Everyone remained silent as we sat before Caligo, who's eyes were dim.
They simply stared at nothing making the air seemingly freeze in place.
Sitting next to me were the Helma and Grandmaster Ferrum.
We had just gotten news three of the of Stormhawks had died and one had been captured.
Caligo let out a sigh before nodding to himself.
"Order a full retreat." He said and although everyone was surprised by this, no one spoke.
"I will speak with Katsíki and we will look for the best way forward." Caligo said without looking at anyone.
He then raised his dull eyes and looked at me.
"I have given my orders. Go."
We all stood up to leave, but Caligo raised his right hand and called out my name.
"Zuri… stay." He instructed and I complied.
"Allow us the room, please, Astír."
Astír glared at me for a moment before sighing.
She then left the room and without prompt, I walked towards Caligo who pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What should I do?" He asked as I sat next to him.
"The mud crawlers refuse to be defeated. Not only that… to think the Stormhawks would fall. I… I could send Astír and the Helma to Coh and they could burn everything down, but- I do not even want to imagine what would happen if any of them got hurt, let alone lost their lives. I know for certain that Katsíki would not allow Coh to fall without killing-" Caligo said with a trembling voice.
He then looked at me with a pained expression.
"Tell me, Zuri, what should I do?" He asked.
I remembered all the reports I read and I had since come to a conclusion.
I reached out to Caligo and as always, he gently accepted my hand.
"May I speak freely-"
"Please do."
"I think you should continue with the retreat. Take what's left and return to Lanceberg and rebuild the kingdom like you said you would when we first met."
Caligo's eyes trembled.
I placed my hand on his cheek before sliding it to his chest.
"Caligo, do you truly care for your people?"
"Of course I do!"
"Then why did you send them to Coh even after receiving reports that they were far outmatched? Why didn't you consider the fact there were far too many variables to engage in frontal open warfare?"
Caligo's eyes trembled even more and although he opened his mouth to speak, no words were uttered.
"I'm sorry, Caligo, but I don't believe you. If you truly cared for your people, you wouldn't have torn apart so many families in your campaign to build an army. You say you want to rebuild Lanceberg and you claim that it's for the better but I don't see how waging war will achieve any of that. It… it seemed as though war was the only thing you sought, no matter the cost-"
My heart fell as Caligo's face twisted into a scowl.
I closed my eyes as my body trembled from fear but the excruciating pain I expected never came.
"T-thine words hold nothing but truth."
I opened my eyes to find a still frowning Caligo tightly grabbing his hair.
"I… ever since my birth I… I just think this is what father would have done."
I offered Caligo a trembling hand and he accepted it.
"I'm sorry, Caligo, but this isn't about your father. What are you going to do now that almost seventy thousand of your men lay dead in the dirt?" I asked through gnashed teeth.
I didn't know why I was saying what I was, but I felt as though Caligo needed to hear it.
For so long had people told him what he wanted to hear.
And for so long had he done what he wanted while using his father as an excuse.
"I… I do not know." Caligo whispered.
"And that's fine. You are still human after all."
"What dost thee suggest I do?"
"I…"
My mouth hung agape for a moment but this was not the time to hesitate.
"I think you should sit down with Katsíki, as you plan on doing, and negotiate the terms for some sort of non interaction agreement where the Expanse and Lanceberg continue independent of each other while ensuring that all future conflicts are handled peacefully. Then focus all your efforts into restoring Lanceberg from within."
"And where would you start with that?" Caligo asked.
"Mmm… Lanceberg was left in the hands of the High Priests while you slept… I would hand over power to a group of more… qualified leaders from each province and they'd govern Lanceberg but… I don't know much about government, so I can't say anything other than that."
Caligo nodded as his face slowly returned to its more neutral state.
"I will consider thine advice carefully, but before all of that, I must thank thee properly." Caligo said before lowering his head.
"No! Please don't do that! I merely said what I thought and these are merely the words of a Hand-"
"Zuri. Words cannot describe how much comfort thou hast given me. So please stop referring to thineself as lesser."
I took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm my racing heart before nodding
"So… what now?" I asked as Caligo stood up.
He then made his way towards the entry flap.
"Let me wash up. We'll head to Coh afterwards."
I nodded as Caligo left the room but just as he did Astír suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Good morning, ma'am." I greeted but the Helma simply eyed me over stiffly.
"What's so special about you?" She muttered while squeezing her Lance so tightly I could hear her metal gauntlets scraping at the Lance's staff.
I remained silent as Astír sighed.
She then paced around me. Her eyes unblinking.
Caligo eventually returned into the room.
"Please forgive my intrusion, your highness!" Astír said while bowing deeply.
Caligo simply sighed as he dried his hair.
"Let us leave for Coh." Caligo said while offering me his hand.
I accepted it before following him out of the tent with Astír in tow.
We then looked out into the encampment.
A place filled with dying soldiers.
Beyond it was the Kauretia Valley and beyond it was the Kommátia planes where Katsíki's army still stood.
We outnumbered them by several folds and yet...
"The sun must eventually set, I suppose." Caligo muttered as the Helma exited the tent.
"Mmm?" I sounded.
"By choosing to end this war… I feel as though I am ceding my control over everything. Letting it all fly away with the winds of fate." He said while looking up into the morning sky.
"That isn't entirely true." I said while squeezing Caligo's right hand.
"There will always be things that are beyond our control. But there are also countless other things that we can do to ensure a better outcome in the end."
Caligo squeezed my hand and nodded.
"Then let us try to tip the scales in our favour and the favour of the people of Lanceberg."