A Hopeful Bard (5/?)
Title: A Hopeful Bard (5/?)
Rating: R
Status: In Progress
Author: maggiemerc
Characters/Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle, Conqueror fic
Disclaimer: Do not own them. The only profit I seek is an ego boost from good feedback.
Summary: The Conqueror (though she'd really prefer you call her the Empress) meets the Playwright (a title she's totally fine with). There's some verbal sparring. Some physical sparring. Some gods. Some emperors. Maybe some ribald comedy.
Author's Note: And I'm back. June was kind of a crazy busy month for me. Sorry.
That had been…unexpected. Gabrielle paced because what she really wanted to do was cheer and shout and run off every ounce of energy bottled up in her compact frame. Pacing would have to do.
She was a governor. She’d expected death or imprisonment or at least a dismissal from her home, but instead she was the governor of Apollonia.
Oh yeah, there was a little concern. She was in the Empress’s sights now. And poor Talmadeus had gotten the boot. But their heads were still attached and they weren’t under lock and key so something had to be good and right.
She couldn’t help it. She whooped. It was loud and echoed off the marble, but it felt good.
“Mom.” The whooping had also brought Eve out of whatever hiding place she’d been in all morning. It was still early and Homer and Euripides would be sleeping off all the alcohol they’d imbibed the night before, but Eve, trying to prove she wasn’t her mother’s daughter, was always an early riser.
“Eve!” Gabrielle leapt across the room and took her daughter up in her arms, swinging the dark haired girl around and around. She ignored her daughter’s startled expression and just held the child close. The glee, the excitement, it bubbled up in her veins.
Eve lightly patted her mother’s back with a tiny hand. Gabrielle ducked her head down and rested her nose in her Eve’s hair. “You okay,” the child asked.
“Perfect.” She leaned back so she could look at her daughter’s face. Eve watched her carefully. “I’ve got some work to do, but what say we go up to that spring again today? Maybe have dinner there?”
Eve was too young to wonder why her mother was pacing her office or swinging her about or offering night time picnics. Her mind went straight to, “Can Homer and Euripides come? Euripides said he’d have more of the play done tonight!”
“They can come. We’ll all do a reading together.” She set the child down and stretched. Her back popped pleasantly.
“And the Empress? Will she be back?”
She stroked Eve’s hair. Delighting in how the fine dark brown strands of it sifted through her fingers. “No,” she said softly, “not if I do things right.”
#
It was only an hour later when Diomedes darted into her office to announce the arrival of the new leader of the garrison. Palaemon stood behind him in his shiny armor and red cloak with his helmet cradled in his arm.
Gabrielle waved him over to a desk shoved against the wall where a variety of maps were stacked. “Palaemon you’re just in time. I’ve got to deal with some of the Empress’s fields in the north. They’ve been fallow since my husband died, and I think now is the perfect time to put them to use.”
Palaemon didn’t respond immediately, which was unusual for the man. He tended to be talkative. Not quite like Gabrielle herself, or Euripides, but for a soldier the man ran his mouth quite a bit.
She looked up from her maps. “Palaemon?”
He was looking nervous-no, not nervous. He was looking worried. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead and his eyes were screwed up in a look of concern.
Gabrielle straightened up and watched him curiously, waiting for a response.
“Talmadeus left.” He finally said.
“The Empress said as much this morning. What’s wrong?”
“He was angry Gabrielle.”
Oh. Talmadeus had a bit of a temper. Gabrielle had once seen him beat a soldier for mishandling a sword. It was one of his least savory aspects, and something Gabrielle had worked hard to ignore when she dealt with him.
“When did he leave?”
“Not long ago.”
She glanced out the window. She could see the sails of Xena’s ship in the distance. “The Empress’s ship is far enough away. Send some men to collect him in town. I’ll speak with him.”
“I would, but the Empress didn’t travel by sea.”
That was-“What?”
Palaemon sighed, “She sent the ship ahead to Orikos. She and her men are traveling by road.”
“And Talmadeus is traveling alone and with purpose.”
He’d gone and put Gabrielle in a spot. If she didn’t act, didn’t send someone to stop him then Xena might hold her responsible for whatever foolish plan Talmadeus tried to enact. But if she did send someone to warn the Empress, or to stop Talmadeus, then she’d certainly be accused of arrogance again.
Damn it all and damn Xena-“Get after the Empress Palaemon. See if you can stop Talmadeus before he gets to her. If need be warn her. And do it quickly.”
Palaemon clicked his heels together and bowed, “Yes Governor.”
When he looked up he was smiling, pleased with the title he’d been allowed to speak. Gabrielle grinned back, “That’ll take some time to get used to.”
“Don’t let it ma’am. You’ve earned that title a thousand times over.”
“And you, Palaemon, need to know that flattery will get you everywhere in life. Now hurry. I’d rather not have to hear about Talmadeus being accused of assasination.”
The soldier’s eyes narrowed in contempt at the idea. He nodded again, curtly, and bound out of the room, his dark red cloak billowing dramatically after him.
“Diomedes?” Her voice wasn’t loud and she resisted the tremor that came naturally. Diomedes heard her through the door. Heard the tremor that wasn’t there.
“Is everything all right?”
Nothing was all right. Talmadeus was on the move and only trouble could come of it. “I was going to take Eve to the spring. Can you do it?”
He frowned, “Eve isn’t particularly fond of my company.”
“So take Homer and Euripides as well.”
He watched her. Looked for the tremor to express itself in an unsteady hand or a tremulous sigh. Nothing came. Gabrielle was taunt. Focused. Her sea green eyes watching the hills beyond the palace.
“Gabrielle. What’s happened?”
“Hopefully nothing. Hopefully I’m just a bit nervous about being made governor.”
“And if not.”
She turned her eyes to him. She lacked the unnerving glint of the empress, but there was a bit of steel in her eyes. “Take them to the spring. Enjoy a good meal. Return after nightfall.”
He nodded and disappeared out the door again-leaving Gabrielle alone once more.
She returned her attention to the hills. Talmadeus would be out there somewhere. But where was he headed? To assassinate an empress? Or something worse?
#
Xena would never have outright said she’d made a mistake. She was Empress of the most of the known world and could decapitate a man a town away with a flick of her wrist. She’d conquered Darius and his Immortals and stayed the hand of Rome and Egypt. She was as close to a god on earth as one could get without godly powers.
But she was hotter than the depths of Tartarus.
The sun was beating down on her and Draco’s men with a ferocity that made her wonder what she’d done to irk Apollo so. Sweat made the seat of her saddle slick and the breeze that blew through the fig trees lining the roads was too warm to provide comfort.
Draco was hot too. His face was red and he’d tipped his helmet up so it rested on the cap of his head. The bits of his undershirt she could see were dark with sweat and he took a few more sips from his canteen then necessary.
She considered saying something smart but these weren’t normal troops. She didn’t need to ingratiate herself with these men. Didn’t need to commiserate about the heat. She needed to be tall and strong and sweat free. So she held her tongue.
She heard the beats of the horse on the hard backed road well before her soldiers. Draco gave her the queerest look he could muster without rebuke as she pulled tight on the reigns and spun her horse around.
“Ma’am,” Draco managed to ask.
“Rider, coming fast.”
She knew he couldn’t hear the rider yet and he was more likely to see the person before he heard him. But all he needed was her word to have the soldiers spinning around and readying spears and javelins.
She raised her hand to halt any violent action and rode down the column towards the fast approaching rider. Draco silently followed.
She could see him now, his bright armor shimmering in the sun and his cloak billowing behind him and as read as his face probably was. A man from a garrison-from the Apollonia garrison.
“Talmadeus,” Draco asked.
“I don’t think so, but be prepared.”
Draco nodded and used his spear to tilt his helmet back down onto his head.
The rider was pushing his horse too hard in the heat. She could see the white foam around the horse’s mouth from a distance and see the frantic breaths that had the horse’s sides moving in and out.
She heeled her own horse into a canter to meet the rider faster. Draco and his men followed silently.
When he was close enough the rider pulled to a stop kicking up dust and pulling a strangled whinny from the beast he rode on. Close enough now she could see it was her new garrison leader, Palaemon.
“And here I thought I left you to command a garrison.”
The man nodded and tried to rub sweat from his face, but his helmet was in the way so he settled for drying his neck instead. “You did ma’am, but the new governor set me with a task.”
“To wear a horse to death on the road?”
“To find you.”
“Why,” Draco growled from behind her.
Palaemon kept his focus on Xena. Smart man. “She was concerned ma’am, with how quickly Talmadeus fled the garrison.”
Xena narrowed her eyes, “She thinks he’s coming after me?”
He shook his head, “She couldn’t be sure. So she sent me to find you.”
“And why would she send her garrison commander when a scout would have been so much cheaper and faster?”
He flashed her a cheeky and youthful grin, “No one faster on horseback in the garrison ma’am.”
But there was a problem. The head of the garrison was sweating on a horse in front of her. The rest of the garrison, including those left to guard the governor’s mansion, were no doubt excellent soldiers. But they wouldn’t be wary of Talmadeus. Wouldn’t anticipate foul play from the bastard. Not like Xena and Draco had.
Not like that new governor apparently had.
“Did she give any other order before sending you after me Palaemon?”
“No ma’am.”
“And did you, give any orders Palaemon?”
She saw something dawn in those pretty eyes of his. Some realization that he’d made a mistake. “No ma’am,” he ventured. “Should I have?”
“A murderous general is on the loose eager to harm those he felt betrayed him Palaemon. That means me. You for taking his post. And her. And you’ve left her surrounded by men who’d have no reason to stop him.”
His hot red blush dissipated all too quickly and his skin turned pale. He opened his mouth. Maybe to apologize or express horror, but Xena didn’t care, she was already spurring her horse into a gallop and leaning forward in the saddle.
That damn governor and her nobility was going to get one of them killed.
#
When twilight had cast it’s dark hue across the hills the day before Gabrielle had been nervously preparing to entertain her empress. Now she stood at her window as an official governor.
And somewhere deep in the hills at a well hidden spring her daughter was enjoying a meal with some of Gabrielle’s closest friends.
And somewhere far to the east Palaemon had hopefully found the empress and was safe in her care.
Which just left Gabrielle alone in her office with a very angry general.
He stood just inside the doorway. He was completely still. He’d changed from his shiny garrison armor to some worn looking leather armor. Made him darker in the night and quieter too.
His sword was gone. Just a wicked long knife clutched in his hand. She’d heard him open the door and step inside, but she didn’t turn to face him, and he seemed reluctant to move forward.
So she and Talmadeus stood there quietly.
She tried to listen to the sounds beyond the house. Or even those within. To the cook in the kitchen. Or the old man in the stable. Or maybe to Homer and Euripides who would soon be guiding Diomedes and Eve back through the darkness with silly songs.
But it was dead silent. Only the breath in her chest and the gentle creaking of Talmadeus’s armor.
“What was it about me,” she finally said, her voice throaty from disuse, “that made you come here?”
“Palaemon wasn’t at the garrison. And Xena’s long gone.”
“So I picked the short straw?”
He approached and made no effort to mask the sound. She turned to face him and found that outside the change in armor he looked very much the same. She’s expected desperation or a crazed look in his eyes. Maybe some sweat gleaming on his brow. But he was focused, the only concession to his murderous mania the way he fiddled with his knife.
“I gave you Apollonia Gabrielle. Gave you this palace. I let you live when many would have slit your throat. And as soon as she waltzes in you’ve betrayed me. For what?”
“It wasn’t my intention. Ever.”
“But you didn’t turn her down did you?”
“Would you?”
He threw his head back and laughed. In the firelight, with his red hair and beard, it was like watching a lion. And sure enough when the humor had moved through him he returned to his approach. Like the beast stalking it’s prey.
“That’s what I’ve always loved about you Gabrielle. The honesty. I love how it masks that ruthless little soul of yours.”
He was coming slowly around her desk now. She spied the knife she used for trimming quills. He followed her look.
“Thinking of picking it up?”
“It had crossed my mind.”
“Gabrielle,” he couldn’t have looked more patronizing if he tried, “I was winning wars before you were born. All I’ve known is the battlefield. You’re a clever little girl who married well. What have you known of battle? Of anything?”
A farm in Potidaea. The love of a sister. Cold nights in the north and long days in humid forests. Sleeping at the alter of a goddess and pain so brilliant it would stay with her an eternity. And Eve. The reason her eyes flicked back to the knife.
“We can both walk away. You can disappear with quite a few dinars and a good horse. Leave me here.”
He took another step. “You’ve heard of how I came to be in this army?”
No one liked to talk about the bitter defeat he’d suffered at the Empress’s hand. She made him weep and beg in front of a thousand soldiers. Made him fight at her side. Given him a sword and laughed as she easily rebuffed his every attack. She’d cut him and whipped him and broken him. Then she’d put him out here with nothing but fear of her to motivate him.
“She needs to know I’m no longer scared.”
“You weren’t the only one she hurt Talmadeus.”
He smiled, “No. And when they see she could not cow me how will they react?”
Her face betrayed her thoughts. Revolution. War. If she was fast she’d have the knife in her hand before he could thrust. If she wasn’t fast she’d find her self skewered with his sour breath filling her nose.
Either way she had to lunge. Had to reach for the knife on the desk. This man would incite a rebellion and as much as she hated the Empress’s despotic tendencies they were infinitely preferable to a land ruled by warlords and slavers.
Gabrielle pushed forward, steel flashed, and the door slammed open.
Rating: R
Status: In Progress
Author: maggiemerc
Characters/Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle, Conqueror fic
Disclaimer: Do not own them. The only profit I seek is an ego boost from good feedback.
Summary: The Conqueror (though she'd really prefer you call her the Empress) meets the Playwright (a title she's totally fine with). There's some verbal sparring. Some physical sparring. Some gods. Some emperors. Maybe some ribald comedy.
Author's Note: And I'm back. June was kind of a crazy busy month for me. Sorry.
That had been…unexpected. Gabrielle paced because what she really wanted to do was cheer and shout and run off every ounce of energy bottled up in her compact frame. Pacing would have to do.
She was a governor. She’d expected death or imprisonment or at least a dismissal from her home, but instead she was the governor of Apollonia.
Oh yeah, there was a little concern. She was in the Empress’s sights now. And poor Talmadeus had gotten the boot. But their heads were still attached and they weren’t under lock and key so something had to be good and right.
She couldn’t help it. She whooped. It was loud and echoed off the marble, but it felt good.
“Mom.” The whooping had also brought Eve out of whatever hiding place she’d been in all morning. It was still early and Homer and Euripides would be sleeping off all the alcohol they’d imbibed the night before, but Eve, trying to prove she wasn’t her mother’s daughter, was always an early riser.
“Eve!” Gabrielle leapt across the room and took her daughter up in her arms, swinging the dark haired girl around and around. She ignored her daughter’s startled expression and just held the child close. The glee, the excitement, it bubbled up in her veins.
Eve lightly patted her mother’s back with a tiny hand. Gabrielle ducked her head down and rested her nose in her Eve’s hair. “You okay,” the child asked.
“Perfect.” She leaned back so she could look at her daughter’s face. Eve watched her carefully. “I’ve got some work to do, but what say we go up to that spring again today? Maybe have dinner there?”
Eve was too young to wonder why her mother was pacing her office or swinging her about or offering night time picnics. Her mind went straight to, “Can Homer and Euripides come? Euripides said he’d have more of the play done tonight!”
“They can come. We’ll all do a reading together.” She set the child down and stretched. Her back popped pleasantly.
“And the Empress? Will she be back?”
She stroked Eve’s hair. Delighting in how the fine dark brown strands of it sifted through her fingers. “No,” she said softly, “not if I do things right.”
#
It was only an hour later when Diomedes darted into her office to announce the arrival of the new leader of the garrison. Palaemon stood behind him in his shiny armor and red cloak with his helmet cradled in his arm.
Gabrielle waved him over to a desk shoved against the wall where a variety of maps were stacked. “Palaemon you’re just in time. I’ve got to deal with some of the Empress’s fields in the north. They’ve been fallow since my husband died, and I think now is the perfect time to put them to use.”
Palaemon didn’t respond immediately, which was unusual for the man. He tended to be talkative. Not quite like Gabrielle herself, or Euripides, but for a soldier the man ran his mouth quite a bit.
She looked up from her maps. “Palaemon?”
He was looking nervous-no, not nervous. He was looking worried. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead and his eyes were screwed up in a look of concern.
Gabrielle straightened up and watched him curiously, waiting for a response.
“Talmadeus left.” He finally said.
“The Empress said as much this morning. What’s wrong?”
“He was angry Gabrielle.”
Oh. Talmadeus had a bit of a temper. Gabrielle had once seen him beat a soldier for mishandling a sword. It was one of his least savory aspects, and something Gabrielle had worked hard to ignore when she dealt with him.
“When did he leave?”
“Not long ago.”
She glanced out the window. She could see the sails of Xena’s ship in the distance. “The Empress’s ship is far enough away. Send some men to collect him in town. I’ll speak with him.”
“I would, but the Empress didn’t travel by sea.”
That was-“What?”
Palaemon sighed, “She sent the ship ahead to Orikos. She and her men are traveling by road.”
“And Talmadeus is traveling alone and with purpose.”
He’d gone and put Gabrielle in a spot. If she didn’t act, didn’t send someone to stop him then Xena might hold her responsible for whatever foolish plan Talmadeus tried to enact. But if she did send someone to warn the Empress, or to stop Talmadeus, then she’d certainly be accused of arrogance again.
Damn it all and damn Xena-“Get after the Empress Palaemon. See if you can stop Talmadeus before he gets to her. If need be warn her. And do it quickly.”
Palaemon clicked his heels together and bowed, “Yes Governor.”
When he looked up he was smiling, pleased with the title he’d been allowed to speak. Gabrielle grinned back, “That’ll take some time to get used to.”
“Don’t let it ma’am. You’ve earned that title a thousand times over.”
“And you, Palaemon, need to know that flattery will get you everywhere in life. Now hurry. I’d rather not have to hear about Talmadeus being accused of assasination.”
The soldier’s eyes narrowed in contempt at the idea. He nodded again, curtly, and bound out of the room, his dark red cloak billowing dramatically after him.
“Diomedes?” Her voice wasn’t loud and she resisted the tremor that came naturally. Diomedes heard her through the door. Heard the tremor that wasn’t there.
“Is everything all right?”
Nothing was all right. Talmadeus was on the move and only trouble could come of it. “I was going to take Eve to the spring. Can you do it?”
He frowned, “Eve isn’t particularly fond of my company.”
“So take Homer and Euripides as well.”
He watched her. Looked for the tremor to express itself in an unsteady hand or a tremulous sigh. Nothing came. Gabrielle was taunt. Focused. Her sea green eyes watching the hills beyond the palace.
“Gabrielle. What’s happened?”
“Hopefully nothing. Hopefully I’m just a bit nervous about being made governor.”
“And if not.”
She turned her eyes to him. She lacked the unnerving glint of the empress, but there was a bit of steel in her eyes. “Take them to the spring. Enjoy a good meal. Return after nightfall.”
He nodded and disappeared out the door again-leaving Gabrielle alone once more.
She returned her attention to the hills. Talmadeus would be out there somewhere. But where was he headed? To assassinate an empress? Or something worse?
#
Xena would never have outright said she’d made a mistake. She was Empress of the most of the known world and could decapitate a man a town away with a flick of her wrist. She’d conquered Darius and his Immortals and stayed the hand of Rome and Egypt. She was as close to a god on earth as one could get without godly powers.
But she was hotter than the depths of Tartarus.
The sun was beating down on her and Draco’s men with a ferocity that made her wonder what she’d done to irk Apollo so. Sweat made the seat of her saddle slick and the breeze that blew through the fig trees lining the roads was too warm to provide comfort.
Draco was hot too. His face was red and he’d tipped his helmet up so it rested on the cap of his head. The bits of his undershirt she could see were dark with sweat and he took a few more sips from his canteen then necessary.
She considered saying something smart but these weren’t normal troops. She didn’t need to ingratiate herself with these men. Didn’t need to commiserate about the heat. She needed to be tall and strong and sweat free. So she held her tongue.
She heard the beats of the horse on the hard backed road well before her soldiers. Draco gave her the queerest look he could muster without rebuke as she pulled tight on the reigns and spun her horse around.
“Ma’am,” Draco managed to ask.
“Rider, coming fast.”
She knew he couldn’t hear the rider yet and he was more likely to see the person before he heard him. But all he needed was her word to have the soldiers spinning around and readying spears and javelins.
She raised her hand to halt any violent action and rode down the column towards the fast approaching rider. Draco silently followed.
She could see him now, his bright armor shimmering in the sun and his cloak billowing behind him and as read as his face probably was. A man from a garrison-from the Apollonia garrison.
“Talmadeus,” Draco asked.
“I don’t think so, but be prepared.”
Draco nodded and used his spear to tilt his helmet back down onto his head.
The rider was pushing his horse too hard in the heat. She could see the white foam around the horse’s mouth from a distance and see the frantic breaths that had the horse’s sides moving in and out.
She heeled her own horse into a canter to meet the rider faster. Draco and his men followed silently.
When he was close enough the rider pulled to a stop kicking up dust and pulling a strangled whinny from the beast he rode on. Close enough now she could see it was her new garrison leader, Palaemon.
“And here I thought I left you to command a garrison.”
The man nodded and tried to rub sweat from his face, but his helmet was in the way so he settled for drying his neck instead. “You did ma’am, but the new governor set me with a task.”
“To wear a horse to death on the road?”
“To find you.”
“Why,” Draco growled from behind her.
Palaemon kept his focus on Xena. Smart man. “She was concerned ma’am, with how quickly Talmadeus fled the garrison.”
Xena narrowed her eyes, “She thinks he’s coming after me?”
He shook his head, “She couldn’t be sure. So she sent me to find you.”
“And why would she send her garrison commander when a scout would have been so much cheaper and faster?”
He flashed her a cheeky and youthful grin, “No one faster on horseback in the garrison ma’am.”
But there was a problem. The head of the garrison was sweating on a horse in front of her. The rest of the garrison, including those left to guard the governor’s mansion, were no doubt excellent soldiers. But they wouldn’t be wary of Talmadeus. Wouldn’t anticipate foul play from the bastard. Not like Xena and Draco had.
Not like that new governor apparently had.
“Did she give any other order before sending you after me Palaemon?”
“No ma’am.”
“And did you, give any orders Palaemon?”
She saw something dawn in those pretty eyes of his. Some realization that he’d made a mistake. “No ma’am,” he ventured. “Should I have?”
“A murderous general is on the loose eager to harm those he felt betrayed him Palaemon. That means me. You for taking his post. And her. And you’ve left her surrounded by men who’d have no reason to stop him.”
His hot red blush dissipated all too quickly and his skin turned pale. He opened his mouth. Maybe to apologize or express horror, but Xena didn’t care, she was already spurring her horse into a gallop and leaning forward in the saddle.
That damn governor and her nobility was going to get one of them killed.
#
When twilight had cast it’s dark hue across the hills the day before Gabrielle had been nervously preparing to entertain her empress. Now she stood at her window as an official governor.
And somewhere deep in the hills at a well hidden spring her daughter was enjoying a meal with some of Gabrielle’s closest friends.
And somewhere far to the east Palaemon had hopefully found the empress and was safe in her care.
Which just left Gabrielle alone in her office with a very angry general.
He stood just inside the doorway. He was completely still. He’d changed from his shiny garrison armor to some worn looking leather armor. Made him darker in the night and quieter too.
His sword was gone. Just a wicked long knife clutched in his hand. She’d heard him open the door and step inside, but she didn’t turn to face him, and he seemed reluctant to move forward.
So she and Talmadeus stood there quietly.
She tried to listen to the sounds beyond the house. Or even those within. To the cook in the kitchen. Or the old man in the stable. Or maybe to Homer and Euripides who would soon be guiding Diomedes and Eve back through the darkness with silly songs.
But it was dead silent. Only the breath in her chest and the gentle creaking of Talmadeus’s armor.
“What was it about me,” she finally said, her voice throaty from disuse, “that made you come here?”
“Palaemon wasn’t at the garrison. And Xena’s long gone.”
“So I picked the short straw?”
He approached and made no effort to mask the sound. She turned to face him and found that outside the change in armor he looked very much the same. She’s expected desperation or a crazed look in his eyes. Maybe some sweat gleaming on his brow. But he was focused, the only concession to his murderous mania the way he fiddled with his knife.
“I gave you Apollonia Gabrielle. Gave you this palace. I let you live when many would have slit your throat. And as soon as she waltzes in you’ve betrayed me. For what?”
“It wasn’t my intention. Ever.”
“But you didn’t turn her down did you?”
“Would you?”
He threw his head back and laughed. In the firelight, with his red hair and beard, it was like watching a lion. And sure enough when the humor had moved through him he returned to his approach. Like the beast stalking it’s prey.
“That’s what I’ve always loved about you Gabrielle. The honesty. I love how it masks that ruthless little soul of yours.”
He was coming slowly around her desk now. She spied the knife she used for trimming quills. He followed her look.
“Thinking of picking it up?”
“It had crossed my mind.”
“Gabrielle,” he couldn’t have looked more patronizing if he tried, “I was winning wars before you were born. All I’ve known is the battlefield. You’re a clever little girl who married well. What have you known of battle? Of anything?”
A farm in Potidaea. The love of a sister. Cold nights in the north and long days in humid forests. Sleeping at the alter of a goddess and pain so brilliant it would stay with her an eternity. And Eve. The reason her eyes flicked back to the knife.
“We can both walk away. You can disappear with quite a few dinars and a good horse. Leave me here.”
He took another step. “You’ve heard of how I came to be in this army?”
No one liked to talk about the bitter defeat he’d suffered at the Empress’s hand. She made him weep and beg in front of a thousand soldiers. Made him fight at her side. Given him a sword and laughed as she easily rebuffed his every attack. She’d cut him and whipped him and broken him. Then she’d put him out here with nothing but fear of her to motivate him.
“She needs to know I’m no longer scared.”
“You weren’t the only one she hurt Talmadeus.”
He smiled, “No. And when they see she could not cow me how will they react?”
Her face betrayed her thoughts. Revolution. War. If she was fast she’d have the knife in her hand before he could thrust. If she wasn’t fast she’d find her self skewered with his sour breath filling her nose.
Either way she had to lunge. Had to reach for the knife on the desk. This man would incite a rebellion and as much as she hated the Empress’s despotic tendencies they were infinitely preferable to a land ruled by warlords and slavers.
Gabrielle pushed forward, steel flashed, and the door slammed open.