Coventina

by Jamie Antonia Symonanis

  “Where we’re heading on this planet, perhaps just near an ocean and not right on one,” Layla laughed.

  “Agreed.”

  “Hey. I wonder if the lads have ever had Popeye’s Chicken yet,” Denise said, pointing to one of their restaurants.

  “It’s great munching on food.”

  “Yeah. Pull over baby. I’ll be right out.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Aja said, following her into the restaurant.

  They returned to the car with a dozen ten piece boxes of spicy and regular chicken.

  “Whattaya feedin an army?” Layla laughed.

  “Come to think of it, yes I am.”

  They parked on the far western end of the park as instructed, and walked over to a large grassy field just north of the Murphy Windmill. When they arrived, Quintus and Coventina were playing Backgammon on a blanket. Lucilla, Marcus, Anna, Odumnus and Lucius were sitting and lying around watching them.

  “Howdy,” Denise said.

  “I had a premonition not to bring food because you would. Did you put it in here?” Lucilla smiled, tapping on her head.

  “Nope. Honest Injun.”

  “Is this all of us? Where are the others?” Layla asked.

  “Oh, they’re here, out there somewhere,” Lucilla said.

  “I will bet the four of them are already hiding in the bushes shagging away,” Anna laughed.

  “Haaa,” Denise said. “Backgammon hmm?”

  “Yes. Did you know it is the closest game to one they used to play last time they were here? It was called Tabula.”

  “Fascinating,” Aja said, smiling at Lucius.

  “Oh, take at look at these. Lucius do you have those dice handy?” Lucilla said.

  He reached into a small leather bag he was wearing on his belt, took out a pair of dice and handed them to Lucilla.

  “Here. Look at these. He made them, from one piece of bone.”

  “Very nice. Lucius you should take up sculpting. They are beautiful,” Denise said.

  “Thank you Denise.”

  “May I see those?” Coventina said.

  Denise walked over and handed them to her.

  She started singing quietly as she inspected them. “You got to ro-o-oll me and call me the tumblin’ dice.”

  The other women joined in. “Got to roll me, Got to roll me, Got to roll me.”

  “Speaking of roll, it looks like at least Diana and Venutius are back from their roll, IN THE BLANKET,” Anna laughed.

  “Hungry?” Denise smiled.

  “Oh yeah,” Diana sighed, wearing an impish grin.

  “Gentlemen, if you have yet to experience a piece of Popeye’s chicken, please, try at least one,” Layla said, passing around a few boxes.

  All of the women present could not hold back a huge grin at the looks on the faces of the legionnaires when they bit into their first piece of Popeye’s.

  “You have so much delicious food here, now,” Lucius laughed.

  “There’s plenty more, so eat up,” Layla said.

  The mood remained festive and light until Denise and Layla asked Quintus and Coventina to take a walk with them. Aja remained with the others, having been challenged to a game of Backgammon by Lucius.

  “How are you holding up?” Denise asked.

  “My grief will always be with me, but it is waning,” Coventina said. “It is being replaced by rage all too easily.”

  “Understandably so,” Layla said.

  “Quintus, I want to thank you for honoring my advice not to strike back at those who have harmed you, not yet anyway.”

  “Not yet?” Quintus said.

  “Yes. I cannot give you all the details, and when the time comes I can assure you that you and your men can be there when it happens if you wish.”

  “On this, where Quintus goes I go,” Coventina said quietly.

  “That of course is your decision.”

  “Do you have information? Do you have a plan?”

  “I cannot give you the details, simply because we have not laid them all out yet. I can assure you that when the time comes, we will take them ALL down,” Denise said, gazing into the eyes of Coventina.

  “I trust you Denise, as does Coventina. We trust you with our lives,” Quintus said.

  “Thank you.”

  Denise got the impression that Coventina was leaning heavily towards leaving with Quintus. Who could blame her after what happened to her and her family.

  Anna was as yet undecided. She still had a large family connection, in hiding and safe, at least for now. Layla thought that when the time came, she would choose to follow Coventina and Odumnus. If that came to be, four out of the six would be opting to leave in a few days.

  They could hear Aja & Lucius laughing quietly behind them as they walked back to the Mustang. Aja invited Lucius back to Paris with her. “It will be good to have one of them on hand to coordinate our plans,” she grinned when she told Denise.

  Hey.

  Yes, Denise said.

  If these two get hitched, will they stay or will they go?”

  Oh wow, that is a hard one to call. I’d say it would be a 50/50 chance.

  I think you’re right.

  Layla started singing, “Darling you got to let me know, Should I stay or should I go?”

  “If you say that you are mine,” Denise joined in, “I’ll be here til the end of time.”

  “So you got to let me know, Should I stay or should I go?”

  57

  Arles

  Aja gazed at the face of Lucius lying in the bed next to her, waiting for his reaction when the morning sunlight seeping in through the window touched it. She found herself attracted to him in a way she had never been attracted to another human, and she had tried quite a few.

  When the sunlight finally hit its unintended target, he stirred and opened his eyes slightly, then all the way when he saw Aja staring at him and giggling. “Your eyes are an even more beautiful brown kissed by the morning sun,” she said.

  “As are your eyes,” he smiled.

  “We’ve got a busy day planned since we are on a deadline,” she said.

  “Yes, I know,” Lucius said, stroking her arm gently.

  Are you up yet? the voice of Denise whispered in her head.

  Almost.

  Lots to do today.

  I’ll call you shortly.

  Well, it doesn’t have to be shortly.

  It won’t be, she said, before rolling over to join Lucius in a morning lovemaking session.

  “She’s up but,” Denise said.

  “It’s kind of like a honeymoon rather than the morning after I think,” Layla smiled before taking a drink of her coffee.

  “I think you’re right.”

  Denise had just stepped out of the shower when her phone rang.

  “Hey, I’ve been thinking,” Aja said.

  “You are not leaving your apartment today right?”

  “No silly. We have far too much to cover, but it is going to be a gorgeous day today. Why not go somewhere nice, and historic, and go over it all?”

  “Sweet. Any place in particular?”

  “Well, as this is kind of a Roman odyssey, how about going to visit something absolutely incredible?”

  “In France?”

  “Yes. Arles. I know it’s on the other side of the country, but that should not be a problem with your vehicle should it?”

  “It’s a date. Don’t tell me what’s there. Surprise me.”

  “Great.”

  “Come down when you’re ready.”

  Layla turned off the faucet after finishing the breakfast dishes. “What’s up?”

  “Road trip,” Denise said, pouring a cup of coffee.

  “All road, or?”

  “Probably both. Arles. It’s on the other side of the country.”

  “I know where it is. I’ll lay in coordinates when we get started.”

  “That far?”

  “Well, we are on a deadline after
all.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Denise sighed.

  They headed south out of Paris and slipped into stealth when Layla saw they could do so unnoticed. She had the coordinates laid in and the Mustang rose into the air and wisped them on their way. She touched down on the A7 just outside the town of Portes-de-Valence. “Seems a shame to not see some of this beautiful country from the ground no?”

  “No complaints here,” Denise smiled.

  “I’ve a small confession to make,” Aja said.

  “I pardon you, whatever it is,” Denise giggled.

  “I own a small farmhouse, not far from here, near Aubunel.”

  “Uhm, hmmmm,” Denise and Layla chimed.

  “No silly, that’s not the reason I suggested coming here, well not the only one anyway,” Aja said, grinning at Lucius. “Where we are going in Arles is simply one of the most amazing remaining structures built by Rome.”

  “Sweet.”

  As the Mustang crossed a bridge over the Rhone River, the very first structure they saw was the remnants of a Roman building. They followed the Boulevard into the city per Aja’s instructions. “It is not very far, just ahead actually,” she said.

  Layla found a parking spot a stones throw from the Arles Amphitheater, built by Romans during the reign of Augustus Caesar.

  “It’s used for bullfights now, but not the kind where they kill the bull, and concerts,” Aja said as they walked towards the structure, now more than 2,000 years old.

  “Far worse has happened in this arena,” Lucius said. He seemed to be beaming with pride as they marveled at the construction technique.

  “Come on, I know a way in,” Aja grinned, taking Lucius by the hand. She guided them through a doorway near some construction being done on the outside of the amphitheater.

  “You know, you’re countrymen achieved so much Lucius,” Denise said.

  “Really. Would this place be anything like it is today had you not settled here?” Layla asked.

  “This was settled and built long before I was born,” Lucius said.

  “Your legion marched with Caesar in this country?” Aja smiled.

  “Yes. Our Legion did march, and fight, and die with Julius Caesar, as well as his heir who was emperor when this was constructed.”

  Denise could see that Aja was really falling for Lucius. She had known her most of her life, known her as the brilliant but distant dear friend that she was. She could not remember anyone being in her life before this that had such an effect on her.

  “This planet is still a very brutal place Lucius. Rome was a pretty brutal empire during an even more brutal period. I hate to think where we’d all be today without it all having ever existed,” Layla smiled.

  Denise wondered just how much brutality would be needed of her and her friends to finally put to rest the brutality that entered their lives unwillingly. It is unavoidable.

  Once inside they rested their bottoms on seats that were more than 2,000 years old. There was a shared silence when they did. On the floor of the arena a dance troupe was working on a dance routine.

  “Imagine what it was like back then?” Layla said.

  “It was as highly charged as some of the sport I have seen on the television celebrated now. Of course, nobody dies now unless it is an accident,” Lucius said.

  “See, we are getting better as a species,” Denise said.

  They did not go into great detail yet, so for nearly an hour they started laying out their plans with Lucius, in hopes that he would take it to the others as a primer. Since time was of the essence, they would have to act very soon.

  “We will bring everyone to France for the final preparation,” Denise said.

  “May I recommend the farmhouse rather than the city?” Aja said.

  “Is it large enough?”

  “Come. This place isn’t going anywhere. Let me show you. We can have lunch.”

  “Not before we at least seen the famous Van Gogh café,” Denise said.

  “Absolument.”

  58

  Farmhouse

  “It’s dirt roads from here, turn right at the next one,” Aja said.

  “This must get a little sloppy when it rains hard,” Layla said.

  “One of the reasons I would love to own a vehicle like this. It’s just over a mile with all the curves.”

  “It’s a very beautiful region,” Denise said.

  “Take the first right, then the first quick short left, then the next right, and then left.”

  “Right, left, right left. Got it,” Layla giggled.

  “Must be real fun when it’s raining a lot, and dark,” Denise said.

  “Are you quite sure you would not allow reverse engineering on this baby exclusively to moi?” Aja grinned.

  “Perhaps, some day.”

  They twisted and turned down the dirt road, surrounded on all sides by foliage.

  “AC darling, those are vineyards I see past the tree line are they not?” Denise said.

  “They are indeed my Virgo friend.”

  “Little analytical me.”

  “Looks like they’re everywhere,” Layla said, as she saw what looked like a clearing ahead.

  “One more left Layla.”

  She turned the Mustang left and headed up that road to reveal two multi-story buildings.

  “Welcome to Echappee Belle.”

  “Oh my, those are very old,” Denise said.

  “They are over three hundred years old,” Aja smiled.

  Layla parked the Mustang between the two buildings.

  “Aja darling, this is more than an old farm,” Denise giggled.

  “Not all of it is mine. Over there, on the other side of those taller trees, that belongs to Maurice.

  “And every other direction?”

  “Mine, at least for oh, roughly 600 acres.”

  “Six hundred acres. Honey that has got to be everything between here and the paved road,” Layla said.

  “It is. Come on. Let me show you inside.”

  They walked over to the large structure first. “I’ve been wanting to do something with the condition of the vines, but that would require hiring someone and you know how I love my privacy,” Aja said.

  “You could grow food instead,” Layla said.

  Aja opened the door to reveal a space that had at some point been gutted except for the large support timber beams that were stained a dark brown, and the support walls that were made up of different sizes and shapes of stone. The walls put in place to separate the kitchen from the main room were all white. A dark wood stairway led up to a loft where the bedroom was.

  “This is a good structure,” Lucius said, tapping on the stone wall.

  “I thought you might be able to appreciate its construction,” Aja smiled.

  “Really nice. Might be kinda tight with a crowd the size of ours,” Denise said.

  “Come on, let me show you. I think we’ll all fit.”

  We’ll all fit. Hmmm.

  Yes. I caught that too, Layla said.

  Aja led them to the other building. It too was constructed from the same materials. “It must have been a guest house, or it could have been for the help. I thought perhaps it might be too nice for the help. I did some minor remodeling.”

  She opened the door to reveal a large furnished room, one large room only, with a loft built above it the same size except for the stairway leading up to it. “There used to be a very old kitchen in here. I turned that into a bathroom. The rest is just space. We could easily fit six queen size futons in here don’t you think?”

  “Aja, it is magnificent,” Denise said.

  “So all cooking is done in the main building?” Layla said.

  “Yes. Speaking of cooking, is anyone hungry?”

  “You have food here?”

  “No, not here, somewhere else.”

  “Okay, but the futons are my treat, I insist,” Denise said.

  “If that pleases you.”

  Aja and Luci
us locked both places up as Denise and Layla leaned against the Mustang.

  “This will be better than the city,” Layla said.

  “Yes. Let’s get them here tomorrow. So little time.”

  “Yes.”

  “One cannot come to France without trying at least one of their magnificent crepes,” Aja said, as Layla steered the Mustang back towards the paved highway.

  “Is it in the neighborhood?” Denise asked.

  “Well, it’s about an hours drive through some beautiful country, and it is on the way home, in Aubenas.”

  “Aubenas, got it,” Layla said as Denise looked for the coordinates on her iPhone.

  Let’s drive there. I need to think, Denise said.

  Okay baby, Layla said.

  Their journey took them over two lane roads, a four-lane highway, then back to two lane roads that took them into Aubenas. Along the way the women listened as, at the request of Aja, Lucius gave them an idea of what life was like with the Ninth Legion.

  “When on a campaign, there was rarely a moments rest. Everyone worked together, at times feverishly, because we knew it would give us all a better chance for survival.” He went on to explain the multitude of duties they all learned, from building and design to cooking. “Sentry duty was rather dull, or it was never a dull moment. It all depended on where the legion was, what were its orders. A lot of work went into setting up any camp for a legion. Some would be assigned to dig trenches, others to build palisades, some to set up tents, and all of this after at times marching 20-30 miles.”

  “Dig trenches huh? That must have taken a long time,” Layla said.

  “No one liked doing it, but it was necessary. With several thousand men digging to get it over with, surprisingly it only took a few hours.”

  “What about when you weren’t, you know, campaigning?” Aja smiled wickedly.

  “Oh, well, if we were lucky, we would be stationed at permanent forts, as we were at Eboracum. There we had duties but they were not as intense and did not cover every hour of the day as they did when in camp.”

  “What did you do to entertain yourselves?” Denise asked.

  “Well, ahem, you know, what men usually do with free time on their hands.”