Infamous Battling Bard

She smiled wholeheartedly at the young woman. “Well I’m glad to hear that. I really am.” She paused, realizing how wrong that sounded. A look of terror crossed her face as she stumbled across her words to explain. “I mean I’m glad that you’ve found a friend in me. That you can trust me and talk to me about things. Genuine friends are hard to come by, I’m glad I’ve found one.” 

Kate laughed and waved it off. “It’s fine. I understand what you meant.” She smiled brightly and nodded. “They definitely are. I’m definitely glad we ran into each other or well… that you found me… in a tree… I’m not sure why my teleporting powers like to send me up into trees. I wish they would put me on solid ground… I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not the most graceful human being.” Kate chuckled and yawned. “Do you have any furs I can use on the floor? You can take the bed. I’m so used to sleeping outside now a days that it might feel weird sleeping in your kinds of beds. They definitely aren’t like the beds I’m used to.”

“Are you kidding?” Gabrielle said in shock. “You must receive the full inn experience!” She insisted, smiling teasingly. “This one doesn’t seem as bad as most.” She bounced up and down on the bed slightly. “I’ll take the floor.” She stood up, heading to her bed. Within seconds she had her bedroll flattened out onto the small space in the floor.

A look of sadness crossed Gabrielle. “For a while, the Amazons almost didn’t exist. There were only a few tribes, and the ones that were left- well, they were often captured. Sold into slavery.” The thought gave the bard shivers. “But thankfully, the nation banned together and now they’re stronger than ever!”

Kate smiled and nodded. “Well, most nations and governments go through a period of almost not existing. So that’s understandable that the Amazons did that too. It’s horrible that slavery is still happening here. In my time, it’s completely illegal. I can’t even imagine… We’ve read stories of slave lives, but it seems like our worst nightmares. People in my time, especially women, are really independent and no longer depend on men to make a living. Do you think I could meet other Amazons? Maybe ones from your tribe… someday?”

“Wow that’s amazing! Most women, at least in my village, still rely on men.” She said, rolling her eyes.  “I’d love to have you meet them some time! I think you’d get along with them very well. They’re the closest thing to family I have.” the older woman mused nostalgically.

Kate chuckled. “I guess that’s a time difference. The only story tellers we have in my time are usually you’re parents when you are really little. Most will read or tell stories to their kids before bed. Otherwise everyone reads books for stories. I could see a book being written on Xena being very popular even in my time.” Kate sighed and kicked a pebble near her foot. “I really am sorry though that my powers got in the way with training.”

“Kate you know I don’t mind. I promise, it’s okay.” She smiled reassuringly. “We could always try again another day if you would like to. It’ll take you a bit of time to get used to training ya know? And that’s okay, we’ve got plenty of time.”

Kate looked at her friend and smiled lightly. “I’d like that. Thanks… Speaking of fighting though. Maybe you can tell me if my history books are right. Were there really tribes of just women who were super strong called Amazons?”

Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile. Of course the Amazons made it into the story books! Even all the way up to Kate’s time. “Yes, there’s a bunch actually all over the country! They’re amazing women. Well, most of them are. My tribe is actually one of the ones around this area.”

Kate’s eyes widened. “They really exist? Wow! How do they keep their population up without guys though? Wait! You’re tribe??”

“If an Amazon wants to reproduce.. They’d often leave the tribe, find a companion, and come back. Depending on the tribe, they could have husbands if they want them. And yes, my tribe.” Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile proudly.

Kate stared at her friend in disbelief and amazement. “You’re tribe as in you are part of it or you’re tribe as in you’re in charge of it? And if you’re an Amazon then why aren’t you with them? My history books never mentioned that you guys were aloud to leave you’re villages…”

“I- It’s complicated really.” She said, trying to think of how she could explain it. “You see, someone gave me their right of caste, and after they passed it caused me to become queen. Well, I was still travelling with Xena and I wasn’t ready to stay in one place- especially if Xena wasn’t with me. So, I gave my right of cast to someone I trust, therefore they act as queen when I’m not around. Amazons usually stay with their tribe, I guess I’m an acception.”

Kate smiled brightly as she imagined what tribes might be like in this time. “That’s so kickass! Are there a lot of amazons? My books never mentioned if there was many of you. There were myths and such about amazons, but never solid facts.”

A look of sadness crossed Gabrielle. “For a while, the Amazons almost didn’t exist. There were only a few tribes, and the ones that were left- well, they were often captured. Sold into slavery.” The thought gave the bard shivers. “But thankfully, the nation banned together and now they’re stronger than ever!”

Gabrielle nodded approvingly, “You look like an everyday Greek! I think you look good.” She beamed at the girl.  “I’ll be right back.” Returning to the vendor they had gotten the clothes from, Gabrielle exchanged a few words momentarily, then gave the man a few dinars. “Would you like ti find an inn? Or keep travelling?”

Kate smiled and raised an eyebrow. “I could use some good sleep if it’s not too much. The currency here has to be way different from mine. What do you guys use now?”

“That sounds good to me, a warm bed would be nice for a change. The currency here is dinars, they’re usually silver, but sometimes they can be gold… Those are worth a lot though so you don’t see them too often.” She shrugged, looking around. “The inn should be around here somewhere..”

Kate nodded while looking down at her new clothes. She would adjust. She always has. “In my time, the buildings reach into the skies and have so many rooms that no one ever noticed when I would spend the night without paying. They had plenty to spare so I never felt bad about it. It’s strange seeing buildings that are only as tall as trees or shorter.”

“Oh my, into the skies? I can’t imagine. You’re world sounds very interesting, I’d love to hear more about it some time!” Gabrielle exclaimed, “It would make for some very interesting stories.” After walking around for a bit they found the inn with little to no trouble, managing to get a very quaint room. “This probably isn’t much compared to what you’re used to.” She said frowning at the single bed in the corner of the room and the meager table and chair to the left of it.

Kate smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “You’d be surprised. For awhile I’ve been sleeping outside in the city parks or in the woods. It’s only sometimes when I need to go to major cities for food that I would stay in hotels. I couldn’t stand to be seen for too long.” Kate sighed with relief as she sat in the chair. She took off her shoes and rubbed her feet lightly. “My world can be very interesting. The buildings come in all shapes and sizes. People build things to do stuff for them. Having slaves are illegal. Treating black people and white people differently is illegal, but some people still do it. People travel by air instead of walking. It probably sounds ridiculous to you.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to be seen? Was it because you feared your father?” She asked, saddened by the idea of Kate sticking to the shadows, not being able to ever truly be seen.

Kate sighed and nodded. “He had people looking for me. The government also wanted me for their own reasons. Either way if I was found and capture I would have ended up chained to a table for experiments for the rest of my life. So I feared my father because I knew he would further his experiments on me. I can’t even control these powers… Let alone whatever else he would force onto me…”

This young girl had already had such a hard life Gabrielle couldn’t believe it. The things people were capable of, it still shocks her after all of these years. “That’s- that’s terrible.” She shook her head, “You’re life here, it’ll be better, I promise.” 

Kate smiled lightly and looked at her friend. “It already is a ton better. Thanks for helping me. It was actually strange walking through a village without looking over my shoulder every so often. I never really had someone to talk to or a friend so you already made my life a lot better than it was.” She smiled brightly and stretched her legs.

She smiled wholeheartedly at the young woman. “Well I’m glad to hear that. I really am.” She paused, realizing how wrong that sounded. A look of terror crossed her face as she stumbled across her words to explain. “I mean I’m glad that you’ve found a friend in me. That you can trust me and talk to me about things. Genuine friends are hard to come by, I’m glad I’ve found one.” 

She shrugged nonchalantly. “There were many times in my travels where I would stay up for days on end. Whatever it takes for the greater good you know? I’m good.” She gave Emma a reassuring smile. “I’m going to go to the station, try to start figuring this out. You just get better, I know how you are, take it easy okay? I’ll make it back around lunch.” 

“Or,” Emma scratches her forearm, ignoring where an iv had been, “We can both just eat at the station.” She moves to sit up, again, palm pressing at her temple with a faint hint of a wince, moving to stand. “I’ll be alright. It was just a concussion.” Her gaze softens a little, looking towards her friend, “You sure you’re alright?”

Gabrielle gave her a disapproving look. “Em, you really should take it easy..” She knew the battle was already lost though. Emma was one of the most stubborn people she’s ever known. “Cross my heart.” She promised, crossing her finger across her chest and giving the blonde a warm smile.

“I’m alright, just tired.” she looked away. “The Inn should be close.”

Emma wonders if she should mention her super power, again, but she focuses on getting Gabrielle to the inn, instead, voice soft as she asks, because she can’t see the extent, “Want me to carry you?”

The smaller blonde looked at her as if she grew two heads. “No! Of course not.” She said shaking her head. “I can walk” She determinedly set off ahead of Emma, trying to prove it. “See? Come on!”

“That’s brilliant! We could use it and distract him by making an explosion. You’ve got a very strategic mind.” She pondered as they reached the small alcove. “I’ve always just thought of it as this big booming violence.” She shrugged, begining to set up their makeshift campsite for the night. 

“Thanks. Where I come from,” Emma sighs, shaking her head, turning around at the entrance of the cave to watch another explosion. “Strategy’s about all I’ve got. But you have to be careful with it. It’s dangerous. So I think what we can’t steal, we should, well, get rid of for him.”

Gabrielle nodded her head approvingly. “If there were more people who used strategy around here rather than violence, there would be a lot less unnecessary deaths.” She went over to the far corner of the cave. “I don’t think it’ll be a good idea to have a campfire tonight, being so close to the army.” She mused, more to herself than to Emma as she started to lay out the bedrolls. 

Kate chuckled. “I guess that’s a time difference. The only story tellers we have in my time are usually you’re parents when you are really little. Most will read or tell stories to their kids before bed. Otherwise everyone reads books for stories. I could see a book being written on Xena being very popular even in my time.” Kate sighed and kicked a pebble near her foot. “I really am sorry though that my powers got in the way with training.”

“Kate you know I don’t mind. I promise, it’s okay.” She smiled reassuringly. “We could always try again another day if you would like to. It’ll take you a bit of time to get used to training ya know? And that’s okay, we’ve got plenty of time.”

Kate looked at her friend and smiled lightly. “I’d like that. Thanks… Speaking of fighting though. Maybe you can tell me if my history books are right. Were there really tribes of just women who were super strong called Amazons?”

Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile. Of course the Amazons made it into the story books! Even all the way up to Kate’s time. “Yes, there’s a bunch actually all over the country! They’re amazing women. Well, most of them are. My tribe is actually one of the ones around this area.”

Kate’s eyes widened. “They really exist? Wow! How do they keep their population up without guys though? Wait! You’re tribe??”

“If an Amazon wants to reproduce.. They’d often leave the tribe, find a companion, and come back. Depending on the tribe, they could have husbands if they want them. And yes, my tribe.” Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile proudly.

Kate stared at her friend in disbelief and amazement. “You’re tribe as in you are part of it or you’re tribe as in you’re in charge of it? And if you’re an Amazon then why aren’t you with them? My history books never mentioned that you guys were aloud to leave you’re villages…”

“I- It’s complicated really.” She said, trying to think of how she could explain it. “You see, someone gave me their right of caste, and after they passed it caused me to become queen. Well, I was still travelling with Xena and I wasn’t ready to stay in one place- especially if Xena wasn’t with me. So, I gave my right of cast to someone I trust, therefore they act as queen when I’m not around. Amazons usually stay with their tribe, I guess I’m an acception.”

Gabrielle nodded approvingly, “You look like an everyday Greek! I think you look good.” She beamed at the girl.  “I’ll be right back.” Returning to the vendor they had gotten the clothes from, Gabrielle exchanged a few words momentarily, then gave the man a few dinars. “Would you like ti find an inn? Or keep travelling?”

Kate smiled and raised an eyebrow. “I could use some good sleep if it’s not too much. The currency here has to be way different from mine. What do you guys use now?”

“That sounds good to me, a warm bed would be nice for a change. The currency here is dinars, they’re usually silver, but sometimes they can be gold… Those are worth a lot though so you don’t see them too often.” She shrugged, looking around. “The inn should be around here somewhere..”

Kate nodded while looking down at her new clothes. She would adjust. She always has. “In my time, the buildings reach into the skies and have so many rooms that no one ever noticed when I would spend the night without paying. They had plenty to spare so I never felt bad about it. It’s strange seeing buildings that are only as tall as trees or shorter.”

“Oh my, into the skies? I can’t imagine. You’re world sounds very interesting, I’d love to hear more about it some time!” Gabrielle exclaimed, “It would make for some very interesting stories.” After walking around for a bit they found the inn with little to no trouble, managing to get a very quaint room. “This probably isn’t much compared to what you’re used to.” She said frowning at the single bed in the corner of the room and the meager table and chair to the left of it.

Kate smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “You’d be surprised. For awhile I’ve been sleeping outside in the city parks or in the woods. It’s only sometimes when I need to go to major cities for food that I would stay in hotels. I couldn’t stand to be seen for too long.” Kate sighed with relief as she sat in the chair. She took off her shoes and rubbed her feet lightly. “My world can be very interesting. The buildings come in all shapes and sizes. People build things to do stuff for them. Having slaves are illegal. Treating black people and white people differently is illegal, but some people still do it. People travel by air instead of walking. It probably sounds ridiculous to you.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to be seen? Was it because you feared your father?” She asked, saddened by the idea of Kate sticking to the shadows, not being able to ever truly be seen.

Kate sighed and nodded. “He had people looking for me. The government also wanted me for their own reasons. Either way if I was found and capture I would have ended up chained to a table for experiments for the rest of my life. So I feared my father because I knew he would further his experiments on me. I can’t even control these powers… Let alone whatever else he would force onto me…”

This young girl had already had such a hard life Gabrielle couldn’t believe it. The things people were capable of, it still shocks her after all of these years. “That’s- that’s terrible.” She shook her head, “You’re life here, it’ll be better, I promise.” 

“It’s been a few hours.” She glanced at the sun coming up through the window. The small blonde couldn’t help but yawn slightly. “They officially have put the fire out. The firefighters are suspecting it’s arson.”

“Remind me to figure out who did it after a day off.” Emma would shake her head if it wasn’t about to pound its way through her skull, finally managing to pull herself up to sit, offering a half-wincing smile across the room. “Thanks. You should go home. Get some sleep. I’ll be alright. You been up all night?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “There were many times in my travels where I would stay up for days on end. Whatever it takes for the greater good you know? I’m good.” She gave Emma a reassuring smile. “I’m going to go to the station, try to start figuring this out. You just get better, I know how you are, take it easy okay? I’ll make it back around lunch.” 

Gabrielle somewhat reluctantly wraps her arm around the taller woman’s. She had to admit, she was pretty exhausted from that fight. Leaning into Emma more than she probably realizes she says, “Thanks.”

Emma smiles, shifting a little to help ease her walk, heading towards the town, “Don’t mention it. How’re you feeling?” 

“I’m alright, just tired.” she looked away. “The Inn should be close.”

 Gabrielle’s eyes widened at the suggestion. “You’ve seen what that black powder does. It’s violent.” She shakes her head at the thought, “Too violent. I’d like to avoid it if possible. There are other tactics we can take, lives we can spare.”

She shakes her head, “It’s a tool. It’s only violent if you use it that way. There’s a lot more uses for gun–for black powder than you’d think. Distractions. Protection, sure. Trust me, I’m all for the least killing as possible route. But if we get the black powder from him, he can’t use it, either.” 

“That’s brilliant! We could use it and distract him by making an explosion. You’ve got a very strategic mind.” She pondered as they reached the small alcove. “I’ve always just thought of it as this big booming violence.” She shrugged, begining to set up their makeshift campsite for the night. 

Kate chuckled. “I guess that’s a time difference. The only story tellers we have in my time are usually you’re parents when you are really little. Most will read or tell stories to their kids before bed. Otherwise everyone reads books for stories. I could see a book being written on Xena being very popular even in my time.” Kate sighed and kicked a pebble near her foot. “I really am sorry though that my powers got in the way with training.”

“Kate you know I don’t mind. I promise, it’s okay.” She smiled reassuringly. “We could always try again another day if you would like to. It’ll take you a bit of time to get used to training ya know? And that’s okay, we’ve got plenty of time.”

Kate looked at her friend and smiled lightly. “I’d like that. Thanks… Speaking of fighting though. Maybe you can tell me if my history books are right. Were there really tribes of just women who were super strong called Amazons?”

Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile. Of course the Amazons made it into the story books! Even all the way up to Kate’s time. “Yes, there’s a bunch actually all over the country! They’re amazing women. Well, most of them are. My tribe is actually one of the ones around this area.”

Kate’s eyes widened. “They really exist? Wow! How do they keep their population up without guys though? Wait! You’re tribe??”

“If an Amazon wants to reproduce.. They’d often leave the tribe, find a companion, and come back. Depending on the tribe, they could have husbands if they want them. And yes, my tribe.” Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile proudly.

Gabrielle nodded approvingly, “You look like an everyday Greek! I think you look good.” She beamed at the girl.  “I’ll be right back.” Returning to the vendor they had gotten the clothes from, Gabrielle exchanged a few words momentarily, then gave the man a few dinars. “Would you like ti find an inn? Or keep travelling?”

Kate smiled and raised an eyebrow. “I could use some good sleep if it’s not too much. The currency here has to be way different from mine. What do you guys use now?”

“That sounds good to me, a warm bed would be nice for a change. The currency here is dinars, they’re usually silver, but sometimes they can be gold… Those are worth a lot though so you don’t see them too often.” She shrugged, looking around. “The inn should be around here somewhere..”

Kate nodded while looking down at her new clothes. She would adjust. She always has. “In my time, the buildings reach into the skies and have so many rooms that no one ever noticed when I would spend the night without paying. They had plenty to spare so I never felt bad about it. It’s strange seeing buildings that are only as tall as trees or shorter.”

“Oh my, into the skies? I can’t imagine. You’re world sounds very interesting, I’d love to hear more about it some time!” Gabrielle exclaimed, “It would make for some very interesting stories.” After walking around for a bit they found the inn with little to no trouble, managing to get a very quaint room. “This probably isn’t much compared to what you’re used to.” She said frowning at the single bed in the corner of the room and the meager table and chair to the left of it.

Kate smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “You’d be surprised. For awhile I’ve been sleeping outside in the city parks or in the woods. It’s only sometimes when I need to go to major cities for food that I would stay in hotels. I couldn’t stand to be seen for too long.” Kate sighed with relief as she sat in the chair. She took off her shoes and rubbed her feet lightly. “My world can be very interesting. The buildings come in all shapes and sizes. People build things to do stuff for them. Having slaves are illegal. Treating black people and white people differently is illegal, but some people still do it. People travel by air instead of walking. It probably sounds ridiculous to you.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to be seen? Was it because you feared your father?” She asked, saddened by the idea of Kate sticking to the shadows, not being able to ever truly be seen.

“He’ll be able to give you the means to get better.” Gabrielle goes in search of Dr. Whale, returning shortly. After a few examinations, their suspicions are confirmed, and he gives Emma instructions and a bottle of pain meds. “You know you’re going to have to follow the doctor’s orders and take it easy for a bit.”

“No, no, I’m alr–” Emma moves to sit up, owlishly blinking, hand wrapping around the bottle before she lays back down. Maybe she shouldn’t do the standing thing so fast, easing up a little. “Okay, yeah. Maybe I should. How long was I out for, anyways?”

“It’s been a few hours.” She glanced at the sun coming up through the window. The small blonde couldn’t help but yawn slightly. “They officially have put the fire out. The firefighters are suspecting it’s arson.”

Gabrielle somewhat reluctantly wraps her arm around the taller woman’s. She had to admit, she was pretty exhausted from that fight. Leaning into Emma more than she probably realizes she says, “Thanks.”

Emma looks thoughtful, thanking Gabrielle with a nod as they take the hill, heading towards the cave, “If we can get some of that black powder…” Emma’s hand runs over her holster, “Maybe I can get us an advantage.” 

Gabrielle’s eyes widened at the suggestion. “You’ve seen what that black powder does. It’s violent.” She shakes her head at the thought, “Too violent. I’d like to avoid it if possible. There are other tactics we can take, lives we can spare.”