The Pieces of Battle - Part 6

"Mm," Oliver said, noting too the river that ran between them and the bottom of the hill. There were all sorts of obstacles they'd have to navigate before they could even begin to attack the enemy.

"Why?" Nila asked, drawing the eye with her sudden question. With Northman, and Blackthorn, there were half a dozen of Northman's Sergeants, and Oliver's Serving Class retainers as well. Despite the presence of all of them, Nila hardly seemed cowed. "I mean – why is he sat in one place here? There's another town over here that he has to defend, and these two villages. Do they always keep their men in one place like this?"