wanted

and doors brightly painted. But the people shunned them, hiding in the fields until the column had passed.
Near noon a day or so later, they passed through a small village. Paks was shocked to see the Pliuni troops in front of her slip from the column to enter houses, emerging with arms full of food and clothing. Hooves pounded up from behind. Arcolin yelled at the Pliunis. They shambled to a halt. Paks could see the resentment in their hunched shoulders as Arcolin argued with their captain. A loose shutter creaked in the breeze.
"No raiding!" Arcolin was still shouting. "These aren't enemies—we aren't robbers; we're soldiers. You have enough food. You don't need to do this."
The Pliuni captain had pale red hair; his skin flushed to the same color. "This is silly. Siniava robbed us often enough—these are only peasants—"
"They aren't even Siniava's peasants! No. No raiding. You wanted to come with the Duke, and you agreed to obey him—"
"The Duke, yes," growled the Pliuni captain. "Not a bunch of damned nursemaids!" Paks heard a mutter of agreement from own