Kratos held on, shifting only to account for the elbows in his ribs and Valdis's weight as she tried to tear herself loose. It was something of a relief to find that the move worked, on the being Valdis was; it wasn't long before she went limp, and Kratos relieved the pressure on her neck.

"She'll -- ngh." The grind in his face made it difficult to talk; he broadcast instead. 'She won't be unconscious for long.'

He moved as he spoke, shifting her in his arms to carry her properly and rising from the ground. Ribs ground painlessly in his chest; that was a nuisance. He'd fix it in a minute. 'We'd better call all three warders and choose whoever picks up first; but begin with your suggestions.'

They didn't have the time for anything else, and he had no inclination to fight Valdis a third time.