"The boy is the only reason we were able to hold for this long during the day, after all… For the enemy to be growing even stronger. It does not bode well," the officer murmured.
"I expect that things will not continue this way for much longer," the Captain said cryptically. The officer looked up sharply at that. The Captain smiled at him. "I plan to set the boy loose, this evening, after all."
From a Captain that hardly smiled, It was a look to make the officer shiver. He would have asked a follow-up question, but Beam had already strolled over, after hoping up the deep trench with a single leap.
His clothes were stained with blood and filth. They looked ready to be burned rather than washed. The officer could not imagine any bath managing to get the boy clean again. It was hard to tell just what colour his skin was underneath all that filth.
With a motion of his head, Lombard dismissed the officer. The man saluted again and scarpered away.
