{"id":1346,"date":"2016-03-09T07:22:23","date_gmt":"2016-03-09T13:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1346"},"modified":"2016-03-12T07:17:38","modified_gmt":"2016-03-12T13:17:38","slug":"ephiny-and-the-roman-army-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1346","title":{"rendered":"Ephiny and the Roman Army – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the Roman Army<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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

Part 1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ephiny glanced back once more to where Gabrielle rode with the Conqueror and gave a small shake of her head at the sight. There was the newest princess of the Nation snuggled into the embrace of the Conqueror, a sight she never thought she\u2019d see.\u00a0 Then again she had already seen a lot of changes within the Nation itself in the past season.<\/p>\n

During the winter the Nation worked out a treaty with Greece and the Conqueror, mainly with the help of the persistence of a small slave named Gabrielle. Since signing it the Nation had managed to sever their growing dependency on Rome.\u00a0\u00a0 Now the slave, during Ephiny\u2019s visit to the Greece capital of Corinth, had gain the Rite- of Caste from Terreis who was killed by Roman merchants.\u00a0 To top it all off, the slave had more blessing from the gods and goddesses than any other mortal Ephiny had ever known, including the blessing of Artemis.<\/p>\n

The sight of Gabrielle, sitting in front of the Conqueror who had an arm wrapped around her as the horse continued on. Even from this distance Ephiny could see the love between the two of them, as she knew of no one else who could probably relax while in the Conqueror\u2019s embrace and still smile about it.<\/p>\n

She turned her gaze back forward thinking about the questions which would arise the moment they returned. It also mean the one part she dreaded, telling the others that Gabrielle had received the Rite-of-Caste and how well that would go over.\u00a0 Telling their small group had been hard enough, with surprisingly only Jana accepting after every protest she had, especially considering she voiced the thought the Conqueror had planned it all.<\/p>\n

Jana\u2019s statement had brought forth a verbal tirade from Gabrielle which Eph hadn\u2019t thought was possible from the small slave. However, in the end it was Airlea who had stopped the arguing when she stated they could ask Artemis herself.\u00a0 That statement managed to shut every up an caused Eph to question if Airlea knew more than she said.\u00a0 The priestess seemed to take it all in stride, as if she had been foretold this would all happen.<\/p>\n

Eph looked up at the sound of approaching horses and saw the honor guard with Solari in the front. Eph waited as Solari approached a bit hesitantly looking behind her at the conqueror and Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cEph, you want to tell me what\u2019s going on? Why are they here and what is going on that has the Queen in such a mood since receiving a note from you?\u201d Solari asked, covering all the important issues which Eph didn\u2019t want to deal with.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a long story,\u201d Eph said, unsure is she should even say anything as she didn\u2019t know what the Queen had said yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true then, Terreis was assassinated,\u201d Solari said looking back at the rest of the group, her eyes lingering on the litter which held Terreis\u2019 body.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne arrow, we had no time to react,\u201d Ephiny replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, who received the Rite-of-Caste?\u201d Solari asked looking around at the group. \u201cShe did pass that on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re keeping it quiet,\u201d Eph finally replied to Solari. \u201cWe think the Romans are involved, and well, its much more complex.\u00a0 And you see, its like this, gabrielleistheprincess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome again, I thought I heard, oh no, no, no, no! Tell me I didn\u2019t hear what I thought you just said,\u201d Solari said, her eyes wide and shaking her head in disbelief.<\/p>\n

Eph took a second scratching her nose trying to figure out a way how to say it so it might sound better before sighing. \u201cNope, you heard me correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that why?\u2019 Solari half asked looking behind them to where the Conqueror and the rest were riding behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but its only part of it. I really need to tell the Queen it all first before anything else happens,\u201d Ephiny stated.\u00a0 She wondered how it would look if she said an entire Greek army marched only a day behind htem.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll wait, but make me wait too long and I\u2019ll corner you and get the truth,\u201d Solari said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess one of us should inform the Queen, and let her know we\u2019re back,\u201d Eponin said, looking back at the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat and the Conqueror\u2019s group should make camp around here, men are not allowed on Amazon land for long period of time,\u201d Solari said, looking at the Greek Royal Guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I guess someone should tell the conqueror that,\u201d Eponin said looking back at them.<\/p>\n

Eph sighed knowing their relationship with the Conqueror had improved over the past couple of days, but everyone still felt wary of the warrior.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell her,\u201d Eph finally said gathering up her courage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll inform the Queen,\u201d Eponin replied back.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as Eponin and Solari headed back towards the village and she turned to head back to the Conqueror. She watched as the Conqueror tapped Gabrielle on the shoulder to gain her attention then point to Ephiny.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s up Eph?\u201d Gabrielle asked as Eph approached.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought you might want to make camp here, we\u2019re almost at the village,\u201d Eph said unsure how to bring up the idea of men on Amazon land.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd many Amazons are still wary of Greece and men,\u201d the Conqueror stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Eph replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cLinus,\u201d the Conqueror said as one of the guards came up to them waiting for orders. \u201cWe set up camp here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Empress,\u201d Linus replied as the group stopped and began making their way to a small clearing to set up camp.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as many looked on before turning to her own group, many of whom looked tired from the trip, both physically and emotionally. There were still things to do and she made the decision to stay here as someone had to.<\/p>\n

\u201cJana, go on ahead to the village, I\u2019ll remain behind as an escort to the Conqueror,\u201d she said to Jana who would take over the group for the rest of the way to the village.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, but I\u2019ll be watching for your return,\u201d Jana said, giving a brief glance towards the Conqueror.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Ephiny replied rolling her eyes at Jana anyways and her insistence that the Conqueror had planned all of this. Eph knew that none of the other amazons trusted the Conqueror, nor did they fully trust Gabrielle yet despite becoming their princess.\u00a0 She watched as they continued on to the village close behind Eponin and Solari.<\/p>\n

She looked back at the Conqueror\u2019s troops who were not starting to set up the camp. The Conqueror worked alongside the troops and wasn\u2019t surprised by that actions.\u00a0 Talking with the guards had indicated the troops were highly devoted to her, and Gabrielle.\u00a0 Of course the small slave stood off to one side, which confused Eph and headed over.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, you really don\u2019t have to stay. Watching them set up camp is really quite boring,\u201d Gabrielle said turning towards Eph and then back to the group before looking over at the Conqueror.\u00a0 \u201cEspecially if they don\u2019t allow you to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ephiny felt a bit shocked by how Gabrielle said it and who she directed it to. The Conqueror paused and walked over.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe if you didn\u2019t bring down an entire campsite when you help you could help,\u201d the Conqueror replied standing in front of the small blonde who merely looked back up at her before starting to walk in a circle waving her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne swing,\u201d Gabrielle said. \u201cOne small swing and they never let you forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Eph asked before she could even stop herself from asking.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour princess there decided it would be a nice thing to help put up the tents. I should have known better though.\u00a0 She went to help drive a stake into the ground, missed, hit the guard in the foot who stumbled causing the tent to collapse.\u00a0 He bumped into a second man who took down a second tent.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never seen a chain reaction like that before in my life, by the time it was over the entire camp had been knocked down,\u201d the Conqueror replied with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cThe Amazons have no idea what their getting into.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I warn the village then,\u201d Ephiny replied in mock horror, raising her arms in surrender causing the Conqueror to laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa-ha, I\u2019m surrounded by comedians,\u201d Gabrielle replied looking over at the Conqueror. \u201cAnd you, just wait Xena, just wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll, I\u2019ll be good,\u201d the Conqueror said before adding, \u201cyour majesty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, and you better not forget it,\u201d Gabrielle replied back to her.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at the Conqueror and something about it all seemed very unreal to her. Standing in front of her, the Conqueror, one of the most feared warriors in all of Greece, yet a small blonde-haired slave stood toe to toe with her almost unafraid of her.<\/p>\n

They all turned at the sound of people approaching.\u00a0\u00a0 Eph looked on to see a group of people and she recognized Solair and Epinon along with Queen Melosa approaching them.\u00a0 In a way their appearance had interrupted Eph\u2019s observations the interactions between the Conqueror and Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as the Queen approached them giving a nod to the Conqueror and headed to Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabrielle, I didn\u2019t expect to see you again so soon, or you Xena,\u201d Melosa said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting times involve interesting meetings,\u201d the Conqueror said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, she teach you that?\u201d Melosa said looking at Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe teaches many interesting things to those willing to listen,\u201d the Conqueror replied back.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, things are most interesting, are they not princess?\u201d Melosa said looking right at Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd very complex,\u201d Gabrielle replied. \u201cYou received the prisoner?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and he\u2019ll receive Amazon justice for killing a princess of the Nation,\u201d Melosa answered back to them.<\/p>\n

Ephiny watched as the conversation went back and forth and she had the feeling Melosa was testing Gabrielle for something.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps we should have this discussion in private,\u201d Gabrielle suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps, I am very interested to hear this story,\u201d Melosa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d Eph muttered, she personally wished she didn\u2019t know the story at all, or was even involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, things are moving well here,\u201d the Conqueror said looking back at the troops. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you and Queen Melosa head to the village and you can tell her the story of what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019ll escort the Conqueror back to the village,\u2019 Eph replied quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure about that?\u201d Gabrielle asked, looking at Eph and then over at the Conqueror and remained focused there.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m sure, and it would get you out of here. After all, I know how much you love watching us set up camp,\u201d the Conqueror said to her glancing over at a couple of guards.\u00a0 \u201cKris, Puivine, escort Bri to the Amazon village.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph watched as two female guards stepped forward as the group then turned and headed to the village leaving them alone once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, you didn\u2019t have to stay,\u201d the Conqueror said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but I know the story already, lived it, and guess I don\u2019t want to hear it again. Perhaps I\u2019m avoiding the truth in some way,\u201d Eph replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuit yourself,\u201d the Conqueror said before heading back towards the others to help them set up the tents.<\/p>\n

Eph found a shady spot nearby watching the group work and comparing it to the amazon. Both worked very efficiently on getting tents up.\u00a0 Each group had their job that they did much like the amazons.\u00a0 Even the Conqueror stepped in and worked as well.\u00a0 She could see the other soldiers were devoted to her, and her work ethic probably helped.\u00a0 The Conqueror wasn\u2019t a person who allowed others to do her work.<\/p>\n

Eph\u2019s thoughts turned to the Queen and who was the new princess. She hoped by avoiding returning a bit longer she could avoid all the turmoil she knew would happen when some found out what happened.\u00a0 She hoped the Conqueror wasn\u2019t too fast in setting up camp.<\/p>\n

End part 1<\/p>\n

Continued in part 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the Roman Army by AJ Marks Part 1 Ephiny glanced back once more to where Gabrielle rode with the Conqueror and gave a small shake of her head at the sight. There was the newest princess of the Nation snuggled into the embrace of the Conqueror, a sight she never thought she\u2019d see.\u00a0 […]
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