You agree to listen to him but Atheas is hesitant.

Raxius agrees to lead you and the old man from the command pavilion to his personal tent so you can have some privacy. As you pass back through the tent of officers the gazes are even more intense than before, although this time the muted comments are less about your youth and appearance and more about who you are. Outside the Lord Marshal's tent, you ask Atheas to wait outside along with your guards. She protests this order softly as she clearly isn't comfortable leaving you alone with the two men. Instead of arguing with your senior officer in front of men, you turn to the Lord Marshal.

“A moment, Lord Marshal, while I have a word with my Sister.”

“Very well,” said Raxius before turning to Thanos, “While we wait I intend to remind the King that his duties during this siege are record keeping and organization, not determining who fights and who doesn’t.”

Thanos lets out a small grunt before being led into the tent by the Lord Marshal. Once they are out of sight you turn your attention to Atheas. “The arrangement is that I speak with him alone, and I plan to keep it.”

“With all due respect my young and reckless Queen,” your general replies looking down at you sternly, “I would prefer it if you had an escort. I promised your mother that if anything were to happen to her that I would do everything in my power to keep you out of trouble, and that is what I intend to do.”

You roll your eyes and scoff at her. “They can’t do anything to me. One's an old man and the other is a glorified nursemaid.”

Atheas crossed her arms and glares at you, “It’s not you I’m worried about, my Queen.”

You glare back at the middle-aged woman hoping to intimidate her back into line but the strong warrior and mother of three isn’t about to back down. After glaring at her for almost ten heartbeats you start to cave. “By the gods, you are as bad as my mother,” you say flicking your head away from her, “What will it take for you to leave me alone with those men.”

Atheas doesn’t say anything, instead, she just holds her hand out. It doesn’t take you long to realize what she wants. Pouting like a youngling you take off your sword and hand it to your general. “You'll get it back after you return to camp.”

“Fine,” you said with a snort. You are about to turn to the tent when your general stops you.

“Which will be after you talk to the diplomats. Xira, we need you to keep your head when you talk to Thanos and the Lord Marshal. You need to reestablish our trade routes. We need iron, bronze, horses, and drakes if you can get them.”

You stomp your foot and turn back to Atheas hissing angrily. “You would have the Queen of the Amazons negotiate without a sword!?”

“You don’t need a sword to ‘ask’ for resources,” Atheas responded in a stern, almost motherly tone, “In fact, I feel that the armor is a little much. If anything, the Queen of Accor should approach peaceful events wearing a crown and regal gown, but since we are in a war zone and her majesty’s tent is still being raised, an unarmed warrior will have to do.”

“And if we come under attack?” you ask her.

Atheas rolls her eyes, “Oh please, you know how one-sided this war is going to be.”

You snort once more and enter the tent, the opening flap catches the two men’s attention and their conversation ends abruptly as the elegantly dressed diplomate greats you with a bow.

“Are you sure that your mother’s dead?” asks Thanos apparently referring to the whispered argument you were having with your general.

You clench your fists and grit your teeth which makes the King step back a few feet. “What is it that you want old man? How do you know my father, and more importantly why should I care? When the Sisters of Accor mate, they leave the man behind for a reason.” You point your finger at the King of Thanos who suddenly looks older and far more weary than when you first met him. "So we can our daughters on our island free from the interference of men.”

Thanos glances over at Raxius who just motions him back to you. “Tell Queen Xira what you told me,” says Raxius, “Your kingdom depends on her knowing.”

Thanos lets out a long raspy sigh before moving over to a nearby chair. As he sits down you could hear the sound of his old knees popping. Once he was comfortable, he looks up at you with his tired old eyes. “Your father was my youngest son.”