“Do you know why the Pandesians were able to invade?” he asked. “Not because of our weak king—but because of our weak nation. Because we are scattered. Because we were never one. We never had a king strong enough to truly unite us all.”

Duncan felt a rush of determination, realizing the truth in this warrior’s words.

“What if we have a chance to be?” Duncan asked, his voice filled with intensity. “What if we have a chance now, for all time, to become one people? One Escalon? One people under one banner? I do not know if we can ever be—but I do know that we shall continue to be nothing if we do not, as one nation, attack the strangers amongst us.”

Kavos examined him for a long time.

“One people needs one leader,” he countered. “Are you prepared to be that leader?”

Duncan’s heart pounded at the question, the one question he did not expect, and the one question he did not wish to ponder. Leadership was the last thing he craved; but he needed Kavos, and he needed Kos. He did not want to risk losing him.

“Would you lend us your men? Would you join us?” Duncan countered.

Kavos turned and walked silently toward the exit of the temple, Duncan following as his men gestured for him to do so. He walked beside him, wondering where they were going, wondering what he was thinking.

Duncan was met by a cold breeze as they exited the temple from a side door, the wind howling here, atop the world. All of their men fell in together, mingling with each other, trailing behind them.

As the two made their way across the plateau, Duncan wondered what this man was thinking. They finally came to a stop at the edge of a cliff, and as his friend looked out, Duncan looked out with him. Below them there unraveled all of Escalon, the late afternoon sun lighting up the snow-capped peaks and, in the distance, the immense capital city of Andros.

A long, comfortable silence fell between the two warlords as they surveyed their homeland.

“It would be madness to attack,” Duncan admitted. “After all, there are countless Pandesian garrisons below. We would be outnumbered ten men to one, at least. They have superior armor, weaponry, and have organized forces in every town in Escalon. They also still control the Southern Gate—and the seas. It would be suicide.”

Kavos looked down below, nodding.

“Keep talking,” he finally said. “You’re convincing me.”

Duncan smiled.

“I doubt we’ll win,” Duncan said. “But I vow to you that I shall not remain standing as long as any last Pandesian stands, as along as any Pandesian banner sits in our ground.”

Kavos finally turned and studied him.