Ares found her impatiently pacing in front of their agreed upon meeting place. She looked beautiful in her new outfit, freshly bathed, and in a temper.
"It's about time," she said when she saw him. "I was beginning to think you'd left me stranded in this strange city."
"What would you have done if I had?" he said with a bemused expression.
"Gone back to Greece and hunted you down like a dog. Believe me you would have regretted it when I found you again."
That's what he loved about her, her tenacity. It was what had set her apart from all his other female protégées through the years. She didn't worship him or expect him to be the reason for her success though she would accept him as an ally.
"Well, I am here as I always will be when you want or need me."
"And sometimes when I don't," she said dryly with more insight than she realized.
"Even then. We must start on your army. Not so long ago, I could have had one ready at your disposal."
"Where would be the fun in that?" she said, her mood lightening.
"That's true. Tomorrow will be busy. Plenty of opportunity."
"Busier than today?" she asked, finding it hard to believe.
"There's a festival tomorrow and festivals attract all sorts. In the meantime, we should get a room in one of the inns."
He paid for the room; there was only one left. She ate the stew the inn provided. She was relatively silent through the meal, but that wasn't unusual. Neither of them were talkers, but there was something to be said for the companionable silence they often shared. It was how it should have been.
He followed her up the stairs. She stopped at the doorway and put a hand on the knob. "Do gods sleep?"
"Not out of necessity, I suppose, but-"
She shut the door in his face, making him grin even if it partially frustrated him. She may have lost her blood innocence, but she hadn't lost her innocence in other areas. No matter. It wouldn't be long now before she was his in every way.
sss
"This crowd is giving me a headache," Xenia complained. The truth was it was all the gaiety that was grating and seeing families happy together hurt her more than she was willing to admit. She was alone now. Except for Ares.
Her thoughts were broken by screaming. It came from a nearby stall. A man with scars all over his face and muscle was using said muscle to push around a defenseless woman. He either wanted to acquire the wares or the woman herself. Her child crouched behind the stall, eyes wide with fright.
"Hey, why don't you pick on someone your own size," she called out, drawing his attention to her.
He eyed her up and down and a wicked grin appeared on his face. "You mean like you?"
She put her arm out and waved him toward her with the curling of her fingers.
He charged like a bull with an arm pulled back for a punch that any fighter worth his salt could have seen coming. He thought he was going to use brute strength on her.
She sidestepped him at the last second, blocking his punch with the bony edge of her arm. Then she grabbed the back of his collar and whirled him around.
Half drunk with wine from the festival, it was more than enough to disorient him. She released him, and he stumbled. She withdrew her sword and used the flat side to give a good hit to his rear, knocking him onto his stomach on the dusty road.
He rolled over onto his back, and she met his neck with her sword. She was tempted to run him through. The creep would deserve it.
But Ares was at her shoulder. "You can use him to good purpose."
"Him?" she asked and from the look of confusion her opponent gave her, she realized he couldn't see him. "He's horrible and cruel," she said with obvious disgust. "What good could he possibly be?"
"He's perfect. Men like him make great soldiers. Their stomachs won't turn at the violence, nor will he run in the heat of battle."
"I don't want him in my army," she said firmly. "He belongs in prison or in a shallow grave."
"He just needs his energy redirected. He needs a woman's touch," he said, sounding so sure of himself.
"You think a man like that will take orders from a woman?"
"I think you'll find most men will not fancy the idea of a woman commander. At first. You'll have to prove yourself many times, but I've always found women more than equal to the task of leading an army. After all, it was my sister Athena who was the goddess of warfare."
He had been around much longer. She supposed it was wise to heed his advice. And under her leadership, the man before her would have to do what she said, which meant leaving the women and children he liked to terrorize well enough alone.
"I could end your worthless life," she threatened, "or you could join up with the army I'm building."
He looked around. "What army? Who are you?"
"The name's Xenia."
"Never heard of you," he scoffed.
"You will soon enough. Though I'm almost hoping you'll say no," she said, pressing the cold metal of the blade harder against his throat.
He got the message. "Sign me up."
She lifted the sword off his throat. She had her first recruit.
