Tridas (4 page)

The peak
of the sun found their intertwined bodies from the evening's activity. The
sun's rays on the cliffs made the jagged walls glow.

"Race
you to the fortress gardens for a morning bite of fruit”. Kavani relayed over
her shoulder as she ran towards the cliffs. Her perfect ass was motivation
enough to follow, and food after a night of sex sounded extra appealing.

Kavani
scaled the natural footholds of the cliff face and Antipater followed her lead.
Their naked bodies tense with each grab and reach, but their minds still
playful and attentive to one another. As Antipater reached a position next to
Kavani, she turned his way.

"Be
careful with your
sword
Love, I wouldn't want you to scrape it against
the rocks".

"Don't
worry I'll keep my
sword
nice and sharp for you", came his coy
reply.

"It's
so large, maybe I should hold it". She said giggly as she lounged towards
his mid section.

Antipater
easily caught her, bracing her body towards the wall. At this close proximity
the heat between them was palatable. They were just at the lip edge of the
garden, so Antipater settled for hoisting her up onto level ground. As he held
her ass, the view looking up, as she scaled the final steps, left him in awe.
Every inch of her body was perfect.

The
gardens offered a bountiful snack - Grapes, peaches, tangerines, and mandarins.
The groves were beautifully laid out with a backdrop of walls covered in white
ivy. After having their fill of fruit, Kavani noticed Antipater examining the
fortress walls.

"Admiring
the Edera?" She asked.

"I
thought it was ivy, but this white species, is unique to me". He replied
quizzically.

"Careful
Warrior, this twining is particularly poisonous." As she skillfully picked
a flower, careful not to touch a leaf and placed it in her hair.

Back at the capital, Olympias' fury had expanded
into full rage. She felt betrayed by Antipater's sudden feelings for Kavani.
She was a woman who was used to getting whatever she wants. If Antipater wanted
a maiden from Rhodes, then perhaps he should be exiled, banished from the
capital. Rumors can destroy a man, especially if he is not present to defend
himself.

Alexander was in battle in the east, but an
emissary could deliver a message discrediting Antipater's abilities, bringing
her son home and banishing Antipater all with one well placed distress signal.

Back
in Virginia, Aven began to explain the meanings of the symbols in the encrypted
code and what he had learned about their connection to a cataclysmic event
prophesied among the ancients. The analysts from Langley were skeptical, but
his track record in this area, was undeniable and therefore kept their
attention. Describing the over arching details he and Kava had uncovered in the
Mayan ruins, teams began keying in terms for the ancient symbols in an attempt
to "crack the code".

Aven's
initial list of terms:

Serpent,
which could be snake, slithering, viper, dragon....

Ocean, which could also be water, sea, pool, wave, storm... as well as terms in other languages
Ashura...
Jupiter...
Venus...
Global destruction...
It could take days to find the right combination, to unlock the information, but super computers were hard at work and Aven was confident the code would be revealed quickly and the next steps could be taken to prevent the event he knew was looming.

Kavani had made it back to
Seattle. She was anxious to check on her pup, Colossus, a petite golden
retriever, who lived up to her name with her BIG personality. Her friend Sara
had been checking in on the pup, but nothing compares to a Momma's love, as the
wiggle butt and leaping paw hug testified.

Kava's loft at the Turk
had always fit her personality to a T, but as she scanned the room, with her
new found memories, much of the decor made a lot more sense. She had been drawn
to art and images from her past. Her white and purple color schemes had much
more behind them than style elements or even the tip to her college days – Go
Dawgs. The gold accents and royal colors made her place feel even more like
home.

The knock on the door
brought her fully back into the present. Sara was coming over, so they could
catch up on all the latest. Just returning from Vegas, Sara would be good for a
few laughable tales, but would she be ready for what Kavani had learned in
Cancun. They were best friends, nothing would ever change that fact, but Kavani
feared Sara might see her a bit differently... "Who wouldn't?" She
thought out loud, "It's a lot to take in!"

They greeted each other
with a hug. Sara was a bit more tan than normal and did have some fun stories
to relay. Poolside in Vegas with her cousin from Cali, always led to stories
about boys. A few wine glasses in, fish tacos consumed, and Vegas exploits
explained in full, Kavani mustered the courage to tell her story.

"Aven's surprise trip
to Cancun, after I surprised him in D.C., was life changing".

"Really? I can
imagine sex on the beach in the Caribbean is pretty amazing... Wait, did he
propose?" Sara's mind going a mile a minute and saying everything she was
thinking.

"No he didn't propose
Silly, and yes the sex is amazing... I learned that I am part of the royal
oligarchy of the Macedon Empire. Aven and I have known each other for a couple of
thousand years".

Sara was convinced she had
too much to drink, way too much.

"Don't freak out.
Please just listen. Aven Antipater, is actually Antipater, Alexander the
Great's Regent from 300 B.C. We fell in love on the isle of Rhodes, my home, at
a secret celebration hosted by Alexander's mom, where it was revealed that I
have an ancestry link to magic".

"But you look so
young?" Sara rippled in disbelief.

"We maintain our
youth".

"You SUCK!"

"There is more... I
guess Alexander's mom had 'a thing' for Antipater. When she found out about us
she tried to banish him from the capital. Which was fine and he was happy to
stay on Rhodes with me." Kava said with a huge smile on her lips.

"I know it
is so much to take in, but the further we get from ancient connections the more
our memories fade". Kavani explained, as unbeknown to her was already
happening.

"Please tell me everything." Sara said, her tone confirming her
skepticism, but her mind realizing more of this made sense than she should
logically believe.

336 B.C.

Alexander received his mother's message describing Antipater's attempt to
remove him from power coupled by his 'inappropriate behaviors' towards her to
further secure a strong position of power. The immediate rage in Alexander was
subdued by reasoning thoughts. Since his father's death, Antipater had done
everything in his sphere of influence to legitimize Alexander's succession to
the throne. He had even killed for him. Still Alexander knew the temptation of
power and respected Antipater's strategic mind. As a Regent, he had proven that
none besides Alexander was his equal. The last report of Antipater's dealings
was negotiations in Rhodes. Alexander dispensed scouts with a message for
Antipater on Rhodes immediately.

In a short time, the word had spread in the capital of reasons for Antipater's
absence. Rumors included him uniting with the enemy, lost at sea, preparing a
coup d’etat to overthrow Alexander, even banishment for attempting to seduce
the Queen Mother Olympias. Those in Antipater's close counsel and his personal
mighty men dispatched their fastest vessel to Rhodes to warn their Regent.

Negotiations with Memnon could have been going better, but few in the known
world were looking to attack the duo of Alexander and Antipater. Their
campaigns proved to be a suicide for their enemies, as their resources
continued to grow and more of the world fell to their leadership. Pushing past
the chamber guard, Antipater stood startled, as a familiar face entered the
room. Relaxing, Antipater extended his arm.

"Allatore, what brings you to Rhodes and with such tense expression?"

"I have news from the capital and fear for your safety my Lord."
Allatore was perhaps the empire's greatest warrior, astute and worthy of trust.
Antipater knew if he had not tempered his words in Memnon's presence, the
threat was serious.

"Please excuse the interruption Sire the capital matters require my
immediate attention. I will see you this evening at feast and jubilation. We
will resume our discussion tomorrow." Antipater said to Memnon as he
exited the chamber with Allatore.

Memnon reclined on his sofa with a devious smile across his face.

In a private cell, Allatore elaborated on the rumors and more importantly the
emissary sent to Alexander by Olympias. 

"Could Alexander actually believe this report?" Antipater weighed as
he continued to listen. "Better to examine the worst scenario, than to be
ill prepared”. This was his conclusion.

Olympias requested the Captain of the guard be her escort, as a measure of
protection, as riots and chaos (of her own making) became a norm in the
courtyards. In a short time, she noticed Allatore's absence. Learning he had
been sent to retrieve Antipater, she sent her own soldier strike to stop their
return, whatever means necessary.

Laying on the
beach under the star canopy, Kavani and Antipater were reciting the ancient
love stories and tragedies told in the constellations.

"You are my Andromeda Kava, your beauty does exceed that of the Gods and
Poseidon's sea nymphs." Antipater mused between kisses.

"Does that make you Perseus?"

"Alas, I do know the secret resting place of Hermes sandals and Medusa's
head..."

Kavani was unsure if he was speaking in jest, but much of her believed there
was truth in his statement. He handed her a strange instrument. As she peered
through it the stars became closer.

"Magic!" She exclaimed, leaping to her feet. "Where is
Aphrodite?"

She searched the skies until the glass rested upon our sister planet Venus.
"She is beautiful! A golden orb sparkling in our sky. At the celebration
ritual, Olympias told me I was selected by the divine and linked to Aphrodite
for the ages."

"The tribute Goddess of sex, love, beauty, enticement, seduction, and
female charm... I must agree!" Antipater exclaimed, rising to his feet in
grand gesture.

Their moment was broken by a flaming arrow landing near his feet. Antipater
covered Kava as they ran towards the cliff caves, scooping up his shield in one
fluid motion.

From his look out position, Allatore spotted the sudden flame on the beach. He
scanned the horizon to locate the shooter. A burst of flame ignited 200 yards away.
From his hidden position, Allatore quickly released his own arrow,
extinguishing any further threat.

Safe in a cave, Antipater knew the shelter gave them the protected advantage as
any threat would have to approach from a completely open position. He could
easily defend an attack from either flank of the extremely narrow entrance.
Alert to even the slightest rustle or movement, the attack came quickly.
Antipater mortally wounded all four offenders. They would stay in the cleft of
the rock until morning. He knew Allatore was also on watch. What he couldn't
believe was the badge on his attackers' armor, Alexander's crest. It was true,
his time as Regent was being challenged.