There had been several achievements for Vangelis in the last week. One, was his ability to now look his brother in the eye and give him a friendly greeting or acknowledgement, after the evening in which he had had to punch him to the ground and dispose of the body he had left in front of the Kotas manor. Two, was the fact that he was now fit enough to ride around the capitol if he so chose to, allowing him to complete most of his errands and tasks himself now. And thirdly - possibly the greatest of challenges to overcome - he had managed to convince his family that he was fit enough to leave the Kotas manor and do so.

While driven, courageous and proud in their actions and determination in all things considered combative, the Kotas family were also just as stubborn and unyielding when it came to standing against members of their own family - if they decided it was the right course of action or for that family member's own good. And convincing his brothers, sister and mother of his fitness and health, had been a war all its own.

One that he had eventually won.

Now that his injuries had passed and he risked no more than an aching leg and should if he pushed things too far one particular day, Vangelis had allocated the day for finalising overdue business. Some, were recipients and notices he had to deliver to the merchants of Midas, as manager of the royal mansion's treasury. Some, were catching up on his correspondence - specifically with his steward in Chaossis; the barony he had failed to visit in some weeks and wouldn't be able to for a several more - at least until he returned from Taengea. Another task that needed seeing to was the locating of everything he would need to take with him on such a trip, and seeing to the arrangement of a shorter journey to Eubocris that he hadn't to ensure happened within the next four days, before shipping out to the southern seas.

But first, there were more important things to attend to.

The tasks and tribulations of man could wait when there were prayers to be offered. Especially when those prayers were of thanks for still being alive in order to even complete the task list he now had memorised.

Atop Windrunner - for he had still to break in Phobos - Vangelis was leading a small retinue of a large drawn cart and a half dozen slaves who would be useful when they reached their destination and had to unload the livestock currently making a serious amount of noise from the cart.

Their destination was of course the temple of Ares.

While not the God of Death or one of the Fates, Ares was Vangelis' patron God - the God to whom he and most of his family prayed to above the others, despite them also showing a healthy penitence to all in the pantheon of the divine. It was, as far as Vangelis was concerned, Ares who watched his life line and would choose whether the Fates were allowed to cut it short or continue spinning, no matter whether the dangers he faced were on the front lines in battle or deep in a Colchian mine.

As far as he was concerned, Ares had permitted him to live in order to continue to serve. And for that, Vangelis was eager to show his gratitude and loyalty. He had not wanted to die in that mine, away from family and friends, with only Nike in attendance to watch him take his final breaths. He had not wanted to risk never seeing his family again. But he did so to fight and to be victorious. Which he hoped the God of War had seen and would then encourage through protecting his mortal life whenever he could.

Upon reaching the temple, the noise of the animals in the open cart only echoed louder as they stepped inside the Hall of the Gods and headed for the section carved out in honour of the God of War.

When the priests of the temple came forward to bow deeply to the crown prince, Vangelis nodded his acquiescence to their respect and then instructed the slaves to unload the cart.

The animals inside were strong rams and goats from Chaossis - a dozen a piece. All of them were healthy and strong from growing and living in the mountains and Vangelis had them all tied together and led away by the priests in order for them to be slaughtered and sacrificed to the God of War as soon as they could be cleansed and blessed in his name.

From a personal point, Vangelis simply moved to stand before the great bronze statue of the God that stood central at the back of the temple and stood in a position of strength. Legs braced, hand clenched into a fist and placed over his heart, Vangelis bowed his head humbly before the feet of the God and sent up a silent prayer of thanks for his life and a promise of further fealty to his divine benefactor.