[ It’ll take Lambert a few moments to respond, panting for breath, hardly able to hear Childermass over the roar of blood in his own head. Celandine is staring him down, refusing to let go, but the shock of pain is grounding, even almost calming. The sort of punishment he keeps expecting, but hasn’t gotten. ]

Apologies are useless. [ Is what he says, finally, voice calmer than before. ] They don’t fix anything. They don’t change anything.

[ He looks up, and Celandine disengages, her teeth and the fur around her mouth stained red as the blood begins to drip from Lambert’s hand. ]

I’ll fight on her orders. I’ll die on her orders. I’ll do better. If that’s not good enough for her... [ Lambert shakes his head, jerkily, but he doesn’t finish, looking away instead. ]