"Everyone a critic," she says, her smile a bit brisk and aimed roughly at his shoulder as she fastens the new bandage in place - more secure, yes, better, if you like. "Most of them wrong. But most of them, also, announcing it in a strongly worded letter that they would have, if they had this, that and the other."

She pats his arm when she's finished--

"Don't worry, I'm sure you still sword very good."

But if she could pull off strolling up and doing that better, too, she absolutely would.