Piotr doesn't laugh, because no part of this is even remotely amusing to him -- he just comes at her, knocking her sword away from his throat with a growl and swings out again. He adjusts to her speed, knowing that he's heavier, slower, but she isn't the first opponent he's faced who could move faster than him. Usually he'd keep his movements closer, more careful to close off any opportunities to strike, but he's angry, angry that Sonia was taken, angry that two of his armsmen are dead and for nothing, angry that Lakshmi refuses to take any of this seriously. His anger makes him careless, loses him the edge he almost always has.

"Enough," he snarls at her over the ring of steel against steel as they clash again, but he doesn't stop, either, heavy blows intended to drive her back, make her lose ground. "I don't have time for games, Rani!"