{"id":1351,"date":"2016-03-15T07:32:31","date_gmt":"2016-03-15T12:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1351"},"modified":"2016-03-18T07:19:50","modified_gmt":"2016-03-18T12:19:50","slug":"ephiny-and-the-roman-army-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1351","title":{"rendered":"Ephiny and the Roman Army – Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 3<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A candlemark later Eph sighed watching Gabrielle tug on the top once more complaining about it being too tight. Zona looked up at her then over at Eph as did Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I have to wear this?\u2019 Gabrielle asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts tradition,\u201d Eph said with a slight smile on her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditions suck sometimes, can\u2019t we change it, make a new tradition?\u201d Gabrielle asked back.<\/p>\n

Ephiny had a feeling the ancients never planned on having someone like Gabrielle when they planned such a feast. She tried playing the peacemaker between Gabrielle and Zona early on with no luck and decided it was safer to stay out of the way.\u00a0 Gabrielle had a quick wit and Zona was armed with pins.<\/p>\n

The hut of the door opened allowing the Conqueror and Melosa inside. Eph watched as Gabrielle and the Conqueror shared a look and for a second it appeared they were able to read each others\u2019 minds.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving trouble?\u201d the Conqueror asked with a smile on her face as if she found the entire scene amusing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m being tortured here,\u201d Gabrielle whined giving the Conqueror a doe-eyed look.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are not, if I wanted to torture you I\u2019d have pricked you a few times,\u201d Zona replied quickly not looking up from her work, or she might have not said anything.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as both the Conqueror and Melosa looked at Gabrielle. Eph had a feeling the Conqueror was thinking about something.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I have an idea which might work,\u201d the Conqueror finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all ears,\u201d Zona replied back looking up at the group, but seemed unfazed at who was in the tent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if you used a wrap-around skirt, leave the top off and maybe a few necklaces and such?\u201d the Conqueror asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about her position? She needs to have the symbols of rank on her,\u201d Zona replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cArm bands,\u201d Melosa replied. \u201cWe can decorate one band to indicate her status in the tribe,\u201d Melos asiad.<\/p>\n

\u201cMight work, be a bit strange,\u201d Zona said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not a typical princess,\u201d Ephiny said watching as Zone rummaged through some fabrics and leathers before coming up with a few items, a short skirt, some necklaces and armbands of different sizes and lengths.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s start with these princess,\u201d Zona said handing Gabrielle a few different armbands.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as finally Gabrielle ended up with a skirt, arm band, a small wrist band and a glove which covered two fingers.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm-hmmm, yes, yes,\u201d Zona said checking the fit.<\/p>\n

Eph looked on seeing that Gabrielle had a resigned looked, but not the uncomfortable, or stubborn look she had before and hoped it meant good things.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u201d Eph finally asked unable to take the silence any longer but was surprised at who spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll work, she hasn\u2019t tugged on it yet so she can live with it,\u201d the Conqueror stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now,\u201d Gabrielle added.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, it\u2019ll take me a bit of time to make the proper markings but should be ready by the ceremony,\u201d Zona said taking everything back and heading over to her work area.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow would be a good time to show you your hut,\u201d Melosa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHut?\u201d Gabrielle replied sounding confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, you don\u2019t know the customs. When a person received the Rite-of-Caste they also inherit that person\u2019s belongings,\u201d Melosa replied back to them.<\/p>\n

Ephiny had to admit, she forgot that part as well and with everything else which had gone on it was easy to forget that part. The look on Gabrielle\u2019s face meant she had not expected such news.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess we should take a look then,\u201d the Conqueror said calmly, but Eph thought she heard a bit of amusement in her voice. Indeed, looking over at the Conqueror she had a smile directed towards Gabrielle.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Eph heard Gabrielle finally say.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as everyone walked out and she turned to say bye to Zona, who was already busy. Prior experience had taught Eph that the tailor heard little when she was deep in work and walked out stepping right into Solari.\u00a0 Judging from her friend\u2019s face she had something on her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you heard everything the Conqueror \u2018thinks\u2019 is going on?\u201d Solari hissed, leaving no doubt in Eph\u2019s mind what Solari had heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, yes,\u201d Eph replied scratching her ear. \u201cI seem to recall being there as it happened, as was Eponin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazons working to overthrow Melosa, I don\u2019t believe it,\u201d Solari muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve it, there\u2019s a Greed army a day away,\u201d Eph replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t\u2019 need help, especially from her,\u201d Solari replied hotly.<\/p>\n

Eph stopped walking and looked Solari in the eyes and saw that same intense look Eponon had when they discussed this exact same thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSol, I know that, but Rome, they can throw wave after wave of soldiers at us. Its about resources, they have more than we do.\u00a0 They have more soldiers than we have in the Nation,\u201d Eph replied back to her softening her voice.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t like it either, but we need an ally against Rome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t like it, don\u2019t trust her,\u201d Solari said crossing her arms. \u201cThe whole thing could be a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ephiny sighed as Soalri jumped to the general conclusion too quickly. In a way she and Jana saw plots to destroy the Amazons almost every season.\u00a0 The last rumor before the treaty had the Conqueror arriving with her armies to wipe out the amazons.\u00a0 It turned out the Conqueror had mobilized for some threat to Greece from the north, nothing to do with the Amazons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the same thing at first as well. But now, looking at it, how would the Conqueror know that Terreis would give Gabrielle the Rite-of-Caste?\u00a0 Especially when Eponin and I were right there?\u00a0 And even if she somehow did, what Artemis said wasn\u2019t faked and nether was what Aphrodite said, saw them both,\u201d Eph said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa, what do you mean Artemis and Aphrodite, you actually met there?\u201d Solari asked with confusion in her voice.<\/p>\n

Eph stopped and realized she hadn\u2019t mentioned that part much yet. Taking a deep breath and releasing it she hoped this might help.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe visited Artemis\u2019 temple in Corinth, and learned quite a bit, including the fact Artemis herself has blessed Gabrielle,\u201d Eph said watching Solari\u2019s reaction to the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat! Artemis has blessed her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and it appeared one of many who have blessed her. Add in the fact she is Aphrodite\u2019s Chosen, makes it all complex,\u201d Eph said wondering how Solari would take that bit of news.<\/p>\n

\u201cA slave, the Conqueror\u2019s slave, is the Chosen of a goddess?\u2019 Solari asked disbelief in her voice. Part of Eph still wasn\u2019t sure she could believe it and yet that was exactly what had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, it sounds unbelievable but it\u2019s the truth,\u201d Eph finally replied back to her friend. \u201cI saw it all, and next time watch her as she walks by.\u00a0 Her every move is like a seductress.\u00a0 Recall the last time she and the Conqueror were here, seemed like every Amazon had a partner.\u00a0 I know you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched a blush work its way up Solari\u2019s cheeks at that thought and the rumor was she and zona had a fling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, still, we can\u2019t let our guard down even if she is the new princess,\u201d Solari finally said.<\/p>\n

Eph went to say more but noticed that Eponin making her way towards them, and looked as if she was bringing them bad news.<\/p>\n

\u201cEph, where\u2019s our guests?\u201d Eponin said quickly as she approached them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver at Terreis\u2019 hut, or should I say it\u2019s now Gabrielle\u2019s hut,\u201d Eph replied back to her watching her lover\u2019s face change as she realized that truth as well. \u201cSo, what\u2019s up?\u201d Eph asked after Eponin remained standing there for a few seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, well, you might say something\u2019s up,\u201d Eponin said glancing around. \u201cLet\u2019s go inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hut\u2019s right here,\u201d Solari said motioning behind them.<\/p>\n

The three quickly entered Solari\u2019s hut which was decorated in her typical way. A few clean weapons were laying on the table, a bed, desk and a few chairs.\u00a0 Eph knew her friend loved to collect weapons even if she didn\u2019t know how to use them and realized Solari would probably jump at the chance to collect a chakram.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, so what\u2019s up?\u201d Solari asked breaking Eph\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe scout reported back already, and its not good,\u201d Eponin said to them. \u201cShe reported there are at least two thousand Roman soldiers in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? That\u2019s impossible,\u201d Eph said joined in by Solari who also expressed her disbelief at the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sent Hagne,\u201d Eponin replied back to them.<\/p>\n

Eph knew they could trust Hagne, she never lied when it came to scouting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like this,\u201d Eph finally said breaking the silence of the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what?\u201d Solari replied asking the question they all were thinking. \u201cAll we have are a few hundred warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to tell the queen, and quietly,\u201d Eponin finally said. \u201cSolari, there is a problem within the Nation, a group called \u2018Valaska\u2019s Chosen\u2019 and we don\u2019t know who are in the group aside from Koni and Ligeia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, now we can\u2019t even trust our own sisters,\u201d Solari stated in frustration.<\/p>\n

Ephiny understood the frustration her friend felt. To suddenly be told that people you grew up with couldn\u2019t be trusted at a time the Nation was threatened was scary.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s first tell the queen,\u201d Eponin said. \u201cSol, would you mind finding out where Koni and Ligeia are.\u00a0 I have a feeling we\u2019ll need that information.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do it, but I still don\u2019t trust the Conqueror, or our new princess,\u201d Solari replied.<\/p>\n

Eph watched as Solari walked out of the hut as they went to find the Queen, and turned to head in the direction of Terreis\u2019 hut.<\/p>\n

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

Eph sank into a chair off to the side waiting to see how the Queen would take this news, and looked over to the Conqueror who seemed to be listening in as well. Gabrielle was off to the side going through several things that Terreis had.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, the Romans are already on our soil,\u201d Melosa finally said after several seconds of silence. \u201cNot the news I wanted to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph had to admit that with the new information of Romans on Amazon land it seemed more likely that they would be invading the Nation. She knew how many warriors the Nation had, and how many the Romans had, but she did not know how many soldiers the Conqueror had with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaesar is many things, but he is predictable to a fault,\u201d the Conqueror finally said as she seemed to think about the latest news as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, in a normal situation I\u2019d send some Amazons to see why they are there,\u201d Melosa said giving it some thought. \u201cDon\u2019t want to disappoint them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, staying true to what you would normally do would keep them in the dark that we know their plans,\u201d the Conqueror said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEphiny, Eponin, can I trust you with this mission?\u201d Melosa said looking over at the two.<\/p>\n

Eph felt her heartrate increase at that. A mission into an armed camp of soldiers who were probably there to invade the Nation seemed a bit like suicide.\u00a0 She also understood the need for the mission to suggest a normal outward appearance to the Romans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts probably not as bad as you\u2019re thinking,\u201d the Conqueror said speaking up to Eph. \u201cThe Roman commander probably already has an explanation to give you in such a case.\u00a0 I would suggest not mentioning my presence here, it would probably complicate things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d Eph asked. \u201cI would think it might make things better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Romans have a plan, and as long as we don\u2019t disrupt that plan we have the advantage, telling them I\u2019m here might cause them to attack before we\u2019re ready,\u201d the Conqueror replied. \u201cWe might also bring in the Centaurs as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s asking for trouble,\u201d Eph mumbled seeing Eponin nodding her head in agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, the Centaurs fighting on one flank, the Amazons on the other, my army in the middle, we have numbers to defeat them with minimal losses in return,\u201d the Conqueror replied.<\/p>\n

Eph looked over at the Queen to see what she might have to say about that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll send someone over there,\u201d Melosa said. \u201cI think Jana will do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Eph said protesting a bit and recalling everything that had happened in the past couple of days. Add in the fact that Jana wasn\u2019t the most diplomatic Amazon she wondered what Melosa was thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cJana will do,\u201d Melosa said firmly. \u201cEponin, would get her for me please, I\u2019ll be headed back to the Royal hut.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph watched as Eponin and the queen walked out of the hut leaving her thinking about what was to come in the morning.<\/p>\n

End part 3<\/p>\n

Continued in part 4<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ephiny and the Roman Army by AJ Marks Part 3 A candlemark later Eph sighed watching Gabrielle tug on the top once more complaining about it being too tight. Zona looked up at her then over at Eph as did Gabrielle. \u201cDo I have to wear this?\u2019 Gabrielle asked. \u201cIts tradition,\u201d Eph said with a […]
Continue reading…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,18],"tags":[3,10,12,20],"class_list":["post-1351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fanfiction","category-xenauber-xena","tag-aj-marks","tag-fanfiction","tag-story","tag-xena"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1351"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1362,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1351\/revisions\/1362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}