[ Lockwood wants to reassure her. They've only just met but she's already proving to be an interesting combination of conflicting impressions. Sassy and confident in one moment, almost child-like in the next. Though he was a younger brother, he's played the role of older brother to so many back home, most recently Lucy and George. River stirs those instincts and he wants to give the comforting platitudes.

But he comes from a world where children grow up fast. A world where every child is a soldier and comfort is only found in knowledge, not falsehoods, and she has a high likelihood of discovering the corpse just outside the gates. ]

I've only just arrived. [ He reminded her. ] So far, they have been kind, but circumstances haven't been such to engender unkindness. [ What would happen if events unfolded that set the Summoned in the role of enemy to the governments of this world? Lockwood didn't have an answer for that, and hadn't been around long enough to ask if there had been such friction in the past. ]

I can tell you that they do punish grievous crimes in an incredibly cruel manner. That the natives gathered to watch and cheer for such punishments. [ He glanced around the room, looked down at the shirt in his hand, then back to her. ] It was harsh enough, cruel enough that I chose to leave these barracks and the comfort offered by being part of the military. [ He didn't explain further, but his tone and expression might be enough to convey the trust he lost in the government here, as a result of Wain's execution. Lockwood wouldn't take orders from this chain of command. ]

But the dragons, [ he changed the subject with a smile ] everybody was happy to see the dragons.

[ A truth that was his experience at least. Others may know more, or have seen otherwise, but Lockwood choose only to believe in the wonder of the dragons. ]