...There's hard strength in Grune. He'd never seen it before, but--he can almost believe she will be all right, even against this child.

Almost, but not quite.

Over Sophie's screams and pounding against him, he informs the child, "Stay tuned. I'll be back. And if I find you've so much as scratched Grune while I'm gone, you're going to regret it to the depths of your soul."