The Seige

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The siege in Mytilene had begun. The soldiers had been forced to enter the city, where they patrolled it and kept watch on top of the walls. The Argive army was camped outside the walls. They outnumbered the Lesbian army two to one. During the first week, they practiced drills everyday from sunrise to sundown. Over the next two weeks, though, they started slacking. It was the fourth week and they were mostly talking and playing games.

Frank was glad he'd been able to send a letter to Hazel and another to his family before the Argive had closed in on them, cutting them off from all communication. He had written to tell them he was okay and had learned how to fight with a sword. However much it had been good to write to them, however, Frank wished he could see them in person. He longed to guide his herd of goats to the riverside and worms a day with Hazel in the long sunshine of springtime. He longed to eat his mother's cooking instead of the slip the army was fed.

      Unlike the Argives, they were not allowed to rest. General Hedge led by example. He woke up early every morning and began training. There were required drills every morning and then the soldiers had the afternoon and evening off (unless they were stationed on guard duty). In the evening, they had dinner and were allowed stronger wine, but General Hedge was sparing with both food and drink; he didn't want the people of Mytilene to come to resent the army.

General Hedge held optional drills during the afternoons and evening. He practiced in the largest gymnasia in the city and he invited anyone to watch. With little else to do except worry, the people of Mytilene came in droves to watch the soldiers parley, wrestle, and race. The soldiers were no less enthusiastic; they enjoyed the attention and several of them found sweethearts in the city. It was the drills more than anything that kept the city united and sane.

      One of Frank's comrades, a lanky guy named Travis clapped him on the back day after they finished training one afternoon. "This totally gorgeous girl was staring at you," he said. "You should go say hi to her."

   Travis had his eye on a maiden named Katie who he was trying to woo with flowers and his "animal magnetism." So far it was not working. Frank shook his head. "I have a sweetheart back at home."

     "What's she like?" Travis asked.

      Frank smiled, thinking of Hazel. "The kindest person I know and the bravest. She's a shepherdess."

   Travis whistled. "Lucky. I wonder why I always fall for girls who hate my guts."

   Frank smothered his laughter. "I'd better go see Nico. I promised we'd meet today."

    "Okay," Travis said, shrugging. "Bye Frank."

***

   Frank met Nico in the agora. They were planning on finding Bianca today. Nico looked nervous, his dark eyes flickering around. He was twisting the skull ring on his right hand and he looked up when Frank approached. "Okay," he breathed. "You're here."

    The first day they'd been forced into the city, Nico had gone to the temple of Artemis to find his sister, but she wasn't there. "Do you want to try the temple again?" Frank asked.

   Nico nodded. They set off. Despite how packed the city was with people, it seemed lifeless. People weren't staring out of their windows at soldiers passing by anymore, but mostly staying shuttered in their houses. Even when they went out to conduct business, the people were quick and nervous. Only during the public training drills did the general populace dare to smile or laugh. The Argive army had not really tried to attack the walls and Frank wondered if they were just waiting so that they could starve out the city. It was a cruel, but slow plan that would be effective only if Mytilene was totally cut off, which it currently was.

The temple was quiet and shrouded in shadows. The altar wasn't burning and when Frank touched it, he noticed the ashes were cold. When Nico and Frank entered the temple, they saw no one. Nico frowned and looked around, his eyes wide. "Where is she?"

They searched throughout the whole temple, but there wasn't a soul in site. The floor was dusty and when they returned outside to gaze at the altar, Frank noticed that it too was dirty. "What happened?" he asked. "It seems like no had been here since. . ."

"Since we arrived," Nico said in a tight voice.

Frank wanted to offer Nico some comfort, but what could he give? Nico was about as prickly as a porcupine and thrice as dangerous. A veiled woman approached them. She looked about the age of Frank's mother and she had warm brown eyes. A lock of her black hair slipped from underneath her veil. "The temple is closed," she said.

"Where are the priestesses?" Nico asked.

The woman smiled wryly. "They are okay. When the Argives began attacking, General Hedge had the priestesses taken to temples in other city-states."

Nico sighed in relief. People usually didn't attack priestesses or supplicants at temples, but it was known to happen. "Do you know where they were taken?" he asked eagerly.

The woman shook her head. "No. We only know they were taken away for their safety."

"Maybe Bianca is at the other temple t Artemis," Frank said, trying to reassure Nico. "After all, that is where she serves."

Nico nodded and thanked the woman, but he was awfully quiet that night. Frank wished he could send another letter to Hazel, but what would she make of the news? Frank wished he could end this war. The siege had lasted you weeks already and the people were tired of it. They were tired of being stuck inside the city walls. They were tired of how crowded Mytilene had become with refugees from the countryside. They were bored and angry and soon, Frank knew, the army would have another enemy to battle: hunger.

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