"That means using the bloodbond," Lambert catches on immediately to what Ignatius is getting at, ignoring Herbert completely. The implications are clear enough to him, as is the realization Rita will hate that ... but she'll hate being used to hurt her allies even more. The mother's words, on the other hand, are a cause for concern. If she can sense Ignatius through Rita's new heart -- a procedure he knows in painfully intimate detail, now, thanks to the transferred memories -- then trying to keep Ignatius away from her might be a losing battle.

"There was something a teacher of mine used to say," he starts. "'Never pounce on an advantage as soon as it appears. Wait till it stands to have maximum effect.'"

His eyes search Ignatius's face, trying to find something more than half-baked uncertainty and fear there. His expression hardens.

"If you know about the bond, then she probably does too. She might be testing that." Seems like the sort of sick thing the Mother of Invention would be into. Either way, they can't drag along the unwilling, so he'll finish by shaking his head.

"Either stay or go, general, just lead."