Coventina by Jamie Antonia Symonanis Page A

would be had we not evolved placing such great value on something like a metal, gold for instance? Imagine if, from the beginning, we worked for each other rather than trying to conquer or destroy one another?”
    “Quintus, did members of your legion ever question why you were sent off to war, to conquer and occupy other countries?” Layla asked.
    “Often. After years of war, I simply could not hate those who fought us any more. After meeting and falling in love with Coventina I planned on retiring from the legion.”
    “And what would you say was the root cause of Rome’s constant expansion and seemingly endless wars to acquire more?” Denise asked.
    “I believe it is the reason you have put forth. When we were at the height of our glory, the world was a monstrous place of constant danger. Rome brought order to many places it needed to forcibly conquer. Had we not expanded our empire, we would have come under constant attack from many different peoples.”
    “Better to fight them on their turf hey?” Layla said.
    “Yes, that is one way of looking at it.”
    “But did warring and conquering so many different people actually make them hate you more?” Denise asked.
    “Undoubtedly some did, but many welcomed the order of Rome, the way their lives improved when we arrived, that is when we were not killing each other a least.”
    Their breakfast was delivered, French toast for Denise and Layla and a full English breakfast for Quintus.
    “So, what do you think of coffee?” Denise smiled.
    “It seems a perfect beverage with which to start the day,” Quintus said.
    Throughout breakfast, they answered questions asked of each other. By the time they were ready to leave, Layla had quite a different opinion of Quintus, one that she welcomed. He was a man who experienced the absolute worst humanity was capable of sinking to, yet he was a loving being who divorced himself from it all in exchange for love and hopefully peace.
    “Well, we should get started,” Denise said, summoning the waitress for the bill.
    “Yes, I have a funny feeling that after today we are not going to be in the U.K. very long,” Layla said.
    They paid the bill, left a hefty tip, made it out to the Mustang and headed for Heworth where Coventina’s family lived. It was a gorgeous morning that promised to remain sunny throughout the day.
    Layla piloted the Mustang around and through much of York heading to their destination.
    “Inquilina.”
    “Please Quintus, call me Denise.”
    “Denise.”
    “Yes?”
    “When you mentioned the two of you as a ray of hope, as being other than average human beings, what did you mean? Are you from another world as well?”
    “No, but it was beings from another world who brought out that which we had in us.”
    “What were they like?”
    “They were very human, and obviously not human. They were what I wished humans had evolved into actually.”
    “How did you come to meet them? Were you taken?”
    “They approached us for help because they knew what powers we had within that would manifest themselves and they could help us to control.”
    “Why did they approach you?”
    “Two members of their crew were abducted. We helped them find them.”
    “Were you successful?”
    “Yes we were.”
    Layla thought she saw a tear roll down Quintus’ cheek when she glanced up at the rear view mirror. “Hey, it can’t be much further at all,” she said.
    “It should be up on the right, there. That’s it,” Denise said.
    Layla turned into the driveway and past two light poles that had large yellow ribbons attached to them.
    “Remember Quintus, you are an investigator from Italy, just in case they speak Latin or Italian,” Denise said.
    “I will remain silent Denise.”
    They exited the car and made their way to the front door where Layla rang the bell.
    A blonde middle-aged woman opened the door. She had the appearance one might expect of a person who’d recently been put through hell.
    “Esther?” Denise