Chapter Four: Run

Less than three days after the coastal fire, Evander investigated the site to see what the cause of the fire was. At the time the fire occurred he was in the brothel and heard about it too late to find who set the merchant ships up in flames. He heard several Roman officials tell the commoners that the fire was a mere accident but he knew better. That fire wasn't an accident, it was deliberately set.

A day after the fire, the Roman soldiers forbade anyone conducting any trades with foreigners which was going to put a damper on Rome's influx of mass income. Evander knew better than to have direct contact with the Romans so he listened and watched. The ships were dismantled, or what was left of them, and set to burn in a large bonfire on the opposite side of the city in the countryside.

The message he received from the Emperor was dire and downright rude. He hated working for Nero but he was groomed from a young age to be a mercenary for Rome. He didn't think that the Emperor liked mercenaries by the messages he received. There were so few that could do his job correctly and efficiently without being killed in the process.

He had high hopes that his new partner was going to fulfill her end and find the Steppe Queen. He knew she lurked in Rome somewhere but the city was so large and crowded that it was nearly impossible to find her. It also didn't help that he had no idea what she looked like. He wasn't sure if Nero himself knew what she looked like either.

Evander sat underneath a canopy attached to a shack by the sea wall. He casually sipped a cup of mead and enjoyed the roaring waves rushing in while he waited for Gabrielle to arrive. Most of his job consisted of waiting for long periods of time and he was used to it but what he didn't like was to be stood up by fellow partners.

Gabrielle walked through the streets and found herself standing on the coastline, searching for Evander. She lifted the hood covering her eyes and spotted the young man sitting, drinking and observing keenly. She gruffly cleared her throat and made her way over to the shack and stood at a fair distance so not to cause alarm from the Roman citizens passing by.

"You're late," he said sharply.

"I had some business with Augusta Sabina," she told him. "I have to get ready for a party at the palace tomorrow night."

He nodded and set down a small note for her on the table. "Take it."

She slipped the note off the table and turned from the wandering eyes and read the note with an imminent frown. "I'm supposed to search the city for the Steppe Queen's men?" she chided.

"That's right," he smirked, sipping more mead. "I don't have any leads for you because nobody actually saw who started the fire but I know it was her. I told you, Gabrielle, she's here."

"How am I supposed to look for these people if I don't have anything to go off of?" she crumbled the letter and tucked it in her cloak pocket.

"That's for you to figure out, Gabrielle." he set down the cup and flipped the hood over his head. "You're going to the Emperor's party tomorrow," he stated and she kept her gaze towards the ocean. "Be aware of your surroundings when you go."

"I'll try my best," she grumbled. It was almost insulting to be ordered around by someone who just reached manhood about a year ago, maybe. He was so young. "And what will you be doing in the meantime?"

Evander gave a side smile to the petite mercenary. "Gaius Julius Vindex has been gathering soldiers on the south side of the city. I'm going to find out what he's up to. If you find anything I'll be on the eastern side of the city."

She crinkled her eyebrows, knowing exactly what area that was. This young mercenary certainly liked women and she didn't want to go anywhere near brothels especially for clandestine meetings she occasionally had to attend with him.

XXXXXX

Gölge winced at the stinging pain on her swollen bloodied bottom lip. The conqueror sat opposite her and tended to her lip, dabbing it with a damp cloth. She inhaled softly and then her chin was lifted so her lip could be visible in the beaming sunlight creeping in through the curtains.

"You shouldn't have left the tower," said Xena as she pressed her fingers drenched in medicine on the girl's lip. She looked into the hazel eyes and had a moment of guilt for slapping her apprentice across the cheek like she did.

Her fingers lingered on the girl's lips and clenched her jaw then sat back, collecting the soiled cloths and washed her hands in a bowl of water. Gölge touched her lip and stared at the conqueror's midnight tresses, shielding her eyes.

Xena stood and then the girl turned her cheek. She offered a hand. "No more leaving without my permission," that was an order and Gölge nodded, taking the offered hand to stand. "I'd hate to scorch that pretty face of yours," she threatened with a warm smile.

The apprentice faintly grinned. She always thought she had a close relationship with Xena but she wasn't so sure the same feelings were to be reciprocated. Three years she'd been at her side and she learned a lot in that short span. She learned what it was like to lose people close to her since she was a child but as soon as she taken under the conqueror's wing she learned how to use various weapons, stage attacks and raids as well as submit people unto her –unto Xena.

She couldn't have been more than ten years her senior but still, Gölge had her doubts that she'd be nothing more than a simple pet for the conqueror. There were moments when she thought she had Xena at the tip of her fingers but there was always hesitancy. If she got too close, Xena would pull away as if she was overstepping her bounds. She wasn't brave enough to voice her opinions and thoughts just yet. She needed more time but how much more time was going to pass, she wondered.

"I'm going to meet with Vindex soon. You're going to stay here and keep watch. Do you understand?" Xena peered from behind the curtain, looking out at the busy city.

Gögle rubbed her arm and glared at the conqueror's backside. "Are you going back to see that artist tonight?"

Xena's fingers slid off the curtain and turned on the heel of her boot, glaring at the girl. She flashed an assertive smile. "Whatever thoughts are going through your mind, wash them away. I'm not playing dress-up, Gölge. I have a purpose to everything I do or haven't you figured that out yet?"

The apprentice huffed and folded her arms, pouting much like a small child would.

"That artist just so happens to be the Empress' personal artist," she said, ignoring Gölge's little tantrum. "I'm fishing for information, nothing more."

XXXXXX

Gabrielle worked on the Empress' portrait consistently for the last couple of days. The longer she stared at Sabina's face the more she wanted to slash it with a stroke of red paint. She had enough of dealing with the saucy Empress and her frivolous nature. Still, she worked for the Emperor and although he'd never seen her face, she did all of his dirty work for him. Now she was stuck painting his wife and hated every minute of it.

"Sabina," she growled and gripped the paintbrush to the point of snapping it in half.

Zenodorus was working on the large sculpture and that was going to take a very long time to complete. Lucky for him he had a few artists to help him along meanwhile Gabrielle had to work alone. She was getting tired of seeing both Roman nobles in her workspace constantly. It was bad enough that she had to look at a completely unrealistic sculpture of Nero and then Sabina's face on a canvas.

She set down the brush before her horrid ideas of ruining the painting returned. If she didn't back away now she was going to paint the Empress covered in red paint and then she'd be real sorry then. Gabrielle grabbed her satchel hidden underneath her work station and brought out the sketch she'd been working on for her mysterious Grecian woman.

A smile formed as she stared at her sketch. She feared to bring it out during daylight because others would see her work and unfortunately Zenodorus was very talkative. He'd ruin the entire experience for her.

It was a nice little secret she had working on this portrait but she hadn't seen the so called woman from Delphi as she named her. This was the third day that she stayed awake in the workshop longer than expected only to be left alone again.

She thought maybe the woman had gone back home or maybe she was just busy. That had to be it, right? Either way, she kept holding out that one night she'd come here after the shop closed.

Zenodorus slid the stool he stood on over to her station and she jumped as his face appeared above her canvas. She stuffed the sketch into her satchel and frowned at the sculptor.

"What do you have there, Gabrielle?" he inquired curiously.

"More sketches for Augusta Sabina. What else? Not like I have anything better to do than stare at her all day!" she growled and kicked the easel down and the portrait fell to the ground.

He puckered his lips and cocked his head, taking a good look at the unfinished portrait. "It looks great so far, Gabrielle!" he ignored her fiery attitude she had every now and then. "She really does have a gorgeous face. Much better than Augusta Claudia."

"Yeah, whatever," she mumbled and crossed her arms, sulking in frustration.

"Are you going to present the painting at tomorrow's party?"

She blew her bangs from her eyes. "I'm going to have to. I don't have anything else to show."

"Well either way, it looks great. Just keep working hard, Gabrielle!" he encouraged with a light punch to her shoulder. "I'll be there too to show a small model of the sculpture. I hope the Emperor will take a liking to it. If not, I'm going to have to start all over!"

She put her bad mood aside and smiled at the giddy sculptor. "I'm sure he'll love it, Zenodorus."

She picked up the canvas and set it back on the easel then gathered her supplies to put away for the day. She could only look at Sabina's face for so long, besides she had other business to take care of. She still didn't know how she was going to track down those men Evander spoke about without any clues to help her. She figured she was going to have to scout the entire city which was going to take much longer than half a day that she wasted painting.

"Are you leaving for the day?" asked Zenodorus, a bit disappointed to see her go.

Gabrielle grinned and cleaned her paintbrushes and set them on a cloth to dry out. "I'm going to find a dress for tomorrow evening. I can't show up in my smock and dirty pants, now can I?"

"Get a blue dress! You look marvelous in blue," he wiggled his brows.

"I'll…see what they have," she awkwardly said and grabbed her black cloak. "Don't let anyone come near my station! Guard everything with your life. I don't want anything to happen to this portrait or I'll be on the chopping block."

He saluted and hopped onto the ladder to finish the arm of his sculpture. "Will do, Gabrielle!"

XXXXXX

She took extreme precaution every single time she stepped out into the Roman world. While her men were busy lurking around the city she played the waiting game and absolutely hated it. She was used to things going her way and happening quickly but that wasn't the case in Rome. She needed to strategically plan her every move or risk being caught.

Dressed in traditional Roman attire, wearing a maroon dress she bought in the market a couple of days ago, she strolled through the city in the dark shadows. Perhaps she was a lurker as Gabrielle said to her. She kept her mind focused on Vindex. She knew she couldn't stay in Rome forever as she needed to get back to Edirne.

Her expectations were lowered once she reached Rome and there was yet to be a rebellion against Nero. She bet all of her money that Gaius Vindex would back out of their deal and she wasn't wrong. He not only reneged on their agreement, he was wasting away in his villa, drowning in alcohol while she was doing all his hard work for him.

She made her men go ahead of her to make sure that nobody was in the alleyway before approaching the Governor's villa. Tildus waved his hand for her to walk ahead and she enclosed the veil around her cleavage and rounded the corner.

A dagger was hidden beneath her gown, strapped to her thigh. She wasn't stupid enough to carry a heavy sword everywhere she went but going out in public was dangerous enough. Romans, she gagged at the sight of them every step she took. They were the bane of her existence. If only they knew they were little marionettes for the emperor to dangle.

Low life, no good for nothing motherfu –

She bumped into a tall young man once she came around the corner. She was so close to the Governor's house and now this inconvenience. He looked up at her with his large icy blue eyes and she narrowed hers.

Evander inclined his head. "Apologies…" he stepped away and was a bit intimidated by her harsh glare.

Xena's eyes traveled to his chest and relaxed her cinched brows and frown. She reached a hand out and touched the bracelet attached to the leather necklace around his neck. Evander put a hand over hers and snatched the necklace away protectively.

Her stomach felt like it'd been punched severely at the sight of the little charm. "What an…interesting necklace," she says coolly. "Where did you get it?"

He looked down at the bracelet nestled in his palm. "It was given to me."

Evander studied her eyes for awhile and saw softness, confusion and distress wrapped in one emotion that he couldn't quite read. Her eyes were fixated on his necklace so he slipped it beneath his tunic to break her gaze.

"I'm sorry I ran into you. Excuse me, I should be on my way," he side stepped her and ran around the corner.

Xena put a hand over her throbbing chest and leaned her other hand on the nearby wall to steady her balance. She kept the image of his necklace burned into her mind and those eyes –those eyes didn't look as innocent no matter how polite he was attempting to be.

Tildus placed a hand on her shoulder to which he received a growl and a smack to his armored chest.

"Do not dare touch me!" she hissed. "If you touch me again I'll slice off your hand," she adjusted her veil and Tildus immediately distanced himself from her. "Let's get this over with." She marched towards Vindex's villa.

XXXXXX

Stay in the tower, she says. Don't leave the tower, she says.

Gölge lounged in the chair, looking through the curtained window, dreading this position she had. Not only was it incredibly boring but it was humiliating. She expected an outright war to strike in Rome, not to sit in a tower for days on end until Xena returned from her daily rounds in the city.

She peeked through the telescope, careful not to let the sun gleam against the copper and cause alarm to the people below. Scanning the entirety of the north side of the city, she gradually moved the scope from left to right and then back tracked to the left.

There, she spotted the artist that Xena had been seeing for days. She followed the artist's every move and smiled faintly.

"What are you doing? Disguising yourself?" she mused.

She swiveled in the chair and threw on her cloak then ran down the spiral staircase.

XXXXXX

"How do you like the wine now, Vindex?" Xena laughed as she dunked his head in a basin full of the alcohol the man loved to soil his organs with. She lifted his head out of the wine and he gasped. He tried to open his stinging eyes and she dunked his head back into the basin.

Keeping her hand steady on his head, the Governor gurgled, hitting his palms on the ground and with every move he tried to lift his head only to be pushed further in the dark liquid.

"You're moving too slow for me, Vindex," she says with a soft sigh. "What do I need you for? You waste away in your home, drinking yourself to death!" she growled.

She yanked his head back and he coughed spurts of wine, heaving heavily. With no reply she was about to push his head downward again until he resisted, pressing his hands on the table and screamed.

"Stop!" he begged. "Stop…" he coughed violently. "I told you…I needed more time."

"Wrong answer." She forcefully pushed him closer to the basin, pressing her palm on the nape of his neck.

"No!" he looked down at his reflection in the wine and choked. "There's a document…" he gagged at the sour taste in the back of his throat. "It's in –it's in Nero's office. I can't…take the soldiers without his signature."

Xena let up on him and he collapsed on the ground, shivering. "And why wasn't this mentioned months ago when I wrote you?"

"I didn't know!" he spat.

She lifted her dress and pulled out the dagger strapped to her thigh. "I ought to kill you right now. You've wasted enough of my time."

Vindex panicked and wiped his eyes, scooting away from her as she was about to charge for his chest. "I can't go in the palace! Nero already suspects that I'm against him!" he put up defensive hands. "You –you wanted to get into the palace…" he covered his face. "I know a way for you to get inside…"

She tapped the dagger against her hip and arched an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"There's going to be a party tomorrow night at the palace. All noblemen and women are invited. You could go into his office…" he suggested. "Sign the document and I'll move forward with collecting the soldiers."

Xena rolled her eyes and slipped the dagger back into its holster. She knelt down and grabbed him by the throat.

"You've saved yourself once again, Governor. As you say, god shines upon you," she threw him onto the ground and stomped over him, waving her hand at her accompanying men.

XXXXXX

From afar, Gölge watched the petite artist maze around the mass of people hovering around the market square. With every step Gabrielle took, Gölge shortly followed. She was careful not to show her face and so far nobody had noticed her. Truly, she was a shadow just like her ruler named her.

Gabrielle stopped by a cart filled with several dresses. She thought she wouldn't have much time to have one made for her and she never had extravagant clothes given her job she had. She stood, talking to the woman who was selling the gowns and picked up several, inspecting them.

She shook her head at each gown and then thought of what Zenodorus said. Blue dress. Yes, she definitely needed to find one of those. The merchant presented a light blue dress with a matching veil and Gabrielle rubbed her chin, eyeing the gown. Once the price was relayed to her she was hesitant about the buy.

Never had she bought a dress for a Roman party before or any party for that matter. She didn't have a lot of coin on her and decided to strike a bargain with the woman, knowing that her talkative tongue could what she wanted from time to time.

Gölge wrapped a scarf over the lower half of her face, narrowing her eyes at the artist smiling and chatting with the merchant. This was worse than sitting in that tower all day, she thought. Finally, Gabrielle left with dress in hand and Gölge smiled, trailing right behind her.

She shoved her way through the crowd, pushing people aside, to get a clear view of the artist's cloaked backside. She reached for the knife on her belt and unsheathed it slowly.

Gabrielle frowned and heard a bit of cursing from behind. She peered over her shoulder and saw a masked person following her. She whipped her head around and as opposed to heading back to the workshop; she took a different direction entirely.

She weaved in between a group of men and pulled the hood over her head, increasing speed. She didn't want to appear panicked and tried to stop herself from running. She skipped up ahead and stood behind a horse-pulling cart and peered over the cart and could no longer see the masked stranger.

She turned around and gasped at the tall, thin hooded figure in front of her. She backed away slowly and then darted down the street.

Gölge snarled and ran after her, jumping over fruit stands and used a man's shoulder as leverage to propel her into the air.

Gabrielle ran around a corner, then another corner, becoming more and more unfamiliar with the area she was in. She cursed herself for not bringing any weapons with her but she didn't think she was going to need any just to buy a dress!

She came to a screeching halt in front of a wall, blocking her path. With baited breath she turned around and saw the hooded figure slowly approaching her with a knife in hand.

Gölge lunged forward and swung her knifed hand around and Gabrielle swerved to the side. She thrust her arm and Gabrielle grabbed her arm and kneed the elbow. Gölge bit her tongue, pressuring herself not to cry out.

She grabbed Gabrielle by the throat and forced her up against a wall. Stomping on both of her boots, she brought the knife upward close to Gabrielle's neck.

With a slow stroke, she cut into Gabrielle's neck, drawing blood. Voices from around the corner were heard and Gölge withdrew the knife and head but the artist's forehead.

Gabrielle slumped down the wall and groaned. She closed her eyes for a moment or maybe a few, she couldn't get a good sense of anything. As soon as her vision cleared she looked around for the attacker and whoever that was, completely vanished.

A hand came to the cut on her throat. A little deeper and I would've been dead, she thought.

XXXXXX

Xena waltzed into the palace, following several noblewomen and their husbands. She was alone, as usual. She entered the grand room where the Emperor hosted everyone graciously. A table with mountains of food and wine for days.

She grabbed one of the flutes filled with wine, passing by her on a tray. She casually made her way around, smiling falsely at everyone that looked her way. Several women eyed her dress as she made her way around the room.

Operating on little sleep had become a bad habit of hers. She returned early the following morning after searching the city. She unfortunately was too wrapped up with Vindex's incompetence to make her way to the workshop. She thought it odd that Gölge hadn't said a word to her all day today and instead insisted on staying in the tower, watching the citizens. That's what she was supposed to do but there no was back-talk today.

Xena strolled around with no intention of making conversation with anyone here. She had her men posted outside and her goal was to find Nero's office which was going to be difficult with the amount of people here. She wasn't one for stealth jobs unless absolutely necessary.

As she walked around half of the room she spotted Nero and his wife, Sabina, talking together with an elderly Roman man. He looked to be a politician due to his clothing and the way he presented himself. The Augusta looked very disinterested, Xena smiled, sipping the wine.

Yes, just keep smiling, Empress.

Across the atrium there was a group of people that looked very out of place. Xena kept her eye on Nero and nonchalantly made her way about the atrium.

Augusta Sabina's attention was sidelined when her hand was grabbed and ushered away from the boring political meeting. Xena frowned and stood behind a large column.

The Empress was very chatty, Xena observed. She kept talking and talking until Nero drew her away from the small crowd. Xena then saw Gabrielle standing beside her portrait of the Empress.

Smiling, she stepped out from behind the column and waited until Gabrielle's head circled around. It wasn't long until their eyes met and Gabrielle's lips widened into a bright smile and Xena returned the smile and raised her hand.

Gabrielle whispered to Zenodorus and left her station.

Xena straightened her posture and smoothed out her dress and kept smiling at the giddy artist.

"You're here!" Gabrielle greeted a bit too loudly. "I should've known you'd be here."

An awkward silence passed and Xena kept smiling warmly.

"Woman of few words," Gabrielle wagged her finger. "I remember." She tapped her head.

"I…want to apologize for not stopping by for our regular meetings. I've been a little…preoccupied," she admits bitterly.

Gabrielle brushed her hair over her shoulder. "It's understandable. I thought you left Rome. I would've felt terrible since I never finished your painting. I've been busy with…" she leaned in close, "Augusta Sabina's portrait," she whispered.

Xena thought as much. She nodded and then frowned at the sizeable cut on Gabrielle's neck. Her fingers grazed the fresh wound.

"Who did this to you?"