Good morning/afternoon/evening/night, people!

Here's the new chapter. The next one will be probably published next week (Monday- Tuesday), since there's a lot of thgs I have to take care of this week. I wish you a nice week! Thanks again for the reviews! I warn you: Next week's chapter is a BOMB. (At least, it is for me)

Love,

Diana!

10-

The sun was rising, when the cart finally stopped. Gabrielle got off and stretched her legs that were stiff after many hours of travelling in the cool night breeze. Lucius wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, having noticed the bard was rubbing her arms to warm up a bit:

"I have another one. Keep it" he said, his eyes were gleaming

"Uhm…thank you. Really. And, thank you for the lift." He handed her the canvas bag and her staff

"I was wondering…maybe…we could travel together again on the way back. I mean…after you pay visit to that friend of yours. I'm leaving Capua in three days." Hope was clearly perceptible in his speech. Gabrielle knew he had a crush on her and her heart broke when she realized she had to turn him down.

"Lucius…I- I really appreciate what you did for me…and what you are doing for me but…I'm afraid I can't. I….I….Did I mention I am a widow?"

Four, is where you talk your way out of it. His eyes went to the ground, he blushed visibly and, putting a hand on her shoulder, he said:

"I had no idea, Gabrielle. Look, I'm sorry for your loss. I didn't mean to disrespect your mourning period..."

"No! It's- It's alright, he…died a long time ago but, you know, I'm just…"

"Don't need no explanation, Gabrielle. It's okay. You still love him, I understand. I knew someone had to be the source of inspiration for all of your stories…that love you talk about, it's him." Gabrielle bit the inside of her cheek. If you only knew. "I wish you all the best life has in store for you. You deserve to be happy, you have a good heart. Goodbye Gabrielle."

"Goodbye, Lucius. And…Thanks. Again." He nodded and briefly kissed her on the cheek. Then got on the cart and left, winking at her.

When Gabrielle turned around, reality violently slapped her in the face. He had dropped her in the middle of the marketplace. Peddlers and stalls was everything she could see. Vendors screamed, kids chased one another down the streets and women walked arm in arm, occasionally stopping to buy some fruit or to inspect a new pair of earrings. She walked among them, looking around like a baby that sees snow fall for the first time. Then, something horrible caught her attention: she stood under a portico and, before her eyes, a group of people, both men and women, almost naked and dirty, stood on a stage in the middle of a little square. Attached to their neck, there was a wooden plate on which the slave trader had written their price. That's disgusting. They sell them just like they sell fish! They were all chained and some of them had bruises and lash marks all over their bodies. Gabrielle swallowed: she looked at a blonde, skinny girl who looked to be in her twenties. That could be me.

She noticed a tall man wearing a white and blue toga standing right there, his back to her. He was tall and slender and acted as if he had the whole world in his own hands. One could easily tell he was a pompous, haughty, self-centered man, even if he was obviously not a patrician. Two other men escorted him: one was black, tall and muscular and wore a leather cuirass, while the other was a bit shorter and, unlike the black man, he moved like and resembled a snake, now and then whispering in the roman man's ears. Finally, the roman spoke loudly, greeting a man who was inspecting the slaves:

"Solonius, my heart brims with joy! I had hoped to see you here, buying up more men for Spartacus to slaughter!" Spartacus…slaughter...A bell rang in Gabrielle's head. At his words, the crowd laughed. Solonius, who looked to be in his fifties , didn't let those laugh discourage him and promptly snapped back:

"Batiatus... now purse-proud and so potent with charm! " Yeah! Tell him! She stood in the shadow, carefully listening to every single word those two men spoke: they were here to buy new slaves. So maybe they knew Xena's slaver. Maybe they knew where she had been brought. They spoke of murders and plots, but the beginning of the auction interrupted their amiable conversation and Batiatus immediately took part to it. After two or three biddings, he admitted growing tired of bidding and bought a three-men lot. Gabrielle was shocked. That's how much a human life is worth. Sadness filled her thoughts, while she desperately tried to stay positive, reality brought her down again and again, and started to think about what could Xena be enduring…Had she been chained and sold like these slaves? Was she beaten or worse?

Gabrielle cleared her throat, and banished those thoughts. Her mind focused on the scene before her: that Batiatus was overjoyed by his new purchase and loved to take the piss out of Solonius:

"Consider the whores! Perhaps you will have better fortune fighting women in the arena!" Gabrielle gasped at his words and ran to him, stopping right before him before he could leave. Xena is fighting in the arena, I feel it.

"Wait! May I…have a word with you?...Please" she asked, politely. He studied her form from head to toe, that arrogant smile never leaving his lips. He rolled his eyes and turned to look at his cunning slave, showing his teeth. The other man nodded.

"Do I know you?!" He asked. He was all ears.

"No. No, we have never met before…Ah..I am Gabrielle and…I-I'm not a roman…"

"…Not by a long shot.." he remarked, trying to intimidate the honey haired girl. But Gabrielle was not the damsel in distress she used to be. She had grown up; she was now a warrior and an Amazon queen. He would have never taken her down. She had to find Xena, no matter what.

"I know…I'm from Greece. Me and my companion were sleeping when…well…I don't remember what happened but the only thing I know is that they took her away. The slaver who freed me told me she was being brought to Capua. I was wondering if you…" Batiatus raised his eyebrow in shock. Xena.

"The slaver who freed you?! You're talking shit, darling" he took a step but she stopped him again, putting her hand on his chest

"Please, you have to believe me!" her voice broke. She felt hot tears fill her green eyes "That man told me he was ordered to free me and that someone, someone important, didn't want me around and ordered him to drop me off in the middle of the Appian way so that I could never find her! Please! Please, just a minute! I saw you buying those slaves and…"

"Please, girl. Quiet! Just..just close that mouth of yours for a moment. Good Gods!" he put his index and thumb on his nose bridge and closed his eyes "So you are asking all the roman men around about your friend!?"

"Actually, you are the first one, sir." Oenomaus smiled, his eyes shoot sweetness for that young and brave woman. He thought she was somehow funny and felt bad for her: she was young, probably inexperienced and scared, and completely alone in a place she didn't even know. She had no money and, judging by the blue circles around her eyes, hadn't had a good sleep in days. And, what was more important, she had lost her lover. He tried to speak, but Batiatus raised his hand, preventing him from pronouncing a word.

"You know, I find your story quite touching. Really. I think…Maybe I can help you…". Oenomaus' eyes shot out. He knew what dominus was up to.

"Thank you!" Gabrielle joined her hands, as if she was praying, and told him everything she thought could be important. "Maybe…Just in case you saw her, she's almost six feet tall, dark, long hair, blue eyes. Beautiful. Her name's Xena"

Batiatus raised his eyebrow, smiling again. He patted Gabrielle on her shoulder while Ashur looked at her like a lion who has just found the perfect prey "Aren't you a lucky girl?" Dominus said, that grin never left his lips.