How we cite our quotes: Chapter, Paragraph
Quote #7
I stood on something pillow soft, and looked down to see a bright blue blouse, and a beard and earring, gleaming teeth. Before I could see if the man was alive, wounded, or stunned, the army surged forward. I told myself I did not hear a dozen feet crushing the blue blouse into the earth. (29.6)
Here's another aspect of battle: You don't have time to think. There's not time to study the dead or dying at your feet. Before he knows it, Edmund is being rushed forward by the crowd, pushed away from the man he stepped on before he can see if he's alive.
Quote #8
I assured myself that I was too weary to have any feelings, and if I let myself picture a trampled body, a splash of blood, I pushed the image from my mind—perhaps because I sensed I would see worse. (30.44)
Participating in a war really calls for some serious mind over matter. While he's falling asleep, Edmund has to make a conscious effort to not think about all the horrible things he's seen. He's also being realistic. Yep, he's seen some awful stuff, but he knows he has more to see before it's all over.
Quote #9
I kept Hubert from seeing it, held his face away from the sight, although the sloppy crunch of blade and ax, and the smell of blood and fresh-torn bowels, could not be ignored. Or the cries of Christians calling out saint's names, Saint George who slew the winged serpent and the giant Saint Christopher who carried Our Lord across a wide river. A sword makes a butcher-shop whine across the bones and sinews of a neck. (33.21)
This might be the most shocking image of war in the book. King Richard's slaughter of the prisoners from Acre rattles every Crusader, knight and squire alike. Hubert can't even watch. There's something extra violent about killing unarmed, defenseless people. It's not even a battle—it's just killing.