“Oh, now that I didn’t get my ass kicked, you want to be friends again?” Xena’s voice carried out over the sounds of the field.
Ah well. Gabrielle wrinkled her nose in reaction. So much for that idea.
“Mistress, how can you say such a thing? We were all counting on your victory!” The duke protested. “No one expected any different! Why, we thought it was terrible that the general even agreed to fight! Horrible! He got *just* what he deserved!”
“Yes, Mistress! Exactly!” Several of the other nobles had clustered close to him.
Xena regarded all of them with a chilly gaze.
Gabrielle edged up on her left hand side, folding her hands diffidently and catching Xena’s eye. “Your majesty… “ She watched the dark eyebrows hike. “There was a lot of… um.. consternation during the fight.” She paused. “I could.. hear it.”
“Oh, really.” Xena picked up the message without much difficulty. “Well, doesn’t that just warm the cockles of my often disputed as to it’s existence heart.”
“Yes, my liege.” Gabrielle murmured, not missing the twinkle in those very blue eyes. She also didn’t miss the sudden, rapt attention of the nobles, fastening on her with all the force of a bag full of leeches.
“All right.” Xena relented. “Let’s go. I want to see the races.” She proceeded up the steps, with Gabrielle trotting after her. The nobles followed meekly, and they all made their way up onto the top platform where Xena’s throne was. The queen stalked regally to it, turned and sat, her gown whisking around and settling around her with an audible rustle. She placed her hands neatly on the chair arms and watched them all as they approached her.
Gabrielle picked a spot and went to sit down at Xena’s feet, surprised when the queen wagged a finger at her.
Xena pointed at a guard. “Bring that. Put it here.” She indicated a plush seat, which the soldier immediately retrieved and set down next to the throne. “Sit.” She watched as Gabrielle obeyed, smoothing the soft, supple fabric draped over her knees. The sun, past it’s highest point and headed towards the horizon, splashed over her and caught in her blond hair. After a brief pause, the girl looked up at her. “Consternation?”
Gabrielle blinked innocently at her. “Well, there was.” She murmured softly.
“That I was winning.” Xena leaned on the chair arm and whispered back.
“Would rubbing their noses in it help?” Gabrielle asked.
“It would help me feel better.” The queen sighed, leaning back in her chair, but not enough to press her injured skin against the padding. “And I did tell you it’s always about me, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.” Gabrielle agreed. She watched the nobles settle themselves in the seats around Xena, and a puff of air brought the scent of grilling meat to her nose. She noticed the noble’s servants heading off towards the source of the smell, and she got up. “Would you like some…”
“Yes.” Xena seemed amused. “And a jug of the strongest wine you can find.” She gave Gabrielle a pat on the hip. “Be careful.” She added, in a lower tone. “They may seem like toads, but they’ve got lots of nasty warts.” She watched Gabrielle as she caught up to the other servants, and joined them. They were wary of her, Xena could tell, but after a few minutes of whatever chatter the blond girl was offering, their body language relaxed.
Duke Lastay got up the guts to take what had been Bregos’ chair right next to her. Xena turned her head and regarded him, acknowledging that of all her dukes, Lastay was the least offensive to her. He wasn’t bad looking either. “I am very disappointed.” She told him.
“Majesty.” Lastay leaned closer to her, a brave move considering the circumstances. “It is not all what it seems. I tried to warn you.”
Yes, Xena fairly admitted. That was true. He had, indeed.
“The man had just gotten too big for his conscience.” The duke told her. “He made many promises.”
“Mm.” Xena watched the flashing colors as four men raced on horseback across the field, now cleared of it’s trenches and obstacles. “I should have killed him.” Her voice conveyed true regret. “He was an idiot.”
“But a fine soldier.” Lastay said. “And, Majesty, I spoke with him when he first arrived her. He truly thought he would be well received by you. Your spurning him was a terrible blow.”
Xena turned her head and looked at him. “Are you saying this is all my fault because I didn’t let the bastard into my bed?” Her voice rose.
“Mistress! Please!” The duke uttered. “Your will is your own, all know that.”
Xena rolled her eyes. “Lastay, after I get through this idiotic festival, I will have heads on pikes up and down the river road when I find out who was backing Bregos in this. Spread *that* to your cohorts.” She bit off the last few words, spitting them out like nails. “Consider yourself lucky that you *did* try to warn me, and I remember it.”
Lastay’s hands clenched on the chair arms, but he nodded. “Mistress, I understand.” He murmured. “I will make sure your will is known.”
And scare the crap out of everyone dressed in silk and velvet. They’d be cleaning up the gowns for days. Xena released a contented grunt, and laced her fingers together. “So. How your wife?”
“Majesty?”
“Your wife.” Xena admired one of the horses, a tall, springy bay with a dark mane and tail. “She’s not with you, I noticed.”
Lastay relaxed a trifle. “Ah.. she’s home, Majesty. We’ve just found she’s with child.” He smiled in reflex.
“Yeah?” Xena eyed him. “Yours?”
**
The servers near the meat roasting pits weren’t quite ready, so Gabrielle found herself waiting with the small group of noble’s attendants some slight distance from it.
“So, you’re the queens’ new… companion.”
Gabrielle returned the brief smile of the short, muscular woman next to her. “Yes, I am.” She agreed quietly. “My name’s Gabrielle.” She held a hand out.
After a moment’s hesitation, the woman returned her grip. “Alavaria. I am Duke Lastay’s personal body servant.” She told her. “This is Banren.” Her companion nodded warily at Gabrielle. “He serves Duke Sigland.”
This was, Gabrielle realized, a whole different hierarchy of slaves than the lower kitchens. “Nice to meet you.” She replied politely. The servants with her were all dressed very well, in the livery of their masters, or in equally fine clothes. They reminded her a little of Stanislaus, in the way they held themselves aloof, as though wanting to be regarded as more than the slaves they all truly were.
“Our queen is always known for her expeditious decisions.” Banren said. His voice was thick, and pretentious. “You came in on the slave train just the last week, did you not?”
Gabrielle was aware of the listening crowd. “That’s right.” She agreed.
“Quite a first experience.” Alavaria murmured. “A difficult position, I’m sure.”
“Well.” Gabrielle had an audience, and she wasn’t going to waste it. “I thought the same thing, at first. But I was wrong. The queen has been very gracious, and more than kind to me. I think I’m very lucky.”
They all just stared at her as though she’d grown a second head and it had popped out under her arm and started to sing.
“Ladies, gentlemen, we’re ready now.” The kitchen steward joined them, clasping his hands in anxious tension. “Please, let us help you.”
For a moment, no one moved. Then they all looked at Gabrielle, evidently waiting for her to go first.
It was then that she realized exactly what Xena’s casual acknowledgement of her had done. It had put her on the top of the heap, as Xena’s body servant, she took precedence over all the other slaves in the kingdom. She’d gone from the very bottom, to the very top, and these people around her weren’t very happy about it. Gabrielle cleared her throat and edged past Alaveria, mindful of Xena’s warning about toads.
The kitchen steward bowed before her and lead her to the tables where various trays of edibles were positioned. “What is the queen’s pleasure this day, m’lady?”
“Sides from ‘er?”
Gabrielle’s ear just caught the comment. She glanced up and looked behind the tables, but no one would meet her eyes. She recognized a few of them, but there was no sign of any of her fellow slave train captives. With a slight shake of her head, she concentrated on picking out Xena’s lunch. There were whole roasts, and sliced meats. She pointed out a couple of each, and added a fresh loaf of thick bread with honey butter to the tray. “Some of the long beans, please.” She let her eyes wander over the choices. “And a bowl of fruit.”
The tables had been decorated with flowers, picked from the fields that leant a rich, pungent scent to the air. On impulse, Gabrielle selected several of the prettiest, and laid them on the tray before she picked it up. “Is there…” She paused, as a tall man dressed in court livery approached, giving her a slight bow.
“I am the castle vintner, m’lady.’ The man spoke in a soft voice. “Does the queen wish a good wine with her meal?”
“Yes, please.” Gabrielle watched as he went to a chest, and selected a bottle. “Would you like to bring that up?” She asked, seeing the bottle was sealed.
With a very pleased smile, the man nodded and bowed. He tucked the bottle under his arm and followed her as she made her way back to the steps. “May I carry that for you, m’lady” He offered. “It looks heavy.”
It was, and not easy to climb up the steep steps with. Gabrielle relinquished the tray, with a warm smile. “Thank you.” She was a little surprised at the offer, but she put it down to yet more people wanting to ingratiate themselves with Xena and followed him up to the upper level.
There, she found that metal stands had been set into the platform, spaced to receive the trays. The vintner set the tray down on the ones closest to Xena and stood, bowing first to her, then turning and kneeling before the queen. “Your majesty.”
Xena motioned him to stand and approach.
Gabrielle didn’t miss the quick glance in her direction, though, and the smirk. She returned the smile, then knelt by the tray and got busy making sense of the contents. Around her, she heard the other servants coming back doing the same thing, and a quick look found Alavaria on one side of her, and the more portly Banren on the other. They watched her, and she could sense the jealousy inherent in the stares.
It reminded her a little of the women’s circle back in Potadeia. One of the back rooms of the common inn was used for it, and in the winter months all the women would meet there and work on sewing, knitting, the little crafts that held their poor homes together. At the table, there had always been a hierarchy, where the wives of the most powerful men, the reeve, the blacksmith, the successful merchants.. had sat at the top of the table, nearest the fire. The less important you were, the colder your seat was.
Gabrielle looked up at the chairs placed on the platform, with Xena in her center throne with the best view. People were, she mused, really just people, weren’t they? She arranged a plate for Xena and picked it up, balancing it on one hand. Then she picked up something else on the tray and stood, walking over to where the queen was seated.
Xena had just finished getting a glass of wine from the vintner, and was swirling the rich, red liquid in her cup as she watched Gabrielle approach. The vintner had turned aside to speak with Lastay, and Gabrielle had a clear shot at her as she walked up and as gracefully as she was able, knelt and offered up the plate.
Xena took it, with a droll grin. She set the plate on the small wooden table perched next to her throne, and winked at her.
Then Gabrielle lifted her other hand and offered Xena the flower she had in it.
With a very startled blink, and one sharply hiked brow, Xena reached out and took it, studying the colorful blossom in bemused amazement. Gabrielle merely waited, watching subtle shifts of emotion cross the queen’s face. She figured either Xena was going to accept the thing, or chuck it at her, and she smiled when the queen chose the former and lifted to her nose to sniff it’s fragrance.
Then she reached out and tapped Gabrielle lightly on the head with the flower. “Go get your lunch.”
Gabrielle did, returning to the tray and selecting what she wanted from it. When she finished and turned to resume her seat at the queen’s side, she found Xena once against studying the blossom with curious eyes, twirling it in the fingers of one hand, as she sipped from her wine goblet.
She tucked her feet under her and was glad of the sun warming her back. The breeze had kicked up again, cool and fluttering the banners, and she nibbled a bit of meat as she watched two men charge at each other on horseback. Her eyes widened as they jumped up onto their saddles, and widened even more as they leaped on passing each other, landing on the opposite horse and somehow managing to hang on. “Wow!” She blurted, glancing up at Xena. “That was amazing!”
Xena was leaning her chin on her hand, with the blossom still in it, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Sure was.” She agreed. “Got all sorts of amazing things going on here today, don’t we?”
“Do we?” Gabrielle asked, caught in that regard.
“Mmhm.” The queen turned her head and looked out across the fields, and the crowd, and the waving banners. “We certainly do.”
**
Part 8
The sun was setting, bathing the field in blues and grays by the time the contests were finished. The air had grown cool, and Gabrielle rubbed her bare arms as she watched the final race end, a horse with purple and yellow colors coming in ahead of all of the others. The horse was apparently Duke Lastay’s, if his sudden exultant yell was any indication. Gabrielle watched the rider pull up, his fist lifting in the air as he rode in front of them.
It was a pretty horse, too. It was gold, with a pale mane and tail, and it held it’s head up high. Gabrielle turned and looked up at Xena. The queen was watching the horse too, with a pensive, almost sad look. “I guess you can’t win all the time.” The blond woman murmured.
Xena exhaled slowly. “He deserved the win. That’s a good animal.” She leaned on the arm of her chair, closer to Gabrielle. “Comes from good stock.”
Gabrielle studied the horse. “It’s so pretty.”
“She.”
Gabrielle turned and looked at the queen’s profile. “Do you know that horse?”
“I knew her mother.”
In all the short time she’d known Xena, it was the most emotion Gabrielle had ever heard in her voice. More even than when she’d spoken of her brother. But she didn’t get a chance to find out about it because at that moment horns started to blow. She winced. Xena winced even more strongly, as one of the horns went far out of tune. “Ow.”
“Yeah.” The queen pushed herself to her feet. “Time to take the party inside.” She loosened her belt, tucking her flower under it and tightening it again. The nobles rose around her and bowed hastily as her guard formed up around her. “Come on, Gabrielle.” She extended a hand out.
After a moments hesitation, the blond woman stepped forward and joined her, shyly taking hold of the long fingered hand that curled around hers. It was so unexpected, and warmer than she’d anticipated, but Gabrielle didn’t stop to ponder it for more than a second. She was pulled into the circle of guards to Xena’s side and was happy to remain there as they started down the steps.
“Majesty!” Lastay hurried over. “Majesty, did you see my mare?”
Xena stopped and regarded him over the heads of the guards. “I saw. Nice race.” She stated. “I’ll present prizes at dinner court. Make sure all the winners show up.” She put a hand on Gabrielle’s back and started walking again, leaving the nobles behind. As they reached the lower platform, Stanislaus caught up with them.
Gabrielle was a little surprised. She hadn’t seen the seneschal for a long time, and she’d half expected to find that Xena had banished him somewhere for his plot to get rid of her. He was wary in approaching the queen, she noticed, but Xena didn’t seem surprised to find him there.
“Mistress.”
“Yes?” Xena replied. “The banquet’s prepared?”
“Yes, Mistress, it is.” The seneschal told her. “As you requested.”
“Good.” Xena said. “I’m going to change and get this damn dust off me.” She eyed Stanislaus. “I want everything I need by my throne by the time I get there, or I’ll start rolling heads.”
“Mistress.” The man bowed.
“And make sure everyone shows up.” Xena growled.
Stanislaus bowed even more deeply, and turned, disappearing down another set of steps faster than you could think his name.
Gabrielle wondered if the queens’ back was bothering her a lot. Experimentally, she eased closer. Xena draped an arm over her shoulders and pulled her over, leaning subtly against her as they walked along. Pleased she’d guessed right, Gabrielle carefully supported her around her waist, blissfully grateful for the warmth as the evening wind blew against them. Seeing the glances of the guards, and the nobles trailing after them she knew what their thoughts were.
For some reason, it didn’t bother her now. Gabrielle wondered if she didn’t even want what they were thinking to be true.
“Mistress, a moment with you.” Alaran appeared from nowhere.
“What?” Xena’s short temper was very evident in her voice. Even Gabrielle, who’d only known the woman a short time, heard it clearly.
The security chief entered the ring of guards and took up a position on Xena’s other side. “I have just come from the healer’s.” He kept his voice very low. “Mistress, it’s Bregos.”
Xena looked at him. “Dead?”
“No.”
“Bummer.” The queen sighed.
“Mistress, he’s gone.” Alaran told her softly. “He has been taken from the infirmary. No one…” He paused, looking significantly at her. “Saw him taken out.” His dark face was grim. “And his men are keeping to their barracks.”
Xena considered the news thoughtfully. “Can we get someone in there?”
“It would be difficult.” Alaran admitted. “Most of my men are known to them.” He pinched his lower lip. “But perhaps. I can try.” He looked at her. “His men feel he was tricked into challenging you.”
“He was.” The queen said in a mild tone. “It’s not my fault he was stupid enough to fall for it.”
“Mistress, I want to put guards in the tower.” Alaran said. “I don’t trust any of this. My nape hairs are up.” His voice was very serious. “No one questions your abilities. I never have, and after today, none should. But it does not pay to take such chances.”
Xena was quiet for a few steps. “Okay.” She answered. “It’s not a bad idea. Just make sure it’s men you trust, Alaran.” A pause. “Or those you really don’t like, and don’t mind seeing dead if they twitch the wrong way around me.”
The security chief grunted, and the faintest of smiles appeared on his face. “Mistress, your humor is, as ever, appreciated.”
“My humor, as ever, is twisted like a grapevine.” Xena replied. “Keep an eye on the frillies as well, Alaran. I let it be known I wasn’t pleased with the betting this morning.” She told him. “I figured you were bored.”
Alaran sighed. “Yes, Mistress.” He glanced at her, then his eyes met Gabrielle’s. “Little one, I will make sure the guards know to give you every courtesy.”
“Thanks.” Gabrielle murmured.
“Or I’ll cut their tongues out.” Xena added helpfully. “Put a few extra people on the banquet tonight. I want to hear what’s being thrown around.”
Curiously, Alaran seemed to cheer up at her words. “Excellent, Mistress. I will take care of it.” He bowed gracefully at her, and ducked his head in Gabrielle’s direction, then he slipped out between two of the guards and moved off on an opposite track.
Xena was quiet for the rest of the walk up the long ramp to the stronghold. She seemed deep in thought, and Gabrielle figured it was wiser not to disturb her. She simply walked alongside the queen, giving her what support she could. Her height really worked out for that, as it turned out. Her shoulders were just at the right level for Xena to lean on, and she was glad of the excuse to be close to her.
She wished the walk would last a lot longer. But it ended at the tower, and she reluctantly released her hold around the queen as the guards swept the door open for them. Xena strode inside the inner chamber, pausing halfway through the door and stopping.
She turned, and regarded Gabrielle seriously. Then she pointed at one of the guards. “Take everything in there.” She indicated Gabrielle’s little cubby. “And bring it inside here.” She jerked her chin towards the inside of the hall.
The guard and Gabrielle exchanged looks, as the queen then disappeared into her inner chambers.
**
Xena walked across public chamber and went to the window. She rested a hand on either side of it and looked out, taking a deep breath against the turmoil going on inside her. After a moment she sat down on the sill and carefully leaned against the wall with the uninjured part of her back.
Her head came to rest against the stone with a soft thump. She lifted one hand and rubbed the side of her face as she removed the flower from her belt and stared at it.
It was just a flower. Her fingers twirled it. She could throw it away, and yet she held it – its slight, spicy fragrance and rich color capturing her attention.
She found herself asking why. Why had Gabrielle given it to her? Xena’s brow furrowed as she watched the sky darken. It wasn’t as though she’d never gotten gifts. Subjects gave them to her any excuse they got, to buy favor from her or to attract her eye to them.
But Gabrielle already had her attention, and the girl was smart enough to know that. So why a flower? The queen pondered the possibility that it was just in the slave’s nature, since she seemed to have an open, generous way about her.
Maybe.
You know, Xena, you could just ask her if you weren’t so afraid of the answer. She mocked herself. What is it that you want the damn thing to mean? She looked down at the flower, remembering the look in Gabrielle’s eyes when she’d offered it to her.
A gift from an honest heart. When was the last time she’d been offered that?
A knowledge settled over her, close and inescapable. When was the last time you wanted to give something back in return?
Xena closed her eyes, a wry smile finding its way onto her face. Nice. The entire kingdom wanted you to marry Bregos, so to piss them off you make him a eunuch and fall in love with your chambermaid. Gotta hand it to you, Xena. You’re an original.
Ah well. The queen watched the first twinkling stars appear. Had to happen sometime, didn’t it? But what was she going to do now? Good sense told her she needed to put a stop to it. Her own sense of honor, such as it was, frowned on the fact that the kid had no choice, had no option but to do what Xena commanded.
She looked down at the flower. But Gabrielle hadn’t had to do that, had she? Nothing forced her to choose the bloom, nothing commanded her to give it.
Nothing was forcing the emotion packed look in her eyes when she’d offered it up.
Or was it just a good act? Xena exhaled, turning her head and pausing as she unexpectedly found Gabrielle in the doorway to the inner chambers, just quietly watching her. When their eyes met, the queen could feel the undeniable pull between them and she knew, she just knew that whatever the reasons around it…
This, at least, was real.
There was a truth between them that transcended the roles they played.
So. “All set?” Xena asked. “With all the skulking going on, I’m not having you hang out in the corridor waiting for a half wit with no sense and less brains to have a go at you.”
Gabrielle smiled and nodded. She walked over and stood by the window, leaning a shoulder against the stone. “Want me to put that in water?” She asked, glancing at the flower. “It’ll last longer.”
Xena’s eyes twinkled. Life did, she’d learned, what it did, and if you were smart you took what it gave you.
She was smart. With a snap of her teeth, she bit off the bloom and chewed it, the petals tasting sweet and a little tangy in her mouth. “Nah.” She swallowed it, and watched Gabrielle’s eyes blink in startled surprise. “I’m an instant gratification kinda gal. We can get more of them at dinner.”
She got up and put an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulders for no reason at all, leading her back into the bedroom.
**
“I think it looks better.” Gabrielle examined Xena’s bare back. “It’s not so red anymore, and it’s not swollen up.”
“Uh huh.” Xena murmured, her eyes closed. “After what you did to me before, I sure as Hades hope not.”
Gabrielle cleaned carefully around the stitches, watching the gentle rise and fall of Xena’s breathing. “I know that hurt a lot, but at least it helped.” She said, her fingertips lightly touching the dark bruise from Brego’s hit that now crossed the queen’s shoulderblade.
Even with the damage, Gabrielle could see the beauty underneath. Xena’s skin was smooth and soft, and it was neatly fit over the bones and significant amount of muscle underneath it. Her spine curved under Gabrielle’s hand, nestled between two thick lines of sinew on either side of it.
Xena had her gown draped loosely over her body from the hips down, and an arm curled around her pillow as she waited for Gabrielle to finish.
The rest of her was bare, and Gabrielle was finding it harder and harder to concentrate on her task as she became more and more aware of the body lying before her. Aware of it’s symmetry, and the gorgeous sculpture of it’s proportions.
“I think you’ve just got talented hands.”
Gabrielle looked up, the hands in question going still. “Really?”
“Yes.” Xena kept her eyes closed, but a half smile appeared. “You’ve got a light touch. Most don’t.”
“Well, I’m trying not to hurt you.” Gabrielle said. “I know how sore you must be.” She worked a few moments more. “Do you…have you gotten hurt like this before?” It felt a little strange to be asking, but she wasn’t really sure what other kind of small talk she could manage with the queen.
“Hmm.” Xena mulled the question over. “A few times, sure.” She answered. “There’s a scar, lower down on my back, across my spine. See it?”
“No.. oh, yes.” Gabrielle had to move the robe a little. “Wow.”
“I was riding with my men, on a raid through a city out west of here.” Xena said. “We ran into a band of Spartans.”
“Oo.”
“Tough fight.” Xena admitted. “Damn, they were good. They got one of my captains and cut him in half, and came after me. I got the bastards who got my man, but two of them got behind me and tried to cut me out of my saddle.”
“That’s… from a sword?” Without thinking, Gabrielle reached down and ran a finger across the scar.
Xena’s eyes popped wide open. She turned her head slightly, the muscles along her side and belly contracting at the unexpected touch. “Ah.. yeah.” She cleared her throat. “Broadsword. I dripped blood for ten miles back to our camp. Lucky I didn’t bring wolves down on us.”
“That sounds horrible.” Gabrielle frowned.
“Made for a great campfire story.” Xena disagreed. “Took forever to heal, though. I..” The queen exhaled wryly. “We had an old man, a healer we’d picked up somewhere. He told me to stay off my horse and damned if I listened to him.”
Gabrielle took her time at cleaning, not really wanting the moment to end too soon. “I think the most significant injury I ever had was when our pig bit me.” She told Xena. “In the knee.”
Xena chuckled.
“That bled a lot too, but it doesn’t make nearly as interesting a story.” The slave said. “I picked up one of her piglets, to play with it and she wasn’t very happy.”
“I bet she wasn’t.” The queen said. “I hate pigs. I was gored by a boar outside Thrace one year. Damn thing put a tusk right here.” Xena touched her leg, drawing the covering back to expose a knotted scar.
“Ow.”
“Yeah.” Xena studied the old wound. “Pissed me off. I dropped my weapons and grabbed it and we wrestled in the mud until I broke it’s stinking neck.” She recalled. “We roasted it for dinner. Best meal we’d had in half a moon.”
“Did you spend a long time out with your army?” Gabrielle asked curiously. “It sounds like you had a lot of adventures.”
Xena glanced back at her. “Long enough to conquer from the northern mountains here to the sea.” Her eyes took on a hint of a sparkle. “Took a long road to get to this pile of hedonistic pillows from where I came from.”
Gabrielle finished up, studying her handiwork with a sense of satisfaction. “Okay.” She said. “I think that’s about as good as I can do.”
“You sure?” The queen queried.
The blond slave nodded.
“C’mon over here and sit down, then.” Xena patted the bed’s surface.
Gabrielle got up and put her basin in the bathing room. Then she returned and circled the bed, settling gingerly on it’s surface facing Xena. She was barefoot, and in one of her work tunics, and she decided to sit cross legged.
“Dinner’ll be long, boring, and possibly dangerous.” The queen said. “What I want you to do is just sit and watch everyone. Listen to what people say.”
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