Once breakfast, or he supposed lunch, was finished he made his way to the various crafters. First he checked on the smiths, who had made great progress on creating all the various items he asked for. His eyes shone with delight.

Shim revealed the armours and weapons they had made. There were a few simple breastplates, as well as enough spears to field about a thousand warriors right away. He was glad to see they had worked to heartily to complete their task.

Ares grabbed a spear and then thrust a few times with it and then tossed it into the air before shifting it away and returning it back to Shim. “Wonderful. Truly, wonderful.” He whispered to her, trying to keep his excitement in check. He couldn’t hide his smile as all as he went to check out the armour, before he stopped. He turned to face Shim. “Did you help with making my armour?”

“I did.” She said, throwing her chest out with pride.

“Thank you. It helped me greatly, though it did take quite a beating.” He said as he revealed the armour to her.

She stared at it in surprise as she took it from him, examining it and the various tears and burn marks. “Did your… other form do this? Will we have to change the armour to suit it?”

“No, that wasn’t me. That was lightning.”

“Lightning?” She asked.

“There was a human who could use lightning.”

She stared at him as though she had seen a ghost, pale and sweaty. “A human that could use lightning?” She asked as she stepped back, dropping the armour. She quickly apologised and scrambled to pick up the armour.

“Don’t worry. I dealt with him.” Ares smiled warmly. “Why? Is a man like that truly terrifying?”

“There are few that can manipulate the elements, and even fewer that can do so with lightning. That is a rare thing, though… not quite as rare as yourself.”

“Oh? Flirting with your King?” Ares laughed as Shim narrowed her eyes. “I see… I see…” Ares thought about testing out the ring here but he shook away the thought. “Can you fix it?”

“I will have to ask Roshe… he urged us to work on it quickly so that we could bring it to you when we found out what had happened…”

“Well, I’m very glad you did. I’ll keep that in mind when I come into anything of interest to part with. I’d love to know who else worked on it.” Ares then was introduced with a number of crafters from the smiths that had helped. The others had been leather workers, though he’d speak with Roshe about such.

“Thank you, all of you, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say that I am able to walk as easily as I can because of your great work. I will make sure to…” He thought about it for a second. “No.” He said as he raised a hand and then dropped a torso sized square of the black viper leather. “Here. Part it out evenly amongst everyone. Evenly, as in, the same share to all.” He stated as he then left the smiths to do as they pleased with it. He thanked Shim once more before finding Roshe.

“Ares-kin.” Roshe said with a smile.

“Roshe, Roshe.” Ares clasped their forearm. “Where did you get the leather to make my armour?”

“I used my share to make it.”

“Why? That was your share?”

“I heard you were in trouble. I also thought that you should have an armour worthy of your title, what better than black viper leather? I couldn’t ask you for more without shame so I used most of what I had.”

Ares shifted another portion for him. “If you need leather, you come to me.” Ares said staring into their eyes. “You are the leather worker I trust, and if you need leather for anything, I’d like to know what it is of course, but I trust you. If you need more…” Ares dropped another chunk. “That’s yours. For you and your family. Okay?”

Roshe nodded and smiled.

“Oh, actually, could you make me a shield? I think I thought probably have one…” Perhaps with a shield he could have fought against the lightning a little better. “Make it out of normal leather and have normal metal over it, nothing fancy. I want the same as any of my Marching Blades or Roaring Tridents, am I understood?”

“As you wish, Ares-kin.” Roshe bowed their head and Ares did the same.

“Now, how much have you made?”

Roshe showed Ares the few dozen pieces that they had completed. Ares smiled and then pat them on the back. “Good job.”

Then he went to check on the other crafted. He managed to grab a whistle that was particular dreadful before he went to check on the carpenters. Once he had made the rounds, he went back to check on his children. He played with the twins for a little while and then walked the three of them around since Runar was feeling a little lonesome.

The Roaring Tridents had been kitted up and had filled him with a sense of pride, and even the other civilians would watch with a mixture of envy and pride. Ares then started to speak with a few of the households, asking them how they were and such. He paid his respects to a few of them, and when he saw the young children that were being taught by their tribe, he began to wonder.

“Hmm.” He hummed aloud.

“Is anything the matter, Ares-kin?” A woman asked.

“No. I don’t think so… or perhaps so…” Ares looked up. “Well, it was a pleasure talking with you. I have much to think about.” He smiled and left them be.

Ares went for another around the area, keeping to himself as he went into a deep thought. He had forgotten quite an important aspect to being a King. Education. How had he forgotten such a basic thing? He should have started education a while ago. He shook his head and then made his way to the fountain, taking a seat as he noticed the Ten that had been looking after it. He bowed his head to them, but then pressed his fists into his forehead.

‘Crap.’

He tapped his foot repeatedly before the representatives arrived to speak with him and Rori. He waited until they had all arrived, with Rori leading the procession.

“Ares-kin? Are you feeling better?” Rori asked.

Ares nodded his head. “I’m fine. Just in some thoughts…”

“Would you like to share them?”

“I suppose I have to.”

It was then that Ares informed the representatives what he’d like to do in terms of educating the populace. Many began to grumble.

“We are already strained for time as it is. We cannot do much more than we already have, you are running us ragged.” One had said.

“I agree, this is far too much.”

“We are not like yourself, we are not of such great stature.” A particularly large oxfolk woman had said.

Ares raised a brow but did not press on such irony. “I understand your grievances. I will be shifting responsibilities around, so please act on my latest words. I will personally teach as many as I can, including as many adults as I can, and then I will have a few upstanding and intelligent fellows teach in my stead.”

They didn’t seem too responsive, but Ares left it there. They informed him of some slight issues that had arisen, minor squabbles and such.

“You say the oxfolk are coming soon?”

“I should be receiving a message from Asyllia, she’ll be letting me know when they come. I’ll speak with them at the base of the mountain of whether they will agree to the terms of becoming a Rivean, otherwise I will refuse them.”

“Are you certain that is a good idea? How many were there… you say there are so many…”

“Right? And?”

“What if they wish to overthrow you? To take what you have claimed?” A wolffolk woman said, crossing her arms.

Ares smiled. “Then I will simply ask them to try their hardest. I don’t think we will be going down without a fight, until you wish to roll over and then let them scratch your stomach?” Ares asked with his eyes narrowing.

“It doesn’t matter to me what they think they’d like to do. We will not allow them to come into our homes and take our rightful place without a fight. If they want to come here, by all means, they are allowed to. Either as Riveans or aggressors, but they should know that the latter will be quite bloody. This is true for the oxfolk as it is for the humans.” Ares chuckled. “Any more questions?”

They continued to speak with Ares for some time until most of the issues were heard and dealt with. Then Ares returned to his tent and relaxed until Torak came to speak with him.

“Ares-kin, there’s an issue.”

“What is it now?” Ares asked as he leapt out of bed and then followed Torak out to see quite a few waiting for him. Most of them were quite young and were staring at him eagerly.

“Yes?” Ares asked as he cocked a head to one side.

“You… you’re a phoenix… we’d like to see.” A young oxfolk boy had said.

Ares smiled.