{"id":1125,"date":"2015-12-05T07:24:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-05T13:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1125"},"modified":"2015-12-06T07:15:16","modified_gmt":"2015-12-06T13:15:16","slug":"ephiny-and-the-new-princess-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1125","title":{"rendered":"Ephiny and the New Princess – Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the New Princess<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/span><\/p>\n

Ephiny walked alongside Eponin on their way back to the camp.\u00a0 They were quite, both deep in thought and Eph had a feeling it was probably the same thing.\u00a0 Something didn\u2019t add up and it worried her especially when you add in the fact that Terreis had one of her strange looks when looking at Gabrielle and she felt sure now something would happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all right?\u201d Eponin asked causing Eph to look over at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u00a0 Oh, yeah, just thinking about something and how strange it all seems,\u201d Ephiny replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what you mean,\u201d Eponin replied before stopping and looking at her.\u00a0 \u201cYou think it\u2019s the Romans?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey did give me the creeps at dinner,\u201d Ephiny answered after some thought.\u00a0 She looked up as they approached the camp and an Amazon approached to give Eponin the report on the camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cReport,\u201d Eponin stated the moment the Amazon was close enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cCamp is set up, though the scouts reported a strange man wondering around, but no one got a good look at him before he left,\u201d the report came back.<\/p>\n

\u201cChances are it\u2019s a curious stranger, but keep the guard up anyways, the last thing we need is some man thinking he\u2019s needed in our camp,\u201d Eponin said.<\/p>\n

Ephiny shuddered at that thought knowing any such advances would probably be unwelcomed by almost everyone in the camp.\u00a0 \u201cThat would dampen our meeting with the Conqueror.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr improve it depending on the guy,\u201d Eponin stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrat,\u201d Eph responded.\u00a0 \u201cNow that I think about it, Gabrielle had a lot of questions about Amazons and our way of life, so it wouldn\u2019t be surprising that others have questions as well.\u00a0 Some of them they might actually believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYuck,\u201d Eponin said shuddering slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI always wonder who makes up these stupid rumors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably some guy who feels threatened by a strong woman,\u201d Eph said.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I don\u2019t hear those rumors about the Conqueror.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because she\u2019s sleeping with the Ares, or only drinks blood or something like that,\u201d Eponin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought it was only human blood,\u201d Eph said as they reached their tent and walked inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cI highly doubt that one as well, she looked like she was enjoying that meat too much,\u201d Eponin said.\u00a0 \u201cI think if she drank blood Gabrielle might be a bit paler, or dead by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph had to agree, it made sense, but that brought another thought to her mind.\u00a0 Gabrielle and the Conqueror were such an odd mix but seemed so right for each other.\u00a0 She wondered if one could even exist now without the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat reminds me, do you think you can get through tomorrow without staring at Gabrielle?\u201d Eponin asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, what about you?\u201d Eph returned the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the one who gets all gaga around her,\u201d Eponin stated.\u00a0 \u201cIf I didn\u2019t know you better I might be jealous of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, caught me a bit off guard, that\u2019s all,\u201d Eph answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Eponin said, looking at Eph skeptically.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep that up and you\u2019ll be sleeping outside or on guard duty,\u201d Eph said, returning her lover\u2019s glare.<\/p>\n

Then who will keep you warm,\u201d Eponin stated wrapping her arms around Eph.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a warm night, I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s warm, but it might get hotter still,\u201d Eponin replied.<\/p>\n

Eph had to agree with that statement.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Ephiny made her way back into the main hallway the following morning for the promised mid-day meal in the main room in the castle.\u00a0 The guards had reported to Epon9in that everything had been quiet, which made them both glad.\u00a0 Now they were making another appearance as she spotted the Romans already seated and the delegation from Chin not far away and spotted a few more who were there last night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, this all looks cozy,\u201d Eponin said as she too looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, seems like the Romans don\u2019t like us too much anymore,\u201d Eph said looking at the faces before another thought came to her.\u00a0 \u201cNot sure they ever did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably pissed we made a deal with the Conqueror,\u201d Eponin replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish they didn\u2019t appear so hostile with everyone, it gets annoying and makes me wonder what they are planning,\u201d Eph said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think they are planning something?\u201d Eponin asked as they reached their seats.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, yeah, they probably are,\u201d Eph replied back, but unsure if what they were planning even involved the Amazons, and figured probably not.\u00a0 Sitting they watched as the Conqueror and Gabrielle made their appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re staring again,\u201d Eponin stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, can\u2019t help it.\u00a0 There\u2019s something about her, almost as if she\u2019s touched somehow,\u201d Eph said trying to make sense of it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I thought we concluded she was touched by Aphrodite when she visited the Nation,\u201d Eponin stated.\u00a0 \u201cOr are you saying she\u2019s touched by someone else as well?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps, I can\u2019t explain it, but its familiar somehow,\u201d Eph replied back.<\/p>\n

The servers arrived placing both some breakfast or lunch items in front of them and tempting them to try everything.\u00a0 Ephiny noticed last night the food was wonderful and had a feeling that was more Gabrielle\u2019s doing than anything else.<\/p>\n

She glanced towards Terreis who was now engaged in conversation with someone from Chin seated next to them.\u00a0 Eph thought it was the same woman from last night, and figured she was someone important from Chin.<\/p>\n

Taking a second she looked back up to see the interaction between the Conqueror and Gabrielle.\u00a0 The sight of the Conqueror hand feeding Gabrielle made her wonder who the predator was?\u00a0 It seemed as if Gabrielle enjoyed this as much as the Conqueror.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re an Amazon,\u201d a voice said causing Eph to turn to see an overweight man sitting down next to her.\u00a0 She seemed to recognize him from last night but had no idea who he was associated with, though from the accent she assumed he was Greek.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Eponin replied before Ephiny could say anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, good, good, I\u2019m Salmoneus, but everyone calls me Sal,\u201d the man said quickly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019re going to be doing business then, I\u2019m the Trade Overseer for Cornith, been hounding the Empress for a treaty with the Amazons for a while now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, how long have you been in this position,\u201d Ephiny asked, curious to the inner workings of the Conqueror\u2019s government.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, well, let\u2019s see,\u201d the man said, pausing to think about the question.\u00a0 \u201cFive, no, six, yes six seasons now, and wouldn\u2019t have made it this far without the little one there.\u00a0 That\u2019s a new mantra around here for the past couple of seasons, but it\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s made that much of a difference,\u201d Eph asked, looking over at Gabrielle before looking back at Sal.<\/p>\n

\u201cAround here, we look at the Empire as pre, and post, Gabrielle,\u201d Sal said.\u00a0 \u201cEight seasons ago I\u2019d never think one person could make such a difference in the Empire.\u00a0 Bleak, dark days they were, and I\u2019m glad I wasn\u2019t in a position I am now back then.\u00a0 He Empress had no patience for people, likes to do her talking with a sword first, talking second.\u00a0 You could say the little one calmed the Empress down allowing communications between everyone to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes the Conqueror know how people think about her?\u201d Eph asked, not sure anyone would want that information out.\u00a0 She would want control.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, though I think it took a couple of years, and the Empress fought it like crazy, thought people would see her as weak or some such nonsense.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t here at the time, but the little one made things easier for the Empress,\u201d Sal said.\u00a0 \u201cOne day, about five years ago I thought for sure the Empress would end my life, I made a bad trade with Britannia and cost the Empire a lot of money, and something I didn\u2019t want report.\u00a0 I even saw her reach for her sword, but the little one intercepted the action.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what she said to the Empress, but after a few heartbeats the Empress backed down a bit, and I received a verbal beating I don\u2019t want to ever go through again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, the Conqueror can still be violent, and has a way with words,\u201d Eph said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u00a0 Oh, no, the Empress didn\u2019t say a word, she sat there glowering at me, the little one did.\u00a0 At the time I think being killed would have been the easier way out,\u201d Sal said surprising Eph.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Gabrielle berated you,\u201d Eponin said having been listening in.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s very good with words, and the wisdom she states, well around here, we think she\u2019s touched by the goddess,\u201d Sal said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAphrodite?\u201d Eph said having a guess, something she had wondered about as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cAphrodite, no, Athena,\u201d Sal replied quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than one,\u201d Eponin said sharing a glanc with Eph.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, more than one?\u201d Sal asked a bit confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe noticed she has the mark of Aphrodite on her,\u201d Eph stated wondering how they could miss it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, yes, I seem to recall someone mentioning that a while ago,\u201d Sal finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAphrodite, Athena, wonder who else,\u201d Eponin said asking the question Eph seemed to be thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know, well, I enjoyed talking to you, I\u2019ll probably see you later on for more trading information, if not, then sometime in the future,\u201d Sal said as he excused himself and headed off across the room to greet someone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that was informative,\u201d Eph said thinking about everything Sal said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and look who is on their way over here,\u201d Eponin said.<\/p>\n

Eph looked over to see Gabrielle heading in their direction.\u00a0 She waited as Gabrielle stopped close to Terreis asking her a question which Eph didn\u2019t hear but turned towards Eph and Eponin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019 shouldn\u2019t be a problem,\u201d Terreis said<\/p>\n

That caused Eph to wonder what Gabrielle had asked even as the young woman headed back to the front of the room leaving them to look at Terreis.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe wanted to see our camp,\u201d Terreis stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t see why not,\u201d Eph said, looking over at Eponin who shrugged her shoulders despite knowledge that Gabrielle was very observant she doubted anything would happen here.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably curious about it,\u201d Eponin said, which Ephiny had to agree with.<\/p>\n

The meal began to wind down, and many guest were leaving, or making it know they were leaving.\u00a0 She glanced over to see that the Romans had already left and that Gabrielle was on her way back towards them, flanked by two guards.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you ready,\u201d Terreis asked when Gabrielle reached them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Gabrielle replied.\u00a0 Eph thought she looked like a small child at Solstice rather than a slave as her eyes lit up with excitement.\u00a0 \u201cI learned so much while visiting you, but there\u2019s still a lot to learn, and the only way to do that is to actually spend time with the people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSurprised you haven\u2019t visited the other camps,\u201d Eponin said with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, well, Chin I\u2019ve been to several times, its their third year to attend so I go when they arrive.\u00a0 Its fascinating watching them set up their camp.\u00a0 Sorry I missed yours,\u201d Gabrielle said.\u00a0 \u201cI did manage to see the Centaur camp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCentaurs?\u00a0 Here?\u201d Eph said interrupting Gabrielle.\u00a0 \u201cI haven\u2019t seen any.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because their camp is on the opposite side of the city to ensure no problems happen between the groups,\u201d Gabrielle said.\u00a0 \u201cAnd there are guards situated all around to keep the peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you have enough guards,\u201d Terries said.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no love between some groups.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the more reason to begin the healing process,\u201d Gabrielle replied back to them.\u00a0 \u201cI rarely see such animosity between two groups.\u00a0 A small, innocent, mistake could start a wary costing a lot of lives, even your society.\u00a0 Its especially true if there is not communication between the groups present.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt communication could ever happen Gabrielle,\u201d Terreis stated.\u00a0 \u201cI guess you could say it would take a small miracle to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou forget who I share my life with,\u201d Gabrielle replied back to her.<\/p>\n

Eph thought about that for a few seconds, hearing the echo of their footsteps in the corridor before exiting and the stone was replaced with dirt.\u00a0 She noticed a few additional guards now that they were outside and realized who they were guarding, not that it took much to figure that out.\u00a0 Each was position calmly and in a position to easily defend the small slave if anything happened.<\/p>\n

She felt Eponin move closer as Gabrielle and Terreis moved ahead of them, engrossed in a conversation which Eph could not understand but managed to figure out it had something to do with politics and psychology.\u00a0 She stopped listening and switched to observing the small slave a bit more.\u00a0 Gabrielle walked with a combination of inner strength and beauty, and a bit of seductress.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what are you thinking,\u201d Eponin whispered to her.\u00a0 \u201cAnd stop staring at her butt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh, oh, sorry,\u201d Eph replied taking her eyes off Gabrielle and looking back at Eponin.\u00a0 \u201cJust thinking about how she walks.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched Eponin turn to look and watch how Gabrielle walked and Eph waited a few seconds before saying anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow you\u2019re staring,\u201d Eph said to her lover.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, doing research,\u201d Eponin replied quickly.\u00a0 \u201cBut you\u2019re right, its interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, when I look it\u2019s staring but when you stare its research,\u201d Eph stated back at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d Eponin answered not looking her way.<\/p>\n

Eph shook her head, about to say more when a sudden sense of danger overwhelmed her senses and her training took over.\u00a0 She allowed to much distance between herself and Terreis.\u00a0 Even as she moved forward she saw Terreis slump forward in a slow motion and now the guards reacted as well.\u00a0 She noticed Gabrielle reacted in a way she did not expect, covering Terreis\u2019 body with her own.<\/p>\n

The guards quickly formed a circle around Gabrielle looking for the danger as Ephiny and Eponin quickly moved in.\u00a0 The sight before her brought Ephiny to her knees, Terreis had been shot by an arrow.\u00a0 Even as she processed this she heard running.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d she heard the Conqueror say taking over.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Gabrielle said.\u00a0 \u201cTerreis was hit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph moved slightly for the Conqueror to move down beside her and look at the wound.\u00a0 They all understood the wound was life-threatening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want this person found, NOW!\u201d the Conqueror shouted causing several people to jump.\u00a0 \u201cAnd escort Gabrielle back to the palace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ephiny suddenly realized the target might not have been Terreis at all, but Gabrielle and cursed herself for not realizing the danger.\u00a0 She then realized Terreis still needed to pass the Rite-of-Caste, if she still could and only she and Eponin were here.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabrielle,\u201d Terreis said, looking up at het Conqueror.<\/p>\n

Her words broke a silent exchange between Gabrielle and the Conqueror.\u00a0 Gabrielle knelt down, taking Terreis\u2019 hand and waiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I\u2019ve seen many things, even I c-can\u2019t understand.\u00a0 I need you to t-take my rite-of-caste,\u201d Terreis said and Eph was surprised at the action and wanted to protest when Terreis continued to speak.\u00a0 \u201cArtemis has t-touch you, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it will give you peace, I will,\u201d Gabrielle said before Eph could even form any words to protest and looked back down at Terreis.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will,\u201d Terreis said, a slight smile coming to her face before looking over at Ephiny.\u00a0 \u201cBe strong my friend, and tell them it\u2019s Artemis\u2019 wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ephiny strained to hear the words before replying she would, despite tears falling down her cheeks and felt Eponin wrap a hand around her.<\/p>\n

Things became complicated, the next princess of the Nation was a slave to the Conqueror.\u00a0 She wondered at how this would go over with the rest of the Nation.<\/p>\n

End part 2<\/p>\n

Continued in part 3<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the New Princess by AJ Marks Part 2 Ephiny walked alongside Eponin on their way back to the camp.\u00a0 They were quite, both deep in thought and Eph had a feeling it was probably the same thing.\u00a0 Something didn\u2019t add up and it worried her especially when you add in the fact that […]
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