A madness that ought not to have been allowed to be. Years of scheming, corruption, and unpredictability.
"Will you fight?" Lombard asked.
"I did not come here to offer you my sword. When I draw my blade from my sheath in earnest, it will be the last battle I ever fight. I still believe in the boy. I merely came here to offer him some leeway – to make his burden a little easier."
"It's that bad?" Lombard asked, widening his eyes in surprise. "And yet, you still manage to chase after that Sixth Boundary..? You're a far greater man than history will give you credit for. I cannot think of a greater shame than that. But alas, you are right, you've given the boy some room in revealing yourself, I suppose. But for you to trust in him so… I find it strange."
"Leeway?" Beam frowned. "I don't get what you mean."
Dominus flicked his forehead. It was the first flick in a while, and for some reason, it felt vaguely nostalgic rather than painful.