Title: Oranges and Omens
Description: Childhood friends Rosalía and Joaquin have shared the most important parts of their lives together – except for their feelings about each other.
A/N: Third piece in the Santa Esperanza universe. Apsara, this one wouldn't have been written without you – many thanks for wanting to know more about Joaquin and Rosalía's story!
Oranges and Omens
Faith
In five years, the world could change, and not always for the better. Joaquin missed the carefree days of getting into mischief with his friends and pining after Magdalena, his mother's cooking, and the horse who had taught him to ride. He even missed the orange groves and the backbreaking work that went into maintaining them. This work was just as important, but on most days, it felt like his soul was burning to ash.
The Oscura Luna was everywhere. The courts were rigged, and the king turned a blind eye to the violence swallowing up the province because he was both greedy and weak . And now Zacarías's mother was dead.
Joaquin had liked Ysabel de Santangel more than some of his aunts, and he couldn't imagine a world without her. The Oscura Luna had created a world where it became fact. His spirit was constantly burdened with grief and worry, and he felt like he aged ten years in the space of each day.
He had been shaky with relief when Emilia de Palma and her father finally returned to camp, reporting on the survivors of the last raid. In private, Emilia had given him more details about Zacarías's injuries.
"He'll be fine and should recover quickly. This time. But that man takes too many risks," she said. As usual, her gaze was sad and serious, but Joaquin was surprised at the unusual note of exasperation in her tone.
He poured her another mug of over-brewed tea. "I know. But it's in his nature. Would you believe he once wanted to be a naturalist?"
Emilia's answering smile was sweetly wistful. "I can believe it."
Joaquin was startled to feel the laughter rising within him. "I couldn't even count how many frogs, lizards, and beetles we caught each summer."
It was three hours before dawn, and she soon left to get some rest after being up two nights in a row. He was waiting for a message from their allies in the next town. He felt his spirits lift when he spotted the rider, a familiar figure with sweat-soaked black hair and sapphire blue eyes.
"It's good to see you, old friend." Their handclasp was brief but firm, and Joaquin knew that as he was looking Dimas over, noting new scars and old shadows under the eyes, his friend was doing the same to him.
"And you."
Dimas handed over the leather pouch of encoded reports, hidden under his shirt and carried over his heart during the long, perilous ride.
"Is your family well?" Joaquin asked, working on the knotted leather ties.
Dimas smiled briefly as he helped himself to the tea. "Yes. Rosalía is furious at being confined to a safe house, but we've convinced her that her skills are needed as a last line of defense for the children if the Oscura Luna find the house."
It still horrified him that their nemeses were willing to stop at nothing, not even killing innocent children, to get their way. Joaquin shook himself, looking for the small pinpricks of starlight in the overwhelming darkness. "Well, that should be enough to keep them away. Your sister is terrifying."
Dimas laughed softly. "Oh, yes. She has a fearsome temper, a strong arm, and excellent aim. When I saw her last, she asked about you."
"Did she?" He was inordinately pleased. Somehow, they had had a falling-out a couple of years ago, and he still didn't know why. He always hoped there would be a chance for reconciliation if this nightmare ever came to an end.
"I believe her exact words were, 'I hope that idiot Joaquin has managed to keep himself in one piece.' When I reassured her that you had, she said, 'Good. Tell him to keep it that way.'"
Joaquin was torn between amusement and chagrin. "Nice of her to have such faith in me."
Dimas stretched, trying to work out the kinks in his upper back. He made a face as one of his joints popped, then cautiously rotated his right shoulder again. "Oh, she does. She just won't admit it out loud. But whenever I tell her you'll be with me on a mission, I see the worry in her eyes ease. Just for a moment, but it always does."