A PASSING WHIM... OR IS IT?

REAS saw his brother's expression and he immediately knew what the other was thinking.  He already expected that the other might give him this kind of look once he said something remotely good about the general.  But what could he do?  He didn't want to lie just so he could affect Astrid's opinion on the general.

He was not so petty as to do that.  Only those with a scheming mind that often used it for harming others would do that.  Although he still disapproved of whatever fascination the general had towards Astrid, it didn't mean that he would lower the other's ability in the eyes of his brother.  He would give credit where credit was due.

"Hey, don't look at me like that," Reas said in a complaining tone in response to Astrid's reaction to what he said.  "As I've said, his teaching method was surprisingly very effective."