Raimut freezes in place for a split second, then reaches out with surprising speed and grasps Dist's throat. He squeezes just hard enough to compress his trachea. His other hand grabs the wrist of Dist's dominant hand, just in case -- Raimut, after all, is used to dealing with spellcasters.

"If this is your idea of a joke," he says, quietly, "I suggest you cease it immediately and apologise, else I shall not be responsible for what I do."