Chapter Four 

 Anniversary Gift

Joxer slowly rode up to the small farm. In a well tended vegetable garden, he could see a woman hoeing between the rows of carrots and cabbages. The woman looked up, then shaded her eyes.

“Hey!” Joxer yelled out, waving. “Gabrielle! It’s me, Joxer!”

Gabrielle dropped the hoe and ran out of the garden, being careful to close the gate to keep out the goats that were grazing in a nearby field. Joxer had barely dismounted when he found himself the recipient of a very strong embrace.

“Joxer!” Gabrielle said as she stepped back, a huge grin on her face. “You look GREAT! I’m so glad to see you!” And she hugged him again.

“I’m glad to see you, too. How’ve you been? It’s been a long time.”

“Too long! Come on in. Let me get you some water, I know you must be thirsty.”

“I’ll be right there, I want to get something out of my saddlebag first.”

Thinking it was maybe a water skin that needed filling, Gabrielle went inside and left the door open for Joxer to follow.  But when he came inside, he was holding out a small package wrapped with leather twine.

“Happy Anniversary!” he said brightly. “Uh, where’s Perdicus?”

“He’s out hunting. He should be back soon. It IS our anniversary, isn’t it? I can’t believe it’s been a whole year already! Can I open it, or should I wait for Perdicus?”

“You can open it, it’s more for you, anyway.”

Gabrielle hurriedly untied the twine and unfolded the parchment wrapping.

“Oh, Joxer! It’s beautiful! I don’t know what to say!”

Gabrielle was holding a jade carving of a unicorn the size of her hand.

“So you like it?”

“I LOVE it! Where’d you get it?”

“Oh, it’s just a little something I found in a market place in Athens.”

“You were in Athens? That must have been wonderful! Tell me all about it while I fix you something to eat.”

Joxer sat down and began. “Well, about a month ago I realized it was getting close to your….”

“No,” Gabrielle interrupted. “Tell me everything. Everything you’ve done and every place you’ve been and everything’s that been happening.”