Tridas

by Alan, Mark

  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.

  All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire.

  ~ ARISTOTLE ~

  Even with the team strategically positioned, it appeared the monk had slipped through the gaps. He needed medical attention, but consensus was he would likely seek out alternative healing rather than the traditional medicines. Feelers were put out for unconventional medicine options in the area, but no hits yet. The Department of the Interior had been looped in on the flight from Thailand. The Italian Inter-forces had been put on alert regarding the injured monk and local CIA operatives were also aware and watchful. The more time that passed the greater chance Sihamuni would escape their grasp.

  "The team is on a final 30 minute sweep of the perimeter then rendezvous at Hotel Fontana. The staff has given us access to the balcony cameras for review. Perhaps we will stumble upon Sihamuni's escape route”. Hoyt informed Aven and Kavani. "Let's make our way over to the fountain”.

  "I love the Trevi”. Expressed Kava. "Too bad it is always swarmed with people. It distracts from the beauty. Makes it a bit less romantic”.

  "Sihamuni must know our relations with Rome would garner us access to city cams. His best chance of eluding us might be to get lost in the crowd”. Aven began to reason out loud. "His saffron robe is pretty distinctive, but I don't see him changing clothes. His oath seems to be sacred to him. The Trevi camera footage might prove helpful”.

  Kavani grabbed her staff, a bit bothered by Sihamuni's blood stains soaked up by the wood, yet completely unwilling to abandon such a powerful tool. Perhaps she could clean it later. The Trevi Fountain was close and as they approached, the streets grew more and more crowded. Coming around the bend, the view was magnificent. The entire building was glowing from the fountain lights. The marble statues appeared gold in the luminosity of their alcoves. The water was an emerald contrast to the black sky. The stairs to the fountain as well as the square were packed with people rubbing shoulder to shoulder for a chance to toss a coin in the magical waters. Flashes and clicks of cameras merely added to the roar of the onlookers, almost completely diminishing the rushing sounds from the falls of the fountain. They proceeded into the lobby of the Hotel Fontana. Hoyt flashed his credentials at the front desk and they were escorted to the meeting room. Kavani excused herself after a brief introduction and checked into a balcony room to relax. Perched above the crowds, the fountain took on a more idealistic marvel. She could admire the beauty for days, but now she needed some rest. Kava enjoyed people, but needed her solitude as well. Her craving for adventure was mitigated by a need to curl up on a comfy couch now and again. Morning was only a few hours away and who knew what tomorrow would hold. Aven joined her about an hour later. Entering the room, he tucked in next to her on the couch as she snuggled into his chest, not really waking up. Her warm body felt nice, as he brushed the hair off her face and began to rub the small of her back. He was enjoying the breathtaking view for a long moment. He leaned his head back to relax and noticed the fountain. It was an incredible view too.

  Morning came earlier than either wanted. They both began to twist and stretch as the sun through the balcony doors announced that the comfy couch had not proven so comfy. A bit stiff, Kava reached for her staff to use as a flexing device to stretch out her back. She couldn't help but notice the blood stains were gone. Grabbing the staff she had an instant sensation.

  "Sihamuni is headed to a stadium”, Kava exclaimed.

  "What?"

  "I can see it... the fans, the structure... It's a futbol match." Kava animatedly, described her vision. "Sihamuni’s blood is gone on the staff. I think the staff absorbed it. Kind of gross, but when I grabbed it, I could feel a bond to him".

  Just, like he seemed to be able to know your movements from the forum to the Pantheon. Aven thought.

  "I believe there are only two stadiums in Rome. Could you identify which one? Or eliminate them if he has left the city?" Aven questioned.

  "Maybe... but the game is Italia v Argentina, the jerseys in the stands were obvious. Where is that game being played?" Before Aven could respond, Kava had her phone out, answering her own question. "Olimpico Stadium!"

  Aven reported the news to the team. The city was put on alert, focused on the routes from the Pantheon to the stadium. Almost immediately a patch came through from the State Police patrolling the Autostrada.

  "A bridge security camera flagged a person meeting the description crossing the Fiume Tevere on the Viale dei Gladiatori."

  "Is he on foot?" Commander asked.

  "Affirmative”.

  "From that crossing, how long will it take to walk to the Olympic Stadium?"

  "Just under an hour”.

  "How old is the footage?"

  "Time stamped 4 hours and 20 minutes ago”.

  "Keep us informed on any further hits”.

  The patch call ended and the Commander shifted his attention to the team. "The crowd situation in and around the stadium will be dense. In likely every scenario, he will see us coming. Let's go in low key. Don't spook him, but if he bolts, move him in a path that we control. He is dangerous. We don't completely understand, but traditional weapons may not have any effect on him. We are dealing with a situation beyond the norm. Be creative and be safe. Departing for the stadium in 15”.

  Aven relayed the intel to Kavani.

  "There is possibly an even stronger tie between Sihamuni and me. I can't go to the stadium or he will see us coming. For me staying in one spot seems an obvious decoy, especially if he suspects a link between us. If he tracks me in the same fashion I experienced... he knows the visions to be a bit unclear, a snapshot of my location. I could go to the other stadium. Flaminio Stadium is not far from Olimpico, but I could travel around the Villa Borghese, so as not to look like we are taking a direct path and to keep your approach completely separate."

  "I like the idea of you being close”, Aven smiled. "I believe you are the chosen one to bring an end to this event and I think you may also be the only one able to stop Sihamuni. Do you think your sisters may have ideas on "cloaking your presence" so you can get close to him?"

  "Reaching out to Malin and Citlalli is a great thought. Their powers can assist me in our task, they simply cannot look on him directly. I would like to learn more about that as well”. Kava confirmed as her mind started trailing off with questions.

  "I need to rendezvous with the team”.

  They kissed, obsessed with one another.

  "Be safe. You only get to die once”. Kavani comforted as Aven looked back and smiled.

  The team was being transported to the edge of the stadium district, and then would enter on foot from different directions to scout the classic oval arena. Public cameras inside the stadium were limited, but were also being monitored to give further direction. Sihamuni had not yet reappeared on any feeds since his bridge crossing.

  Aven suggested that he and Hoyt hang back. Sihamuni could recognize them and Hoyt's size was easy to spot in any crowd.

  "Hungry?" Aven asked.

  "Always”, came Hoyt's standard response.

  The Cuccurucu restaurant was a nice option as they entered Capoprati Park. They found a veranda seat overlooking the Tiber and the Milvian Bridge.

  "A
little dreamy oasis, huh Aven?" Hoyt smirked. "I know I am ruggedly handsome, but I think you should save these romantic gestures for Kavani”.

  "Sit down and shut up... You can't tell me the wood-fired pizzas don't smell amazingly good."

  "Good call." Hoyt took a seat and grabbed the menu.

  Aven began to relay Kava's plan. "I have done my best to keep Kava's part in this under the radar, but the reality is that she is the key to stopping this disaster from taking place."

  "Sometimes it just feels like we are on a wild goose chase." Hoyt admitted. "Trying to decipher the code, the team has been from Russia to Italy via Thailand, and apprehended or at least encountered the critical targets, but we don't seem to be any further ahead or even know what we are trying to stop. Throw in all your magic garbly-goo, and I feel like I don't know what to think. Getting Sihamuni off the streets would be an obvious positive, but is that even possible?"

  "It is for Kavani, but she has to find a way to stealthily move against him”. Aven suggested with a little desperation in his voice. He was very comfortable around Hoyt. "Let's order some pizza."

  In Aven's absence, Kavani was met by Citlalli as she exited the hotel.

  "You rest in the presence of the Trivium my sister”. Citlalli offered in her greeting.

  "The fountain is beautiful, even more so at night." Kavani agreed.

  "Not just beauty, but wisdom and power." Citlalli continued. "It is the intersection point of three crossing paths. The main statue does not represent Neptune as many suppose, but Ocean, the personification of an immense river that flows around the earth and from which all sources of water were born. Neptune has often a triton in hand and a dolphin following him, but see the wand in Ocean's hand is straight and thick, like your staff. The restless horse represents the violent strength of the sea. The calm horse is instead a symbol of the tranquil property of the sea."

  Kavani descended the stairs to the large semicircle basin and plunged her staff into the pool. She could feel the waters cleansing her aura. Visions were rapidly filling her mind that she could not process in the moment, but knew they would make plain pending details in her near future. The voice of Ocean did carry power and wisdom. She lifted her staff slowly from the water. "I am free of the bond with the monk”.

  Turning around to face Citlalli, "I must join Aven at the stadium”.

  "You must listen to your heart, Chosen one", Citlalli advised prudently.

  Kavani stopped and turned back to face the statue of Ocean. "Aven has throughout time taught me the strategic advantages of a plan. The plan may fail due to lack of details yet revealed, but communication is key to success. We should proceed to the alternative stadium".

  "Agreed! Malin waits for us in the gardens of the Villa Borghese".

  The gardens truly are the 'green heart' of Rome, but the tourists rolling through on Segways took away from the connection with the past. Entering the Galleria, they found Malin entranced at the foot of Bernini's sculpture of Apollo and Daphne. Not ready to interrupt, the sisters absorbed the beauty of the statue. The marble gave way to life, expressing the anguish of Daphne fleeing Apollo's chase due to cupid's love repelling arrow. The inscription revealing:

  'Destroy the beauty that has injured me, or change the body that destroys my life’.

  Malin began to speak in almost a whisper, "Before her prayer was ended, torpor seized on all her body, and a thin bark closed around her gentle bosom, and her hair became as moving leaves; her arms were changed to waving branches, and her active feet as clinging roots were fastened to the ground—her face was hidden with encircling leaves".

  "She was a water Nymph, daughter of the river God Peneus, child of Ocean”, Citlalli added.

  "Apollo loved the tree, clung to it and kissed it”. Malin continued. "Reach out to hear her voice Kavani. The Nymph is a divine spirit chosen to animate nature. She sees the actions of nature and is not restricted to the mortal plane".

  Kavani touched the trunk of the statue, the metamorphous of Daphne's flesh into bark. Her own hand began to rest still, as her skin took on a woodland texture. The connection was strong filling her mind with visions of tidal waves and death. She pulled away from the statue and her hand returned to normal. "She revealed a clearer image of what I first saw at Chichen Itza, but this vision also included a location... Zavodovski Island”.

  "Thank you Laurel Naiad", Malin whispered as she lay a hand on Daphne.

  The match was 68 minutes in at the Olimpico Stadium. None of the entrance attendants had identified Sihamuni, nor had anyone at the ticketing gates. The team had scoured the crowd with spectator lens', as well as field cameras from the press box to no avail. Aven and Hoyt had arrived at the stadium to reassemble with the advance team and fit together the pieces.

  "Do you think Kava missed it?" Hoyt asked Aven, before anything had really gotten underway.

  Aven's look was enough of an answer.

  The Commander was reviewing the schematics of the stadium, when he stopped short, "Who swept the team locker rooms?"

  Silence!

  Hoyt jumped up, as the Commander hollered out the shortest directions to the outside player's entrance. Aven looked out the press box window assessing the situation on the pitch.

  "Can you get me on the field?" Aven asked the Senior Security Operations Manager.

  "Take this press pass and follow me".

  Almost immediately Aven was escorted on to the field and was descending the players tunnel. The Operations Manager proceeded toward the Roma locker rooms, but Aven paused at the turn, his intuition leading him the opposite way.

  "Can you stand guard here as I check the visitor's side?" Aven asked.

  Not really waiting for permission, Aven entered the cement passageway leading to the guest facilities. The room was relatively blasé, aside from the players gear filling the open lockers and spilling onto the benches. The Armani hanging in about every third cabinet, gave the decor a splash of pizzazz. Rounding the showers into the training room, Aven was almost shocked to see the monk seated on one of the massage tables. Sihamuni turned to acknowledge Aven's presence, with no shock at all in his reaction. Instead a smirk flashed across his face, "You are a pawn in this battle. At best, your Priestess' Knight".

  Ignoring the jab, although in reality likely in agreement, Aven attacked the monk. Lifting his bandaged hand palm up, Sihamuni stopped Aven, pinning him to the wall.

  "Your feeble strength is no match for my power”, Sihamuni muttered in disgust.

  Aven understood the spiritual dimension more than his opponent anticipated. Calming his center and denying defeat increased his inner strength immensely. Sihamuni could feel the swell of energy from Aven and recited another incantation. It halted Aven momentarily, but he slowly continued to approach the monk. Aven had magic deep within him. If he could continue to counter Sihamuni, in even the smallest way, the momentum would swing in his favor rendering the 'all powerful one' significantly less powerful. Sihamuni could sense this shift in power as well and fled before the match could be fought on equal footing. Aven was still stilted in his movements, but he was confident Hoyt was in position by now to block an escape.

  Aven's normal body control was returning as Hoyt burst into the room.

  "Aven!??!" a bit startled, "Did you come through the field tunnel? Did we clear the Home locker..."

  "What?" Aven interrupted, "Sihamuni fled your way... How did you not see him? Were there any alternate paths in your approach?"

  "Negative".

  December 327 B.C.

  Antipater began composing a response to Calvinus' announcement of Alexander's visit to Rome. Although Proculus and Scapula now led the Consulship, his influence and confidential information had proven critical to Antipater's good fortune. Mid sentence, Antipater stopped. Another letter was more pressing.

  Dearest Allatore,

  Your companion from the other side seeks counsel. Consult the teacher. Your triumphs at Alexander's side preserve our security at
home. I feared for your safety in the revolt at Sogdiana with the loss of 2,000 in our infantry, but this loss appears to have inspired the victory and reconciliation of Oxyartes. The entire world is elated at the announcement of Alexander's marriage to Oxyartes' daughter. May all our opponents be either won over or crushed. I welcome your arrival.

  Peace be upon you and may the tip of your spear stay sharp.

  Antipater called for one of the members of his elite battalion, who resided within their compound, guarding against any surprise uprisings during the treaty with the Samnites.

  "Legio, word has come from Rome that we could be under threat from Macedon. Alexander is planning a ceremonial visit to the Republic. A battle on two fronts could prove too much even for Roman soldiers. The Samnites in the mountains and the Greeks at sea is a disturbing vision. The Consulship has allies close to Alexander. I commission you to deliver this message to Allatore. His reputation as a warrior is unequalled. His location will not be difficult to ascertain, but accessing will not be easy. Macedon is in celebration over the royal nuptials, so security will be soft. Your skills are impressive, but do not underestimate this man. Approach him with this statement, 'may the tip of your spear stay sharp.' Follow his exact instructions. The future of Rome may be resting on your shoulders. Carry this burden with honor. Depart immediately". The two men never broke eye contact and departed company with a clasp of the forearms.

  Antipater continued with his response to Calvinus.

  Most Excellent Calvinus,

  The honor you bestow on me is unwarranted. I am but a servant of our growing Republic. If you will, indulge me with a question. Not out of vanity of reputation, but out of concern for our stronghold.

  Did Alexander request my presence or is this invitation a symbol of your kindness?

  Our position here in the south, in regards to the Samnite tribes, is stable, but I fear the impetus of this peace, lies in my presence here within the city walls. The cease fighting treaty will end with the close of the Ver Sacrum. The Samnites still control twice as much territory, though mostly mountainous terrain, which leaves our favorable posture vulnerable. Rumors of Alexander's arrival could spark rogue attacks, assuming our forces would be distracted. Word of these disputes could also reach the ears of Alexander, presenting a weak position, leaving us susceptible to his interpretations of the true unification of Rome.