Silence followed my words, one of smirking lips and curious ears, as all eyes turned to the aging man before us, who showed no obvious reaction such as shock or confusion at my last query, as though he's long expected it and had been waiting for us to reach this junction.
"Why you say?" He began, his benign smile unflinching upon his moustached lips. "Is the simple grace of sparing your loyal men the death and horror of facing a numerically superior force not enough?" He finished with a sweeping look at all my gathered officers.
"Don't play coy with me; I am no fool you can easily swindle, and nor my men's loyalty so flimsy they will sway with such shallow tricks." I spoke calmly and confidently, a smirk playing upon my lips, my posture still as relaxed as ever, yet I loosed my words with such force it charged the air between us with what felt like prickling electricity and a bone biting chill.
