Chapter 2
Alyce
Being the newbie is tough. Especially with a very cruel, power hungry brother in my tail. I don't know what I did to him…other than save his butt. But that was a story for another time. But all I can say is he basically told me to stay away from a girl named Desiree. Well not exactly told more of threatened. So I did. She did approach me a few times, I wanted to say hi but Alex was always there so I had to get away. I was placed in the Fifth Cohort, much to Alex's distaste. I did make a couple of friends, Lucas the son of Pluto, and Aldric, the son of Mercury our Centurion. Both looked older than me like eleven years old. Most people steer clear of me. I suspect Alex with this. He has had it in for me since day one. Especially now since I nearly killed his best friend, Lorrain had told me her plan for the Siege. It was simple hide in the water canon till we were close enough to the first fort to attack and I sneak in. "They'll never expect us to send a probie" she said "They won't know what hit them."
I nearly got there alright, I was about to cross the border line when my dear brother Alex decided it was a good idea to sent an earth wall in my way. I lost balance and the banner slipped from my hand sliding just right through the border line. Then he had to make a big problem about it. I swear I didn't send that wave. I was concentrating on getting away from the fight when he said it. I am not weak. I felt a familiar tug and a few shakes of the earth making the water rise to their direction. I was unaffected. Water never hurts me. I heard a moan of pain. A girl's voice! I turned in alarm to see Desiree at the base of the tree unconscious. Alex had this vicious look in his eye.
"You did this" he snarled
"I didn't"
"Who else would've?" he demanded
"You, Earth boy" I replied looking him in the eye "Haven't you heard of a tsunami it's an earthquake underwater, genius"
He was about to strike when we heard Lisa, she is the Praetor and a daughter of Mars,
"Stop it both of you" she said stepping off her Pegasus who just said "hi hows it going" for no reason. "Alex you know better than to start a fight. She was over the wall first. You should think about taking care of Desiree instead of fighting"
"Fine" he grumbled then strode off to Desiree. Then Lisa faced me.
"Since we have no evidence who did it this time I'm letting you both off the hook for now" I nodded "But for the little outburst earlier you're both going to have guard duty for a month" I stared at her wide eyed "not at the same time of course"
"Okay" I said emotionlessly as I went to find Aldric.
"I will be out for a while" I told him "I need some fresh air"
"It's alright" he said "you look like you need some time to think" he smiled then went off to gather the others to head back to the barracks. Then I headed to the woods.
I know it's very unwise and stupid to go into the woods at night. But it was inside the camp borders and it was the woods near the temples of the gods. I took some time picked some flowers found some fruits and tried to calm down. I stepped into the temple of Neptune. It always reminded me of home. When my mom would bring me to the beach, where I had felt safe. Now there is no such thing as safe this is the closest I could get. I removed the spoiled offerings and placed the new ones. I sat down to think. Unconsciously I let the tears fall. We weren't allowed to show fear or weakness in camp. But days like this it becomes too much. Once I had cried myself to sleep at a cottage near the beach I woke up with a sea green blanket wrapped around me. I left it here in the temple. As an offering and thanks. I don't remember much after that. I think I must've dozed off since I woke up on the floor. With again the green blanket around me. but what I didn't expect was a shadow over me. I shot up and saw who it was.
It was Lorrain
"So this is where you disappeared to" she said smirking "don't worry I won't tell anyone"
"Aldric knows I'm here" I said "I just didn't expect to doze off"
"I can see that"
"I am sorry" I said "about Desiree I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay I know what happened" she said "maybe you should go back to the barracks and get a change of clothes motioning to my dirty shirt and jeans.
"Yeah" I said
"And Lisa is looking for you she said go to the principia after breakfast"
"Why?"
She just shrugged but judging from her smile she knows.
"Okay then" I said "Thanks" then I went off to the barracks
After a quick breakfast I headed to the principia. When I came in Lisa and Denis were waiting. They were talking to Octavian, the old Augur that 'loved' camp so much that he hasn't left yet, and it sounded serious. But when I came in they all looked at me.
"Um…Lorrain told me you wanted to see me but if you're busy I'll come again later." I said
"No need. Come on in"
I stepped in slightly confused. "You called?"
"Yes" Lisa said "Due to some …complications last night we forgot to give you this" she motioned to Octavian.
"As the First legionnaire over the Wall I present you with the Mural Crown" he gave me a pin that was designed like a laurel wreath.
"Thanks" I said he nodded
"And to remind you of your shift starts tomorrow morning" Denis said "you should probably get to training"
"Okay thanks" and I left
"So what did they want?" Lucas asked. I passed by him on my way back from the infirmary. I visited Desiree and left her a note. He asked me if I want to go sparing. Thankfully not with his poison spere
"They just told me that my punishment starts tomorrow. I have Guard duty for a month."
"You're lucky to get off that easily" Lucas said "Roman punishments are harsh. Brushing the streets with a toothbrush, throwing you into the Tiber in a sack full of weasels. Not exactly a walk in the park." He stabbed the spear nearly making me into a shish kebab. I manage to duck just in time.
"Do you have any idea why Alex hates me so much?" I asked blocking his strikes "I mean you're his friend right?"
"Yeah he's my friend" he replied "but I don't really know why. He's always in a sense brutal. But I don't know. Maybe he's jealous"
"Why would he be jealous" I asked "he has all that earth shaking think"
"You're also a child of Neptune" he explained "he didn't inherit that god of seas part from Neptune you did"
"Yeah but still. Being an Earth shaker is probably rarer than being … well a water girl" I said giving it a lot of exaggeration "and why does he want me to stay away from that girl Desiree? It's not like I'll turn her against him."
"They came here together their as close as siblings." He said "maybe he thinks that you might take her away from him?"
"I don't know" I said twisting my sword disarming him. Then pointed my sword at his neck.
"maybe" he said pushing the sword gently removing him from target. "you need companu tomorrow?"
"I don't know" I said "all they told me is I have Guard duty they didn't tell me who will I be doing it with."
"Don't worry you'll be fine most of the time guard duty is just boring" he said "come one little cousin let's get to dinner"
"your only older than me by a year" I said
"Still a little cousin" he said the he ruffled my hair and I hit him in the stomach. Maybe with friends like these Camp may not be so bad
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