**
Gabrielle changed into one of her work tunics, and removed her boots. It was warm enough inside now, or she’d worked off the chill enough, so that the stone only felt cool to her feet, not cold. She carefully folded her leggings and put them in her chest, then gave her hair another brush before she headed for the stars down to the kitchens.
Something made her stop, at the first step. She paused and turned, trying to locate what it was. A noise? Curiously she walked back across to the door to the queen’s chambers and put a hand against it, leaning forward and listening intently.
Unexpectedly, the portal opened inward, and she jumped as a tall, dark clad figure filled it, seemingly made of shadows and sinew. “Oh!” Gabrielle backed up, lifting her hands in front of her in startled fear.
The figure stopped.
The dawn broke and light entered the upper windows, shedding the shadows and revealing the face in the darkness to be Xena’s.
“Relax. I won’t hurt you.” Xena stated quietly.
Gabrielle caught her breath, blinking as she stared at the queen. Instead of her silk robes and fancy outfits, Xena was dressed in a drab, functional padded black tunic, with buckles that held the fabric tight against her body. Her legs were bare, as were her arms, and she was covered in sweat, the same sweat that drenched her hair and plastered it down over her head. Cradled in the crook of one arm she held a sword in a worn leather sheath.
Slowly, her heart stopped hammering. Gabrielle let her hands drop to her sides as she got over her scare. “I thought I heard a noise.” She said, softly.
“I hit the torch with this.” Xena indicated the sword. “Where are you going?”
“Down.. um, down to the kitchens. To help, and to have some breakfast.” Gabrielle replied. “I was.. I woke up a little early, and I thought about what you said last night.”
“And?” Xena kept her voice cool.
Gabrielle felt unsettled, as usual. But she forced herself to be calm, and thought about her answer. “I can’t change what happened.” She finally said. “I can’t forget it, but I can’t change it. All I can change is the future.”
Xena relaxed, just a trifle. “Good choice.” She complimented the girl.
“Thank you.” Gabrielle cleared her throat a little, glancing around at the empty hallway. “Sorry if I bothered you.”
“You didn’t.” Xena said, leaning against the doorway. “I was ridding myself of frustration.”
Gabrielle studied her curiously. There was something she couldn’t quite put her finger on that was different about Xena in that moment. Her eyes lifted and she found them captured by the pale blue ones of the queen, full of sparkles from the coming dawn.
Something. Almost an echo of something, deep inside her memories. A resonance that was, quite familiar.
“Hey.” Xena snapped her fingers in front of Gabrielle’s eyes. “Still sleeping?”
Gabrielle jumped a bit. “Um.. no.” She shook her head. “I was just thinking.”
Xena found herself enjoying this early morning encounter. “About what?”
“I didn’t know queens carried swords.” Gabrielle blurted out. “I thought they had guards for that.”
“Ah.” Xena pushed off the wall and backed up, opening the door wider. “Come inside. You ready to tell me a story yet?”
Gabrielle looked behind her, but the hall was still empty. She followed Xena into the inner hall hesitantly. “I don’t know.”
“Then I’ll tell you one.” Xena booted open her bedroom door and entered, obviously expecting Gabrielle to follow her. She turned as she put the sword down, to see the girl in the doorway watching her. The look in her eyes was… indescribable. “Gabrielle.” Xena said, sharply.
The girl’s eyes shifted to hers warily.
“What are you thinking, right now? Tell me.” Xena ordered.
Slowly, Gabrielle’s head cocked to one side in thought. “I was just… I was thinking that dressed like that you look…” Her gaze swept over the tall figure.
Xena’s dark brows lifted sardonically. “Less queenly?” She smirked.
“More real.” Gabrielle answered softly, searching her face. “Like this is who you really are.”
Caught offguard by the raw truth in the words, Xena had no ready answer for that. And so they stood in silence, facing each other across the length of the room until Xena finally shook off her paralysis and set her sword into it’s drawer. “Well.” She said. “That’s certainly up for debate by the masses.”
Gabrielle just stayed quiet.
Xena headed for her bathing room. “Sit down, Gabrielle. You can scandalize the seneschal by sharing my breakfast, if you dare.”
Oh boy. Gabrielle slowly let out her long held breath. It was starting out to be a very dangerous day.
**
But breakfast wasn’t as bad as she’d expected it to be. Gabrielle sat on her little stool near the fire, glad of it’s warmth against her bare legs. Xena had the leaded paned windows open, and a cool breeze fluttered the fabrics in the room.
She had an egg on a muffin. Gabrielle found she enjoyed it very much, eggs being a rare treat in her life since the few their hens had laid had all gone for sale. She nibbled the muffin slowly to make it last, watching quietly as Xena reviewed some scrolls the seneschal had brought in with him along with the breakfast tray. The look he’d given Gabrielle, of course, could have curdled the small glass of milk resting by Xena’s right wrist, but the queen had simply told him to leave the food for them both, and that she’d take care of instructing Gabrielle further.
It was such a weird feeling. Gabrielle had definitely gotten the impression that the seneschal didn’t like her being there, and resented Xena’s attention to her. But there wasn’t much he could say, so he just did as he was asked and left them in peace.
Xena had changed, from her worn black outfit into a silk robe, and was allowing the breeze to dry her long black hair. This was the first chance Gabrielle had really gotten to look at her for more than a moment and she found to her surprise that there were a lot of interesting things about her that she hadn’t noticed before.
Like the fact that she was a lot younger than Gabrielle had first thought. Sitting across from her quietly reading scrolls, without the usual impatient energy that usually crackled around her, Gabrielle could see the lack of lines around her eyes, and the smooth contours of youth that were plain, now that her hair was pulled back to dry. She had high cheekbones, and a powerful jaw, and the most perfectly arched eyebrows Gabrielle had ever seen.
“More lack of discipline.” Xena shook her head. “Damn it, what the Hades did that man think he was doing with those troops? Did he let them run wild over the countryside, too?”
Gabrielle correctly realized the question was not addressed to her, however, it did bring something up that had been bothering her last night. “You said you didn’t like what the river town was doing with slave children.”
Xena looked up, her piercing blue eyes sharp and questioning. “Yes?”
“So, why do you let the soldiers do that to slaves here?” Gabrielle asked. “I don’t understand what the difference really is.”
The tall body opposite her went very still. “What?” Xena said, in a low rasp.
Gabrielle blinked. “Some of the ones that came in with me, they…were… “ She slowed her speech, as Xena got up and approached her. “Sent down to the b.. barracks.”
With surprising gentleness, Xena grasped her by the shoulders and lifted her up to her feet, examining her face very carefully. “When?” She asked, very softly.
Puzzled, Gabrielle exhaled. “Yesterday, but…”
Xena released her, and pushed her back down onto her stool. Then she walked back over and picked up one of the scrolls, lifting it an examining it curiously. “Really.” She said. “Friends of yours?”
For some reason, a chill went down Gabrielle’s spine. “One of the girls that was captured with me, yes. We’d gotten sort of friendly.”
“They rape her?”
Gabrielle brought up the girl’s image in her mind, seeing the bruises across her face and the hollows under her eyes. “I think so.”
“Hm.” Xena walked to the door and opened it. “Rejas? Could you please go down to the barracks, and get Brendan. Tell him I want to see him.” She paused, and her voice dropped to a hard, cold tone. “Now.”
“Majesty.” The guard bowed, and left at a run.
Xena stayed at the door, trying to keep a lid on the anger churning in her guts. After a few breaths, she turned and went back to her chair, sitting down in it and folding her hands together. Gabrielle was watching her warily, part of her muffin still clenched, forgotten, in one hand. “Finish your breakfast.” Xena advised her. “They lose something, cold.”
Gabrielle relaxed a little, and started nibbling again. “I wasn’t lying.”
Xena’s lips tensed into a smile. “I know.” She resumed her silent pose, and Gabrielle resumed her eating.
A minute later, there were hurried footsteps in the hall, and a soft knock. “Come.” Xena called out.
The door opened, and Brendan entered, crossing the floor quickly and ducking his head. “Mistress? The guard said you’re wanting me.”
“Gabrielle here…” Xena replied. “Tells me that one of her fellow slaves downstairs was taken to the barracks yesterday, and used for the men’s sexual pleasure.” She said. “Is that true, Brendan?”
Her old captain was caught flat footed. His jaw sagged slightly, and a flush rose up from his neck. “Ah.. Mistress…”
“Is it?” Xena asked again, this time in a cold tone.
Brendan hesitated, then nodded. “Aye, Mistress, it is.”
If possible, Xena’s tone grew even icier. “That’s very disappointing, Brendan. How did that happen?”
The older man exhaled. “Wasn’t somethin… Bregos’ captain ordered it and the damnfool boy he sent didn’t know enough not to do it, and the damnnerfool guard at the kitchens didn’t have the sense to stop him.” He said. “Time we realized what went on, his men were saying how as that’s how the army was supposed to run, and how as…” Brendan cleared his throat, as Xena stood up and walked over to him. “How as they was sorry for us cause you had that rule you do.”
“You know the men who did it?” Xena asked flatly.
Brendan looked up at her. “Aye.”
“Good.” Xena nodded. “Step outside. Don’t move. I’ll be right out.” She gave him a shove towards the door and waited for him to go through it, then she walked to her wardrobe and pulled out some clothing. “That’s two very valuable things you’ve told me, Gabrielle. You’re proving quite a jewel.”
Gabrielle watched her stalk past. “Thanks.” She murmured, deeply at sea. “But what…”
“Sh. Just wait.” Xena ducked into her dressing room. “Just wait and see.”
Okay. Gabrielle swallowed the last of her muffin, and did as she was told. Whatever it was, she suspected, wasn’t going to be nice.
**
Xena glanced around her as she walked down the narrow hall towards the barracks. She was conscious of both Brendan and Gabrielle at her heels and of the simmering fury roiling her guts. They came to a small, nondescript door and she paused with her hand on it before she pushed it open. “Stay quiet, unless I ask you to talk.” She instructed them.
Both nodded. She pushed the door open and slipped inside. The barracks were cool, and at this hour, fairly dark. Men were clustered at one end, and despite the crowded conditions, the structure was well kept and orderly.
Xena heard Gabrielle draw a sharp breath and she scanned the interior, trying to pick out what would have caused the reaction. Her eyes fell on a cot near the back wall, where a small form was tossed very much like a rag doll might have been.
Without a sound, Xena turned and looked at Brendan. He refused to meet her eyes. Xena pointed to the bed and gave Gabrielle a nudge towards it. She waited until her young slave had gone to the limp figure before she turned and studied the room. No one had yet seen her, and she had a moment to plan her attack.
A tall, burly man was standing near the front door, laughing. He had his belt over his shoulders, and the buttons of his trousers were undone. “That Brego’s captain?” Xena asked Brendan.
“Aye.” Brendan answered in a whisper. “Mistress…”
“Don’t even bother.” Xena dismissed him. She gathered herself and walked towards the door, taking several steps before her approach was noticed. Everyone scrambled to put themselves in order, ducking and bowing, and the man near the door hastily got his buttons down and ran a hand through his unruly hair.
“Mistress.” Several of the soldiers murmured, but none of them would look right at her.
They knew.
Brego’s captain straightened, and after the briefest hesitation, saluted her. “Your majesty.”
Xena stopped within arms distance of him. She turned and looked behind her. “Gabrielle?”
The blond woman looked up at her with agonized eyes.
Xena nodded, then returned her attention to the captain. “What’s that?” She asked in a mild tone, pointing over her shoulder at the bed.
The man’s eyes flicked to the body, then back to her. “Just an amusement, your majesty.” He said. “Nothing more.”
Xena looked him right in the eye. “Do you know what you are, Captain?” A lazy smile crossed her face.
He raised an arrogant eyebrow at her. “No, your majesty. What?”
Xena let her right arm drop to her side, and closed her fingers around the knife hilt that dropped into her hand. She set her body and struck, a lightning motion that cut across his body and slashed his throat from ear to ear. Blood exploded out of him as he flailed back, choking and gurgling to death on his own blood.
Xena kicked him in the groin, and watched him crumple over to the ground, a pool of rich red spreading underneath him. “You’re just an amusement.” She rolled him over with a foot, watching his frantic death throes with a dispassionate eye. “Nothing more.”
With a last gurgle, he died. Xena flipped her dagger around and wiped it on the nearest soldiers shirtsleeve as he stood in utter shock next to her. She looked around at the rest of the men. “The slaves here… are mine.” She said. “If another of them gets touched by any of you, I’ll cut open from gut to neck and hang you in the kitchen yard.” She pronounced the words slowly and carefully. “Does everyone here understand me?”
“Mistress.” The whisper came back.
“Good.” Xena looked around her, at some of her own men standing there. “The fact that you stood by and let that happen disgusts me. You’re no better than he was.” Her eyes narrowed. “And I’ll remember it.” She turned, allowing her cape to flow around her, and stalked back towards the inner door. As she came even with Gabrielle, and the poor slave’s bedside, she paused. “Is she dead?”
Gabrielle looked up at her. “No.” She said. “But she probably wishes she was.”
Xena nodded. “Brendan, have her taken to the infirmary. Tell the healers I said she gets top priority.”
“Mistress.” The older man whispered.
“Then come see me.” Xena added.
His shoulders slumped. “Yes, Mistress.”
Xena took one last look around, and shook her head. “Gabrielle.” She held the door open. “Let’s go.”
“Mistress.” Brendan dared to raise his head. “What shall I tell Bregos?”
Several extremely choice things crossed Xena’s mind and almost her tongue. “Tell him he needs a new captain.” She snapped. “Among other things.” She turned and followed Gabrielle out the door, slamming it behind her with enough force to dislodge a small stone set in the wall above it. The stone tumbled off down the hallway and stopped, rocking back and forth. “The answer to your question, Gabrielle, is that I don’t allow it.”
Gabrielle let a small, unhappy breath out. Angry as she had been at the horror done to her fellow slave, she never expected Xena to deliver such a penalty to the one who had done it. Life really didn’t mean a thing to Xena, did it? “Oh.” She managed to say.
Xena cocked her head and examined her in the torchlight of the corridor. “Glad you finished your breakfast before I did that?” She inquired, with ghoulish humor.
Stunned green eyes peered helplessly back at her.
“Come on.” Xena sighed, losing her momentary quirk. “It’s really not funny. I’ve let too damn much slip.” She frowned and started off down the hall, trailing a whirl of dust behind her.
**
Gabrielle felt the silence around her as she entered the kitchen. She took a deep breath and just kept going, holding her head high as she moved around the boxes and approached the common room. She got into line with the others and stood quietly, aware of the eyes fastened on her.
“It’s the queen’s girl.”
The whisper barely reached her. Gabrielle took a wooden trencher and accepted thick piece of bread which was then covered with an even thicker lamb stew. It was late afternoon, and breakfast seemed a long way in the past given everything that had happened. She took her plate, and a mug of cider and retired to the benches, sitting down and balancing her plate on her knees.
No one sat next to her. Gabrielle frowned, feeling that it really wasn’t very fair of them, but at least she had some peace in which to eat. Broken of course when Toris sat down next to her and extended his dirt encrusted feet across the floor. “Hi.” She greeted him. “Sure you want to sit here? I think I have plague written across my forehead.”
Toris set his mug down and sniffed. “Nah.” He looked around. “They’re just jealous.” He speared a piece of lamb and ate it. “Besides, everyone heard what happened at the barracks today.” He nudged her with his elbow. “So you’re really in with her, huh?”
Gabrielle remembered his words about Bregos. “In with her?” She kept her eyes down. “I don’t think so. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I asked a question and it turned out to be more important than I figured.”
Toris ate in silence for a few moments. “Well, that question might have finally tipped the scales.” He lowered his voice. “Even her guys are mad. So good going!”
The lamb seemed unappealing of a sudden. “What do you mean?”
“Listen.” Toris grasped her wrist. “You don’t need to know. If you don’t know anything, you can’t tell her anything, and mess us all up.”
Gabrielle put her bread down and faced him. “Then why are you here talking to me? Why not go over there, and pretend I’m some kind of worm like everyone else does? I don’t need you sitting here telling me you know things but you can’t tell them to me.” She pulled her wrist free. “I’m really tired of it! I didn’t ask to get put up there, so you all can take your attitude and shove it!” Her voice lifted and rang across the open space, into a sudden silence.
“Okay! Okay!” Toris shushed her. “I’m just trying to help you!”
“Help me?” Gabrielle let her voice rise again. “Give me a break! You all are busy plotting against the queen – let me tell you, she was the one who stuck up for us today, and she was the one who saved one of us from being raped again, and again. Not your general! You’re not helping me, you’re not even helping yourself if you think he’ll let us go!”
“Gabrielle!” Toris clapped a hand over her mouth. “You don’t understand!”
Gabrielle shoved her trencher away and jerked his hand from her. “No, YOU don’t understand.”
“Shh!” Toris muffled her again. “Would you hush before you get us al killed!!!”
Gabrielle looked around her, and found a ring of threatening faces surrounding them.
“We’d better get rid of her. She knows.” One of the taller men said.
“No!” Toris countermanded him sternly. “Leave her alone! She’s our only key in there, remember!”
“She’s fallen under the queen’s spell, you fool! Can’t you see that!” The tall man snarled back. “You looking to die? Give me the wench. I’ll take care of her and butcher her up nice so cook’ll feed her body to the witch upstairs!”
Gabrielle set herself to fight, understanding suddenly how dire her situation was. She got her feet under her, despite Toris’ grasp and lunged forward, taking him with her as she sprawled into the tall man’s legs. He fell over them, and cursed, and she rolled free. She jumped to her feet and bolted for the stairs, bowling over two of the cooks who were hurrying into see what the matter was. She felt a hand grab her shirt as she reached the stairs, but her speed was enough to pull herself free, and she took the steps two at a time all the way up.
At the top she paused to catch her breath, and turned, peering anxiously down into the dim recesses. She could hear yelling below, and then silence. With a gasp, she leaned against the wall and felt her legs start to shake as her body reacted to what had happened.
Or what had almost happened. Feeling sick, she stumbled into her little nook and collapsed onto her cot, not sure whether to throw up or cry.
Footsteps approached and she clutched the side of the cot, staring at the opening to her space with wide eyes. But it was only Stanislaus who appeared, pausing a moment before he entered and walked over to her. Gabrielle tensed, but Stanislaus lifted his hand in a calming gesture, and crouched down next to her. “Easy.”
Her own breathing sounded harsh in the silence.
“Easy there, Gabrielle. It’s all right.” The seneschal told her, in a gentle voice. “It’s all right.”
Green eyes watched him closely. “Are you with them, too?” Gabrielle asked.
“No.” Stanislaus shook his head. “I am Xena’s, body heart and soul. I always have been.” He put a hand on her knee. “But you are in a very, very dangerous place, little one.”
Gabrielle’s shoulders slumped. “I know.” She whispered. “But what am I supposed to do?”
Surprisingly, the seneschal settled on the floor cross legged, and rested his elbows on his thighs. “That’s the rub, isn’t it? Know this, Gabrielle, that plots have been around in this stronghold for all the years of my Mistresses’ reign here. There is always something brewing. You need not trouble yourself with it.”
“Oh.” Gabrielle said. “It’s so confusing.”
“Just so.” Stanislaus agreed. “And you have put yourself in it’s way, because my mistress has taken a liking to you. It is not good for you, I fear.”
Taken a liking to you. Gabrielle rolled that thought around in her mind. “But it’s not my fault.”
“Of course not.” He agreed. “How can it be? You are just trying to survive, as are we all. Something about you, though, has attracted her notice, and done so quite strongly.” He said. “It is dangerous for both of you. For you, because you are just a slave, and so expendable. For her, because you give them a portal into her defenses that would not be otherwise.”
Gabrielle winced, at the truth of the statement. “What should I do?”
Stanislaus appeared to consider the question. “Because I love my queen, I will do this. I will get you out of here, Gabrielle, and I will put you on the road to your freedom.” He told her, gravely. ‘Tonight, we will leave here. A trusted friend of mine will take you under darkness, and you will never have to see this place again.”
Freedom.
Gabrielle felt lightheaded. “Does the queen know you’re doing this?” She asked.
“No.” Stanislaus shook his head. “And she will be furious with me when she finds out. But it’s the best thing for both of you, can you see that, Gabrielle?”
She nodded. “I see that.”
He let out a sigh almost of relief. “Stay here. Be quiet. After darkness falls, I will come for you.”
“All right.” Gabrielle answered him. “Thank you.”
He reached over and ruffled her hair, then hoisted himself to his feet and brushed his velvet clothing off.
“You’re taking a really big risk, aren’t you?” Gabrielle asked, suddenly.
Stanislaus gazed down at her. “Larger than you could possibly know.” He gave her a slight nod, then slipped out the door and padded away, his soft boots making almost no sound on the stone.
Gabrielle. You’re going to go free. This will all be behind you. Isn’t that incredible? She blinked, very surprised to find tears trickling down her cheeks, and her heart heavy as lead inside her chest.
**
Xena paused near the wall and listened. She was on her way back from the afternoon’s court, where Bregos had been conspicuous by his very conspicuous absence. Stomach ills, his major domo had pleaded in his defense, making very hearty apologies to Xena in his behalf. More than likely, his stomach had been upset by the death of his captain, and he wisely, in Xena’s view, wanted to give his queen a little time to cool off before he braved her presence.
Perversely, that cheered Xena up. However, on her way back to her quarters, she’d smelled an unusual smell off the main hall, and gone to investigate. She sniffed, and moved on, trailing the scent down to a small, almost never used door whose lock was almost rusted shut.
Almost. Xena worked the mechanism, which gave off a scent of pig’s oil, recently applied. Her hackles rose, and she eased the door open, putting her eye to the crack and peering through.
Ah. A horse’s rump faced her, the source of the scent she’d been following. “Smell enough horseshit, must be a pony around somewhere.” She opened the door further and slid out into the twilight. Two horses were tied to an iron spike set in the wall, fully harnessed, and carrying what appeared to be traveling gear on their backs. “What have we here?” Xena murmured.
The breeze lifted. Her nape hairs lifted with it, and she stiffened, her head turning as her senses attempted to locate the threat her instincts had warned her off.
The barest plucking sound was all the warning she had, and in the deepening gloom she whirled and reached out both hands in a flickering motion, her fingers closing around the shafts of two crossbow bolts.
And then a searing bolt of fire pierced her back, sending her lunging forward almost into the horses hindquarters. She whirled in pure instinct, shoving back the pain enough to pull herself behind one of the horses, shielding her body against any more arrows.
Damn! The pain was incredible. She could feel the arrowhead cutting her deep inside, and held onto her composure with an iron will. Bastards!
She heard the clatter of weapons dropping, and then running footsteps. It was too dark for her to see anything, but by the same token, she knew it had been too dark for her attackers to see her. In fact, she wasn’t sure who she was more furious with, the son of a Bacchaes who shot her, or herself for walking into it.
Three crossbows. One more than she had hands to catch, and a lucky shot. With a soft curse, she leaned against the horse and reached behind her, her fingers brushing against the shaft of the bolt sticking out of her back. Just touching it made her clamp her teeth down on her lower lip, and brought the taste of blood to her lips.
Forcing herself to calm, she took a few deep breaths and let her nerves settle. Okay. She was in trouble. Xena mapped a course in her head. She had to get back to her quarters, and get this damn thing out of her. How? She left that to when she got there, and slowly, grimly, started her long walk back.
**
She was dressed in her warmest set of clothing. The leggings, tucked into the leather boots, a shirt, and her blue tunic over it. Gabrielle sat on her bed, her arms wrapped around her knees, just waiting. She knew there was something she wanted to do. She knew walking out of here, leaving Xena behind without a word was haunting her for reasons she couldn’t even begin to understand.
She knew she had the little note Xena had left her tucked inside her shirt, a bit of precious nothing that meant inexplicable volumes to her. On the table, next to the basin, she’d left a folded piece of parchment in return, her only chance to leave this strange woman, who scared her half to death a few words, however insignificant.
I don’t know you. You don’t know me. But you will be part of my life I will never forget, both for bad reasons and good ones. Y ou took from me all I had in the world, and yet, you gave me a piece of myself I would never have found otherwise. Good luck. Be well. G.
With a sigh, Gabrielle pulled her knees closer, trying to ease the ache in her chest. She glanced at the door, seeing the last fading of the light, and as she did so, she heard the faint scuff of approaching footsteps. Squaring her shoulders, she straightened up, and let her hands rest on her knees. She fixed her eyes on the door and waited, hearing the steps come closer and closer.
And then they stopped. Gabrielle stood, taking one last look around her little space. She clenched her hands lightly into fists, then let them relax against the thick fabric covering her thighs, ready to move forward as soon as Stanislaus entered.
The torchlight was blocked, and she started for the door, then stopped, as the dark outline resolved itself not into the senechal’s stocky form, but a taller, slimmer figure that stood hesitantly before her. “Gabrielle.” Xena’s voice was husky.
Her heart almost jumped out of her chest. “Yes?” Gabrielle whispered.
“I need your help.”
All thoughts of Stanislaus fled her. “Of course.. what’s wrong?”
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