Page 33 of Flamesworn

“Things have changed. I know you are disappointed, but think of it this way–without worrying about you and Theron, your father will command with a clearer head.” His voice went quiet, a little recriminatory. “Remember what happened with the cultists a few years ago? Things fell apart when he learned you were there.”

That got her hackles up, because that wasn’t true, was it? Yes, he’d been worried and rushed to find her when she’d been facing off against a cultist in Atreus Akti’s tomb, but that had beenafterthey’d routed the death cult, not before. And she’d been younger, not yet fully trained when she’d gone off with Aleks. “I wasn’t an officer yet. I am now. And when I am marching with my fellow soldiers, I am not Evander’s daughter and he is not my father, I am a soldier of Arktos and he is my Strategos.”

“Yes, and it shows how well-trained you were that you’d say that. But Kataida, saying that and believing it, that’s two different things. To your father, you and Theron are his children first, Arkoudai second.”

Kataida stared at him, once again at a loss for words–until a white-hot burst of fury pulled them from her, harsh and accustory. “Colonel Keri, are you implying the Arkoudai Strategos is incapable of commanding his soldiers to the best oftheir proven ability? If you are, maybe you should make your way north with the rest of thetraitors.”

Menelaus straightened, voice sharp with dominance as he barked, “Captain Akti, I expect you to speak to your commanding officer with respect, even when handed orders you don’t like. If you think you know better than the Strategos of Arktos, maybe it isyouwho belong with the traitors.”

The air around them turned hot and oppressive, as if suddenly it was the height of a summer afternoon right there in Kataida’s small foyer. But having her words thrown back at her did make her realize what she’d said, so she saluted and said stiffly, “My apologies for speaking out of line, Colonel Keri.”

His expression softened, and he nodded, looking once again like the familiar man she knew. “At ease, captain. I know. Your eagerness to defend your country is admirable, but you must do as you’ve been instructed, as I know you will.”

He did smile then, a tired, fleeting thing that came and went very quickly. “That doesn’t mean you have to take it well. I knew you wouldn’t. That’s why I asked to be the one to tell you.” His gaze flickered again to the shadows, and she thought it odd that he wasn’t mentioning Ares. Surely Menelaus could see them there?

But if he could, Menelaus left without acknowledging them, and Kataida was in no mood to speak with him further. She closed the door and whirled around, breathing too hard, fixing Ares with a sharp stare. “I’m going to speak with my father. This isn’t right.”

Ares tilted their head. They were still, and calmer than she’d ever seen them, no longer flickering between forms, but they were stillWar. “Would you have me stay here and wait for you?”

She didn’tthinkAres would flicker and fade away again, but she wasn’t willing to let the god of war loose in Axon while she had an uncomfortable family meeting about why she couldn’tride to battle alongside her Strategos. “You can come with me, just behave.” She wondered if that was the wrong answer, if Aleks would forbid Ares entering his home. Aleks might be a submissive but hospitality rules in Arktos were serious, and Aleks had every right to refuse entry to his home to anyone.

Axon was bustling as they made the short walk to her father’s house, soldiers hurrying to training or dashing by with supplies for their packs. She felt the anger stir again at how deeply unfair it was that instead of taking her place alongside them, she was going to argue with her father about her right to even be there in the first place.

The Akti home was strangely quiet when Kataida and Ares arrived, and Kataida felt silly for having run to her father’s house when perhaps he wasn’t even there, but before she could suggest they leave, Elena came into the room. Her hair was braided into a crown on her head, and she was dressed in loose-fitting clothing that draped over the swell of her stomach. Despite her advanced pregnancy, she looked well able to pick up a bow and defend herself and her home at a moment’s notice.

“Oh, Kataida.” Her stoic expression crumpled a bit then, softening as she touched her stomach gently. “How are you?”

“Angry,” she said, and was glad Elena knew her well enough now not to try and hug her. “Is my father here?”

“He’s with Aleks.” Her mouth tightened. “He’s not having an easy time with any of this.” Her gaze flickered behind Kataida, and she gave a slight nod of her head. “Gracious One.” There was a chill in her voice. “I can’t say I’m inclined to offer you the welcome I give my hearth-daughter.”

“I’ll wait outside,” Ares said, from where they stood behind her.

“It isn’t their fault,” Kataida said, surprising herself, “any more than it’s Aleks’ fault that Markos died.”

Elena’s pale blue eyes went cold. “I don’t know that you want to have this conversation with me, Kataida. I’ll remind you that I shot down the first man who tried to kill Markos, and I would have done it again.”

Kataida stood at attention and saluted. “Yes, ma’am, you would have. But you’re Lukoi. You must know the existence of gods isn’t what makes humans hurt each other. If you do believe that, and you sleep with a man who will be the god of death one day, the god of death whose doomed love sent your people forth in the first place–”

“I’m not interested in a history lesson,” Elena snapped, then put her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I–mean no disrespect, Gracious One.”

“I know,” Ares said. “You’re not the first battle maiden I’ve met who takes issue with me.”

To Kataida’s surprise, Elena lifted her face from her hands and smiled weakly. “Battle-maiden, is it? Hardly a maiden.” She patted her belly. “I’m a hunter, not a warrior, that’s what I’ve been hearing. But I think it’s appropriate, hmm?” Her accent was thicker, harsher, and Kataida found her suddenly so very beautiful, standing there with one hand on her belly and a fire of rage in her pale blue eyes. “Those who did this are animals. You don’t send soldiers after beasts, you send ahunter,and there are few better hunters than a wolf.”

Kataida was so fiercely proud of her, this woman who had come here with two coins, a half-remembered face of a boy she’d met in the realm beyond, her best friend who was secretly in love with her and a spine of iron and spite and pure, indomitable will. “I told Colonel Keri you had no need of a protector.”

“No one hurts my family.” Her chin went up. “If I wasn’t pregnant, I would be at your father’s side. I would find the man who ended Markos’ life, and I would have them beneath my boot and look into their eyes when I shot an arrow into their neck.”

“You are as fierce as the woman who began your line,” Ares said, approval clear in their voice, “and you chose a far better man than she did.”

“Ares.”

“What? It’s true. The man your matriarch chose was a sniveling, weak thing who pissed his fancy armor at the thought of seeing combat. And here you both are, trembling with the desire to shed blood in vengeance.” Their voice was full of–probably misplaced–pride.

“Yeah, great, we definitely need more bloodshed.”

Kataida had never seen Aleks like this, hair neatly tied back and his expression grim and unhappy. His usually warm, honey-brown eyes were dull and there were circles underneath, his beard was only recently trimmed and his clothes, while neat, were haphazard and without the usual two or three buttons undone to show off his chest, or the tight trousers he liked to wear.

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