As he and his Captain led the others down the steep trail from the canyon into the valley, Phillip couldn't help but notice the rising number of people gathering near the village's edge.  They came from homes, shops, and fields; by the time Terrano felt it safer to send four of his Guards out to lead the procession, more than 100 men, women, and children had assembled.  They flanked the packed dirt road and parted as the strangers cut through them.

Phillip took note of the condition of the people who were now [I]his[/I] people.  There was a general appearance of despair, exhaustion, and need in their faces.  Some showed obvious happiness -- even delight -- at seeing their new Lord arrive, while others seemed uncertain.  

Phillip had been warned that there might be issues with loyalty amongst the locals: when the War of the Three Rivers began, the Earl of Echo Valley had been a Royal Loyalist; three years later, he'd switched sides, only to be besieged, captured, and killed; and then, two years later, the Rebel Lord who'd replaced him became a Royal Loyalist, only to meet the same fate of his predecessor.  It was going to take Phillip weeks, possibly months to determine who he could trust and who might very well stick a dagger in his back when given the opportunity.

Phillip leaned closer to his Captain, saying softly, "I want to stop … talk to the people."

"Not yet," Terrano responded without hesitation as the train continued its slow progression between the two ranks of mostly peasants.  When his Lord asked why, the Captain nodded his head toward the small hillock atop which sat the decrepit Keep.  "Let's wait 'til we reach the rise.  It will be easier to protect you."

"Do I [I]need[/I] protection?" Phillip asked with a serious tone.  He glanced about the faces looking up at him.  He inquired of his long time friend, "From them...?  They are my people now, aren't they?"

"Some are," Terrano answered before shrugging.  "Some aren't."

They rode on a bit farther, leaving the more thickly developed portion of the village as they neared the Keep, located on the far side of a bridge that spanned a slow moving portion of one of the rivers flowing through the valley.  Terrano continued his explanation, "You are a benevolent leader, m'lord.  You [I]will[/I] be … I am certain.  But now … [I]right[/I] now … these people don't know that.  For decades they have been subjects of progressively harsher Lords.  For the past six years, they have lived in a constant state of fear as the war raged around them … and sometimes came here to visit them, invited or not."

Terrano kicked his horse lightly in the ribs, urging it ahead as they reached the bridge.  It was a rickety replacement to one that had been burned years earlier.  (That bridge had been a replacement, as had the one before it, too.)  Once across, Terrano awaited his Lord to finish, "Once the people get to know you, m'lord … you will not have to fear them."

Phillip nodded his agreement to his Captain and rode past the stationary soldier toward his destroyed home.  Behind him, Terrano looked out upon the gathering, which had moved along with the train as it, too, reached and began crossing the bridge.  He contemplated his words to his Lord: [I]You will not have to fear them.[/I]  It was a lie, of course.  Even the most benevolent of rulers lived with at least one detractor who was willing to risk his own life to end that of his Master's.  And it only took one.  That was why Terrano and his Guard was here, of course.  But even so, the Captain knew that he and his men could only provide so much protection.

Terrano waved over one of his Lieutenants.  He gave the usual instructions for assembling the Earl's tents, then the Command Tents, then those for the others.  The wagons and carts were assembled along the river's edge to provide a faux wall should they need it.  Patrols and static stations were organized, as they had every night of the now 10 day old trek.  

Phillip had taken a few minutes to inspect his devastated home, then returned to his Captain's position near the bridge.  Many of the villagers were still assembled on the opposite shore, getting an eyeful of their new Lord and his [I]imported[/I] subjects.  He ordered his cook to be brought to him, and when the man arrived Phillip pointed to an open field between the river and the village.  "Set up the kitchen tent there and cook the rest of the food."

The Chef gave Phillip a confused expression, finally responding, "M'lord … I'm sorry … I don't understand."

"I want to feed the people of Echo Valley," Phillip clarified.

The Chef pointed to where a tent was being unrolled amongst poles already being raised.  "M'lord, we are setting the kitchen tent up over--"

"Over there," Phillip interrupted, again pointing to the far side of the 100 foot wide waterway.  "We can't very well have everyone cross the bridge to eat, can we."

He looked to Terrano, whose expression told Phillip he understood where his Lord was taking this … and wasn't happy.  Phillip asked, "Can we invite everyone across the bridge to eat, Captain?"

"I would prefer not, m'lord," Terrano said with a harsh tone.

The Chef's eyes and mouth only widened further as he, too, realized what Phillip was suggesting.  He asked with shock, "[I]Every[/I] one m'lord?"

"Everyone," Phillip confirmed.  "Keep back two days of food for us … cook the rest.  Everyone feasts tonight."

To Terrano, Phillip said, "Go inform the people of Echo Valley.  Invite them to bring food to cook if they wish, but ensure they understand that they do not need to contribute to partake."

The Captain eyed his Lord for a short moment then smiled.  He told Phillip once again, "You are going to do great things, m'lord."