PATHS ONCE TAKEN (BOOK 3: TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES)
(The complete epic can be found at http://www.erie.net/~lnagy/paths.html)
VI. CATATONA.
1. THE GATE.

The bridge across the Black Gorge ravine had once been a 
great structure.  Massive wooden trusses stretched from 
both sides of the gorge, carrying the great span across 
the Black River.  Through the years, the structure had 
been allowed to decay, creating a crossing that was only 
fit for pedestrians, horses and small wagons.  The 
Catatonans had taken the attitude that they didn't need 
the bridge, there was no worth while or legitimate trade 
with the refuse in the treaty zone.  All it was used for 
now was to allow patrols in and out of the zone and an 
occasional traveler access to cross to Calatonia.


It was a frustrated Captain Lyons who met the Queen of 
Catatona and her guard on the south side of the bridge.  
The rest of the Calatonian contingent followed the man off 
the bridge.

"The border is closed." Lyons announced when Xena 
approached.

"Closed, huh?" Xena asked a bit bewildered.

"They told me as of this morning, nobody enters Catatona."

"Really?" Xena replied, with a smile.  "We'll see about 
that."

The Queen of Catatona road across the bridge with her 
guard lined up behind her.  Her long black cloak billowed 
out behind her as the wind from the gorge whipped about 
the bridge.

Regulars in the Catatonan army manned the gate and walls 
of the great fort built on the north cliff of the Black 
River gorge.  The armor worn by the regular army was 
similar but plainer then the Queen's Guard.  For these men 
standing guard on the bridge gate,  there was little doubt 
who approached.

The gate remained closed.

"I'm sorry." a young squad leader said as the Queen of 
Catatona rode up.  "The boarders are closed."

A quizzical look came to the Queen's face.  "Boy," she 
said calmly, "do you know who I am?"  She asked, staring 
down from her horse.

"Yes, my Queen," the young man returned, "my orders were 
specific, let no one enter.  Even if the Queen herself 
approaches."  He quoted, looking around nervously.  Then 
motioned to one of his men, who went dashing toward the 
guard house.  "Ma'am, is this some kind of test or 
something?"  Beads of sweat had formed on the youth's 
forehead.

"I hope you've just sent for your superior." Xena replied, 
"Because I do not have time for these games."

Finally, a tuff looking, middle aged man came out of the 
guard house.  He wore the same armor as the other guards, 
but it looked older and battle worn.  Long, gray black 
hair hung in a queue down his back.  A full, neatly 
trimmed beard obscured most of the man's sun roughened 
face.  Captain's insignia adorned the man's armor, and he 
walked keeping his right hand resting on the hilt of a 
giant sword that hung at his side.

"Well, well, well." the captain said as he approached.  
"If it isn't the Queen herself."

"By whose order do you close the borders to The Queen of 
Catatona?" Xena demanded loudly.

"By the order of his royal highness, Prince Orian, the 
true heir to the throne of Catatona." the man returned 
smugly.

"The boy is not yet King." Xena replied.  "Until he comes 
of age, I still hold the throne.  Your actions here are 
treason against the crown, I give you one last chance to 
reconsider your actions."

The man had stopped his approach well back from the great 
iron gate, giving room for his men to swing the doors 
closed on his command.  The Queen of Catatona dropped from 
her horse, and approached the bars of the gate.  Her long, 
black hair flew out behind her, partially hiding the 
handle of the great sword strapped to her back.  Xena 
purposely allowed her cloak to flow open and out behind 
her, exposing the armor and weaponry she wore underneath.  
The brightly polished sword that had been reclaimed in 
Black Hills hung off the left side of her weapons belt.  A 
large dagger in its dark brown sheath adorned the right 
front of the belt and was backed by coils of a long black 
whip.  The bronze of Xena's breast plate armor caught the 
sun as she approached.  

The Queen of Catatona looked through the bars at the men 
on the other side.  "How many of you are traitors?" she 
asked.  "Don't allow your oaths to the crown be broken by 
the betrayals of the likes of him." she nodded toward the 
captain.

Complete silence fell over the guards on the inside of the 
gate.  To a man, Xena could tell they knew the right thing 
to do, but not one made a move.  Xena didn't really need 
to talk to the guards, she just wanted to get a look at 
the gate set up.  It was a typical Catatonan design, an 
iron gate, counter balanced by a large weight.  In this 
case, it was a giant metal slab that slid up and down in a 
channel near the gate.  To keep the gate down, a bar was 
swung down, hooking to the top of the weight, keeping it 
up.  If the weight were free, the gate could be opened 
with one hand.

Not one in the compound saw Xena reach behind her back and 
under the cloak.  She brought her chakram out and dangled 
it to her side, studying the compound.  Finally, a bright 
smile lit her face, and she threw the round weapon under 
handed into the court yard.  The chakram sailed sideways 
between the bars of the gate, leveled out, bounced off a 
well in the middle of the yard and flew back at the gate.  
The weapon imbedded itself high in the timber holding the 
counter weight lock, causing the timber to crack.  
Weakened by the crack, the timber could no longer hold the 
wait of the counter balance and the lock bar pulled out, 
releasing the weight.

The Queen of Catatona lifted the gate and let herself and 
her guard back into their country.  The men on the inside 
of the fort stood in shock at the ease with which the 
Queen had entered.  She walked forward, stopping an arms 
length from the old captain.

"What are you going to do now traitor?" Xena demanded of 
the man.

The captain hesitated for a second then reached for his 
sword.  Xena was just as quick, and caught his hand on the 
hilt of his sword.  She gripped him tightly and stepped 
close enough to whisper in his ears.  

"Listen to me." Xena said quietly.  "Any man who draws his 
sword on me dies.  Look over my shoulders."

A quick glance over the Queen's shoulders revealed three 
of her guard with crossbows pointed at him.  

"If you follow this course of action, they'll kill you.  I 
won't have to do anything to protect myself."  Xena 
continued.  "Now, I'm going to let you go, you can either 
walk away or die.  It's your choice."

Xena took a step backward, then turned around and headed 
to retrieve her chakram.  She'd taken one step when she 
heard the sound of a sword being drawn and saw her men 
release their bolts. 

Having her guard protect her like that was actually a 
practice Xena had picked up from the Amazons.  They'd 
taken to the habit of rigorously protecting Gabrielle from 
her own desire to try to negotiate an end to every bad 
situation.  The council allowed her to negotiate, but only 
with the standing rule, if anyone threatened her, they 
died.  Something about this caught Xena's attention, she 
liked the mystique it gave the Amazons, and it applied 
well to her own guard.

2. RUMORS.

While Xena climbed the wall and retrieved her weapon, 
nobody did or said a thing.  Finally, Xena returned to the 
center of the court yard.  "Who's next in command here?"  
The Queen asked, looking at the troops.

The young man who had met her at the gate stepped forward.  
"I guess that would be me."

"Okay," she looked at the enlisted rank on his uniform.  
"if your going to be in charge, you'll need a promotion, 
Lieutenant." Xena said.  "How many troops are stationed 
here."

"One hundred are stationed here." the new Lieutenant 
replied, a strange look washed over him at his sudden 
promotion.  "But we currently only have thirty on site."  
He looked at the body of his captain, with three crossbow 
bolts standing from its chest.  "Make that twenty nine."

"What happened to the rest?" Xena smiled at the young 
man's quick correction at his numbers.

"The rest were commandeered yesterday morning by your own 
Captain." the Lieutenant stated.

"How many were with him besides the seventy."  

The young man searched his memory.  "I would say another 
thirty rode with the captain."

Captain Lyons approached Xena and the Lieutenant.  "Was 
there a young man and woman with them, who may have been 
prisoners?"  The Calatonian asked.

After looking to his Queen for permission to speak the man 
replied.  "Yes, the Captain said that they were criminals 
from the treaty zone he was taking them for trial."

"Did he say why he needed so many extra guard?" Xena 
added.

"Just that his two prisoners had a lot of friends he 
wanted to be sure he could handle.  I guess they were 
pretty bad news."

"THEY," Captain Lyons said "were Prince Victor of 
Calatonia, and his new wife Terina."

The guard suddenly caught on.  "And you are the friends he 
needed the troops for?"

A nod was the Queen's reply.  She walked around the court 
yard and declared.  "We've been traveling all night.  
We'll stay here for a few hours and rest." She studied the 
remaining  regular guard who had assembled in the court 
yard.  "How many of you believe that Prince Orian is the 
rightful ruler of Catatona, and I should step aside before 
he comes of age?"

The men looked at each other, but none spoke up.

"Come now." Xena pushed, "Not one of you is in line with 
the western region's political views?  I'm not looking to 
find traitors, be honest, and we'll leave it go at that."

A stir rose among the men as they discussed the Queen's 
questions.  Finally the young Lieutenant stepped forward.  
"My Queen," He stated,  "we are loyal soldiers of the 
crown, and to a man the soldiers here have never pledged 
their allegiance to an heir to the throne."

It was a proper Catatonan response, loyalty to the throne, 
not the person.  Xena's own guard had responded in kind, 
but qualified themselves with a pledge of loyalty to her 
personally.  In both instances, she had expected nothing 
less.

Within minutes, the horses were being cared for in the 
stables and the men were being fed in the mess hall.  Xena 
took over the Captain's office and began shaking the dirt 
out her robes and armor.  She had her cloak off, her 
armored breast plate removed,  and her weapon's belt off 
when the new Lieutenant came into the office.

"Excuse me my Queen," he said, starting to back out. "I 
did not mean to intrude."

"Nonsense, Lieutenant," Xena replied "come in and talk to 
me."  She motioned toward a bench.  "Have a seat."  As the 
young man took a seat, Xena sat on another bench and hiked 
up her long, black robe far enough to unlace her knee high 
boots.  She looked at the young man as she worked.  "What 
can I do for you?"

The Lieutenant watched slightly embarrassed, as the Queen  
removed two long daggers from one of her boots and began 
loosening its laces.  "Ah, ma'am," he finally said.  "You 
asked about the political state here."

"Yes."

"Well, I've heard some things, I don't know if you'd be 
aware of."

The first boot fell from Xena's foot, and she turned it 
upside and started shaking dirt and sand from it.  She 
looked at the young man.  "Talk to me, Lieutenant.  
Apparently a lot of things have been going on in my 
government that I haven't been aware of."  It was quickly 
apparent that the young man was avoiding eye contact with 
her as he spoke.

"The political backing of Prince Orian is by the senior 
officers in the regular army.  There is a power struggle 
to gain control of the throne once Prince Orian ascends." 
the Lieutenant looked away from the Queen as he spoke.  He 
knew what he said could get him killed for treason or 
betrayal.  He also knew that it sounded like paranoid 
conspiracy theories.

"Don't move." Xena commanded, and reached for one of the 
daggers she'd removed from her boot.

The Lieutenant stopped breathing as his Queen picked up a 
dagger and threw it at him.  The weapon hissed by his 
neck, brushing his shoulder and sailed across the room 
imbedding in the door frame.  A small scorpion dangled 
from the blade, impaled against the timber.

"You really ought to pay more attention to the critters 
you carry around with you Lieutenant."  The Queen 
observed, then allowed her second boot to drop to the 
floor.  "Now, tell me, if this is such a well guarded 
conspiracy that even I have never heard a rumor of it, how 
is it that you know of it, and are willing to tell me?"

"I was standing guard in the wrong place at the right 
time." the man replied.  "Some officers get so used to us 
guards that they forget we're real people, with real 
opinions.  A smart guard with good hearing and a closed 
mouth can gain a lot of knowledge of the secrets of those 
he guards."

A warm smile crossed the Queen's face.  "You know, that is 
something I always seem to forget." she said, then her 
expression became deadly serious.  "Now, tell me the real 
story."

Over the next hour, the Lieutenant told Xena of a complex 
web of alliances and allegiances in the western province.  
He was a transplant from the east, and didn't share the 
local view of the current ruling family.  During that 
time, the young man got to watch his Queen prepare her 
weapons for cleaning, wash her feet and recoil the long 
black whip she carried.
  Two hours after dismissing the 
Lieutenant, Xena emerged from the quarters she'd taken 
over.  Others had also emerged, and the group started 
congregating at the stables as they prepared their mounts.  
Xena found the new Lieutenant.

"I need to take some of your men." The Queen started a 
rehearsed conversation, as soon as she got the young 
soldier's attention.  She had promised to help rid the 
place of some the less loyal soldiers in the fort.

"Ma'am," the Lieutenant pointed out.  "we're just regular 
army, border guards.  There's only thirty, er, twenty nine 
of us left to maintain our post."

"I'll take nineteen." Xena replied.  "And don't under 
estimate your skills, I designed your training and I know 
what you should be capable of."

"And the post?" he asked.  "How do we maintain the gate 
with the lock broken?"

Xena looked at the gate across the court yard.  The first 
of the refugees from Black Hills had arrived.  She 
definitely didn't want that refuse flooding into her 
country at this time.  The chakram appeared in the Queen's 
hand.  With a metallic scream, the round weapon flew 
across the court yard for the second time that morning.  
This time it connected with the chain holding the gate's 
counter weight.  The weapon bounced off the chain, 
ricocheted off a nearby wall and flew back to Xena.

The Lieutenant looked at the Queen, for an explanation.

"Wait." Xena replied.

A crack formed in the weld of the link the chakram had 
struck.  Finally, the weld split, stretched, then broke, 
sending the counter weight crashing to the ground.  The 
gate settled deeply into its channel.

"No more crossings until the threat to the crown is 
neutralized."  Xena said.  "Now, nineteen men."
    
3. ONCE CORNERED.

"This isn't how I like to fight a battle." Xena observed 
to Captain Lyons as they led their expanded force from the 
fort.

"How's that?" Lyons asked, not quite show what the Queen 
was getting to.

"We're playing their game." Xena replied.  "They want us 
to follow them, we're being led into a trap."

"If they wanted us to follow them, then why try to stop us 
at the border?"

"I think so we wouldn't do exactly what we did, recruit 
the border guard like they did.  He expected us to battle 
our way through the fort, if we'd done so, there would be 
no one left to take with us."

"Why didn't he take everybody then."

"Because," Xena replied.  "If we'd been forced to fight 
our way across the border, there had to be enough guards 
there for us to kill to turn public opinion against me."

"Looks like he under estimated you." Lyons observed.

"It's been the undoing of many arrogant men." Xena 
returned.  She still had to be careful, a cornered animal 
was the most dangerous..........
    

"I can't believe we're just letting them walk into our 
village."  an Amazon warrior commented to Xena.

"Villages can be rebuilt." the tall Greek responded to her 
companion.  "Now quiet, they're approaching the gift we 
left for them."

The governor's army had marched deep into Amazon territory 
with little resistance.  Small bands of women would 
occasionally engage the front of his army, but they'd 
always disappear into the trees before he could bring his 
force to bare.  Now, they stormed what was suppose to be 
the village where the Amazon Queen lived.  Just a few 
Amazon Warriors ran through the streets, fleeing from the 
invaders.

Within minutes, the village was in flames and the invaders 
approached the north western corner of the village.  
"Quick, come here!" someone called out.

Dangling by the their feet from the trees were members of 
the army's rear guard.  The bodies had been 
unceremoniously hoisted into the trees and left hanging at 
eye level.  The governor rode out of the burning village 
and inspected the atrocity.  "This proves we are right in 
trying rid the province of these savages." he proclaimed.

The air was suddenly filled with incoming arrows, dropping 
several of the men around the governor.  Amazon warriors 
could be seen in the woods firing at the invaders.  Riding 
among them was the Warrior Princess on her pale horse.

"Get them!" the governor yelled and pointed at the 
attackers.  By the time his soldiers got to where the 
Amazons were, they had fled and attacked from another 
distant spot.  Frustrated, the governor gathered as many 
of his men he could and took up pursuit of the Amazons and 
their warlord.

The chase was on, Xena and a small band of Amazons began a 
long trek through the thick old growth forest.  The women 
moved just slow enough to allow the fastest elements of 
the pursuing army to keep up with them.  The path they 
blazed in the rough terrain of the old forest seemed to 
wonder aimlessly through the worst of Amazon territory.

After two full days, the army followed the Amazons into a 
rocky area that wasn't a clearing, but more of a thinning 
of the trees.  The women raced across the area then 
disappeared.

The army came to a stop as the front of the pack reached 
the far side of the clearing.  "What is the hold up." The 
governor demanded as he caught up to the front of his 
forces.

"It's a cliff." one of the men returned.  

The rocky terrain first sloped down a gentle hill, then 
abruptly split into a giant crevice.  Trees lined the 
cliff right up to its edge where the earth just opened up 
as if one of the gods had split the land with a giant 
chisel.  There was no place to go.  The governor turned 
around and watched as his army continued to pour into the 
area.  Over two hundred and fifty men stood scattered 
about, waiting for orders.  It was a trap

"Oh, you smart girls." the Governor said with an ironic 
grin.  His men were gathered tightly on the rocky terrain, 
with no supplies and exhausted from a two day chase 
through the thick Amazon forest.

Figures could be see in the brush at the edge of the 
clearing.  Amazon warriors appeared and disappeared from 
between trees.  Mounted warriors and foot soldiers alike 
passed in and out of the shadows.

Finally, a familiar figure on her pale horse stepped into 
the open.  "This is it." Xena yelled.  "We have the high 
ground and the patience.  Lay down your weapons and your 
armor and we'll allow you safe passage out of Amazon 
territory."

One of the Governors aids marched with him to the middle 
of the clearing.  The aid carried the Governor's standard 
that bore the pennant of his province.  Grabbing the long 
pole from the aid, the Governor thrust the standard into 
the ground.  "I claim this land in the name of my king and 
to proclaim his greater glory!"

A great cheer rose from the assembled army as they raised 
their weapons to the sky....................

4. MOVEMENT.

"Thirty seven against a hundred." Captain Lyons said to 
the Warrior Queen as he rode up next to her.

"Sounds like good odds." Xena responded flatly.

"Nearly three to one sounds like good odds?"

"He's already underestimated me." Xena replied quietly.  
"Perhaps such odds will cause my dear, loyal, old captain 
to make more mistakes.  We're not far behind him.  His 
force is large and it is impossible to hide their trail."

"He's got the bait on a stick, and we're following it 
exactly where he wants us to go." Lyons observed.

The woman smiled.  "That's right."


The desert of the treaty zone had given way to thin forest 
and gently rolling hills.  It was mid afternoon and half 
of the group had marched through the night.  The 
expedition passed a small glade near a stream. 

"We'll rest here for awhile." The Queen declared. "Clean 
your equipment and re-pack your supplies." she told the 
troops.  "We'll only stay for a short time.

"Come with me." Xena said turning toward her Captain.  The 
two rode to the top of a near by hill.

"Look there." Xena said, indicating a spot in the 
distance.

The young man leaned forward and thought he saw a cloud of 
dust floating in the air.  "Dust from those we follow." he 
said after studying the place for a moment.

"If we can see them when they move, they may be able to 
see us." Xena replied.  "It is time we did something they 
would not expect.  Here's my plan, we'll pitch camp as 
soon as it is dark, be sure to light a lot of camp fires."  
She looked back her own guard as the spread out to protect 
the area.  "Do you trust your Lieutenant?"

"Of course, Ma'am." the Captain returned shocked.  "He and 
I have come up through the ranks together."

"Fine, here's what I want you to do, switch armor with 
him, come morning he'll be taking your place as my 
Captain...." Xena then laid out a plan he thought was 
totally insane.

"And who do I go on this mission with?" the young man 
asked after the Queen had told him her plan.

"Captain Lyons would be too easily missed." Xena returned, 
but I'm sure there is someone in his command who will fill 
the bill."

"You want me to do this with a Calatonian?"

"Of course, Captain, who else would you trust?"

A simple nod was the man's only reply.  "As you command." 
He finally replied.
    
5. ANTORA.

A strong wind whipped across the parapet of the tall block 
wall.  To the west, the sun settled in the distant hills, 
casting long shadows and an orange glaze on the young man 
looking north from the top of the wall.  Foot falls 
brought the man out of his contemplation of the northern 
horizon.

Lord Winston walked up to his nephew.  "We've just gotten 
word, my Prince, it was Black Hills we watched burn last 
night." he confirmed.

Winston's gruff voice grated on Prince Julian's nerves.  
This man was involved in the treachery, only there was no 
proof.  "What happened?" Julian finally asked.  "Captain 
Lyons and the Queen of Catatona were headed there.  Were 
they involved?"

"Some people are saying the Catatonans burned it." Winston 
replied with a huff. "But we all know that Queen would 
never allow such an atrocity."

"Are you sure?" Julian returned.  "I've heard a lot of 
stories about the Queen of Catatona."

"Ha!  You mean those tales of a female warlord named 
Xena?" Winston laughed.  "Well, trust me, the Queen of 
Catatona is no great warlord.  If she was, she would have 
been expanding Catatona's borders, not making peace 
treaties with all of her other neighbors.  The Queen of 
Catatona lives on the reputation of a name sake, nothing 
else."

"What do you think happened at Black Hills then?"  Julian 
asked.

"The place was a tinder box, and a death trap." Winston 
said.  "Somebody just dropped a torch and didn't get it 
stomped out soon enough."

Prince Julian shook his head.  "I don't believe in 
coincidences.  I've met the Queen and her guard.  I saw 
the look in her eyes when she pledged to kill the men who 
carried the swords she'd given to Victor and Terina."  
Julian looked at his uncle.  "I was looking in the face of 
death.  Anyone involved in this affair has made a 
dangerous enemy."

Before Lord Winston could respond, Prince Julian turned 
from his father's brother and walked way.  He knew the 
Queen of Catatona was involved with that fire, he just 
didn't know how.  Would she come after Winston too, or 
leave him to Calatonia, only time would tell.

6. TANGLED WEB.

"How big is her force?" the Captain asked his Lieutenant.

"It's hard to tell." the man replied.  He was. Cyrus one 
the mercenaries from Black Hills.  "The men saw over 
twenty fires, but couldn't get close enough to count the 
troops."

"The Queen is a good strategist." The Captain returned.  
"Defending her camp is one of her strongest suits."

"Do you think she thought to recruit any of the border 
guards?" Cyrus asked, looking back at the many camp fires 
dotting the southern horizon.

"Oh, I think she did," the Captain returned, "she wouldn't 
have enough to even try to attack us otherwise.  How many, 
I'd like to know, that stupid loyalist captain in charge 
at the border, he may have put up quite a fight."  He then 
looked back out at the fires on the dark horizon.  "But it 
doesn't matter, she made it through and is here now.  
Everything is going as planned, tomorrow we spring the 
trap, the Queen of Catatona will be dead and there will be 
no one left to help King Orian see what we do not want him 
to see."

"Catatona will be ours." Cyrus stated.  

A smile crossed the Captain's face in the darkness.  
"First Catatona, then Calatonia.  After all of these 
generations, our family will regain the throne that was 
taken from us and torn into these two half-countries."

"The House of Cunaxa will reign again, my brother." Cyrus 
returned.  

The smile continued to play on the Captain's face.  "King 
Artaxerxes, sounds good to me." he whispered to his 
younger brother with a wink.

"I wish Kleon had stayed with us." Cyrus said.  "It would 
have been a grand day if all three of us had been here to 
defeat the Queen and start our house on the path back to 
the throne."

"Perhaps it's for the better," the Captain returned.  "He 
may be able to tell us what happened in Black Hills when 
next we meet."  

The Captain clamped his hands on his younger brother's 
shoulders.  "We've missed so much time together." he said 
sincerely.  "When next we see our baby brother we will 
have the throne of Catatona under our control."
    
7. FALL OF NIGHT.

When Xena proposed her plan to Lyons and her suspicions, 
he was quick to agree with her logic but wasn't sure of 
her solution.  The only problem was that he couldn't come 
up with a better idea.  

Once the sun had disappeared, the campfires were lit and 
the Catatonan royal guard took up positions as the Queen 
commanded.  The border guard and the Calatonian guard set 
up camp as normal, with the Calatonians a lot closer to 
the border guard then they would normally have camped.  No 
one noticed the Queen's Captain and one of the Calatonians 
ride away from the camp into the darkness.

"Well, Astron," Xena whispered as she brushed down her 
horse.  "you've served me well these past few years, but 
you've never been in a real battle together." The pale 
horse nuzzled against its master.  "Tomorrow, I'm 
confident you'll do just fine."  Xena leaned her head 
against the large horse and whispered to herself.  "It's 
been an awfully long time since I've fought in a battle 
like this.  It's been so awfully long.........."
    

A cheer from the invading army rose into the forest, 
causing birds to take flight and animals to flee.  The 
young Amazon Queen looked up at her friend as Xena rode 
back into the cover of the thick brush.  "There're going 
to fight?" she asked in disbelief.

"They have no choice." Xena replied.  "To a man, not one 
of them would ever run from a battle."

"By the gods." Gabrielle muttered, her eyes growing wide 
at the thought.  The Amazons had done well fighting a hit 
and run war against this army, but head to head they lost 
the advantage of being on their home soil.

"Remember." Xena said, addressing the Amazon warriors.  
"Stay in the trees, let them come to us.  Get into open 
ground and your fighting on their terms."  She then looked 
down at Gabrielle and said softly.  "Stay back, Gabrielle, 
these are not road way scum.  I need you to coordinate the 
help of the injured."

"I'll do what needs to be done." Gabrielle stated.  
Resolved not to allow herself to be relegated to any 
specific role.

"Very well." Xena replied, gritting her teeth.  She then 
turned to the archers, as more were headed up into the 
trees.  "You there," she said taking two of the women 
aside.  "You watch the Queen.  If anybody gets near her, 
kill them." Her eyes drilled into the women.  "You have no 
other duty today."

The women nodded.  "By our lives." they responded in 
unison.    With a leap, Xena jumped to Argo's back and 
walked him to the edge of the brush.  The army was forming 
ranks in the clearing, they would charge any minute.  She 
looked up at the archers in the trees.  One group carried 
great iron bow crossbows that had been adapted from the 
Centaurs.  The bow was pulled with a large lever attached 
to the stock, and was so heavy, it had to be braced up for 
accurate firing.  The troubles, though were worthwhile, 
the weapon gave the Amazons an accurate firing range that 
exceeded anything their enemies thought possible.

The army attacked.  Their Governor/Warlord was not a 
leader, he was a commander, he stayed back, standing next 
to his standard, overseeing the battle.  As the army 
advanced, not one Amazon moved or made a sound, they just 
watched the soldiers advance.  

Finally, Xena pushed her horse a half step from the trees 
and with a yell, pointed her sword at the advancing line.  
A hail of crossbow bolts and arrows rained down on the 
enemy.  They responded with their own archers, lobbing 
from the back of their lines.  Once the archers stopped to 
fire, they became separated from the rest of the force, 
and the perfect targets for the Amazon's with the heavy 
crossbows.

There was only time for one round of arrows before the 
force hit the Amazons at the edge of the clearing.  With a 
scream, the Amazon force surged out of the brush and met 
the invaders with an enthusiasm only a people protecting 
their homes could bring.

A shrill war cry rose up from the din as Xena jumped from 
Argo's back and joined the battle.  She had planned to 
stay back and wait for an opening to lead an attack at the 
Governor.  The smell of blood and excitement of battle was 
too much for the Warrior Princess to stand.  She was 
suddenly in the thick of the battle at the front lines.

Euphoria raced through the warrior's being as she fought 
these fine soldiers.  The dance was on, Xena waded into 
the fray, spinning her sword and smiling from ear to ear.  
She fought with joy, generally just wounding or knocking 
an opponent unconscious.  Her style had matured over the 
past few years as she learned a respect for life from her 
young friend.

Around Xena, the Amazons battled for their lives as the 
invaders poured into their ranks.  Finally, it became 
apparent that the Warrior Princess was opening a hole in 
the army's line, as she defeated the young soldiers.  The 
Amazons loosely formed up to either side of Xena and they 
started pushing into the clearing toward the Governor.

As the fight pushed away from the trees, Gabrielle 
advanced into the battle zone, to bring aid to her fallen 
warriors.  Ahead of her, one Amazon took a powerful blow 
and fell to her knees.  Gabrielle's response was natural 
and instinctive as she watch the soldier raise his sword 
for the fatal strike.  Staff in hand, the Amazon Queen 
joined the fight, striking the sword from the man's hands 
then ducking and sweeping low with her staff, breaking one 
of the man's legs.

A new enemy immediately replaced the first, but this one 
knew his target, it was a blond Amazon, fighting very 
skillfully with a staff.  He blocked the woman's first 
swing, then jumped over the sweep that took out his 
comrade.  He went on the offensive, swinging furiously at 
the young Amazon, forcing her backward.  Finally, she 
stumbled over a body and fell to the ground.

Even with her attention on the battle, Xena knew 
immediately when Gabrielle joined the fight.  From the 
corner of her eye, she watched the girl fight first one 
then a second veteran soldier.  All the while, waiting for 
the Amazons to kill the threats to their Queen.  When 
Gabrielle tripped and fell backwards, loosing her staff, 
all of Xena's attention was suddenly focused on her dazed 
friend.  Xena reached to her side for her chakram as the 
man raised his sword for the final strike.

The world went white, then black and red.  Xena's head 
swam as the ground came up and slammed her in the back.  
Blood washed over her eyes as she watched a shadow 
standing over her, positioning its newly bloodied sword 
for a final strike.  With a scream of pain and rage, Xena 
snapped into pure instinct.  She viciously kicked out at 
the man, catching him in the side of the shin.  The blow 
ripped the main muscle of his lower leg from its cartilage 
destroying the leg and causing excruciating pain.  The 
soldier screamed and fell to his knees over Xena, she 
kicked him again, this time in the groin.

Pain and darkness still threatened Xena, but she steadied 
herself and used the crippled soldier kneeling over her as 
support as she fought her way to her feet.  At one point, 
she was kneeling directly in front of the man and leaning 
on him heavily.  He looked at her blood soaked face and 
she smiled back at him.  Xena had one hand at his weapons 
belt and she grabbed his hair with the other.  

Xena removed a knife from the soldier's belt and held it 
up between them.  A terrifying look crossed her face then 
she drew the knife across the man's neck.  Blood sprayed 
from the soldier, soaking Xena's bare neck and shoulders.  
She made a final effort and struggled to her feet.

The battle seemed to be running in slow motion for the 
warrior woman.  First Xena turned toward Gabrielle, her 
long, black, sweat and blood soaked hair whipped about her 
shoulders.  Xena watched the young woman regain her feet.  
Laying on the ground next to her was the man who had 
threatened the Amazon Queen.  Two crossbow bolts were 
buried deep in his chest.

Gabrielle looked at the specter that was her best friend 
and yelled. "Xeeee....naaaaa!!!!"

Movement behind Xena caught her attention as the first of 
many soldiers who were headed for her reached her.  The 
Warrior Princess was wounded; any man who killed the 
mighty Xena in battle would be a hero and hailed as a 
great warrior.  Xena, Warrior Princess, was not there to 
fight them, instead, they found a wounded, vicious animal.

The first man raised his sword to strike the bloodied 
woman from behind.  As Xena turned to meet him, she threw 
her last kill's knife.  The soldier was just a few arm 
lengths away, and a step out of sword range, he stopped 
abruptly when the knife slammed into his forehead.  Xena 
rushed in on the man, grabbing his sword from his hands as 
he fell. 

With a scream, Xena rushed at the men advancing on her.  
The dance was over, now Xena fought with deadly skill and 
wild abandon.  The battle became fast and terrible, 
someone would swing at her, she'd duck and swing back, 
targeting any exposed body part.  Limbs fell to the 
ground, men were disemboweled and gutted as the woman made 
quick work of her enemies. 

As Xena pushed forward, the Amazons rallied behind her, 
again taking their cue from the Warrior Princess.  The 
battle took on an all new violent energy as people on both 
sides began to die even more rapidly.

The goal of the Warrior Princess was obvious, the dog of a 
governor, who's arrogant power grab had lead to this 
bloody day.  After emerging from the pack of men who stood 
in front of her, Xena headed directly toward their leader.  
A single soldier stood between them, Xena could feel the 
weakness from loss of blood starting to effect her.  She 
chose not to fight him, she gathered her strength and 
jumped over the soldier in a tight somersault.  As she 
went by, Xena produced the small dagger she carried down 
the front of her armor, and slit the man's throat.

The Governor watched Xena emerge from his troops and cross 
the rocky clearing, heading straight toward him.  "So, 
Warrior Princess," he said to himself, spitting the name.  
"I see you have earned your reputation."  The man smiled 
and pulled a long, curved sword.

It took just a few moments for Xena to reach the Governor.  
Her face, neck and shoulders were covered with dark blood 
and her leather armor was shredded.  Much of the woman's 
long black hair was plastered to her face and neck from 
blood and sweat, but it still flew out around her.  She 
carried a sword in her right hand and a small dagger in 
the left.

"It ends now." Xena hissed and swung at the man.

"That it does." he returned and blocked her attack.  He 
was rested and in perfect health.  All he needed was skill 
enough to defend against her depleted energy long enough 
for her to make a mistake.  With the pain and loss of 
blood from her face wound, he figured it wouldn't be long 
before he had an opportunity.

The fight left in the Warrior Princess was more then the 
Governor could have imagined.  He soon found himself on 
the defense from a flurry of attacks.  His skill was 
great, but he knew that if he didn't push his own attacks, 
she could find an opening. 

 Finally, Xena stalled and took a breath.  The Governor 
took the opportunity to make an offensive lunge, soon Xena 
was defending herself with ever weakening blocks.  After 
just several blows, Xena dropped her sword then ducked his 
next swing, falling to one knee.  She grabbed for her 
sword, but he stepped on it, pinning the weapon to the 
ground.

"Its about freaking time." the man hissed and raised his 
sword for the kill.

With a quick move, Xena thrust the small dagger she still 
clutched in her left hand at the man.  She rammed the 
blade between the plates of the man's black leather armor, 
into his stomach then twisted the small knife deep into 
his abdomen.

The man's sword fell to the ground as he gripped at the 
wound in his gut.  "Bitch, you killed me." he declared as 
he watched the blood seep out from under his clothes.

"Not yet." Xena replied and pulled the sword from under 
the man's foot.  The Governor weaved around clutching at 
his wound, trying to stop the blood.  Xena leaned on the 
length of her sword to pull herself to her feet then 
kicked the governor in the leg, shattering his knee cap.  
The man screamed in pain and dropped to the ground as Xena 
kicked his other leg out from under him.

Everything stopped, the world froze as Xena grabbed her 
enemy by the hair and swung her sword at his neck.  The 
blade was not her own, it was one she'd picked up from the 
battle field and its edge was not honed as well as Xena's 
own sword.  Her strike at the man lodged in the bone and 
muscle at the base of his neck; she had to brace her foot 
on his back to pull the weapon loose.  He was still 
screaming when she swung again, still gripping his hair 
tightly in her left hand.  This time, the sword cut into 
his neck and lodged in his vertebrae.  Blood and flesh 
splattered from the wound as Xena dislodged her weapon 
from the man's lifeless body, she could feel her own 
strength leaving her, as she swung again.  This time the 
man's head separated from his body and Xena stood there 
holding it by the hair.  With every ounce of energy she 
had left, Xena impaled the Governor's head on top of his 
own standard.  

Darkness fell.................

8. COUNTER MOVES.

The sun returned to Catatona sooner then Xena expected.  
Within minutes of the first rays of morning, the combined 
forces were packed and ready to move out.  Today was the 
day, time to ride into the lion's den.  Their only hope of 
victory was to do the unexpected, in this case the 
unexpected was to ride directly into the trap.

Bright green grass covered hills rolled across the plains 
of south western Catatona.  The troops Xena pursued made 
no attempt to cover their tracks as they headed straight 
toward a horse shoe shaped range of steep hills.

A signal from the Queen, brought the group to a halt short 
of the valley they were headed for.  Xena turned toward 
the regular soldiers of her border guard.  "You and your 
men will ride point." she told the squad leader.

"But ma'am," the leader started.  "you said yourself this 
is a trap."

A glare from the Queen made the man back his horse up a 
pace.  "I am well aware of the situation." She replied.  
"Remember, your comrades make up the bulk of the forces, 
if they see you first, they may hesitated attacking us."

"Very well, my Queen." the man declared and mustered his 
men to the front of the pack.

The nineteen border guard led the small force into the 
blind valley.  After the final pass, the hills of the 
valley sloped up sharply forming a boxed  valley.  Only 
the far end had enough of a slope to allow a strong horse 
up.  A signal from the Queen stopped the royal guard at 
the entrance, allowing the border guard to continue into 
the trap.  She also signaled for her men and the 
Calatonians to prepare their weapons.

"Okay!" Xena called.  "We're here!  Come on out!"

At the sound of the Queen's voice at a distance behind 
them, the border guard turned toward her and drew their 
own weapons.  New soldiers appeared at the top of the 
valley hills, in the middle of the force directly in front 
of Xena and her men, was a familiar face.

The former Captain of the Queen's Guard called down to the 
squad leader of the border guard.  "You were suppose to 
stay behind them." he yelled at the man.

The man shrugged.  "She ordered us in first, what were we 
suppose to do?"

The Captain looked at Xena.  "My Queen, so nice of you 
join us.  I promised my brothers you were as predictable 
as you have turned out to be."

"Trying to predict me has been a fatal flaw in many 
people."  Xena called back with a sharp grin.  "Tell me, 
where are Victor and Terina?  Do they still live."

"Of course they do."  The Captain looked at the ninety or 
so men who lined the hills above his Queen.  "But you 
won't for long."

"Why have you done this." Xena's horse danced under her, 
sensing the tension in his master.  "You know I have no 
designs on keeping the throne for me or Ella."

"What a price one pays for ignorance." the Captain called 
back.  "It's not about you, it's about me and my family.  
The current ruling family of Catatona is weaker now then 
it has been in a hundred years, it is time for a return of 
old and true Royal blood."

Behind the opposing forces, Xena saw the signal she'd been 
waiting for, two puffs of thick white smoke rose lazily 
into the sky.  "Now!" she yelled to her men and the 
Calatonians, who immediately raised their crossbows and 
cut down the border guard who had ridden in with them.  

Once the first round of bolts were fired, Xena threw her 
chakram at the remaining guard.  The round weapon 
ricocheted off the heads of five of the men, knocking them 
unconscious.  Xena caught the metal ring and swung her 
horse around,  "Lets go."

The Calatonian and Catatonan Royal Guard turned their 
mounts and raced out of the valley.  The thunder of hooves 
followed them as the Captain's army raced down the grass 
covered hills in pursuit.

9. OFF GUARD.

It was a long night for Forsete and the Calatonian, Vanek, 
once they left camp.  The two men road together silently 
for quite a while before Vanek started a quiet 
conversation.

"Tell me," Vanek whispered.  "How long have you ridden 
with the Queen of Catatona?"

"I've been a Queen's guard for three years." the young 
Captain replied to his companion.  The Calatonian looked 
to be a seasoned soldier and was definitely a few years 
older then he was.  "How about you, how long have you been 
in the King's guard?"

"Since last summer." Vanek replied.  "Before then I was a 
soldier on the eastern border."

"Why did you change?  It looks like you lost some rank in 
the move."

Vanek nodded.  "They didn't have an opening for a 
Captain." he admitted.  "But the King was sick, and 
everyone knew Winston would make a power play if Triton 
didn't return soon.  It just seemed like the right thing 
to do, I figured Alexander would need loyal, experienced 
men to back him until his father got home."

"So you took a loss in position to protect Triton's 
house?"

"Everyone proclaims their loyalty, it was about time 
someone showed it for once."

Forsete looked at his companion in the dim light from the 
clear, star filled night.  "Why are you telling me this?"

"It just seems your Queen has been having some trouble 
with loyalty lately.  I thought you needed to hear my 
opinions on the matter."

Forsete didn't reply.  "We're getting close." he 
whispered, "we'll leave our horses over here in the creek 
bed."  In the distance they could see the fires of the 
opposing army.

The two soldiers walked the rest of the way to the 
outskirts of the Catatonan/mercenary camp.  Well beyond 
the sentry line, they dug into the brush and camouflaged 
themselves.  It would be a long, cold, uncomfortable 
night, but they had their orders.

10. HOUSE OF CUNAXA.

A faint foot step, the brush of cloth, shallow breaths, 
all the elements brought King Triton's head up from his 
work.  Standing before him, was the Amazon Queen.  The 
woman's long hair was flat and unkempt, her brown suede 
skirt and top were dirty and stained with dried blood.  
Her eyes were lost and vacant.

"Gabrielle," Triton began, purposely informal.  "I was 
just about to request your presence."  He looked at the 
Amazon's face.  "Something has happened with Lusain?"

Careful foot steps brought the Amazon Queen toward 
Triton's desk, she was all but dragging her ever present 
fighting staff.  "Lusain has passed on." Gabrielle 
confirmed when she reached the desk.  She had stood vigil 
over the girl since sending Ipiphany, Serena and Ella back 
to Amazon territory.  "Her Sisters are building the 
funeral pyre for her now."

"My condolences," Triton offered.  "I know she was like a 
daughter to you.  I have a sense of what it would be like 
to lose someone so close."

"Has there been any word of Terina and Victor?"  Gabrielle 
asked hoping to steer the conversation to happier news.

"I'm sorry, nothing direct, but there has been some vague 
word about a town called Black Hills. Have you ever heard 
of it."

"Should I have?" Gabrielle asked shaking her head and 
searching her memory for the name.

"Black Hills is a town on the border between Calatonia and 
Catatona." Triton said in explanation.  "Because of the 
peace treaty between the two countries, Black Hills 
belongs to neither and as such has become a haven for all 
the scum and dregs of society from both countries."

"Do you think this is where they took Terina and Victor?"

"I thought it may be a possibility."  Triton admitted.  
"But we can be pretty sure that who ever planned the 
attack, recruited their mercenaries from there."

Gabrielle sank into a large over stuffed chair across from 
the King's desk.  She allowed her staff to clatter to the 
floor.  "And you have news from Black Hills?"

"Not really from Black Hills." Triton replied, "Rather, of 
Black Hills."  He looked at the Amazon, watching for her 
reaction.  "Black Hills burned a few nights ago.  The 
rumor is that the Queen of Catatona ordered it razed."

The two locked eyes for a second then Gabrielle looked 
away from the King.  "Why are you telling me this?  It's 
more then just paying me the courtesy of passing on 
information."

"You appear to know the Queen better then anybody." Triton 
said.  "Is she capable of such a thing."

The large chair seemed to envelope her as Gabrielle sank 
back into its padding.  She looked directly at King 
Triton, then through him as her mind replayed so many old 
images.  "Oh yes," she finally admitted.  "she is quite 
capable, if pushed hard enough."

Triton nodded in acceptance of Gabrielle's simple and 
honest answer.

A thought occurred to Gabrielle as she sat staring at the 
King.  "Before Lusain died," she volunteered, "she asked 
me something."

Triton's curiosity was perked.  "Really, what was it?"

Gabrielle leaned forward, with a puzzled look on her face.  
"Just before she died, she woke up and asked 'For the 
house of  Cunaxa?'  Do you have any idea what she was 
referring to?"

Triton suddenly leaned forward in his chair.  "Are you 
sure that is what she said? 'House of Cunaxa'?"

"Yes, why.  Where is this house of Cunaxa?"

"Did anybody else hear her say this, or did you mention it 
to anybody?" 

The moments before Lusain's death flooded into Gabrielle's 
mind.  "No, no one else was with me when Lusain woke, just 
before she died,  and I haven't spoken of this to anybody 
else."

"Good, please don't mention it to anybody." Triton 
insisted.  He immediately pulled out an official 
communiqu, scroll.  "I've got to get word of this to 
Prince Julian, he must know this has to do with Cunaxa."

"I'm glad Lusain was able to help." Gabrielle said quietly 
as she stood to leave.

"Queen Gabrielle." Triton said abruptly as the Amazon 
turned toward the door.

"Yes."

"I will be leading a delegation to the Royal palace of 
Catatona." Triton declared.  "Will you and your warriors 
ride with me?"

"Why?" Gabrielle asked, astonished at the sudden turn of 
events.

"Why am I going to Catatona, or why do I want you to go 
with me?"  Triton smiled a little at his baiting of the 
woman he had grown so fond of.

Tired eyes stared blankly back at him.  "Either."

"Because." Triton began.  "The House of Cunaxa is the 
family that my family displaced for the crown of 
Catatonia, the country that was eventually split into 
Catatona and Calatonia.  If the people who claim the 
Cunaxa blood line have formed an alliance, it could 
threaten the royal houses of both countries." he looked at 
Gabrielle and frowned.  "My brother, Lord Winston, his 
mother's family was always very proud of their Cunaxa 
roots.  It was one of his arguments in his bid to claim 
the throne after the King, our father, died."

"But that doesn't explain why you want me to come with 
you."

A serious expression washed over Triton's face.  "I would 
like you to travel with me, because most of my best and 
most trusted guard are on the expedition to find Terina 
and Victor.  The rest I need to leave right here to 
protect my family.  That means I need some strong warriors 
to accompany me who I can trust implicitly."

"You trust a small band of Amazons above your own people?" 
Gabrielle asked in disbelief.  Perhaps in her exhaustion 
she did not understand what he really meant to say.

"When it comes to knowing where somebody will stand when 
it comes to Cunaxa, there are very few I can trust.  Just 
as the Queen of Catatona has found out with her own 
court."

Gabrielle bowed slightly.  "I am honored you would 
consider us worthy."

"You earned my respect the first day we met."  Triton 
returned.

11. THE ROAD EAST.

Several mornings after leaving King Triton's palace, three 
cloaked young women rode toward the rising sun.  The 
taller of the three held up her hand, signaling the others 
to stop.  

"Someone is out there." Ipiphany stated, looking toward 
the thin line of trees to either side of the road.  The 
Amazon messenger dropped the hood of her cloak to her 
shoulders and pulled it open to free her weapons.  Her two 
companions took her lead and freed themselves of their 
warm coverings.

"Who do you think it is." Ella asked.

"We're about to find out." Serena replied.  Serena shook 
her wild blond locks back from her face.  The young 
woman's hair always looked totally unkempt and un-cared 
for.  No matter what she did to control it, her hair 
always looked like she had just rolled out of bed.  Serena 
guided her horse next to Ella.  Now the young princess had 
an Amazon on either side of her.

"Who ever's out there." Ipiphany called to the forest,  
"come on out."

A dirty, ragged mercenary stepped from the woods, and drew 
his sword.  Another stepped forward from the other side of 
the road.  Others appeared up the road, soon there were 
eight men spread out in front of them.  Three of the men 
were well equipped with expensive armor and quality 
weapons.

"What do you want?" Ipiphany demanded, making a show of 
setting the one handed cross bow she carried.

"I'll be," one of the apparent leaders proclaimed, "if the 
Queen isn't as predictable as the Captain said she is."  
As he spoke, the gang advanced into the road.

"Step aside." Serena called out to the men.  "We don't 
want any trouble."

"That's exactly what I was about to tell you." one of the 
better equipped men said.  "All we want is Gabriella, and 
we'll leave you unharmed, we have no quarrel with the 
Amazon nation."

"Gabriella?" Ella said, repeating the mispronunciation of 
her full name.  "There's only been one man who ever called 
me that."  She leaned forward and stared at the gray 
bearded man.  "Petriov, is that you?"  

"I never intended for things to be like this, Gabriella." 
the man said, "but we had to make our move while both 
houses were weak."

"My parents trusted you." Ella replied, "You were in 
charge of so much of my training when I was a child."

The man smiled  "My dear child, that was not that long ago 
at all.  Now come, I give you my word, no harm will come 
to you or your friends if you come with us peacefully."

"Enough!" Ipiphany said loudly. "We have our duty to our 
Queen and to our charge.  Return to wence you came and 
tell your masters that we never passed your way."  She 
nudged her horse and started toward the men.  Serena and 
Ella followed.

Petriov stood in the middle of the road flanked by his 
men.  When the Amazons started forward, they drew their 
swords and waited.  "I'm sorry it has to be this way" 
Ella's old teacher said. "I didn't want Amazon blood on my 
hands."

"Pity." Ipiphany returned.  "The blood of so many of your 
comrades still drips from mine."  She raised her crossbow 
and shot one of the grungy mercenaries who had started 
circling around the women.  She only took her eyes off 
Petriov long enough to catch a glimpse of the man she had 
shot.  As soon as the bolt was fired, Ipiphany dropped the 
weapon and pulled her sword from her scabbard.  The 
crossbow dropped down to the side of the horse, swinging 
from a thin rope that connected it to the saddle.

"Kill the Amazons." Petriov commanded "But don't harm the 
princess!"    

The Amazons immediately rushed their mounts forward and 
stood in front of Ella.  Petriov's remaining men advanced, 
leaving their leader to observe what he thought would be a 
quick skirmish.  Swords clashed as the Amazons rode into 
the melee, slashing and kicking at their attackers.

Two of the men got by Ipiphany and Serena and were able to 
knock Ella from her horse.  Though the girl was well 
trained, she had never been in a real battle and was no 
match for these veterans.  At the same time, Ipiphany 
broke through the line and jumped Petriov.

"Let her go." Ipiphany demanded, as she turned Petriov 
toward his men.  She had him in a tight head lock, holding 
his body in front of her.  Her left arm crossed Petriov's 
neck, with her forearm braced up the right side of his 
head.  With the hold, she could just as easily choke him 
or snap his neck.

The men turned toward Ipiphany, one held a sword to the 
princess's throat.  "Let him go, or the bitch dies now."

Ipiphany looked at Serena, who had stopped her fight with 
one of the men, the two held their attacks in mid strike.  
She looked back at the men with the Princess.  "Harm her 
and you all die." she said coldly.

"Right." one of the men replied sarcastically, "now drop 
your weapons, we're not kidding about this."

A slight nudge to Petriov got a response from him.  
"Release her." he ordered.  "We are not to harm the 
Princess, no matter what."

"And our pay?" one of the men asked, "You paid us to get 
this girl, do you want her or not."

"Release her, you'll be paid and we'll just have to wait 
for another chance."

The two men pushed Ella to the ground and backed up.

"Now leave here." Ipiphany demanded.  The two that had 
taken Ella and the one Serena was fighting backed out of 
the area then headed into the woods to retrieve their 
horses.   

"What now?" Petriov asked, looking down at the wounded men 
laying in the road.  His two aids didn't appear badly 
hurt, just knocked down and dazed by the Amazons' furious 
attack.

"Tell me." Ipiphany replied.  "What is so important that 
you would betray your Queen and country like this."

"I am of the house of Cunaxa." Petriov replied.

"What is the House of Cunaxa?" Serena asked Ella.

The girl approached Petriov who was still being held 
tightly in Ipiphany's grip.  "Your Cunaxa?"

"It's time for the House of Cunaxa to reunite the country 
your family stole and divided." Petriov proclaimed. 

The young princess went sheet white.  "Everyone's in 
danger." she whispered.

"Your mother and mine can handle this." Ipiphany reassured 
Ella.  "Now, you two ride on, I'll take care of Petriov 
and catch up with you."

"What are you going to do?" Ella asked, still feeling 
concern for her old friend.

"Don't worry, I'll just make sure he understands not to 
follow us."

Ella grabbed her horse and followed Serena down the road.

The two women were a furlong away when Ipiphany finally 
loosened her grip on Petriov enough for him to speak 
again.  "Is there anything else before I go?" she asked.

"We're not done." the old warrior replied.

"Yes we are." Ipiphany responded and quickly increased the 
pressure on Petriov's neck.  The man went limp and she 
gently lowered the body to the ground, watching his head 
role unnaturally to the side.  The messenger felt nothing, 
she never did.  No remorse, for the dead, no joy of 
victory, nothing.  The only two people she ever felt 
anything for were in danger from this House of Cunaxa.

On the edge of the tree line, the three mercenaries had 
retrieved their horses and now watched the tall Amazon.  
She jerked the Catatonan's head, then lowered his limp 
body to the ground.  They watched as she drew her sword 
and headed for the remaining two Catatonans, who were 
still dazed from the blows they took during the fight.

"If she kills them," One of the mercenaries observed.  
"There'll be nobody to vouch for us and pay us if we 
return to Catatona."  In unison, the three drew their 
swords and charged the Amazon.

A yell from the woods drew Ipiphany's attention.  "You 
damn fools." she muttered and pulled the long bow from her 
horse.  "Now, if you'll just stand still....."

12. DETOUR.

Thirty minutes down the road, Serena and Ella waited at a 
crossroads.  The route they followed veered south, while 
another branch headed north.  Once Ipiphany finally caught 
up to them, the young princess looked at her Amazon 
companions then north up the road.  

"My mother thought it was Orian behind the betrayal of 
Terina and Victor." Ella said quietly.  "I knew he 
wouldn't do such a thing, he's a good man."

"I did not meet Prince Orian." Ipiphany stated.

Ella frowned.  "He was furious that you got into the 
palace so easily, then mother refused to take your 
trespass seriously.  He and mother have not gotten along 
well in the past few years.  Orian's mother's family have 
been trying to poison him against mother and me."

"That's what I've heard." Ipiphany confirmed.

The young girl turned toward the Amazon.  "He doesn't hate 
me, he's a good man and a good brother.  If Cunaxa is 
plotting against him and using the tension between him and 
mother to weaken us, then we must warn him.  He'll believe 
me."

"Queen Gabrielle directed us to take you directly to 
Amazon territory." Serena stated.  "There is no way for us 
to warn your brother."

"We could go to Catatona." Ipiphany replied.

"What, we can't, the Queen gave direct orders." Serena 
couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"My mother and my sister are being threatened by this 
House of Cunaxa." Ipiphany said.  "I will not run away 
knowing they might harm my family."  She looked at Ella 
who was smiling triumphantly, and Serena who appeared 
confused, then continued. "I know Ella is all for heading 
to Catatona, how about you?" She asked Serena.

The blond Amazon pushed a long tangle of hair out of her 
face and looked at her friend.  "If it was anybody else," 
she said.  "I would doubt the wisdom of going against our 
Queen's orders, but I would follow you to Tardarous to 
protect Queen Gabrielle and Princess Terina."

"Very well." Ipiphany said, showing no emotion.  "We head 
to Catatona."
    
13. TURN ABOUT.

As the sun lit the eastern horizon, Forsete and Vanek 
watched the mercenary camp come alive.  The soldiers in 
the camp didn't take time to pack their equipment or 
indulge in a morning meal.  Men were quickly roused and 
ordered to their mounts.

Within minutes, only a hand full of soldiers remained, 
mostly mercenaries, and three Catatonans to maintain 
control.  Huddled on the ground near one of the central 
fires, were two people, barely able to move from the ropes 
that bound them.

"That must be the prince and princess." Forsete commented.

"Do you think we can take them." Vanek asked, trying to 
hash out a plan of attack.

"If we can get close enough to surprise them." the 
Catatonan replied.

The Calatonian clamped his hand on his partner's shoulder.  
"I have an idea." he whispered, "All we need to do is get 
our horses..."

A grin crossed Forsete's face after Vanek had detailed his 
simple plan.  "Xena taught us to never underestimate the 
skill of an opponent." Forsete said quietly.  "But we 
should also never underestimate his stupidity either."  
The two men slipped out of their hiding spot and returned 
to their horses.

"Are you sure this has a chance?" Forsete asked with bit 
of a grin.

The pair rode quickly toward the camp site.  "Now's not 
the time to question the wisdom of my plan." Vanek 
returned as they came into sight of the ten soldiers left 
to guard the royal couple. 

"You there." Forsete called to one of the Catatonans as 
they approached.  The Catatonans left in charge were from 
the boarder guard, and thankfully wouldn't recognize him.  
They would, however, recognize is Queen's Guard armor, the 
same that their leader wore.

Two of the men held up crossbows while the others drew 
swords.  "Who are you?" the elder of the three Catatonans 
demanded as the pair approached.

"The Captain has sent us for your men." Forsete lied.  
"The Queen has a larger force than anticipated and we need 
as many as possible to face her."

"You three are to remain, we'll take the others back to 
the main force."

"You don't look familiar." The man in charge replied.  
"How do I know your with us."

Forsete jumped off his horse and stared at the Border 
Guard captain.  The man was quiet a few years older then 
he and was obviously a seasoned veteran.  "Look at me." 
Forsete used a very calm and confident tone; just like 
he'd heard the Queen use on many occasions.  "I am the 
Captain's personal attach,'.  Are you blind, man?"

"Not at all, Lieutenant." the Captain returned.  "In fact 
I can see well enough to tell your companion is wearing 
the amour of the Calatonian Royal Guard."

"Of course he is." Forsete replied then looked the 
mercenaries up and down.  "Haven't you figured out by now 
that this little exercise has its roots in history that 
effects the loyalties of both countries."  

As Forsete spoke, Vanek dismounted, keeping his horse 
between him and the guard.  It allowed him to release his 
crossbow unobserved.

"I heard the Captain talking a few nights ago." One of the 
Catatonans started  "he said that he didn't include any 
other Queen's Guard with him because you were all either 
too smitten with the Queen or too afraid of her."  As he 
spoke, the man stepped forward raising his sword.  "Now, 
do us all a favor and drop your weapons."

"Oh, I wish you hadn't heard that." Forsete said as he 
raised his hands.  Before they were over his head, he 
struck down at the closest enemy, landing a punch squarely 
on the top of the man's cheek.  He immediately grabbed the 
stunned man and spun him around in front of him, catching 
a bolt from one of the crossbows.

Punching the man wasn't the signal Vanek was waiting for, 
but it sufficed.  As soon as the fight started, Vanek 
fired his crossbow over his horse's back, then jumped 
away.  The old captain rolled across the ground, reloading 
his bow as he rolled up to his knees.  His first target 
had been the archer that had not fired on Forsete, the 
other fell to Vanek's second bolt.

"Get them!" one of the mercenaries cried, raising his 
sword to lead the attack.
    Forsete dropped the body he 
was holding and drew his sword just in time to block the 
first strike. He ducked under the swing pulling a long 
dagger with his left hand.  As the man lumbered past, 
Forsete swung back with the shorter blade stabbing the 
mercenary in the back.  He stood up in time to block an 
attack from another mercenary, this one was more skilled 
and forced a real fight.

While Forsete was dealing with his share of the enemy, 
Vanek jumped back on his horse and rode down to defenders 
standing between him and the royal couple.  One he knocked 
unconscious with a boot heal to the forehead and another 
fell to his sword. 

"Your Highnesses!" Vanek cried as he jumped from his 
horse.

"Captain Vanek," Victor declared "I knew you'd be one of 
our rescuers."

Ex-captain Vanek turned to Terina first, cutting a tight 
gag from her mouth.  The young bride was a mess, her 
clothes were shredded and  filthy, and she was covered 
with dirt and bruises.

"Cut me loose." she demanded as soon as the gag was 
removed.  Her bindings weren't even totally off before she 
was fighting to her feet.

"Terina, no wait." Victor cried as he watched his wife 
grab a loose sword and meet one of the mercenaries coming 
after them.

The short bride was tired and sore, but she was an Amazon, 
trained to fight with total abandon to protect her Queen.

The men approaching them didn't seem to know how to deal 
with this creature charging at them.  Her face a mask of 
dirt and dried blood,  hatred and anger burned in her eyes 
as she screamed her attack.

Terina charged under the first man's up raised sword, 
driving her blade through his stomach to its hilt.  As he 
fell, she grabbed the  weapon from his hand and turned 
toward the second attacker.

The world blurred and the ground started to shake when the 
mercenary landed a heavy strike with the hilt of his sword 
to Terina's temple.  A smirk crossed his face as his 
victim stumbled to one side, nearly dropping her sword. A 
blur crossed the man's field of vision then he was struck 
full force in the gut.  

The instant his ropes were cut, Victor launched himself at 
the man attacking his wife.  Unarmed, Victor charged into 
him, knocking him to the ground and landing on top of him.  
The young prince grabbed a knife from the still dazed 
mercenary's belt and rammed it into the man's neck.

As soon as Victor was released, Vanek rejoined the fight 
and together he and Forsete finished off the remaining 
mercenaries.  The two looked at the royal couple as Victor 
helped Terina find her footing after taking the hit.

"Let's go." Forsete ordered.  "The Queen awaits our 
signal."

 Victor agreed.  "We've got to get out of here."  he 
headed for their captors' horses.

The young Amazon clung to her husband's arm still dazed 
from the strike.  As they passed one of the mercenaries, 
still alive, and nursing relatively minor wounds, she 
stopped and looked at the man.

"You thought you were so tough kicking a defenseless 
woman." Terina hissed at the man.

"Bitch, Amazon." the man gasped back.  "Go back to your 
mud huts and savage gods."

"Arrgh!" Terina cried savagely as she started kicking the 
wounded man.  She pushed Victor away when he tried to 
restrain her, then swung her sword viciously at the 
mercenary.  The blade bounced off the man's face and 
gouged a huge gash in his shoulder.  Terina raised her 
blade for a second strike when Victor grabbed her arm.

The Amazon turned violently toward who ever had grabbed 
her, then softened when she saw her husband.  Tears formed 
on her face and she collapsed into Victor's arms.  

"Come, we've got to get out of here before they come 
back." Victor said softly. 

The royal couple saddled two of their guards' horses and 
joined Forsete and Vanek.  Before they left, Terina found 
a fine long bow and two large quivers of arrows.  The 
Amazon was well trained with sword and staff, but she was 
an archer and felt better with her weapon of choice close 
at hand.

"One more thing." Forsete said before they rode from camp.  
The young captain produced two pouches of a foul smelling 
powder the Queen had given him.  Each bag he threw into a 
cooking fire, the powder flashed brightly, producing two 
large clouds of white smoke.

continued in BOOK 4: The Gathering