Information is a weapon, a strong weapon.
If you feel your opponent is dangerous, you retreat and come back when you've gathered enough info to overcome the threat.
This senior knight understood this, in just one short conversation.....he realized they should leave. But also had the presence of mind to say it in a way that (if he had troops) wouldn't demoralize his troops.
But then comes super zealot, fresh recruit.......with more faith than brains.....who couldn't see between the lines much less read even if the lines were a meter apart.