"How is Gabby?"

"She’s fine, I guess. She woke up early and took Horse for a ride. She should be back in a candlemark or so."

Sophia nodded. "And how are you doing most stoic one?"

Xena smiled at Sophia’s reference. "I’m fine. I’m worried about Gabrielle. I know that Hecuba and Lila were shocked to hear about Herodotus. But I hope that they have come to their senses, and will be there for Gabrielle; because the last thing she needs is to lose her mother and her sister."

"Well, that’s up to them. If they love her, they will believe her. Until they come around, there is nothing none of us can do except wait. And hope."

"As you know, I’m not much for waiting around."

Sophia narrowed her eyebrows together. "Got a plan?"

"Sure do, but I’m going to need help to pull off this."

"Count me in. What is it?"

"I want to take Gabrielle on a picnic. A little surprise for lunch. I’m hoping it would lift her spirits some. And I need some help to acquire the food and wine at a reasonable price. Usually Gabrielle handles that stuff…"

"Say no more. I’ll help you. But I doubt if I’m as good of a haggler as Gabby. But I do have my ways." She looked over at Tyndas. "Watch and learn."

Sophia slowly rose from her seat and casually walked over to the innkeeper. "Hello Tyndas. How much for a bottle of your best wine?"

Tyndas held back a sneer. He never liked Sophia. She was too different, not only was she a half-breed (which he really didn’t mind too much), but she was a half-god. Too different to really fit in with the good people of Potiedaea. "For you, Sophia, it will be ten dinars."

She smiled at him, and then quickly reached for his shirt and pulled him over the bar. "Listen Tyndas, let’s stop playing games. I still remember how you banned your children from playing with me because I was different. You don’t like me and I don’t like you. So I’m going to make this very simple."

She tightened her grip until his face turned read from lack of oxygen. "You see my friend over there." She nodded her head in Xena’s general direction. "Well, she wants to plan a surprise for someone she and I really care about. And I promised to help her. So this is what we are going to do. You are going to get me that wine and sell it to me for three dinars, and I won’t rip your head off your shoulders, okay? And don’t try again Tyndas," she made sure his eyes were on her. As he looked in her eyes, pools of what appeared to be black smoke invaded her eyes, changing them from brown to black. "Because if you do, I will be very, very angry. And you don’t want that do you?"