Page 3 of Amaros
Frowning, Amaros wondered what sort of changes had occurred while he’d been sleeping this time.A tendril of Fate’s long black hair reached out to him and brushed his naked shoulder.He flinched as knowledge poured into his mind.
“You need to be aware of how vastly the Earth has changed since you last fought the Soldiers of Chaos,” Fate said.“They, too will soon be stirring, readying themselves for the battles ahead.”
Mind reeling with thousands of years of information bombarding him, Amaros clenched his fists and withstood the onslaught.He’d been through this before, but his memories of the past were faint and hard to focus on.
“Things are a wee bit different this time,” Crowmon said, bells on his spiked hat jingling.
With his newfound knowledge, Amaros realized his red and green outfit was a jester suit.“You’re a trickster god?”he asked, identifying the being as a minor deity.Divine power emanated from him, even if it was dwarfed by Fate’s presence.
“Aye,” Crowmon agreed with a smirk.He noted the incredulous glance the warrior gave his beloved.“I find it hard to believe she chose me, too, boyo,” he said.
A lock of Fate’s hair curled around her partner’s neck, caressing the short man rather than punishing him for his levity.“As my consort said, things are different this time,” she informed Amaros.“Some of Chaos’ soldiers were released briefly from their slumber some time ago.They mated with females before being returned to their confinement.”
Amaros’ upper lip curled at that knowledge.“How many cambions are running rampant this time?”he asked, spine rigid as he automatically stood at attention.He might not recall everything about his past, but he remembered fighting his enemies.Their offspring had seldom reached maturity while they waged their wars, but they’d been difficult to kill even when they’d been children.The spawn had caused havoc wherever they went.They’d always needed to be hunted down and eradicated by the Knights of Order.
“Are you going to tell him, or shall I, love?”Crowmon asked, gazing up at his wife in clear adoration.Fate gestured at him to take the lead.“Here’s the thing, lad,” the god said, turning to Amaros again.None of them were bothered that the warrior was nude.They had more serious things to focus on.“This time, you and your fellow knights won’t be eradicating the cambions.You’ll need them if you want to survive.”
Amaros’ frown deepened as he tried to figure out what the trickster meant.“It’s our sacred duty to wipe out all evil entities,” he reminded the pair.
“Chaos broke the rules when it instructed Anarchy to release its minions early,” Fate said.“It gave me an opportunity to make some changes that may aid Order’s knights.”
From the satisfaction in her tone, Amaros figured she was confident about whatever action she’d taken.“Can you tell me more?”he asked.Fate and Anarchy, her evil counterpart, could only impart certain details to their lackeys.That had always been the rule in the past.
“I eliminated the parental bond between the cambions and their sires,” Fate said.“The cambions have free will this time.If they choose to bond with someone, it will be their decision.I also sterilized your enemies.They don’t know it yet, but they won’t be able to produce more offspring.”
Amaros didn’t like the way Crowmon’s smirk widened.“Does this mean the cambions they sired aren’t inherently evil?”he queried.
“Aye,” the trickster god confirmed.“They can be swayed to either side,” he added.“Their bond can either become one of servitude to their sires, or something altogether different.”
Silence filled the foggy nothingness around them.Amaros had no context to go on and waited for more information.He’d been created to be a warrior and it was his duty to follow orders.Fate would have to tell him exactly what she wanted him to do in this instance, since things had apparently changed this time.
Realizing Amaros wasn’t going to make the leap to what he was suggesting, Crowmon rolled his eyes.“He’s not the sharpest knife in the utensil drawer,” he muttered almost beneath his breath.The warrior pressed his lips together to hold in a retort.“It’s like this, lad,” Crowmon said.“If your rivals find their offspring first, they can convince them to become bonded to them.Their children will become their slaves.If someone else were to find them first, they would have the opportunity to gain valuable and powerful allies.”
“The Knights of Order don’t require allies,” Amaros said stiffly, finally getting the hint.“What need do we have to become bonded to these creatures?Our task has always been to fight our enemies, then return to the Void when we succeed, or if we’re defeated.”
Fate exchanged a look with her consort at the bitter tone he didn’t even hear himself using.“Order has allowed me a boon,” Fate said, capturing the soldier’s attention completely.“If you and your unit choose to bond with the cambions, you will become far more powerful.They will boost your abilities and forever alter your destinies.”
After countless eons of the cycle he’d been stuck on, Amaros couldn’t fathom what that meant.“How?”he asked in confusion.
“You won’t have to go back into stasis if you win against Chaos’ minions, boyo,” Crowmon told him.“You’ll remain on Earth and will become its constant sentinels.”
They allowed Amaros to think about their proposal.“All we need to do is find the cambions, convince them to bind with us and we won’t have to return here?”Amaros asked, gesturing at their eerie surroundings.“The creatures will become our brothers in arms?”he queried.
“The cambions are all female,” Fate corrected him.“I intend for them to become your mates.”His upper lip curled again, horrified at the idea.“Know this, Amaros,” she said before he could voice his protest.“It cost me dearly to reach this agreement.”Her tone had become icy with disapproval and he shivered despite himself.It was a reminder that she was far more ancient and powerful than he could ever hope to become.“I am giving you a chance to become more than just a tool,” she went on.“You can have a life, instead of being constrained to merely fighting and sleeping in between the endless cycles of war.”
“You said we would need these cambions if we hope to survive,” Amaros said, switching his gaze to Crowmon.“What did you mean by that?”
“The boon my wife was given comes with a condition,” the god explained.“Fate must relinquish some of her strength to you and your squad.Breaking the cycle will upset the balance between Chaos and Order.It has only been allowed because she’ll be sacrificing her own personal power.”
“I don’t feel any different,” Amaros said.
“The change will only be triggered if you meet my terms,” Fate said.
Amaros had seen that one coming.“What are your terms?”
“Find your cambion and convince her to accept a bond with you,” she told him.“If you succeed, the strength I’m sacrificing will become yours.”
“What happens if I don’t choose to bond with the creature?”Amaros asked with a sinking feeling.
