Tyrhallan raised an eyebrow at the curious and nervous addressing of him, it caused him to chuckle.
“I will not eat you alive young master Tailor. If you wish to address me Captain will do. If however, that is too informal for you.” He said with a teasing smile. “Then you may address me with my formal title. Eresh Tyrhallan di Venrai’ye.” 
He saw the imaginary sweet drops start to form and the look of worry in Tobias’s eyes.
“Fear not, I am not a man easily insulted, certainly not when I can read the well meant intent behind your words.” He stated before he took some time to allow Tobias to ask his questions and for him to formulate a fitting answer to them. Meanwhile he took one the plates that Tobias hadn’t taken and put it on Tobias’s tray.
“This….is salmon.” Tyrhallan stated as he picked up one of the few plates containing the pink looking fish for himself. 
“And as for your other questions...some will not be easy to answer, for I am not all knowing, despite the kind of stories that get told. I’m quite fallible.” He took a couple of more dishes but nothing too extravagant. 
“The King is a man with a good deal on his mind right about now. Any leader in his position would be nervous about the outcome of this battle. With the enemy out for blood and growing closer one cannot but try to rally the people.” Tyrhallan answered. “Your perceptive young master Tailor. It will serve you well on the battlefield to keep the same level of vigilance. However yes I do believe the king was calling for help. Wars are not merely fought on the battlefield. They will have an effect on everything, a strong nation, with a willing people will be able to fight back. Moral must be good and the end goal must be clear. The King is a figurehead. People follow him because he is the king, he unites the nation. He also knows that disposing of such a figurehead would be the first thing on the mind of the enemy. So I’d say he has a good reason to be nervous and fearful.”
At the last question Tyrhallan frowned, he wasn’t sure how to answer that one. Seeing the curiosity however in his eyes Tyrhallan felt he owed the young mage some sort of answer.
“Being forced on the defensive is never really a preferable position, not without proper terrain to back you up or any conclusive information on what the enemy is completely capable of. In order to strategise you need to know your enemy and when to pick your battles. Keep the reins firmly in your hand…” Realizing this might be a bit too vague as a satisfying answer for the young mage Tyrhallan added. “Personally speaking, hinder them at every opportunity and lure them where you want to lure them to. Make the terrain work for you and preferably overrun them in waves. Make it so they cannot rest. Hound them whether with fake attacks, sneak attacks, full on barrages and the occasional ‘accidental’ fire.”