The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden rays across the open field that blanketed the castle grounds. King Luca stood motionless, his shoulder seeming tense, hands on his hips as he stared into the horizon far away. His usual composite was strained a total turmoil of emotions flickering on his face. Behind him, Athena approached, her steps planned, the soft crunch of leaves beneath her feet was the only sound in the stillness.
“You’ve been avoiding me, Luca.” Her voice rang out with a sharpness to it like a blade wrapped in cotton fabric. She stopped a few feet away, her eyes scanning his profile, looking for cracks in his armour. “You made me look like a fool to the council, the other day. Don’t forget that you made me a promise, Luca.”
Luca didn’t move at first, his eyes still fixe
