"Or, perhaps, there was nothing at all," Karstly suggested. "Perhaps, Oliver Patrick, all the way through, has shown you what sort of man he is. Perhaps, General Blackwell, you ought not be surprised as you are, that he ignored your orders. For he was fond of ignoring mine. I, for one, can not declare that I did not think it unexpected that he were to meet the Emerson army on the field of battle."
"…Arrogantly put," Blackwell said. "And do you dare to claim that you saw as far as his victory as well?"
Karstly's smile grew at that, showing off all his teeth. The handsome man shook his head. "No. I supposed that he would die a rather pathetic death, and that we would all be giggling at the table for it. Alas, I was wrong, and alas, it does seem that I have a competition, as to the grandest achievement that has been won in this war. That is a battle and a victory that will be difficult to top."
