It was worse. The smiths and the woodworkers had yet to finish the medals, as some were required in fixing the various arms and some were even required to help with working on the various constructions about Rivea.

Ares narrowed his eyes as he stared at the kiln ahead, as if he wanted to have a fight with it. Seriously, how could he be so shameless? Ares wondered if maybe he could have a few of them create some medals for him right now, but there probably weren’t enough people about.

He rubbed his forehead. Soon breakfast was to be made.

“What’s the matter, Ares-kin?” Shim asked.

Ares turned to the wolffolk armourer and then sighed. “I needed the medals today before I left,” he said as he stared at the kiln, a soft sigh escaping his lips.

“Why don’t you make the medals?” Shim asked as she cocked her head to one side.

“Make them myself? I don’t know how to make medals.”

Shim raised a hand and then wiggled her fingers. “You can’t make medals with your powers?” She raised a brow questioningly towards him.

Ares turned to look at her as though she was starting a fight. “I can’t just-” Ares stopped and then narrowed his eyes. He looked back to the wood and then to his hands, and of course his ring.

Could he?

Ares summoned a bit of wood and then tried to imagine how he wanted to shift it.

He imagined a fairly flat disc, in the shape of a leaf. Why a leaf? Well the forest seemed to be quite scout-like, so a leaf was pretty good. Then he tried to envision what kind of symbol he wanted on it.

A leaf with… perhaps the crest of Rivea?

What was the crest of Rivea?

Oh!

A fan of wings with a sword coming from the middle of it pointed upward perhaps? Since the block was fairly thick, he could make several… ah, right, don’t forget the little hole at the top to put a strong through.

He concentrated long and hard to the point he could feel the gentle tugging at his stomach, the wound reminding him that it was still there and ready to fuck with him.

He opened his eyes and then began to create the medals, which disappeared the moment he had made them. He managed to make about seven from the block, so summoned another block to create another seven.

Ares slowly turned his head to look at Shim.

“You… you’re not so bad, Shim.”

“Thank you, Ares-kin.”

Ares smiled and then nodded his head. “I’ll be sure to remember this. You’ve done quite a bit for us, I’ll be sure to reward you soon.”

“Your words alone are an honour,” she bowed her head, but Ares could see how the woman’s ears twitched with delight.

Then Ares returned back to the centre of Rivea, where most people were gathered. He could see the various families, all chatting about with one another as they waited to be served their food. Of course Salea and Amal were waiting on him in order to make sure the two pillars of Rivea were served first.

Ares sat down as his three children tried to force themselves onto his lap, so Ares wrapped Ozar and Ozri since he hadn’t spent much time with the pair.

Runar tried to headbutt Ares, but he caught her with ease.

“Enough, Runar. Relax. You’ve gotten to play with daddy so much, it’s your brothers turn now.”

She tried to push against his hand with her head and then began to scream out against him to voice out her displeasure before she was finally picked up and then her screaming stopped to accept the nipple into her mouth in order to eat herself.

Ares looked at Lana and nodded, trying to keep the flush from coming to his cheeks. He looked out to his people and then was about to speak, but instead he decided to tear off some of the bread and then dip it into the soup. He took the first bite as Rori brought up a small piece of carrot to his own lips and then ate it. With that, everyone else began to eat.

“You are leaving soon,” Lana said.

“Yes I am.”

“Do you have everything you require?”

“I’ll grab everything right before we go. I have a mental checklist, I needed to check on some matters first.”

Lana nodded her head. “You will return,” she stated firmly.

“I will, in the best health I possibly can.”

“In good health,” she said, her eyes flashing with fire.

“Well… I’m not exactly-” Ares stopped. Perhaps he shouldn’t make the joke, he didn’t want to change her mind right before. “I will, Lana.”

“Your promises don’t mean much, you have broken them already.”

Ares winced and looked away. That hurt. A lot more than many things have, he would have rather faced the buffalofolk. He turned back to face her.

“I’ll be sure to return. After all, just four children aren’t enough for me,” he joked.

Even Lana couldn’t help but laugh at that before then narrowing her eyes. “Do you mean to tell me you are planning on bringing back another wife?”

Ares turned a deep tomato red all over. “Lana…” He shook his head and then went back to eating. “I don’t plan on it, but who is to say?”

Lana smiled and then shuffled closer to Ares. Ares tried not to get so lovey dovey in public, keeping an eye out on everyone else.

Soon breakfast was done and Rori stood to thank everyone. He went on some speech about how Ares and the party were off to explore, and that they would be bringing back great fortunes to Rivea.

Ares looked up at Rori. Great fortune? What kind of great fortune was Rori talking about? Suddenly he felt a great pressure to actually bring back something cool. He tried to think what he could?

A dragon? That’d be pretty cool.

Rori said something and waited patiently for Ares. Ares snapped back to attention and looked at Rori.

“Would you like to say a few words?” Rori asked.

Ares stood up and cleared his throat. “I’ll be off in a moment. I entrust Rivea, not just to Rori-kin and Lana-kin, but to you all. Last time I left, it wasn’t exactly great for either of us, but this time will be different. Why? For every single one of you have decided to put your complete trust in me, and I will return that trust. I thank you all, and I will wish you the best of luck for the future whilst I am gone.” Ares then paused for a long moment.

“No more rebellions, okay?”