The Young General Slayer - Part 5

"The pure white of the Royal Palace," Oliver commented to himself dryly. It was being sullied in the most base and ironic of ways. He wondered if the Kings of the past knew this was how nobles would act, if a fruit was dangled in front of them. He wondered if it was a way of seeing them humbled. But somehow, he thought, the humbling likely wouldn't work. They would all return home on the morrow, seeing nothing wrong with their conduct. The only regrets they would likely have was that they didn't try harder.

Blackthorn had taken to holding a handkerchief over her mouth, and by the grimaces on the faces of the rest of his guard, Oliver thought they looked quite ready to do the same. He had his own handkerchief in his hand, after pulling it out of the breast pocket of his jacket, but he hadn't quite yet worked up the nerve to put it to his mouth and nose.