"There… There had to be some other way," Oliver said. There was talk of peace, and Blackwell had seemed so close to it. What had changed? If it had been possible then… surely it was possible now. Khan seemed a man of his word. Could they not have trusted his promise not to rearm his men?
"Trust makes for poor strategy," Ingolsol said.
Another chain of civilians was led to the side of the pit. Their terror was palpable from a distance. Through Ingolsol's eyes, Oliver could feel it gathering.
The day was hot, as Verna days were likely to be. The blue sky reigned supreme up above. But with that gathering of fear, the blueness was quickly forgotten. Oliver saw the cloud of black take its place.
