scoffs, setting one hand on her hip and flicking her fingers at the poised young man in some obscure signal that has him take a shallow breath as he refocuses on Anna.

"You're of the same type, are you not? From the neck down, at the very least, which is precisely the opposite order they should have done it - but that's beside the point. If you're thinking about doing anything dramatic, understand that I will drop you like a sack of root vegetables, you odious tuber." She sniffs in a way that is almost a snort, then addresses the follower who has taken one edging step closer. "And that goes for you double."

"She shouldn't speak to you like- " he starts, in a low, smooth, pleasant voice underpinned by agitation, and she cuts him short by pinching her fingers mid-air. It's not necromancy. It's just effective leadership.

"She shouldn't, but people insist on doing many things they shouldn't do," she explains, without patience, "Your - Tubes, really? - sister has been of great service to me, and to these people, which is why I am pointedly overlooking your appalling manners."