Adventure the Third

[philip_charming]

[Coming back to the cottage from the battle with the statue, Philip took care of his horse Samson, moving on autopilot... then just slumped in a chair even as the horse flopped onto a carpet nearby.

Just give him a minute, he'll reach for the bandages soon... Right now, he'll just sit and stare at his battered and aching hands.]I helped today. I

Comments

[Video]

[philip_charming]

No you can't... not always, at least.

But that doesn't make it any easier.

[It's not the first time Philip's been down this recriminatory road, but that doesn't help.]

[Video]

[philip_charming]

Well.

It was the right thing to do.

[Video]

[philip_charming]

[Oh, you crazy countries Oh, great. ANOTHER someone who thought 'morality' was a punchline to use at parties. Isn't that just lovely!

...Well, it might be too soon to go on that tack; even if he hadn't seen this fellow in the fight, he at least seemed honest when talking about the value of saving people. But Philip's got his eye on you, England!]

It's important to save what you can- but those folk never should have been part of it.

[Video]

[philip_charming]

[STORIES, eh? He's not sure he wants to hear all about how you and France have been getting along...

But still, England makes an unfortunately good point.

I'd heard that was the case, but it's the first time I've had it proved true.

[He keeps on trying to tell himself they're not his people... and it helps, a little.

But not nearly enough.]

[Video]

[philip_charming]

My soldiers, no; my people, yes.

[His eyes stayed on England's, calm and steady; talking it out helps too.

So, thanks for that.]

[Video]

[philip_charming]

A soldier's purpose is to fight for his country in war. To lose him is regrettable, yet acceptable- at least, if he died to good purpose. That's why you have soldiers, why you have fighting-men; they- we- fight, even die, so that others don't have to.

So when they fall, then yes. It seems a failure in my eyes.

[Video]

[philip_charming]

[Yeah, Philip hasn't cottoned on to the whole 'countries-as-people' concept JUST yet. He just thinks there's some folks out there with weird foreign names, and deals with it.]

So I've found. Which is one of the reasons I've made sure the battlefield was staged well away from the kingdom's people.

That really wasn't an option, this time.

[Video]

[philip_charming]

On the contrary. The choice of battlefield is often a crucial element in victory.

[How many lightsaber duels battles have been won or lost simply over possession of the high ground, for one example alone?