I finally managed to get the laughter under control, and then I straightened up and looked at her again.

And she gave me that indignant look. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to fall over in hysterics. Instead, I shrugged off the duster and handed it to her. Hilarious wing coloration be damned, that thing looked cold.

"And as for just seeing me... there's a couple things about this place that we need to talk about. One of them? It takes us from different times. I've been here for nine days now."