The wood was fairly thick and verdant green under the summer sun. Their footsteps were muffled by the thick loam that lay heavily beneath the canopy of branches and their movements were cushioned by the springy earth. Under other circumstances, Gabrielle would have relished the beauty of their surroundings, but now, as she worried about just how close the pursuit was, she just tried to keep the two injured men moving as quickly as possible away from the danger.

"Where are we gonna head for?" asked Joxer, and he stumbled heavily again as his foot caught a root and his recurring dizziness nearly sent him sprawling .. and would have if Autolycus hadn't managed to grab him. "I don't know where we are and I know nothing about the geography of Italia, do either of you?"

Gabrielle looked at Autolycus and sighed when he shook his head, "None of us do, Joxer," she answered him calmly. "All we can do is find a town or village and try and get some bearings and some supplies."

"Where, exactly do you have in mind to head for?" asked the thief carefully, already guessing the answer with a sinking feeling.

"We've got to get to Rome," the bard told him as she helped support Joxer so they could quicken their pace a little.

"Now how did I know that you were going to say that," muttered Autolycus unhappily, "Gabrielle, don't you realise that Rome is full of soldiers and that our descriptions are likely to be plastered up and down this Gods forsaken country just as soon as Brutus gets his wits about him. Hera's toenails!" he swore, "it's like putting our heads into a lion's jaw."

"Hey that's not a bad metaphor," commented the smiling blonde brightly, "mind if I use it sometime?"

"Gabrielle ..." began the thief a serious rumble to his tone.

"Look, alright, I know, Autolycus," she answered with a sigh, "But I can't leave her in Caesar's hands. I've gotta find a way to get her free. It terrifies me to think what he's been doing to her all this time. By the time we were separated he'd already had her nearly beaten to death, left her to pick up infections in her wounds that nearly killed her and has got her fighting gladiators to win him money." She turned almost frantic green eyes on her friend, "I can't let her continue to suffer and as long as she thinks that Caesar still has me, she won't be able to free herself. He's turning her into an animal and I won't allow him to destroy all the hard work she's put in, all the pain she's endured for the last three years, as she'd tried to climb out of that pit he put her in before."

Her eyes flicked back to the course she was steering through the trees, "I know this is dangerous, Autolycus, far more dangerous than I have a right to ask you or Joxer to risk." She took a deep breath and continued, "So if you want to leave and find a ship back to Greece, I won't blame you."

The King of Thieves looked at the bard with a growing respect. The girl he'd first met when Xena 'introduced' herself had matured into a confident and able woman. "You've really thought this through?" he asked her, getting a nodded affirmation, "You know that they're gonna work out that we're headed for Rome?"

"Yeah ... " she began and then realised just what he'd said, "You're coming?" she asked with a delighted and relieved squeak that brought back the girl in her again.

"Well I could hardly let you go alone. "Xena'd carve me into little pieces with a blunt knife ..." he was stopped in his tracks as she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a ferocious hug. "Hey!" he demanded, "What's that for?"

"Just for being you. The nicest thief that I know." grinned the bard.

As Autolycus made embarrassed huffing noises, Joxer whined, "Hey, what about me? I'm coming along too!"

"I never had any doubts about that, Joxer," Gabrielle told him sweetly.

He puffed his chest out and said in his 'I'm being serious here guys' voice, "Well us warrior types know all about loyalty and sticking with friends to see our way through to the end." He turned his head and looked over to where the other two were walking, adding, "We know how to work out what's important in life. I can see the wood for the trees ...."

His voice tailed off suddenly as he walked directly into a very large, very solid oak tree that resisted the collision unmoving, and dumped Joxer rather suddenly onto his butt, leaving him in bewildered uncertainty about what exactly had just happened to him.

When they heard the crash of the collision and fall, Autolycus and Gabrielle turned back to find their companion staring in dazed amazement at the tree he'd just walked into, "Hey, who put that there?" he complained.

"We really haven't got time for this," muttered Autolycus as he turned back and hauled Joxer to his feet, "Listen log head," he told his companion tersely, "Just try to keep on your feet. We've got to slip away from here before Brutus manages to catch up to us, and you leaving a trail by damaging trees with that thick head of yours is not going to help us."

"I know that," snapped Joxer feeling insulted, "just tell those trees not to step in my way." He thought about what he'd said for a moment, "You know what I mean. If I just had my sword I'd hack a way through here no trouble." he boasted, pantomiming wild slashes with a blade, "Yeah, these overgrown blocks of firewood wouldn't stand a chance."

Autolycus rolled his eyes and got a firm grip on Joxer's leather jacket, "Come on, Knot head. We haven't got time for you delusions of hacking power," and dragged him off after Gabrielle, who was doing her best to smother the giggles that kept trying to creep up on her every time she thought about Joxer hitting a tree with his sword. She'd tried attacking trees with swords and staves, you didn't get very far, just smothered in bark chips.

Taking a firm hold on Joxer's other arm she ushered him along at a faster pace as she considered, that in all probability, the trees would probably have knocked lumps off of Joxer, - That would make him a chip off the old block. - she thought irreverently. She giggled and said, "C'mon, Chip," drawing bemused looks from both the object of her mirth and the thief, "Never mind she told them. Let's just get a move on."

They headed east as far as they could tell. Luck was with them as they stumbled across a fast running stream that gave them their first chance to drink since before the storm had hit the ship. All three made the most of it, thirstily swallowing as much as they could, filling their stomachs with the cool, sweet water, in the absence of food.

They decided to take a short rest there. It was close to midday and Gabrielle really did want to check Joxer's head wound and bathe it in some fresh water before they moved on. As the bard tended the nasty lump and cut, Autolycus left to scout around and see if he could find any berries for them to munch on. He left his friends to the accompaniment of Joxer's moans and griping.

"Ouch!" he grumbled as Gabrielle unwrapped the bandage, "That hurts," he protested.

"Don't be such a baby, Joxer," she reprimanded, "If you hold still this won't take long." she promised as she expertly unwrapped the bandage, washed it out in the river and used it to clean the cut that seemed to be healing fairly well.

As she gently wiped his brow, the wannabe warrior looked up into her misty green eyes and sighed contentedly, "That feels so good, Gabby," he grinned letting his mind drift off into a private world where the bard was all his.

"Joxer!" her sharp tone cut into his revery bringing him drifting back with a contented smile on his face.

"Yes, oh light of my life?" he murmured dreamily.

She twisted his ear hard, "Get your hand off of my butt!" she told him.

"Owwww!" he squealed as he was brought firmly back to reality, "Okay, okay. Sheesh, Gabby, I was almost asleep there," he told her moodily.

"I know," she smiled sweetly as she retied the bandage around his head, "That's the only reason that you've still got teeth."

"Umm! Right," he acknowledged, "Boy am I hungry," he announced trying to change the subject. Gabrielle's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly in protest at it's emptiness. "Did I miss something?" questioned Joxer, "Did you swallow a live bear while I wasn't watching?"

The bard gave him a fair imitation of the 'look' that Xena used to quell opposition, and she nodded in satisfaction as her patient held up his hands in surrender just as Autolycus returned with several pocketfuls of blackberries, "Best I could do," he shrugged as he shared them out.

"They're great," encouraged Gabrielle as she hungrily demolished her portion. "At least it's better than nothing," she told them as they finished eating.

"We gotta get going," advised Autolycus. We need to find somewhere to shelter before dark, and make sure that those soldiers haven't managed to hit our trail."

"We could head upstream for a while," suggested the bard, "it's going in the same direction that we are, and Xena says that it's real hard to track someone in a stream. We're just going to have to be careful when we get out."

"Sounds like a plan," agreed the thief, "You up for it?" he asked Joxer who was climbing to his feet.

"Sure," he agreed, "What have we got to lose?"

They headed upstream, pushing as fast as they could while trying to keep their feet from turning under them in the awkward conditions of the stream. It was far harder to travel this way, but they calculated that they had a big enough lead over Brutus's men to make it worth the risk .. especially if it hid their trail as they hoped.

- At least we're were close to a source of good water. - thought the bard as she splashed along doggedly. The day was hot and, although the thick canopy of leaves gave them ample shade, the heat made the wood steamy after the drenching from the storm. They were all grateful, in a way, for the cooling freshness of the stream even thought they were constantly attacked by vicious biting insects.

Gabrielle suffered worst from this insidious attack as more of her bare skin was exposed for easy access. She muttered imprecations and slapped vehemently at buzzing mosquitos as they attempted to feast upon her, "Guys," she said at length, "We're gonna have to climb outta here soon, or I'm going to scream."

They selected an exit where a stoney shelf had been exposed by the lower summer water level, and carefully picked their way across it before climbing up onto the bank. With luck they'd travelled far enough in the water to hide their trail, so that now they could make better time until they could leave the woods behind.

They pressed on and were surprised when they stumbled onto a woodcutters track less than a candlemark after leaving the stream, "Looks like we could be getting close to a village," grinned Autolycus, "I should be able to use my skills to good advantage there," he said happily as he flexed the fingers on his good right hand and shook his arm to loosen it up.

"Autolycus, no," protested Gabrielle. "The people who live in villages don't have much and they work hard for what they've got. It's the same all over the world. We can't just rob them."

"Gabrielle," the thief turned to her and gave her a serious look, "We have no money, no weapons, other than your stick, nothing to make traps for hunting with. We need water skins and food and probably a change of clothing for you as you stand out in that garb and we need to blend in with the locals. We really don't have a lot of choice about this."

She bit her lip, looking perplexed at the situation she perceived, "I could always go to the village inn and tell some stories," she offered, "I usually make enough dinars for Xena and I to get the supplies we need."

"Like I said," returned Autolycus slowly, "We really don't have a lot of choice," he turned and started along the track.

Gabrielle watched his retreating back before shaking her head and running after him, "Hey! What did you mean by that?" she asked.

"Oh c'mon, Gabrielle. Surely you realise that just one word of a female bard in this area is gonna draw soldiers down on us like bees to a honeypot," he told her tersely.

"So you're saying that stealing is the only option we've got?" she demanded flatly, angry at having failed to realise what the thief had pointed out.

"No," he admitted, "There's two other options. One: we can go on as we are and ultimately starve to death. And two: We can let ourselves be captured again. You decide which you'd prefer," he stopped and crossed his arms over his chest waiting for her decision.

"Hey guys," Joxer broke in trying to break the tension, "We could always try working for food. You know odd jobs, that kind of thing."

Two pairs of eyes turned towards him, looking at him as if he'd just crawled out from under a rock, "Shut up, Joxer!" they said in unison.

"Geeze!" mumbled the object of their joint ire, "What rock did you both sleep on?"

"Oh for ..." said the bard throwing her hands into the air, "Look Joxer, we haven't got time to stay in one place. We can't afford to be recognised either. Much as I hate to admit it, we're gonna have to do this Autolycus's way."

"I knew you'd see reason," acknowledged the thief, "If it's going to make you happier, we'll limit what we take from each individual. With luck, that way, they won't notice that anything's missing until we're well away from the area."

Gabrielle nodded reluctantly, "I don't like doing this," she told him firmly, "but if it's the only way ..."

"It is. Remember we're doing this for Xena," reassured Autolycus. "C'mon, we'd better get moving." He started up the trail with the others close to him as he said, "Listen. Here's how we're going to do this ...."

The village of Cannetto was hidden in a vale between the folds of two sheltering hills and beside a swift running river which had been bridged, making it a natural place for merchants travelling through to Volaterrae to stop and break their journey. It seemed a peaceful and moderately prosperous little town with an active and noisy market that made Gabrielle itch to be able to go shop in.

The hillsides were dotted with sheep and goats and they saw a few cows in lower pasture land, but it was evidently not cattle country. The trio trudged into the village, getting friendly waves from the natives who were used to travellers passing through. Gabrielle got a pensive look on her face, which forced Joxer to ask, "What's up Gabby?"

"I just don't like abusing the friendliness of people," muttered the bard.

"Gabrielle," Autolycus whispered sternly, "we've been all through this and you know that it's the only way."

"Yeah, yeah," she griped, "I don't have to like it though."

They drifted into the village as they had planned, and Autolycus moved on his way rounding up the things that Gabrielle had insisted that they needed. He worked the market, picking up a pair of waterskins from different traders with deft nimbleness, and pocketing a flint and striker from another. His next targets were a frying pan, a pair of cooking pots, and three knives, all acquired without any undue problems. It was an easy exercise for him even with a broken arm, and the challenge was negligible, but he relished it anyway. Gabrielle and Joxer took a seat on the edge of a water trough and waited for the periodic return of the King of Thieves as he deposited his treasure trove at their feet, "We'll need something to carry this in," Gabrielle hissed at him before he moved off into the crowded market once more.

"Umm, Gabrielle," murmured Joxer as he nudged the honey blonde in the ribs with his elbow, "Does that merchant look like he's taking too big an interest in Autolycus," he said pointing with his jaw.

The bard looked towards the man her friend was indicating and saw just what he meant, "I think we need to raise a distraction here," she muttered back to him.

"Like what?" demanded Joxer having no idea what kind of distraction the two of them were going to concoct between them.

Gabrielle took a quick look up and down the pathway they were sitting beside, "Stand up Joxer and step in front of me," she instructed. "Face the other way," she told him impatiently when he stood looking down at her.

"Well, alright, but I can't see as how this is going to help us," he complained.

"You will," promised Gabrielle with a smirk as she watched her target approaching. She flicked a glance towards where Autolycus was about to liberate a large pack from a leather merchant and hoped that the timing of this worked out just right, "Hold your arms out wide," she hissed to her friend.

"Gabrielle!" Joxer protested.

"Just do it, Joxer," she insisted as she got a firm grip on the water trough and watched the unwitting participants in her little ruse step into place.

Swiftly raising her foot she planted it with surprising force in Joxer's posterior, shoving him forward into an attractive older woman who was just passing them. The amateur warrior grasped convulsively at the woman to stop himself from falling to the ground and managed to grab something that he shouldn't have.

"What do you think you are playing at," demanded a shocked voice which was followed by a sharp slap as the woman hit Joxer squarely across the cheek with enough power to leave behind the reddened imprint of a hand.

Gabrielle noted that heads were beginning to turn in their direction, but the merchant hadn't yet heard the commotion and was still watching Autolycus. - The heat needs to be raised on this little shindig, - she decided.

Moving into the fray, the bard took a painful hold on Joxer's ear, Did my no account husband just assault you?" she asked politely, twisting the ear so that Joxer yelled balefully.

"Owwwww! ... Ouch! ... That hurts ... Takeiteasywillya!" he implored, "It was an accident .... aggghhhh!" he yelled at another painful twist.

They were collecting quite a gathering around them now, and Gabrielle was pleased to note that when the merchant turned around to see what was causing all the commotion, Autolycus slipped nimbly away.

The woman who had been assaulted flushed scarlet and replied stridently, He grabbed my ...."

"Oh he did, did he?" broke in Gabrielle sporting an angry glare which she threw at her 'husband'. "Out drinking all day, and now this. Just wait 'til I get you home, buster, I'll teach you a thing or two," she scolded relentlessly. "Don't you worry about him, ma'am," she turned back to the affronted woman, "I'll make him see the error of his ways."

She shoved Joxer back to the water trough where she found the pack for the newly acquired gear. Autolycus appeared at her side and shoved a heavy purse into her hands, "Go buy some food with this, it was easier to steal the money than it would have been to get the meat and vegetables," he told her.

"Did you know you were being watched by that merchant?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"Who do you think I took the purse from," he smirked.

"You're bad, Autolycus," she told him with a smile.

"Well that's a relief to know, I thought my reputation was slipping," he answered her. "Listen, thanks for the diversion, now I'll take the boy blunder and the gear and meet you on the edge of the village on the east road."

"Right," agreed Gabrielle. I'll get the last few things that we're going to need, then I think we'd better get as far from here as we can before these people start missing things."

"Be careful," he warned grabbing Joxer by the arm, as the wannabe hero continued to rub his sore his ear, and pushed him off down the road.

"You're getting to sound like Xena," she sniped back at him.

He gave her a good imitation of the 'look', raised eyebrow and all, before waving to her and, hustling Joxer into carrying the heavy pack, steered them into the still busy flow of traffic on the street. Gabrielle sighed, took a peek in the purse and let out a contented whistle as she thought of what she could buy with that.

It was almost dusk before she rejoined her two friends. She was heavily burdened with a sackful of provisions, three thick blankets, three cloaks, a change of clothing for herself, a medical kit including herbs and bandages, and some scrolls and ink for herself. She still even had coins left, thanks to her practised skill in bargaining, so it looked as if they would at least be able to survive for a while.

Autolycus and Joxer were waiting with barely restrained impatience, knowing that the bard had a propensity for getting herself into trouble that was totally out of proportion to any other known living being. She heard them arguing as she approached.

"I tell ya Autolycus we ought to go back and find her. Letting Gabby loose in a market is asking for trouble," Joxer protested.

"Letting Gabrielle loose anywhere is a recipe for disaster," admitted the thief, "but it would look just too suspicious if we were to go back now. We'll just have to wait, but if she's not here by the time the sun sets ..."

"Hey! Isn't that her coming now?" interrupted his companion.

"You could be right, but what in Zeus' name has she been buying?" demanded Autolycus, "She was only supposed to pick up some food."

As she joined them she answered sweetly, "I thought of some other things we could use, and since I had the money, I thought that I might as well use it so that we can stay well clear of the other villages we come across. Too many people might remember us here and give Brutus too many clues as to where we went."

"She's got a point you know," agreed Joxer, as he helped the bard divest herself of the stores she'd purchased and began to divide the things up into three packs so that they shared the burden.

"Sheesh! Alright already!" protested the thief, "Can we just get out of here. The mere thought of Brutus catching up is enough to make my skin itch."

They each gathered up their packs and headed off into the gathering dusk, eager to be away from Cannetto and the danger that posed for them. As soon as they could they headed into the hills to find shelter, "I bought us a map," mentioned Gabrielle as they walked. "We should be able to work out a route to get us safely to Rome."

"I'll be happy if we can just find somewhere safe to sleep," returned Autolycus, "Is it me or has this been a very long day?"

"C'mon guys, don't worry. We're free, we're well provisioned, and we're gonna rescue Xena. Everything's gonna be alright!" Joxer exclaimed optimistically.

Gabrielle and Autolycus looked at each other and answered, "Right," drawing the word out pessimistically.

"I still think we should try to push on further," the bard protested as they wandered into the gloom.

"Gabrielle,"

"But we've got such a long way to go!" she insisted.

"Gabrielle!"

"I know ... we need sleep. You really are getting so like her, Autolycus. You sure that there's not a piece of her lurking around in you somewhere still?"

Brutus and his men arrived in the village the following day. He had twenty legionaries with him, but more men were on their way to join them from the local garrisons. He called all the people of Cannetto into the market square, enforcing his will with his soldiers. He then addressed them.

"I'm looking for two men and a woman," he announced in ringing tones. "The woman is small with honey blonde hair, green eyes, is scantily dressed and wears a slave collar around her neck. She goes by the name of Gabrielle and she is a talented bard. She is the property of Caesar. A runaway and there will be a reward of a thousand dinars for anyone who can lead me to her." The crowd stirred with greedy muttering as Brutus continued, "The two men with her also belong to Lord Caesar. The first man has black hair, brown eyes, a moustache and a goatee beard. He's a thief and a scoundrel. The second man has brown hair, brown eyes, he looks and acts like a fool. There's a reward of five hundred dinars each for these two. If anyone has seen them I want to know about it."

"They were here," growled the merchant that Autolycus had stolen the purse from, "That thief robbed me. We saw the girl and the other man too, but we didn't see a slave collar."

"She had it wrapped in cloth," a woman offered, "I thought it a little strange, but it just seemed like some piece of odd decoration,"

"Did anyone see where they went," demanded Brutus.

"They headed east on the road to Volaterrae," volunteered another man, "Are these slaves dangerous."

"They are," agreed Brutus - Though not for the reason you'd think, - he added to himself. "But Lord Caesar wants them back alive! If any of you sees them again, get word to me as quickly as you can, and remember there's a reward for their apprehension. If they're killed you get nothing except a flogging. Do I make myself clear?"

The villages understood and nodded their agreement, or voiced their ascent to Brutus's satisfaction.

The Optio Lucius approached him and asked, "What are your orders sir? Do we continue trailing them?"

Brutus thought about it for a moment, "No. Wherever they are heading for the moment, they are bound eventually to turn for Rome. I want to get between them and the city. Pick a man, find a horse and get a message sent up to Volaterrae. Put the garrison on alert and get them to send out patrols. Send some of those description flyers with the messenger so they know who to look for ... and you might as well include the description for the other two men. The way things are going they're likely to turn up here as well."

"Sir," saluted the Optio smartly and hurried off to carry out his orders.

Brutus knew that he could pull men from the garrisons to serve in this search and since the trio didn't know the countryside he felt he had a fair chance of picking them up once more. Once he got south of them he could put out a picket screen and net them as they tried to get through. He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. He needed them safely back in his hands. He knew that he was too useful to Caesar for his commander to execute, but failure here would prove bad for his political aspirations.