‘Seriously? What’s with these guys?’ Ares sighed. He wondered just exactly why they were all so willing to die. Though if he really had to, he probably would end up killing them though preferred to find a way where no one died.

Ares turned his gaze from Beor, who remained on his knees panting, to Heria who had rode over on her large wolf.

“He follows the old laws.” She said as she nodded towards the rest of the beastfolk. “They follow the strongest, and it seems you and Saykkera are the strongest, so they’ll follow you.”

“You have got to be kidding me right now.” Ares sighed and then he reached up to rub his forehead. “We’ve made our bet. I’ll return the milk stone to King Abdan and I’ll return to tell you what’s going to happen.” Ares said as he turned and left with Jiaga and Saykkera following him, leaving the mess to Heria if something ended up happening.

Ares didn’t have to go far as the King had been watching the fights. “Here you are.” Ares said as he returned the milk stone. “Also, here.” He said as he dropped down a large bundle of drake leather. “For winning.” Ares smiled.

“This is my reward?” Abdan asked with a raised brow.

“Well I probably couldn’t get anything worth similar so I decided that since you put so much faith in me I may as well reward it.” Ares winked. “It was probably the easiest win you’ve ever had.”

“It is so, Ahreez.” Abdan laughed and then bowed his head as he took the bundle. “I am most honoured.”

“Jiaga fought well. I would love to see how he fares against one of my own.”

“Your warriors are so powerful and skilled.” Abdan replied, looking out to them. “Are they all so?”

“About. Though you are seeing my army at the weakest, give us a few months.” Ares smiled. “You will see the strength of Rivea grow, and with it, I shall return to you your Kingdom.” Ares said before suddenly growing red. “Ah, that’s rather embarrassing.” He said as he rubbed the side of his head.

“I do hope it continues to grow.” Abdan bowed his head.

Ares wondered if he had said something wrong or awful, and then suddenly he felt the awkwardness. “Uh right, I should probably deal with the beastfolk…” Ares then looked out to the distance to see the oxfolk nearby. Some of them had come to watch the fight, including Ogar. Ogar nodded his head towards Ares, who returned the nod before he trekked back to Heria.

“Alright.” Ares clapped his hands together. “Beor, get up.” He said to the kneeling bearman, who did so. “I have a few questions to ask of you for now. Is this all the people within your tribe?”

“No there are half more, those far too young or old to join us.”

“Will you be willing to retrieve them? I will offer most of yours a spot nearby like I had offered the tens of thousands of oxfolk.” Ares smiled, emphasising the number of oxfolk. “They are not Rivean, those off in the distance, they are guests still wondering whether they should join. I shall invite several of each tribe, including your own, to come and live in the capital to see how we do things. Then I’ll move you around from village to village for a little before returning you back to your tribes so you can speak to them about what you have seen and whether or not you want to join.” Ares bowed his head.

“Is that satisfactory?” He asked, looking to Beor and then to Ogar who had been watching the exchange. Ogar nodded and then left.

“I will accept.” Beor said as he stood up.

“Wonderful, wonderful.” Ares smiled bright and then nodded. “Then I shall have you stay the night. You may leave in the morning once you have rested up. How long will it take you to return?”

“A few days at most.” Beor replied as he motioned with a hand and then his people pulled away to start to camp a little ways away.

Ares hopped onto the fort wall to lay down on it for a short while. Kingly business was tough work.

“Ares-kin.” Called Heria. “Let us talk.” She said as she then hopped off her wolf.

Ares hopped off the wall and then started to walk beside her, wondering just exactly what she wanted to talk about.

“Saykkera fought well.” She eventually said once they were a little ways away from anyone.

“She did.”

“Do you have a reward in mind for those that fought for Rivea?”

“Nothing in mind as of yet. What would be good?”

“As long as it’s useful or brings them great honour, I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Hmm. Probably a weapon or something?” Ares said as he scratched his cheek. “Though then again… Saykkera doesn’t really need a weapon, she is a weapon.”

“You should be careful of what you say.”

“I meant it as a compliment. I’m a weapon too you know?” Ares chuckled.

“What about your reward for me?”

“My reward for you?”

“You denied me such a great honour, but I also made sure to look after the fight.”

“I don’t think I want to create a precedent of rewarding mediators…” Ares replied back with a groan. “It seems like a bad idea, rife for abuse.”

“Are you saying I’d abuse such a position?” Heria growled.

“No, you won’t, but others that will be in the same position may do so in the future.”

“You are thinking so far ahead.”

Ares laughed. “Yes, yes I am. It’s the future that shapes the present, and the present that shapes the future. I’m sorry Heria, though I am very thankful. Is there something you’d like to ask of me as my Colonel and my close friend?”

Heria’s tail swayed from side to side as she narrowed her eyes and smiled. “I shall think of such a thing.” She said before then turning and leaving Ares there alone.

‘What?’ Ares thought to himself. He didn’t return though, instead walking around to think. He wondered just what else he would need to do in order to set a good path for the future. Though eventually the thoughts became too much for him and so he returned to his tent.

“Ahreez, I must thank you for helping Jiaga.” Abdan said as he finished swallowing the steak.

“Don’t mention it. I couldn’t have him return to you injured in such a way when he was so willing to show off for his King.” Ares smiled. “It would have hurt my pride.”

Abdan was about to say something but he bowed his head. “I am very glad.”

Ares looked to the young girl to Abdan’s side. She looked to be in her early teens, Ares assumed she was about fourteen or so.

“Allow me to introduce Aniya. She is my sister.”

Ares choked on his meat but then swallowed it down, thumping his chest as he did before he drank down the cool water. “Your sister? I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“I wished to see the kind of man you were, and to make sure we were truly safe before I revealed such a thing.”

Ares smiled. “I’m glad you feel safe here, it is the greatest compliment you could have given me.” Ares said.

“Aniya does not speak much in the tongue, but she does understand it.”

“Well then, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Aniya.” Ares nodded towards her.

“Ahreez.” She replied quietly, barely above a whisper. She nodded as well.

“Let us hope we have a bright future together, Abdan and Aniya. So many names beginning with A, I wonder if it’s fate.” Ares joked.

“Perhaps it is fate.”

“Fate is a fickle thing though, let’s be careful.” Ares winked.

“What of you Ahreez? Do you have such family?”

Ares looked down at his meat. He stared at it for some time. “No, not anymore…” He said before he quickly straightened up. “Oh, excuse me. I do. Emerli is my sister.” Ares smiled. “I should introduce you. She’s a witch of some kind I believe, though I do not know her race…” Ares said as he scratched his cheek.

“She is your sister?” Abdan asked.

“Well yes, I have chosen for her to be my sister.” Ares smiled. “The same way I have chosen Runar, Ozar and Ozri to be my children.”

Abdan nodded his head. “Family by rite, not family by blood.”

“Something like that.” Ares nodded his head, though there was a sinking empty feeling that filled him.

“You have lost family.” Abdan said.

“Yes.”

“I had an elder brother who did not live to see my birth. He died when he was not six months.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Abdan.”

“I never knew him.”

“I don’t know which is more painful.” Ares said. Tears began to form in his eyes. “Having never known your brother, having to see him die, or not seeing him die.” He blinked away what little tears formed as they wet his eyes and he took another bite.

“You have lost a brother as well?”

“A long time ago. He wasn’t very…” Ares stopped as he felt his throat close. He then took a bite of the meat, though it had lost it’s flavour.

“I am sorry, Ahreez.”

“Everyone dies but not everyone lives.”