"So are we all," said Solomon. That's almost all life was, really: making the best of a bad situation. Some people's situations were worse than others, of course, but that didn't change the fact that it was something that occupied most people's time.

The boy did have a point, however, and it was one Solomon had been pondering on for some time now. Why bother bringing people, bringing children, into Keeliai to fight a war? Why bring people who were so obviously unsuited for doing so? It didn't make sense as an agenda for a rebellion. Either Eva's ability to select certain persons wasn't all that accurate, or there was another agenda.

Just one more thing for which to view the Emperor with suspicion, frankly.

"The city is a civilian ground," he said instead, opting for the diplomatic route. "A war can't be fought without infrastructure; and infrastructure falls when there's no one around to maintain it. The kedan need all the help they can get. Perhaps that is the purpose of bringing those who aren't soldiers."