"Ah, I am so envious, my Lady," Thornhand said. "What I would not do to be able to use mana freely, as a woman of your standing does. It must give you such confidence, to know that you could protect yourselves from them, if it ever came to it. I imagine you could see them all burned alive within a click of your fingers if you wanted to."
At that, Penelope couldn't hide her laugh. There was cruel condescension in it. A noble laugh. "Do you truly think so, Lady Thornhand? Have you not laid eyes on their Commander?"
Thornhand didn't seem perturbed by the laugh. "The big one? What do they call him? Wool? Whol?"
"Vol."
"Indeed. Vol. I saw him. Yes, he makes for a terrifying sight. But he wouldn't stand a chance against your magic. Or even a well trained veteran Syndran knight, I wouldn't think. I can not imagine that my husband would lose to him," Thornhand said.
