Episode Seven
A few weeks and a perilous boat ride later Gabrielle arrived in Egypt, riding into the great city of Cairo. She noticed some changes since her last visit to help Queen Cleopatra but it appeared the same except that it now seemed to avoid the streets to the point where they seemed almost empty.
As she continued through the city trying to find somewhere to stay she seemed to attract some attention from the locals, with people staring around corners or out from behind curtains to get a good look at her. It began to un-nerve Gabrielle and after a little way further she noticed a young woman down an alley staring at her and then looking around as if to be sure she wasn't being watched or followed. The girl was dressed conservatively and had long dark brown hair. She looked around one last time and called out to Gabrielle.
"Psssst," she almost whispered, and she waved Gabrielle over. Gabrielle dismounted and walked her horse over to the young woman. Gabrielle noticed her arm was bandaged and she looked very tired. She determined she was no threat and that maybe she was someone who could use her help.
"You should get off the streets" the young woman said, "And you definitely shouldn't be wearing your weapons! If Kasouf sees you you'll be arrested and tortured!"
"Who's Kasouf?" Asked Gabrielle.
"The dictator around these parts. He's never lost a fight and it's said that he can't be killed. If he sees you with weapons he'll take it as a challenge." At this point the strange young woman looked over Gabrielle and again, noticed the distinctive round blade on her belt and looked her up and down again. "Oh my god, you're her aren't you! I thought you'd never come! My father said you would but I stopped believing him! But you came! You really came!"
The young woman looked ecstatic and Gabrielle started to smile, thinking herself lucky that she should find who needed help so soon.
"Oh my God, Xena it's you. The Warrior princess has come to save us! Your Chakram is legend!"
Gabrielle's smile was drained from her face.
"I'm sorry…….." Gabrielle paused waiting for the young woman to tell her her name.
"Nicole" said the woman with a smile.
"I'm sorry Nicole but I'm not Xena……" now it was Nicole's turn for her face to fall, "but I did learn from her, I can help you I promise. Tell me what's going on"
"Is Xena coming? She gave my father her word she'd come."
Gabrielle gritted her teeth. "Xena's not coming, she died almost a year ago. I'm very sorry but If your father knew Xena then he may have heard of me too. My name is Gabrielle."
The girls face seemed to recover a little
"I think I have heard of you. Yes, my father did mention that the mighty Xena travelled with a companion she was teaching. Are you strong?" Asked the girl hopefully.
"I hold my own. Now if the streets aren't safe maybe we should go inside and you can explain things to me."
Nicole nodded, "This way." She pointed down the alley, "cover your weapons and walk quickly. Your horse can stay in the stable. My father's a blacksmith so there'll be plenty of room."
"Okay, thank you." Said Gabrielle and followed the young woman. It wasn't far to the blacksmith's stable where Gabrielle fed and watered her horse then she followed Nicole into the adjoining cottage. It was small but felt homely as Nicole walked around lighting torches against the darkening sky outside.
"It's just me living here at the moment" she began to say. My father was arrested for selling armour to some of the people that came before you to challenge Kasouf. He's to be executed but they have not set a time as yet. I have been hoping so hard that someone would come and help me set him free."
Nicole finished lighting the torches and Gabrielle got a good look at the room. The furnishings were nice and fine Egyptian cotton was used on the upholstery for the chairs in the room. She got the impression that at one time this had been the home of a wealthy family. The table was starting to wear a little but Gabrielle felt it gave it charm.
Although Gabrielle did not imagine Nicole had vast amounts of money she could tell she took a certain amount of pride in her home and in her appearance. Gabrielle could now see that the young woman's hair was tied back with a simple but elegant clip and that her dress was made of similar good quality Egyptian cotton.
"I'll help you, but first I need to know who I'm up against. Tell me about this Kasouf guy."
The girl pulled up a chair at the small dining table and Gabrielle sat opposite. After a moments pause to gather her thoughts Nicole continued.
"He came to town about a year and a half ago and drove the local peacekeepers out of town. He declared himself ruler of the city and made us pay him extortionate taxes. Most people barely have enough money for food now. Some of us naturally resisted him but others joined him, seeing their chance to make some easy money. Cowards," she added bitterly.
"Those who resisted were arrested and many executed. Laws were passed. First they banned people from gathering together in large numbers, and then they said people couldn't be out of their homes after dark. It was only recently that they said people aren't allowed to carry weapons. I think Kasouf is getting paranoid. He was challenged two weeks ago and killed the man dead. We think he was injured though. His new lifestyle isn't helping his fighting skills that's for sure."
Nicole smiled at the thought of the dictator's expanding waistline.
"You can't underestimate him though. He is a skilled swordsman. Are you good with a sword?"
She could see the whites of her opponent's eyes. She remembered every lesson Xena had taught her. She listened to what was behind the sound, let him make the first mistake and defeated him in as few moves as possible. The samurai had been shocked to say the least.
"I can fight, I may need a few hours practise but I can do it, I'm sure."
"You must be very skilled if you live and Xena has died. Some of the warriors that have travelled through here have spoken of Xena. That she was fast, always three steps ahead of her opponents. Some feared her and others revered her. One warrior even brought a scroll telling of incredible victories. It's said she defeated the Greek Gods, is that true?" asked Nicole expectantly.
"It's true." Gabrielle's curiosity was peaked by the talk of the scroll. "This scroll that talks of Xena, do you have it?"
Nicole nodded, smiled and fetched the scroll from what Gabrielle could only assume was the bedroom. She handed the parchment to Gabrielle and she recognised it immediately. It was worn and read and a little ripped in places but she knew it to be one of her own. She smiled a sad smile as she unfolded it and read the title. 'The tale of Callisto'.
"Wow" said Gabrielle, "It's been a long time since I saw this last."
"You know who wrote this?" Asked Nicole excitedly.
"I wrote this," said Gabrielle with a small sense of pride. Nicole's whole face lit up with this piece of news.
"Then you can do it! You can free my father! You'll be the one to kill Kasouf and free this town!"
"You have my word that I will free them all or die trying" said Gabrielle sincerely.
"Where are my manners!" exclaimed the girl as she happily got to her feet and walked over to a cupboard and got out some bread, cheese and fish. "You must be starving! Here have as much as you like. If you're going to fight Kasouf you'll need to be at your best and the only way to that is a good meal." She gave Gabrielle another bright smile and happily set to preparing a meal.
The meal was very pleasant and Gabrielle ate her fill. They discussed the situation with the dictator at length and Gabrielle learned much vital information about his personality, scheduling habits and favoured fighting moves. This girl had clearly been doing her research. Nicole told her that there was to be a parade in Kasouf's honour in a few days and they decided that would be the time to make their move.
It got late, the two women sat by the fire and Gabrielle couldn't figure out why with all this information to hand no one had been able to defeat this man. Nicole seemed incredibly clever and with the stories she had been telling her all night it seemed she was learning a few basic fighting moves. She told Gabrielle proudly that she had defended herself against one of Kasouf's foot soldiers but had badly twisted her wrist in the process.
"It was silly really. He had my wrist and I tried to pull away."
"May I see it?" Asked Gabrielle hoping to be able to do something to help the girl. Nicole removed the bandage and held her arm out to Gabrielle who knelt in front of her and held her arm gently. It was a little red and swollen but definitely not broken. Gabrielle took the bandage and looking round the house saw a bucket of cold water in the kitchen. She soaked the bandage and then gently re-wrapped it around Nicole's injured wrist.
"That should take down some of the swelling." Gabrielle then went to her bag and took out a small vile and handed it to Nicole. "If it starts to hurt more take a sip of that and it should take the edge off the pain."
Nicole looked at the woman strangely and Gabrielle could tell it was because she hadn't been shown kindness like that in a long while. After a few moments of staring into her eyes Gabrielle had to look away from this young woman's entrancing gaze. Nicole still had a spark of innocence in her eyes, a spark that Gabrielle missed seeing. She knew Nicole had suffered hardships but could tell she hadn't seen battle and was glad of it. After a moment Gabrielle stood up but felt Nicole's eyes still on her, following her, trying to figure her out.
"We should sleep, we'll figure out how to rescue your father tomorrow."
"Thank you" said Nicole. Gabrielle returned her attention to her pack and went to take out her bedroll. " You don't need to do that. I have a spare room. It's through there" Nicole pointed the second door on her right. "you'll sleep better in a bed than you will on the floor."
Gabrielle thanked her and went into the room closing the door behind her. Gabrielle laid down on the soft bed and willed herself to sleep but simply couldn't. After half an hour she finally figured that the reason she couldn't sleep was Nicole, which then really woke her up. Why was she so fixated with this woman who she'd only known for a few hours? Gabrielle racked her brains so try and figure this out but sleep finally took hold of her and whatever she had come up with had been forgotten.