“Apologies. I did not mean to offend,” Achilles says with a bow of his head, like a contrite student. He’s supposed to learn from these boys, isn’t he?

People don’t like us. They think we’re weird and scary. Scout’s words immediately conjure memories of Pyrrhus mutilating corpses with the same innocent curiosity as a child watching butterflies in a garden. Did these boys ever do the same?

“‘All of us’? Do you mean children who went to war?” he asks gently. “Miss Ember cares for you? Are you happy here?”

It doesn’t seem like these boys have much of a choice, though. What’s their other option? Punishment by a god&madsh;one who is apparently among those who find them aberrant?