Astronema's staff is grabbed, and held, the sorceress giving it a good yank -- but just like the 'fight' so far, she's not exactly putting her whole heart into it. She, of course, also won't be letting go of it, either.

He's so earnest. Damn him, it's so much harder to doubt him up close and personal like this. Using her real name, too, Astronema's eyes are noticeably wetter than they ought to be.

"Better than this?" she echoes.

When she continues, it's so bitter she could choke on it, "Better than everything I've been since I was taken from your planet, you mean? Better, like your best friend wants me to be, turning my back on everything I am? Everything I've ever fought for, bled for, killed for, even my name?"

Astronema bares her teeth, then, in a snarl below her too-wet eyes.

"What path do you think I'm going down," that emphasis comes with a harder jerk at the staff, "that I haven't already walked?!"