“I hate this place, Jack. I hate Kandahar and Afghanistan. I hate India and all it stands for. Why?”
“Why?” Jack repeated.
“Why do we have to go adventuring into these barbaric countries?” She dipped her head, still staring outside. “It’s taken my son, Jack, and it’s going to take my husband. Why? This whole continent is not worth their lives!”
Jack stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know why Helen, but I guess the merchants make money and the nation gets prestige.”
Helen shook j******f and knelt at William’s side. “He was an arrogant, self-opinionated man, but he had his good points, too.”
“He’s my brother,” Jack said.
“Your half-brother,” Helen corrected. She stood again and resumed her pacing. “Go, Jack. Don’t you have a regiment to command?”
“I’m only a brev
