She smiles faintly. "I think it should be obvious that you're much gentler than Ajax," she said. "And there was none of this," she gestured to his fingers against her arm, "after that. Mostly just pain and...blood."

For a moment, Cassandra paused, unhappily trapped in that memory, but a sudden, jarring thought roused her. "Do people actually talk about this sort of thing?" she asked. "Comparing one to another? Is that a normal thing to do or is it...unique to you?"

She honestly had no idea.

"If so, I'm afraid to ask you the same question..."