{"id":1360,"date":"2016-03-18T07:19:01","date_gmt":"2016-03-18T12:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1360"},"modified":"2016-03-21T07:26:51","modified_gmt":"2016-03-21T12:26:51","slug":"ephiny-and-the-roman-army-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1360","title":{"rendered":"Ephiny and the Roman Army – Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 4<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ephiny looked back into the hut realizing she was now alone with the Conqueror and Gabrielle who was still looking though stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry so much,\u201d Gabrielle said surprising Eph.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy for you to say, you\u2019re not the one who\u2019s headed into a war camp,\u201d Eph replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but they are expecting you to appear. They know such a force won\u2019t remain hidden for long, even if the scouts are friendly to their cause,\u201d Gabrielle said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really think so?\u201d Eph asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sounds like something the Romans do,\u201d Gabrielle replied back to her.<\/p>\n

Ephniy didn\u2019t reply to that but supposed Gabrielle was right. It still meant she had to face a Roman army which probably didn\u2019t have peaceful intentions with the Nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, did you find anything out in your tour of Terreis\u2019 hut?\u201d Eph asked changing the subject a little.<\/p>\n

\u201cAa fascinating person, not much of a writer, but I think she kept things which meant something to her,\u201d Gabrielle replied. \u201cShe still had the bracelet you made for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe-she did?\u201d Eph replied, unsure what to say about that. Her feelings for Terreis were still there as she had been Eph\u2019s first crush.\u00a0 True she loved Eponin, but you never quite get over that first one.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe considered you and Eponin her best friends,\u201d Gabrielle said. \u201cMentioned it to me shortly before she was killed, I thought it was strange at the time.\u00a0 We had been talking about the Amazons she suddenly blurted it out, along with the admission of what she had done to make sure you two got together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph glanced down at the ground in front of her wondering what type of life she might have led had been with Terreis. Would she and Eponin still be friends?<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a good friend,\u201d Eph finally said.<\/p>\n

They spent a few more moment looking around before heading back to the Royal hut. Eph was lost in her thoughts, between what happened to Terreis, and the latest revelations and the Roman army she had a lot to think about.<\/p>\n

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

Ephiny looked up at the morning sun before taking a bit of time to readjust her sword. Normally its weight would feel reassuring but today it only reaffirmed her dread of the mission.\u00a0 Of course she also knew a lot more about the mission than she wanted to know.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou keep fidgeting, you okay?\u201d Eponin asked causing Eph to look over to see her lover looking back at her amused.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well no, I guess I don\u2019t know,\u201d Eph finally replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m nervous about this,\u201d Eponin replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was a few soldiers, maybe even a shipwrecked crew I would be different, but a thousand or so, very different,\u201d Eph replied with a shrug of her shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess this is the best time to be preparing for a funeral and a festival either,\u201d Eponin replied.<\/p>\n

Eph looked across the village to where the preparations for Terreis\u2019 funeral were taking place even as others were preparing to crown a new princess. In a way it all seem unreal to her and she wished she could be blissfully unaware as well to everything that was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, let\u2019s get going,\u201d Eponin said dragging Eph by the arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Eph, where are you going?\u201d someone asked as they looked over to see Ammira walking over towards them.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, well you see,\u201d Eponin began.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueen Melosa asked us to check out a slight, well,\u201d Eph said now unsure exactly what to say that wouldn\u2019t concern Ammira.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisturbance, she wanted to keep it quiet,\u201d Eponin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe didn\u2019t want to disturb the preparations going on by saying anything which might end up being nothing,\u201d Eph replied hoping that Ammira would accept that answer for now.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Ammira said slowly meeting Eph\u2019s gaze but said nothing else. She knew Ammira didn\u2019t believe all of their story but did not seem to press for anything else.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll let you get going then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, and keep it quiet,\u201d Eph said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d feel better if I knew what was going on, but I\u2019ll stay quiet for now, until I know what\u2019s going on,\u201d Ammira replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Eph said and continued on out of the village.<\/p>\n

They took care to avoide anyone who might hang around Koni or Legeria who were probably part of the Valaska\u2019s Chosen group. Eph took a second wondering what Valaska thought of the name.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know,\u201d Eponin said turning towards Eph. \u201cI have no idea what to say to the Romans when we meet them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat makes two of us,\u201d Eph replied back to her. \u201cI only know we shouldn\u2019t mention the Conqueror.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a backup plan?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo idea,\u201d Eph replied honestly. \u201cMy biggest concern is surviving.\u00a0 I hope Artemis is watching over us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ephiny noticed the Roman guard a second after Eponin had. It looked to Eph like the Romans were establishing an outpost here which made her more intrigued at what the Roman commander might say.\u00a0 She noticed that the guard failed to see them until they walked out of the bushes followed by a cry of \u2018halt\u2019 in Greek.<\/p>\n

Eph stopped but made a mental note of the soldiers in front of her. The way they were dressed and attitude all indicated they were well trained and filed that away for later information when she briefed the queen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you,\u201d the leader of the group in front of her asked, she noticed his well \u2013maintained armor and polished appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s my question, you\u2019re on Amazon land,\u201d Eph replied back to him watching his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re an Amazon?\u201d he finally asked, looking Eph and Eponin up and down for a few seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and my queen wants to know why you\u2019re here,\u201d Eph repeated the question to the soldier wondering if she would get an answer.<\/p>\n

She watched as the soldier turned to speak to the other solider in Latin, which she didn\u2019t understand. The other soldier nodded and left to head down a small incline towards the Roman camp while they waited in silence, each continuing to study the other.<\/p>\n

Footsteps brought Eph\u2019s critique to a halt as she watched the soldier return with another man who appeared to be the commander of the group, or at least by the look of his dress. He spoke with eth guards again and she felt slighted for a moment as he ignored her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a problem?\u201d he asked finally turning towards her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf by problem it means you\u2019re here on Amazon land without permission then yes,\u201d Eph replied. \u201cMen are not allowed on Amazon land without permission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn unfortunate accident I\u2019m afraid,\u201d the man replied. \u201cAllow me to introduce myself, I\u2019m General Bluto.\u00a0 We were headed home from a campaign when a storm blew us off course and damaging several of our ships.\u00a0 We had to unload half our men and provisions so the fleet could return safely to Rome.\u00a0 They will be returning to pick us up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo why didn\u2019t you contact us?\u201d Eponin asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, well I heard the Empire and the Amazons are no longer on speaking terms, so I was unsure what type of reception to expect. My men have already fought hard and were looking forward to a break,\u201d Bluto answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cFair enough, I\u2019ll inform my queen and see what she says. Stay within this area until you\u2019re picked up and we\u2019ll leave you alone.\u00a0 However, if any of your men leave the camp, I can\u2019t guarantee their safety,\u201d Eph told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Bluto stated. \u201cNow, if you\u2019ll excuse me I\u2019m very busy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bluto turned and said something else to the two guards and went back to his camp. Eph wanted to know what the man said but neither guard appeared to be moving.\u00a0 Eponin motioned they should head back.\u00a0 Leaving the area Eph felt sure more was going on than what she had been told, it all seemed too convenient to her.<\/p>\n

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

Eph sat down in the royal hut with Eponin sitting down next to her. She looked around seeing Valaska, the Conqueror and Gabrielle waiting with the Queen for their report.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say they were blown off course and their ships were damaged as a result,\u201d Eponin stated to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaid in order for their ships to return safely to Rome they needed to unload half of their troops and provisions,\u201d Ephiny said. \u201cTheir commander, a General Bluto, stated they were heading home from a mission, but they didn\u2019t look like they were returning home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cArmor well-polished, the soldiers acting very professional with the general. Seemed more like they were beginning a mission rather than ending on,\u201d Eponin said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like s poor excuse to me,\u201d Valaske said with a bit of a sneer making Eph wonder if the princess knew her name was bine used by a rebel group within the Nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor yet typical,\u201d the Conqueror stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s attack now,\u201d Valaska said. \u201cThey are men, on our soil.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we still hold an advantage, and they are probably waiting on something,\u201d the Conqueror stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone from Valaska\u2019s Chosen,\u201d Eph said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say that, irritates me that they use my name for something so disgraceful,\u201d Valaska stated making a face at the name.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever they call themselves, they\u2019ve either already made contact or the Roman\u2019s re waiting for them to make contact, how did they react to your approach?\u201d the Conqueror asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA bit surprised,\u201d Eponin said watching as the Conqueror appeared thoughtful.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u201dWhat do we do next?\u201d Eph asked. \u201cDo we sit here and wait for the Romans to make a move?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue on as normal,\u201d Melosa said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s dangerous,\u201d Valaska said speaking up right away.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we continue on and keep quiet for now. We make it appear that everything is normal in the village,\u201d Melosa replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if they attack, we\u2019ll be in no position to defend ourselves,\u201d Valaska said anger tinting her voice. \u201cI doubt the Conqueror would wait and act like everything is normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually,\u201d the Conqueror said sitting back in the chair and pondering the question.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a wise move on the queen\u2019s part, something I hadn\u2019t thought of.\u00a0 I would warn our warriors thought, a Roman army this close isn\u2019t something you want them to be surprised about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eph watched Melosa think about that for a few seconds before replying.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour right about that,\u201d she finally said. \u201cThe thought some of our own sisters are involved have caused me to lose sight of what is important, the survival of the Nation.\u00a0 Eponin, Valaska, inform the warriors of the \u2018stranded\u2019 Roman garrison and ask a few scouts to keep an eye on them just in case.\u00a0 Eponin, gather a few scouts and keep an eye on our outposts as well, especially those who volunteered for duty near the Romans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime, Princess Gabrielle will need to learn what she is doing for tonight\u2019s funeral,\u201d Melosa stated looking at them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing something?\u201d Gabrielle asked, speaking up for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take the princess over to the temple,\u201d Eph said volunteering for the duty and knowing Eponin would be busy for most of the day with the scouts and warriors.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, then things are settle for now,\u201d Melosa said before turning towards Eponin with a final thought. \u201cEponin, I fear Tanis might try to return to the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand, and if the scouts spot her? Are the orders still in effect?\u201d Eponin asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Melosa\u2019 cool answer came back to her.<\/p>\n

Eph understood what the order meant. Tanis was banished and if she ever came back the order was to kill her on sight.\u00a0 She watched as Valaska and Eponin stood and with a respectful bow towards the queen left the hut to carry out their orders.<\/p>\n

Now all that was left was the Queen, Gabrielle, and the Conqueror with Eph. A strange twist of events in the past couple of moons.\u00a0 Last season she would have never considered having the Conqueror in the Queen\u2019s hut, now, it was almost natural.<\/p>\n

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

Ephiny and the Roman Army by AJ Marks Part 4 Ephiny looked back into the hut realizing she was now alone with the Conqueror and Gabrielle who was still looking though stuff. \u201cDon\u2019t worry so much,\u201d Gabrielle said surprising Eph. \u201cEasy for you to say, you\u2019re not the one who\u2019s headed into a war camp,\u201d […]
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