THE STRANGEST AND MOST UNLIKELY OF FRIENDS

Gabrielle placed her cards down as she eyed the dark sky outside she really needed to leave she'd been here for far too long. Quentin threw down his cards. "Well Ceyx wins over all, no surprise there." Elma put her hand on her walking stick. "No, no surprise at all." Gabrielle watched as the Philo came towards them his voice hitting the air. "Okay you all need to go home now I'm shutting up the tavern as we are only a drinking establishment I don't have beds plus and we don't open during the day, we only open at night." Gabrielle stood up slowly. "I need to get going anyway." Quentin looked up watching as she put her coat back on followed by her bag. He pulled a card out of his pocket putting it face down on the table then moved it towards her. "Please come back and see us again soon Gabrielle." He kept his fingers on the card eyeing the empty tavern around them. "Should you need our help all you need to do is ask, though we are all too old to fight there are a lot of people like us in Corinth who are strong and wish to fight for you."

He moved his fingers away watching as she put her hand on the card. "This is not the only place for people like us, if you find them just show this card and you'll be welcome inside. You'll know them because all people like us have the symbol that's on the back of this card on their business's and homes." Gabrielle took the card putting it in her pocket as she walked towards the door. "Thank you and thank you for the game, it means a lot to me." She watched as the bar tender nodded and the others waved as she closed the door behind her. She looked up it was early in the morning two more hours and dawns first light would break through the darkness. She walked down the street pulling out the card which had the black and white werewolf symbol for serenity on it she turned the card over only to freeze on the spot. It was the sketch of her which was from the Ethereal Ark Of Fire scroll. She looked at it for a long moment she was on werewolf playing cards, she had never expected that, she'd seen werewolf playing cards through out her life and she knew that all of the Hinds were on them but her image had never appeared in the deck, even after she'd become Horn Hind as the Imperial Council wouldn't allow it.

Yet she was on this playing card which meant that she meant something to the werewolves here in Corinth. She mattered to them so much that they'd added her image to the card deck. She ran her fingers over the sketch taking it in for a long moment maybe this meant that her vision of becoming the right full ruler of the throne wasn't so fruitless. She walked over to a wooden box close by an empty stall sitting on it looking at the card in her hand. She'd had visions of freeing the werewolves in Grand City and the other cities from the Imperial Council ever since she'd become king but maybe she was going about it all in the wrong way. She had forgotten about the many werewolves who had run away from these cities and had built new lives for themselves. They were clearly not having the same population problems as those in the hidden cities and had been growing in numbers there was also more than one generation of them. If their numbers were higher than those in the cities she could have an army at her command if she could win them over. The very fact that there were more of them could also be used to threaten the Imperial Council.

She hated the idea of civil war but the truth was she had to think about it as an option, along with her other options. She had no firm ideas right now but it gave her an ace card to use if need be. She had so much to think about and this had given her a shred of hope, the idea of over throwing the Imperial Council had always felt like a mountain which she just couldn't climb but knowing this gave her a starting point. She looked up watching as four men came down the road carrying a large lectica which was a type of wooden wagon with a wooden top. It was surrounded by white curtains to hide the person inside. In Rome these were only used by the nobles but in Greece they were used by anyone with enough coin. Paid men and women moved the person from location to location around the city. She watched as some one shouted out causing all of the men carry the lectica to stop. Gabrielle carried on looking at her card not really taking any notice, why they'd stopped was none of her concern.

"The noble lady wishes to speak to you."

Gabrielle looked up eyeing the man as a rule she didn't care for pandering to the wants of nobles regardless of what they wanted with her. "I'm sorry I'm not interested in what the noble lady wants." She watched as the white curtain was pulled back and a familiar face came in to view. She stood up slowly putting the card away. "Ilithyia?" Ilithyia felt her smile widen. "Gabrielle it's a pleasure to see you again." She pulled up her hand. "Please come and sit with me." Gabrielle stood up she moved sitting in side of the lectica on one of the cushions she'd never been inside one before, it was really plush and surprisingly comfortable. Ilithyia put her hands together. "What are doing outside the palace did the Empress send you on a mission?" Gabrielle looked down slightly. "No I just took a walk." Ilithyia sat up sharply she hated the other diplomats and their partners they were so cruel, all they ever did was stab each other in the back and show of by buying gladiators out at there homes so they could brag.

She'd just come back from one of their parties and she was utterly bored, she now desperately wanted to speak to someone who was wouldn't stab her in the back or who wasn't plotting and scheming against her or her husband. Despite her noble up bringing in Rome she'd hated all that scheming, her mother used to go around ruining people lives with her schemes. She'd been so happy when she'd married Abraxas because she thought she'd get away from it all by living in Greece but sadly she hadn't and she was still surrounded by scheming nobles. The truth was she wanted to talk to someone who was real and who wasn't plotting against her and who she could take at face value and in her view Gabrielle was one of these people. Frankly she didn't care ether that she was a royal or that she was a werewolf and it had really pained her that she hadn't been able to stay in the palace and talk to her instead she'd been forced to leave due to the Empress's rules. She'd wanted nothing more than to just sit down and chat with her as she seemed like a very noble person. At least that's what her instincts had told her and normally she wasn't wrong.

Now though she had a chance to really talk to her she felt a smile form as she spoke. "I've just come back from a very boring party which was four hours to long." Her smile slowly turned to a wide grin. "How's about you come to our villa its not far from here, it's at the edge of the eastern distinct?" Gabrielle raised her hand. "No really I wouldn't want to impose on you." Ilithyia shook her head. "Oh please I will not hear of it, come to our villa and have something to eat, I would really like the company." Gabrielle looked up feeling unsure about her next question. "This isn't one of those dinners where you do sexual things is it? I'm really not in to those." Ilithyia laughed as she raised her hand causing the men to start moving the lectica. "Oh no nothing like that I might be Roman but I'm not in to that kind of thing, I see marriage as important and about two people together as a couple, plus I don't share well with others never have, never will. Also all of the staff in our villa are paid for and treated with respect, I have never liked having slaves its one of the reasons I came to live in here Greece."

Gabrielle felt a knowing smile form. "I understand I've never been able to share ether when it comes to ones I love." She eased up her finger running it subconsciously down her diagonal scar. "As for slavery it has lasting effects." Ilithyia looked up slightly she wasn't stupid she could read through the lines, Gabrielle's scar had clearly come about through slavery. "No human being deserves to be treated like an animal, free will was given by gods and every man woman and child should be free to make their own choices, not be told what to do by those who abuse their power. My parents loved to abuse their slaves and I hated it but a slave has one craving that's more profound than any other. It burns brighter than any hunger and it's like a thirst which no water could ever quench and that is to be free and they are willing to die for that freedom I've seen it first hand. I'd rather live in a land where every one is free to choose than one where I take away freewill and betray my gods." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "That's a very noble way of thinking you clearly belong here in Greece."

Ilithyia felt her smile widen. "Thank you I'm glad you see it that way, you know the other diplomats think I'm odd because I think this way." Gabrielle eyed her for a long moment. "Its hard to be different but people who are different and stand by their ideals can change the way things are and influence others. That's what my late lover always used to tell me, he was a man who truly believed that you could change anything." Ilithyia looked up. "I'm sorry for your loss he sounds like he was a very forward thinking man." Gabrielle felt a sad smile form. "Its all right he died a long time ago but I still miss him." Ilithyia leaned back. "I had a husband before I married Abraxas I was very young and he was my parents choice but he divorced me as he cared more about power than me and wanted some bitch that was higher up on the Roman social ladder. I should hate him for it but strangely I don't. Maybe because I was able to make a choice against my parent's wishes and move to Greece and after I moved here I realized that I had a choice and I could say yes and no to who ever I wanted."

She eyed her ringed finger. "It allowed me to fall in love with someone who I loved and who loved me in return, not someone I was tied to because our marriage was all about politics." She looked up slightly. "It funny how life works out isn't it?" Gabrielle slowly met her gaze. "Yes it is." Ilithyia turned as the lectica was stopped and lowered as a male voice hit the air. "Your villa, lady Ilithyia." Ilithyia smiled easing herself out watching as her large white villa came in to view, with its gushing fountain in the courtyard. The villa had its own stables, bakery and a huge garden which had both Roman and Greek statues in it. Some of these statues could be seen as they were high up on pillars on both sides of the villa she turned to the men who had brought her here. "Thank you, all of you." The men nodded. "How much?" The man closest turned to her smiled warmly. "Four dinars, we take Roman as well as Greek coin." Ilithyia smiled handing him her dinars. "How's about ten dinars for the pleasant ride and for bringing us both here, that sounds much fairer wouldn't you agree?"

The man eyed the money then nodded respectfully. "Yes it does." Ilithyia watched as Gabrielle got out stretching slightly before walking up to the villa's double doors. She watched as the men left carrying the lectica with them they wouldn't have to go far to find another person who wanted a ride, the eastern district had a lot of visitors as you could see the sea as it wasn't that far away. People loved to go there and play games on the sandy beaches and watch the sun rise. Strangely though there weren't any other diplomats in this area the ones that were up here were retired along with retired warriors, merchants and families who had succeeded in getting enough wealth to buy a large villa. She looked up as her husband appeared in the doorway he gave her a smile only for it to fade away as he eyed Gabrielle his face turning to uncertainty. "Ilithyia you didn't tell me that you intended to bring back a guest." Ilithyia raised her eyebrow. "The party you sent me to was as boring as…what's that word you use? Oh yes Tartarus." Abraxas adjusted his shirt. "What it was really bad?"

Ilithyia rolled her eyes. "Put it like this I didn't find the naked Gladiator that interesting nor was watching Pelagia have her fun with him while her husband joined in, it made me want to throw myself on a dagger just so it would end." Abraxas put a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry I was told that it was a formal party." Ilithyia put her hand on his giving him a gentle kiss. "It's not your fault, just once though I'd just like to go to party where people talk about things and don't play these foolish sexual games." She turned to Gabrielle as her personal maid came out to greet her. "Please take Gabrielle to the garden I'll be there in just a moment." She watched her personal maid nodded as Gabrielle followed her, she could see in the blonde woman's eyes that she knew what this was about and that she wanted to chat privately with her husband for a moment. Abraxas watched as Gabrielle disappeared from sight he turned sharply to Ilithyia. "What are you thinking bringing her here?"

Ilithyia eyed him for a long moment. "She was on her own and as I said the party was awful, I want to speak to a woman who isn't a decadent fool for once and don't want to talk about politics, I want to just talk, even if it's about dresses, theatre and all those things I don't get to talk about often." Abraxas leaned forward. "People like her don't just walk around on their own Ilithyia she's a royal, what if the Empress finds that I have her here? She might thing that I captured her and she'll have my head. I mean come on even you said that it looked as though the Empress was quite taken by her." Ilithyia raised her hand putting it on his chest. "You worry too much Abraxas, she's not the Empress's prisoner and she's not tied to the palace I'm sure the Empress lets her come and go as she pleases, also only you and I know what she is and that's she's a royal. To the rest of Corinth she's just warrior and no one of importance and I'm sure that works for her as having personal guards might cause too much attention."

Abraxas raised his hand. "Okay I'll give you that but you know we are not on great terms with the Empress and us taking in someone she's rather taken with, will get us in to trouble." Ilithyia shook her head. "That's one way of looking at yes but we both know there's another if you're thinking about politically spin." Abraxas put a hand on his beard. "You're talking about us bringing her here because we want to show respect to the Empress, because it's the right thing to do. A noble act for her safety because we know who she is and what she means to the Empress." Ilithyia nodded easing her hand away from his chest. "Well as I said that can be our political spin on it but the truth is as I said, I just want someone to talk to because the party made me want to gag." Abraxas took in a deep breath. "Okay well we will go with the political version should the worst happen maybe the Empress won't want to break my balls." Ilithyia shook her head. "Trust me everything will be all right."

She eased up her hand running it down his face. "You got the diplomats and their partners to sign that document on the hunting law you did a wonderful job and she has to respect that." Abraxas groaned. "Oh please don't remind me of what I had to do to get that done, some of it wasn't that great and some of the dinner invites I had to go to bored me to death and all of it just for a stupid signature." He put his hand on hers. "Plus I know that you had to go to all those parties which you don't care for." Ilithyia laughed slightly. "I still have to go to a few but it doesn't matter, I was happy to do it for you." Abraxas nodded. "Well then we are both suffering for it but if we are suffering together then it's all okay." Ilithyia stepped away from him. "I agree now lets not keep our guest waiting, I'm sure she's wondering where we are." Abraxas nodded. "No lets not, it would be impolite." He watched as she vanished in side the villa he took in a deep breath, gods give him strength that nothing would go wrong today because of this.

8

Finally something! One of the city guards said to Demetrius that they had seen a woman matching Gabrielle's description in this area some hours ago. This means that Thaleia's instincts were correct the eastern side of city is the type of place where Gabrielle would go to get away from the noise. I'm close I know it, she's here in this part of the city, gods I'm so tired and I want to sleep so badly but I know I can't. I want to find her if it's the last thing I ever do. I know I'm close I can feel it, I can describe how I know, I just know she was here I've been feeling this odd sensation for a while now, it started over an hour ago. I know the footsteps I'm walking are they same as she has walked, it a perplexing feeling its like stepping on a shadow. It's also a feeling I've never had before but the strangest thing is I like it, it's comforting like knowing that someone is with in your reach. It's also a deep feeling which is drawing me down this street. The sun is now high in the sky and a lot of shops around me are closing while others are opening and I know that this feeling is bringing me to somewhere I need to be.

Xena stopped eyed the tavern close by her which was now closed she looked up slowly at the sign which was a wolf head with blood coming out of its mouth. She narrowed her gaze eyeing the title which read The Slaughtered Lamb. It was a night tavern which only served food and drink but had no beds and was closed during the day. Unlike the day light counterpart which had beds and served during the day but was closed at night while its guests slept. She put her hand on the door feeling a tingling sensation under her fingers which made every nerve ending in her body fire all at once. She turned to Demetrius. "We need to look in here." Demetrius eyed the tavern raising his eyebrow. "Here…but isn't this." He eyed the sign. "Rather morbid." Xena eyed the sign as she smashed her fist against the door with all her might. "Yes it is but I have a feeling about this Demetrius, I can't describe it I just know its right." Demetrius breathed in deeply gods he just hoped she was right, he was so tired now and he needed sleep he could tell that Thaleia was struggling as well.

They both weren't used to being up this late, he could tell though that the Empress was fairing much better than ether of them and he could only put it down to the months she'd spent with Gabrielle as Gabrielle could be up most of the night with out it bothering her or making her tired. Xena smashed her fist harder on the door. "Come on wake up!" She pulled her fist back about to strike it again only for the door to open, she watched as a man who was clearly Roman by his dress sense opened the door the anger in his eyes as he spoke. "We are closed! How many times do I have to tell you stupid tourists from other lands that the taverns of Corinth have two types? Day taverns with beds and night taverns which only serve food and drink and we are a night tavern!" He felt a sneer form. "So get lost." Xena didn't think as she grabbed him by his shirt pushing him back in side the tavern full force. "I am not a stupid tourist I am looking for some one who's important to me!"

Philo eyed the taller dark haired woman who had piecing blue eyes, he swallowed clearly she meant business. "My mistake who were you looking for?" Xena let go of his shirt eyeing him for a long moment. "I'm looking for a small woman about half my height, she has long blonde hair, green eyes, fair skin and a diagonal scar on her right eye. She would have had two swords strapped to her back and would be wearing, dark trousers, boots and a white and silver shirt. Philo felt his eyes dart gods the description was perfect it was Horn Hind's he breathed in deeply watching as the woman's two companions entered the tavern. Xena turned to Demetrius as a thought crossed her mind as she eyed the man's missing hand. "Close the door Demetrius." Demetrius breathed in closing the door he had no idea where she was going with this but he felt it best just to go along with it. Philo turned watching as his wife opened the door behind the bar coming in, in her bed robes the concern was in her eyes as she spoke. "Philo is everything all right I heard shouting?" Philo adjusted his shirt. "Everything is fine Flora these people are just searching for someone."

He put a hand on his chin eyeing the taller woman he had a very good idea who she really was. He watched as she eased down her cloaks hood revealing the black hair painting the full picture and confirming his thoughts. "Your friend was here not long ago, she came in here and got something to eat and drink and then she played cards with four of our older patrons." Xena blinked in surprise Gabrielle didn't generally socialize with people she didn't know. So there had to be more to this she eyed his hand again as a crazy thought crossed her mind. "How did you loose your hand?" Philo blinked in confusion eyeing his stump which had the long healed up but still had the teeth marks in it, he'd taken off his hook because he had been about to get in to bed. "It was a wolf in Rome I used to tend to the arena animals when I was a younger man." Xena put a hand on his arm. "No that's not a wolf bite, wolves tear, what ever took your hand of, took it off in one bite and the canine teeth marks are far to big and far to deep."

She paused eyeing him feeling a smile form. "Looks more like a wolf bite, from a really big wolf." Philo breathed in deeply realizing that there was no getting out of this. The woman in front of him was the Empress of Greece and she was Horn Hind's friend so she could see right through his false story. "No Empress it wasn't a wolf bite…it was…." Flora lowered her gaze. "It was me…I bit his hand off back in Rome the decorative muzzle was loose, loose enough that I could almost speak. I attacked him and bit his hand off and then I took his key and forced the muzzle loose so I could speak. A cruentus creatura had turned me a two weeks before I was a slave waiting to die to the roar of the crowd and the gladiators. He betrayed Rome and freed me and we left together because he could no longer have his job because by biting him I'd turned him in to a werewolf just like me and he was now no more than fodder for the arena." Xena folded her arms feeling her smile widen. "So you're both werewolves?" Philo nodded. "Yes we are Empress and we mean you no harm. We didn't mean Horn Hind any harm ether we let her in here because we were looking after her best interests, though she didn't realize it at first."

Xena raised hand ignoring Thaleia's surprise. "She is your king I would expect you to do no less and your secret will remain a secret until my self and Horn Hind have worked things out fully between our two races and things are more settled." Philo breathed in deeply. "We are not on the side of the Imperial Council they have no love for the cruentus creatura ether. As far as the Imperial Council is concerned werewolves made by the cruentus creatura for the sport off Rome's Gladiators, have no place in the Grand City. Despite that they were turned with out having any choice and are not at fault for being, who and what they are." Xena raised an eyebrow. "Your king told me that she had no choice and that she was bitten because she was considered the strongest. So the Imperial Councils view on the both of you is hypocritical since you weren't given a choice due to the circumstances. I have also met a cruentus creatura and they have no love for anyone other than them selves, my late husband also told me many lies regarding the dog fights of Rome and one day I intend to find a way to end them for good in the Roman Empire, as I have already done in my own Empire."

Philo nodded respectful. "The rumours are true you are clearly a woman who believes in doing what is right, even if the person you're doing it for is not human." Xena walked over to corner table close by running her hand over feeling the sensation once more that Gabrielle had been here. "Your king has taught me a lot in these past few months and I realize that I have been seeing everything in the wrong light concerning the werewolf race. I want to fix it, my ending the hunting law and giving your race equal rights, is only the beginning." Flora eyed the tall dark haired woman. "Wait you intend to help her bring down the Imperial Council, don't you?" Xena looked up slightly. "Yes." Philo turned sharply. "Why though I mean this is not your war?" Xena met his confused gaze she no longer cared who knew this now and she wanted this one truth to be spread among the werewolves of Corinth. "Because I'm willing to betray the Imperial Councils most scared law regarding humans and werewolves." Philo put a hand on his chin as Gabrielle's actions in the tavern became very clear and all of the parts suddenly fitted in to place. "You're in love with her?" Xena nodded. "Yes I am and I need to find her, which is why I need your help now." She eyed the bar. "Tell me where she went after she left your fine tavern and I'll see you'll be highly compensated and I'll put your establishment on the map with a single word."

Philo turned to his wife who nodded signalling him to tell her, he eyed the taller woman who he could tell was not bluffing she meant every word he could see it in her eyes. "Horn Hind walked down the street away from here, she was sitting outside when I saw a lectica with a Roman noble woman in it stop beside her. She invited her in side and then the men carried on walking in the direction of the sea, I've seen this woman many times before I believe she lives in this area with her husband who's a diplomat." Xena felt her eyes dart. "Wait what did this Roman noble woman look like?" Philo looked down slightly. "She's in her late twenties and has dark blue eyes, long light brown hair with red henna highlights. She wasn't very tall and wore green chiton robes with a turquoise belt and bronze decorative wrist bracelets." Xena looked as she turned to face him. "I assume she's a mild mannered woman and not a bitch to the lower classes?"

Philo nodded. "Yes that sounds correct I've never heard anyone speak ill of her or her husband." Xena folded her arms turning to Demetrius. "Ilithyia, that's who picked her up." Demetrius nodded. "The description fits, her and her husband have a villa in this part of the city. The others diplomats and their partners are in the more descendant and flavourful areas of the city, due to their habits." He stroked his beard. "But why would she take Gabrielle? She barely knows her." Xena raised her hand. "Because that's how that woman thinks, she would see it as rude to not invite Gabrielle to her villa. She knows Gabrielle is important to me and she would do it regardless of what her husband thinks." She felt her smile turn to a wide grin. "This means that Gabrielle is at their villa, right now." She turned slowly to the tavern owner putting a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for your help you will get all that I promised." Philo nodded respectfully. "You are both kind and generous Empress and this will not go unheard of, I will tell others in my race about your kindness and your love." Thaleia looked up slightly. "Where is their villa?" Demetrius turned to her. "Oh its not far from here we can get there very quickly from here."

End of part 82

Silvermoonlight

Lectica was a form of carry device with two men at ether side, it was made from wood and had curtains on all four sides to hide the person in side as well as plush seating inside for the person to sit on, they were very common in ancient Rome.

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