That evening, Apollonia rode a coach to her brother's house to say goodbye. The house's door opened and she was looking at a familiar face, a man in Roman armor... But it was not her brother. She heard a rough voice speak. "Excuse me, Miss. I was just leaving." She stepped out of the way and gasped when his face came into the light.
"Nerius? Why are you- Oh! You didn't- Did you...?" She couldn't believe it. He had done it. He joined the Roman legion. She fought back a sob. Now he would be stuck as a soldier for twenty years. He wouldn't be able to become a craftsman! Why did he do that? His face was stone, as if he did not even know her. His boots made a rhythmic stomping noise as he marched down the road.
Turning back to the house, she saw her brother. Dressed in identical armor, with his wife at his side, he looked at her sadly. "Don't be so surprised, Polly. Men his age tend to make rash decisions like that." His solemn face ended when a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth. "I wouldn't worry. Maybe he'll become a blacksmith for the company." Stepping towards him Apollonia gave her older brother a hug and wished him good luck. In response, he pinched her nose and said, "I'll tell him you said goodbye." She thanked him and returned home. On the way, she looked out the window and caught a glimpse of Nerius on the side of the road, staring at his reflection in the puddle he was standing in. his armor was shiny, even in the dark. She could picture him with a dirty apron on, standing over a hot forge with a hammer in his hand. 'Yes', She thought. 'He would make a fine blacksmith.'
YOU ARE READING
APOLLONIA
Historical Fiction200 BC aprox.-Daughter of Roman General dreams of traveling the world, but her plans are interrupted by war, tragedy, and many happenings that test her patience and strength.
