After a long silence, Kavos slowly rose and faced Duncan, all of his men standing with him on cue. Kavos stared back at Duncan, expressionless, his eyes dark and sunken, holding within them, surely, the memory of thousands of foes he had defeated in battle. He was as hard as these walls of ice, and he remained silent so long, Duncan did not think he would ever speak.

Duncan then recalled that it was he who would have to begin. Unlike the rest of Escalon, it was the etiquette for the visitor to speak first.

“What do you pray for?” Duncan asked. “Victory? Conquest? Glory?”

Kavos stared back, silent for so long, Duncan wondered if he would ever respond. He began to wonder if he even remembered him.

“If it is victory you pray for,” Duncan added, after a long silence, “you shall not find it here. Victory lies below. With me—with all of us—in ridding us of the invaders. In serving Escalon.”

“The men of Kos serve no one,” Kavos replied, his voice deep, filled with finality, furrowing his brow. “Escalon least of all.”

Duncan stared back, unsure how to respond.

“The weak king betrayed us,” Kavos said, “and the men of Kos do not lend their loyalty to weak men—and we do not lend it twice.”

Duncan understood his sentiment, having felt it many times himself.

“Yet still,” Duncan countered, “it is Escalon in which you live—and the Pandesians block your mountains at the base. They have you surrounded.”

Kavos smiled for the first time, his face bunching up with lines, a hardened smile, more like a scowl.

“Have you ever considered that it is we who have them surrounded?” Kavos replied.

Duncan frowned, frustrated, expecting that response.

“You are untouchable up here,” Duncan admitted. “Yet no people are an island. Escalon is meant for all of us. You should be able to roam freely about this entire land which is yours, you and your men. If the trade routes were opened again, it would help your people.”

Kavos  shrugged, unimpressed.

“There is no commodity we can’t live without,” he replied. “Honor is our most precious commodity. And we have it in abundance.”

Duncan studied his old friend, having a sinking feeling he would be refused. He was as stubborn and implacable as he recalled.

“Are we not all one Escalon?” Duncan finally asked, pleading to his sense of loyalty to the other warriors.

Kavos sighed, his expression softening.

“At one time we were,” he finally said. “When you and I rode forth and crushed skulls together. If you had taken the kingship, then yes, we would be. But now, we are nothing. We are each warlords scattered to the corners, each for his own stronghold, his own people. There is no king to bind us anymore, and no capital, except in name.”

Kavos examined him, an intensity in his eyes, as he took a step closer.