Acacia

Chapter 2

In the grand expanse of the towering castle, sun streamed through the conical rooftops, casting long shadows across the cobbled courtyard. Anna stepped out into the cool air, her heart racing at the thought of visiting the hospitals where her men lay. The war had taken its toll, and mortality lingered like an unwelcome shadow. As she wove through the tents set up for the wounded, the earthy scent of damp grass mixed with iron filled her nostrils, as sounds of groans and hushed conversations echoed around her.

The city of Arnissa was a village of farmers, not designed to hold millions of soldiers. The fields which normally held vines of grapes, branches of olives and grains of wheat had been culled for the cold season. Where the empty lots lay now lined an endless city of quickly pitched tents. Some were raised in such haste that the wooden masts hardly fit into the earth. Nearer the city, the farmer of this land cried out at a soldier standing guard.

"This is unethical!" He screamed. "What wine will grow now that blood soaks the land? Demeter will never bless this land with such insolence to her bounties." Anna's heart ached for him. She saw the beauty of this land and its greenery. In all of her travels she'd never seen such a bright bounty even as the chill whispered upon the earth. Demeter was a kind goddess but one who would never allow her fruits to be tilled in unclean soil. She made a mental note to return a sack of coins for the man's kindness, to repay him for the land that was taken. She was sure that Mark hadn't even thought to ask for his permission before laying the soldiers down.

Her heart dropped as she arrived at the final tent, where a familiar figure lay bandaged and pale. "Sebastian!" she called, rushing forward, relief flooding her at the sight of her trusted advisor. He smiled weakly, his spirit unbroken despite his wounds. As they spoke, she learned of Mark's treachery, a rising concern in the kingdom — a closer proximity to their enemies than she had been aware. "We need to return home, Anna. Mark has already sent a legion to the north. His ambition is a poison, and left unchecked, it will become our downfall," he urged, his eyes glinting with fervor. Only a day's ride to the north was the Geraki. A smaller clan of soldiers that itched for a reason to fight. They had come from the Spartans and shared their lust for bloodshed.

Anna and Sebastian had been inseparable since childhood, bonding over countless adventures in the castle as children. Their shared love for the outdoors often led them to explore the nearby forests, where they would spend hours climbing trees, collecting sticks, and telling each other stories about what creatures may lie in the shadows. As they grew older duties pulled them away from each other, but their friendship remained as steadfast as the tides that beat the shores of Acacia. When Anna's training had been completed, and it was time for her to appoint her advisor, she knew she wanted it to be Sebastion.

Their fathers had never learned of their affairs, even as they had grown from childhood they never crossed the boundaries of friendship, but both secretly longed for something deeper. Sebastian had often haunted her sleep. She dreamed of his strong arms wrapping around her as the autumn leaves danced around them. Their laughter echoing through the crisp air, a sweet melody intertwined with whispered promises of a shared future. With every stolen glance and gentle touch, their tapestry of love was woven by the three fates. Filled with passion, vulnerability, and hope, creating a sanctuary where time stood still. As twilight would envelope the sky, she would wake with a warmth inside her that helped her battle the trials of the day.

Just as Anna began to weigh her options, a messenger, breathless and hurried, entered the tent. "You are to present yourselves before His Majesty, Ophelius of Thessaloniki, at once," he relayed, the urgency palpable in his tone. Sweat coated his brow as he bent over, leaning against the wooden mast of the tent. He had traveled very quickly, his horse had collapsed outside the tent. This new development caught them off guard, a mixture of dread and curiosity blooming in the pit of Anna's stomach. What could the king want with them, especially now? Quickly they deliberated their choices, realizing they couldn't abandon the injured but also understood the weight of royal summoning.