[ It's disheartening news, he knows. Assuming they believe what little bits they're told, it doesn't paint the prettiest of pictures by any means. ]

That's what I suspect, anyway.

[ He shrugs, ever aware of just how little they have to go on. ]

But I'd like to think there must be something we can do. Something they don't know, or don't want us to know.

[ Dancing to their tune may be all that shard-bearers can do for now, but even the leadership is assuming what kind of outcome victory would assure. With uncertainty, there may well be unexplored possibilities. ]