Tridas (14 page)

"You two are quite the pair”.
Kavani affirmed, interrupting their mutual badgering of each other. "Where
is the rest of your team?"

Hoyt released Kavani, scanning the
square, suddenly scrutinizing the fact that they were astonishingly alone in
the Piazza of one of Rome's greatest attractions. A few people were filtering
in and a young couple was seated drinking wine at the restaurant, but it was
bare... too vacant.

"Radio the Unit”. Aven
commanded. Hoyt responded immediately, depressing the com link.

The Commander came thru the link in
Hoyt's ear, "You two OK.? Moments after you entered the temple a shock
knocked the power out in the area and the local police cleared the square.
We've stationed the team in a semi perimeter, but the distance has allowed for
gaps. Did you secure the monk?"

"Negative Sir, but we think he
is injured. I sent a blood trace to the lab for identification information”.
Hoyt continued.

"Where are your sisters?"
Aven asked Kavani.

"When we entered the Pantheon,
they felt a strong sense that their part was to act as watchers. To assist, but
not to affect the outcome. The prophecy surrounding this event is very old and
the roles are well defined. I think the shock,
darkening the city came from them, when the monk tackled me”.

Hoyt approached the couple,
"The results for the blood ID are back”.

"AND..."

"The Cambodian monk is Sihamuni
Amara. The results have been forwarded to Langley for a full jacket. Let's hope
we get lucky and the profile is a mile long”.

327 B.C.

Hearing rumors of enemy occupation
in Neapolis, Antipater and Kavani returned to their home under the protection of
a Roman Army. Calvinus had requested Antipater to lead an elite battalion to
remove the Samnite presence. He easily threw out the garrison, but the conflict
set off the Second Samnite War.

The war went clearly in favor of the
Romans, yet the Samnites still controlled the mountainous territory and
continued to raid the cities. The area was far from peace. Kavani began to fear
their lives were bound to conflict. Antipater believed a harmonious habitation
would actually be the best for the region. He sent letters of accord, but the
terms of the agreement were often lost in translation. Although the Samnites
had united with the Roman Republic to fight the invading Gauls same 50 years
ago, the Romans had never made an effort to understand the Oscan language.

The migrating history of the
Samnites intrigued Kavani, especially the rite of the Ver Sacrum, The Holy
Springtime. It was a cultic practice of descending the mountainsides following
a wolf or deer that served as a sort of spiritual guide to leave the enclave in
search of new territories. Where the animal stopped symbolized a pleasing,
sacred place to dwell during the months of spring. Antipater, taking advantage
of this tradition, offered peace during these months for the Oscan people to
freely move. He sought an audience with their Greats to bear out the mutual
laying down of arms.

The gathering was confirmed.
Antipater and Kavani, accompanied by a small elite guard would meet at the mountain
top with the union of the four Samnite tribes. Directly above the Campania
lowlands was Mount Taburno. The summit would not be easy, but the escort from
the tribes already had Kavani's mind a rush. She had chosen a very colorful and
ornately accented dress in tribute to the Oscan traditions. She had heard they
appreciate the bright colors of life, when not hiding in the hills to assault
their enemies. The escort did not disappoint. Their full body shields painted
in bright reds and blues with alternating borders highlighted with star shapes
and laurels. Their helmets were played up with long plumes and massive horns
complimenting their bronze breastplates molded with their three circles in a
triangular pattern. Their tunics were noticeably short, revealing the power in
their thighs and the gold of their belts and greaves. Antipater's armor,
although dull in color comparison, was equally impressive emblazoned with his
wolf crest, shoulders draped in the traditional scarlet robe.

The morning journey began. As the
temperature dropped with the climb, Antipater covered Kavani in his robe. The
cool was refreshing. Summiting to a ridge plateau, the Samnite Chiefs were
striking, but almost instantly lost in the imagery of Antipater's armor. The
wolf imagery was a blaze in the mid-day sun. Both Kavani and Antipater had
spent the time approaching this assembly, studying as much of the Oscan
language as was available to them. Kavani proved the better translator of the
two, but neither had realized the significance of Antipater's chosen crest,
until seeing the reaction of the Samnite leaders. Their immediate reverence was
encouraging. They would be careful not to take this fortuitous realization for
granted, but would also not let this opportunity pass in developing goodwill.

Kavani removed one of the smaller
medallions from Antipater's robe passing it using two hands of respect to
Antipater. "Perhaps a gift of the image as tribute?"

"Yes, a mark of respect to hail
their kind reception”. Antipater stepped forward, approaching head bowed, then
meeting each of the chiefs eye to eye with the gift. The setting was more
comfortable than either anticipated. They used symbols including points of
reference to map out the territory and discuss the stoppage of war.
Communication actually improved as more words were traded for agreed upon
sketches. Kavani even suggested a wall be built in one of the traveled coastal
cities engraved with the Oscan alphabet. Evening came quickly and the couple
was ushered to a large tent. The outcome of the day's events had them both
energized.

"The indigo of your dress is
flattering and the bronze of your skin as we reclined near the fading white
snow was breathtaking. Even on a day laden with such an ominous appointment.
You are my highlight”. Antipater expressed.

"I think your tunic could use a
little shortening”, Kavani stated as she lifted the line of Antipater's garb.

The tipi style of the tent allowed
for a nice open fire to heat the space. The ground was covered in fur and the
walls wrapped in color and texture. Freshly gathered fruit rested on the wood
pile and lavender oil cisterns filled the air with a smoky aroma. Their
emissary mission had concluded in a romantic mountain retreat.

"If anyone is going to show
more leg... it's not going to be me", Antipater mused, as he loosened the
laces in the midsection of her back.

Soon they were both naked, thanks to
the undressing skills of the other, feeding each other, berries and enjoying
wine presumably from the mountain region.

"Stop teasing and just give it
to me”.

"Are you still talking about
the fruit?" Antipater posed, as he continued to snatch the morsel from her
snapping jaws. Her naked figure in the fire light was irresistible. Biting back
his desire for her, he gave in and started biting her lip instead. She could
always refuse him longer than he could resist. With all the turmoil in their
life since Antipater had accepted this military position, the comfort of each
other's arms was always a welcome escape. They could never allow responsibility
to eclipse the passion of their relationship. Their destinies were essential
albeit forbearing, but their love was fantastic. The things of a true fantasy.

"I love you."

"I am yours."

Morning came with a warm brew, a
concocted secret of the Samnite. Bitter, but invigorating, it was a drink of
rejuvenation. The council meetings continued as did the reverence and emphasis
of the wolf. When an image of a "wolf-man" became associated with a
flower, the color of Kavani's dress. She had to see the real thing. She excused
herself from the exchange to walk the mountainous meadows in search of the
purple bulbs. In Rhodes she had heard of Greeks using Aconite to kill wolves,
but the Irpini tribe of the Samnite union obviously believed it had other, more
supernatural properties as well.

It didn't take long to discover the
large flowers in an open meadow, still damp from the morning dew. The flower
permeated the field with pink, yellow and white varieties, but the purple
petals were the most intriguing. The long stalks crowned with the
"hooded" petals protecting the fruit and toxic nectar. Kavani used a
thick leaf to protect her skin as she carefully pinched the hollow stalk,
preserving the nectar, when she skillfully cut the stem from below. With
meticulous movement, she placed the flowers into her pouch, anxious to study
the rare plant. The Greek name itself meant "without struggle" being
that the poison was so strong it killed instantly with little pain.

"How were the Samnite men
enduring this fatal poison and even potentially growing stronger from it?"
She thought to herself, her mind spinning as she pictured the sketch of the
"erect walking wolf" the Irpini Chief had drawn in their earlier
encounter.

Kavani returned to the council
discussions excited to learn that the Samnite leaders had agreed to
"follow Antipater the guide wolf after their Holy Springtime
festival" to one of the coastal cities. The temporary stop to the war
negotiation had evolved into a joint appreciation of each other's way of life.
The cultivation of this blooming friendship could go a long way towards a mutually
beneficial unification.

Returning to the lowlands with a
short-term treaty in place was a victory indeed. Antipater's strategic prowess
with the Samnite Chiefs, to stop the fighting, spread quickly through the
Republic. The warrior also had a keen mind. Kavani was delighted to have a
spring void of conflict. Their home was safe and a favorable future felt
imminent.

"The Druids call aconite
Wolfsbane”, Kavani reported to Antipater as he watched her labor cautiously
over her new found passion.

"Are you hoping to really
transform me into a wolf? Your dedication to the study is bordering on
obsession". It was Antipater's sarcastic tone breaking through.

"In fact, I'm studying the
nectar to decipher how a poison, taken in the right dosage actually appears to
make some men stronger. Could prove beneficial knowledge, should conflicts
arise with the Samnite tribes after Spring? Maybe you would like to be my test
subject to speed things up? Unfortunately, I can't guarantee your
survival". 

"I'll settle for a kiss, as
much as death by your hand sounds so appealing". He approached her from
behind, but as not to startle her, and made his presence known by nuzzling her
neck with a kiss. She carefully moved the plant away from disturbance and
embraced Antipater as he showered her chest with kisses.

Weeks had passed since the cease of
conflict, when a letter arrived from Rome.

Greetings Antipater,

Peace be upon you as you have
brought peace to your homeland. The story of your treaty has been well received
amongst the First Counsel. Rumors are filling the streets of Rome with words of
unification. Your reputation is not bound by our borders. Your name is
proclaimed as a warrior and a statesman. News is traveling the trade routes
into Persia and Greece. Some are saying the story of Rome's Antipater is
superior to the tales of the Macedonian Antipater. I cannot speak to this of
yet, as Alexander's Regent commanded much respect, but your achievements appear
far from complete.

With Susa a burnt shadow of its
former glory and the Persian Empire firmly in his grasp, Alexander is taking
wife, Roxane, a Bactrian Princess. After the wedding and prior to his march on
India, Alexander and Roxane are planning a celebration trip to the west and
have announced ports in the Roman Republic. I am requesting your presence to
further honor his arrival. A vessel has been commissioned in Tyre to be crafted
for this special journey. The boat is nearing its completion as Alexander makes
his way back to Macedon. He has declared himself "Master of the Universe”.
Your presence is also requested at the audience to assist in evaluating the
threat level.

Written in my own hand,

Calvinus

Antipater passed the letter to
Kavani. They sat quiet for a moment.

"What is your plan?"
Kavani broke the silence.

"I'm most concerned for your
safety. No matter the outcome, your well being and future security will direct
my actions".

"I appreciate the depth of your
love Antipater, but my life will not truly be my life without you. Our plan
must account for the protection of us both".

"I will respond to Calvinus to
get a sense of the urgency of our preparations". Antipater said as he held
Kavani close then sat to compose his letter. Kavani returned to her studies,
already thinking through the different scenarios in her mind.