077: veterans

From a distance, he watched the battle below with the ancient eyes of one who had seen countless before. A calloused, worn hand stroked a beard older than most alive, as a deep, guttural sound of contemplation rose above the cries and clang of steel. Beside him, another bearded figure, just as stout as the observer, came forward to join the first.

Taking a long drag from his pipe, the second--the elder, given his gray whiskers--chuckled. "Seems that they'll never learn," he mused.

"Perhaps," the first bellowed, turning from the scene. "But who are we to teach them?"