"The God Wars" - Chapter Forty-three: The New Arrivals

The God Wars

Chapter Forty-three:

The New Arrivals

By Dwayne MacInnes

With the assistance from the ships, the forces of Atlantis again possessed the outer city. Soldiers lined the wall and overlooked the broken battlefield that they had crossed just days before. Several hundred yards away stood a large tent.

A small squad of soldiers escorted King Podaistas and General Crist halfway towards the tent. The king agreed with Crist about the benefits outweighing the risks. He also agreed that if the gods tried something underhanded, they did not truly understand the mortals.

King Podaistas and General Crist finally left the escort behind. They would cross the rest of the way alone across the devastated land. The men sometimes had to cover their noses due to the stench of rotting corpses. Crist noted that they would have to do something soon about the dead or there could be an outbreak of disease amongst the soldiers.

"You say my people are safe?" Podaistas asked as the two men continued towards the tent.

"Yes, Olympus made port in Zakrostas this morning," Crist replied. "They had a fight with Zeus in which they killed the god, and in the exchange, his lightning bolts fried their radio. But no one was harmed."

The king smiled, "It looks like the prophecy was correct. If we can negotiate a treaty with the gods we may truly be free."

General Crist nodded solemnly, "The gods are only one problem. But, from where I come from sometimes humans can be worse. I'll have to tell you about this guy called Hitler sometime."

The men neared the tent. They pulled back the flaps to see Ares and Hermes sitting at a table. Hades with his mortal wound lay further inside the tent on a cot. He did not even raise his head when the two men entered. Hades just lay there staring at the ceiling oblivious to all around him.

"Gentlemen, welcome," Hermes greeted. "I am sorry, but Hades is grievously wounded. You will forgive him if he does not rise."

Both King Podaistas and General Crist nodded their assent. Ares rose and pointed at two chairs opposite him at the table with his bladed left hand. The two men seated themselves as Hermes and Ares retook their chairs.

"Well, shall we begin?" Hermes asked.

* * * * *

Theena and her army marched to Atlantis. The Amazon of Knopso noticed that the fighting had been fierce. The bodies of men, Ares warriors, Talos, griffins, dragons, and horses littered the broken ground around the city. The city itself did not look much better. Smoke still rose from many places to fill the cloud-laden sky.

The general had brought with her every available soldier and militia member as well as the remaining tanks, trucks and jeeps. A long train of horses followed bringing much needed supplies. Overhead, the seven new Hercules fighters circled, joining the remaining Hellcats and Avengers.

General Theena marched up to the city wall. "Where are the general and King Podaistas?"

A soldier on the wall shouted down, "They are negotiating with the gods in yonder tent."

Theena followed the soldier's finger to the large tent hundreds of yards off. The Amazon of Knopso felt a gnawing distrust in her stomach. Without further word, she took off towards the tent at a run. Without even thinking, she grabbed the sword at her waist.

* * * * *

Ares smiled as the two men seated themselves at the table. Hermes shuffled some parchments and was about to place them on the table when without notice Ares flung the table at the men.

King Podaistas rolled out of the way of the table and drew his sword. General Crist was just a fraction of a second slower in dodging to one side drawing his Colt .45 automatic pistol. The table broke in several large pieces as it crashed into the ground.

Tossing the table was just the diversion Ares needed. Utilizing the surprise Ares drew his own sword and leaped towards the two men. Even though they were now on opposite sides of the tent, the god wasted no time.

Before the king could swing his sword, Ares lashed out with his bladed hand. He slashed Podaistas across the stomach giving the monarch a mortal wound. Podaistas fell backwards holding his stomach, blood seeped between his fingers as he landed on the ground.

Crist emptied his .45 into the god as he turned towards the general. Ares smiled noticing the bullets merely stung him but nothing more. With his sword, Ares plunged his tip deep into Crist's body.

* * * * *

The soldiers around Atlantis were surprised to hear the repeated report of a pistol firing from inside the tent. As they watched, they could see General Theena disappear inside the tent. Off in the distance also approaching were two people in a bright gold chariot pulled by two blindingly white horses. The driver was a man and alongside him was a woman whose head a deep green cloak covered.

Most of the men stood stunned in silence not truly understanding what was going on. However, a few started to sprint across the broken ground towards the tent. These few men spurred the rest into action. Soon the entire armies of Atlantis and Zakrostas were running towards the tent.

* * * * *

Crist fell into a seated position on the ground as Ares pulled the blade from his gut. A great bout of blood flew into the air. Ares smiled as he raised the sword for the finishing stroke.

However, before the killing stroke fell another blade blocked it. Ares turned to see his new assailant. Hermes who up to now kept to the back of the tent gave off a stifled yelp. There standing before the gods stood a woman wearing the traditional armor of the Greeks. Her face was in a frown and a deep rage burned in her blue eyes beneath her helmet.

"I figured you snakes would try something like this!" the woman spat.

Ares jumped back to give himself room to fight. He smiled a malicious grin as he glared at the woman, "Well, sister it looks like we will now see who is truly the better warrior. Prepare to die Athena!"