"The footmen, who were the bulk of the Dale army, sat or stood as it pleased them, leaning on their pikes, talking among themselves even when the Chief rode up." (p. 76)
The fact that we are told this shows that the viewpoint character, Carl, knows that a different kind of military procedure is possible. We have already visited periods when standing to attention had not been invented yet. See Attention.
The captured Lann Chief's son has made Carl all too aware of the difference between warriors fighting for glory and farmers fighting because they have to. Who will win? Can the best of both cultures be synthesized?
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
If, as was not the case in VAULT OF THE AGES, the Dales had to fight a long war with the Lann, then greater stress would soon be placed on military formality and discipline. Because such things would be necessary for good order in a larger, long service professional military.
Sean
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