Inferno Ascended

Glax and his colleagues watched in awe as the imposing flotilla docked in Marbium harbor. Several warriors got off before they caught sight of Archigeos Demophon, impossible to miss. As expected from a head of state, considerable staff accompanied him, but Glax soon realized that the other ships were carrying soldiers in large numbers. 

The valosian ended up opening a smile when he saw that this was an official reinforcement for Marbium! Glax hurried to meet the clan leader, alongside Lord Tarsos. Alexandre followed close behind, crestfallen, and wanting to remain unnoticed.

"Ah, there's this kid!" The Archigeos's thunderous voice echoed from the pier, his eyes finding his youngest son in an instant. Glax placed a hand on his ward's shoulder, assuring him he would be there to help.

"Archigeos! We were getting ready to board in response to your letter!" the valosian greeted.

"It's no longer necessary. I had to come. Lady Nyssa was very distressed. But I would be ashamed not to find either of you here. My son looks a lot like me at that age, after all."

Demophon's casual comment was quite a surprise to anyone expecting something more dramatic. Alexandre even puffed up his chest and smiled.

Then he got a 'flick' on the forehead that even the hawks high in the mountains of the region heard. "And that's why I have to fix it!" boomed his father.

Alekos bit his tongue to keep from groaning. Glax's eyes widened. And he was ready to intervene if the punishment continued. The Archigeos' son might have had a head injury!

Demophon looked around and commented on how the region had changed. Then he asked to be taken to Marbium. He believed the reports, he said, but he would like to see everything with his eyes. And also he'd like to visit Stimhena.

As they walked forward down the road, followed by the orderly arrayed troops of Aegeons, Furies, and Alectryons, the Archigeos commented,

"Lady Nyssa said you have a friend in the imperial family. Who is he? And where is he?"

Glax gasped. "I didn't want to scare anyone, Archigeos. But for those who didn't recognize Lord Mors, that's how I introduced him. I found him in Stimhena." He thought it best to tell the truth. After all, Demophon himself had once gone to the Underworld!

The man stopped everything to face Glax and acknowledged it hadn't been a joke. 

The Valosian changed the subject. "We caught the man who broke into the Krotons tomb that day. Rasmus followed him here, and we finally caught him at Erimos. This is the latest news. The Chriseis Fist he had in his possession was false. I didn't find out why he did it. But it's also intriguing that we didn't know there was such a ruse to protect the artifact." 

Glax decided to give the clan chief something to think about. However, Demophon said nothing after hearing Glax's words. Just started asking questions and questions about the events around Marbium.

::::::::::::

Glax suspected the Archigeos wouldn't have gone through all this trouble just to see his son, whom he had already sent to find. There was something else going on, for the clan leader to leave the capital for one of the less pleasant parts of the Echelian lands.

Nor did he believe it was to find out what was going on in a lesser fortress like Marbium. As he inspected every detail of the fortress alongside the Archigeos, Glax remained curious as to the real reason. 

The Archigeos sent for the governor of the province, which was in Trisos. 

Meanwhile, Kal and Lady Pydna had to give an account hastily, but at least for Glax, they did well. 

Next to the Archigeos were a few bureaucrats who had eagle eyes for every detail, who seemed frustrated that they couldn't blame any living for negligence. 

Alexander seemed to have already made peace with his father and was chattering incessantly about every bit of everything he had lived so far, eliciting a few smiles from Demophon.

It reminded Glax of his own father, or rather Matt's father. They didn't have similar interests. And during his years before college, he often felt that his father didn't understand him or didn't like him and his choices. But sometimes he was surprised by that same satisfied, disguised smile.

And then he knew his father was proud of him.

Either way, Demophon was the extreme opposite of Nikandros. And though it didn't escape him when the Archigeos's gaze was cold and calculating, the man exuded a calm confidence and did not seek to force his leadership at all. Completely unlike the anxious, arrogant, and forceful Nikandros.

Perhaps Demophon was not entirely comfortable with the position of the supreme leader of the clan, which he inherited at the last moment and for which he had not really prepared. And so he surrounded himself with competent assistants. But he was a natural leader.

The Archigeos surprised Glax by saying, at the dining table. "I think what you had to do as lochios in Marbium has already been done."

He gave a strategic silence to see the Valosian's reaction. Glax didn't know what was coming next, but he figured he would be sent elsewhere.

He just nodded and spoke modestly, "Yes. I think I can do other things for the clan. Marbium is in excellent hands." He seized the moment to endorse Kal as the right person to continue leading the fort.

But the Archigeos did not make that decision hastily. Instead, he continued the previous subject.

"I believe you will be of better use to the clan as a lochagos. I think about experimentally creating a group of Aegeons capable of identifying threats with foreign technology. From what happened in Athios with Sillabot and here with Megas and the village of Stimhena, a reliable squad needs to be prepared to deal with these challenges. It makes little sense for us to lose more lives for a poor assessment of the danger."

The Valosian gave a  smug smile. "Archigeos, I knew I could count on your common sense."

"You were born to be an Aegeon! Don't think I'm giving you carte blanche, Lord Glax. You will be able to pick your squad members, and I will send a letter to the Emperor reporting the situation and my decision. But I will send someone I trust to track costs and send me reports on your activities. I trust you, but I want you to remember that we're under an Imperial Sanction. Anyway, take it or leave it," the Archigeos placed an armband with the symbol of a lochagos, or captain, on the table.

"I get it, thanks for the trust!" Glax was effusive. Alexandre and Rasmus were smiling from ear to ear. Pydna, who was also at the table, shifted on the stool but feigned indifference. Glax continued.

"By the way, I recommend this group can count on the support of civil 'consultants'. Specialists in foreign technology. In fact, I have two people here who would help a lot! And I have some ideas too. Are we going to have a fixed budget?"

Demophon laughed. "I already suspected you would like it, Glax of Valosia!"

:::::::::::::::::

Glax entered his room, still excited by the promotion and the possibility that the 'new Aegeon special operations squad' had ahead. He started to undress for bed, but there was a light knock on the door.

It was too light for him not to suspect something.

"Hey." He opened the door, finding, on the other side as expected, Uniq.

The redhead woman flashed a grin. Next, she showed him a small pitcher of southern wine.

"Shall we celebrate your promotion, Lord Glaxxxx?"

"Wow. Southern wine and good company!" he opened the door for her to enter. Uniq walked in and looked around. "Officers do have privileges!"

"I think it's because Marbium was too empty. But I know it's better than Rusa," he agreed, taking the wine bottle from the woman's hand, and motioning for her to sit on the bed. Even in the greenish light that favored no one. She was hot as fuck and he would be lying if he didn't admit that he'd always wanted her.

He opened the skin and sniffed the wine, the fresh, heady aroma sharpening his senses. He didn't have a cup there, so he offered it to her first.

The Valosian held the bottle, and she touched the bulging part of the container with her fingertips, letting him guide the liquid into her mouth. She took a long sip slowly as her fingers played with the bottle, making Glax's imagination simmer with the image of the caresses and what she might be touching at that moment.

He set the wine aside, grabbing Uniq and bringing her to his chest. Again he was graced with her soft breasts pressed against his skin, only the coarse fabric of the military tunic separating the bodies. His hand slipped to one of them as his mouth sought hers for a long, sensual kiss.

Uniq had a deliciously soft, warm mouth. Her hands slid over his chest, descending shamelessly. "Aren't you cold?" She teased, stroking goosebumps.

"Hell no. Not with you in my arms." He kissed her more, their tongues dancing and playing with each other, teeth, lips. Then he pulled away to take her tunic off in one movement.

She wasn't perfect, and at the same time, she was. Perfectly real and human. Beautiful, lightly tanned, and erect breasts, narrow waist with a navel like a vertical line, firm thighs, and perky butt. Her body emanated a delicious warmth, and her mischievous eyes gleamed at him. She had fresh scars, but this was even more exciting.

"Aphrodite!"

"Aphrodite? Who is this?" She laughed, not caring too much. "An ex? Or that small dryad?" She pulled Glax's tunic to the floor as well, and admired him.

"Like what you see?" He asked.

"I'll prefer it more when I try it." She touched his cock gently, which caused an immediate reaction. "Ah! I think he likes what he sees too!"

"He'll also like it more when he tries you out."

....