Chapter Seven: Feeding the Bird
She stayed awake all night, staring at the ceiling. As she lay in bed she lost track of time and she hadn't realized the sun came out, shining through the cracks in the wooden beams above her. The sculptors below on the first floor were shuffling around and talking louder than usual. Zenodorus was also clapping his hands, chatting with another artist.
Gabrielle rolled out of bed and crawled across the floor boards. She peeked through the slats of the balustrade and grimaced at how gleeful Zenodorus was this morning. Nothing about this morning was joyful but she knew that she shouldn't take her anger out on him.
She sat back against the end of the bed and sighed heavily. Her fingers came to her neck wound and her eyes focused on the salve wrapped in gauze on the table. She reached over and snatched the salve and unraveled the cloth.
Twice a day. She'd apply the medicinal salve twice a day. With a swipe of her fingers she gently spread the salve across the wound and winced. Nearly a week later and the wound still felt fresh. Maybe she wasn't ready for this mission. She could barely handle someone who had a measly knife. She couldn't shake the feeling of being inadequate. She was going to lose her life if she went back on her word to help Emperor Nero.
She was also knocking on death's door now that Xena knew where she worked. Her stomach dropped at the idea of being watched at all times. This woman was always a step ahead of everyone else and nobody knows where she is. Nobody knows what she looks like.
Nobody except Zenodorus.
Gabrielle ran down the stairs and grabbed the ladder which the sculptor stood on. "Zenodorus!" she shouted and he looked down while holding a glob of clay.
"Morning, Gabrielle. Sleep well?" he asked in a chipper tone.
"No…," she shook her head. "The woman who came in yesterday looking for me –"
"Xena?" he interrupted.
"Yes," she held her breath. "What did she look like?"
He smoothed the clay along the sculpture's shoulders and hummed. "She had tan skin, but not too tan," he smiled softly, "hazel eyes, dark long hair. She's gorgeous, Gabrielle! I should take up painting for my next job if I get beautiful clients like you do."
Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Anything else? Was she tall? Short? Thin?" she pestered him.
He peered down the tall ladder and scrunched up his nose. "Tall I guess," he recalled. "Taller than you!" he laughed aloud and the other sculptors joined in on the snicker-fest. "She had a nice average physique. Not too thin."
"Thanks…" she mumbled.
She ran to her station and packed up her belongings quickly. She glared at the leather bag with her sketches and looked over her shoulder. You're being paranoid Gabrielle, she told herself. She stuffed her leather bag into a chest of supplies and slammed the lid shut.
Putting a hand over her chest, her breathing slowed to a normal pace the moment she looked out the window. A normal day. Everyone was so oblivious here. They knew absolutely nothing about their surroundings. She also felt completely oblivious. She didn't care what Evander said. They'd never be able to find Xena in this city with a brief description of her appearance. She was in plain sight –right in front of their noses –and yet they couldn't find her.
A boy outside was handing out cups of water to the people passing by. Most noblemen and women gave him money. Gabrielle smiled at the small boy who was trying so hard to sell his water. Roman soldiers completely ignored him for the most part except for this instance. Two soldiers came by and dumped the bucket of fresh water all over the dirty ground.
Gabrielle furrowed her brows and grabbed her cloak and slipped a dagger into her sleeve. She lifted her head when she heard a lot of shouting and cursing. What she saw surprised her. Zenodorus bumped her arm which caused her to flinch.
She muttered under her breath and watched the verbal fight between the Romans and Xena. She raised her eyebrow and smirked at how scared the Romans were of her. A swell of anxiety sat in the pit of her stomach and she side-eyed Zenodorus. She just had to ask.
"That woman over there," she pointed to her client. "Did…is she Xena? Is she the one who came by yesterday?"
Zenodorus studied her and rubbed his chin. "No, that's definitely not her. I said the woman had hazel eyes, not blue! You really ought to pay attention more, Gabrielle." he gently slapped her on the shoulder and walked off.
"Right," she whispered, "pay attention more."
Relief washed over her when he said that. She would've felt horrible if she'd been conversing with the enemy the entire time. It wasn't her –it wasn't Xena. That wasn't her because Zenodorus said so but that only meant that she was still lurking somewhere.
Gabrielle ran out of the workshop and the Romans who bothering the poor boy since disappeared into the crowd. With a smile she made her way over to the boy and slyly hid behind her client.
Xena spun around after paying the boy and helping him clean up the mess the Romans made. She almost bumped into the blonde artist and took a generous step backward, smiling feebly.
"Morning," greeted Gabrielle. "You must have a special skill scaring off Romans."
Xena titled her head, puzzled by the artist's comment.
"I saw you from the workshop. You scared off the Romans who were giving this boy a hard time." Gabrielle ruffled the boy's hair and he blushed.
"Ah," Xena nodded and walked through the street. "I don't like Romans, Gabrielle. I thought we established that at the party."
She continued to follow Xena and kept eyeing every single woman that fit Zenodorus' description of the enemy. So far she found a few women that matched the description but none were of wealthy status. Most were in simple clothing. They couldn't be her.
"Gabrielle?"
"Oh, sorry, did you say something?"
Xena arched an eyebrow. "I asked if you applied the salve I gave you." she grabbed the artist's arm and pulled her aside and tried to look at the gash. "Let me see."
"I…" Gabrielle grabbed the brunette's wrist. "I applied it this morning."
Xena snatched her hand away and noticed the tinge of pink on Gabrielle's cheeks. Her eyes scanned the area and she saw a dark cloaked figure from afar. He was standing by one of the apartment buildings trying his best to conceal himself but she knew he was watching her. She instantly took Gabrielle by the hand and rushed through the crowd.
Gabrielle gasped as she was being shoved and pushed by Romans. She shielded her face from the elbows and arms brushing against her cheek and body. She let out audible groans and puffs of air. Finally, once they were out of the busy square she was yanked forward into an alley.
"What do you think you're doing?" she yelled, a bit annoyed.
Xena's heart raced and she shoved Gabrielle against the wall and eyed the cloaked figure walking through the crowd. She was being followed. Someone saw her and perhaps they knew who she was. The man wasn't one of Vindex's men. No, the Governor wouldn't send someone out in daylight to find her. That wasn't like him at all, no matter how drunk that man was.
"Excuse me!" Gabrielle rubbed her wrist. "I know you might be angry with me because I kicked you out last night but you must understand I was not in the best…of moods." She huffed. "Are you alright?"
Xena snapped her head around with feral eyes. "No…Gabrielle, I'm not angry at you."
"Why did you drag me through that crowd? Is someone looking for you?" Gabrielle's interest piqued. "Maybe the Romans told their soldier friends to come after you. You did assault one of the emperor's elite men."
Xena relaxed for a moment and she released a faint grin.
Gabrielle's cheeks reddened and she pressed her palm against her face. At this second she felt mortified and her client's smile wasn't helping her situation in the slightest. She chose to ignore her flushing cheeks and act as if nothing had happened. She raised her eyes and saw the smug smile on Xena's face.
"I was going to meet up with a friend. It's been awhile since we've worked on your portrait…" she lamely hinted her desire to paint again. "I promise I won't kick you out of the workshop again. Yesterday wasn't a very good day for me." She sighed.
Xena nodded. "Is Augusta Sabina giving you a hard time again?"
Gabrielle snorted. "No, it's got nothing to do with her."
"Who was it then? Maybe I can help," Xena said with a shimmering smile.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes playfully and then stepped out of the alleyway. She looked around the square and found Evander leaning against one of the vegetable carts. She gave a quick nod to him and he lifted two fingers to acknowledge her presence. He didn't have his normal dark attire on but looked like a normal Roman merchant. Blending in with the crowd I see, she thought.
She turned on her heel and stared up at Xena. "I don't think you'll be able to help me with this person." She wanted this conversation to be over.
Evander shifted his weight off the cart as soon as Gabrielle came his way with her guest trailing behind. He locked eyes with Xena and he instantly recognized her from the brief encounter in the alley on the north side of the city. He tucked his necklace into his blouse and put on a face for her and Gabrielle.
Xena stood beside Gabrielle and watched Evander's every move. He clumsily organized the vegetables and fruits on the stand and she raised an eyebrow, silently observing his klutzy behavior.
Gabrielle inspected one of the apples and tried to pretend she didn't know him but she took note of his bizarre behavior.
"You're very anxious," Xena said coolly.
Evander laughed awkwardly and presented a pomegranate. "I'm new here. My apologies."
Xena leaned over the cart and grabbed one of the apples and picked a speck of dirt off the fruit's flesh. While she was occupied inspecting the fruit, she looked out of the corner of her eye at Evander's necklace wrapped around his neck. She turned to him, holding the apple in her palm.
"And how much is this?" she asked, staring into his large blue eyes.
"Take it as a gift from me to you," he insisted.
She let a smile slip and then handed the apple over to Gabrielle. She adjusted the veil atop of her hair and searched the area with a quick glance. She then clasped her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.
"I should go but I will see you later tonight."
Gabrielle nodded. "Try to stay away from those Roman soldiers."
"I'll try my best." Xena briefly smiled and then looked to Evander once more. She narrowed her eyes and then trailed back into the crowd.
Evander let out a hefty exhale and wiped the sweat from his brow. "You know that woman?" he hissed.
"She's a client of mine," said Gabrielle nonchalantly. "What's wrong with you? You're sweating like a pig."
"I…" he rubbed the nape of his neck. "I just lied to her. She knows who I am."
Gabrielle brought him to a secluded area of the square and spoke quietly. "What do you mean she knows who you are?"
"Not like that." His eyes darted around nervously. "I ran into her a week ago when I was spying on Vindex."
She scoffed and slapped his arm. "Is that all? I wonder why she didn't say anything," she crinkled her eyebrows. "She's nice, Evander," she tried to soothe his nerves while rubbing his arm. "But…I can't help but notice you're really bothered. Did she say something to you?"
"No, I…," his head throbbed and he clutched his tunic, "it's nothing."
"You sure? Did she say something to upset you?"
"No!"
"Then what's the matter with you?"
He groaned and evaded the question. "Why'd you want to meet? Did you find out some new information?"
He definitely wasn't going to get off that easy. She made a mental note to bring up that topic again. He was still sweating profusely. He did the same when she came to visit him in that brothel when he was with Varinia. He was incredibly nervous and it was as if he couldn't control himself.
She was here to spread information, she reminded herself. Keep focus. Pay attention.
"Xena came to my workshop," she whispered.
Evander's eyes widened and he gripped her shoulders and shoved her into a dark alley. "What are you saying? You saw her?"
"No," she pushed him away. "One of the artists spoke with her. She was specifically looking for me!" now it was her turn to sweat. "Do you think she knows I'm the person who carries the order to kill her?"
"How would she know that?"
"I don't know!" she yelped and he covered her mouth.
"Calm down, Gabrielle," he whispered and looked out at the crowd. "She's living in Rome. She's disguising herself as a Roman citizen. She's even bolder than I thought and clever too…" he tapered his eyes. "She can't hide forever. We know she's working with the Governor which means, the Emperor probably doesn't know."
Gabrielle took in a deep breath and smacked his hand off her mouth. She wiped her lips and crossed her arms, breathing in and out faster than usual.
"Should we tell the Emperor? We watched Vindex's villa all afternoon yesterday and nothing unusual happened."
"We're not going to tell him anything," a smile crept up on Evander's lips. "We're going to let the public tell him."
Gölge cornered herself in the tower and rubbed a hot cloth on her elbow. She slowly extended her arm and hissed at the painful movement. The moment she heard the footsteps creeping up the stairs, she threw the cloth into the water basin and shielded her arm. She hoped that it was Tildus with more food and wine for the rest of the week.
What she hoped wasn't true as soon as she laid eyes on her superior. Xena took the veil off her head and searched around the cramped space and smiled faintly at Gölge huddled in a corner like a small child. Her smile disappeared when she saw the swollen elbow of her apprentice.
"What happened?" Xena rushed over and lowered herself to the floor. "You need a splint. How long has your arm been like this?"
Gölge tried to pull her arm away. "It's alright. I don't need your help. Please."
"But you're hurt." Xena traced her fingers along the wound and brought her eyebrows together. "How did you get like this?" her tone darkened. "Did you leave the tower without permission again?"
The apprentice hid her guilty expression and then her cheeks were squished together by Xena's fingers. Her breathing labored and her eyes enlarged at the crystalline eyes inches from her face. The middle of her back began to sweat. She backed herself against the wall. It was too much of a struggle to run away and where would she go –the other side of the tower?
"You disobeyed me again," Xena nodded. "I told you not to leave!" she growled.
Gölge's eyes swelled with tears. "I'm…I'm sorry. I was just so angry that you –you left me…"
Xena snapped her hand away and sat back on her heels. Her mind drifted and a flash of Gabrielle's gash to the neck came rushing back. Her mouth gaped as her head slowly turned to her teary-eyed apprentice. A laugh escaped her lips and she slammed her palm against the wall and honed in on the terrified girl.
"It was you," she hissed. "You attacked Gabrielle."
Hiding it was of no use now. "So, that's her name."
"Gölge!" she emits a low growl and wrapped her hand around the girl's throat. "I told you I was just using her! You let your envy consume you." her grip firmed. "I should've left you in Edirne."
Tildus ran up the stairs with baited breath and frowned at the sight of Gölge being choked right before his eyes. He knocked on the wall and Xena craned her neck, blatantly annoyed by his presence, or rather, interruption. She finally loosened her grip on the girl's throat and rose off the floor.
"Vindex is gathering troops. He should have a full legion in the next couple of days," he reported.
She took in a deep calming breath and glared down at Gölge before addressing Tildus. "Once he has all the men, I want to be notified. I will lead this attack myself."
"Won't you just expose yourself?"
She unsheathed the sword at Tildus' hip and shoved him into the wall. Pressing the sword against his neck, she spat, "not another word from you. I've had enough of people talking back to me."
Gabrielle waltzed through the streets with her eyes hooded from her cloak hood. She overheard several citizens whispering and gossiping. A smile graced her lips after she heard the name of the so called Steppe Queen's true name being whispered across the city. Tired after a long day, spending it mostly with Evander, she wanted nothing more than to go to sleep but she couldn't.
She had to prepare her station for her client. She'd been waiting all day for this. It was the only time she could relax and just be herself. She didn't have to be a snobby artist or a quiet listener or a mercenary that prowled in the dim streets of Rome. She could just be Gabrielle.
Coming close to the workshop she took the hood off her blonde locks and fluffed her flattened hair. She felt a few rain drops fall on her nose and gazed up at the starry sky. It was unusual for rain at this time of year but she guessed it was an omen; a good omen she hoped.
She entered the workshop and stripped herself of her cloak and then saw the rain drops coming down harder. Just in time. Her stomach filled with uncertainty and she couldn't wipe the smile from her lips. Even though she was exhausted and mentally drained she was more than willing to paint.
Gabrielle turned on her heel to prepare her station and she halted mid-step. All the light in her eyes dimmed and the inside of her cheeks soured. A nervous hand came to rest on her fizzling stomach.
"Evening, Gabrielle. Where have you been? I've waited over an hour for you!" Augusta Sabina picked at her fingernails as she sat on her artist's stool.
This night was ruined. Everything was ruined.
"E –Empress," she bowed. "What are you doing here?"
Sabina raised her chin and frowned. "Is that any way to greet me? Are you not thrilled to see me?"
How can I get rid of her? "No…I…the shop's closing soon. You don't normally stop by in the evenings."
"I was very busy today. I do find it rather odd that you were out all day. Should I tell my husband that you frequently leave your station unattended? I bet he would just hate that," she flashed an iniquitous smile.
Gabrielle bit her tongue and slowly crossed the shop, eyeing the rain pouring outside the large windows. The curtains flowed gently in the hot breeze. The closer Gabrielle came, the more her eyes focused on what was happening outside. The citizens were conversing despite being soaked by the summer rain.
"Where is your head, Gabrielle?" Sabina stood from the stool and placed her hands on her hips. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
She turned her attention to the arrogant empress and fiddled with her hands behind her back. Keeping her temper in check wasn't easy as of late and this woman was really trying her patience. The last person she wanted to see was standing before her and she wanted nothing more than to give her a piece of her mind.
"I apologize, empress. It was a surprise to see you, that's all," she managed to say.
Sabina smirked. "Now that I'm here we can discuss my portrait. I wanted to make a few changes to it. I believe we spoke briefly about that at the party."
"Yes…" Gabrielle approached her station. "Excuse me, empress. I need to get to my supplies."
Amid the rain, Xena strolled through the streets wearing a heavy cloak. She had her guards with her at all times but they walked at a fair distance. When she passed a tavern there were two men outside underneath a canopy, drinking wine together and talking loudly. Drunk Romans. Of course.
She stopped when she heard her name escape from their mouths. Her heart palpitated faster and faster until all she heard was the rhythmic organ rapidly sounding through her ears. She continued walking and then heard her name being whispered among others, men and women, as she passed.
Her name was being echoed throughout the streets. Everyone around her didn't notice or even acknowledge her presence as her pace quickened. Every corner she rounded her name was whispered into her ear. Frantically she cut through an alleyway, losing her guards in the process.
Xena shut her eyes and put a hand over her beating chest. She calmly reminded herself that nobody knew what she looked like but that didn't matter. Everyone knew she was here and they knew her name. Her thoughts drifted to Gölge.
This was all her fault.
After she soothed her inner thoughts she slipped out of the dark alley. The more people she passed, the more she felt their eyes on her. She chose to keep her head down. A few more yards and she'd be in the workshop. She grinned as she set her eyes on the lit up building and could see a shadow of a hand painting.
Xena flipped the hood off her hair and entered the workshop. The cloak slipped off her shoulders and dropped to the floor. Her nostrils flared once she saw Augusta Sabina sitting on a chair facing Gabrielle.
Gabrielle's paintbrush stopped mid-stroke and the paint dripped down the canvas. She swallowed upon seeing Xena and Sabina noticed her sudden abrupt stillness.
Sabina looked over her shoulder and turned gracefully in the chair to follow Gabrielle's star-struck gaze.
"A client of yours, Gabrielle?" asked the empress.
Xena felt herself sinking in the floor. She tapered her eyes, honing in on the small empress.
"Y-yes," answered Gabrielle. "She was at the party. You two spoke."
Sabina's upper lip twitched. "Oh yes, I recall." She tapped her fingers on the back of the chair. "I didn't know you two knew one another!" she put on a façade of a smile. "Sit with me. Gabrielle was just making a few adjustments to my portrait."
Xena's eyebrow rose at how kind the empress was being. She knew that Sabina didn't want her here. She didn't want Sabina here either. With a swipe her tongue against the front of her teeth, she flashed a pithy smile at the empress and made her way across the room.
Gabrielle's jaw locked and she dipped the paintbrush into a splotch of red paint, focusing on Xena's mannerisms. They were subtle but very noticeable to Gabrielle: the clenching of her left fist, the fidgety fingers on the right, the slow pace that of a dancer, the raised brow. This woman was incensed if not furious by the Augusta's presence.
Xena grabbed a chair and sat down beside the empress, eyeing her from head to toe.
Sabina began the conversation. "That nomadic woman is here in Rome," she said casually.
"Really?" Xena said calmly.
"It's the talk of the city," Sabina smiled over at the company. "It was just a rumor at first but I knew she was here. I'm sure the emperor has people looking for her already. I suppose we know who was behind those coastline fires."
Gabrielle felt her palms begin to sweat. Her eyes darted to Xena and she had a difficult time trying to keep focus and paint. If she butchered this portrait she was dead in the Augusta's eyes. She chose to keep quiet and hoped her client was going to converse instead of living up to her nickname as the woman of few words.
"You don't know for sure that was her doing," implied Xena. "That's how rumors start, empress."
Sabina chuckled under her breath. "It was her. I am sure of it."
"Innocent until proven guilty," Xena eyed the nervous artist. "Isn't that the way of the Romans, Gabrielle?"
Gabrielle licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded. "Of course."
Sabina turned to the woman beside her with a rutted brow. "And what did you say your name was?"
"I didn't."