I had to give out 150 pesos in total to the winners. That was a large sum—maybe a little too large. If I had offered just a peso, it would still have sufficed. The former Martin would have called me impulsive and feckless.
But I almost didn't feel the loss. The Marinduqueño soldiers giggled and excitedly talked among themselves, probably about what to do with their winnings. They had just been rewarded a laborer's weekly salary.
The Bulaceño soldiers scratched their heads as they listened to Dimalanta's grating sermon. I felt guilty, of course—these were the same men who had endured the tiresome journey with me. They could have used a small purse to explore their new place of assignment, as a reward for all that they went through.
But I planned to keep them as my escolta, to provide security to the Casa Real and to my immediate family. That meant they would receive a higher rate of salary, and I would soon give them this week's wage.
