Usual disclaimers apply.
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Chapter 56
"At Amphipolis in this fateful hour,
"I place all Heaven with its power,
"And the sun with its brightness,
"And the snow with its whiteness,
"And the fire with all the strength it hath,
"And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
"And the wind with its swiftness along its path,
"And the sea with its deepness,
"And the rocks with their steepness,
"And the Earth with its starkness
"All these I place
"By God's almighty help and grace
"Between myself and the powers of darkness".
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Depositing the buck we'd managed to bag on the far back table in the kitchens I then persuaded the soldiers to move towards the dining area. Finding General Aetius at his favorite table I moved that way and encouraged the men to do the same.
"Sam, what can I do for you?" The general asked.
"You can tell your soldiers that does and their young aren't to be hunted, ever. You can also let them know that if I catch any of them trying to do what these two did again, they won't enjoy the outcome."
Looking at me in disbelief the general turned to the soldiers, "Is what she says true?" He asked.
The men nodded.
"Answer me!"
"Yes, general. We were tired of the rations and wanted more. That doe and her fawn, well they would have been easy pickings for us."
"I see," motioning to another soldier, General Aetius then pointed to the men in front of him. "I want them on latrine duty for the next two weeks. Make sure it happens."
"Yes, General!" The man saluted and motioned the soldiers I'd caught towards the front door of the inn. Watching them go I nodded to the general.
"Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me I need to help my uncle break down the buck we got."
"Samina," the general's voice was quiet. "Just a moment please. I'd like to speak with you."
Turning I watched as he sat down and motioned the chair across from him. "I think we have much to discuss."
Sighing I slowly moved to the chair indicated and sat down, "Such as?"
"Such as who you truly are, who those children are, and why you are here."
"I am Toris' niece," I began. "My mother and he are siblings. Rory is my cousin as are Arion and Melodia. I am here for a visit with family." I paused for a moment and looked around the room, "Though I never expected a welcoming party of Roman soldiers."
"And your mother's name?"
"Which one?" I asked.
"Toris' sister." The general stared at me and I knew the time had come to tell him.
"I'm the daughter of Xena and Gabrielle." I sat back in my chair and watched as he allowed the words to digest. The look he then gave me said more than words ever would have.
"You are the child of the Warrior Princess and the Amazon Queen?"
I nodded. "I wasn't sure you would know of them. After all, it's been a while since we've had anything to do with Rome."
"It hasn't been so long that we have forgotten. Especially the treaty that we are to leave your village and all Amazons under your protection alone."
"No, that would be hard to forget." I leaned forward on the table and stared at the general. "So, tell me, General Aetius, why are you here, in Amphipolis?" I held up my hand before he could speak, "And please, don't tell me you're just here following orders and don't know why they sent you. I know you were sent here for a specific reason, what is it?"
The man chuckled and leaned back in his chair, "Why should I tell you? After all, I am following orders."
"Who's orders?" My voice was low, and I wondered if I could cultivate the almost growl Mama would use sometimes.
I watched as the General swallowed hard and shook his head, "I can't tell you." He began drumming his fingers on the table and I realized that he was truly nervous.
"You're scared," I accused. "Scared of telling me who sent you here and why. I do have a good idea though. You've let word out that you are here, you expect my mothers to come running to help Amphipolis."
"Not your mothers," he finally admitted staring at me.
"Me." Somehow, I knew he was waiting to make a move on me. "I won't be taken back to Rome," I began. "Hades, I won't be taken at all, General. Who would want me this badly that they managed to convince the Roman army to send you here in the hopes that I would show up?"
The general remained silent and I leaned back in my chair once more trying to relax. Something felt familiar and yet, not familiar. Godlike, but different.
The rune I'd remembered days ago on the road suddenly came into my head, "At Amphipolis in this fateful hour, I place all Heaven with its power, And the sun with its brightness…." I trailed off as the sun outside seemed to grow brighter bringing with it one of the most intense sunbeams I'd ever seen. Watching it enter through a window it stopped on a pouch hanging on the wall. Illuminating the pouch so fully that I finally saw tips of scrolls in the bag.
"By God's almighty help and grace, Between myself and the powers of darkness". I finished in my head as the sunbeam faded. Standing I moved the pouch before the general reacted and pulled out the scroll that I had been able to see the most clearly. Opening it, I read the directive and shook my head.
"Really, general?" I questioned. "The Roman army is being controlled by those from Lydia? Persia?"
The general was now by my side and grabbed the scroll. "You are wanted by them," he began.
"King Gyges wants me?"
"I do not know." Turning he walked to the nearest table and leaned on it. "I only know that I was told to make sure you were delivered to the Persian kingdom as soon as I could. I was sent here to make sure that your mothers would not be a problem."
Turning to look at him I shook my head, "And you believed I would come with you willingly?"
"I believed you would do anything if we had your siblings in our hands," he finally admitted.
"You would never have gotten close to my siblings," I argued.
"We had a plan."
"I'm sure that you did," I agreed. "Who is helping you?"
"I don't know," the general admitted. "I was only told that if we stay in Amphipolis there could be no outside interference from your gods."
"The Olympians," I said almost to myself.
"Yes, the Olympians." The general repeated.
It was then another sunbeam came through the window and illuminated the leather pouch again. Watching it, I saw finally, who had been after me all these years. Who had wanted me to go to the coast. Not believing what I was seeing I shook my head and scrubbed my hands over my face, wishing that my mothers were with me.
"I think that you and your troops can leave general," I finally spoke again.
"Not until I achieve my objective," he countered.
"Good luck." I moved to the table and stared into his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere." I told him. "The Persians can be disappointed."
"We shall see," he countered as I walked away from him wondering why I was wanted by Indar, the Persian god of warfare, courage, and bravery. Being wanted by Ares was enough, but now, this? Wondering what I should do with my newfound information I headed to my room. Sitting at the small desk between the beds, I willed my journal and pen from my locket and began to write.
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Another short chapter- I know. The story is coming in bursts.
Thanks for the support.