Wherever he was going, it was in a hurry, Xena reflected as she followed the tracks. She'd been following the trail for two days now, and could make out certain rudimentary details.
Salvitorus had a definite purpose in mind. Far from 'passing through' as he had said, the rapidly at which he was traveling indicated that there was something in Martimas that demanded haste in getting there. Whatever it was could only bode ill if he was involved, and by the way he had acted back at the tavern, he didn't want anybody knowing what it was, which also meant that whatever it was wasn't good. Added to that, her gut told her something was wrong.
The tracks were coming closer together now, indicating Salvitorus was slowing down, most likely to stop and make camp for the night. Tomorrow morning they could expect to hit the outskirts of Martimas proper.
***
"Yeah, big difference…" Gabrielle mumbled to herself. Some 'vacation'. She'd gone from having to get firewood for Xena, cooking for Xena, and generally waiting on Xena, to having to do these things for herself. Some change. She hunkered down under the furs, watching the fire she'd built blaze merrily.
But all in all it wasn't so bad. Everyone needs some 'me time'. Yeah, she'd make a real adventure of it. Stop off at the best inns, sample the best foods, buy some things she'd been needing. Yeah, she'd show Xena. Show her that she could do fine on her own. 'Gabrielle: Warrior Bard'. Yeah, that had a certain ring to it.
With those wistful thoughts, she bedded down for the night.
***
She could hear men outside. They were always there. The faces changed with the shifts, but their presence was always there. Their pink little faces with their beady little eyes. Eating their meals, snuffling around, grunting to one another.
"Soon my little piggies," she thought. "Soon you'll be able to squeal and squeal to your hearts content." Her whisper did not reach them.
"Fat little piggies. Ready for the slaughter." Soon. Soon…