The meal was served with a lavishness to show the various Reptai a Rivean thanks. Though when the Reptai had finished, they requested to leave in order to protect the fort.

Ares smiled and nodded, granting their request, but he followed them out. This time the twenty Flying Wolves did not escort them, Ares’ orders, instead replaced by himself.

Ares hummed quietly to himself as they made their way back to the fort. When they finally arrived, Ares followed the Reptai so he could finish with the task he had in mind. He had politely asked Zika to gather them around, which she did.

“I would like to thank you all for gathering around at my request,” Ares said. “I have asked for such a thing in order to give my thanks to you all for helping us in the previous battle, I couldn’t have asked for better mercenaries. I am also here to give a special thanks to your Queen, and those that had helped save my life when I was stuck with the buffalofolk.”

Ares then revealed a slightly different medal that he had created, this one with a small gem inset where’s the phoenix’s stylised head was. It was a gold gem that Ares had specifically picked out.

“I have given the other Reptai involved their medals, but I wanted to make sure that everyone here knew just how much I appreciated the support.” Ares then placed the medal around her neck. Zika accepted it with a bow of her head.

Then Ares turned to the other Reptai. “Zika had asked, on behalf of some of you, whether you could join my elite guard to fight at my side. I have spoken to my advisers, and we have all agreed that, as it stands now, I cannot accept any of you into the ranks of the Roaring Tridents and the like. However, they did agree that if any of the Reptai were willing to become Rivean, then they would have the same chance to join the elite squads, and I would like to offer such a thing to any of you who are wishing to join.”

Ares bowed his head slightly to all the Reptai. “I will allow those who wish to join the chance to sleep on my offer.” Ares raised a hand and then dropped down a large number of bodies for the Reptai to feast on. “With that, I suppose I will take my leave.” Ares smiled and then left the Reptai.

He hoped that some of them would bite at the chance of joining him, he personally wanted a few Reptai to join his elite squad, or to even make up what would be his mercenary bodyguards similar to some Emperors. Though considering his Roaring Tridents, he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea…

Though then again, he did want roughly a thousand warriors to make up his guard whenever he went to war, perhaps the Reptai on some drakes would be greatly suited to such a task? Such a thought brought a shine to his eyes and he couldn’t help but grin the entire way back to the city.

“What thoughts do you have now?” Lana asked, exasperated. She could tell Ares was thinking of something that would displease her, she had gotten used to the look now.

Ares kept in mind that he would need to try and keep a straight face around her, though he wasn’t sure if he’d manage such a tall feat. He reached over and brushed her hair, then wrapped an arm around her. “Probably something you would approve of, it would increase my chance of survival.”

“Would that be something I would approve of?” Apparently she couldn’t help but tease him.

Ares chuckled and then nodded his head. “I hope so.”

They returned to their home, where a milk mother was feeding Ozri. The moment the boy saw Ares and Lana, he reached up for them and so the milk mother relented, allowing him within Lana’s arms. Runar and Ozar were fast asleep. They slept usually slept first, Ares assumed it was because they were so active.

Ares thanked the milkmother, who then promptly excused herself. The tent was guarded by six elite guards, a pair of Roaring Tridents and four Phoenix Guards.

The Phoenix Guards had been the only unit to grow since the restructuring of the army, their numbers being swelled by those that left the Roaring Tridents and Marching Blades, partly because where as those two units only needed to guard two individuals, the Phoenix Guard had to guard Lana, the children, as well as the humans.

Ares thanked the warriors outside his tent and then dismissed a pair of the Phoenix Guard, he would rather they be well rested in case something were to happen tomorrow during the day. During the night, well, Ares was more than enough to protect…

Then Ares recalled the last time he was so cocky, and then the past few hours where he handed rewards out to people for saving him from that time.

He rubbed his head. That was alright, the Roaring Tridents would switch duties to protect Lana.

Lana raised her brows at him once his eyes fell over her. “What thoughts do you have now?”

Ares just chuckled. She smiled at him. “I’d like to request…”

Ares winced at her words and then reached over to pinch her cheek. “Yes, my dear?” He pulled her close, though was wary of doing anything more since Ozri was looking at them. He couldn’t help but feel that the gaze that his son was giving him was of disapproval, as if to shame Ares for acting all lovey dovey in front of him.

Ares lifted the boy up, who squirmed and then leaned up against his chest to rest. Ares rest his cheek against the boy’s forehead as he looked over at Lana, who was chewing on another leaf.

“What is that leaf?” Ares asked. He hadn’t dared to ask.

When Lana told him what it was, he wished he hadn’t asked.