Ninety-eight times out of a hundred, a human wanting to do something impossible is annoying at best and deadly at worst. All things considered, Kitty Jones has a shockingly strong track record when it comes to managing to be neither.

"I'm not surprised," he says as he flicks through the phrasebook. "Outside of the obvious exceptions, I don't think anyone much cares for how this world connects to the Other Place. Just that it does and that they can stick their warty hands through. No magician in their debtably right mind would dare to question it, much less wonder how to burn the bridge. Which isn't possible, by the way. I should know, having built a few in my day."

Still, it's lovely little thing to dream up isn't it? The fact that she'd thought of it at all has the aggravating dual effect of making him feel both pleasantly warm and like he's been plunged into six feet of cold, clinging mud. Can't she tell he's trying to avoid feeling any more guilty than he already does? It's downright inconsiderate to keep clanging on about anything that might possibly further endear a more softhearted fool than him.

"You know this book doesn't have any swear words in it. Would you like me to teach you the best ones? We can shout them at people as we go."