"What do I tell them, Gerald?" asked Alric.
They were standing at the side of the practice field, watching as the troops lined up. The garrison of Riversend was larger than the small army that had defeated the invaders in Merceria, though perhaps not quite as large as the group that had marched on Eastwood.
"Tell them what they want to hear," offered Gerald, "that usually works."
"What do they want to hear?"
"That they must carry on. The earl would want them to do their duty."
"Is that all?" asked Alric.
"Soldiers are simple men," Gerald explained. "They like to know they're doing their job, that they'll be paid and looked after. You look after the men, and they'll look after you."
"Is that true?"
"It always worked for Baron Fitzwilliam. I've seen troops that didn't respect their o
