Chapter 3

One or the other of them had been keeping an eye on the boy at all times. The kid had been sent to 'stakeout' the inn that Countess Del-la Portina was staying at. He was to stay there all night if necessary to make sure of her whereabouts. At the same time he was to take note of the surroundings and any suspicious characters.

By eight o'clock Xena found him curled up asleep behind the barrel he'd been using as his 'outpost'. She was tempted to cover him up, but she didn't. While it might seem cruel, the only way to break him of his fantasy of becoming a thief was to subject him to the realities of the situation. Or at least, simulated realities.

Anyway, at this time of the year it was rather mild at night.

She had just turned to leave when she bumped into Autolycus. He was carrying a blanket.

"I thought we agreed-"

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea, this is for me. It gets cold out here at nights, you think I'm gonna freeze on account of having to baby sit Rip Van Winkle over there? You got another thing coming sister."

Xena took him gently by the shoulder, and heedless of his protests, led him back to the inn.

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When Xena returned in the morning, she found Autolycus already there, deeply engaged in conversation with the boy.

"If you don't mind having to go without things, it's a fine life. Fine life. Though, you sometimes come by the occasional black eye..." It was at this point that he saw Xena and urged her over.

Coming over, she sat down on her haunches, leaning towards the two as Autolycus filled her in.

"Kid says no one went in or out all night long." Autolycus smiled slightly.

"That's good." Xena fought to keep a smile from her own face. Seriously, she asked what had gone on this morning.

"So far nothing." Was the response. "But I-hold on, someone's coming out."

Across the street, emerging from the inn, was a grand figure. While too far away to make out details, they could tell that it was a woman, flamboyantly dressed with a high regal collar extending far above a head that swiveled around, taking in its surroundings. Whether with distain or approval they couldn't tell.

As they stood there watching, a carriage pulled up, and the woman was escorted into it. With a yell and a lash of the reigns, it sped away.

Xena could tell that the boy was awe struck; even Autolycus looked impressed.

"Was that her?" The little kid asked.

"Yeah, was it?" Autolycus asked in just the same manner, much to Xena's exasperation.

The kid was thoroughly entranced by what he had seen. The glamour and richness had impressed itself on his young mind. He began to pepper them with question after question. How would they get the pearls? When would they do it? Did she always ride around in a carriage? These and more he wanted to know.

A look having passed between them, the two adults weathered the storm.

"Now comes step two." Xena said, leaning against the alleyway. Autolycus took over.

"Right. See, now we've got to follow her. Know where she's going, where she's been, how long she stays away, all that good stuff. Once we know her patterns then we can pin a timetable down." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Only one problem though," Xena pointed out. "You and me would stick out like a sore thumb if we're seen following her."

Autolycus stroked his chin. "Hmmm, that's right. Hadn't thought of that..." The kid took the 'bait' immediately.

"I could do it! Nobody would notice me, I'm just a kid."

"Hey, you know something? He's right!" Xena said, her eyes going wide in mock surprise.

"But can he do it?" Autolycus sounded dismissive. "He's just a kid. This kind of job takes endurance, you've got to follow these folks all over the place-wherever they go. There's a lot of leg work involved."

"I can do it!" The kid persisted. "I know I can! I won't get tired!" In fact, he was exhausted from last night, but he wouldn't tell them that!

"I don't know..."

"Please!"

"Okay, you convinced me." He took the kid's hand and gave it a shake. "You're our leg man. You've got to keep the lady in your sights at all times, understood?"

The boy nodded vigorously.

"Alright then. Just so we understand one another. Go out and find her." Giving a thumbs up, he pushed the kid out into the road. Motioning to Xena, the two adults went back to the inn.

"I'll take the first watch." Xena whispered, as they rounded a corner.

"Sounds good to me."

The boy spent the rest of the morning trying to track down the elusive Countess, unaware that his every move was being followed by Xena.

All day long he shuttled to and fro, seemingly at random, just trying to find the Countess. And once he did, things only got worse. Flittering back and forth to shops, taking leisurely drives beyond the village, dodging down every side street and back ally around, the task wore the poor boy out.

By that night he was dead on his feet, but his work had only begun.

He found himself roused by Xena-unwittingly he'd fallen asleep.

"What are you doing?" The warrior woman asked. "We need you to keep watch tonight, make sure the Countess doesn't go somewhere."

Groggily, and more asleep than awake, the boy mumbled something and made a valiant effort to seem awake. But it wasn't long before he succumbed to the sandman's embrace once more. But each time he'd fall asleep, Xena would be there to wake him up on one pretext or another. She wasn't fond of this, but it had to be done.

By the time the sun rose, the kid's eyes were red rimmed with lack of rest. They'd been sure not to push him too far of course.

"Great work kid!" Autolycus commended him. "Now that we've got her pattern nailed down comes step three."

"The most important part," Xena interjected, "stealing the pearls."

"We'll do it tonight, when she's asleep. Climb up the drainpipe, jimmy the shutters open, slip in, grab the goods, then split. Piece of cake."

The boy was awake now. "Tonight?" He was on his way!