Part Two She'd been traveling for weeks. Gabrielle had nearly forgotten how long a journey could be when taken alone. It had been much different when she was with Xena—it didn't matter where they were going, or why. It was always an adventure, and always exciting. Although she now traveled to prove to herself once and for all whether or not this girl was the reincarnation of her partner, it had become something of a tedious chore to her. Perhaps Aphrodite was right. She'd let herself fall so deeply into grief that she'd never bothered finding her way out again. She might as well have been the one who died. Gabrielle thought often of their last conversation before she started out. The goddess had visited her in her chamber once again as she was finishing packing. “I just don't think it's healthy,” Aphrodite declared. Gabrielle glanced up from her bag in irritation. “I'm going to help someone in trouble, and you think that's unhealthy? What do you think I've been doing here for the last ten years?” she added, gesturing around herself. Aphrodite snorted. “You're not going to another part of the world to save someone. You want to know if it's true. She wouldn't be the same person, you know.” Gabrielle stared down at her hands and nodded glumly. “I know,” she agreed. “Eve is definitely not the same person that Callisto was. She doesn't even share her memories. But still…if this girl has Xena's spirit, I have to see her for myself. And if Ares is after her, then I'm definitely going to be there.” Gabrielle paused, giving the goddess a searching look. “Why didn't you tell me?” Aphrodite shrugged. “How would it help? I was trying to get you to move forward, you know? This is nothing but a step back.” “Well, if it is, I'm still taking it,” Gabrielle said firmly. “I'm not going out of my way to support this, but…if you do need my help, just ask for it,” the goddess finally conceded. Now, after spending day after day in the saddle and many long nights alone by the campfire, Gabrielle wished she did have a reason to call on her friend. But Aphrodite wouldn't come running to cure her loneliness. She might appear simply to say, “I told you so,” and then be off on her merry way. Gabrielle just couldn't make herself do it, not yet. On the way she passed many Roman outposts and fortifications. Although Caesar was long dead, his people had definitely left their mark on this country. The “savage” Celts had been ripe for conquer. Gabrielle avoided the heavily occupied areas as much as she could. She never could quite handle being around the Romans after their shared history. She had no idea how she would find Liria once she reached Bibtracte. It was a large city, important enough to the country to have been written up by Caesar in his many accounts. Gabrielle had some of that very text. Perhaps it was perverse of her to read his writings, but she attributed it to a scholarly curiosity and left it at that. The city remained powerful both economically and politically, and was very much under Roman influence. She would have quite a search on her hands once she got there. Gabrielle could smell Bibtracte before she saw it. The haze of smoke filling the air wasn't quite as offensive as the stench of raw sewage. From what she'd read about the city, it boasted a population of over one million people. The poor and lower class lived in dilapidated wooden huts along the outskirts of the city, while at the center glorious buildings of stone were reserved for the wealthy. Although it was the general way of things all over the world, several respected historians had criticized the degree of stratification in larger cities such as Bibtracte. There were probably thousands of children who needed her here. Parentless, impoverished, starving…these kids were easy pickings for thieves and cutthroats. The girls, and even some of the boys, were turned out, their bodies for sale to anyone with a handy dinar. Others learned the trade themselves, living short and violent lives of crime. They were snuffed out before they ever had a chance. “You're here for a reason, Gabrielle,” she thought to herself. “Don't get distracted before you even arrive.” Gabrielle heard a scream to her right and pulled up on the reins. As she sat listening, her horse shifted uneasily, his ears perking forward. When another scream sounded, she quickly dismounted and led her mount to the edge of the road. Pulling out her sais, she cautiously crept into the line of trees. She heard the voices of several men nearby, laughing over something. The screaming continued, and she recognized this voice to be female. It was moving rapidly, and she finally heard the crashing sound of something running headlong through the trees. Priming herself to intercept the woman, Gabrielle waited quietly. The small figure nearly passed her by. Grabbing the girl by the arm, Gabrielle forced her to stop. She was young, and dressed in an absurdly revealing dress for someone of her age. They stood nearly the same height, and dark brown eyes met hers in confusion as she was jerked to one side. “What are you doing?” the girl hissed. “Let me go, they're coming!” “Just stay here,” Gabrielle commanded. She ignored the frown that followed this and moved ahead. Two men burst out of the brush a moment later, both grinning and out of breath. They wore the leather garments of warriors, but the clothing was ill-fitting and hung from their bodies at odd angles. Gabrielle also noted that they'd bathed recently and were rather clean-cut. It made her pause to take stock of the situation. “Hey,” one of the men said, spotting her. His eyes lit up as they traveled up and down her body. “You've come to play, too?” Gabrielle's eyes narrowed. “Just what do you think you're doing?” she asked. The other man laughed. “Ah, I get it! Good serving wench, bad serving wench, right?” He stepped forward and reached out to grab her breast. Instinctively, she quickly struck his arm with the blunt end of her weapon before he could touch her, then followed this with an immobilizing blow to the throat. He went down easily, gagging. His friend stared at her in amazement, then scowled at her. “You're gonna pay for that, bitch,” he sneered. Gabrielle shook her head. “A completely uncreative response,” she sighed. “Well?” she asked when he didn't move forward. Angrily, he surged toward her. This made things easy. Xena had taught her long before that anger clouded a warrior's actions. It made them do stupid things. The man proved her right, flailing unwieldy fists that weren't difficult to dodge. He was bigger than his friend, and the first couple of strikes at his middle and side didn't seem to register. Gabrielle finally caught him on the side of the head as he twisted to throw another punch, and he went down just as heavily as his comrade. Panting, Gabrielle scanned the area for any others that might be hiding. She stopped when she caught sight of the girl standing several yards away. Along with the inappropriate dress, she was wearing an inch of makeup and had her brown hair arranged into artful curls. Her round face was currently scrunched up into a scowl. “What the hell are you doing?” she demanded angrily. Her voice still held the sweetness of youth but was already darkened by a level of experience she had no business exhibiting. Gabrielle gaped at her. “I just saved your life,” she exclaimed. The girl snorted. “No, you just cost me fifty dinars, you bitch. They aren't in any shape to satisfy me now, and I'll be damned before I get that money back.” With that, she whirled and stalked toward the road. Gabrielle stood in shock a moment before glancing down at the men she'd struck unconscious. They were too clean to be warriors, she decided, and too pretty as well. The badly fit armor was likely costume, which meant… Her thoughts fled when she heard a surprised whinny from the road. The girl was stealing her horse! Gabrielle raced toward the sound, and reached the road just as her horse finally gave up resisting the insistent kicks to his side and lurched forward. She caught a glimpse of a triumphant grin before the girl turned back to urge the mount to go faster. Not thinking of the consequences, Gabrielle started running after them. But she definitely wasn't in the shape she was fifteen years ago. When she realized they were going to overtake her, she stopped. It took her a moment to catch her breath, bent over and leaning her hands against her thighs. But when she did, she instantly straightened, stuck two fingers in her mouth, and whistled shrilly. Her horse halted obediently, and the girl, obviously not used to riding, flew over the top of his head to land in a heap on the dirt road. Gabrielle chuckled. “Teach you to steal my horse,” she muttered. The girl was showing signs of movement as Gabrielle approached. When she leaned over her to offer a helping hand, the girl spit in it. “You're going to rob me now?” she sneered, eyes narrowed. “You have no idea who I am.” Gabrielle, wiping her hand on her skirt, shook her head. “I'm not the thief here, little girl. What are you doing out here alone with those two men? Pardon me for assuming the worst, especially after seeing all of this.” She gestured toward the low bodice of the girl's dress. “We were just having some fun. Hmph,” the girl snorted, eyeing her maliciously. “What would you know about fun, you old crone.” “Well, I was going to offer you a ride into town, but I think I'll make you walk after all,” Gabrielle answered, unscathed by the childish taunting. She'd heard much worse. She started to turn away, but paused. “So who are you anyway, little girl?” The girl lurched to her feet, dusting herself off. “You're not from Bibtracte, that's for sure,” she said. The haughty look on her face made Gabrielle want to laugh. “I'm Liria, of the Last Sacred Temple of Brigid. And you, crone, have definitely made your first Celtic enemy. Enjoy your visit.” To Be Continued in Part Three

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