You don't carry spears or bows?" "They'd just get in the way, sir. A sling doesn't weigh hardly anything, and you can find good rocks anywhere." "I t… - David Eddings

If he's only a boy, what was he doing in a war?"
"He comes from a warrior culture. They start earlier than civilized people do. It was his first war, and it was supposed to be a quiet one. The half-wit who sits on the throne in Kanthon got carried away, though, so he ordered the soldiers he'd hired from Eliar's Clan Chief to invade your father's territory. It was a stupid thing to do, and it wasn't supposed to happen. It was his fault that your father got killed, not Eliar's. Eliar was only following orders. The whole business was the result of a series of stupid mistakes, but that's what most wars are all about, I guess. Nobody ever really wins a war, when you get right down to it.

Astonishing!" Andine said in mock amazement. "Everybody says that making speeches is difficult. I didn't seem to have any trouble at all."
"Any speech goes over better with musical accompaniment, Andine," Leitha suggested. "And Eliar plays the gold keg like a world-renowned virtuoso." "It's the most beautiful music I've ever heard," Koleika said fervently. "I'm glad I stayed for the concert.

The most important part of strategy is keeping your men alive. If you take care of your men, they’ll take care of you.