“I love you so much,” Ares said as he pinched Runar’s cheek. She squirmed and threw out a punch with each arm before freezing and then staring up at him wide-eyed. “Are you alright?” Torak asked. Ares looked over to the larger oxman. “I don’t think so,” Ares said. “We can talk about it later.” “We should fix the issue now.” “We can’t.” Torak dropped the topic and waited for Ares to be done with Runar. Ares would play with Ozar and Ozri too. “Should the children return to the city?” Torak asked, though his eyes were not focused on Ares, but rather Lana. Ares threw her over a look, and seeing the unamused expression on Lana’s face, he turned to Torak. “I think… I agree with Lana, they should remain here so I don’t do anything stupid.” Lana nodded towards Ares, who returned his attention back to his little star. “Mommy is really mean to daddy, isn’t she?” Ares whispered into Runar’s ear, which fluttered slightly against his breath before she pushed her head to his neck and then rubbed along it. Lana almost slapped the back of Ares’ head, but he dropped down and crouched under it before he walked out, swinging Runar around. “I need to take a quick walk,” Ares said as he smiled to her. Then he was off, making his way towards the watch tower. He climbed up the tower, which held about ten warriors at the moment. After the salutes and such, he was at the top. He inhaled the crisp air and saw the enemy a little better from his position, but also the area around them. The beautiful plains, the rolling hills, and the rest of the enemy… There were so many enemies. Why? Why were there so many? Didn’t the rhinoman bring all the warriors the first time? Where did all these other warriors come from to the point that his warriors have almost doubled… Ares wondered for a short while. He wondered if all of them wanted to follow under the rhinoman, or if- Runar slapped him. He pulled back and then stared down at the little girl whose eyes were going across his face as she then smiled and began slapping him all over his face. Ares held her out. “Awo-uh-aaah-eeee-uuuah,” Runar said. “Runar… relax, okay?” Ares whispered. “You can’t be slapping me when I’m deep in thought…” Ares stared at her. “Are you telling me to not think too hard?” She began to rock from side to side and then started to slap at his arms as she bounced within his grasp. He pulled her in close. “You’re so cute my little star, I love you so much!” He sighed and then he nestled her head into his neck. “Don’t worry… everything will be fine, okay?” He closed his eyes and then pulled her in closer. He pointed her to everything else and around the place. “Do you see it all? This will be yours one-” Ares stopped. He cringed as he realised just what he was doing so he swiftly left the top of the tower, as though fleeing from the scene of the crime. “Is she hungry?” Lana asked. “If she’s anything like me then she’s always hungry,” Ares joked. “Then you should eat more often.” Ares shook his head. “Trying to be sarcastic around you is a nightmare.” “Somebody has to keep you on the plain,” Lana replied as she hoisted Runar away from him. “That’s why you’re the wife, huh?” Ares laughed. “Well… everyone needs a wife like that.” “Everyone?” “All the crazies, like me.” “I agree with that at least.” Ares looked out to the enemy again. He crossed his arms and then squeezed his biceps. “What are you thinking of?” “Something pretty stupid.” Lana stared at him long and hard. “Yes?” she asked as though that was obvious and wishing for him to continue. Ares pulled back as he looked at her in return, as though offended by her rather obvious reaction. He paused for a moment, raised his brows and then nodded in agreement to her sentiment. “Well… why don’t I get them to fight each other?” “How will you do such a thing?” Ares shrugged. “I’ll speak with a few of them.” “No you won’t.” “Well, I can speak to them, but they might take my words in the wrong way.” “You are taking my words in the wrong way,” she snapped at him. “You will not go speak with them.” “Why not?” Lana glared up at Ares who understood now what she meant. “Oh… oh, really?” “Really.” “Even if it would save thousands of lives?” Lana looked around. “The soldiers here are willing to give you their lives.” “They are, but they don’t need to die.” “You will not go.” “I will be safe.” “No you don’t be.” “I will.” Ares grabbed onto her side and pulled her in close. “I promise. I’ll be right there and then I’ll leave…” “What happens if they have some magic to stop you?” Lana pinched his side. “Then you call for the rest of the army from Rivea, as well as a couple of thousands of others that aren’t venerable or too young for fighting and you fight from within the fort.” Lana stared up at him. “You think too much.” “I do.” “Why?” “I have to… I have a family that I need to protect.” Ares kissed the base of a horn. “I’ll be quick.” “With what?” Ares did not understand what she meant by that, but she did smirk up at him. “With the talks.” “Then be quick. If you are not back within a few minutes, our talk will be longer.” “I can’t leave now, they’ll see me coming.” Lana waited for him to continue. “No. I’ll go when it’s night and then I’ll threaten one of their generals, or promise them with some gems and gold, and then when morning is drawing near, I’ll have them betray the rhinoman and then bam, that’s when I’ll strike with a secret strike force.” “A secret strike force?” “ASS Force,” Ares cleared his throat. Lana raised her eyebrows at Ares, who had now lost all credibility. “That was a joke… I was just going to have Emerli tell me where all the secret points are and then I’d lead a few Roaring Tridents through to fight them.” “How many?” “Ten.” “Ten?!” Lana snapped at him, causing Runar to shake and cry. “Ten?” she then whispered and bounced, trying to lull Runar into calmness. “Ten is my range. Any more and I won’t be able to protect them.” “Their duty is to protect you.” “They can’t protect me when they’re dead.”