WHEN ALL IS NOT QUITE AS IT SEEMS

Theodore looked at Gabrielle for a very long moment, this was not what he had expected to hear at all and he now had a lot to think about. He had no idea that werewolves had their own language and culture and that they lived in underground cities. He had also learnt that the werewolf king had the horns of a deer. She had told him that the Empress's had found her in the prison pit though he could see that she was keeping some parts of the story back about there getting together but he knew that was for personal reasons. He didn't mind that she had not told him everything though. What was very clear to him was that Gabrielle's feelings for the Empress were very strong he could see it her eyes. She had also admitted to breaking things and had said that it had been her fault she was clearly being the noble warrior hence why she was openly confessing to what she had done, what she had said was enough to clean up the whole money issue. He was sure in time that the gold from her dowry would make up for the damage, so he had no complaints. Strangely though she was much quieter than the Empress and not as open, which he wasn't used to as he had no idea what she was thinking. She seemed so formal and despite the odd smile now and again she had been serious through out their whole meeting.

Obviously she had another side to her which the Empress adored and he had seen it for just for a spilt second when the Empress had kissed her but it had vanished in an instant and she had turned serious. He had to confess that it was now time for him to go he had to get back to his villa he eased up his hand adjusting his wrist gauntlet. Gabrielle looked up slightly about to say something only to stop as she caught sight of something which was on Theodore's arm partly covered by his robe which she recognised insanity. Theodore put his hand down as he looked up. "I feel that I have taken up to much of your time already Gabrielle, it has been a pleasure to meet you." He felt the force as Gabrielle hand shot out grabbing his wrist in a lighting fast motion he tried to move his arm only to find that he couldn't as she had it locked in an iron grip. Gabrielle looked at him for a long moment before easing up his arm. She ignored his shock as she pulling up his sleeve eyeing the black tattoo which was the symbol of her goddess Ouroboros. She kept hold of his wrist seeing the uncertainty and fear in his eyes as she spoke. "Did you have a dream which told you to come here today?"

Theodore breathed in watching as her intense gaze fell up on him, he knew he was in trouble. Ouroboros was not a well known goddess and those who worshipped her were viewed as heretics in Corinth. There had not been a temple built to Ouroboros in over two decades, those who worshiped her now had no choice but to stay out of site and worship her image in private. He felt his body tense as he looked up. "Please you can't tell the Empress, I don't want to get in to trouble for worshipping an ancient goddess." Gabrielle shook her head clearly he didn't understand were she was coming from. She loosened her grip on his wrist so it was more gently as she used her other hand to ease her leather chain out of her shirt so he could the bone symbol on it. She watched as the shock appeared in his eyes as she let go of his wrist. "You misunderstand I would never bring harm to a fellow worshipper." She looked up as he adjusted his sleeve. "That is why I ask, was it a dream that brought you here to the palace today?" Theodore breathed in deeply feeling his body relax fully, well this was a shock and a half the Empress's consort was a worshipper of Ouroboros.

He put his hands together feeling it only right to answer her question as they were clearly on the same wave length. "I do not tell people that I worship Ouroboros but have ever since I was fifteen. I saw a snake crying blood as it lay in a temple ruin I watched as it began to eats its own tail. It was lying opposite a broken statue of Ouroboros which had been destroyed during one of the older wars. I saw it as a sign that I had been picked by Ouroboros for greater things." He paused feeling unsure of his next words. "I have never seen the goddess herself but she has whispered to me in my dreams it was her whisper that told me to go to Corinth many years ago. It was that same whisper that told me today to visit the palace. I didn't understand the reasoning as I was going to hold off coming here and send one of my helpers in my place but now it's all very clear to me." Gabrielle eyed him for a long moment. "Is there a temple or place of worship for our goddess in Corinth?"

Theodore breathed in deeply. "There is no temple but there is a place of worship, though you may not like how you have to get there." Gabrielle took in a deep breath. "How would I get there?" Theodore met her intense gaze he could see that she that was serious. "Ever heard of the Rams Head Villa?" Gabrielle looked up sharply. "Yes I've heard of it…it's a villa that has orgy parties." Theodore shook his head. "No that's its outward appearance, lets just say yes orgy parties go on there but it has a hidden area which you can get to through the wine cellar which is under the building. There you can find our goddess's people, there you can worship freely and give an offering be it in blood or wine. You can talk to the priest and priestess about your problems and they will help you. We have to do it this way because the last temple we tried to build in Corinth was destroyed just before the Empress took the throne and we can't risk the destruction of another temple."

Gabrielle felt her body tense. "How was the temple destroyed?" Theodore looked around him making sure no one was listening. "Despite the law in place to allow the worship of all gods the priests and priestess's of the other temples do not like our goddess. They had a group set fire to the temple so they could purify the earth it was laid up on. They said Ouroboros was a hectic and should not be worshipped by anyone that is why no one who worships Ouroboros speaks about it freely anymore as it can be frowned up on. Keeping our place of worship safe is what matters we will not have our goddess's temple burnt down again no matter what." He paused as a question crossed his mind. "The Empress does not mind that you worship Ouroboros?" Gabrielle put her hands together. "No she doesn't mind at all I even have the symbol of my goddess on my doors, didn't you see it when you came in?" Theodore shook his head. "No I did not." He lowered his gaze to the floor, this was a huge surprise the Empress allowed her lover to worship Ouroboros freely this would be a huge revelation for those at the hidden temple to learn.

He breathed in deeply there was question he now really needed to know the answer to. "How long have you worshipped Ouroboros?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "I began worshipping her when I was a teenager." She put her hand on her pendants bone symbol. "I found this leather chain and I had a vision and it told me to wear this symbol." Theodore raised his hand slowly. "So werewolves have no hated towards Ouroboros?" Gabrielle shook her head. "No they don't, all gods and goddess's are worshipped by werewolves even the Norse and Celtic gods. Religion is considered a person's free choice as life has been hard for my race. In some cases it's been brutal and short and because of this open worship is allowed." Theodore turned about to say more only to stop as the doors were opened and a dark skinned woman entered the room carrying a breakfast tray. He turned slowly to Gabrielle. "We shall have to talk more about this some other time as I can see that your maid has brought you, your breakfast and I am late to my other meetings."

Gabrielle watched as he walked past Thaleia who put her breakfast tray down in front of her giving her a smile. She turned as Theodore opened the double doors. "Another time then." Theodore nodded as he looked up. "Another time." Thaleia watched as the strange red haired man closed the doors behind him. "Who was that?" Gabrielle turned slowly to her. "The accountant, the Empress wanted me to get to know him better, his name is Theodore." Thaleia slowly sat herself in the chair opposite looking at her best friend she really needed to explain where she'd been these past few days. "I'm sorry I have not been around." Gabrielle felt a smile form as she took a drink from her fruit juice. "Where have you been?" She had a feeling that she knew already but she wanted Thaleia to tell her. Thaleia felt a wide smile form. "I told Demetrius how I felt about him." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "How did it go?" Thaleia put her hands together. "It went better than I expected we have been spending a lot of time together." Gabrielle raised both eyebrows. "Have you done anything yet?" Thaleia pushed against her arm playfully. "No not yet, we have just slept together in bed."

Gabrielle took another long drink from her goblet. "Well that explains why he was so happy when he visited the Empress's room this morning." Thaleia breathed in deeply as the question that had been playing her mind came back to haunt her, it had been there since she'd woken up in Demetrius's arms this morning as he'd come in to her room once more to sleep. "You've slept with men haven't you, what's it like?" Gabrielle put her hand on her face she should have seen this coming. Thaleia was very innocent about certain subjects. "It's nice." Thaleia eyed her for a long moment she knew Gabrielle well enough to see that she was avoiding the question. "That's not a real answer, I mean does it hurt?" Gabrielle breathed in before taking a bite out of her smoked fish. "Yes it will hurt…but it's a good pain and you're very lucky as it will be with someone you love, very few people are ever that fortunate." Thaleia blinked in surprise. "You mean your first time wasn't with someone you loved?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "No it was with a young man who was just desperate to have sex…I was just as desperate to and I thought it would take away the pain I was feeling of loosing my family and my life being turned up side down. With out the feelings and the emotions it's not the same, it wasn't until Damokles I came to realize how different it is when someone loves you and you love them back." Thaleia folded her arms as knowing smile spread across her lips. "Do you feel that again with the Empress?" Gabrielle swallowed her mouthful as she looked up. "Yes I do." She knew she should say more but there were so many feelings and emotions she needed to work through. She loved the older woman more than she could say. Thaleia felt her smile turn to a sly one. "You know I went in your room when you weren't there I heard you having a very good time with the Empress, clearly she makes you very happy." Gabrielle looked down at her food not wanting to meet Thaleia's gaze. "Yes we had a good time." Thaleia laughed seeing a hint of embarrassment in Gabrielle's eyes, though she was doing her best to hide it. "So she's good in bed then?"

Gabrielle looked up sharply. "Thaleia!" Thaleia felt a smirk form on her lips. "What I'm just curious." Gabrielle rolled her eyes there really was no getting out of this if she tried Thaleia would only push harder for an answer. "Yes she's good…can we leave it at that?" Thaleia leaned forward feeling her self turn serious. "You know it's good to see you this happy Gabrielle we all remember the person you used to be and for a time we thought that you'd never be happy despite that you deserved to be." Gabrielle looked up meeting her dark gaze. "This is my home Thaleia, I'm happy here because of you, you're my family I consider you my sister." Thaleia stood up throwing her arms around the other woman before she could stop her. "I'm so glad you feel this way, I always considered you my sister and you know that my mother considers you a daughter." She pulled away from the other woman giving her a wide smile. "Well you know her werewolf daughter, who goes around breaking heads." Gabrielle felt a smile form as she playful pushed the other woman. "Very funny Thaleia."

8

Xena eased up the heated meat taking a bite out of it savouring the flavour she'd taken some from the kitchen after doing her paper work, which was finally complete. It was nothing interesting just the usual boring complaints along with the typical requests which she was going to ignore as they were driven by greedy nobles. The only requests she never ignored were those sent by the working class or any that showed any signs of poverty. She saw it as her duty as leader to do everything in her power to end poverty and though it was an up ward struggle she firmly believed that no man, woman or child should ever go hungry. They should all have bread daily and be able to afford, to make bread, bread was a stable in the Greek Empire and unlike Rome she didn't depend on Egypt for her full supply. It was all grown on her own lands and she made sure that it always stored. The only reason she went through so much trouble to do this was after seeing Rome's supply run out because Egypt's ships weren't bringing it in and people had starved.

This was of because Ptolemy and Cleopatra couldn't rule worth a damn and didn't have a brain between them. Bickering stupid Egyptians, she'd never liked ether of them. She hated Ptolemy because he was sadistic and vile and Cleopatra his older sister reviled in it, she was just as power hungry as he was all the lands they owned had come about through war and conquest. They were meant to be married but anyone worth their salt knew that they both had on the side lovers, because they couldn't stomach the thought of sleeping with each other. Despite that the kings and queens of Egypt had been marrying there brothers and sisters for centuries they had broken with tradition. Their marriage was in essence no more than a political front. She also knew that all of their four children were the product of their on the side lovers. Though it was never mentioned publicly as they had both agreed a vow of silence and that no matter who the lover was the child was they had to be treated as a possible heir, taken care of and never told who there real father or mother was.

She had heard whispers from her spies that both of them were setting up for conquest and there wandering eye was on both Rome and Greece which deeply unsettled her. The only thing that was keeping them at bay right now was that she and the Roman Emperor Tiberius both had stronger armies at sea and land but she knew though that the day would come when they finally made their move. They both wanted to conqueror the known world and she knew well enough from her late husband that conquest was a dangerous addiction. The more you got the more you wanted it was a drug you could never have enough of and a thirst you could never quench. She looked up catching sight of Gabrielle the younger woman was coming towards her walking calmly through the gardens. She stopped in front of her lover who was clearly in deep thought about something. She felt a smile form on her lips as she met the other woman's gaze. "So tell me how did your meeting with Theodore go?" Gabrielle eased out her hand taking hold of the other woman's. "Well we came to an understanding."

Xena leaned closer putting her hand on the younger woman's collar running it down the edge. "Really?" Gabrielle raised both eyebrows. "We worship the same goddess." Xena blinked in surprise. "Wait he worships Ouroboros?" Gabrielle nodded as she looked at the afternoon sun which would soon be setting she could feel the slight chill on her body from the ice cold breeze. "Yes." Xena looked at her for a long moment. "He never told me that." Gabrielle eased up her hand. "He is under the impression that worshipping Ouroboros will be frowned up on, it seems that some people in Corinth believe that my goddess is a heretic and they have reacted badly to those worshipping her. He even stated that before your rule a temple to my goddess was being built but the rival priests and priestess's from other temples paid others to see it burnt to the ground. All those who worship Ouroboros are now forced to worship out of site of others." Xena looked at her lover for a long moment this was news to her, she had never stated that Ouroboros was a forbidden goddess of worship. Nor did she condone others persecuting people because they worshipped an older god she felt her smile fade away. "What can do to fix this?"

Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "Talk to Theodore when he returns, I believe he wants the persecution of Ouroboros to stop." Xena eased up her hand running it down the younger woman's face. "That's what he wants but what do you want Gabrielle?" Gabrielle eased up her hand putting it on the other woman's. "I want what he wants I don't like the idea of people who worship my goddess suffering just for doing so." Xena leaned forward gently meeting her lips it was a warm and tender kiss which lasted for a few moments before she pulled away meeting the other woman's uncertain gaze. "I will see it done I will ensure that no one is allowed to bring harm to those who worship your goddess again. It's already in my laws that worshipping other gods and goddess is not forbidden so the fact that these laws have been ignored demands retribution." Gabrielle shook her head. "You don't have to be cruel to these people just point them in the right direction." Xena moved her hand down easing Gabrielle's leather chain free she ran her thumb over the bone carving with its red eyes. "Don't worry I won't hurt them."

She gently put the chain back in Gabrielle's shirt. "I'll just give them a good scare it normally works on priests and priestess." She paused before looking up feeling the need to change the subject. "Would you like to go inside its a little cold out here?" Gabrielle looked up slightly she wasn't really feeling it but if the other woman was cold then she didn't mind going inside. "Sure." Xena moved towards the lions at the far end of the garden which led in to the large open room. She stopped cleaning her boots watching as Gabrielle did the same before entering. "Tell me about the werewolves in Corinth. I realize that I have forgotten to ask you, despite that we both talked about it." Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she finished cleaning her boots before walking towards the other woman who sat herself down on one of cushions close by. Even from here she could hear the children behind the closed door doing their studies. She eased her hand in to her shirt pocket pulling a card free as she sat down opposite her lover. "I went in to a tavern called The Slaughtered Lamb inside I met a number of werewolves." She passed the card to the other woman who took it from her hand. "It was a tavern for werewolves all off them were from my predecessor's reign, most had run away due to having human children or being with another human."

Xena turned the card over seeing Gabrielle's image on it, it was the same one which was on the Ethereal Ark of Fire scroll. She stared at it for a long moment. "This is your image." Gabrielle felt a slight smile form. "I know it sounds stupid but my image was banned from the playing cards in all the underground cities by the Imperial Council. Yet here in Corinth my image is on the deck and all off these werewolves consider me the true ruler not the Imperial Council." Xena eyed the card remembering the words that the bar keeper had said to her "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" She looked up slightly. "I spoke to the bar keeper and his wife they told me where you went afterwards, if it weren't for them it would have taken me a long time to find you. They were both werewolves just like you and they said that they saw it in your best interests to protect you because you're their king. I have just sent out a document which will give them a reward in coin for doing what they did for you. It will also make the tavern a protected area and a land mark, which will mean that no one can cause harm there."

Gabrielle took in a deep breath this was a surprise she had not expected the other woman to say this. She was clearly doing everything her power to protect her people. "They weren't the only werewolves in that tavern though, there were more and these werewolves gave me this card. They said that they were loyal to me and not the Imperial Council. They also said that all the werewolves of Corinth were ready for war and that they believe that I am the king and the rightful heir to the throne." Xena looked at the card for a long moment before speaking. "Gabrielle you are their king and as long as you live you are the true heir to the werewolf throne. Anyone who does not see that is a fool and is backing the wrong horse." Gabrielle turned meeting the other woman's intense gaze as her words hit home. She breathed in trying to ignore the pent up energy she'd been feeling all day feeling her gaze narrow, Xena was right she was king she'd always been king. Ever since she had gained these horns she had been king. True her horns weren't bone right now but they were hers and no one could ever take that away from her. She'd spent so long running from that fact and denying it because of her own self belief in her worth as ruler. She was Horn Hind and she'd be Horn Hind until she died and no one could ever take that away from her. "Yes I am Horn Hind." It was more of a statement than anything else.

Xena looked at the card again. "Yes you are." She paused before speaking. "What ever you need to turn these werewolves in to an army I'll give to you, I know that rebels have limited resources so I'll make sure they get what they need all you need to do is tell me what they need." Gabrielle put her hands together. "I was hoping that I wouldn't need to go down the route of civil war but now I realize I'm probably going to have no choice. It won't be long before the Imperial Council gets the news that I'm your consort, once they do it will be the straw that breaks the horses back and they will go for all out war, I'm just living on borrowed time right now." Xena lay back on the cushion putting her hands behind her head. "Let them come, after what they did to you I want to see their heads roll." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "I still don't have their master plan…Adrienne is still in a coma and Kalika isn't high enough up the scale to know anything and Mavican is just the same. All three of them are useless to me right now." Xena sat up she could hear the frustration in her lover's voice. "Then your people in Corinth will be the ones to know, I doubt Corinth is there only point of call. There are probably werewolf rebels all over Greece in different cities communicating back and forth."

Gabrielle took in a deep breath. "How can you be sure?" Xena felt her smile turn to wide grin. "Because long before I came to rule Greece I started out as a rebel…its just over time my cause became greater and with every victory until I found myself sitting on the throne ruling Greece. I remember in my youth I used to talk to others in other cities. The hardest part is bringing them all together, they'll all want something and they have to truly believe that you can give them victory. I believe you can do that, when you're serious everyone you've met seems to listen to you, you can even get through to a few stubborn people who I have trouble with." Gabrielle looked at the sky outside which was now starting to darken due to the sun starting to set. "It all sounds very easy when you say like that and I don't doubt you for a moment, it just concerns me once this war starts that there will be no going back and I have to win it. I cannot afford to loose it and it may mean that I have do things which you won't like but these things are necessary and they are part of my races laws and until I suit the throne I cannot change them, war against other werewolves has always been brutal. The last great war when werewolves fought against each other, was when the Emerald Hind went up against king Lycaon they say that blood soaked the sands of the beaches and took days to wash away."

She shook her head sadly. "Werewolves are truly brutal in battle and I can't change it." Xena looked at the younger woman for a long moment she understood where she was coming from war was not kind it was cruel despite that battles could be short. In most wars the victor didn't take prisoners and those who were still alive normally got put out of there misery with a well placed sword. In her first battle long before she'd risen to lead the Greek rebels her first ever job had been to go around and do that because her commander had told her to. She had hated every moment of it. The smell had been horrible as some of the bodies were rotting in the intense summer sun and she hated looking in to the eyes of the men and women who were taking their last breath. For some death was a relief she could see it in their eyes while others looked hatful despite that they were close to death. She had even seen poor men and women stealing from dead bodies which in its self had been saddened. That in its self had made her feel even sadder because at the time she could see the terrible state that Greece was in at the time under the two Macedonian Tyrant kings and its queen.

Its people were so poor that they stole from the dead just so they could buy bread to feed themselves. It had also motivated her, at first joining the rebels had been just about making things right in her town but after that it became about true liberation and dethroning the three tyrants but all liberation came with a price and normally it was blood and she knew that it was a hard road. She had already seen how brutal fighting was amongst werewolves and it was very clear to her that all out war amongst them would be even more brutal. She looked up snapping out of her thoughts. "I understand Gabrielle just know that what ever happens I will be there with you." Gabrielle shifted a little closer to the other woman putting her hand on hers. "Thank you but you don't have to get caught up in my war I mean you have so much to deal with in your own Empire." Xena shook her head as she let out a deep breath. "I think the time has long passed that I could have no part in this war, we are very much in this together now for better or for worse and I'm not unhappy about that Gabrielle." She gently put the card down as she put her other hands on Gabrielle's. "Ever since Rome and my late husband trying to kill me I've felt as though I've been in limbo."

She breathed in sharply it was strange that she was about to say this, as she had been thinking about it for so long but had never admitted it to anyone, until now. "I just went from day to day sighing papers burying myself in wine it was an easy way to numb the loneliness I felt. It felt like my life wasn't going anywhere I had no more wars to fight and I was bored but then you showed up. Despite all those arguments we had and what happened with the royals, I felt like my life was suddenly interesting and every morning I wanted to get up just to be with you. I'll fight your wars and help you how ever you can because I love you, you make me feel alive inside." She looked up meeting the other woman's gaze. "I can't imagine what it would be like if you weren't here." Gabrielle moved closer she wanted to say something about how those words made her feel and how much they had lifted her entire being but no words seem to come no matter how hard she tried to mould them. They hadn't known each that long and she had not expected Xena to say this at all, it proved that she knew so little about what to expect in this woman's presence.

At every turn she was forever trailing behind when it came to how this woman saw her. She could see the calmness in the other woman's light blue eyes which reminded her so much of blue sapphire as it was being hit by the morning sunlight. She inched a little closer her next movement becoming automatic, as she wrapped her arms around her meeting her lips. She knew the kiss she was giving was intense but she knew it was the only was she could express her feelings right now. Xena breathed in deeply enjoying the sensation, gods this was so nice, the gods could cast her down right now and she wouldn't care, she'd die happy. It was just so wonderful to be loved again and to give love in return she had believed for so long that she wouldn't feel this way again. She had to confess though that they needed to move on as the children would be coming out of there class soon and she wanted to take this some where more private. She moved away from the other woman's lips putting her head against hers. "You now the children will be coming out of the room soon we should go back to our room." Gabrielle looked up about to speak only to feel something cold run down her nose.

She looked down in confusion watching as red blood began to drip on to her shirt staining it instantly causing all her feeling of heated desire to fade away instantly. She eased up her hand wiping it under her nose seeing the blood on her fingers. What in Ouroboros's name was going on here she didn't have nose bleeds? She turned seeing the shock in her lover's face as she grabbed the cloth which she kept in her pocket pulling it free putting it against her nose feeling the sting as a loud buzzing started ring in her ears. She suddenly didn't feel so good she felt light headed and dizzy and it was very harder to focus. "I don't…feel so good." Xena took hold off the younger woman's pulling her to her feet she could see even now that she was going pale. Maybe she'd caught something she'd been around other werewolves, so my be there was a chance that they had flues, colds and illness's that they could pass on, ether way bleeding from the nose was a bad sign. She felt the other woman stumble as she walked forward holding the now bloody cloth to her nose. "I'm going to get you to Phantasos!" Gabrielle winced as she ignored the stinging in her head which was agonizing. It was like someone was trying to drive a nail in to ether side of her brain. "I…don't…need…his help." Xena rolled her eyes, that was not what she wanted hear right now. "Yes you do."

She turned watching as one of the guards stood up sharply. "I want the healer, now!" The man nodded the concern in his eyes he turned bolting in to a run. She moved Gabrielle forward only to feel the other woman slip as her legs gave away she grabbed her just in time to stop her falling then carefully lowered her down watching as she slid down the corridor wall sitting up against it. Xena lowered herself on to her knees watching as the other woman head rolled back as the whites of her eyes showed. She was about to pass out she grabbed both sides of her face watching as her hand holding the blood cloth fell limply to one side. "Gabrielle!" She could see that the blood had stopped leaking from her nose but she still was still in a subconscious state. She breathed in painfully gods this couldn't be happening right now! She had been fine for weeks since the incident with Adrienne. Maybe something hadn't healed right? She moved her hand down feeling the pulse on the other woman's neck seeing that her eyes were still showing their whites. She moved her hand down further putting it against her chest trying to feel for something anything that would explain this only to pull her hand away as Gabrielle hand close by started to shake violently. She blinked in shock as claws began to burst through as the hand began to lengthen followed by the other. What in Tartarus was going on? She was transforming but why now and why this way it made sense!?

End of part 98

Silvermoonlight

I know in the Xena Universe Rome is normally viewed as the bad guy but I wanted to change that and make Egypt the tyrant nation set on conquest.

Historical note it was common for Egyptian kings and Queens to be brother and sister and to marry and have children. Pompey the Magnus was said to have disrupted the mayor grain shipments from Africa to Rome which had a huge impact on Rome and its people. They starved as they had no grain to make bread, which was a staple of the diet.