Ares smiled at Yong like a predator about to rip its prey’s throat out. Yong heard Zeus announce the beginning of the single combat as if Zeus were far, far away. The student worried he was about to faint. He managed to keep his awkward grip on his sword, but he couldn’t seem to raise it. Ares could finish him off in seconds.
Then he felt the invisible presence of Hermes somewhere nearby, felt the god’s hands clutch him around the waist and raise him into the air so that the charging Ares missed him.
Hermes did his best to make the maneuver look like a jump that had Yong end up behind Ares. Unfortunately, the war god realized immediately what was happening.
“Hermes! Stop helping the mortal.”
There was no sound except the wind in the trees. Yong figured Hermes must be trying to hide.
“
