She points in the direction of your army. "Then how come they follow us?"
"Well most are here by obligation, some are being paid, some for the loot, some—"
"Redeemer," she interrupts, "I get it."
You chuckle.
After a pause, Elya continues, saying, "The mercenary… Marzio. He… troubles me. Well, not him as a person. But rather what he represents."
"Care to elaborate?"
"He seemed quite… kind, actually. Or at the very least, well-spoken. But how long until real mercenaries flood this country? Ones with weapons and greed? We'll become a land of vultures and parasites. A carcass to be stripped by opportunists."
The pair of you, as well as Elya's bodyguards, reach the top of the hill. Elya continues speaking. "What about Krorid? They might try to rebel. Loston? What's to stop them from pushing east into our land?"
You fall into the head of the column, Elya slotting in beside you. She says, "You know… for the first time in this entire damn conflict, I've started to think of what happens when it's over. Even if I win… I don't. I'd be the queen of a broken nation with traitorous vassals. How long until I have to do this all over again?"