Before Zoya could react, her companion was already in the process of doing it for her. She never needed anyone to defend her—she was often the one doing the defending (or being told not to go out of her way to rise to any bait, even if the bait made her want to punch someone's nose off). So now that someone had, Zoya couldn't help but smile, taken aback.

"I've seen her do it," she piped up, tilting her chin up arrogantly. Perhaps she should act frightened and uncertain, but that was never something Zoya could do. When she had the opportunity to needle, she liked to take it. No diplomatic relations were at stake here. Nothing that happened here would harm Ravka's throne. "She smacked the last one's jaw right off his face. And you look like you might need your jaw for your next apology."