Anya's Journey to Freedom

The sun beat down on the desert sands mercilessly, but that didn't deter N'Koba. The young warrior rode through the deserts of North Africa on horseback, seemingly without a care in the world. His dark skin glistened with sweat as he rode along and his long hair fluttered about, but he was oblivious to it all.

He was headed for Awshum, a large city that sat close to the coast. It was within walking distance from the port and it was where many of the merchant ships would dock. He had been given an important job by his king, and he was determined to not let anyone down. Not even a little sandstorm could stop him from getting there on time.

An hour later, he arrived at the city gates. He quickly dismounted from his horse and tied it to the wooden fence that surrounded the city's walls. Then, he made his way towards the city gate, which was flanked by two soldiers. They looked at each other briefly when they saw N'Koba approach them, then they looked to him again in shock when they realized who it was.

"What in the world is going on here?" N'Koba asked hurriedly as he approached them. "Why are you guys just standing here?"

"King Diodorus has ordered that all citizens remain indoors until further notice," one of them said nervously. "The King wants everyone to be safe before we march forth."

"March forth? Where are you marching to?" N'Koba asked curiously as he took off his helmet and wiped away some of the sweat that dripped down his forehead with his handkerchief.

"We're marching to Carthage," said the guard. "King Diodorus has declared war against King Hasdrubal of Carthage."

N'Koba's eyes widened in surprise at this news and he stared at one of the guards for a moment, then back up at one of the guards again in disbelief. "War?" he asked incredulously after a moment had passed. "You know what will happen if you march into Carthage unprepared, don't you?"

"Yes," said the guard sharply, "but King Diodorus knows what he's doing."

"I hope so," N'Koba said quietly under his breath before looking back up at one of them again. "How soon does your army plan to march?" he asked before glancing over at one of them for a moment and then looking back at their commander again when no answer came from him. The soldier continued to stare out into the desert to avoid eye contact with him, prompting N'Koba to look back over at one of them again when still nobody answered him this time around either. "How soon?" he repeated impatiently after waiting another moment or so for an answer that never came back from them again. Still not getting an answer this time around either, N'Koba huffed quietly under his breath in annoyance before plucking up his patience once more and looking over at one of them again when still nobody answered him back yet again; although this time around they still didn't answer him either when N'Koba turned towards them yet again after yet another moment had passed by or so either; prompting N'Koba to reach over and grab one of them by their shoulder and turn him around forcefully when still nobody answered him back after yet another moment or so had passed by or so as well; forcing both soldiers to look irritatedly over at him in response when N'koba did just that too now after having waited for so long for an answer that just hadn't come back from them yet again earlier on today either; prompting N'koba to sigh quietly under his breath in frustration as he dropped their shoulders once more after having finally gotten their attention back now too after having waited for so long for an answer earlier on today as well too now too though before asking impatiently once more: "How soon does your army plan to march?" This time around though, both soldiers responded back steadily enough now: "We're leaving tomorrow afternoon," one of them replied shortly afterward; prompting N'koba to nod silently towards them before thanking them politely for their help and turning around resolutely towards his horse now too now that he finally knew how far ahead of schedule these soldiers were planning on leaving tomorrow afternoon now; ultimately deciding wisely not to press any further for answers considering how tired everybody already sounded right about now too considering how far ahead of schedule these soldiers planned on leaving tomorrow afternoon now too since they were already planning on doing much better than their king ever could have imagined right about now too if things went well plus after all especially if they left early enough tomorrow afternoon like they had originally planned too just earlier today while everybody else stayed behind inside their homes until further notice like they had originally planned earlier today while everybody else stayed inside until further notice instead!