"Apollo heals Marcie and reimburses her medical costs, and Ares, in turn forfeits his right to demand retribution. Each agrees to make no further moves against the other, his people or his territory." Provided they can restrain themselves, she thought darkly. Apollo's scarcely-veiled threat as he'd kissed the hilt of Tragos' knife still played on Athena's mind.
"You seem surprised," she added, "that Hecate would help. This isn't the first time your paths have crossed?"
She'd been prodding at the thought since she'd seen the boy stiffen and come to a silent halt when he and Hecate had passed in the doorway. Athena had thought at the time the sharp look in Hecate's eye had to do with Melpomene, and her reservations about the Muse's intentions. That his unease was that of a mortal who who knew enough to walk carefully around gods not his own. But that didn't gel with the questions Tragos was asking, nor his reactions.
There was one recent occasion Athena could think of, when Hecate had encountered followers of Ares. One encounter that might provoke misgivings on Hecate's side and disquiet on Tragos'.
Hecate had never said what had become of the men who had attacked her.