"Jack," Lia says sympathetically, "We've been at this a long time. War, that is. We can't lose sight of why we are doing this, why we are fighting. Master Dendiwhar said this village is important source of food for the city. As I mentioned, why save the city if there is no food for them to survive? And the others are right, if there are survivors, which we all hope there are, they may have some information for us, like what types of forces came through here. So we are helping ourselves by helping them. You are not wrong about every moment being important for surprise or even so they do not have much time to prepare for us coming. But this is important too. As long as we do not dawdle, I don't think one day or make or break us. " Finally she smiles and shrugs. "But what do I know?"