Teatime dodged easily, using the arc of the swing to bring the encounter back to his advantage. He dropped the broken shaft of the spear and with that hand grabbed Nny's wrist. The other hand, still armed with the sharp half of the spear, flashed up and stopped, the spear's tip pressed just below Nny's adam's apple.

"But Nny," he said, his voice imploring, teasing, the littlest bit hopeful, "I do so want to be your friend now."