Goddess of Battle

Chapter 4

The afternoon sun had sunk behind the cliffs, taking with it the warmth of the afternoon and casting the beach in shadow. Xena walked ahead leading Argo, only half listening to Gabrielle. The chill in the air of early evening was carried along with the slight breeze, raising gooseflesh that tickled along her arms and torso.

"Xena...?"

"Yes, Gabrielle..."

"Xena. I'm not a baby. We could have been in Thesally yesterday. I'd much rather walk than ride."

Smiling, Xena looked up at her astride the mare. "I know, Gabrielle; but you also have a sprained ankle and you're still recovering from the effects of that poison arrow. Not to mention that you have two healing wounds in your side that will start to bleed again if you push yourself. Thesally will be there tomorrow. And, I haven't forgotten about getting you new boots."

That last made her smile. "I guess you're right, Xena."

"Besides - you're still a little pale, despite the sun you got this afternoon. I want to check your dressings while I've still got light.." Xena continued, only half listening to the bards comments.

"It'll take us hours to get to a spot where we can walk Argo up. Let's pitch camp down here, say, over behind those rocks. They'll keep the wind off us, and the sand will feel good beneath your bedroll tonight. C'mon, I'll help you get down."

Slightly miffed that Xena had insisted on collecting the firewood, Gabrielle set about arranging the camp site. "If you tear those stitches Gabrielle, I'll spank you with a big piece of driftwood. There's a few things in Argo's pouches, and plenty of water in the skins. Why don't you work on the food while I work on the fire. Besides, I know how much you hate my cooking. Deal?"

"Yeah, I guess I can live with that."

"All right, then." Xena reached out her hand and brushed the hair back from the bard's neck. "Take it easy, OK?"

Gabrielle gently cupped the Warrior Princess's hand to her face. "Xena?"

"Yes, Gabrielle?"

"Would you really spank me?"

She hugged the young bard to her breast, grinning. "Pop a stitch and you'll find out..."

Quickly gathering up enough of the nearby and abundant driftwood, Xena used her hands to scoop a shallow pit from the sand in front of the boulders opposite their bedrolls. She arose and headed back to the cliff face.

Curiosity got the better of her, and Gabrielle called out. "What are you doing, Xena?"

Gathering up a few more of the abundant small stones and rock flakes scattered about the base of the cliff, Xena turned and headed back to their campsite. She dumped the load into the pit she had dug and started to arrange them along its inner surface. "Lining the fire so it'll hold the heat and reflect it back onto us. It's going to get a bit cold down here along the shoreline tonight. This boulder back of the fire will also reflect the heat, and it'll hide the light from any passing ships. Wouldn't want to be the cause of a shipwreck now, would we?"

"That makes sense.... but why did you go way over there to get rocks? There's plenty all around..."

"The ones near the shore have absorbed a lot of water, and the ones farther back are dry. If I had used the ones around here, the fire would have caused them to explode."

Grimacing, Gabrielle replied, "Oh..... just another on the list of your many skills?"

Xena tousled the blonde's hair. "Hand me the firebox, and I'll get this lit."

"Mmmmm... smells good. What cha got?"

Gabrielle filled a cup with the contents of the pot and handed it to Xena. "Stone soup."

Almost dropping her cup, Xena blurted "What?!"

"Stone soup." Gabrielle answered playfully. At Xena's puzzled expression she explained, "It's amazing what you can do with some jerked meat and hot water. Just one of MY many skills... Go ahead try it."

Xena cautiously took a small sip. "This isn't just jerky and water..."

As both of them reclined onto their bedrolls with their cups, Gabrielle began to tell the tale of "Stone Soup".

As she finished the tale, Xena asked "Didn't they realize that they were giving him what he had asked for to start with?"

"That's the whole point of the story. If they had... OUCH!" Gabrielle slapped at her neck. "Something bit me! Wait a minute... what in... a thorn?"

Suddenly Xena slapped her neck. "Its not a thorn... Gabrielle! RUN!"

Send Shadowhawke a comment

Chapter 5 Or Back To The Libray