“Yeah, ok. Where will camp be?” Gabrielle absently asked, only half of her attention on Xena and the rest on her search.
“I’m not sure…I think I’ll ask the stable hand if he knows a nice…umm, secluded area outside of the village to camp. I’ll
leave word with him as soon as I find out,” the warrior explained before leaving her lover.
“Yeah….ok,” Gabrielle replied as she dug through the basket, her fingers touching every fruit as her eyes scanned for the best
one available.
For Gabrielle, time seemed to stand still as she carefully examined each fruit. After what seemed an eternity for the fruit stand
owner, the blonde smiled as she held up her chosen fruit.
“How much for this one?” she asked. With a great deliberation, the owner looked at the fruit, then named her price. “Hah!
You’re kidding! For this? Why, I’ve seen better fruit out behind the tavern in their trash heap!” The blonde customer stated
in a slightly higher voice.
With a patient sigh, the owner shook her head as she glanced heavenward praying to the gods for patience. Against her
better judgment the fruit stand owner merely shook her head and allowed the stranger to haggle down the price. Once the
coins were in her hand, the owner began to hurriedly gather her fruit together. It would bode ill to be caught out past dusk
on All Hallow’s Eve, she reasoned to herself as she watched the blonde walking away, whistling with each light step she
took. No, would not bode well at all, the fruit owner thought with a shake of her head.
Gabrielle found her way to the stable. After inquiring about Xena, the young man handed her a small parchment. With an
arch of a brow, she read her lovers words, then turned to the man.
“Excuse me, but do you know which way to….umm, the forest of tears?” Gabrielle asked. At her question the man’s eyes
grew large, his face paled as he stared at her.
“The Forest of Tears! Why would you want to go there?” he asked with a shake of his head.
“That’s where my friend said we were setting up camp, see, right here, The Forest of Tears,” she showed the man the
parchment with Xena’s handwriting. He glanced at it, swallowed nervously, then shook his head.
“Your friend is daft if she wants to stay there!” his voice was harsh as he shook his head.
“Why?” Gabrielle’s brows furrowed as she tried to understand what could be wrong with Xena’s chosen site.
“Why?” the man’s voice sounded stern as he shook his head, “Because nothing good ever came of that place! Why, that
forest is haunted! It’s filled with all kinds of bad spirits, there is evil in that place! Everyone knows that!” he spat.
For a moment Gabrielle thought over his words. She watched him as he turned away, his back to her as he continued to
sweep up the stable. Then, with a smile she nodded her head. So, Xena, you were listening to me last night when I told
the townsfolk the myths of trickster spirits that walk on All Hallow’s Eve, the storyteller thought to herself. So, you
want to have some fun tonight, Xena, ok, we can have some fun, she smiled as she turned to the man again.
“Ok, but how do I get to this forest?” she asked again.
“You mean after all I’ve said, you still want to go!” he hissed.
Seeing the look on his face, Gabrielle smiled and shook her head. “Oh, I see. Xena put you up to this, right?” she chuckled,
“You know, if she’s trying to scare me, it’s not going to work. Two can play at that game!”
“Beg pardon!” the man’s expression was filled with confusion as he glanced down at her.
“I have to admit, you’re good. But it’s not going to work. No, Xena’s got to get up pretty early in the morning if she’s going
to play a trick on me!” Gabrielle explained with satisfaction, “So, how do I find this spooky forest of tears?” she chuckled as
she mimicked being frightened.
“Head out of town due east, follow that road all way due east,” the man’s frown was visible as he shook his head.
“Thank you,” Gabrielle all but chuckled at the man’s dramatic abilities. As she left the barn, she heard the man mutter under
his breath, “Foolish woman!”
“No, Xena, you’ve got to be pretty smart to fool me!” the blonde spoke out loud as she made her way from the village. As
she walked down the dirt road, she found herself chuckling. She had filled their prior evening with the tales and traditions of
various lands and of monsters and demons who played tricks on unsuspecting villagers. With a shake of her head, Gabrielle
only smiled. “Nope, this is one bard who will not be unsuspecting!” she stated as she made her way toward camp.
After nearly a candle mark she noticed the sun slowly setting as she stood at a fork in the road. As she tried to remember the
instructions, she reread the parchment from Xena, then glanced down the left fork in the road. In the distance she noticed the
road disappearing into the lush greenness of a small forest. With an arch of a brow she looked toward the right fork in the
road. The trees on either side of both roads were large and looming in the distance. Before she could decide which way to
go a sound caught her attention. Glancing to the left road she noticed a wagon moving slowly down the road. Harnessed in
front of the wagon was a single mule.
The wagon itself was painted a brilliant blue hue and was covered with a brown canvas tarp. Along the side of the wagon in a
vivid color of yellow was the name, Paidiko’s Fine Utensils and Eating Supplies, the name of the man’s peddling business. In
the back of the wagon were numerous containers that rattled and clanked against each other. When the wagon grew closer,
Gabrielle waved at the driver.
The old man glanced down at her, his scruffy beard moving slowly as he chewed on the tip of a thin stick. “You’re an awful
long way from the village,” his scratchy voice said as he assessed her. “You shouldn’t stay out here, All Hallow’s Eve will
soon be upon us, you must get indoors, young lady,” the old man advised.
“I know, but I’m looking for a friend. We’re going to be camping out tonight,” she explained as she smiled up at the wizen
face.
“Camping tonight! Oh no, miss, you should not be camping outside, especially not tonight!” he shook his head as he removed
his hat, then wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Trust me on this, All Hallow’s Eve is not the time to be outside. The spirits,
they can be mean sometimes,” his voice grew deep, “especially if they judge you harshly!”
