Chapter 4 - First Day in Corinth

Janice Covington dipped her head as she pulled her hood to conceal her face better. She was in awe by everything in the market; the people in togas or other attire, the soldiers marching through, the items the merchant's sold, and the food sitting out too. She tried to not let it defocus her so she decided it was best to go to the port and find an inn for the night.

The archeologist swiftly moved through the market and it was far larger and puzzled than she expected. It was almost a perfect maze except for the occasional sign nailed up on a building that pointed to this or that. Janice came to a stop in the middle of the market and tried to decipher what was written on the directional arrow. She squinted as she tried to translate the ancient syntax that only read: ??µ??a?.

"Goddamn," she breathed, "what the hell does that say? Where are ya, Mel?" Just as she finished her complaint, something or somebody slammed into her from behind. Janice stumbled forward and almost fell but she caught herself and got up. She then spun around to figure out what'd happened.

"Stop her!" bellowed a merchant, who was pointing at the young girl that ran into Janice.

The archeologist's eyes darkened but she saw the girl hurry off without a word. She then stiffened when three soldiers raced after the girl they'd caught a glimpse of briefly. Janice stepped aside when the soldiers flew past her and through the market. Her mind replayed the girl's scared features and how she had a piece of flatbread tucked in her arms. Janice suddenly understood what'd happened. "Shit," she growled and broke off into a full run.

Janice rushed ahead and saw that the soldiers actually had the small girl corned between two joining walls in the market. She felt her anger weld up about how they could take such a young child that was only trying to survive. She reached behind while muttering, "Time to blow my cover."

The barking soldiers that towered over the girl were yelling at her and one even had a sword out. The other two had spears and were pointing them at the crumbled girl to scare her. Yet the soldiers suddenly straightened up when they heard that distinct sound of metal scraping through a scarab. One soldier dared to turn his head and saw the cloaked figure spin his sword but he quickly corrected his assessment of the figure being a man when he or rather she spoke.

"Why don't you try me, boys?" Janice's wild grin shined through her hooded features. She spun her sword in a beautiful display of any warrior. "Come on!"

Two of the soldiers were laughing while the third one decided to test her first. He charged her with a yell.

The archeologist braced herself and willed her strength that she knew she had inside. She caught his wild blow and stuck her foot out to make him stumble and fall face first into the hard cobblestone street. His face was broken open and blood seeping out between the cracks of the stone.

"Who's next?" Janice flicked her wrist, which caused her sword to spin again. "Don't be shy now."

One soldier decided not to be shy so he handed his spear to his buddy then extracted his short-sword at his side. He cautious approached Janice.

Janice's grin appeared from under the hood again as she took small steps. She readied her sword then planned on getting the jump on the man by attacking first.

The soldier was unprepared and the sword slashed his sword arm. He hissed in pain then tried to attack.

Janice matched each blow then ended the meager fight with a winning blow to his groin. She smirked when the soldier fell to his knees with his sword forgotten. And they didn't teach that in the Amazon Nation, joked Janice. She quickly got over her small celebration and pointed her sword at the remaining solder. "You want a try too?"

The soldier holding two spears quickly threw them on the ground and fingered his sword hilt. He thought better of it and slinked away a few steps then quickly ran off in fear.

The archeologist snorted at the sight then lowered her eyes to the young girl in the corner. She sheathed her sword behind her back and gingerly neared the scared child. As she bent down beside the girl, she could hear everybody in the market muttering at once into a clamor.

"It's a woman."

"I bet she's an Amazon," remarked another merchant.

"Whoever she is," quietly stated a customer, "she'll be dead by nightfall."

Janice ignored all of them as she saw to the girl. She gently asked, "What's your name?"

The girl's scared eyes softened at her savior. "I'm… I'm… Melpomene." She hugged the flatbread against her chest, which was almost as big as her. "My friends call me Mel though."

Janice's heart broke at the nickname that she adored so much. She saw the girl wore a dirty brown skirt, a worn out white blouse, and her deep brown hair was messy. There were even a few scratches on the child's cheeks.

Melpomene slightly smiled at Janice. "You're my friend, right?" She saw gently green eyes inside of the hood then an amazing smile.

"I am," agreed Janice.

"Then you can call me Mel too."

Janice sighed but the sight of the two soldiers getting up and running away caught her eye. She took that as her cue to go too so she held out her hand, "We need to go, Mel."

The girl was hesitant at first but she slowly took the larger, callused hand. She stood up with the stranger's help but she still hugged that bread in her left arm.

When Janice stepped into the center of the small section of the market; everybody fell silent. Janice scanned all their faces and noted they were mostly trembling and drawn away from her. She could only imagine what type of hold the Conqueror had over these scared mice.

"Stay close and hold me hand," ordered Janice.

Melpomene nodded and squeezed the larger hand tighter.

With that, the archeologist moved as quickly as she could through the market. She wasn't sure where she was going but she knew she needed to get away from that general area since that's where the fight had been. She could guess that within ten minutes there would be at least one squad of soldiers hunting her down. She knew she had skill with the sword but not enough for ten or more soldiers.

Melpomene hurried along side the fast moving woman. She wasn't sure where they were going but she spoke up after they went down two streets. "Where are we going?"

"Well," Janice glanced down then lifted her head, "I was hoping the port."

Melpomene stopped and pointed at the road to their right. "That goes the port. Come on." She retook Janice's hand and guided her through the streets.

Janice was surprised at the girl's sudden speed so she had to keep up. "Where are your parents, Mel?" she questioned as they wounded through the streets.

"In the Elysian Fields," answered the small, quaking voice of the child.

The archeologist felt like smacking her forehead for the upsetting question. "Well who do you live with then?"

The girl glanced back and up at the mysterious woman. "Nobody but I always find somewhere to sleep."

Janice inwardly groaned because this just wasn't getting any easier. She lifted her gaze off of the child and saw the beautiful blue seas at the very end of the street. She felt some sense of relief. She decided to stop and pulled the girl closer to her. "Are you hungry?"

Melpomene suddenly beamed at the offer. "Yes." She held up her flatbread in offer.

Janice inspected the flatbread but shook her head then knelt down. "It's not safe to eat that." She pointed out the dirt that was on it. "We'll get something better."

"We shouldn't waste it," argued the girl logically.

The archeologist couldn't help her laugh now. "Very true." She held out her hand for the bread.

The girl nervously handed the bread over and wondered what the stranger was planning to do.

Janice rose up to her full stature. She guided the child to a food vender and asked, "What will you give me for this?"

The vendor eyed the odd woman then inspected the bread himself. He admitted it was a bit dirty but it was edible nonetheless. "I'll give you three apples for it or a bag of figs."

The archeologist figured the figs would be easier to transport compared to apples or bread. "Figs then."

The merchant picked up the thin leather pouch from under his table and handed it over.

Janice handed the item to her small friend. "Thanks." She then got up on the street and realized there weren't as many vendors here except for food vendors. She now slowly walked down the stone sidewalk and studied the various inns and taverns. "Are you familiar with any of these inns, Mel?"

The girl quickly stopped and considered the request. "The Fish Head inn I hear is good."

"Lead the way," agreed the stranger.

Melpomene smiled at the woman's trust in her. "It's not far." She weaved them through people and streets until they came to a stop at a set of stone steps to a tavern. "In here." She pointed at the inn.

Janice dropped her head back some, which caused her hood to fall back a little.

Melpomene memorized the stranger's beautiful features that she finally had a chance to see better but not completely.

Janice tried to read the tavern's name but the syntax was too hard. "Alright." She lowered her head and ascended the steps with the girl. "I wonder if they serve cheeseburgers and fries," she quietly joked. "And a nice sweet soda… with a touch of vodka." Her stomach grumbled at the purposed menu but it wasn't going to happen.

Melpomene didn't understand much of what Janice said but she giggled anyway. She liked this woman's odd humor because it was so different.

The archeologist realized she was steered directly to the bar where she found herself staring at a gruff looking owner. She cleared her throat and asked, "You have any open rooms?"

"Yea," clipped the innkeeper. He then thought he heard a noise so he peered over the bar to see a kid. He huffed and looked at the stranger. "Cute kid."

"Not mine," argued the archeologist.

"I take it yer hungry too?" muttered the innkeeper.

"Ya got it," joked the archeologist.

The innkeeper grunted and pointed at the empty tables in his tavern. "Sit down. I'll check the rooms."

Janice didn't argue and went through the tables filled with patrons already. She took a quiet spot in the corner and figured it was the safest since she could see the traffic coming through. She smiled at the child that sat across from her.

Melpomene was swinging her feet that never touched the floor. "So what's your name?"

Janice suddenly realized she hadn't told the girl her name at all. "It's Janice."

Melpomene suddenly smiled at the woman's Roman like name. "Are you from the Roman providence?"

What is with that assumption mentally complained the archeologist. "No, I'm from far away."

The girl bent her head down and gazed up at the gentle features hidden under the hood. "Why you wear that?"

Janice Covington sighed and drummed her fingers on the table despite she was enjoying this child. The kid was as chatty as Janice. "Because I don't want anybody to see my face," she logically stated.

"Why?" Melpomene was still smiling. "You have a pretty face."

Melpomene's smile was catching onto Janice's face but she quickly shook it free when the barmaid showed up. The barmaid hadn't asked for orders or anything but she had two large plates of smell good food.

Janice blinked since she wasn't exactly use to this custom.

"What you want to drink?"

The archeologist tried to quickly think of what in the world they drank these days besides diluted wine.

"I want water," spoke up the girl.

"Make that two," clipped the gruff stranger.

The barmaid said nothing and strolled off with her skirt flowing around her.

Janice picked up her wood fork but pointed it at the girl's own plate. "Eat before it gets cold."

Melpomene stopped swinging her feet and did what she was told. As she quickly ate, she noticed how much slower the stranger ate and quite eloquently too. She'd seen such eating habits with the upper class but not from somebody on the streets. This stranger truly perked the child's interest. "So where are you from?"

Janice slightly grinned at the girl's persistence about the topic. "I'm from far, far… faaar away."

Melpomene was so baffled by this. "How many leagues?"

The archeologist was rethinking about saving this child however she really knew the truth. "More than you can count," she teased.

"I can count pretty high too," proclaimed the child between a mouthful of fish.

"How high?" challenged the archeologist, her cocky voice coming out.

"Up to a hundred," proudly answered the girl.

Janice's chest shook with a silent laugh. "That's pretty high." She now lifted her head when the barmaid silently delivered their drinks. She went back to eating her meal.

"You know what else I know?"

"What's that?" Janice had forked some of her fish but waited for the girl's response.

"I know what color the Conqueror's eyes are… I bet you don't."

The archeologist had a wide grin yet she was going to play along. "No, I don't… what color?"

"Blue," declared the girl.

"Ah." Janice nodded a few times as her mind wondered to such a blue pair that she missed. She sighed then asked, "How's the food?"

"It's the best," answered Melpomene.

Janice had to agree, it wasn't too bad after all. She knew it was all fresh and homemade, which couldn't get any better.

"You know what else I know that I bet you don't know?"

The archeologist almost groaned aloud; she had to ask though. "What's that, Mel?"

"I know where there's a secret tunnel into the Conqueror's temple."

Janice almost lost her fork at this information. Her head whipped up and her eyes met Melpomene. "Are you sure?" She hadn't expected this and it could pay off too.

"Yup!" The girl had a bright smile. "I can show you… it's really neat."

"Yea… you'll have to show me," agreed the stranger. "How'd you find it?"

"I was playing along the beach… by the Aegean Sea." Melpomene stopped though then leaned forward as if this was top secret. "I found a cave," she whispered, "and it led to the Conqueror's temple."

"You followed it?" questioned the surprised archeologist.

"Uh huh… it went on for leagues and leagues."

Janice's coy grin toyed with her lips. "It couldn't be that long."

The girl relented because she knew she got a little carried away. "It was long though… dark and wet." She shoveled her fork through the last of her food.

Despite the tunnel could be a mislead she figured it wouldn't harm checking it out. It could purpose an easy way to enter the Conqueror's without being detected. Yet Janice had no doubt in her mind that the Conqueror knew of the tunnel and most likely built it as an escape route for emergencies.

Finally the pair of unusual friends finished their meal and Janice guided the girl back up to the bar. Janice eyed the innkeeper at the other end of the bar.

"Look mate, I don't have another room but I thought I did." The keeper folded his hands on the bar. "Try yer luck down at the Jellyfish… tell 'em I sent ya."

The archeologist refrained from sighing. "How much for the meals?"

"Three dinars."

Janice nodded then fished around in her cloak. She produced the money and handed it over to him. She really wished she could figure out the value of a dinar compared to an American dollar but she had no way to gauge it. She peered down at her tiny friend. "You know where Jellyfish is?"

"Yup!" The girl bounced on her feet. "Just two streets over."

"Great." The stranger hurried out of the stuffy tavern and was relieved to step outside. She shifted off to the side of the entrance and needed a minute to breathe before they took off. She watched as a few patrons came up the steps, passed her, and went into the inn.

Melpomene pointed off to her left. "It's right over there."

"Alright," agreed Janice. Just as she was prepared to get moving, a squad of Greek soldiers came around the corner. Janice's heart leapt into her throat and she held her breath. They couldn't know, could they? wondered Janice.

"There they are!" cried out a soldier, who was all too familiar with Janice.

"Shit," hissed the archeologist. "Time to go, Mel." She didn't ask or think about it as she scooped the child up into her arms. "Hold on!" She cried and took a running leap off of the inn's deck. She landed squarely on her feet with bent knees, a precious bundle wrapped around her, and she glimpsed back at the soldiers that were charging after her. Janice didn't wait another heartbeat as she broke off in a desperate run with ten men hot on her trail.

"Get her!" yelled out the lead soldier.

Janice raced as fast as she could and dodged people, animals, and some badly setup vendor stands. Just as she went around a sharp bend there came a slow moving cart that blocked the street completely and the sidewalks were swamped with people.

"Shit," hissed Janice. The soldier's cries rang in her ears and they'd catch her any second if she didn't make a choice. "Hold tight, Mel." She pushed forward then calculated her leap at the right second and she went flying up and into the wagon. She bent her knees to absorb the shock then she glanced back to see some of the soldiers chasing them and taking aim with their spears.

"Holy shit, they're nuts." Janice quickly sprinted down the cart that quickly came to a halt when the owner saw them in it. She took a small jump to land on the edge of the cart then another leap onto the mule's large back. Just then the mule cried out in protest and was prepared to buck when a spear hit his rear.

Janice screamed as she sprung off the mule's back and hit the stone street. She could hear the lead soldier yelling for the cart owner to get the thing out of the way. Janice wasn't about to wait so she broke out into a sprint again down the street. She hurried faster down the street, made a right, and a quick left down an alley and exploded into another busy street. She stopped for a second to catch her breath and mentally thanked Ephiny for getting her in shape.

The archeologist picked up on the soldiers' yells and bustling noises so she kept moving.

"They can't be far! Find them!"

"This way! Hurry up, you idiots!"

Melpomene lifted her head from being buried in Janice's cleavage. She scanned where they were and she was about to tell Janice to make a left but it was too late. "No, not this way," she cried.

Janice came to a skidding stop when there were walls on all three sides of her along with stunned merchants and citizens. She did a fast about face and started for the way out however she was cut short.

The squad of soldiers blocked the exit and the lead soldier stepped forward with his sword out.

Janice walked backwards and held the girl tighter against her burning body.

"Give us the girl and we'll let you go," offered the leader. "We won't harm you."

Janice bitterly laughed. "Sure you will," she spat and backed away some more. She bent down a little and released the girl. "Get behind me, Mel."

"They're gonna hurt us," whimpered the girl.

"Nobody is going to hurt you," quietly promised the stranger. "Stay behind me." She stole a quick glimpse at her gun that was still faithfully with her. She only had so many shots and she'd been saving them for Alti but at this rate it meant this child's life. Janice rose up with her right hand unsheathing her sword.

The crowd of people all gasped at the sight of some strange taking on ten soldiers alone. They all plastered themselves to the wall and tried to pretend like they weren't there, weren't watching.

The leader signaled his men to fan out so that Janice was completely blocked off.

Janice scanned all the fearful faces of the people. A lot of help they are, grumbled Janice to herself. Then it occurred to her that maybe they could be of use. "You're not going to let these soldiers harm this girl, are you?" She yelled to everybody.

The leader soldier stopped his advances on Janice and carefully checked each face of the civilians. He could tell they were far too frightened and it made him grin back at Janice. "It looks like they don't care."

Janice needed something to spark them, to light a fire under some scared asses. "Already one young woman was crucified for speaking out! Now they're willing to take this girl… who's trying to survive!"

Some of the people shifted off the wall at Janice's words.

The archeologist stepped back, her left hand behind and pushing the child back. "Her name is Melpomene! And she has no parents… she has nobody!"

More of the crowed peeled off of the shadowy walls and stepped forward.

The leader soldier saw it but he was not fearful. He instead advanced closer to the stranger and girl.

"If you don't help her," yelled Janice, "if you don't stop these soldiers then who else will?" She spun her sword in warning of a battle. "Who will stop them when they take your children!"

Suddenly it seemed like an explosion of chaos as there was yelling and an onslaught of people racing into the center of the small square.

Janice was amazed how the people attacked the squad of soldiers so bravely. So the mice did have fangs after all. She lost her grin though when the squad leader broke through the chaos and stepped up to Janice in an angry fury.

"You!" The soldier pointed his sword at the small stranger. "Are dead!"

Janice didn't wait and instead engaged him with two running steps. She parried each of his powerful blows and she utilized her faster speed to get around his advances. Just as she came close to disarming him easily she took one of his surprise kicks. Janice hit the ground, her sword several feet away, and her cheek split open from the fall. Her face was still hooded, which actually ruined her view of the soldier bring his sword at her. Yet Janice sensed it and rolled away easily. She remained knelt down, her back to the soldier, her breathing irregular, and a pair of fearful grey eyes on her.

"Janice!" yelled the girl, as she pointed at the soldier raising his killing blow.

The archeologist hastily acted by grabbing her gun, cocking it, and raising her arm up as she twisted around. Her index finger began to pull back on the trigger and she focused her aim but she stopped.

The soldier stood frozen, his eyes to the Gods, and a trail of blood trickling down the corner of his mouth.

Janice's eyes lowered to the shiny pieces of steel that protruded through the soldier's leather chest. Quickly the sword disappeared back through its entrance and the squad leader collapsed to the ground but not without landing on his sword.

The archeologist lowered her gun and learned to breathe again. She hastily tucked her gun back into its home with the hammer put back. She grabbed up Melpomene and tucked her within her cloak as she faced the person that killed the soldier.

A man with a young face that was rather scarred stepped up to them. "Are you okay?"

Janice's breathing was still heavy but she nodded. "Yes, thank you."

The man glanced back to see that the fight was almost over against the soldiers. He turned his head back with a flashy grin. "Nice speech by the way." He enjoyed the reward of a sly grin under the hooded features of the female. "We should go."

Janice wasn't sure who he was but she wasn't going to argue with somebody that saved her. She grabbed Melpomene's hand and picked up her sword that wasn't too far.

"Hurry," ordered the young man, "there will be more of the Conqueror's men to follow."

"Come here, Mel." Janice bent down and picked up the child again. She then quickly followed the mysterious man that probably thought she was just as odd. She was led through several streets that wound and turned then through a few alleys but finally the man slowed down and made a leap into an abandon home.

The archeologist made a nice jump up too and ducked into the run down building and disappeared out of view from the entranceway. It was dark inside and musty smelling but it was safer than being in the open right now. When her eyes adjusted she saw several old, homeless people curled up in corners of the building.

The young man was by the window, his back against the wall, and his head twisted around the corner to see what was going on. He exhaled heavily and gazed at the stranger and the girl tucked in her cloak. "You put up a good fight."

The stranger huffed and shook her hooded head. "I could have done better."

"Don't berate yourself… he was formable."

Janice tilted her head to one side then quietly stated, "You talk like you know him."

The young man smirked while brushing back his short but dark brown hair. "Not quite but I know sword skills enough." He then tilted his head to the side and asked, "Why do you wear that hood anyway? You'll attract more attention that way."

Janice huffed as she debated his idea. She was attracting attention no matter and it wasn't the kind she wanted. "I'm beginning to think you're right."

The young man glanced out the window again but saw nothing out of place. He moved away from the window but the light from the window helped him to see some of her features yet only so clearly. "Who are you?"

The archeologist figured it didn't matter anymore so she reached up after a grumble.

Melpomene dropped her head back as the stranger began to remove her hood.

"The name's Janice," introduced the archeologist when her hood fell behind her.

The young man's eyes widened in disbelief and he suddenly stumbled backwards, almost falling on his butt. "By… the gods."

"You're not Janice," cried Melpomene, "You're the rebel Gabrielle!"

The archeologist cursed and she hastily bent down so she could face the child. "I'm not Gabrielle," she argued. From the corner of her eye, she saw the young man was carefully listening despite he was shaking his head, his hand on his forehead.

"Yes you are," fought back Melpomene, in a small, choked up voice, "You have to be her. She's the only one that can stop the Conqueror." She hesitantly touched the stranger's cheek. "You've come back from Elysia to save us."

Janice collected the girl's hand into her own. "Mel, I'm not Gabrielle… but…" She hesitated then quietly added, "I'm a close relative of Gabrielle's."

"Then you're gonna save us, right?" whispered the worried girl.

Janice's eyes flickered over to the homeless people in the corners. She shiver at the thought of little Melpomene following the same path these people were. Her heart clenched and her determination was fired with new meaning. She smiled back at the child as she knew that this was no longer about getting back home. This was about stopping the Conqueror and saving this girl along with so many others. "Yes, Mel… I am."

Melpomene glowed with a smile now and her hero worship eyes watched as the small yet legendary woman rose up to her height again.

Janice gauged the young man's reaction since she concluded he must have known Gabrielle somehow.

"Who… who are you?" He stepped closer again and absorbed her features that were identical. "You can't be her… its impossible."

"I'm not," argued Janice.

He vigorously shook his head. "Gabrielle has no relatives… let alone a twin sister."

Janice narrowed her cold eyes at him. "You mean Gabrielle," she emphasized, "had no relatives?"

The young man tensed up and touched his sword hilt at his side.

Janice realized he must have made some error. "You knew Gabrielle, didn't you?"

Melpomene shifted slightly so that she was behind Janice. She could feel the tension building between them.

Janice held up her right hand while saying, "I'm not going to fight you. We're both on the same side."

The young man slowly released his sword hilt then nodded. He moved away from the wall so that he was closer. A part of him wanted to touch the stranger to confirm that she was real and not some hallucination of his mind. "Gabrielle looks just like you," he breathed in astonishment, his eyes squinted and dazed.

The archeologist heard the wrong tense again and she suddenly became angry. "Gabrielle is dead." When the young man's eyes widened in fear and took a step back, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Or is she?" She stepped around Melpomene and closed in on the man. "Is Gabrielle alive?"

The young man held up his hands then whispered, "Gabrielle was sentenced to the cross, yes." He contained his breath as he quietly finished, "But she's alive, well, and safe."

"What?" roared Janice, who suddenly got up into the man's face. "Gabrielle is alive!"

The young man jumped but not because of Janice. He realized they were in front of the window so he rammed forward, covered Janice's mouth, and spun her away from the window.

The archeologist was slammed against the hard wall between the open doorway and window with the guy's body pressed hard against her.

"Ssssh," he whispered. At Janice's nod, he lowered his hand.

The archeologist stopped breathing because she thought maybe it'd give them away while the soldiers were mulling about just outside. Her eyes lowered to Melpomene nearby. 'Don't move,' she mouthed to the child.

Melpomene nodded several times yet she was petrified and shaking. She saw a soldier coming up the two steps and stopping just outside the doorway.

The soldier had his sword by his side and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark room.

The girl remained still and silent and she was mostly frozen by fear. Her chest heaved up and down.

Janice clenched her hands at her side and prayed to God or Gods that would spare them.

The young man's sweaty hand clenched his sword hilt so tightly, ready to burst forth.

"See anything up there?" bellowed a deep voice from the street below.

The soldier's head turned sidelong. "Nothin' but a bunch of stinkin' homeless."

"Well let's go, we'll find them."

The soldier turned and stomped down the steps to hit the stone sidewalk.

Melpomene watched him disappear out of her view then her horrified expression lifted to Janice.

The archeologist couldn't take it anymore so she shoved the guy off of her and scooped Melpomene up into her arms. "Its okay, Mel."

The girl's eyes stung against the tears that wanted to break free. She clenched onto Janice's cloak and buried her face into the older woman's warm neck.

"You did just fine, sweetie," crooned the archeologist. "He's gone now." She lifted her gaze from the shaking child and turned to the young man. "You're going to take me to Gabrielle."

His breathing was just settling now and he considered the options. His back straightened up when Janice stepped up closer to him. He'd seen such a fire in green eyes before and he prayed he'd never see it again.

"Fuckin' take me to Gabrielle…now."

The young man pulled himself off the wall then nodded. "I'll take you to her." He held up his right hand and bent around the corner to peer out the entranceway. He saw that all the soldiers are gone so he whispered, "Let's go." He walked out of the abandon house as if he owned it and did that everyday.

Janice kept soothing the frightened child as she followed suit. When they were at street level, she whispered, "Can you walk, Mel?" At the child's nod, she lowered the girl to her feet.

"By the way…." The young man faced the odd pair of friends. "My name is Perdicus."

The little girl smiled, "I'm Melpomene."

"Hi, Melpomene." Perdicus smiled at the girl then slightly lost it when he looked to Janice. "Gabrielle isn't too far from here. Stay close and we should be fine."

"Lead the way then," offered the archeologist.

Perdicus was about to move but stopped and quietly added, "Put the hood back on." He spied that some of the people in the street were pointing at Janice. "Enough people know who Gabrielle are thanks to her speech a moon ago."

"Right," murmured the archeologist. She lifted the hood and her features darkly disappeared. "Let's get outta here."

Perdicus second the idea and briskly walked left down the street. He guided them through many streets that were mostly wide, busy, and some a bit dirty. He then rushed down two alleys and back into three more streets.

Melpomene had a hard time keeping up with the fast moving pair.

Janice easily picked it up and also picked up the child into her arms again. She hid the child in her cloak with exception of her head.

Perdicus dodged into another alley that was clean yet pretty grim on light. He slowed down then finally stopped in front of a wood door. He stepped up, close to it, and gave some kind of unique knock. The door slowly creaked open and he slipped in hastily while saying, "Come on."

Janice didn't need a second invite as she dashed through the door that immediately closed behind her. When she made it safely into the building, she lowered the child beside her and scanned the small living space. There was a makeshift kitchen to the right, a dining table to the left, and straight ahead was a living room with a burning fireplace. Just ahead to the left were a set of wood steps that wound upstairs to another level. Her green eyes followed the stairs up to where she could make out the ledge of the second level.

"Perdicus, how are you?"

Perdicus smiled at the woman that'd opened the door. "I'm great. How are you?"

"I'm getting better… almost over this cold I've had."

"That's great to hear." Perdicus then followed the woman's eyes to the two strangers beside him. He recalled why he was here in the first place. "Cyrene, is Gabrielle awake?"

"Yes, she's upstairs… working on her scrolls." Cyrene gazed up at the second level where there was a flicker of firelight.

"She has some visitors," explained the young man.

"So I see."

Perdicus cleared his throat then said, "Excuse us." He wasn't about to explain everything, especially how this stranger looked and sounded just like Gabrielle. "Follow me," he ordered.

Janice glided throw the house, just behind Perdicus, and with Melpomene at her side who was clutching her left hand. As she ascended the stairs her heartbeat became so fast at the realization she was about to meet her ancestor. She was almost sure Melinda's page about fainting was going to come over her.

Janice came to the last step and turned as Perdicus did the same. Her heart was wild, her pulse erratic, and her chest heaving. It was as if she was about to meet the greatest, mythological hero that everybody believed in. Yet Janice's view was abstracted by Perdicus.

Perdicus stepped aside while saying, "Gabrielle, there are some… visitors to see you."

Janice stood rooted to the top of the steps as she stared at a pair of inquisitive green eyes that matched her own. And the best thing she could come up with at that very second was, "Hooolyyy… shit."



Continued.