Chapter 10
"Ares!" Jessa shrieked, "Oh, gods, oh, gods, oh, gods!"
Her eyes were squeezed shut – her face contorted – her hair soaked with sweat. She went limp, falling back, gasping desperately for air.
Ares chuckled.
"There are some advantages to god-hood that never occur to most mortals – like long years – very, very, very long years – of experience. Not to mention stamina." He began indulging himself in luxurious, soft, slow kisses up and down her long neck.
"You may be a god, Ares," Jessa said, still gasping, "But you still think like a man."
"What do you mean?"
"Like forgetting that most women don’t like to be reminded of all those other women a man has had before her." Jessa twisted her mouth into a wry smile, "Especially those with very, very, very long years of experience!"
Ares smirked at her.
"Come on, Jessa, surely you didn’t think I was a virgin?"
Jessa laughed at the ridiculous notion.
"Well, that would explain all that repressed rage you carry around inside you!"
"If you think that’s bad," Ares said, grinning, "Imagine what it would be like if I really were a virgin!"
"Gods!" Jessa cried, laughing hard, "The implications are truly frightening!"
They laughed together a few moments. Then it became quiet – very quiet. Ares moved into a position on the sleeping furs, lying beside her, so that he could lean over her and see her face.
"Jessa," he asked quietly, "Do I frighten you?"
She remained quite a few moments, looking into his dark eyes.
"Sometimes," she whispered.
Ares brushed a few stray wisps of coppery hair back from her temples.
"Jessa, you have to know that I could never hurt you."
"Couldn’t you?" she said – questioning, but not accusing, "What about back at the river – when you held the knife to my throat?"
"Jessa, I was just angry!"
"Yes, Ares – that’s the point," she said earnestly – but, again, not accusingly. "When you get angry, sometimes it’s like the floodgates to Tartarus are opened and all that rage inside you overcomes your senses and reason. That’s when you frighten me, because that’s when the animal in you comes out – and when that animal comes out – it’s out for blood. Like at the river."
"But, Jessa, never you!"
She said nothing – she just returned his gaze.
Ares rolled onto his back, one arm across his forehead, and stared at the ceiling of the tent.
Now it was Jessa who moved into position so that she could see his face.
"I’m sorry, Ares – I spoiled the mood, I didn’t mean to."
She saw nothing in his eyes but her own reflection.
Jessa rolled over onto her side – her back to him – but he rolled over too and slid his arm around her waist.
"Jessa, I’m not the kind of man that can talk easily about… certain things. But I want you to know something."
Jessa could feel the tension in his body as he struggled to get past all those walls and barriers and guards that he had built up within himself over the years – all those very, very, very long years.
"Jessa, when we were together that first time, I did feel something when I looked into your eyes. I can’t explain just what it was – I can’t because I’ve never experienced anything like it before. All I know Jessa is that when I see you, think of you, or even just hear someone mention your name – I… feel that something. And Zeus as my witness Jessa, I know I could never hurt you!"
Jessa was sobbing in his arms – knowing him well enough to know what it must have cost him to wrench those few sentences out of his hardened soul – but also knowing him well enough to know that he was fooling only himself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Ares!" Jessa shrieked, "Oh, gods, oh, gods, oh, gods!"
Her face white, she threw herself to her knees beside him where he lay. Jessa’s sword was thrust right through his chest, nearly to the hilt.
"Oh, gods Ares! I’m sorry – I’m sorry!" She threw herself across his prone body weeping.
Ares sat up.
"Jessa," he said calmly, "Stop making such a fuss! You’re embarrassing me!"
He took the hilt of the sword in both hands and pulled until he had removed it. The gaping wound sealed shut. He held the sword out to Jessa. Numbly, she took it.
Ares climbed to his feet and then helped Jessa up. She seemed to be moving in slow motion. Her face was set in a mask of shock.
Ares grinned broadly at her – proud as a griffin when her fledglings blooded their first kill.
"Excellent!" he exclaimed enthusiastically, "That’s the first time you’ve ever gotten that far past my guard! I’m very pleased! Very few mortals could do that!"
Ares put his hand under Jessa’s chin and snapped her jaw shut.
"Jessa, you’re making a scene," he said, reminding her of the presence of the men in the camp.
The men in Jessa’s small, but rapidly growing army, had gotten used to seeing her battle the god of war in practice sessions. If you can call it ‘seeing’ – since Jessa was the only one they could actually see. And if you could call it ‘used to’ – after all, how many people in the world could actually say they’ve been as close to a god as they were on a nearly daily basis? The warriors in Jessa’s army held a special pride in their hearts about the fact that their supreme commander was on a first-name basis with the god of war himself. There was no doubt in any of the troops that the god of war was close at hand and giving them his close attention and support.
And Ares knew this, of course – he could have held their practice sessions at the palace. This was very much a departure from his usual methods of operation – he usually preferred to work more discreetly – in the background. But he had decided to try this new approach, it gave the soldiers a big boost in moral – and it allowed him to keep a close eye on Jessa. He was determined not to lose her, as he had Xena.
Jessa was still staring at him, dazed.
Ares shook his head, and sighed.
"Jessa, I’m a god, remember? You knew you couldn’t really hurt me – so what’s the problem?"
Jessa blinked – as she struggled to get past the shock.
"I… I… know you’re a god, but… that’s the first time I ever saw you actually do anything like that! Gods, Ares! I thought I had killed you!"
"You’ve seen Strife do it."
"Yes, but I didn’t care if he got hurt!"
"I’m touched," Ares said melodramatically, really hamming it up, holding one hand over the heart through which Jessa’s sword had been but moments ago.
Jessa smiled, a bit chagrined.
"Didn’t it hurt at all?"
"Well, I didn’t say it didn’t hurt."
"I’m sorry." She moved to embrace him.
Ares stepped back, avoiding her.
"Please," he chided her, "Not in front of the children."
Jessa grinned, looking about at the gathering of her soldiers. Their fascination with the novel site of watching her battle an invisible god always tended to attract a crowd.
"Oh, as if they don’t know what happens behind those canvas walls at night – or any other possible moment – time permitting," she teased.
"Hey, I’m not the one wailing like a harpy with her tail caught in the drawbridge!" he teased back.
"Well, can I help it if I don’t have a ‘stealth’ mode like you gods do!" she said archly, hands on hips. "Besides, if you don’t like to advertise your every conquest of me – we could just limit ourselves to the palace!"
Despite his earlier protestation, he swept her up into his arms.
"Oh, but I like to ‘advertise’! Let all those horny mercenaries know just who it is that you belong to!"
"Ha!" Jessa exclaimed self-righteously, "See! Just as I said – god you may be – but you still think like a man!"
Ares pulled her close and stared intensely into her eyes.
"When I’m with you Jessa, I can think no other way." His voice held no trace of humor – only passion.
"I wouldn’t have it any other way," Jessa breathed back.
Suddenly, they were kissing – their kisses elevating from soft to urgently passionate quickly. By the time he released her, Jessa’s legs were trembling.
"Everyone is watching," Jessa reminded Ares in a shaking voice.
"Let them watch," he said.
He swept her off her feet and carried her into their tent.
The eyes of every soldier followed. Many grinned knowingly at one another.
One warrior, who had been with Jessa since that first puny step in her climb as a warlord, now her recruitment officer, shook his head in wonder as he watched his commanding officer float through the air.
"No matter how many times I see that happen, I never get tired of it."
He looked at the new recruit that he had just signed up, and grinned.
"And believe me soldier, that’s been a lot of times!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"No, Ares! No! I won’t do it!"
"Damn it, Jessa, it has to be done!"
"No! It’s a defenseless little village…"
"…that’s been hiding a band of men that had attacked your men!" Ares interrupted. "Those men were intent on stopping your army before it even gets started! You have to make an example of them!"
"There are innocent women and children in that village!"
"War isn’t pretty, Jessa – you know that! You’ve spent your entire life knowing that!"
"There was nothing I could do about that as a soldier, but I’m a commander now – and I won’t stand for it! None of the women or children are to be harmed – in any way!"
"So what do want to do?" Ares said mockingly, "Go on every mission personally and baby-sit your men!"
Jessa grabbed a goblet and threw it furiously at a table – smashing the goblet and staining the maps on it with wine.
"Damn-it-all-to-Tartarus, Ares! I won’t stand for it!"
She turned her back to him – one hand on her hip, the other buried in her hair.
Ares’ expression broiled and he held one fist before him, clenched and shaking with his repressed anger. With great effort, he reined in his emotions and pulled himself into some semblance of control.
Then he quietly approached her from behind and slid his arms around her waist.
"Alright, Jessa, what if we were to forbid the killing of the women and children?"
Jessa twisted out of Ares’ arms, still angry.
"Do you really believe the men would follow such an order? ‘While the mice are away…’"
"We can instate a punishment – perhaps a lashing. That should be enough to dissuade them."
"No!" Jessa exclaimed, "That’s not enough – the punishment will be death!"
"Jessa! You can’t be serious! Such a thing is unheard of!"
"I don’t care! The punishment will be death!"
"Jessa, the men will revolt! None of them would kill one of their own for something they themselves have most likely done many times already!"
"Then I will do it myself!"
"Jessa!"
"I mean it Ares! I won’t back down on this! I won’t!"
Ares glared at her from under lowered brows – his gaze intense.
Jessa glared back at him, her face inviolately stubborn.
"Alright!" he agreed reluctantly, "But you have to give them a little leeway about the women!"
"No!"
"Damn it, Jessa! These are warriors we are talking about here – not monks! I’ll back you up about the killing, but as for the women, you have to be reasonable!"
With anger on her face, Jessa opened her mouth to speak.
"No, Jessa!" Ares shouted before she could say a word, "There is absolutely no way that you can expect this of your troops! It’s ludicrous!"
Jessa glared at him, green eyes flashing, teeth clenched.
Ares glared back, eyes hard and unyielding.
Then Jessa closed her eyes and turned her head away. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Jessa," Ares said in a conciliatory voice as he began sliding his arms around her again.
She shoved him away.
Ares eyes took on a hard, smoldering hue.
"Maybe I was mistaken about you," he said, coldly, "Maybe you don’t have what it takes to be my Warrior Queen."
Jessa rounded on him with anger on her face, but tears in her eyes.
"Maybe I don’t!"
She shouldered past him roughly and pushed her way through the tent’s opening.
The tight control that Ares had been straining to keep over his anger disintegrated. His fist smashed down, shattering a table. With utter fury on his face, he rushed out of the tent.
Jessa was on her way out of the encampment, riding a galloping Mystic. Soldiers scattered from her path in panic. Ares snarled and disappeared… only to reappear directly in Jessa’s path.
"Jessa, stop!" he demanded, shouting.
Jessa did nothing to alter her course. Mystic laid back his ears and bared his teeth as he smashed into the god, at full gallop.
Ares flew violently back in a long arc that ended with him crashing into a group of blissfully unaware soldiers. They flew in all directions.
Ares lay on the ground for a long moment before climbing stiffly to his feet. When he looked off into the direction that Jessa had fled, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Jessa, come back!" he roared in absolute rage, though he knew she could not hear him.
As furious as his face had been before, it was even more wrathful now. He just stood there, one hand clutching his ribs, swaying slightly on his feet. If the soldiers could have seen his eyes, they would have paled and fallen back.
But then, something in them changed – deeply within, something flickered, something that was extremely rare in the god of war.
"Jessa, come back," he whispered.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Jessa, come back," he whispered, "Come back to camp now."
She was sitting on a large boulder, arms wrapped around her bent legs. Her cheek rested on one knee and her eyes were fixed on the spectacular sunset, unseeing.
Ares knelt down in front of her. Reaching out a hand, he stroked the hair that the sunset had set afire in glowing, vibrant hues of red.
"Jessa," he repeated.
She drew in a long, shuddering breath.
"I can’t do this Ares."
"No, Jessa, you’re just upset. I’ve been a bit overly eager about getting this army on its feet and I’ve been driving you too hard. You’re tired – all you need a good night’s sleep."
"No, Ares – it’s no use – I can’t be what you want – I’m just not warlord material."
"How can you say that, Jessa! You grew up in war camps, at your father’s side! You were leading units of men before you were twenty! Your father entrusted you to advise his lieutenants in his absence!"
"But that was before."
"Before what?"
Jessa was quiet a moment.
"Before Hercules and Iolaus."
There was a moment of dead silence.
"What do they have to do with this?" Ares was careful not to let any emotion show.
"When I was with them something changed inside me – something I never knew existed in me. And now, it seems that I can feel it withering away – a little more each day. I don’t want to lose it, Ares."
"You knew them for just a little over a week – how could anything truly important happen in so little time?"
"I knew you for less than a day when I fell in love with you."
Ares had no response to that.
He pulled her up until she also was kneeling. He held her face in his hands and kissed her, long and soft and slow.
"Jessa," he murmured, brushing his lips against hers, "You’re just having a small crisis of faith – of faith in yourself. It’ll pass. Like I said, I’ve been pushing you too hard – you need a break. Tell you what, I’ve a little place on a small island off the coast - it’s a beautiful island but it’s inaccessible by ship – making it perfect for us. We can go there for a few days – give you time to relax and regroup yourself. It’ll be just the two of us – with any talk of battles, or supply caravans, or anything else to do with war strictly forbidden."
He quirked his mouth up on one side in a crooked smile. "It’ll be nothing but the utmost, sumptuous, sinfully-wicked luxury imaginable and I’ll spoil you rotten.
"It’ll be totally disgusting, you’ll see!"
Jessa couldn’t help the reluctant smile that broke out onto her face.
"That’s more like it," Ares said.
They stood up and Ares embraced her and kissed her again.
"Ready?" he asked.
"But, what about the…"
"Don’t worry – I’ll call off the attack if that will make you happy – your men won’t go anywhere near that village. I promise. okay?"
Jessa smiled. "Thank you Ares."
"Now, I’m going to send you on ahead to the island and let you get settled in while I wrap up the loose ends here, okay?"
"Okay."
"Good," he kissed her once again and then stepped back.
Jessa flashed and was gone.
Ares stood staring at the place that Jessa had been a moment ago. His face was inscrutable.
"Strife!" he called out.
Strife flashed into existence in front of his uncle.
"Yeah, Unc? What’s up?"
"Jessa and I are going on a little vacation and I’m leaving you in charge."
Strife’s face lit up. Since Jessa had come along he had, to his great humiliation, been relegated to the status of errand-boy – he even had to take orders from Jessa – adding resentment to his growing list of grievances against her.
"Sure thing boss!" he exclaimed with excitement, "Leave it to me – I’ll have this so-called ‘army’ of hers whipped into shape in no time!"
He took a few steps and looked off to a vista only he could see.
"Yeah! I have some really great ideas I have been just itching to try out! Picture this!" he said as he drew a rectangle in the air with his hands – literally – it hung there, glowing, "A veritable sea of soldiers, all in identical uniforms – they march past me – I mean you – for review – kicking their feet up high, in perfect synchrony! As they pass, they turn their heads to me – I mean you – and salute!"
"Strife!"
"Ooo, ooo! And I have this great idea for a new weapon! A gigantic wagon that runs on these revolving tread-wheels run by horses on the – get this! – on the inside! They run on the wheels from the inside making them go around! Isn’t that awesome? Oh! And the wagon has a revolving turret on top with slits for shooting crossbows! And… and…"
"Strife!"
Strife blinked, snapped back to reality by Ares’ sharp voice.
"Huh? What?"
"Save it! Were only going to be gone a few days! There’s only two things I want you to do."
Strife deflated in disappointment.
"Number one – I want the encampment moved three-days march to the north. Got it?"
"Yeah," Strife said, sulking.
"Number two – you know that little village near here that was hiding that band of men?"
"Yeah," Strife said, still pouting.
"Destroy it – personally."
Strife looked up, his face bright with surprised delight.
"You mean it, Unc?"
"Yes. I want you to flatten it! I don’t want one shop or barn or hovel in that place left standing."
Strife squealed in joy.
"And the people?" he asked hopefully.
Ares eyes narrowed.
"When you’re through – I don’t want even the tiniest dog flea left alive in that village."
Strife leaped into the air clapping his hands and giggling maniacally.
"Finally! Something I can really sink my teeth into! Literally if I want! Hee! Hee! Hee! I’m gonna have such fun!"
"You’re an inspiration Strife," Ares said, smiling warmly at his dementedly, gleeful nephew, "Everybody should have such a good work attitude.
"Oh, and Strife – I understand there’s a convent there too."
Strife’s jaw dropped.
"Oh, Unc!" he said with fervent, adoration, "You’re too good to me!"
Ares smiled and waved the complement off.
"Well, I thought you deserved a little bonus."
Strife went off into another spate of giggling, jumping in the air and clicking his heels together.
"But, Strife…"
Ares fixed him with a firm stare, pointing a finger at him.
"The encampment is to be moved first! No one – and I do mean no one – in the camp is to know of the village’s fate – do you hear me? No one!"
"Sure, Unc – no problemo!
"Good. Now off you go!" Ares said, making shooing motions with his hands.
Strife took the time for one last gleeful giggle before he flashed off on his mission.
Ares crossed his arms and smiled melancholically.
"Ah! The simple pleasures of youth!"
Then he flashed, off on a mission of his own.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jessa sighed in utter, unabashed bliss. She lay facedown and naked on a thick layering of the softest and rarest of animal pelts. An equally naked Ares knelt beside her. The muscles of his well-defined torso and arms bunched and unbunched as he firmly massaged her back using exquisitely scented oils. Near her was a platter of the choicest of delicacies from all the reaches of the known world.
Jessa sighed again.
"Gods, Ares, perhaps you missed your true calling – they should have made you the god of massage."
She rolled over onto her back. Reaching up, she pulled him down onto herself and sumptuously devoured him with a long luscious kiss.
When she finally eased the hold she had around his neck to allow him to pull back – he did not. He continued the kiss, keeping it soft yet very intense. Jessa buried her hands in his thick, raven hair – eagerly returning his burning kisses as they lit a fire in her body. Her back arched and her body moved under his. She moaned as his kisses began moving down, below her neck.
"Oh, gods, Ares! Make that the god of all sensual delights!"
Ares’ chuckle was muffled by Jessa’s breast.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jessa sighed in utter, unabashed bliss. She lay intertwined with Ares in the grass and flowers. The heat of the sun warmed them, offsetting the slight chill in the air.
Ares brushed back the hair from her face and kissed her.
"It’s time," he said.
Jessa smiled coyly at him.
"What, so soon? My – gods really do have amazing recuperative powers!"
Ares grinned.
"No, Jessa, you insatiable harlot – I meant it’s time we went back."
"Oh, come on, it’s not that cold yet – If I can handle it, surely a big burly god-type person like you can!"
"No, Jessa," he said quietly, "I meant it’s time to go back to your army."
She looked down.
"I know," she said. She couldn’t hide the sadness in her voice.
"Come on, you knew it wouldn’t last forever."
"Oh, but if only it could!"
"I know, Jessa, but unfortunately the real world insists on marching on – we can’t ignore it – we have responsibilities."
Jessa sat up, legs bent, arms around her knees.
"I know." She picked a yellow daisy-like flower and began plucking its petals, one by one. "Ares – why are we doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"The army."
Ares sat up, brow furrowed.
"I don’t understand the question."
"I mean, one day I was just wandering the world without a purpose, and the next I was a warlord! Why?"
"Well… maybe you just found the purpose you had been looking for."
"No, that’s not it. I may have been looking for a purpose, but I know I wasn’t looking for what I found."
Ares was quiet for a moment.
"Are you saying you’re sorry you met me?"
Jessa quickly looked up, an earnest expression on her face.
"Oh, no, Ares! Oh, gods, no!" She put her arms around him and hugged him fiercely. "Never!"
"Then what are you asking?"
"Why are we doing what we’re doing? We‘re not allied with a particular country or kingdom, we don’t represent a certain political faction, we don’t have one, single grievance against anyone to justify what we are doing!
"We just one day started to build an army from nothing! Once the ball got rolling I just got so swept up in all the technical details of raising and maintaining that army that I lost sight of the fact that I never stopped to question the purpose of that army! Why are we raising an army? You don’t just start campaigning, mowing over village after village, for no good reason!"
She looked at him, bewildered.
"Do you?"
Ares returned her gaze with a guarded expression. It wasn’t long before he broke off that gaze, his eyes sliding away from hers.
"Of… course not," he said slowly.
"Then why are we doing this?"
"Well… it’s because… well, I guess you could say it’s for the greater good of the people." He hid the sly grin that crept onto his face. "Yes, of course, that’s the reason."
"I don’t understand," Jessa said puzzled, "What do you mean by ‘greater good’?"
"Well, think about it – the world is divided into many independent counties, kingdoms, fiefdoms, and who knows how many other different forms of governing bodies – there are even anarchists out there! And, different as they may all be, they are alike in one way – they look with greedy eyes on their neighbors. They want what is not rightfully theirs – and they will take it by force if necessary – " he looked intently at Jessa, "Just like that warlord that waged war against your father.
"Just think about it, Jessa – think what it would be like if there were no more independent sovereignties! Everybody would be brother to everybody else! There would be no reason to war against your neighbor because all that your neighbor has is yours already. Why, the need for war would no longer exist!"
"You’re talking about unifying the entire world?" Jessa cried in disbelief.
"Why not, Jessa! Why not! Isn’t that what each and every one of those independent sovereignties wants for themselves anyway? Isn’t that why they wage war in the first place? Even though they might never admit it, you can bet your bottom dinar that in their deepest, darkest heart of hearts, they all want to rule the world! Look at Caesar!"
Ares arched his eyebrows and shrugged.
"And I say – if someone has to rule the world, why not us?"
Jessa’s troubled eyes looked at the flower she was still plucking the petals from.
"But shouldn’t a united world be created by making peace with your neighbors – not war?"
Ares placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, if only it could be done so!" he crooned mournfully.
"But we’re dealing with real people here, Jessa, not monks! There is too much evil in the hearts of men for it to ever be done so!" He placed a hand over his heart. "I should know – as the god of war, I’m afraid I have to deal with it every day!" He sighed sadly.
"But such a war!" Jessa said overwhelmed by the magnitude of the idea.
"A war to end all wars, Jessa! Forever!"
Jessa glanced at him.
"You’d be out of a job."
"And gladly would I abdicate the position when the time comes!" he said humbly.
Then he grinned at her.
"Perhaps ‘god of all sensual delights’ will still be open."
Jessa laughed despite herself, but then she grew somber again.
"A war to end all wars," she murmured to herself.
She stood up.
"Come on," she said to Ares, throwing away the flower that she had stripped of all its beauty, "It’s getting cold."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Things are looking good, Jessa!" Ares said with satisfaction as they stood on a hill overlooking the field that they were using for training the warriors, "Some of those innovations you came up with for the cavalry show real promise!"
"They’re not really innovations – I learned them from my time in my father’s army."
"Well, they’re innovations to these men. Anything that our men know that the enemy does not gives us an edge.
"And speaking of an ‘edge’," he said, turning to Jessa, "It’s nearly time."
Jessa put her hand to her head and began rubbing her temple as if she had a headache.
"Oh, Ares!"
"I know, Jessa, but you know it’s necessary."
"I know," she said sighing.
They walked back to the camp in silence – Ares because he knew Jessa wasn’t in the mood for talk – and Jessa because she knew the only things she wanted to say were excuses to get out of doing what she must do.
When they arrived, the men involved were waiting for them. Those of the rest of the soldiers who were not involved in duties elsewhere were also assembled – as they were required to be by Jessa’s orders.
Wanting to get it over with, Jessa wasted no time.
"Alright, what are the charges?"
One of her lieutenants stepped forward.
"This one here," the lieutenant said, indication a soldier with his hands tied together, "Was caught leaving the camp with this." He handed a scroll to Jessa.
She unrolled it and spent a few moments looking it over.
"Impressive," she said, her face and voice even, "Quite detailed and quite accurate."
She handed it to Ares. The bound soldier watched in fascinated horror as the scroll was unrolled and read by the invisible god.
"Well, sir," she remarked calmly to the prisoner, "You have the dubious honor of being our first spy. Looks like we’ve finally hit the big time, fellas."
Laughter rippled through the assemblage of warriors.
Jessa looked at the spy. "You know the penalty – so what’ll it be?"
"Wait!" the panicking soldier said, "Don’t I get a trial? Where’s the judge? Where’s the jury?"
Jessa arched her eyebrows.
"You’re looking a her," she said, "Judge – jury – " she unsheathed her sword, "– and executioner."
"So," she repeated, "What’s your pleasure? This," she said waving her sword, "Or, this?" A fireball appeared and hovered before the man’s face.
Sweating profusely, body shaking, the man began backing up, his gaze fixed in horror on the blazing ball. It followed him, unrelenting.
"No! No! Please! Not that! Oh, gods, not that!"
"So, it’s the sword then?"
"Yes – I mean NO! No! Don’t – don’t! Look I – I can be of use to you! I can be your spy! Turn the tables on them!"
"Oh, so you’ll simply switch sides?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"And what’s to keep you from switching back again once you’re safely out of this camp!" Jessa said, her eyes and words hard and cold."
"No, no! I wouldn’t do that! I swear!" He couldn’t stop staring at the roiling inferno.
Jessa pursed her mouth and looked at him calculatingly.
"I believe you," she said.
"Huh? What?" The man could not believe what he was hearing.
"I said I believe you."
The prisoner just stared at her in disbelief.
"Now that we knows you’re a spy, it would be foolish of you to try to turn on us, now wouldn’t it?" She stepped forward and put the tip of her sword into the fireball. She watched as the metal quickly went to a glowing red. The bound man watched in terrified fascination.
The man felt a touch on his shoulder. Startled, he jumped around.
Ares stood mere inches from him, nearly nose to nose. He glared dangerously out from under lowered brows.
"You never know when a god may be looking over your shoulder," he said.
Suddenly, he flashed, disappearing.
There was another touch on his shoulder.
Crying out, the man jumped around again.
"Do we have an understanding?" Jessa asked him plainly.
"Yes! Yes!" the man agreed, his nerves totally shattered, "I’ll do whatever you want! I’ll never betray you! I swear!"
Jessa sheathed her sword.
"Of course you won’t," Jessa said smiling. She untied the man’s hands. "Go with the lieutenant here, he’ll give you your instructions and get you something to eat – we can’t have you leaving on an empty stomach now can we? And perhaps some chamomile tea? To help settle those nerves?" she asked solicitously.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks."
"Take care of him lieutenant – he now has the added distinction of being our first counter-spy."
Jessa watched as they walked away.
"Very nicely done," Ares praised, "You didn’t have to kill him after all. And, he wouldn’t dare turn on us now."
"I know, but I’d rather hold a man by loyalty."
"Well, loyalty’s a fine thing," Ares admitted, "But fear will do in a pinch."
The assembled men had begun to disperse.
"Wait!" Jessa ordered.
They turned back, puzzled. So did Ares.
"Dolorous, come here for a moment, won’t you?" she said smiling to a tall handsome, warrior. When he came forward, she put an arm around his shoulders.
"You all probably know Dolorous – he’s one of my personal guards. He’s been with us for some time now so I’m sure you’re aware of his reputation with the ladies."
A ripple of knowing laughter circulated through the crowd. Dolorous grinned.
"Yes," she said, slapping her other hand on his chest affectionately. "I’ve even heard he has a standing account at Aphrodite’s temple!"
There was another wave of laughter. Dolorous grinned wider and puffed out a bit at all the attention.
"Many’s the time I’ve gone past my tent to see him flirting with one of the many girls he seems to attract like griffins to a carcass. Isn’t that right, Dolorous?"
The handsome guard smiled and shrugged his shoulders modestly.
"You’re quite well liked by your comrades in arms, too, aren’t you?"
He smiled again as he saw the nodding of heads around him.
"And, on top of all that, I’ve really grown attached to you too – you know that don’t you?"
Dolorous looked down, blushing, abashed.
"Unfortunately, I’m afraid that I am going to have to let you go as my personal guard."
Dolorous looked at her puzzled.
"You see," Jessa explained, "That spy had information on that scroll that could only have been obtained by someone with access to my tent. And since no one is allowed in my tent unless I am there – as you well know since you are one of my personal guards – then that means that the spy sneaked past the guard on duty.
"Now, I make it a point to know everyone one of my personal guards well – after all, my life may depend on them some day – and I’m afraid that you’re the only one who would have allowed such a lapse in attention."
Jessa shook her head sadly.
"I blame myself really. I saw what was going on and I should have taken action sooner – either by replacing you or at least warning you to mind yourself – but, alas, I did not.
"Therefor, though it pains me greatly to do so, I must terminate your employment."
Jessa released him and stepped back a couple of paces.
She drew her sword.
Horrified comprehension dawned on the soon-to-be-ex-guard’s face.
"I’m sorry Dolorous – truly."
She slashed.
Dolorous’ head bounced a few time and rolled a bit before coming to a rest at her feet. Jessa looked down sadly at his surprised face. It took his body a moment to realize it was dead, then it, too, fell.
"Dismissed," Jessa said curtly to the stunned assemblage of her men. Then she turned to one of her lieutenants.
"Dispose of him," she ordered, "Then find a replacement – and make sure this one’s ugly. And from now on – I don’t want to see another female in this camp unless she’s wearing body armor – do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir!" The officer said crisply, saluting her.
Jessa turned and went to her tent.
Ares followed her inside. He had an odd smile on his face – a combination of admiration and calculated personal satisfaction.
"Very well done, Jessa," he praised, "I couldn’t have done better myself."
He went to her and took her in his arms.
"I’m glad to see that you’re finally getting past you’re squeamishness."
"Yes, well, as you said, war is not pretty."
As he looked smiling into her eyes he noticed something – it seemed something in them was different, something was… diminished. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he let it go – instinctively, he knew that it was something that he wouldn’t miss anyway.
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