Chapter 5 - Introductions... Again

Gabrielle remained transfixed by the hooded stranger poised at the top of the steps. Her next words though were directed at Perdicus. "She has quite the mouth."

Janice's heaving chest was slowing some. She knew it was a joke, which made her grin. Yet she kept staring at her great ancestor that remained lying back and relaxed on a lounge chair, a scroll and quill in her lap, and spread out over the floor were plenty of other scrolls.

Gabrielle turned her head up to Perdicus. "Did you pick her up at a bar?"

Perdicus couldn't help a quiet laugh as his warm brown eyes switched to Janice. "Not quite." His right hand rested on his sword hilt casually.

Gabrielle returned her attention to the quiet stranger. "And who are you, may I ask?"

The archeologist planned on the shock factor first as she reached up, pulled her hood back, and introduced, "The name's Janice."

Gabrielle's hand that'd been holding her scroll and quill in her lap faltered and the scroll with quill slipped. There was a quiet yet resounding clunk when the scroll met the wood floor. "The gods be damned…" she exhaled in her last surprised breath.

Janice's amused smile appeared on her features. "It seems the mouth runs in the family."

Perdicus was doing his best not to laugh, his teeth holding onto his lower lip.

Gabrielle was still in bewilderment; her green eyes mixed with interest, confusion, and even fear.

However at that point, Melpomene decided to maker herself quite known so she bounced up to Gabrielle with a beautiful smile on her face. "Hi, I'm Melpomene. Are you Gabrielle? The rebel leader?"

Gabrielle's forest green eyes lowered to the child and her smile couldn't refuse the girl. "Hi, Melpomene." She touched the girl's messy hair and tried to straighten it out a little while saying, "And yes, I'm Gabrielle."

When Gabrielle's hand left Melpomene's hair, she started to rock on her feet. "I saw you in the square that day… a moon ago."

Gabrielle's features saddened at the girl's confession. "That's not a safe place for you, Melpomene."

"I had to go," debated the girl, "because I heard so many stories about you. I wanted to see the famous Gabrielle." She leaned in closer and quietly asked, "Were you scared… to face the Conqueror?"

Gabrielle also leaned in just to go along with the child. Her whispered response was, "I was but you know what?"

"What's that?"

"Despite how scared I was… I also had faith I'd be okay."

"How did you know?" murmured the girl.

Gabrielle touched her chest, just over her heart. "I knew in here because not even the Conqueror can steal away my faith."

Melpomene had a bright smile at the woman's wisdom. "You were brave," she spoke louder while straightening up. "Janice is just as brave. She stood up against three soldiers to save me."

"Did she?"

Janice remained in her same spot; she studied the inquiring green eyes that flickered up to her for a heartbeat.

"She then spoke out to the people to attack ten other soldiers." Melpomene glanced at Perdicus then back at Gabrielle. "That's how we met Perdicus."

Gabrielle now was able to piece some of the day's events together. It still however didn't explain this stranger's mirror image.

"Are you and Janice going to stop the Conqueror together?" Melpomene put her hands behind her back then rocked on her feet again.

Gabrielle read that the child had every hope in the fact that her and this Janice would challenge the Conqueror together. The faith that Melpomene harbored was rather contagious too. "I think so, Melpomene." Now her gaze rose up to this unusual stranger that felt awkwardly familiar to her.

Perdicus cleared his throat to attract Gabrielle's attention. "I think I will go downstairs to see how Cyrene is." He stepped up near the child and Gabrielle. "Did you want to come down, Melpomene?" His head was bent down.

Melpomene quickly shook her head then firmly stated, "I want to stay with Janice."

Perdicus was grinning and it went wider at Janice. "Well, I'll be downstairs if anybody needs anything." With that, he floated down the steps and saw to Cyrene.

Gabrielle brushed back her bangs then with her arms she pushed herself up better in the lounge chair. She signaled to the other lounge chair and offered, "Please sit, Janice. I think we have… a lot to talk about."

The archeologist dipped her head in agreement then took the lounge chair yet she made sure her boots never touched the end of the chair. She wasn't about to dirty the warm, soft chair. "Mel, you want to sit with me?"

Melpomene quickly agreed by crawling up into the lounge chair then wiggling into a comfortable spot between the arm and Janice.

"Okay?" gently probed the archeologist to the child.

Melpomene's response was a content smile then she rested her head against Janice's chest.

Gabrielle cleared her throat then leaned forward to play with her skirt because she was uneasy about this situation. "I'm not sure where we should start."

Janice tilted her head as grin formed. "The start is usual the best."

Gabrielle couldn't agree any better so she waited for that start from Janice.

"I just wish I knew where the start is," muttered Janice, who grunted at her own words. "This won't be easy to explain… or even believe."

Gabrielle swallowed yet she slowly nodded. "I have seen many things in my lifetime. And it seems I still have yet to see many more."

Janice was already enjoying this conversation. "We'll start with how I am… well look just like you."

Gabrielle quietly chuckled while adding, "And sound."

"And sound," agreed the archeologist. "I'm actually…" She faltered and rubbed her neck, which caused her to glimpse down at Melpomene. She noticed how the girl was very tuned in and her eyes filled with reverence for Janice. Janice dropped her hand to her lap and quickly finished what she started to say. "I'm from the future and I'm your descendant."

Gabrielle inhale deeply and held it for some heartbeats. She gradually released it in a decrescendo of whirling emotions. "Well… that wasn't… what I expected but I think I can handle it."

The archeologist quietly laughed and despite her past assumptions about her ancestors, she was beginning to reevaluate.

"If you're from the… future," tried Gabrielle, "How did you end up here?"

"That's the interesting part." Janice swept her fingers through her short, blond hair then proceeded to answer. "I'm sure you know Alti?"

Gabrielle's green eyes went three shades dark into a cold hunter. "The Conqueror's shaman… I know of her. I take it she somehow brought you here."

"Yes, with the Conqueror's scepter."

Gabrielle pondered what scepter Janice spoke of then it occurred to her. "I have seen that scepter." Her hazy green eyes centered on Janice again. "When I stood up against the Conqueror… it was positioned beside her thrown. I didn't realize somebody could time travel with it."

"I don't think anybody knows of it… except for Alti."

"So it would seem as the Conqueror would utilize such a power if she knew she had it."

Janice ran her tongue along her back molars then she humorously stated, "And it's sitting right under her nose."

Gabrielle briefly smirked yet she lost it as her earlier wondering thoughts returned to her. "I thought maybe you were an Amazon." She indicted Janice's garb.

"No, I'm definitely not." Janice studied her leathers that showed now that her cloak had fallen off to the sides. "After Alti kidnapped me, she dumped me in the Amazon Nation."

Gabrielle's expression filled with understanding. "I'm surprised they took you in." She shifted in her chair from being a little uncomfortable. "They're known for being selective and secretive."

"Really?" The archeologist was remotely taken aback. "They were great hosts to me."

Gabrielle slightly nodded then explained, "They were once a great race, more superior than many until they faced the Conqueror and Alti. Since the last great battle between the Amazons and the Conqueror they've pretty much disappeared… they're almost a myth now."

Despair filled Janice at hearing her ancestor's words.

"Who is their queen now?"

"Cyane," answered Janice, her interest peaked when Gabrielle had a shadowy grin.

"I didn't think Queen Cyane was still alive. She was one of the Conqueror's greatest adversaries."

Janice huffed at this then remarked, "Now you are."

Gabrielle sighed heavily while lowering her gaze to the floor. "I wouldn't say I'm the greatest." Her head lifted again. "I am an adversary though."

"From what I hear," disputed Janice, "you're already a legend."

"To be a legend requires doing something great, which I never have… I've only spoken out."

The archeologist's eyes were light from enjoyment of this debate. "And yet nobody else in this godforsaken world would even dare think about speaking out much less do it."

Gabrielle wasn't pleased with Janice's assessment but she had no other arguments either.

"How did you get off that damn cross anyway?" brought up Janice.

Melpomene shifted when she heard Janice ask the question that was on everybody's lips.

Gabrielle's attitude shifted into something more pleasing. "I am no fool. I knew what the costs would be for speaking out against the Conqueror."

The archeologist had slit eyes but her lips curled into a fine grin. "You planned on her sentencing you to the cross. You knew somebody on the inside."

Very slowly Gabrielle nodded. "However I wasn't expecting to have my legs shattered." Her eyes lowered to her legs, to where her skirt stopped just above her mid thighs. "This," gesturing with her hand, "was a minor setback."

Janice still gazed at the bruised and somewhat red legs. "Are you healing okay?"

While shaking and sighing at once, Gabrielle replied, "The healer has told me I will always walk with a limp." She swallowed against the old, stinging emotions from when the healer had told her of the news. She vowed to not let it steer her from her mission or even slow her down.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle," comforted the archeologist.

Gabrielle pulled back her emotions then shook her head. "No, I am happy because I am still breathing." She paused then her convicting voice vowed, "So long as I am breathing I will fight the Conqueror."

"Do you have plans to stop the Conqueror?" urged Janice.

Gabrielle, the famous rebel to all, had a heartbreaking expression. "I've been making plans since she destroyed my village. I'm constantly battling her." She directed with her hand to the scrolls on the floor. "These scrolls are my words against the Conqueror."

Janice gazed down at them yet she couldn't read any of the syntax. "What are they about?"

Gabrielle was about to respond but she didn't when she saw Cyrene at the top of the stairs.

"I thought maybe you both would like some tea," offered Cyrene. She first offered a pottery mug to Gabrielle then came to Janice.

The archeologist blinked but accepted the tea. If Cyrene was at all shocked by her resemblance to Gabrielle, she said nothing about it or showed it.

"Cyrene, this is Janice."

Cyrene warmly smiled at the archeologist. "It's nice to meet you, Janice."

Janice mirrored the smile back as she cupped the warm mug. "You as well, Cyrene."

Cyrene lowered her gaze to the child snuggled between Janice and the chair.

Melpomene instantly knew as she beamed a smile. "I'm Melpomene."

Cyrene chuckled as her smile transformed into a grin. "It's nice to meet you too, Melpomene. Would you like anything to eat or drink?"

The girl honestly considered it then shook her head. "Maybe later… if that's okay?"

"Of course." Cyrene straightened up while brushing back her salt and pepper hair that'd fallen forward. "Just give a yell if you ladies need anything else." With that, she went back to the stairs and disappeared down them.

Gabrielle sipped on her tea but her features were amusing at seeing how Janice stared at Cyrene's vanishing form. She lowered the mug to her lap and warmly teased, "She's seen it all in her day."

The archeologist broke from her staring and shot a grin at her ancestor. "I've noticed." She took a sip of her warm tea and was amazed at how nice it was. The warm liquid flowed down her throat and heated her belly. "So you were telling me about your scrolls?"

Gabrielle had taken another sip of her tea but she nodded. After she swallowed the flavorful tea, she explained her scrolls to Janice. "Many of the scrolls are the reforms that Conqueror needs to make. Others are about her conquest for Greece… the tales about her exploits. Then I scribe opinions about her new laws. I've even done a few comical plays about her, which I know is her least favorite."

Janice quietly laughed between what Gabrielle told her and that grin on her ancestor's face.

"Then there is the poetry I compose to give the people faith and hope." Gabrielle tilted her head as she considered what else she'd written over time. "I even write true stories about the Conqueror's childhood."

The archeologist was puzzled by this. "Why?"

Gabrielle inspected her mug's contents but she grinned up at Janice. "The people believed that the Conqueror was immortal… or a god. They believed her father was Ares himself, which I disproved." She huffed. "On her conquest for Greece she came against her father, who was a warlord."

Janice narrowed her eyes and quietly asked, "What happened?"

Gabrielle played with the half full mug in her hands. "She killed him." Her eyes lifted to Janice. "I wrote the childhood stories to show she is just as mortal as we are."

"How… how did you find out about her childhood?" Janice was absolutely puzzled yet amazed. She lifted her mug to take a drink while her ancestor responded.

Gabrielle smirked. "Cyrene is the Conqueror's mother."

Janice gagged on her warm tea and covered her mouth to keep it in her mouth. She didn't feel like upsetting Melpomene with such a mess. She finally worked the warm brew down then removed her hand. "That's her mother?" she loudly shot back.

The bard smiled at her descendant. "Yes." She drank the last of her tea then figured she should explain more. "After the Conqueror attacked my village I had nobody left; my parents were dead and my sister taken into slavery. I survived only because I was chased into my father's barn. I hid there until my hunter left but he made sure to torch the barn in hopes to burn me alive." She faltered and studied her bruised legs for a heartbeat. "By the time I escaped the barn the raid was over, my parents were dead, and my sister gone."

Janice couldn't finish her tea now. She leaned to her right and was able to place the mug on the floor. When she straightened up her ancestor continued her story.

"Everything was gone…." Gabrielle's hallow eyes flickered with images of her childhood. "I wondered the country side and ended up in Amphipolis but I didn't know it at the time that it was the Conqueror's home. I was hungry, wet from recent storms, dirty, and had some burns from the barn fire." She shoved her memories away as her attention focused on Janice again. "I went into the marketplace desperate for food so I tried to steal some flatbread."

Janice clenched her jaw when she heard this. It was an echo of Melpomene's life in many ways. Her chest constricted against her emotions as she listened to the rest.

"The merchant caught me of course but before he could haul me off to the constable Cyrene stepped in. She happened to be there picking up food for her tavern. She paid the merchant double what the flatbread was worth then she took me back with her." Gabrielle finally smiled as fonder memories came to her. "After that she pretty much adopted me as her child."

"How did you both end up here?"

The bard tilted her head then rested it against the back of the chair. "When I grew of age I told Cyrene I wanted to stop the Conqueror… her daughter. We argued for a good moon but she realized she couldn't sway me. She also refused to let me do this alone because she wasn't going to lose another daughter."

Janice had a smile but it was mixed with warmth and sadness. "So you both moved here… to Corinth."

Gabrielle faintly nodded then whispered, "Into the belly of the beast."

Janice quietly grunted at the joke. She glimpsed down at her young friend and saw the she was fast asleep, it made her smile.

"What are your plans, Janice?" Gabrielle lifted her head off the chair and waited.

Slowly amused green eyes rose up to Gabrielle. "I was going to ask you the same thing."

The rebel huffed and stated, "I have been planning most my life how to rid of the Conqueror."

"And have you figured out how to do that?"

"Not all the details," confessed the bard, "however I know the ultimate solution."

Janice's eyes narrowed when she heard Gabrielle's voice chilled for the first time. "What is that?"

"Assassinating the Conqueror."

Gabrielle's words hung in the thick air between the descendant and ancestor for many heartbeats.

Janice exhaled a shaky breath after completely absorbing Gabrielle's desired plan. "Maybe assassination isn't the answer, Gabrielle." Not when I know the Conqueror's descendant like I do, inwardly added Janice.

Gabrielle suddenly bitterly laughed at the archeologist's ridiculous words. "What else could there be?"

"Maybe the Conqueror needs to be reformed."

The rebel quickly leaned forward so that her eyes had Janice locked in place. "Tell me Janice, what tyrants do you know have ever reformed?"

The archeologist's historical mind flipped through every tyrant in history. Finally she came up blank with any such tyrant.

Gabrielle knew she'd won her case so she rested back in her chair. "The only solution for tyrants is death so they can pass into Tartarus."

Janice sighed and ran the facts through her mind. She began speaking while her mind worked this out. "You have to look at it from both sides… think about how big the Conqueror's Realm is? If she is assassinated then who is to take her place?"

The bard didn't like this line of thinking or questioning because a long time ago she'd already resolved to assassinate the ruler.

"The Conqueror brings order to these lands whether or not it's good or bad order. If she is killed then there will be chaos."

"No revolution is complete without chaos, Janice. I rather take my chances as there are none worse than the Conqueror."

Janice closed her eyes at her ancestor's bitter anger for the ruler. She knew Gabrielle had every right and she knew too she'd feel the same way. Yet she knew Melinda and she knew the heart that rested within Melinda. There had to be some remnants of it in the Conqueror too because nobody is ever born that way.

Gabrielle dipped her head and tried to judge why Janice was so upset by this. She quickly calculated all of Janice's factors then it struck her blindly. "You know the Conqueror's descendant."

The archeologist opened her eyes and met Gabrielle's gaze. "Yea… we're friends." She tried to control her surfacing feelings about Melinda. "The same day we met was when Alti showed up." She turned her head and she became dazed by the fire in the fireplace. "Melinda saved my life… protected me."

The rebel now understood why it was so hard for Janice to accept that the Conqueror must be assassinated. Somewhere in Janice's heart she truly believed that some piece that made up Melinda was hidden in the Conqueror. "Janice," she whispered, "the Conqueror and Melinda are two different people."

"Maybe," murmured the archeologist. She rotated her head back. "Maybe not."

Gabrielle ached for her descendant as she wished there was something better than this. "If there was a way to reform the Conqueror… I would take it." She bit her lower lip then gently whispered, "There is no other way."

Janice combed her fingers through her hair in hopes it'd brush away her emotions too. "I know," she half heartedly accepted. She buried her dull ache and reminded herself how this would save so many people. "I think I know how we can assassinate the Conqueror."

Gabrielle straightened up at her descendant's words because it wasn't what she expected. She never dreamed of accomplishing her quest anytime soon but she never strayed from it. 'What do you have in mind, Janice?"

Janice forced her body to relax as she laid out some ideas to her ancestor.

Gabrielle carefully listened to each idea and only made a few suggestions or offered what she could to help. She was amazed as much as concerned about all the variables in the plan but there was no way around it. She could tell that Janice would be determined to see the plans through and not stop until the Conqueror was dead.

"The only thing is for any of this to work, Alti must also be stopped."

The bard nodded at the archeologist's logical conclusion. "Alti protects the Conqueror as much as the Conqueror protects her. You will have to kill them both for this to work." She read Janice's glowing eyes carefully. "Are you sure you can do this, Janice? Can you really assassinate the Conqueror?"

"Yes," vowed Janice, "I don't care what it fuckin' takes. This world cannot keep going like this."

"You could be killed," gently reminded the rebel. "You could play the martyr."

The archeologist shook her head as her teeth gritted against her bubbling emotions. "It's a small price… nobody would even notice." She grinned at her joke despite her ancestor wasn't but she quickly added, "Besides, the people will only think I am you. If they see you're still alive after then you're a god in their eyes."

"I'm not sure I would like that type of power over the people," confessed the bard.

"Yet you can utilize it," offered Janice, "to bring peace before the chaos begins."

"I'm not a ruler," debated Gabrielle.

"Neither was the Conqueror," reminded the archeologist. She saw her ancestor was about to fight back again so she held up her hand to stop her. "Time will tell… this may not even work right."

"Have faith," warmly offered Gabrielle, "because it comes in many forms."

Janice's gaze lowered to the sleeping bundle pressed against her. "Yes… yes, it does."

"We should get some rest." Gabrielle still cupped her now empty mug.

The archeologist had a coy smile. "I'm actually a little hungry."

The bard pressed her lips tightly together to stop her laughter. She lowered her head and cleared her throat before looking up again. "I'm sure Cyrene can make something." She saw Janice about to make a fuss so she cut her off ahead of time. "Cyrene loves to cook for people."

"She must since she had a tavern." The archeologist peered down at Melpomene.

Gabrielle twisted in her seat and pointed just behind herself. "My bedroom is in there, I have two beds if you want to put her to bed."

"I think I better," agreed the stranger. She carefully maneuvered around until she had the sleeping girl in her arms and she was up on her feet. Janice went into the candlelit room and figured the empty bed must be the one without the scroll satchel on it. She lowered Melpomene onto the bed.

The child stirred awake and was completely confused but she settled when she saw Janice unlacing her worn boots. "Janice?"

The archeologist smiled at the small voice as she glimpsed down at the child's sleepy features. "Come on, time to get some rest." She placed the boots on the floor and said, "Get under the covers, Mel."

The child did as she was told and crawled under them. She then grabbed Janice's hand when she was straightening up. "You're not going to bed too?"

Janice bent back over the girl. "I'm going downstairs to talk to Gabrielle, Perdicus, and Cyrene." She carefully brushed back Melpomene's bangs. "You'll be okay?"

The girl slowly nodded but quietly asked, "Will you stay with me tonight?"

The archeologist's chest shook with a silent laugh. "I will," she promised. "Did you want dinner?"

"No, I'll eat in the morning…?"

"You promise?" Janice gave the girl a very inquisitive look.

"Double promise." Melpomene included a beautiful smile.

"Okay." Janice organized the blankets over the girl. "Go to sleep. I'll be up soon." After her own promise, she went into her full stature and quietly slipped out of the low lit room.

Gabrielle had just gotten up from her chair after organizing her scrolls on the floor. She'd had quite the mess earlier but now they were all piled on top of each other. She picked up her walking stick on the other side of the chair and between her arm muscle and weak leg muscle she was able to stand.

Janice wanted to help so much yet she clenched her hands at her sides to stop her instincts. She knew that her ancestor mostly likely was stubborn like her and would refuse the help. "Does it hurt?"

The bard flashed an assuring smile. "It always will but life goes on." She slowly started for the steps but she offered, "You can go first, Janice… it takes me awhile."

The archeologist shook her head then respectfully held her hand out to the steps. "I have all the time in the world."

The rebel grinned then began the painful descent of the stairs but she made it to the bottom just like every time in the past.

Cyrene dazzled a smile at the pair coming from upstairs. "Care to join us?"

Periducs turned in his seat and smiled at seeing the two blond beauties approaching them in the dinning area. He got up and pulled out a seat for Gabrielle when she was close enough.

"Come sit, Janice." Cyrene patted the chair on her side of the rectangular table.

"Thank you," answered the archeologist as she took her seat.

Cyrene's eyes went to slits. "What happened here?" She touched the archeologist's cheek that had a blood stain and a cut.

"Ah sorry." Janice tried to wipe the dried blood away, which only caused the wound to reopen. "I got it when I was fighting that soldier."

Cyrene let out a huge sigh then sprung up from her chair. "Stop touching it." She walked into the kitchen to retrieve a wet cloth for cleaning. When she returned, she loomed of Janice with her left hand tilting Janice's head back.

Janice remained still as Cyrene fussed over cleaning the wound. Her eyes flickered over to Gabrielle with a plea for help.

The bard shrugged then teased, "Don't fight her, Janice… she'll win."

"Must run in the family." The words rolled out of Janice's mouth before she could stop them. She just wanted to hit herself at that point, her shoulders slumped and her eyes closed.

Perdicus tensed at Janice's remark.

Cyrene hesitated but she continued her administration of the wound.

Janice finally cracked her eyes open some only to be regarded by very soft blue eyes. She was momentarily lost in them but she whispered, "I'm sor-"

"No," murmured back Cyrene, "there's no reason to be sorry." She pulled back with her rag hand lowering to her side. "I'm rather proud that I'm so stubborn… it's what's kept us alive." With that, she was gone.

Janice watched Cyrene go into the kitchen again. She wondered who Cyrene was referring to when she said us. She broke away from her thinking when Gabrielle spoke.

"Cyrene-"

"I'm already on it, sweetie." Cyrene held up her frying pan with a wide grin.

The bard laughed and teased, "Am I that easy to read?" She hesitated then joked, "Don't answer that."

Cyrene chuckled then busied herself with getting some meals prepared for the young group.

"Perdicus," Gabrielle saw him look at her, "Janice is my descendant."

Perdicus was clearly bewildered as he glanced between Gabrielle and Janice for further help.

Finally Janice blurted out, "I'm from the damn future, man."

Perdicus open his mouth, closed it, and opened it again then sputtered, "How?"

Janice smirked as her husky voice teased, "Well you see there's this thing in nature called conception and what happens is-"

"Alti," cut in the bard, "she brought Janice here." Her voice held a note of tolerance for Janice's smart answer yet she couldn't refuse her own grin.

Perdicus rotated his head back to Gabrielle after forcing himself from staring at Janice. "She must have some plan if she brought Janice here."

"She does," informed the archeologist and when she saw both curious features turned at her, she decided to explain. "Alti's hope is that I'll face the Conqueror and if I do then most likely the Conqueror will kill me." She waited a beat, shrugged then mildly stated, "Alti wants my karma."

"You mean our karma," corrected the rebel leader.

The stranger huffed and nodded. "Pretty much."

"Why?" charged on the bard.

Janice quickly realized some of the mistake she made in telling her ancestor about Alti's motives. She her mind quickly worked out a truthful but not complete explanation. "Our karma is from the Light… we're self sacrificing."

"That makes sense but Alti feeds off of weak souls and certain emotions," debated Perdicus.

The archeologist smirked at the man then torment, "Smart boy, Perdy but you forget that Alti also feeds off of souls from the Dark and Light. She'll take anything she can get."

"The Conqueror is a Dark soul," tried Gabrielle, "and I'm from the Light." She shook her head then asked, "Wouldn't she fear me?"

"She does," agreed Janice, "She fears that you could undermine the Conqueror."

Gabrielle quickly turned to Perdicus. "Alti set me up I bet."

"What do you mean?" queried Janice.

"People that are sentenced to the cross never have their legs shattered," informed Perdicus. "The sentence also has never been carried out immediately in public."

"That's out of character for the Conqueror," further explained Gabrielle. "It was my hope to make it to the dungeons before my sentence was carried out."

"So you could escape," clarified the archeologist.

"Yes," started Gabrielle, "I know some people that work the dungeons."

Janice narrowed her eyes. "How?"

"Its amazing what bribery can do," joked the rebel leader.

The archeologist grunted and peered up when Cyrene came over with plates of foods. Her plate was absolutely full and had the most delicious smell ever. Her stomach answered the call of food with a loud rumble.

Perdicus smirked. "Well the appetite runs in the family."

Cyrene came back from the kitchen again but with her plate and Perdicus's. She maneuvered into her chair beside Janice then stated, "The Conqueror will be even more out of character once she hears of Janice."

"She won't hear," argued Gabrielle.

Cyrene picked up her fork yet hesitated and eyed her adopted child. "You know, as well as I do, that the Conqueror has eyes and ears everywhere." She leaned forward then whispered, "Even in our own walls."

The bard dipped her head down because she knew Cyrene was right. "Let her try, Cyrene."

Cyrene exhaled deeply then decided not to argue anymore so that it wouldn't spoil dinner. She began eating along with everybody else. "So what are the plans?" she brought up.

Descendant and ancestor exchanged worried features about whether to tell the Conqueror's mother. This wasn't easy and Gabrielle hadn't truly considered Cyrene's reactions to such a proposal as she'd never mentioned it in the past. Gabrielle knew it was up to her to explain it since Cyrene was very much her mother.

"We plan to assassinate the Conqueror."

Perdicus stopped eating, his hooded eyes on Cyrene.

Cyrene's fork stopped from pushing the feta and olives around then started it again. "When?" she murmured softly. Her grey-blue eyes finally rose up to Gabrielle.

"As soon as we can," admitted the bard. "Cyrene, I-"

"No," stopped the Conqueror's mother, "I can longer watch my child destroy so many lives." She swallowed hard while her eyes burned from rising emotions. "How will you do this?"

"First we need to talk to the council and have them agree."

Cyrene mutely nodded.

"If you get the council's agreement, then what?" persisted Perdicus.

Gabrielle reeled into an explanation of her rough plans. Janice silently listened despite she had a few extra ideas in mind too. This would not be easy on any level, especially emotional and certainly most taxing on Janice and Cyrene. Finally the talk about the plans slowed down then Gabrielle explained some of her rebel faction to Janice, which greatly interested the archeologist.

"Each head council member has a personal guard," clarified Gabrielle, "and Perdicus is mine."

"Then who's is Cyrene?"

Gabrielle pushed her empty plate away and picked up the clay mug of water that Cyrene had gotten her earlier. "Another young man by the name of Joxer."

Janice's eyes widened at this news. "Is he about Perdicus's height, short black hair, beady black eyes, and acts like bumbling idiot?"

The rebel leader tilted her head. "Yes to everything but the bumbling. He's quite an excellent fighter."

The archeologist was completely in doubt about something like that.

"Many of the guards are from the Conqueror's army. Like Perdicus, he was forced into the Conqueror's army when they came to Potidaea. He had to serve a minimum of twenty seasons before he was released," explained Gabrielle.

"You two have known each other since childhood?" inquired Janice.

Perdicus nodded his head slowly. "Gabrielle and I are childhood friends." He glimpsed at the bard then back at Janice. "Her parents had betrothed us at a young age."

Janice was almost positive her jaw hit her lap. Now the tidbit she'd read in one of Gabrielle's scrolls made sense about Gabrielle's husband being killed by Callisto. She knew Perdicus's name was familiar but it'd never made sense until now. "Why aren't you two married?" she popped out before it was too late.

Perdicus saw how Gabrielle hung her head and stared at her empty plate. He had to answer for them both. "Things change, Janice… a lot."

The archeologist went silent now that she brought up plenty of old wounds tonight.

Cyrene easily broke up the uneasy silence by saying, "We should get some rest." She turned her attention to Perdicus. "Why don't you stay here tonight…?"

"If that's okay?"

Gabrielle patted her friend's knee under the table. "I think it's safest… especially with Janice and Melpomene here."

The young man conceded with an agreeing head. He then stood and collected the empty plates around the table.

The bard gazed at her descendant. "You'll stay up in my room tonight?"

Janice softly smiled at the invite. "Yes, thank you."

The rebel reflected the smile back then gazed back at Cyrene. "Will you be up early tomorrow?"

"Now Gabrielle," Cyrene laughed.

"I know, silly question."

"What do you need, sweetie?" Cyrene leaned back in her chair and briefly watched Perdicus sit back down with them.

"I'll need a message delivered to the council members."

Cyrene quickly nodded. "I'll take care of it."

"Great." Gabrielle now rested back in her chair, her hands folded on her full stomach. "I'll write it tonight and leave it down here for you."

Cyrene merely nodded, her thoughts wondering off to the future.

Gabrielle stifled a yawn.

"Come on." Janice was in agreement about rest since it'd been a busy, long day for her. She got up just as Gabrielle did the same.

"Do you need help, Gabrielle?" politely offered Perdicus.

The rebel leader was a few steps away, towards the steps. She simply threw him a look for her answer then proceeded to the steps.

Perdicus, the guard, shrugged and gazed back at Cyrene.

Cyrene chuckled and teased, "She has my stubborn streak."

"Cyrene, I'm afraid to tell you but she's had that long before you."

"I heard that," called an annoyed voice from part of the way up the stairs.

"I resent that too," hollered the descendant.

The older woman softly chuckled at the pair. "I believe you're right." She got up and said, "I think I'll prepare for bed."

Perdicus only nodded as he understood what Cyrene was saying to him. He waited there at the table to let Cyrene to some private time.

Gabrielle took a seat at the foot of her lounge chair. "Janice, can you get my scroll satchel from the bedroom? I'm worried I'll be too loud." She indicated her walking stick in her right hand.

The archeologist said nothing yet slipped away into the low lit room. She made out the outline of the satchel bag and silently lifted it. She glanced over at Melpomene and saw she was contently asleep.

The rebel leader smiled a thank you when she had her satchel. She rested it up on the lounge chair and dug through it. She discovered a blank scroll and she picked up her quill from the stack of scrolls on the floor. After unrolling the scroll in her lap, she slowly composed a message to the council members.

Janice meanwhile gathered her ancestor's scrolls on the floor and despite she was curious to read them, she knew she couldn't without Melinda's help. Instead she neatly tucked them inside of the scroll satchel.

"Thank you," murmured the bard between her writing.

Janice scooted the satchel out of the way then sat beside her ancestor. She studied the neatly written words on Gabrielle's scroll but she couldn't make sense of the syntax. With frustration she sighed and stared down at her lap to wait for Gabrielle to finish.

The bard paused and glimpsed at her descendant's frustrated features. "What is it?"

The archeologist stopped grinding her teeth for a moment to actually respond. "I can't read what you're writing."

The dumbfounded bard stared at her descendant as if she was waiting for a laugh for a joke. "You're serious?"

Janice pulled her head away from Gabrielle's surprised gaze. "My friend… Xena's descendant she can read Greek syntax but I can only pick out pieces."

"You cannot read any of this?" tried Gabrielle as she tilted the scroll to the archeologist.

The stranger's eyes squinted as she glazed over the unfamiliar language then she paused and pointed at one word. "I know that says sheep." She then furrowed her eyebrows as she considered why her ancestor was writing about sheep.

Gabrielle sensed the stranger's puzzlement so the slightly smiled. "I write in code whenever I send out messages to the council or other members. I don't need the Conqueror discovering my plans."

Janice was clearly impressed. "Has the Conqueror ever broken your code?"

"Not to my knowledge," breathed out Gabrielle, "however I try to change it some each moon." She lowered the scroll back into her lap. "The council members are required to memorize the code and code changes each moon then the code decipher is burned."

"Wow," murmured the archeologist. "How can you trust that they do this?"

"The code is changed during our meetings. They memorize it then I burn it myself," informed the rebel leader. "I trust my council members but I do it in front of them so that nobody will ever have room to question motives."

Janice knew she'd never given her ancestor any credit however she was rethinking her judgments of her ancestor.

Gabrielle returned to scribing but she quietly asked, "If you cannot write Greek what do you write?"

"English," answered the archeologist yet she knew Gabrielle would be confused easily. "It's derived from the Germanic language… the people north of the Rhine in the Norselands. Latin also influenced it greatly."

Gabrielle stopped writing, lowered her quill, and lifted her head to Janice. "Do you only speak English then?"

"Yes, but…." Janice's brow was tightly woven and she was mystified. "Am I speaking Greek?"

The rebel leader opened her mouth to reply with explanation yet she had none.

The archeologist laughed and played with her short hair. "This is really... really fuckin' weird."

Gabrielle chuckled and switched back to her scroll to finish it.

"I'm just not going to even ask," muttered the archeologist while she patiently waited for her ancestor to finish her message. She then noted Gabrielle had finished so she offered, "I can take it downstairs."

The bard had finished rolling it up then tying the thong in place. "I can get-"

"You see, Gabrielle through the generations the stubbornness has gotten stronger." Janice yanked the scroll from her ancestor and popped up. "So has the temper," she muttered and went for the steps.

The bard was shaking her head but she had a smile. She picked up her scroll satchel then slowly rose up to her painful, hunched stance. She made the slow journey into the bedroom, sat on her bed after lowering her satchel to the floor, and she bent down to work at her boots.

The archeologist slipped into the room and saw that Gabrielle was preparing for bed.

"Do you want a sleeping shift?" whispered Gabrielle.

Janice shook her head. "No, I don't want to dirty up something clean." She grinned then added, "Besides I'm use to sleeping in my clothes." She reached up to her neck to work on the feather clasp that held her cloak around her.

"You can take a bath tomorrow," softly offered the bard. She got up and went to the small dresser near the foot of her bed. She collected a nightshift from the top drawer then slowly maneuvered her clothes off and her shift over her body.

Janice sighed at the thought of a warm bath plus it'd probably be good for Melpomene too. As she thought more about it, it wouldn't be bad to get the child new clothes in the market tomorrow before the bath. After a minute or two though, Janice had her cloak removed, her sword in scarab off, and her boots off too. She left those items on the floor near the end of the bed, slightly tucked under so nobody would trip on them but she made sure to free her gun. Finally, Janice came to the head of the bed, placed her gun on the nightstand between the two beds, and easily crawled in behind the girl.

The rebel leader made her limping way to the bed and sat on it, propped her walking stick against the nightstand, and pulled the sheets back to get in too.

Melpomene stirred some yet she settled down again when larger, stronger arms pulled her in against a warm body. She slipped back into a much sweeter dreamscape than she often had in the past.

Janice didn't know why she'd done it but it'd felt so natural to place a tender kiss to the girl's head. She forced her mind to relax much like she always did when she went to bed. If her mind went over the day's events, the past, or anything in the future then she'd lay awake all night. Her thoughts slowed then cut off and finally she discovered a peaceful sleep.

Gabrielle's eyelids were heavy yet she kept staring at the two strangers in the other bed. She was still absorbing all that'd happened today and it was a lot to grasp. She did have a new sense of hope and that deep determination returned to her that'd been originally shattered by the Conqueror a moon ago. The Fates had brought Janice to her, not Alti, and she knew this would forever change her.



Continued.