"Me." Bell said unhappily.
"Where did you learn that?"
Staring at his shoetips, Bell answered, "My mother."
Winters could tell the young Hunter was in a bad mood, but Colonel Jeska obviously did not care about the trooper's background.
The colonel barked at the others, "Bring all the surviving Herders over!"
...
The Herders who could still speak were bound hand and foot and kneel in a row in front of Colonel Jeska.
"Tell them I can't be bothered to waste words with them." The colonel, leaning on his saber, surveyed the prisoners coldly. "I'll ask, and they answer. Keep silent, and they die."
Bell translated lacklusterly.
One of the Herders raised his head and shouted a few words at Bell. Winters did not understand, but he could detect the anger in the tone.
"What did he say?" Colonel Jeska pointed at the talking Herder and asked.