Hard Task Master

It took Ares nearly a week of hard, manual labor before he realized that he was going to need more hands to build his estate. He considered ordering one of his military units to come do his bidding but he figured that Xena would frown on having a bunch of blood-thirsty, horny soldiers camping next to her property. So, the god had headed into Neo Amphipolis to see if there were any able-bodied boys looking for work. Within half of an hour, he had found two young men, Kamelocles and Brax. Ares had given each of them a single dinar in good faith and had asked them to meet him at the farm bright and early the next morning. Ares wasn't surprised to find that only one of the youngsters had shown up when he materialized on Xena's front porch ready to start the day's work.

"Kamelocles, isn't it?" Ares asked as swaggared toward the curly-haired youth, sizing him up.

"Yes, uh, yes, Sir," the teenager half-choked out. Ares materializing out of thin air, had scared the crap out of him. "Um, everyone calls me Kam."

"Kam, well, I am pleased that you came. We've got a lot of hard work ahead of us."

"You really are the God of War?" the boy brushed a single black curl of his full moppy head, away from his eyes.

"Yes, and apparently your friend doubted me."

"Brax isn't my friend. We've worked a few jobs together, that's all," Kam answered as he followed Ares' lead toward the foundation of the house that Ares had been working on. Kam was a half-foot shorter than the god and had to quicken his pace to keep up.

"Mercenaries?"

"He's done that kind of work, I mostly just do odd jobs, like this. I was never much of a warrior. And yes, you're right, he didn't believe you were the God of War. He said you were too pretty to be the God of War."

"Ha!," Ares laughed and then turned and looked at the boy. "But you did believe me. And yet, you didn't shy away from my invitation. Why's that? You've just said that you aren't a warrior."

"With respect, Sir, I need the money."

"How old are you, boy?"

"Fifteen."

"If you need money, then why not join a pirate crew? Even if you're not gifted with a sword or a spear, there is money to be made at sea."

"Well, Sir. I have to look after my sister. I need to earn her a dowry, then I can worry about my own future."

"Shouldn't your father be concerned with your sister's dowry? And quit with the whole Sir thing. Just call me Ares."

"Sorry Si- I mean, Ares. My folks are dead. My sister and I went into the orphanage when I was nine. They turned me out when I was old enough to earn a dinar. I've been trying to put back some coin to find her a match so that she doesn't have to work the brothels when she's of age."

"I see. And, you've always lived in Neo Amphipolis?"

"No Sir, We lived in Old Amphipolis until they murdered Cyrene the Witch."

"Cyrene, a witch? The tavern owner?" Ares chuckled, the boy had to have his stories crossed.

"Yes, sir. She took us in when our parents died of plague. No one else would come near us, cause of the sick. They feared it. But Cyrene, she nursed us, fed us, and bathed us. We lived with her a piece but then when talk started that she was a witch, she sent us off to Neo Amphipolis, said we'd be safer there. People even talked that the reason she wasn't afraid of us was because she could control the pox. Linna, that's my sister, Linna and I heard what they did to her. All we had after that was the little money that Cyrene had left with me. But it ain't enough for a dowry. I don't have any land or cattle so my sister's dowry will have to be a heavy cash price."

"Well, as I told you. I can pay you a dinar a day. And since it'll just be you and me for the time being, you ought to be able to earn some solid coin," Ares stopped and turned to the boy, "you said they killed Cyrene, who are they?"

"The villagers. Burned her is what we heard. I wish I could've saved her. She was good to us."

"You were just a kid then. If she sent you away, she knew which way the wind was blowing. Don't carry that. Just keep focusing on moving forward and making a better life for you and your sister." Ares didn't know why he had taken an instant liking to the kid, but he had. Maybe it was because he was soon to be a father himself that he commiserated with the boy's desire to provide for his sister. Ares started walking again and Kam followed suit. As they made their way to the construction site, Kam's words about Cyrene rolled around in Ares' head. Why hadn't Xena mentioned that her mother had died brutally? A witch? Cyrene? Not likely. She was too straightforward for that. Just like her daughter. With either of them you were more likely to get an axe to the face than have a hex put on you. When they reached the corner of the site, Ares picked up a shovel and handed it to Kam. "Okay kid, time to earn that money."

Kam took the tool and looked up at the god. "Are you gonna kill him, Brax? For taking your money."

Ares looked at Kam. "It'd serve him right, but no, I'm not going to kill him. I just hope I have the pleasure of meeting him on the battlefield someday!" Ares grinned sinisterly.

"I thought I heard voices," Gabrielle called as she came over the rise carrying a basket with ripened berries. "Who's your friend, Ares?"

"This is Kam, Kam, this is Gabrielle. Kam is going to help me build the place. He has an interesting story. Maybe he'll tell you later but for now we need to get started working."

"Have you both eaten?" Gabrielle asked.

Ares hadn't even considered that the boy would need to eat. Human frailties were an absolute inconvenience sometimes.

"Yes, ma'am, I ate some figs on the walk over." Ares noticed that the boy blushed when he talked to the bard, clearly finding her beautiful. Ares would never understand how people were instantly taken by Gabrielle! He supposed objectively she was kind of cute but he would never classify her as classic beauty. She did radiate an aura of happiness and he guessed mortals found that kind of thing comforting.

"How about something with a bit more protein. I'm sure Ares can wait for you to have a plate of eggs, Can't you Ares? After all, you are going to be working him all day, aren't you?"

"What's another ten minutes?" Ares grumbled looking at all the digging that still needed doing. The farmhouse door banged against its frame as Xena ambled out of the house and onto the porch with bed-tousled hair. Ares's mood instantly cheered. "Go ahead and eat kid. We'll get started in a bit." Ares headed toward Xena, taking the path he'd just walked with Kam but this time he was making two steps for every one he'd made before. "Morning, sugar," Ares winked when he reached the porch.

Xena rolled her eyes at the endearment. She cinched her robe a little tighter and leaned against the post. The sun was still climbing above the treetops on the eastern horizon, she was surprised to see him here so early. Because her morning sickness had gotten worse in the last few days, she generally spent the mornings on the porch or in the stables. If she stayed in the house, the smells of breakfast cooking caused her stomach to roil and churn. This was the earliest she'd seen him show up to work on his place. He usually popped in the afternoon, put in a couple of Ares and then poof, he was gone again. Xena had avoided Ares, for the most part. She feared if she visited him, they'd just have words again. But maybe that was the problem. The longer they avoided talking the heavier the air between them got. They still hadn't really talked about Mavican and there was also the doubt that lingered in her mind because of what the bandit in the woods had said to her.

Ares studied her. Even under what he could tell were heavy thoughts swirling in that keen mind of hers, she was still a vision of beauty. Her messy, glorious hair added a wildness to her otherwise gracefully composed form. Ares figured that she'd cinched the robe tighter around her because the first signs of her pregnancy were starting to reveal themselves. Her breasts were fuller and rounder, but he still couldn't detect a swell in her belly. Her hips were a tad broader. Her cheeks were fleshier and her skin undoubtedly aglow. She was eating well, he could tell. Taking care of herself, of their baby. She loved his child! Even if she feared the child's nature would be dark like theirs, she was determined to give their creation the benefit of the doubt. He knew she harbored those fears. He wished he could allay them. But what could he tell her? He couldn't deny that some of his children had turned out to be literal monstrous beasts. She'd seen firsthand what had been delivered of him and Hope. But this child had been created in love, and Ares wanted to believe that there had to be something to that. He hoped for Xena's sake that the child was a normal, healthy, demi-god. Looking at her now, Ares ached to wrap his arms around her, to run his hands down her body to her belly, to feel her, to feel his baby.

"Quit looking at me like that," Xena ordered.

"Can't help it, you're so beautiful. I miss you."

"I see you everyday." Xena retorted.

"You know what I mean." he said in defeat. She was going to spit everything back at him, no matter what he said.

"Mulberries," Gabrielle raised her basket as she neared the porch. "I'm going to make Kam here a couple of eggs so he will have some fuel to get through the day."

"Ma'am about that, I can't pay you."

"Don't even think about it," Gabrielle answered, "our chickens are heavy producers and we always have more eggs than we can eat. Usually end up given half a dozen away to the neighbor lady each week."

"Well, if you're sure," Kam looked again at Ares for permission. No one had been this nice to him since Cyrene had died.

"Chow down," Ares said and gestured toward the front door.

"Thank you, Sir. I'm sorry, Ares. It's just that my last Master. he insisted on me calling him, Sir. But, I'll try to remember. Just Ares." Kam corrected himself before following Gabrielle into the house.

When Kam and Gabrielle were out of earshot, Xena stepped off the porch and moved closer to Ares. "My last Master insisted on a lot of things too. He was a real hard task master," Xena whispered, placing the emphasis on the word hard.

"Your Master had to be since you so often forget who is in charge."

Xena stood beside him now and they both turned their backs to the house watching the rising sun. "It's gonna be hot today," Xena changed the subject.

So it was going to be the weather? Ares wondered how she'd pivot. She was fire and ice and had a mood that could shift quicker than lightning. "I'll try not to work the kid too hard."

"I figured you'd hire more hands."

"Not too many were looking for work and I thought you'd frown on me bringing part of the army here."

"Greba would've enjoyed that. I'm sure."

"I'm sure," Ares agreed and was happy that they had managed to have a civil conversation for more than two minutes.

Xena's voice dropped as she angled around to look at him. "Do you want back in?"

Ares looked into those blue pleading eyes. So it was going to be fire again. "What are you saying?"

"The contract? Do you want to resume our little game?"

Ares was torn. He'd seen the need in her eyes. And he wanted nothing more than to answer her need. But he'd hoped that she'd ask him to be with her here in the real world. Wasn't that why he was going to all this trouble so that they could build an honest, open life together? His answer was laced with more hurt and anger than he intended. "Are you insane? You're pregnant."

"Pregnant women fuck too, Ares." Xena snapped.

"Not of your advanced years," Ares turned to look at her.

She smacked him, hard. "You are not one to be talking about advanced years."

"I'm immortal, my advanced years don't count. And that fucking stung you little minx." Her hand print pinkened his cheek above the beard line.

"Just forget it." She spat.

"No, I can't forget it And you know it.." Ares rubbed his cheek. Her slap had hurt, but it felt delicious to have her touching him again. He moved in behind her and pulled her body flush against his own. He pressed himself against her ass. "See what you've done, Xena. You want your little game back?"

"Yes," she breathed letting herself enjoy the feel of his swelling hardness.

"Very well, tonight. When the moon is high in the night sky, I will come for you. Be ready for me. You know the rules."

"Yes, Sir," she answered. "Fed, cleaned, and no cunt covers."

Ares switched into full Dom mode. "That's a good, good, girl. I'll make sure to reward you for eagerness."

"If I may, with the castle gone, where will you be taking me, my Lord?"

"Anywhere I want."

"Yes, Ares," Xena breathed and turned her lips toward him but they were interrupted by Kam opening the front door. Xena pushed abruptly away from Ares. Ares grinned at her, took a deep breath trying to get a hold on his arousal, and turned to the boy. "Shall we get to work, then?"

"Yes, Sir," the boy called to Ares.

"Good day, Xena," Ares called. "Blondie," he nodded to the bard as she came out onto the porch followed by the girl they'd picked up in the tavern. "Altia, good day to you too."

Xena shook her head. He'd forgotten Aleta's name already. Gods he really held mortals in complete contempt. She wondered briefly if that's why he'd called Gabrielle "Blondie" for so long, he couldn't be bothered to remember her name. For Zeus' sake, what was she getting herself into again?