"I escort you as a courtesy, not out of concern for their well-being or yours. Many arrive in similar condition or worse. So much so that some imagine this to be a waystation between death and life."

Although he managed the walk well, Yasmeen kept her pace to a lazy, hip-swinging swagger. He might feel little pain, or ignore it well, but she saw no upside to further damaging the injured muscle. She glanced sidelong at him as they walked to say, "It is not, but those who have not known the inside of a cage may not recognize one when they see it."