All disclaimers can be found in the first installment...All disclaimers can be found in the first installment...
Part Sixteen -- Shavings In The Cup
"Since you never gave a damn in the first place, maybe it’s time you had the tables turned.
‘Cause in the interest of all involved I got the problem solved and the verdict is guilty."
Slipknot / Spit It Out
Nysa sat in the corner in the shaded side of the room. Xena had just stomped down and taken her seat at the tavern bar. She flagged down the publican by waving a coin in the air. A cup was set in front of her. She picked it up as she slid two more coins to the tavern keeper. Nysa smiled as she reached under her cloak and produced a small pouch. She had gathered the herbs inside the pouch a few minutes ago to get the most out of their potency. All she needed to do was to slip them into her drink. Nysa looked around cautiously. Xena knew what she looked like, so stealing up and sprinkling in the herbs would be an invitation to painful failure. Her eyes fell on the server and a plan built itself in her mind.
Nysa waved her over. She was nice looking in a harried sort of way. She set three four drachma coins on the table in the server’s view. "I need a favor."
"I can do it. What do you want?" The server’s eyes took an eager gleam.
"See that woman over there? The one in the leathers?" Nysa nodded in Xena’s direction. The waitress turned her head to look. "That little bitch broke my nephew’s heart. See if you can slip these herbs," Nysa handed the pouch to her, "in her drink. If you do, there’s another three coins for you." The waitress smiled as she gathered the pouch and the coins. Nysa watched her walk back to where the casks were stored, draw a large mug of wine and simply dump the contents of the pouch in. She gave it a stir with her finger as she walked to where Xena was sitting. The waitress leaned across the bar and handed the cup to her. She said something as she pointed to the tavern owner. Xena took the offered cup and started to drink from it. Nysa stood up carefully, so as not to attract attention.
Xena grunted and grabbed her stomach. Her body heaved forward, spilling her onto the floor with a grunt. She made a wretching sound that made everyone jump to their feet. Nysa picked her way through the crowd as she made for the staircase where Gabrielle was being held hostage. She suppressed a mad giggle as she heard Xena made a choking cough while her stomach tried to bring up everything that it held. Nysa came to the door and pulled free the wineskin from her belt. She looked around to see if anyone was coming, then knocked on the door. She watched the shadow of someone walking to the door. The shadow stopped moving and she could hear the latch being undone. "It’s some food from Xena to Gabrielle."
With a vicious snarl and a thrust of her leg, Nysa sent the door flying open. She heard a hard thunk that sent the door swinging closed. She barreled through the opening, hopping over a sprawled man on the floor. Nysa swooped to the bed where Gabrielle was sitting, trussed like a Solstice pig. She undid the gag quickly.
"Get me out of here!" Gabrielle whispered.
"Not right now. Tomorrow evening, I’ll arraign a distraction to get you out. Here, open you mouth." Nysa brought the spout of the wine skin up and started to dump the contents into Gabrielle’s eager mouth. Behind her, there were thudding steps. Nysa winced, then took a drag of wine from the skin. She held it in her cheeks, then pressed Gabrielle to her lips. The kisses from the blonde were sweet enough as it were, but the wine made them mind-bending exciting. Nysa broke contact, swallowing what little bit was left. Gabrielle’s eyes fluttered open and she moaned in disappointment.
"More!" She pleaded. Nysa shook her head as she began to jog to the open window.
"Next evening, I promise!" She threw her legs over and dropped to the ground, landing in front of a vendor who almost let go if his cart of tin goods. Nysa fought the urge to look back, but she knew she had to loose herself in the crowd, otherwise Xena’s allies would catch her. As she ran through the crowded marketplace, she pulled off her cloak and tossed it to someone. She never broke stride as she dropped a few random coins to a weaver and ripped off a new cloak. Nysa wrapped it around her. She made a long glance over her shoulder. No one appeared to be following her. She grinned as she turned to walk back to the hut she had commandeered from a family on the outskirts of town. Her plan was coming along perfectly.
Something solid bumped into her. Nysa turned her head forward to see who or what she had bumped into. Before her stood the Master Of Revels, Melanthe and Kepa. The Master’s eyes burned with a freezing violet fire that sent chills down Nysa’s spine.
"Nysa, I have some choice words for you back at the temple. Take her." Melanthe and Kepa surged forward, grabbing Nysa by her arms. As she struggled to free herself, she watched as the dithyramb, the sacred staff of Dionysus, touched her forehead. All the energy was driven from her muscles in a flash of warmth. She sagged against her compatriots while they dragged her towards the temple.
TBC
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