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Источник: http://www.merwolf.com/docs.html (ищем «Shadows of the Soul»). 33 страница



“Hey, Xena!” Gabrielle bounded into the room, her green eyes alight with sparkling interest. “What a beautiful day!” She came over to the bed and dropped to her knees, laying her hands on the sheets next to the queen’s thigh.

I absolutely did not hear her coming. Xena realized with a sense of utter shock. She wasn’t trying to sneak anywhere. “Hi.”

“All the nobles just left.” Gabrielle told her. “Stanislaus said they were all rushing home to welcome you on your tour.”

“Uh.. good.” Xena gathered her composure, drinking some of her tea as she watched her slave’s face. “That means we can go pick out our new pleasure den, eh?”

Gabrielle grinned, with a touch of bashfulness. “Did you like your tea?” She asked, softly. “I wasn’t… I mean, I knew you’d wake up pretty fast so I thought you might like something hot all ready.”

“Been up long?” Xena asked casually.

The slave shook her head. “No, I just put this here, and then I walked out onto the wall – I saw all the wagons leaving so I watched them for a little while.”

“Left the outer door open?”

Gabrielle nodded. “I didn’t want it to slam and wake you up.”

Ah. Okay. Xena felt a lot better, since a glance down showed her that Gabrielle was barefoot and therefore not hearing her crossing carpet through two open doors didn’t necessarily mean she was all that decrepit. “You’re sweet, y’know that?”

The green eyes twinkled shyly.

“And you make a good cup of tea.” The queen added, toasting her with it. “Listen. I’ve been thinking about what the Hades to call you.”

Gabrielle glanced around and then back at her. “Gabrielle?” She inquired. “It’s not that bad, is it?”

Xena reached over and tweaked her nose. “I said listen, not talk.” She said. “Adorable, yet saucy love slave ain’t really the title I want to hear the guards announcing you as, much as I personally agree with it.”

“Oh.” Gabrielle considered that. “Yeah, that’s kind of.. um…”

“Mm. So we have to find something else for you to be.” Xena said. “Tell you what. I’ll think about it while we’re on our royally majestic rape of the countryside, and we’ll get you settled when we get back here.” She decided. “Now, you’re not going to run off on me while we’re out there, are you?”

Gabrielle gazed at her with a poignantly hurt expression.

It disturbed Xena more than she would ever have imagined. “Just kidding.”

“You weren’t, were you?” The slave spoke quietly. “You really do expect me to just run off as soon as I can, don’t you?” She got up and walked slowly away, ending up near the window. “Do you think you need to buy me off with some title? That I need some reason to stay here?”

Xena took a breath, finding herself unprepared to deal with the situation. “Yes, I do.” She fell back on honesty. “I want to give you ever reason there is to stay here and if that includes buying you off, I will.”

Gabrielle turned and just looked at her for a very long moment, her face a mixture of sadness and understanding. “You don’t think you’re reason enough?”

Honesty won out again, somehow. “No, I don’t.” Xena replied quietly. “But that’s all right.”

The blond woman crossed back over to her and sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s not all right for me.” She said, and then she fell silent for a few breaths. “You think I’m lying.”

“I didn’t say that.” Xena felt slightly overwhelmed by this sudden emotional development.

“Yes, you did.” Gabrielle whispered. “Because I told you you’re the only reason I need, and if you don’t believe that then you don’t believe me.”

Xena put her cup down and scrubbed her fingers through her hair. “Gabrielle.”

“I don’t know how to love someone for personal gain, Xena.” The girl interrupted her. “I haven’t learned that yet, and I’m not sure if I want to… mpfh.” Gabrielle’s eyes widened slightly as her mouth was covered by one of Xena’s powerful hands.

Xena leaned close to her. “I believe you.” She enunciated carefully.

Gabrielle’s eyes watched her over the edge of Xena’s thumb.



“You gotta be patient with me, Gabrielle.” The queen told her. “You’re a damn new experience in my life, and it’s gonna take some getting used to. Got me?”

The eyes softened.

“And I know I’m a new experience in your life, so just take it easy.” Xena added.

Gabrielle nodded.

Xena removed her hand, then used it to ruffle the soft, blond hair. “I don’t want to think you’ll run off, okay? It’s just all I’ve ever known. Everyone’s got a dagger, pointed at my ass.”

“I know.” The slave exhaled softly. “Why should I be any different, huh?”

Exactly. Xena almost nodded. Why should she? The queen lifted her eyes to Gabrielle’s, and found them captured by the tears welling unspilled she found there. “Gabrielle…”

“Darn it, I am different.” The blond woman uttered. “Don’t tell me I’m not.” She blinked, and the tears trickled down her face. “I could have run off twice now, and I didn’t. How many times does it take, Xena? Before you admit I’m telling the truth?”

The queen felt suddenly very exposed, as though her heart were beating on the outside of her chest inside of the inside of it. “I think you.. are.” She found the words very difficult. “I.. think you… I think you’re telling the truth.” She finished awkwardly. Annoyed with herself. “I just…”

“Just?”

Xena wanted to get up and walk off. Unfortunately, Gabrielle was pinning the covers in place and she’d have to chuck the girl off to do it, and somehow, though she wasn’t the most social of people, she didn’t think that would help the situation.

At all.

“Gabrielle, I said I believe you.” Xena stated firmly.

“You really do?”

“Yeah, I really do.” The queen repeated.

Gabrielle studied her face intently. “You mean.. you believe that I love you with all my heart, and I would never leave you?”

In the sunlight, the blush was impossible to hide. Xena felt it warm her face and she saw it reflected in the change of Gabrielle’s expression as she saw it. She took a breath, and then another.

Never? There had never been a never before. It had always been her choice, frivolous interests to be tossed aside at her whim, impermanent and fleeting. Gabrielle was very young, but Xena had an odd, sneaking suspicion that this never thing wasn’t just careless words from a young mouth.

So many people had pledged to her. Only a very few had meant it.

Did Gabrielle mean it? Xena looked cautiously into the gentle green eyes watching her. She wanted to put a caution into this, to deny commitment, to step back and away from the intensity of what she could see in that look.

And yet.

And yet, she wanted this. Gods, she wanted this. Xena knew the risk of opening up that space inside her, but she also knew if she unlocked that long locked door and peeked inside, she’d find Gabrielle already in there looking back at her. “Yeah.” She finally answered.

Gabrielle wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled. “I’m really sorry.” She said. “I didn’t meant to get all.. um..”

“Yeah.” Xena threw an arm over her shoulders and pulled her over until they were laying together in the middle of the bed. “You’re all wet. Good thing I like em that way.” She was feeling more than a little unsettled by the events of the last few minutes and figured a little hugging might go a long way towards fixing that.

Gabrielle snuggled right up to her and obliged, putting her arms around Xena and giving her a healthy squeeze. “I know I must sound… I mean, I know you must have heard all this before all those people promising you everything and all that but..”

But you’re the only one it hurts too much not to believe it from. “Yeah, well – let’s drop the subject, and just get moving.” Xena said. “We’ve got rooms to pick, places to go, people to terrorize.. no time to be wasting here.”

She didn’t release Gabrielle for a long moment, though. Maybe it was just that feel good hug thing. Finally she gave the rising sun outside an evil look and released her hold, swatting the blond woman lightly on the butt to get her moving. “Let’s go make trouble.”

Gabrielle scrambled out of the bed and stood, retrieving Xena’s robe from where it was draped over the chair and returning to her with it. She held it out as the queen emerged from under her covers, peeking over the top when it wasn’t taken.

Xena was standing there, with her hands on her hips, both eyebrows arched as high as they could get. “Something wrong with the view, you need to cover it up?”

With an abashed look, Gabrielle folded the robe over her arm contritely. “Um.. no.” She said. “It’s just that the windows are open and I thought you might be cold.”

“I.” Xena sauntered over and kissed her. “Am never cold.” She winked at the smaller woman, then circled her and strolled towards the bathing room, pausing to glance back over her shoulder and smirk before she disappeared.

Gabrielle blinked a few times, then exhaled.

Somehow, she decided, she’d show Xena just how much she’d meant what she said.

Somehow.

**

“This one?” Xena put her hands on her hips, now adorned with a brilliant scarlet knee length surcoat and thick black leggings tucked into her riding boots. She was standing in the middle of a huge room, with an arching, soaring ceiling that extended to a ring of leaded glass windows.

It was full of light, the sun’s brilliance poured in and reflected off the marble tile floor and the teak paneled walls. “Gabrielle, I could ride a horse in here.”

The blond woman turned from where she was peering out the windows, which opened up on a large grassy lawn in front of the stronghold. “You sure could.” She opened her arms and turned around. “Look at this place, Xena! It’s great! Can you imagine the sun setting through those windows, and the stars! You could see the stars!”

Xena sighed. “It’s oversized, over decorated, and obnoxiously ostentatious.”

Gabrielle cocked her head. “Is that good or bad?”

The queen produced a rueful grin. “You’re ruining my fun, muskrat. I wanted to toss some fat assed stuffed horse head out of his favored quarters. This place hasn’t been used since before my time.”

“But.. it’s beautiful.” Gabrielle protested. “And it’s going to be great – we could dance over there, near the window!”

“We could do something else over there by the window.” Xena suggested with a smirk. “That’d spook the gardeners.”

Gabrielle put her own hands on her hips, and sighed. She was wearing a thick blue overtunic, belted around her waist with plain tan leather, and dark leggings.

The queen made a show of stalking around the room and inspecting every corner, grudgingly admitting the open space did good things to her sense of personal comfort. It was also quiet, and the front set of rooms featured a guardable forecourt so her sense of security was also mollified.

She could, in fact, even ride a horse in here.

“Xena!” Gabrielle’s voice echoed from the next room. “C’mere and look at this!”

The queen strolled over to the doorway and eased her head around the corner. Her eyes widened, as she spotted the huge, sunken marble bath with it’s ornate golden piping. It was grotesquely outrageous, and she immediately loved it. “All right. This’ll work.”

“Wow… I think it’s deeper than I am tall!” Gabrielle was hanging over the side.

“Ah. Knee level, eh?” Xena chuckled.

“Xena, I’m not that short.” The slave turned and gave her a look. She walked over and stood next to the queen, touching the top of her own head and extending her hand over to Xena’s neck. “See?”

Xena rested her forearms comfortably on her slave’s shoulders. “All right. You picked a good room, even if I don’t get to throw anyone out. I’ll tell Stanislaus to get this place ready while we’re on tour.”

Gabrielle’s face broke into a sunny grin.

Xena smiled back at her. Then she straightened and turned, sliding her arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders. “Let’s get moving. I want to be halfway to the mountains by dark before we make camp.”

“Does that mean we’re sleeping outside?” Gabrielle asked, curiously.

Xena gave her a rakish grin. “That’s right, but only you and I know it right now.”

She guided the way back into the larger chamber and crossed it, pausing in the very center and stopping.

“What’s wrong?” Gabrielle asked.

“Nothing.” Xena regarded the tall ceiling.

She looked around, then she dropped her arm to her side and sucked a deep breath into to her belly. Opening her mouth, she let her eyes close as she sang a pure, clear note – no words, just a round, beautiful sound that filled the room and reverberated off almost every surface.

Xena let the sound fade as she ran out of breath and closed her mouth, licking her lips once or twice and listening to the echoes dissipate. “Hm.” She glanced to one side, almost breaking into a laugh at Gabrielle’s slack jawed expression. “Not bad.”

Whistling, she strolled out of the room, leaving Gabrielle standing dumbfounded behind her.

**

It was cold enough to see her breath in the air. Gabrielle pulled the edge of the plain, but thick cloak Xena had slung over her shoulders closer around her. She was on a horse by herself, just behind the big black horse Xena was riding.

The touring party was larger than she’d imagined, scores of Xena’s soldiers surrounding them along with an additional two score servants, horse tenders, and other workers. Gabrielle found it hectic and confusing, but in it all Xena sat completely at ease on her mount with her own, beautifully lined cloak draped over her tall body.

They had gathered at the front of the stronghold, and now they were just waiting for the queen to give the word to start out. The soldiers were all in their black and gold livery, and Gabrielle almost regretted not wearing hers, but her blue outfit was warmer and she figured she could change into it when they were visiting the nobles strongholds.

In the meantime, she had this horse to deal with. She hadn’t figured on having one of her own, and since she had exactly one night’s experience in riding, she wasn’t really sure what to do with him. He was, at least, thankfully smaller than the one Xena was riding so her legs didn’t have quite so far to reach and she felt more comfortable on his slighter frame.

He also was sort of cute. He had a longer coat of hair, and it was a mixture of white and reddish patches. There was a thick, bristly bit of hair that stood up on his neck and he seemed very friendly. Gabrielle decided she liked him. “Xena??”

“Eh?” The queen half turned in her saddle and looked down.

“What’s his name??” Gabrielle indicated the horse.

“Shortie.”

Gods, the woman just loved to tease her. “Xena.”

The queen chuckled. “I don’t know. I just asked them to find me a pony as cute as you were.” She studied the animal. “They almost got it. Name him whatever you want.” She turned to resume her discussion with Brendan.

A pony. “Is that what you are?” She asked the animal. He flicked his ears back in her direction, and shook his head. “How about if I call you Patches? Is that okay?” Her fingers sorted through his mane and stroked the thick coat on his shoulders. “Patches the Pony?”

Patches snorted. Gabrielle took that as a yes, and now that she’d taken care of that important piece of business, she took hold of the reins and tried to imitate how Xena used them. The queen held hers between the fingers of her right hand, and she sat in her saddle as thought she were perched on the most comfortable of seats, her body totally relaxed.

Gabrielle only wished she were half that at ease. She pulled Patches head a little to the right, and nudged him with her knees, gratified when the animal considered her request and then complied with it. Right. She had her bag strapped behind her, she had her cloak tucked as much around her body as she could, and she more or less thought she knew how to make the pony go.

She was ready.

“Majesty, we’re all set.” Brendan had turned his horse aside to talk to one of the wagon drivers, and now he turned back to them. “Which way shall I tell them to go?”

Xena neatly guided her stallion forward, the men parting before her as she made the big animal dance. She got to the front of the royal ensemble and touched the horse on the side with her heels, making him spin in place so that she faced them.

Her cape swirled with her, settling over her body like a living thing as she half stood in her stirrups.

Spontaneously, the men all let out a roar. Then like a rising tide, they started chanting her name.

Xena let it go on for a few minutes, grinning as she reveled in the adulation. Then she lifted her hands, stilling the shouts as everyone leaned forward to listen to her. “We need to get moving.” The queen said. “Brendan, start the troops forward. We go north!”

“Sheeps hooves, it figures.” Brendan sighed wryly under his breath. “Never takes the easy road, does our Mistress.” He tugged his cloak a bit closer and let out a whistle. “Y’heard her Majesty! Get!”

The soldiers sorted themselves into two columns and started down the road, passing by Xena on either side and bowing to her. Behind them, the wagons would move, and behind them, the servants and a contingent of castle guards to keep an eye on everyone.

Xena waited for the last of the soldiers to pass her, then she turned her horse and motioned to Gabrielle to come forward to join her.

“Okay, Patches. Let’s go.” Gabrielle nudged her mount, glad when he got the idea and ambled forward towards the queen. “Let’s go have a grand adventure, and bring back lots of great stories.”

“What was that?” Xena asked, as the blond woman came even with her and she started her own horse moving.

“I was just telling Patches here…”

“Patches?” Xena snickered.

Gabrielle maintained a dignified look. “See? Aren’t those white and brown patches?” She pointed at the horse’s side. “Anyway, I was just telling him how much fun we’re going to have.”

Xena absorbed this. “He’s not sleeping in bed with us.” She stated. “I don’t care how cute he is.”

The slave burst into laughter.

Xena chuckled as well, after a moment. She tossed her hair out of her eyes and settled down into her saddle, watching the neatly aligned rows of soldiers with a contented eye. It felt good to be out on the road, out of that damn stronghold, feeling the wind blow hard against her body again.

This time she went forth as the master of all she surveyed, and damned if she wasn’t going to remind all of them exactly that. The fact that all her nobles had rushed off to prepare for her made her grin inside, and she was already planning on just how she’d torture the worst of them.

Bregos toads. They’d regret siding with him before she was through, she decided. She’d pile her wagons up to the top with everything they’d try to bribe her good graces with and make them pay for all the months she’d kept them in food and wine at her side while they plotted.

They would bow and scrape to her, and feed her men… Xena glanced to her left, where Gabrielle was quietly riding, her eyes peering around her with infinitely delighted interest. And they would bow to her consort, too.

Xena smiled. It wasn’t a particularly nice expression.

“Hey, Xena?” Gabrielle turned her head and looked up. “Your singing was amazing.”

“I wasn’t singing.”

“Yes, you were. I heard you.”

“That wasn’t singing.” The queen stretched her legs out in the stirrups, flexing her thighs and cocking an ear to catch the low murmur of conversation all around her. “If you’re really good, I’ll show ya what singing is later on.”

Gabrielle wriggled happily. “When we’re camping out? Wow..that’ll be great. All those stars, and you singing.”

Xena reached over and poked her in the shoulder. “You got a thing for stars or something?” She asked.

“They’re so pretty.” Gabrielle said. “And you can make pictures with them, sometimes whole stories.”

“Pictures?”

“Yeah, sort of like a game.”

Xena glanced around her, nodding in approval as the pace picked up a little. “Game? I like games.” She said. “You’ll have to show me.”

Gabrielle grinned. “Don’t worry. I will.”

The queen grunted in satisfaction. It was starting out to be a very interesting trip.

**

They rode down through the flourishing villages that clustered at the foot of the stronghold’s mount. On either side of the road, newly harvested fields stretched, the scent of scythed hay fresh on the wind. The sun was up past it’s zenith, and as they reached the first village, the roadside filled with curious townsfolk who gathered to watch them.

Gabrielle felt very strange, watching them. They were dressed not unlike she was, in good stout cloth and well cared for leather and she could feel their eyes on her as she rode past. What were they thinking? Were they jealous? Or pitying? A pair of hazel eyes caught her attention and she turned her head, seeing a tall, dark haired young woman who bore a striking resemblance to Lila looking back at her.

It sent a chill down her back, and when the girl turned deliberately and walked away, Gabrielle felt the chill come around her and settle right in her guts.

The soldiers on either side of them kept their eyes forward, most of them riding with one hand resting on their swords, or on a crossbow hilt in a studied, casual manner. It wasn’t threatening, exactly, but Gabrielle saw the eyes of the crowd go to the men, then move away in some discomfort.

Near the edge of the town, a group of elders stepped out into the middle of the road, directly in their path. Gabrielle took a quick look at Xena, noting the expression of wary alertness that had come over the queen’s face.

Brendan, riding point, slowed to a halt and lifted his hand to the men behind him as he reached the impromptu road block, his horse sidestepping slightly towards the elders.

Xena held her own hand out at waist level. “Stay here.” She instructed Gabrielle, as she sent her horse into a trot towards the impending storm.

“She’s the queen.” Gabrielle informed Patches. “She likes to be obeyed.”

Patches flicked his ears at her.

“Yeah, I’m not really good at obeying either.” Gabrielle sighed, as she squeezed her knees into the horse’s sides and went after Xena. “That’s why I was always in trouble at home, Patches.”

“What’s this then?” Brendan asked, meeting the leader of the elder’s eyes. They were of an age, but from completely different worlds. “Her Majesty takes this road.”

The older man glanced over his shoulder and paled. “Aye… aye… we just wanted a word with her, if she pleases.”

“And if I don’t?” Xena asked, as she pulled her horse to a halt. “You looking to be road kill?”

There was an uneasy rustle in the crowd around the road, but Xena was used to that. “Well?” She asked, pinning the elder with a pair of icy eyes.

“M…m…m ajesty… “ The man stammered.

“What?” Xena barked.

“That’s a really pretty box.” Gabrielle poked her head from around the tall black stallion’s hindquarters.

The queen turned with slow deliberation and gave the blond woman a stern glare.

“Th.. thank you, m’lady.” The elder looked gratefully at Gabrielle.

“Is it a present for her Majesty?” Gabrielle asked, trying not to look up.

“Yes! Yes!” The man nodded. “Your Majesty, we only wanted to show our appreciation for you with this small gift!” He edged timidly forward with the square item, a well tooled leather surface visible with some type of carved decoration on it.

With a barely audible sigh, the queen kicked her boots free of her stirrups and swung her right leg over her horses’ neck, sliding down off his back to land lightly on the road. Brendan pulled back to let her pass and she walked up to the elder, her head topping his by several inches.

He was shaking. Xena let him wonder what she was going to do until she figured his knees were about to give out, then she held her hand out and lifted her eyebrows at him.

Trembling, he handed her the box.

Xena studied it, turning it over in her hands. It had been painstakingly done, the leather pressed with carved images of interlocking leaves and fruit, surrounding a rather nicely done rendition of her royal crest. She ran a fingertip over the surface, then glanced at the elder. “Nice.”

He looked like he was about to collapse. Xena smiled at him.

He collapsed, sending up a puff of dust as his body hit the dirt. Xena’s eyebrows lifted sharply.

The other elders edged forward hesitantly. “Ase?” The oldest woman quavered. “Are ye dead?”

The humor of the situation got to Xena. She chuckled, shaking her head as she turned around and walked back over to where her horse stood patiently, lengthening her stride the last two steps and leaping into the air.

She caught hold of her saddle horn with one hand and swung aboard, settling her legs as the horse snorted and half reared. “Get him out of the road before he gets run over.” She told the elders. “Thanks for the box.”

The village residents finally stirred from their utter stillness and started murmuring to each other. Two of the larger men went and lifted the old man up between them, carrying him off the road and out of the way of the royal party.

Xena tucked the box under her arm and whistled under her breath. Brendan got the signal and started the column up again with a clicking sound of his tongue. “All bow to ‘er Majesty!” He let out a yell, as the soldiers drew their swords and let out a shout.

The villagers wisely cheered along, some of the dropping to a knee as Xena rode past.

Gabrielle followed quietly along, watching the people watch the queen, glad Xena hadn’t turned down their humble gift. Not that she thought Xena would – she’d noticed that she tended to like stuff like that, but she thought these people had really wanted her to have it as a symbol of their feelings towards her.

“Gabrielle.”

Ah. The slave urged her horse up a little, so that she was riding next to Xena. “Yes?”

“What part of stay and here wasn’t I clear about?” Xena asked. Her voice was cool, and Gabrielle realized her public disobedience hadn’t been welcome.

“Well.” She shifted a bit. “You didn’t say how long I had to stay there for.”

Xena turned her head and looked at her.

Gabrielle blinked innocently back. “I didn’t mean to get in your way…I just wanted to see that box. It’s so pretty.”She eased a bit closer. “I’m sorry.”

Xena drummed her fingers on her saddle. “I hate loopholes.” She shook her head. “Don’t do that in front of the men, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle peeked at the soldiers around them. One of them peeked back at her, and winked. “Okay.” She agreed softly. “I know you don’t want anyone to get the idea that you might be nice.”

“Damn straight.” Xena said. “Especially not people who could be bought by the first half dinar carrying jackass who wants to cause me trouble.” She tucked her reins back into one hand and half turned, searching for a place to put her new box.

“Want me to put that in one of the wagons?” Gabrielle asked.

“Yeah.” Xena handed it over. “Do that.”

Gabrielle took the gift and slowed her horse, waiting for the wagons to catch up as Xena went on ahead of her. Part of her knew the queen was right, but there was a larger part of her that was rubbed raw by the rebuke and she wanted a few minutes to settle herself before she rejoined the queen.

“She’s the queen, Gabrielle.” She sighed, as the wagon rumbled up to her. Two of the older servants were riding in the back and she handed over the box to them. “Could you put this with the queen’s kit, please?”

“Yes, m’lady.” The older of the two, a wizened woman uttered. “Tis a lovely thing.”

“It is, isnt’ it?” Gabrielle let her horse amble along side the wagon as she admired it along with the other servants. “Look at the way it’s stained… Just beautiful.” She smiled. “It’ll be the second prettiest box the queen has… she’s got a wooden one that she made herself that’s just amazing.”

“Herself?” The woman glanced a the tall, regal figure riding ahead of them. “Eh! That’s a wonder.”

Gabrielle followed her eyes and tried to put aside the hurt. “Yes, she is.” She squared her shoulders and gave the woman a smile. “Thanks.”

The woman ducked her head slightly, and Gabrielle left the side of the wagon and headed back to the front of the column. She pulled Patches up a step or two behind Xena’s horse and leaned on her saddlebow a little, already feeling the unusual strain of riding on her legs and back.

The road was starting to incline up a little, and she amused herself by examining the scenery. Next to her Xena was silent, her eyes hooded and brooding as they rode along.

Gabrielle found herself watching Xena more than the passing terrain, after a little while, though.

They didn’t speak, and soon the road wound it’s way through another large village, this one bustling and full of activity. Banners were flapping over part of the inner square, and a snatch of music drifted to them as they rode towards it, exposing what appeared to be a festival.


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