CHAPTER 15
"Amphipolis!" Gabrielle cried out, holding her arms aloft and spinning around. People were already staring at them enough, Robin thought, no need to add to it. But there was no denying Gabrielle. He'd learned that on the trip here.
When he had keyed her into the (sometimes painful) realities of their line of 'work', she had blithely shrugged them off. Her attitude had been, "What could happen with Xena around?" As long as they looked out for each other nothing could happen to them.
While she took what he said seriously, it was plainly evident that she didn't believe it applied to her. This attitude was maddening to Robin. To think that the rules of your profession don't apply to you is suicide. The more he pushed, the more Gabrielle teased him as a worrywart. It always ended the same way: Robin frustrated and Gabrielle laughing.
Robin had tried to demur from entering population centers, but Gabrielle would hear none of it. She was heading for Amphipolis and she sure as heck wasn't going to let him go back to wandering in the woods. No, he'd come and stay at Cyrene's inn with her, and then they'd wait for Xena to get there, after which they'd all put their heads together and see if they couldn't come up with a solution to his problem.
He'd tried to sound thankful, even relieved at the prospect. But in reality what he really needed to do was figure out some way to get in contact with Batman. And failing that, see if he couldn't help out whomever was looking for him, if in fact anyone was.
The last thing he needed was to lie to even more people about his true situation. But Gabrielle was insistent, and perhaps he might think of something with a steady meal and a room of his own.
So he had journeyed and entered into Amphipolis. Looking around, Robin was somewhat relieved. While sizeable, it was little more than a town, no great metropolis. The less people that noted him, the better.
"Come on!" Grabbing Robin by the hand, Gabrielle pulled him along with her as she raced through the streets, barely avoiding innocent bystanders, until she came up to a stop in front of an inn.
"We're here!" The bard beamed triumphantly.
"'Here' where?"
"Cyrene's Inn!" Opening the door, Gabrielle stepped inside, Robin following her.
He had to admit, it was a cheery enough place. Airy and clean, it smelled of fresh cider and apple chips.
"Gabrielle!" Robin turned at the voice to see a woman come over and embrace the blonde haired bard. He assumed this was Cyrene.
"And who's your friend?" She appraised Robin with a half-amused, half-wondering eye.
"This is Robin," Gabrielle said, reaching out to touch the Boy Wonder. "I'll tell you all about him later. But first, we're starving, is there anything to eat?"
Laughing, Cyrene led them to an empty table and went to get some food.
"You'll love Cyrene," Gabrielle whispered confidentially. "She's great."
"So, that's Xena's mom?" Robin asked, making sure he remembered right.
"You bet."
When Cyrene had returned with the food and drinks, Gabrielle relayed the message Xena had sent.
"Xena may be a couple of days late, she was tracking down something and told me to let you know."
"Well, that is convenient. Now I know not to make up her room for a few days yet. Now, what about your rooms? Or is that 'room'?" Her eyes twinkled mischievously.
Gabrielle flushed while Robin's eyes widened slightly.
"Cyrene! Two rooms will do fine!"
"Just making sure." The proprietor added impishly.
With that she went off to prepare their rooms, leaving the two to eat in peace.
While they were digging in, a group of men entered, stamping the dirt of the trail off themselves like great shaggy yaks. Coming out from the back, Cyrene greeted them.
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah," the lead man rumbled. "Me'n my crew need some rooms for the night. You'z got any?"
"Sure do," she smiled. "You'll be on the second floor. Supper is served at eight, and lunch is going on right now if you'd care for some."
Grunting, the leader gestured the group to a table.
Throughout all this Gabrielle had the strangest feeling. She had naturally looked up when they came in, but something had held her attention. Now she found herself staring at them while they ate, trying to figure out what it was that seemed so familiar about them.
At one point, one of them caught her looking over. "Got a problem?"
"No." Quickly, Gabrielle looked back at her food, while Robin looked at her quizzically.
That one barked sentence served to clarify Gabrielle's thoughts and open up her memory. Of course, this was the same group of men she had accidentally bumped into some days back. Pleased to have placed their faces, she focused on her meal with gusto. Funny though, a distracted part of her mind thought, to run into them again here.
***
Whatever was up north, they were in a hurry to get to it, Batman mused, while following the ever-increasing tracks. And if they were in that much of a rush to get there, it seemed an ill omen for their destination.
By his estimation, they were only a day or so ahead of him. If he kept on through the night, he should reach them sometime before noon tomorrow. With an even greater sense of urgency, he sped on.
***
They were close now. Xena could practically smell the unwashed horde that lay but a day's ride ahead of her. If she kept at this pace they should be in sight by noon the next day.
Soon it would all be over. Soon…
***
She'd sent riders ahead to check out the place, they should be back in a couple of days. In the meanwhile, there was a nearby village just waiting to be ravished. After all, she didn't want her men to get rusty, not when their ultimate goal was within reach.
The village tomorrow, then the day after that… Xena.
The warrior princess would have figured out Callisto's scheme, and understood where she was heading. Xena was sure to be there. Then… Then old debts would be paid.