Elena was giving him a warning look, but Aleks didn’t seem to care. He barely noticed Kataida there either, walking up to Ares and stopping before them, hands on his hips. “So,” he said, eyes narrowed. “Here you are, in a soldier’s uniform like you’re part of the army.”
“Aleks,” Elena said, and there was enough dominance in her voice that Aleks blinked, swayed a bit, but didn’t back down. She sighed.
“Well,” Ares said, studying Aleks, “it’s more like all armies are a part ofme.”
“You know, I wondered how Nyx could stand to see you again,” Aleks continued, conversationally, and Kataida had never heard him soangrybefore, “after what you did to his empire.”
Ares laughed, but it didn’t sound like it had earlier, when it’d been genuine. "Watch yourself, little ferryman. It isn’t yourplace to question me. Even when you bear my brother’s scythe in truth, yours is but to reap the souls of the dead, not question how they grew ready for the harvest.”
“Yeah, funnily enough, that’s what AzaiahandNyx–fucking hypocrite–said when I went to talk to them about how anentire regiment of teenagers I knew personallycrossed over the river without my knowing about it.”
“You know about it now,” Ares said.
Kataida reached out, grabbed Ares’ braid, and pulled it hard. “Behave. My father’s submissive is not a soldier. He grieves the dead. Don’t taunt him.” She gave Aleks a sharp look. “And you know you can’t reason with the embodiment of pure strife. Ares is what they are, just as Azaiah is.”
“Yes,” Aleks said, but the fury was still there, simmering just below the surface, “and I’ve been told not to meddle, that I wasn’t told because I’m stillhumanandmortalandsome things you are not ready to face, my ferryman.That asshole brother of yours–”
Ares laughed again, and it was a disjointed sound, out of place in the rising tension. “You’re the only one who’s ever saidthatabout Azaiah.”
“--told me that it was for my own good,” Aleks continued, like Ares hadn’t spoken, “that one day, I wouldunderstand. Will I, Gracious One? Or is Azaiah lying to make it easier when I have to reap the souls of people whose lives I saved when they werechildren?”
“I don’t know how to answer that,” Ares said. “I don’t know what you will or won’t understand, now or in the future. You should ask Nyx. My brother’s companion has been mortal. He has seen those he loved die, but he didn’t have the solace of guiding their souls.”
“Neither did I!” Aleks shouted, loud enough that both Kataida and Elena jumped, unused to the cheerful, soft-spoken Aleks raising his voice.“It should have been me.”
“But it wasn’t,” Ares said. “And now he’s gone beyond, but you must know, ferryman, my brother’s light is kind and his boat welcomes all, and there was never a human who walked this earth that Azaiah didn’t treat with the same kindness as another. Your Markos and the man who murdered him, Azaiah would welcome them both with the same kind smile and the same warm embrace. The same light would shine for them both. Can you say that you would feel the same?”
“No, because that asshole didn’thaveto board Azaiah’s boat. He got away with it! But if I had been there–”
“And that is why you weren’t,” Ares said. “My brother chose well, when the time comes. That time hasn’t come, and you aren’t ready.”
“And you’re meddling, which I thought–” Aleks stopped, jaw ticking, and threw his hands in the air. “I’m not fucking arguing with you. Excuse my language,” he said, to Elena’s belly.
Ares considered Aleks with that little, archaic smile of theirs. “Your fire does your people proud, Aleks Akti, but it’s meant to guide, not burn.”
“Well, I’m not the god of death yet, and I’m a pretty good fucking shot with a bow and arrow. I’m going to go see Yannis and Adrastus--you know, Markos’ parents? Don’t be here when I get back, or I might decide to ditch the ferryman gig and take up vengeance-seeker instead.”
“No, you won’t,” Ares said, but inclined their head. “You’re too well-suited for what awaits you, eventually. Rivers form drop by drop, yours is still building.”
“Ugh, you sound like Azaiah. Fuck all of you, I’m moving to Gerakia and becoming an atheist.” Aleks grabbed the door and yanked it open.
“It wouldn’t help,” Ares called after him. “They still die there, too.”
Kataida, perhaps affected by the stress and Ares’ godly ability to infuse strife like oil scented a candle, clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a wild laugh.
“Fuck you,” was Aleks’ response to Ares’ comment, right before he slammed the door behind him.
“I’m going to go with him,” Elena said. She nodded at Kataida. “I’m sure I know why you’re here. Your father should be down in a moment. Just wait for him, if you would.”
That must have meant Evander had been wrecking Aleks to get his mood settled, which Kataida didn’t want to think too much about. “Of course, Elena.”
Elena moved past Ares, but stopped before them. “Aleks was chosen to be a ferryman because he cares. That’s why he cursed you. What happened, he thinks he could have…helped, if he were there, that it would have been easier.” Her voice choked with tears. “I’m glad he wasn’t.”
“He’s a mortal,” Ares said. “Azaiah doesn’t want Aleks to end up like Nyx, who chose the fires of war over the boatman’s lantern when the ties to his mortal life were too strong to break.”
Elena didn’t say anything else, simply left them there alone in the living room. Kataida was about to ask Ares what they’d meant by that, but her father was there, clearly having just shaved, bathed and dressed in a fresh uniform, his hair neat and beard trimmed, uniform perfectly pressed. “Captain Akti. Your orders aren’t up for debate.” He nodded at Ares. “Gracious One.”
“You might as well just use my name,” Ares said. “I don’t think you’re going to find me as gracious as you used to.”