Chapter 2- A New Land
The void around him suddenly disintegrated. The bright veil around dispersed, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. The fog that encapsulated him began to clear; he stepped forward into a field clearing. He looked too either side, he was surrounded by stunned people, Greeks. They seemed as disoriented as he was; he recognized some of the faces as people from the Greek capital.
He looked around the clearing, in all his life he'd never left the Greek Island of Merosa, and he knew the entire island back to front. And this most definitely was not Merosa. Before him lay what looked to be an abandoned Greek settlement from long ago, obviously not the grand metropolis he had been in moments before.
A figure stepped onto a rocky outcropping at the crest of the bank which rolled down to the settlement. His eyes scanned from a vantage point over the entire area surrounding the village. Alex suddenly recognized the individual, General Sturnn, Supreme Commander of the Greek army. He was dressed in the flowing red robes of a Greek Officer, his sword securely fastened against his waist, he held his helmet against his knee for support, his balance unwavering. A true symbol of the Greek Army.
He was still, unmoving, drawing on his past experiences from countless campaigns to determine their next course of action. He suddenly broke from his trance like state, glancing down towards the group of civilians that had gathered before him. "The Greek god has blessed us" He pointed towards the Greek settlement. "A Greek settlement lies before us. From there we shall rebuild, we shall prosper, and then we shall strike back against the cretins that sent us into exile. The Aztecs!" The civilians muttered amongst themselves, the General's stirring words filling them with confidence. The General was well known for placing infinite faith in the Greek God, a true believer if there ever was one.
The Greek villagers walked down the hill towards the village, ready to start their new lives in this land. After the horrors they had witnessed on Merosa they simply yearned for a return to mundane normality. But Alex remained firmly where he was, watching as the civilians flowed down towards the village. Alex broke away from the group, walking further up the hill overlooking the village.
General Sturnn noticed this lone straggler, leaping from his vantage point to intercept them, stepping in their way. "Going somewhere, Private?" Alex stared silently into the Generals eyes. He was an old man, a veteran of many campaigns, but his eyes still burned with the fiery determination of youth.
"I think we both have bigger things to deal with right now" Alex tried to side step the general, only to have him block his route once again. His age meant he was not as agile as he used to be, but he was still light on his feet.
"Private Alexander was it not?" He asked with an inquisitive eye. "I could use a man like you to train my militia, once we decide to take the fight to the Aztecs"
Alex sidestepped Sturnn again, this time the he didn't move "Yeah, let me know how that goes, if you survive long enough to tell me"
Several days came and went; Alex remained out of sight of the rest of the rest of the population. Every day he stepped out of his newly built villa, fed and refreshed and without a word. He watched from the hilltop overlooking the town, watching the town unfold before him. The temple had been recently finished, a crowning monument to the Greek god. "Huh" Alex sneered. "A real god he was, allowing his capital be captured by those creatures". "My wife…" He spoke aloud, too far away for anyone else to hear him. "A God. A gift or a curse"
He looked across to the other side of the town; there was the partially constructed Armoury, what would soon become the beating heart of the Greek war machine. At least there remained one thing in this land he understood, something he could do.
Suddenly something on the horizon caught his attention, breaking him from his trance. He rose to his feet to gain a better view. Squinting against the early morning light he saw a group of people approaching, Norse.
Alex charged the hill towards the advancing group, hand clasped tightly on the hilt of sword hanging at his waist. He stood at the border of the town, single handily facing down the advancing group of over thirty people. He was surprised to discover they were villagers- men, women, and children. Not soldiers. But that alone failed to deter his suspicions- not ever soldier wore armour and carried a blade. "Halt" He held his hand out in a stance of authority. The group slowed to a stop at his command. "What are you doing here?" He spoke in a booming voice which seemed to deter some of the youngest amongst them.
An aged man stepped forward. He had flowing white hair, hints of black demonstrating the colour of its youth. He was tall, strong. He bare arms were marked with scars- he was a veteran of war. He was most definitely their leader. "We have come to ask for the honour of joining your glorious metropolis"
This took Alex by surprise, but he made sure that it never made a presence on his face. "You think we are going to let-"
"Private!" A voice called out behind him.
General Sturnn stepped forward behind him. "Stand down" Sturnn spoke to Alex. Alex followed the command without question; he was still a Greek soldier.
The general stepped forward, addressing the new arrivals with a raised hand. "Now, what's going on here?"
The Norse leader stepped forward once again to greet Sturnn, raising his hand for shaking. "We wish the honour, of joining your great civilization"
The General smiled, accepting the offered hand with little hesitation. "Welcome to our town, brother"
The Norse leader smiled back. "Thank you" With their leader's approval the Norse villagers stepped along the path towards the growing Greek town.
Alex stepped to the Generals side, only speaking once he was sure they were out of ear shot of the Norse. "I don't trust them"
Sturnn glanced at his only remaining soldier in this land. "What makes you think they will betray us so quickly?"
"They are Norse, they cannot be trusted" Alex spoke.
"Accepting people willing to join us strengthens our city, and weakens our enemies" Sturnn motioned across the land beyond them, the land pocketed by areas of Norse villagers, many willing to fight against a Greek 'invasion'. "There is a life here besides war for us"
Alex glanced across the same territory Sturnn saw, but his attention was suddenly drawn away by a familiar sight. A young girl just a bit shorter than he was. Brown hair cascaded down the back of her tattered clothing. She was the spitting image of Acacia; he stepped forward, ready to intercept her. But suddenly he froze; the girls emerald eyes passed over him, they lacked the fiery passion that he adored his Acacia for. This girl was not her.
The girl glanced towards him; a smile grew on her delicate lips. The girl's father noticed him, motioning his daughter away with a wave of his hand. Alexander had to find her again.
Twilight covered the Greek town. Glittering lights glowed brightly against the dark sky, Alex walked through the abandoned streets. An occasional passerby walked past him, trudging their way home after a tiring day of work. But Alex could see the specific light he was after, a tiny beacon flaring dully on the hillside amidst a sea of darkness. Alex followed the light that sat upon a bank overlooking the town.
Kari sat on the bank, watching the dying lights of the town she now called home. She suddenly heard a sound behind her; she swung herself around, ready to face whatever was trying to sneak up on her. Out of the shadows slinked a figure, a muscled man dressed in Greek robes. "You?" Alex stepped into the light of the camp fire. "You are that Greek soldier"
Alex sat down next to her, his tanned skin flaring with the light of the fire. "Sorry about. About how I acted. I was a little on edge" Alex stared into the roaring flames.
"Fear leads to war, war kills people. Killed my mother" Kari curled her fingers up to her chest. Alex knew how she felt. "There was nothing I could do to save her"
"I know how you feel. My wife was killed in an Aztec assault on my city, while I was busy fighting in another area of the city. Then I suddenly ended up here." Alex starred into the dancing flames. "With you"
A sudden weight fell on Alex's shoulders, he straightened in surprise. He suddenly realized what it was; Kari hugged his broad shoulders tightly. She listened gently to his slow heart beat. Alex placed his arm around her, simply staring out across the sea of lights. "It's nice to be with someone who knows your pain"
Alex rubbed his hand on her shoulder, relaxing the tense muscles with every delicate movement. Kari nuzzled up against him. He missed the warm embrace of Acacia. But she was gone. He just had to accept that.