Free The Path of Ravens (Asgard vs. Aliens Book 1) by P.K. Lentz Page A

to fate, as it were." He
smiles. "I was most pleased to learn that you did not all
perish."
    "More than half of us did," I remind
him, in grave tones.
    "As I said... an imperfect solution."
    "Very well," I concede. I have no love
for his cold reasoning, but I understand and accept it, whether as a
result of my experiences in this life or the last, or both. "Answer
me this. If we come to dwell with you, must we recognize you as our
ruler?"
    Ares throws his hands wide. "Quite plainly,
I command in Neolympus," he says. "But I assure you I am no
tyrant. I will gladly accept you... Thamoth, was it?... as your
people's chosen representative. You may govern your own daily
affairs, and in larger matters, your voice will be heard.
You...  Atlanteans ... shall be equal to Chrysioi in all
matters, and treated no differently."
    I absorb this, studying Ares. Though he is sharp
of eye and warlike in appearance, I detect no malice in  him.
Yet my perception might be clouded by my own eagerness to visit
Neolympus and obtain the answers I seek...
    "We trust you," I declare, heedless of
whether it is true. Leaders must speak pleasing falsehoods, as I hope
that Ares himself is not doing. "This is no light decision. We
must discuss the matter among ourselves."
    Perched on the great rock at the center of our
camp, the raven caws sharply, drawing Ares' gaze. Looking back at me,
he responds, "Naturally. I must return to Neolympus, but I will
leave with you one  of my Spartioi." He gestures at one of
the four cloaked and armored spear-wielders which arrived with him.
Helms covering their faces entirely, they could have been statues for
all that they moved. "When you have reached your decision,
merely bid him either to lead you to Neolympus or to return there on
his own."
    I look at the warrior and consider the name by
which Ares called them: Spartioi. In the tongue of the Chrysioi, its
meaning is  Sown Men , a name which lends credence to my
impression that they are something other than natural.
    When my eyes inadvertently fall upon Ares'
breastplate, emblazoned with its hideous face, my stomach binds
itself into a knot, and I grasp that this, too, must be some magical
effect. These Chrysioi are powerful, it would seem, or at least have
the advantage of knowing themselves and their capabilities far better
than do we newly reborn Atlanteans. It surely would be unwise of us
to trust them too far too quickly.
    "I trust you will not object if these four
guests of yours accompany me to their new city," Ares says next.
    "They are free to do as they choose."
    Looking at them, I know that for Iris and the
rest, it is no choice at all. They wish no further delay in rejoining
their fellow survivors of the Myriad's conquest of the Chrysioi's
three kingdoms.
    "Splendid," Ares says. "Then we
shall leave you now to consider. I fondly hope you will elect to join
us.    As you and we have learned, this land has its
dangers. We shall be stronger united than divided in the face of
common threats."
    I take a step closer to Ares, but only one, yet
wary of the spears of his inhuman Spartioi entourage. "Before
you go... you have avoided giving clear answer to the question of our
comrades. How many Atlanteans came with you to this world? Is every
one of them safe?"
    A frown replaces Ares' nearly omnipresent smile.
"There were twelve," he answers, not a little reluctantly.
"After our arrival, three of those were lost when their hunting
party was attacked by giants."
    My breath sticks in my chest, but I force out
words. "There was a woman, Ayessa. What of her?" Suddenly,
I care not what my fellow Atlanteans might think of such a display of
favoritism by their leader.
    Ares' dark expression presages his answer: "She
was among the three."
    I gasp. My heart ceases to pound.
    "In her case alone, no remains were seen,"
Ares continues. "However, given the evidence, there is a ...
rather likely explanation for that."
    I know his meaning. I saw Perseus slung over the
giant's