Joachim sniffed at the punch again, detected nothing amiss. "War can be found when you least expect it, sir," he commented to the younger man. A rather pale boy, but in comparison with his own skin color everyone in the room was pale. The major stopped inspecting the contents of his cup, drank a bit of the concoction. As he'd suspected, alcohol was not an ingredient. There was a slight sharp tang in the aftertaste, but nothing too objectionable.
"The lady is an acquaintance?" Because he hadn't missed the way the lad's eyes flicked in the direction of the petite brunette's direction. Perhaps the boy fancied her. The rubber-covered tip of the cane thumped lightly on the hardwood floor as the tall major turned a bit.