Gavroche knew why he was fighting and—it seemed—what the stakes were. Scout is the opposite. There was no justification for this brazen use of power against people who were already compromised by circumstance. It’s viciously opportunistic.

Teasing out Scout’s story feels cruel; he can’t imagine how difficult Stab’s might be.

“You are a child. You did as your guardians bade. You remained true to your heart and your instincts at important moments.” Achilles nods to Stab. “You protect your friend even now. It’s commendable. Some are so lost in violence that they become numb.”

He’s thinking of Pyrrhus, of course. From what Achilles has gathered, that numbness only lifted recently for his family and servants.