A few questions

With the bands wrapped around your wrists and the vial tucked away there is nothing holding you to this temple any longer. Across the great square you see the great Temple of Athena carved into the base of the citadel itself. The face of the temple is majestic, but unlike the open doors of your father's temple, the bronze doors of your mother's sanctuary are sealed. A clenching at your gut reminds you of the first night you flew over the temple, and combined with your mother's warning you decide to wait for a better time to seek entry there.

As your group are escorted from the temple of Ares in silence by the Lord Marshal's guard you try to determine if your newly confirmed divinity has altered your relationships. Both Lady Sandrine and the Lord Marshal are deep in thought and studiously avoid your eyes; Galeon has a cocky grin that he is trying to hide while Alexia looks distinctly worried. You guess that she is concerned that your being recognized as a god might lead you into more of the fun trips that Alexia refers to as political nightmares. Come to think of it, Galeon should be worried too as he is usually the one taxed with dragging you back to Kalion.

"So now that people outside my homeland will finally recognize me as a true god, are there any questions, because I've got a million of my own." Sandrine breaks her stride to stare at you before once again looking away quickly, encouraged by even this small reaction you continue to fill the silence. "I'm supposed to be a guardian or guide for humanity or some other boring shit?" Your light hearted quip must seem like complete insanity to an average person.

"Ha!" Galeon snorts, "You, a guide for others to follow? That's too funny my friend for anyone who knows anything at all about you." Galeon's hearty laugh earns him stern looks from the elite warriors of Ares escorting you and an elbow in the ribs from Alexia. Apparently she doesn't want anyone encouraging you.

"Bruce, my King." Alexia's voice is low and even but you recognize the tone that she always uses when she is deeply worried. Please think very carefully about how your acts will effect potential allies, now more than ever."

Raxius finally breaks out laughing. "I'm sorry Lady Alexia, but isn't that like asking your King to not breath?" His dry quip makes both you and Galeon laugh with him. "Every action the man takes has rocked the diplomatic world since he was a sixteen-year-old brat who devastated the Persian **** in their own encampments. Some of them, at least, have turned out favorably."

Alexia turns on the three of you. "How are diplomatic envoys recalled from Kalion, trade deals suspended or the prince and heir to the king not being able to find an eligible bride, favorable outcomes?" Lord Marshal halts the entire group not far from a small alleyway leading Eastward.

"Well for one, as a god, Kalion doesn't age so the need for an heir is nothing to worry over," Raxuis waves off Alexia's protest before she can even get it out of her mouth. "However, if you're looking for a proper marriage alliance, and not just a legitimate heir, I've got a daughter that listens to all the bard songs about Kalion. She would marry the scoundrel in a heartbeat." He takes a few more steps in thoughtful silence scratching his beard and then makes another suggestion. "What about Lord Regent Aegricion's daughter, Sabella, I've heard she's one fine..., ah, princess." You're pretty sure that that was not the word choice he was originally planning on using. "She might find an offer from our godling here far more appetizing than being sold in chains from the block." Alexia glances at Sandrine before once again trying to interject, but Raxius goes on without a pause.

"Polares would prefer this city to become more stable so if Kalion wished to remake it the Kingdom of Athenapolis they might support this union." He turns to Alexia waving his finger in warning. "Your king here would have to give his word not to expand to the south or the islands, and we'd expect free trade between our cities."

"So Sabella may be the better option for Bruce's first wife to establish credibility to a claim." Galeon says earning a mix of blush and nervousness from lady Sandrine who you're starting to think has a crush on this lady Sabella. but you are distracted by Alexia's response.

"King Kalion is not in a position to take a first wife or any others for that matter." This is a significant change from the advisor who was encouraging you to practice your lovemaking skills on the two Athenian maidens placed into your care. Galeon doesn't seem to pay anymore attention to Alexia than Raxius did, and that, you decide privately is not a good idea, however it is Raxius who continues so Galeon won't face her immediate wrath.

"...he would also hold the title of King of Athenapolis earing more freedom about stigmas on multiple Wives but as a god he could have any amount even without Ruling two Kingdoms -"

"You don't understand!" This time Alexia will not be ignored. "None of you get it. You're making your stupid plans for Bruce like he is just some other regular ruler." She pauses to catch her breath perhaps realizing that at the moment everyone is staring at her.

"Bruce is a god." She tells you what everyone already knows. "A god," she repeats sadly, "and gods cannot live on this world. They can send messages and omens, they can meddle both for good and bad, they can even visit, like Ares just demonstrated, they can test us and punish or reward us as they see fit, but gods live on Olympus, not here on among mortals." She turns to you, taking your hands in hers and you see a tear sparkling in the corner of her eye. "I'm sorry, Bruce. I hope to Hades that I am wrong, but now that you are truly a god, I think we're going to lose you, and soon."