Chapter 4

The practice runs across the roof tops had gone well. She hurt and ached a little in places but nothing that would prevent her from doing what she needed. The sun was setting on the day she had been waiting anxiously for was upon her. Checking her sai and chakram were carried securely she emerged from her rooms window, choosing not to draw attention to herself by leaving by the taverns front door. Clambering through the open window she made her way to the tavern roof and checked her bearings. Taking a running leap she began her journey across the roofs of Piraeus. Below her the nightlife of the port went on oblivious to her travels above. Despite the glare of moonlight on her pale skin, exposed more than usual now, in her old velvet outfit, she made her way comfortably and unseen to the buildings that would finally take her to the ports masters office. At the end of a roof she stopped, crouching to examine the area below her and in to the open quayside. Her eyes scanned left and there, sure as the master had said, was the nameless trader vessel. It’s bulk sat low in the dock shallow waters. The red hull and bright green sails discernible even in the moons light. Looking at the office building she could see light breaking through the shutters pulled closed for privacy. Spying no one in sight, Gabrielle stood and set off with a skip jump in her step. Clearing the buildings between her current position and the office with relative ease. Glancing at the trader ship sitting silently at the dock. Even if the trade had already started she didn’t want to be caught making her way to the building by one of the traders men leaving the ship.

Feeling more confident that she wasn’t going to be caught by anyone from the vessel Gabrielle made the roof of the office building. Fortunately for her the upper windows hadn’t been shuttered. The occupants no doubt believing they were only at risk from discovery from the ground. With as much care and agility that she could muster Gabrielle gripped the edge of the roof and stood on her hands. Her arms straight, she turned so that her body faced outwards from the roof ledge. Feeling the strain in her elbows and wrists she took a deep breath, she bent at the waist and let her legs swing down in a smooth motion. As her body followed, straightening as she went, she allowed her grip on the ledge go and dropped herself to an open window frame below. Grabbing the upper frame hard she exhaled and looked at the dockside area far below. Easing her legs up she began to swing herself back and forth. With enough momentum she then swung in through the open window. While taking a small toll on her she was able to exert years of experience and landed with near silence. Landing half crouched in what appeared to be a disused office. She waited to see if her actions had garnered any attention. While she heard no sounds to suggest she’d been heard she could make out the sounds of the ports master laughing and talking just loudly enough that his voice could be heard. Someone’s pleased, she thought, hopefully I’m not too late. She rushed to the door and tried the handle. It gave, much to her relief. Being delayed by a locked door was not something she’d prepared for.

The ports master gripped his belt with his thumbs as the trader stepped back and watched Oulixes open the chest her men had placed on the masters desk. The trader watched the masters reaction as Oulixes lifted the lid to reveal the green and dirtied object inside. The ports masters smile flashed on his face only to disappear. He lunged forward and pulled the leather shoulder yoke with the metal covering from the chest and held it up in disbelief and anger. He shook the piece of armour at the trader who was now standing with her hand on her sword handle, her two men mimicking the action. All eyes going from the ports master to Oulixes.

“What in the name of Zeus is this?” The master thrust the leather with the green covered metal in front of himself.

Oulixes straightened and placed a hand on the knife handle protruding from the sash about his waist. He took a small step back to give himself space to move. The traders men stepped forward to stand directly behind their employer, hands at their own weapons.

The trader was unphased. The woman simply held her hands out wide and spoke softly. “That is part of what you asked for.”

Oulixes watched the master pull the metal back towards himself and look it over and over, his eyes wide in anger and disbelief. “You cannot seriously be telling me this is the God Killers Armour?”

“I’m telling you it’s part of the armour.” Said the woman just as softly as before. “Look more closely, bear in mind it’s been buried for almost twenty-five years.”

The master gave Oulixes a look telling him to stand down while he lifted the armour closer to examine it. He twisted it this way and that making it clank and rattle noisily in his hands. His eyes scoured it green dirty surface and cracked leather as he began to rub fingers furiously against it. He watched as green gave way to bronze, not easily but the metals own natural colouring returned the more he cleaned it. His eyes squinted as he tried to clean more of the dirt and green away.

“The green is corrosion, I thought you would’ve known that.” Offered the trader calmly. The master looked at her from under his brow pausing his cleaning.

He held the armour up to torch light and examined it again. He fumbled with it trying to find the metal links to the shoulder straps. Placing his fingers inside them he held the armour up to see what he had. Recognition slowly set in. Every image he’d studied, every description he’d been told now manifested themselves in his hands.

He lowered the piece and looked at the trader suspiciously. “Where’s the rest of the armour? I can’t hand this to my buyer.”

“The rest is safe, when I know we have an agreement I’ll tell you where to find it.”

“The Thracians will kill me if I try to give them this.” He sneered at the woman stood calmly before him. “I need more.”

“And you’ll have it, or rather, the location of it.” Said the trader smugly. “This isn’t some piece of exotic jewellery or kings trinket, this is the God Killers Armour.” A hand went up in front of her as if emphasising her words. “I need to know we have a deal. Or I can leave and you can give your Thracian buyer nothing at all.”

The master glared at the woman knowing he wasn’t going to make any progress with her unless she got what she wanted.

“I can sell this anywhere, your think you and your Thracian buyer are the only ones who would pay whatever I asked for this?” She said knowing he didn’t have much bargaining space.

The port master gave Oulixes a quick nod of his head and then turned to watch the trader and her two men carefully. Oulixes moved behind him, knelt down and pulled a floor board up. The trader and her men watched as he reached down in to the floor and pulled a wrapped object and lifted it to the desk. There he dumped it down, the heavy thud it made belied its size.

“Really!” Remarked the woman raising an eyebrow in condescension.

The port master looked over his shoulder as Oulixes replaced the floorboard then looked at the trader and shrugged. “Sometimes the best places are the simplest places. Especially when you’re the only one who uses the place.” The woman gave Oulixes a look. “He knows he gets a fair share.” Said the master smiling at Oulixes almost dismissively. Oulixes simply leaned back against the office wall.

The woman stepped forward and pulled away some of the wrap revealing gold underneath. The master and Oulixes watched the traders eyes widen, the first noticeable change in her expression since she’d arrived. She smiled appreciatively. “Only half payment?” She said coldly.”

“Only half the goods.” Rebuked the master.

“It appears neither party trusts the other.” She smiled understanding the situation. “I take it you will let your buyer know the item is what was promised?” Said the trader eliciting the trade between them.

The master looked around the armour at the woman. “Certainly.”

The woman replaced the wrap and hefted the gold in both hands and stepped back from the master and his desk. “Tell your buyer the rest of that piece is in Amphipolis, the old temple of Athena.”

“Where in the temple?” Asked the master eyeing her suspiciously again.

“With the cities old protector.” The trader turned to leave then stopped. Pausing as her men moved to guard her exit, she turned to face the master. “The other item will be told to you when the other piece is confirmed by one of my people and payment is made.”

“Other item?” Asked the master hesitantly.

“You don’t think I would hide every part of such a valuable cargo in one place do you?” She smiled showing her smugness. “The God Killer’s sword and leather I had placed elsewhere, just in case you tried to under pay me.” She turned and swaggered from the offices with her men in tow. “I’ll be watching.”

The master and Oulixes swapped glances as he threw the piece of armour on to his desk.

Gabrielle silently moved down the stairs in the office building, making sure not to expose herself out of the shadows as she neared the bottom. Patiently she settled halfway and listened in on the exchange. She was kind of pleased to hear the port master not getting his own way with the trader woman. A smirk crossed her face. The argument carried up to her, but only snippets of what was said could be heard clearly. While the masters words were definitely audible it was the trader woman’s words that she had difficulty hearing, the woman was so calm and collected compared to the outbursts from the master. Suddenly two the woman’s words caught Gabrielles full attention.

“…Amphipolis, the old temple of Athena.” Gabrielle leaned against the wall her heart racing as she tried to hear more. “…cities old protector.” The statue of Athena, guessed Gabrielle. Of course! It couldn’t mean anything else. Amphipolis was a protectorate of the old Goddess Athena. The temple would be easy to find but entry would probably be a problem. The old temple had been abandoned for years ever since Xena, the God Killer, had dispatched the old gods protecting her new born child. The building was sealed by the remaining priests of the order who had refused to believe their goddess was no more but had finally relented at some point. She brought her attention back to the conversation going on just below her. The trader woman’s words gave Gabrielle hint she was leaving. After the woman stopped speaking there was silence. She waited to be sure.

The port master looked at Oulixes both in frustration and disbelief. He relaxed a little and looked at the piece of armour on his desk. The solitary piece of the God Killer’s armour. He slumped himself in his chair. “The Thracians are going to kill me.” He sounded defeated.

“If they don’t I will.” Said Gabrielle slowly descending the stairs and emerging from the shadows. “That’s mine.” She glared at the port master as she took the last step in to the office, where she stood, a hand resting on the chakram on her hip.

Both the port master and Oulixes suddenly straightened and stared at the small blonde warrior woman. Oulixes flinched as he held the broken fingers of his right hand. The port master stood up and clasped the armours leather shoulder yoke.

“There’s no way I’m giving you this.” And the master held the item up defying Gabrielle. “There’s no way a new outfit is going to convince me you’re more dangerous than Thracian cavalry.” He sneered at her in contempt. Hoping to deter her just with the mention of the Thracians. She didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch as he spat his words out or at the mention of the Thracian buyer. Instead she took a step closer eying Oulixes as she did so. The master waved a hand at her. “Oulixes, get her out. The Thracians will be here within the hour.”

Oulixes paused. He knew he was paid to rid the master of problem people all the time but this diminutive blonde had manhandled him like he were a toy doll. His broken fingers a surprisingly painful reminder. He slowly took a step forward and spied Gabrielles hand tighten on the circular blade she was holding on to. He side stepped across the front of the desk and away from Gabrielle. Reaching the office door he stopped and gave the port master a blank look then turned to Gabrielle. She lifted her chin as if expecting the man to change his mind and make another attempt to throw her out. Instead he simply nodded and left, walking off in to the darkness of the ports streets. He had no intention of suffering more broken bones, or worse, at the hands of the woman.

Glaring still Gabrielle turned her full attention to the port master now left angered and scared. She took another step towards him and reached out a hand. “That’s mine.” She could see the indecision on the man’s face. Bright red with anger and flustered in worry. When the man didn’t respond or even move Gabrielle stepped to his desk and reached for the leather yoke in the masters hand. Panicking the man pulled the armour piece out of her reach and grabbed her wrist. No sooner had he done this than Gabrielles right hand brought the chakram to bear on the man’s fingers clasped about her. The quick precise movement sliced the man’s fingers at the knuckles. The master shouted in pain and withdrew his hand as three of his fingers fell on to the desks top. Blood poured from the open wounds. He dropped the leather yoke and clutched his good hand about the wounded. Gabrielle straightened and watched the man fall back on to the floor behind his desk.

Slowly and carefully Gabrielle stepped around the desk and collected the leather piece off the floor. She examined it closely. It was definitely a piece of Xenas old armour. The top yoke that ran behind the neck and over the tops of the shoulders to hold the main breast plate. The ornate curves of the bronze overlay so distinctive and familiar even after all these years. She smiled mournfully then looked to the master still clutching at his severed hand. She knelt down in front of him as she had done so with Oulixes.

“At least you can tell the Thracians you tried to defend yourself and keep possession of the armour piece.” With that she stood and headed for the door. “If you’re lucky they may only beat you.” Walking in to the cold night she looked up at the roof tops she’d practiced running across these last few nights. Best prepared than not, she thought to herself and, with a small skip jump, she ran off to gather her belongings from the tavern before collecting her horse form the stables and leaving for Amphipolis. Outside the trader vessel was already being pushed away from the quayside to set sail for open waters.

Heading straight down the street that joined the market to the docks she ran, the leather and bronze piece gripped tightly in her hand. Rounding the corner of the street that would take her directly in to the market area she found herself suddenly forced to slide in the dust. Throwing herself on to the ground and rolling on to one side with one hand held up to protect herself. Fortunately for her the horsemen coming from the other direction was enough of a rider to rein his horse in with almost no warning. The large animal raised its front legs in the air and neighed loudly suddenly coming to a stop. Gabrielle, wide eyed, looked up at the giant hooves as they kicked out in front of the horse high in the air above her. Quickly gathering her wits she rolled to one side and stood to a half crouch eyeing the horsemen. The rider brought his horses legs back to earth and calmed his horse briefly then turned and angry look on the cause of the commotion.

“You need to be looking where you’re going woman.” He snarled as Gabrielle slowly began backing away from him and the other riders all but filling the market street behind him. “Next time…” Suddenly he stopped talking and focused on something on the woman standing below him by a closed market stall. Gabrielle followed his gaze. The chakram at her side glistened in the moons light. Both hers and the riders gaze now went from the chakram to the bronze covered leather in her hand. Before anyone could say another word or react Gabrielle turned and sprinted off in to the nearest shadows. Behind her she could hear the rider barking orders at the rest of the riders. The Thracian buyer had arrived somewhat early, she thought as she ran between two buildings, looking up for a way on to the roof tops. Thought unneeded they were about to become her best means of escape again.

The lead Thracian started to turn his saddle as best her could to face his men, waving a hand about in different directions as he gave his orders. “Break and search. Cover as much as you can, she’s on foot she won’t get too far.” A large number of the riders broke from their ranks and disappeared down several streets. The lead rider looked at the men who had remained. “I think we best reach the port master and see what’s going on.” He spurred his horse on with his men close behind him.

Gabrielle crouched on the end of the roof ledge and watched the Thracian riders go by in the street below. This was going to be a problem. She’d anticipated on them being at the trade but she hadn’t figured on there being so many of them. She never knew Xenas armour was so highly sought after. Even when getting to her horse, which right now wasn’t a big problem, getting free from Piraeus could be, however. There was no way she could divert this many to another part of the port city. They would just split their number and flush her out as they swept back on themselves through the streets. She moved her head and shoulders as she could feel the leather piece of the armour rub against her skin. Compared to the softer material of her own clothing it was tough and irritating to wear. She shrugged it off. C’mon Gabrielle, she told herself, get with it. The riders passed by her harmlessly in the street. She stood and made for another roof top. She would just have to reach the stables and hope for the best when she got there.

The Thracian leader and his accompanying men dismounted and entered the office to find the port master slouched in his chair trying to wrap a piece of cloth about a bloody hand. His face red with pain and anger. The leader removed his helmet as he entered and strode straight to the port master at his desk. He watched as the master tied off the end of the cloth over his bloody stumps where his fingers once were. The port master slowly sat back in his chair and held his hand to his chest and tried to ignore the pain still running through him. “Let me guess.” He said sternly.

The port master looked up at the Thracian rider stood at his desk. “You mean?” And he held his hand out slightly. “Blonde warrior woman, carrying a circular weapon.”

“That’ll be her.” The rider said. “Who is she?”

“No idea.” Replied the master through gritted teeth. “Showed up days ago, claiming the shipment was her property.”

“Huh. Interesting. She’s carrying a God Killer weapon.” Mused the Thracian.

“Knows how to use it too.” Said the port master lifting his bloodied and bandaged hand.

“I’ll assume she took the armour.”

The port master shrunk in his seat looking at the Thracian nervously even in his pain. “She took part of it.”

“Part? Where’s the rest of it?” Demanded the Thracian.

“The trader only brought a part, they concealed the rest.”

“Where?” Demanded the Thracian stepping closer to the desk.

“Amphipolis, the old temple of Athena.” The master sat up in his chair. “They only got part payment from me. The trader will send message when that parts retrieved, then they’ll send word of the final parts location with a demand for payment.” He leaned on his desk and held his hand. He watched as the Thracian started to draw his rhomphaia slowly. “That won’t do you any good. The trader will only send word to me. Kill me and no sale.” He smiled weakly through his pain and watched the rhomphaia get slapped back in to its scabbard.

“What about my payment?” Cried the port master.

The Thracian turned to face him. “I see no goods to warrant a payment.” He turned his back on the masters protestations. “We need to get to Amphipolis as soon as we can.” He started from the office then pointed to the master. “Assign three men. Tell them to head for Amphipolis as soon as anything here changes.” Stepping down from the office he mounted his horse as another rider approached.

The rider brought his horse to stop by his commander. “The woman made it out. Killed several men on her way.”

The commander pulled his horse round. “We know where she’s headed. Gather the men, we ride for Amphipolis.” Before starting his horse in to a gallop he turned to the men still standing by the office doorway. “Bury the dead. Head to Amphipolis when you’re done.”

To be continued in Chapter 5

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