Their safety, he pointed out to them, lay here, behind these walls.

The siege could not long endure.

They had a stout ally in Caesar Borgia, and he was marching upon Babbiano by then, so that Gian Maria must get him home perforce ere long.

Their pay was good, he reminded them, and if the siege were soon raised they should be well rewarded.
"Gian Maria threatens to hang you when he captures Roccaleone.

But even should he capture it, do you think he would be allowed to carry out so inhuman a threat?
You are mercenaries, after all, in the pay of Monna Valentina, on whom and her captains the blame must fall.