After nightfall, across from Magit Island, Winters and Mason are lying behind the river dike, observing the river while whispering softly.
"Colonel Skur," Mason habitually uses the old military rank, quickly correcting himself, "Oh, Brigadier General Skur."
Mason asks nervously, "Does Brigadier General Skur want to call off the siege?"
Talking with his schoolmate, Winters has no worries, unlike communicating with Gessa, where he has to be careful.
He chuckles slightly and replies bluntly, "Anyway, according to Brigadier General Skur Meklen himself, he doesn't want to call off the siege but hopes to 'preserve some forces' to deal with possible threats. At the same time, he's redeploying some cavalry to monitor the river mouths behind us to guard against the United Province Fleet invading the inland rivers..."
Mason easily digests Winters's words, but his tone becomes more hesitant, "Isn't that still calling off the siege?"
