Having time on his hands he took a slow perambulation through the rooms that they had occupied during their stay at Pompey's, to make absolutely certain that nothing of importance was being left behind. As he passed from the men's rooms to that of the ladies, he nodded to Tassi, one of the six Amazon guards still on duty there, and told her softly, "I'll be leaving shortly, don't bother looking for me when it's time for you to get back to the ship. I'll be making my own way there."
The short haired sandy blonde grinned and nodded in return, "Eponin said that might be the case .. you got anything that you want us to take with us when we go?"
"Nope got everything with me that I need," he returned.
"Well maybe you'll need some help stowing your gear later," she smirked appraisingly.
Autolycus allowed a charming smile to play around his lips, "We might want to take this conversation up on the way home," he answered suggestively as he brushed his index finger across his moustache.
"I'll count on it," agreed Tassi as she watched the thief stride down the hall and into what had been the Queens' suite.
Autolycus smirked happily to himself the trip back to Greece might just prove to be entertaining, - Providing we can pull this off. Otherwise I can see several of us staying here a while longer. -
He carefully searched through the women's apartments before deciding that nothing had been overlooked and that he could safely be on his way to his own appointment. To be honest, he'd been looking for a chance to slip away and perform this little mission before Gabrielle had cornered him and asked him for the favour. It was a task that he felt that only he would be able to perform, but he had the feeling that some of the others might have tried to stop him .... However, with the bard's backing, and both of them remaining tightly closed mouthed about his plans, the others never stood a chance.
-Ya know, - mused the thief as he swung open the balcony shutters, slipped over the rails and down the conveniently friendly growth of ivy, pleased to feel no adverse reaction from his recently healed wounds, - If Gabrielle ever gets tired of being a queen, bard or sidekick, she'd make a pretty good junior partner for me. - He grinned at that thought. - Sooner or later I'm gonna have to find someone to train to take my place. Still she's a bit old to teach some of the finer techniques, but she makes a damn good front man .. woman .. person. - As his boots touched the ground, he stealthily slipped away into the cover of the bushes and worked his way unseen, he hoped for the last time, away from Pompey's palace.
Upon reaching the street he had no intention of making his way directly towards his destination. It was still too light out, besides which this time he intended to go through the front doors. - There's no point in climbing walls if I don't have to, - he told himself, as he moved smoothly through the late afternoon crowds, keeping as much to the shadow edges of the street as possible. - Besides there are advantages in going through the front door .. nobody will be expecting it for a start off, especially with the disguise. -
He took special care to avoid Caesar's spies, - A really unimaginative lot that even Joxer could spot, - was the thief's contemptuous thought, as he glided past the final post on his route away from the palace. Once clear of the watchers, he meandered his way through the city, giving into the occasional impulse to 'lift' a particularly obnoxious Roman's purse, browse the pie and confectionary stalls in the market place, dally with some of the ladies of dubious virtue on a street corner, before distributing a good portion of his ill-gotten gains amongst the street urchins that had big eyes and looked half starved.
- Autolycus, you're going soft! - he chided himself. - It's a damned good thing that the others aren't here to see this, you'd never here the end of it! - He ruffled one lads dirty, matted hair, before clamping his hand to his pocket, - Why you little thief! - his mind yelled. Watching the boy disappear into the milling crowd he couldn't stop the grin from etching itself onto his face. - Boy's got talent. Good light touch, doesn't rush the mark, he deserved a reward for his skill .. almost no one else would have felt him, and it was only a little loose change .. not my main stash, - checking to make absolutely certain that his ill-gotten gains were where he'd left them.
Whistling happily, he proceeded on his round-about way to a rather seedy tavern down toward the docks area. He scanned the barroom carefully as he entered and selected a secluded table that gave him the choice of three exits .. the front door, the back door or the window .. should the need arise for him to get out of there fast. Sitting with his back to the wall, he waited until he attracted the attention of a pretty, although harassed young barmaid who braved the usual assault of pinches, friendly slaps and amorous grabs, as she deposited ordered drinks and made her way over to where Autolycus sat.
Smiling delightedly, Jocea's eyes sparkled as she squealed, "Steban! I didn't expect you tonight ... what's it going to be? Your usual?"
Keeping a charming smile on his face, Autolycus shuddered inwardly, - How can such a pretty woman have a voice like a braying piglet? - he asked himself yet again. "Jocea .. my pet," he greeted her warmly, "I just called in to see and hear you, my sweet." He beckoned her forward, producing a golden coin as if by magic, her eyes mesmerised by the sight, "Are my things still safe in your room?" he questioned softly.
"Sure thing, Steban," she nodded enthusiastically, "Just like you left 'em. I ain't touched them nor nuffing!" she grunted a laugh that made the thief cringe.
"Well, my sweet," he smiled encouragingly at her, "I'll just go and collect them," he said dropping the coin between her inviting cleavage, "and you can any drink your like on me," he added as he brushed his lips across hers and dropped another four of the coins to keep the first company.
Jocea shivered in delight, "Oh, Steban, you're so good to me .. are you coming back later?" she asked boldly .. "We could have some fun, maybe?" her voice held a promise.
"We'll see my sweet," responded Autolycus in a husky voice, "but don't be too concerned if you don't see me for a while ..." - Yeah like ever, - his mind added, "... I have business to attend to tonight."
A look of disappointment crept onto the girls pretty features and she looked about to plead with him, when one of the tavern's other patrons shouted out impatiently, "Hey Jocea! Where's my drink!"
She whirled and glared at the man and snorted, "Hold your britches Lycidas, I'll bring it in a minute!" She turned back to 'Steban' to entreat him to come back after she finished her shift, but the thief had already slipped away taking advantage of the distraction to do so.
Xena had spent an uncomfortable three days where her mood swung between a quiet euphoria at the prospect of finally getting free from Caesar, and utter despondency at the thought of what the eight slave children would suffer if she did go through with her friends' plans. The thought of leaving eight innocents to suffer the cost of her actions was making her seriously consider giving up the idea of escape. She could just tell Hercules to get Gabrielle, the Amazons, her brother and the others all back to Greece and forget about her.
- And of course they'd do that, wouldn't they? - she sarcastically demanded of herself. - Gabrielle and Toris would just say, 'Okay Xena, whatever you want,' and cheerfully leave you to rot here in his hands. - She threw the pebble she was playing with to hit, with unerring accuracy, one of the guards on duty outside of her hole in the ground.
"Hey, who's throwing things," snarled the victim as he clapped his hand to his neck where the stone had stung him.
"Settle down," she heard a decurion order from somewhere out of her range of sight, "You're supposed to be soldiers, not a bunch of whining babies."
"Well something hit me," grumbled the legionary.
"Quit grousing Hirrix," muttered one of her targets' fellow guards, "or we'll end up pulling double duty."
"It's alright for you .. you weren't hit," muttered the aggrieved man.
"Shove over .. I'll change places with you."
Picking up another pebble, Xena bounced it around in her hand as she grinned at the grumbles she could hear above her. During her time in Rome, she'd worked out a variety of ways to torment her gaolers without them realising the source of their woes. Most of the games involved small pebbles, of which she had an abundant supply in her earthen walled cell, and it helped her pass the time .. especially when she was, as now, locked up with nothing to do.
She squirmed around on her blanket trying to find a more comfortable spot and her thoughts returned to her problems. - There is no way that any of them are going to leave here without me .. so if I don't go through with this escape plan, I'm condemning my family and friends to Roman slavery, because it's a dinar to a flying centaur's butt that Caesar will hunt them down and use them against me. - A grin edged it's crooked way onto her lips as she thought, - Though I damned well like to see him try and keep Hercules locked up when he doesn't want to be .. or Autolycus for that matter. -
She sighed squirmed around a bit more being careful not to jostle the long chain that was fastened between her collar and the bars of the cell door. She didn't want to attract her guards' attention, that would spoil her game. She settled in place and her agile mind worked out the angles as she flipped her pebble cleanly through the grate to hit Hirrix in the neck once more.
"Gods damn it!" yelped the soldier, again slapping his hand to his neck, "If I find out who's throwing stones I'm gonna make them wish they hadn't been born!" he swore aggressively.
"Hirrix quit that bawling before I put you and your unit on report," snapped the unseen decurion. Muttered grumbles could be heard from the other soldiers standing guard around the pit all of them showing a distinct animosity for the luckless Hirrix.
Digging a pair of pebbles from out of the ground, the raven haired warrior turned her attention back to the question of what she was going to do about the slave children. - If I can't avoid going through with the escape because it will endanger my friends, then I'm going to have to work out away to get those kids out of Caesar's clutches .. maybe we can take them back to Greece with us. The girls could go to the Amazons and I'll find a good home for the boys somewhere .. maybe Mother would take one or two of them in. -
She bounced that idea around for a while. She knew plenty of good hearted people who would take in the children. They'd have a far better life in Greece than by remaining slaves in Rome .. especially given the shortened life expectancy caused by being remotely associated to herself. - Alright .. so we get them out of here and take them with us .. just how in Tartarus am I gonna manage to bring that off? -
Two of the guards shifted position, giving Xena a perfect shot as she winged the pair of pebbles to strike both men in the neck, - Bullseye! - her mind applauded as she drew the surprised yelps of pain from her targets.
"Damn you Hirrix!" shouted one of the fresh victims, "what you go and do that for?" he demanded belligerently, "We already told you it wasn't us."
"I didn't do anything!" protested the accused man, "Tell them Stephanos," he urged the guard who had changed places with him.
"He didn't fellas, I was standing with him the whole time," backed up Hirrix's friend.
"Yeah, you'd say that," growled one of the angry soldiers, "you two are always up to something."
"Hey you men!" shouted the seriously annoyed decurion who'd just about had enough of the bickering and sniping that had been going on. It was hot and the shift was due to be coming to an end. They had to get the slave ready to be taken across the city to Crassus' abode and now these imbeciles were looking for a fight and a taste of the cat because of it, "You're all on report ..now get back to your posts."
Xena couldn't see who threw the first punch, but within moments there was a major brawl taking place above her as hot, frustrated soldiers sought to let off steam totally ambivalent to the punishment they were going to be drawing down on themselves once everything was finally sorted out. A mirthless, vicious smile worked it's way onto her face as she considered the prospect, - Let's see how they like being on the receiving end for a change! - she smirked, closing her eyes to try and picture the scene taking place above her. Almost immediately they flickered open as she became aware of the scrutiny of a pair of hard grey eyes.
Flaccus stood at the edge of the grate above her, glaring down with a knowing look on his face .. he had no idea how she'd accomplished it, but he knew the slave was responsible for the breach of discipline that had erupted in the drill-yard. He had a squad quelling the disturbance with fists and batons, but he was well aware that he couldn't touch the real instigator until this evening's fight was out of the way, - But tomorrow will be different, slave. - He made a mental promise, - Tomorrow I start to break you, piece by piece. -
Reading his mind, Xena flashed him a dazzling, totally cocksure grin that was enough to make the centurion's blood boil. He glanced around the yard and saw that order had been re-established. The men picked for the guard escort tonight were assembling ready to leave and his junior officers awaited orders from him.
"I want the names of the men who started this fracas by the time I get back .. each will receive ten lashes in the morning. One of you get the animal out of her hole so we can get started."
