Ares shot out of the lake with Stah’O beside him. He stumbled forward into a walk and then a stop. He turned to see Stah’O behind him, having managed to land into a squat with ease. Ares nodded towards him before looking out to the several thousand soldiers around him.

“I won’t keep you up,” Ares said as he nodded and then was led onwards.

Stah’O did not lead the groups himself, instead each unit’s leader marched onward in their own way. There were grouped together, five by five, which formed the smaller units. Then it increased such, by five, in three more steps so there were about three thousand around him.

“How many Reptai are there?” Ares asked as he followed the twenty five warriors that included Stah’O’s own small regiment.

“Several thousand. We will be outnumbered by a small amount.” Stah’O replied.

“Will you be able to handle them?”

“The battlefield will be in our favour.”

“Are we fighting on land?”

“We will. Yet there is water in everything, and we are those who have mastered the element, by Rivee’s grace.”

“Then I’ll wish you the best of luck,” Ares said as he followed the group.

Each soldier had their own set of gear. They wore scaled armour from neck to waist, and then a lighter set of scales that seemed more line chain mail. They were sandals on land, though they conformed to their feet on the underside. They carried with them a pair of javelins, a bident, a backpack, and also a tear drop shaped shield. There was also a pouch at their side beside their waterskins that looked like a large balloon ready to burst.

They made for camp during the evening, each group setting watches five by five to allow each unit to have a decent sleep.

As Ares made his own little camp nearby, he was approached by a Bitan. Stah’O was behind them, but Ares did recognise the younger man.

“It’s good to see you again,” Ares said.

“I would be wishing to ask you,” the young man started to say as he turned to look at Stah’O before then returning to look at Ares, “if you would be willing to join us for dinner.”

“I don’t suppose I have any reason to refuse.”

Stah’O cleared his throat and the young man looked aside, then to the ground, then back up to Ares sheepishly.

“I would like to apologise for my rude behaviour when we had first met,” the boy said.

“It’s alright. I can understand why one would be so hesitant to speak with a stranger, especially one who seemed to be disrespecting your culture.” Ares nodded towards the boy.

“My name is Ezak,” he said as he looked back to Stah’O. Stah’O nodded. The boy looked back up at Ares. “Would you be willing to be my charge?”

Ares first wondered why Ezak did not have a similar suffix to the others. Was he perhaps a slave of some kind?

“Your charge?” Ares asked.

“One I must be hospitable to as you accompany us.”

Ares looked up to Stah’O and then back down to Ezak. “If it would be no bother.” Ares bowed his head.

Ezak nodded his head and then looked back to Stah’O who motioned with a head and then Ezak quickly stepped aside before then going off to create a small shelter nearby them.

Ares threw a questioning look to Stah’O.

“What was that about?”

“The child must learn, that is all.”

“Right…”

Ares was then invited to come and eat with Stah’O’s small regiment. They ate some simple flat bread that had been made by the soldiers. It was slightly sour, but he didn’t mind. They also ate some dried meat, as well as a quick bit of curry that was rationed out. It was different than the curry before, it was some kind of bean or lentil, he wasn’t quite sure. It looked similar to oats, but thicker, more like a bunch of seeds. It was delicious either way.

“We will come across the enemy in the next day or two. We will be heading North West along the River Atteez, and then we will meet them once we surrounded the Attiz.” Stah’O looked at the other captains near him.

Ares was nearby, casually listening in though he was looking at Ezak. Ezak was sharpening his bident with a small blue-black stone, keeping his attention to the spear. He was muttering something too, though it was garbled nonsense.

Ares relaxed as he watched all the soldiers move quickly and go about their business. He was trying to see just how they had formed the army. It was similar to his own, though they were far more organised and the leaders seemed to hold a level of reverence from the others. They were all older and wisened, Ares noted.

Ares then went about making his own little tent, though Ezak quickly came over.

“What are you doing?” Ezak asked quickly.

“I’m making my tent.”

“I have made you a shelter.” Ezak motioned to the well build shelter made of various branches and leaves.

Ares looked at him with furrowed brows. “No that’s alright. You can sleep in there.”

Ezak stared up at Ares in a panic. His eyes darted around as he tried to find the words.

“If it’s important to you, then I will gladly accept.” Ares said quickly. “Though then you will have to sleep in this shelter.”

“If that would please you,” Ezak said as he wiped his brow of the growing sweat.

Ares smiled and nodded his head. “Don’t worry about it. Just let me know if there’s any other way you need to… hospitalise me?” Ares glanced up in thought. He wasn’t sure that was quite the right word.

“Are you ready for the fight,” Ares asked.

“I am ready.” Ezak nodded. “I have a chance at a rite, I will not fail.”

“Don’t get too worked up over it. There’s always another way.” Ares looked down at the boy as he worked on his bident. “Good luck,” he said.

Ezak looked up to Ares. There was a moment of silence. “Thank you,” he said.

“Don’t get yourself killed, kid.”