by Alan, Mark
AVEN: "Sihamuni seems to be in a stand still at Termini Station..."
KAVA: "My sisters and I are departing for the Pantheon. Our collective powers will be strong there as well”.
"Sihamuni is on the move to Navona Square!" The signals expert broke the silence.
"No, he is going to the Pantheon. I don't know how, but he is tracking Kavani”. Aven insisted.
It was evening now and the moonlight entering the Pantheon through the Oculus was marvelous. The dome itself was a marvel. The expanse of space defied modern construction laws and yet there it stood for the last 2000 years. Looking up under the concrete coffered dome, Kavani felt the dazzling light from the moon touch her soul. The dimensions of the structure perfectly balanced. The architecture itself was spiritual. The sisters could also sense the incredible richness preserved in the ancient rotunda.
AVEN: "Sihamuni knows where you are! Moments after you told me, he hopped a taxi in your direction”.
KAVA: "Our power here is strong, I can't wait to see you!"
AVEN: "We are close”.
Entering the Piazza della Rotonda on foot, the team was struck by the grandeur of the large granite Corinthian columns backlit under the pediment of the Pantheon. Even at night it was easy to see. Aven spotted the saffron robe on the porch as Sihamuni entered the outer vestibule of the Pantheon. He and Hoyt broke into a full sprint. After all, Hoyt had some reckoning for Sihamuni as well.
Rushing into the circular structure, Aven found Kavani dead central, directly under the oculus. The moon had shifted, but the glow still present left her draped in radiance. The monk was still 20 meters away.
"Sihamuni!" Aven shouted.
The monk turned towards Aven, then back toward his prey and broke into a full sprint tackling Kavani to the floor, knocking the staff from her hand. Kavani easily broke loose of the priest and both nimbly regained their footing posed face-to-face ready for war.
Aven slid across the large tiled floor to grab the staff, Hoyt his shadow. Reaching for the ancient wand, he could not lift it from its resting place. Hoyt gave it tug, tensing his massive muscles, but also to no avail.
Sihamuni laughed, "You haven't told him?" questioning Kavani.
"Told me what?" Aven looked at Kavani.
"The staff is from the original garden. A tree that existed, even before the Druid annuals. Only a few throughout all of history have been privileged to wield it. The legend is Arthurian... like Excalibur, the staff can only be held by the chosen”.
"Or in chosen places”. Sihamuni interrupted. With a quick swipe of his open hand the rod sprung into his grip. "True, you are strong here Venus, but under the Pantheon, 'The temple to all Gods', my gifts are disproportionate as well. Once the rod was out of your grasp, here I am worthy to possess it!" Pointing the rod in Kavani's direction, Aven dove in front of her to block any unseen blows. Nothing.
"I may not be able to use its power yet, but neither will you”. Sihamuni used the staff to sweep the leg of Hoyt, who had moved into an attack position, and fled the Pantheon.
Kavani, Aven and Hoyt all lay on the cold tile.
"My strong wolf, still laying down your life for me" Kavani said admiring Aven's courage.
"The staff was powerless in his hands”, Aven moaned.
"I beg to differ..." Hoyt snapped back and Aven just laughed.
As Sihamuni rounded the obelisk fountain in the Piazza della Rotunda, the weight of the staff in his hand became too much to bear. The burden forced him to the ground, pinning his hand under the heaviness. Just a few yards from the Pantheon, the assistance of the Gods removed, his own power was not enough to yield the ancient staff. Looking back over his shoulder, mustering all his strength he focused on the massive bronze doors of the temple. They began to close, the momentum of their mass swinging them shut. He knew it would be just a short time before Kavani had the doors open. Centering his mind, he began dragging his hand from underneath the staff. The pain was excruciating as inch by inch the rocks on the piazza floor cut into the back of his hand as the weight of the staff crushed his bones. In desperation, he pulled a knife from within his cloak puncturing his hand with the blade. The shot of pain began to shock his system. He threw the bloody knife into the fountain and began to speak with a guttural incantation. The inscription on the obelisk began to smolder as water mixed with blood began to gush from the mouth of the sculpted mask facing Sihamuni. The water tinged with blood covered the staff. The blood sacrifice was sufficient as the monk painfully removed his saddled hand from under the load. There were likely broken bones and the torn flesh would also need attention, but for now he was free to fight another day. He needed to disappear. He stood and vanished into the night.
Hoyt pushed on the doors from within the Pantheon. No movement.
"I think those weigh about 20 tons each there Hercules”. Aven offered up with a smirk.
"They are on hinges Genius. It's not like I am trying to lift them" Hoyt jokingly replied, knowing he was neither the smartest nor the strongest in the room.
"The doors were closed by magic and need to be opened by such”, Kavani stated. She approached the massive entry and the doors began to open. "My connection here is strong, makes it hard for a girl to wanna leave." Kavani always commanded attention, but here in the Pantheon, engulfed in the supernatural, there was an element of trepidation.
Hoyt was amazed. Finally admitting to himself, Aven's ideas were not "bed-time stories”.
Aven was simply in awe of his love.
Entering the Piazza, Kavani was relieved to find her staff near the fountain. It further eased her mind that outside of the Pantheon the monk was apparently unable to poses it. She knelt down to pick it up, noticing the blood stains on the rocky surface ground.
"He obviously knew its power... he must have been forced to leave it behind”. Aven concluded, also recognizing how special Kavani was to be chosen to wield its power.
"There is blood”. Kavani indicated the remnants that were all but washed away by the fountain waters.
"I can be of assistance”. Hoyt stated with a bit of pride in his tone. "Step back and watch me work some magic”. He removed a small spectrometer from his gear pack and scanned the chemical fingerprint of the blood. "This will identify our monk friend. I have uploaded the data and we should have results back shortly”.
"You special ops guys do have all the toys", Aven said nodding his head with admiration and rolling his eyes at Hoyt's stance of superiority.
"Kavani has her magic wand I obviously have some gadgets to bring to the table, what's your contribution? Maybe it's time you head home and leave this to the experts”. Hoyt continued as he wrapped his tree-truck-of-an-arm around Kavani, who was suddenly lost in his giant embrace.
"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.