If Elidibus is hoping for assistance in discouraging Cortana's vengeful impulses, he's backed the wrong horse. She won't waste an opening, but if actually delivering the killing blow helps Cortana push back against the violation of having been used, she's more than willing to facilitate.

As Elidibus plants himself with sword and shield in the path of the oncoming snakes, Yelena flashes Cortana a razor-edged smile.

"I'll spring the trap," she says. "If you can find an opening, drop the son of a bitch."

And she darts for the bier and its honour guard of snakes, aiming to bait enough of them into lunging for the immediate target that she can draw them off and make a hole in the defenses.