"Hello Herodotus. I thought you were out of town on business. Want your usual?"

Herodotus nodded. "Hey, Evander. Plans changed. I’m leaving tomorrow. Do you have room in your barn for my horse?"

"Sure do. But if you want your horse to be more comfortable, I know that Tyndas has room in his stable. By the way, I saw your daughter today. She’s looking mighty fine there Herodotus."

"Lila was always pretty. She’ll make a good wife someday."

"I’m not talking about Lila. I saw Gabrielle today. She and her friends stored their horses at Tyndas’ stable."

"Her friends?"

"Yeah, Sophia and that warlord Xena. It must be some family reunion at the house, huh? A warlord, a half-god half-breed, and Queen of the Amazons. I guess birds of a feather flock together. At least Lila is normal."

Herodotus just nodded. *So she’s here. And Xena and Sophia are with her.* Herodotus knew that this could only meant trouble. His blood began to boil as he remembered his last encounter with Sophia all those years ago. His mood did not improve as he remembered the last time he saw Xena either. *And they are both in my life because of that whore. I knew she was evil when she was born. Her life just proves it. She is so unnatural. Bard, Amazon, and warrior; what normal girl would be such things. On top of that she gives birth to a demon child. She doesn’t deserve to live.* "Hey, I’m going to stay in the barn with my horse. I don’t want to be in a house full of talkative women."

"Hey, I understand. Just help yourself."

Herodotus nodded his thanks and left. As he prepared to lay down, he thought about how he could get rid of his problem.

  ********

They sat on the front porch bench. Hecuba talked about the harvest and the local town gossip. Gabrielle barely listened as she thought about what she had to tell her mother. Hecuba noticed how distracted her daughter was. "Gabrielle are you okay? You seem distracted."

Gabrielle sighed. "Yes, Mom. I’m okay. Tell me more about the harvest."

"Well like I was saying, most of the town did well, especially your father’s crop. Good thing too, with all the extra work he did. It nearly broke his body, all that work. You know, it would do your father a world of good if you could stay and visit with us longer."