"Runar's little horns are so adorable I just want to rub them whenever she headbutts me," Ares said. "Ozar and Ozri seem to be following her lead too, though I do wonder perhaps I should start to discipline her. She is just a baby still though, I don't want to stifle her growth."

Ares tore into some viper doner meat as he looked out towards the golden plains that had once been ruled by the oxfolk. Behind him the Reptai were burying the oxfolk that they had slain, having consumed as much as they could.

"My kids are the cutest though, aren't they?"

"Indeed they are," Xan said. Xan remained standing, looking over towards the plains as well, though no doubt there was another image burned into his eyes.

"Are you thinking of your own children?" Ares asked.

Xan turned to look at Ares. The look within his eyes showed the sadness and that Ares had made the correct assumption.

Ares nodded. "There is a look that I envision, for one that has lost it all and mourn their child, your look matches it."

Xan nodded. "You are right."

Ares wanted to make a joke, but decided against it. "How long has it been?"

"More than a few hundred years."

"I don't know if I should ask this, but I will anyway. Does it still hurt the same?"

"It does."

Ares could feel his own eyes burn slightly. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry to hear about that."

Xan did not reply.

"Have you thought about…" Ares stopped.

Xan turned to face him once more, but even Ares had a terrible look on his face. There was a shame to the King, and he hid his face behind his hands.

Ares cleared his throat. "What was it that you wished to speak with me about?"

"I helped you in order to score favour with you," Xan said. "That is what I wish to speak with you about."

"Right?"

"My intentions are to continue to help you in order to further your debt to me."

"I could just not repay your debt."

"Perhaps," Xan said as he nodded. "I doubt you would do that. Levi trusts you, and if they have trusted you with so much, then I find it to reason that I should as well."

Ares flushed a gentle red, like a warm soup. "I have enough debts to repay…" he grumbled. "How would you ask me to repay you?"

"I have two ideas in mind. The first is your aid in certain matters in the future. The second…" Xan looked away. "Or not."

"Please, oh Storm Lord, won't you be more vague?" Ares shook his head.

"For now there is no need for you to worry about such things. I don't intend to call in the favours any time soon, not until you have established yourself."

"How fortunate for me."

"It is in my best interest, that is all."

"Alright," said the King. "Sounds good to me."

Xan nodded. "Though I intend to further the debt for some time."

"Luckily there isn't much going on at the moment." Ares was relieved. Xan had helped him a fair amount already, there was no point in furthering the debt so quickly.

"A storm is coming."

"What?" Ares asked.

Xan remained looking out. "The clouds have brought ill tidings. You will see them in a few days."

"Like I said, please be more vague…"

Xan didn't say. Ares wasn't sure whether the Storm Lord knew of the issue or not, but if he wasn't going to say, Ares was in no position to force him.

He was no longer thinking of such a thing, however. He had returned to Rivea, having dealt with both of the issues for the moment, before Lana dropped quite the bomb.

"Where is my promise dowry?"

Ares grew hot with embarrassment and shock.

He was getting married.

"Oh shit," he whispered. He stared k to Lana's eyes, which stared at him and dared him to flee away from her.

Ares had fucked up.

Almost dying several times had caused him to forget all about the marriage and the matter at hand, perhaps the most important matter in his entire life time.

Ares began to sweat. He looked at Lana who glared at him with the same mischief he had begun to dread.

“Uh… right… uh…”

She grabbed Ares and then pulled him back to their home.

“For my dowry you will need to be healed,” she said as she pushed him down. She left Ares to his own thoughts, though Ares spent most of the time being confused. She returned with Emerli.

“Oh no,” Ares said. “That kind of healing?” Ares winced at the thought of it.

“You will need to heal,” Lana urged him.

Ares sighed and allowed Emerli to come up with something. He winced as the green and brown sludge covered his wound. It was both cold and hot depending on the moment. At least it would mean he would finally get some rest in the night.

Rori appeared as he was being bandaged. The bearman threw a look to each member that was around before speaking.

“Are you feeling better?” Rori asked.

“Yeah, a little.” Ares nodded as he looked down at the bandages which kept in the sludge against him. He poked them once to feel them bounce back only for Emerli to slap his hand.

“You always hit me,” Ares grumbled.

Emerli gave him a look. He understood the look, for he had seen it before many times.

Stop doing things that cause you to get hit.

He sighed.

“Xan said there’s going to be a storm coming,” he said.

The other three didn’t seem surprised. Then he realised that he shouldn’t have been surprised either, what with all the signs and talks of ill omens.

“We should prepare for it… though the question is, how?”

“Strengthen the army, the people…” Rori looked down at Ares, “and the King.”

Ares threw his head back. “Gah! Yes! Yes! I understand.”

“Do you?” Rori asked.

Ares’ shoulders slumped and he nodded his head. “Yeah… I’ll stop getting into trouble for the next while.”

“Stop getting into trouble,” Lana said.

Ares narrowed his eyes. “I need to spend time with the children anyway…”

Rori nodded and then left them be.