4

I told no one what had happened upon returning to Sheikh Sulieman and the others. He only asked me one time what happened and my stare alone told him I had spoken with the gods. He did not press me, but Draco didn't seem too happy with me. The sun was starting to set and so I went to a lake we had passed many times in our travels to wash up. Sheikh Sulieman was just sitting down, his spear casually lying over his large lap.

"What had Zeus told you?" he asked. My upper half was bare as I ran cool water over my skin then applied some scented oils to my flesh. I looked down at the clear water, the darkness at the bottom bewitching me some.

"He did not appear first… Ares did." I said slowly now feeling my hand gently press to my pelvis. I can still feel his fingers inside me. Gods and goddesses were known to come to earth and lie with humans. Some tricked them and others merely presented themselves and the humans saw no reason to deny them. But for those loyal to their spouses or those who just do not wish to be taken by the gods, are seen as prizes. Those above love a chase and if I can still feel Ares inside me, I know he will come the second Zeus gives him permission to have access to me.

"And what did Ares say?" he asked lowly, blue eyes shinning in the darkness that spread over the trees. I ran my hands over my breasts and finished cleaning myself off before moving to sit down by my protector.

"He just came to remind me that I am still just as weak as any other human." I replied lowly leaning to rest my head on his shoulder. I could have told him exactly what had happened, the information Ares told me. It would have meant little to the elder Djinn what the gods decided to do to the human priestesses. But I did not wish to burden this beautiful night with talk of the gods for that is all I will be doing once we arrive at Argos.

We returned to the camp where one fire was lit. Solon was telling stories to the soldiers who remained sitting on logs on one side of the fire. Sheikh Sulieman began to move to the other side and a few soldiers moved from him so he could sit down beside an empty log. Once he was seated, he raised his hand and I smiled taking it and sitting down on the log beside him. None of the soldiers wanted to be close to the Djinn. Draco was sitting beside Solon, watching me his is usual sunken glance. The fire was nice and warm. One of the soldiers approached me with a small silver plate of food. I smiled and whispered a gentle thank you before taking the plate. With my thumb and pointer finger I merely tore the food into small pieces and ate it. The soldier offered Sheikh Sulieman a plate and the Djinn snatched it and began to eat.

I noticed one of the younger and inexperienced soldiers, Eusebios, glancing at me. He looked curious and he kept opening his mouth as if wanting to say something, maybe ask something. Sheikh Sulieman noticed him and grunted in his direction. Now eyes were moving toward the young soldier and he scrunched his soldiers as if trying to disappear from everyone's gaze. I lifted my head some smiling at him.

"I can see from the innocent look in your eyes… you wish to ask me something?" I asked, and now the chattering had quieted down and everyone was looking at the young warrior who looked around before clearing his throat and raising his head as he looked at me.

"Is it true you were actually created by Zeus himself?" he asked. I swallowed the food in my mouth and looked around at the soldiers each of their eyes asking the same question. But not Draco. No he hated the gods, and prayed to none of them. I looked back at Eusebios and nodded slowly.

"Yes." I merely replied.

"And how do you know Zeus made you?" another older soldier, Belo asked with disbelief evident in his tone. I looked at him.

"Have I been wrong in the past year about anything when I arrived in Argos?" I asked and now some of the men shook their heads looking down some and I smiled to show I was not offended.

"I have no memory of parents or of being raised. This body is what I remember. My very first memory was of Zeus. He placed me in Sheikh Sulieman's very hands after breathing life into me. He made me for you." I said smiling from the Djinn and then looking back at Belo. "Even if you do not believe in them or even want to pray to them, they still look after you, they still hear you."

"Then why do all horrible things that happen: war, plagues, famine happen to us. Why don't the gods use their abilities to help us in need!" Solon blurted obviously drunk. I looked at him now with a curious gaze.

"Do you need the gods to hold your hands through everything you endure?" I asked. His face turned red from embarrassment as he looked down.

"Forgive me priestess." he said. I raised my hand and shook my head.

"It is alright. The gods need you as you need them, but they cannot save you from everything that takes place in life. Humans evolve and with them, their surroundings. Good things happen as well as bad. The gods must let you be humans and you adapt." I said. Eusebios looked mystified by my words. Another young warrior, Ixas, who was sitting beside Eusebios blinked confusedly.

"So do you have abilities?" he blurted. I smiled at him and nodded.

"Sometimes. Zeus can use me as a vessel if he wished and sometimes he will grant me the abilities to have some… magical powers if somehow, he needs to make an example out of someone. One is that I can look into your soul, through your eyes, and find out things I wish to know about someone." Some of the soldiers began to mummer now in awe. Draco's eyes flickered some as he heard this and looked away.

"Can you see into my soul?" Belo teased now.

"That's enough." Draco commanded killing the noise around us. "We will take shifts." I didn't sleep much, but usually I don't sleep as much when Zeus' marks are close to showing on my body. It would hurt, it always did. My eyes slowly opened the sleep, falling from my face and I slowly sat up. The sky was a beautiful light blue. The sun would be up soon. I turned onto my hands, preparing to stand.

"Now is not the time to wander off priestess." I hear Draco say in a tired tone. I looked around and saw him sitting against a tree, eyes closed, but I could tell he was just listening. I continued to stand up and he opened his eyes and stared at me. I stepped around Sheikh Sulieman's sleeping form and moved to sit beside him. He looked at me with tired eyes before leaning back against the tree and closing his eyes. "We have a few more hours until we must move on. You should get more sleep." I chuckled dryly.

"Sleep. I don't do a lot of sleeping really. Never have unless I force myself to relieve a lot energy." I replied. He peaked open one eye and looked at me and I looked at him now. I did not want to know what he was thinking. "Don't worry, I won't try and take you while your men sleep."

He let out a humorous hum.

"It'd be quite a sight to watch you try." he said. I grinned and just crossed my legs.

"The markings on my body will be coming soon. I can feel it in my soul, if that is what I have." I replied. He nodded once and I looked up at the sky. He was never much of a talker and that I didn't mind.

"Were you telling the truth when you said you could see into someone's soul?" he asked. I glanced at him and nodded.

"Yes. Zeus always wanted me to know if the people around me had good intentions or not. I can look into their soul and read them, and only then can I make a decision about them." I said. He nodded and glanced at me.

"Don't try and read my soul." he told. I nodded.

"I will not read your soul unless you ask me to." I replied. He nodded and we remained shoulder to shoulder. He should consider himself lucky he has a soul. I then glanced up at him now thinking some. "Draco?" He hummed in response.

"In Argos, do you have a wife?" I asked. His body didn't stiffen or tense.

"I do." he said. I didn't know how I should feel about his answer. I didn't feel hurt for lying with him back in the desert, but it makes me wonder why he would lie with me then or even the first time. I nodded some looking down at my legs some.

"Humans are very curious beings." I had finally responded before getting up now. His hand catches mine, holding it firmly.

"Ai." he started and I looked down at him and he looked at me with different eyes. Vulnerability.

"Did you cast some spell on me to make me want you?" he asked. I tilted my head and thought of his words.

"No, captain. I did nothing to make you betray the loyalty of your wife." I said and he looked down some, his grip on my hand loosening and slowly my hands slid from his hold.