Julius was on guard, he had turned before giving his hand to Ren and now had his back to him to protect him along with the others. But the piece of his mutilated arm made his defensive position seem even more desperate.
Kassian laughed, a sound that carried years of accumulated resentment.
"You guys put up a great fight," he admitted with false admiration, "but you have nothing left. What are you going to do? Bleed on me?"
The mockery was casual and cruel, the kind of taunting that came from someone who finally held all the power in a situation that had once been beyond their control.
Julius discretely moved his hand behind his back, signaling Ren to retreat.
But there was something he didn't understand about Kassian's attitude, something that deeply disturbed him.
To buy time for the kids, he asked something that had been bothering him.
