A CRUEL INJUSTICE HIDDEN FROM SIGHT

Thaleia walked through the market watching as Gabrielle followed her, it was clear that she was out of her element here and unused to the noise. Clearly she hadn't been to a market in a very long time and she looked slightly nervous. At the main gate she'd done the talking and shown the guard the scrolls seal and then he'd let them through. She had been able to talk to Chara who had been very thoughtful towards Gabrielle's situation and had approved the seal. Clearly there were other people in the palace who were now becoming nicer towards Gabrielle and who were starting to warm to her although not openly it was a start though. She grabbed Gabrielle's arm turning to the dress stall. "Don't you want new clothes?" Gabrielle eyed her for a long moment. "I don't need new clothes."

Thaleia picked up a dress looking at it. "I think you'd look beautiful in a dress." Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Look no offence but I'm not in to that kind of clothing." Thaleia looked at the dress before putting it back on the stall rack. "You've never worn a dress?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "Yes I have back when I was sixteen and nothing but a village girl." Thaleia smiled slightly. "So which village do you come from?" Gabrielle picked up a wooden carving from another stall. "I'm from Potidaea."

Thaleia stepped closer. "I've heard of that place, the Empress was born in Amphipolis which is a day's ride from it." Gabrielle put the carving down sharply. "Nice to know…." Thaleia looked up catching her cold tone. "You don't like the Empress?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "No I don't because she just doesn't like me because of the way I am." Thaleia moved along the stalls. "I'm sure once she gets to really know you, she'll start to like you." Gabrielle breathed in painfully. "No I don't think she ever will, I think I'm here until she gets bored of me and then she'll end my life." Thaleia blinked in shock. "You truly don't believe that do you?" Gabrielle sighed aloud. "Yes I do, Greece has no place for werewolves and I'm on borrowed time."

She stopped as they came up to a large stall so far she'd only used her money to buy some opium but nothing else had taken her interest. She didn't care for shopping long had gone the days when she'd gone to a market just to buy something for fun the impulse just wasn't there anymore. She looked at the stall in front of her which was filled with caged birds all singing away. She did have one weakness though and she'd had it for years she loved birds, they spoke to a part of her soul. Probably the only part of her that didn't feel trapped and unhappy about her existence and all that had befallen her. She'd never understood where her love came from only that she could watch them for hours on end and never get bored.

Sadly though the smaller finches wouldn't come near her in werewolf form but the doves, pigeons and parakeets didn't mind that form at all. She looked at one of the large cages holding small Wood Pigeons no doubt imported from Britannia she looked up at the stall keeper. "Are these tame?" The older man eyed her for a moment before speaking. "Yes very, there brought up from chicks."

He looked up at her. "Would you like to hold one?" Gabrielle nodded watching as he took one out of its cage passing it to her. She took hold of it watching as its small red eyes fell upon her and it made the sweet cooing sound which she enjoyed hearing. Thaleia moved closer it was clear that Gabrielle was very fond of birds. She'd never seen the blonde woman smile and though she wasn't now the joy was there in her eyes. "Why do you like birds so much?" Gabrielle lowered her gaze in thought before speaking. "I just like them, where I come from you can't keep them as pets there's no where for them to fly around and it's very dark." She looked up at the stall keeper. "How much for this Wood Pigeon?" The older man smiled slightly. "Five dinars plus three for the mini box to bring him home in."

Gabrielle passed the bird back to him then handed him the dinars she watched as he put the bird in a large wooden box with holes closing the lid. He took the money as he looked up. "He can be an un-caged bird just allow him an area to fly around and give him plenty of seed, bread and water." Gabrielle took the box gently from his hands. "Thank you, I'll do that." She turned away keeping hold of the box hearing the slight scuffing from inside, she stopped suddenly feeling the cold point as pushed against her neck. She turned slightly. "Hello Iona." Iona sneered pushing her dagger point in deeper. "How did you know it was me? I didn't make a sound!" Gabrielle raised both eyebrows as she turned her head looking at the other woman out of the corner of her eye. "You scuff your right boot when you walk its quite irritating, do you have an injury to your knee by any chance?"

Iona narrowed her gaze the bitch she had no idea how she knew that, but it didn't impress her that injury had always been something she didn't talk about as it had almost ended her career as a warrior. "You're not meant to be out of your kennel Gabrielle." Gabrielle felt a cruel smile form. "You also drink to much cider, the smell sticks to your clothes, you should drink less." Iona forced the blade in deeper. "You know I could kill you right here, right now, all I'd have to do is push my dagger in little deeper and it will puncture your spine."

Gabrielle looked around her at the crowds. "Yes but the Empress wouldn't like it I am after all her trophy and not yours." She watched the crowds carried on moving past them unaware of what was going on as Iona's posture hid it so well. "Plus killing me here in broad daylight would make you look like murder." Iona pulled the dagger point away. "Your right it would, but take in to mind that since you broke the rules I get to have my fun with you now."

She turned to the two men behind her. "Arrest her!" Gabrielle felt the pain as the box was taken from her hands, and shackles were put in place. Thaleia moved forward. "Please she didn't do anything, she's innocent, she even has note written by Chara to say that she's allowed to be here." Iona turned eyeing the servant. "I don't care if Chara gave her a medal she's not meant to be here!" She paused eyeing the servant. "Who are you anyway?" Thaleia folded her arms. "I'm Thaleia and she came out with me, she has permission." Iona eyed the other woman. "Bring her to, but don't shackle her, I want to speak with her personally." Thaleia didn't get a chance to think as she was dragged forward by the darkly dressed man behind her.

8

Iona brought her fist down full force on Gabrielle's face watching as she hit the floor hard on her knees. "You know you're not meant to leave the palace!" They were in a small room which was in the lower level of the palace which she normally used to interrogate people, namely those who threatened the Empress. The room had chains which could be bolted to the wall, and there was a chair in the corner the room was tiled but that was just so the blood could be moped up. On the walls were images of Greek warrior fighting and above them was a small window where the light could come in. The servant Thaleia was standing in the corner she looked truly horrified by the whole spectacle, she was witnessing.

Gabrielle groaned pulling on the shackles slightly she'd been chained to the wall she turned spitting out the blood in her mouth ignoring the pain as she eyed the two other men in the room. "You're a bitch Iona." Iona folded her arms eyeing her in disgust. "Oh that's really funny coming from a big ugly dog like you." Gabrielle slowly got up on to her feet only to be kicked in the shoulder hard which brought her painfully back down to her knees. "Is that the best insult you've got? Because I've had better..." Iona didn't think as she grabbed her hair pulling her to her feet savagely. "You know the rules Gabrielle you don't get to go outside with out an escort and an armed one at that."

She eyed her bulging pocket. "So what did we buy at the market to day?" She pulled the package out opening it enough to smell it. "Oh look opium you know that's a really bad habit." She threw the package on the floor. Gabrielle felt a cold smile form. "No it's great, it gets you high you should try it sometime, it might give you a personality clearly you're in need of one." She felt the pain as the woman's fist slammed in to her stomach causing her to stumble back. Iona grabbed the wooden box which was on the chair opposite shaking it savagely. "What's in here? Weapons, more drugs?" Gabrielle looked up sharply feeling her stomach twist in a painful knot. "Don't shake that!" Iona eyed her. "Oh was that compassion I saw in your face, tell me what's in here that it brings out such emotion in you?"

Gabrielle turned sharply. "It's a Wood Pigeon and if you shake the box any harder you'll kill it!" Iona put the box back down on the chair. "Oh I see, what is it your lunch? You did after all eat one of the Empress's peacocks." Gabrielle sneered slightly. "No it's a pet!" Iona laughed slightly she turned slamming her fist in to her face she watched as the blood flowed down from her chin. "Who keeps a bird as a pet it's really pathetic."

Thaleia moved forward. "Please stop this! She hasn't done anything wrong I have her note here." She pulled the note free so Iona could see it. "It's sighed and approved by Chara and it has a royal seal!" Iona turned snatching the note from her hand she opened it slowly reading it. "Oh well, well Chara did give you permission, that was nice of her." She turned putting the note on the torch opposite watching as it was set alight in the flames. She turned kicking the short haired blonde woman in the leg full force. "Well then you can both go."

She turned watching as the two men unchained Gabrielle. "Take your drugs and your bird back to your kennel." She turned slowly to Thaleia. "Listen very carefully servant, I didn't do this and as far as you know this didn't happen, is that understood?" Thaleia nodded feeling the fright take over as she picked up Gabrielle's things, watching as the blonde haired woman staggered to her feet. "I understand."

End of part 21

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