"I didn't tell you my answer," Mabry said. Her hands tightened on her stick. "And you're right. It's only a stick. No magic, nothing special at all. And I'm not much of a fighter." The moment was coming, she knew, the time when she would have to give up this fight for the moment, end the battle, and leave this conversation for a better time.

After all, she had all the time in the world.