The following morning dawned bright and clear.  The sun shone, chasing away the remnants of the previous night's storm.  The blue sky was thin and pale, and the world smelt of the moist earth.  Xena awoke early and rode out to the mountain pass, arriving back in the centaur village just as Tydus' group was meeting up, as she had requested the previous night.

"I have some good news, and some bad news," she said as she dismounted Argo.  "The mountain pass is blocked, but I'm afraid that doesn't put an end to the threat of Mictus' army."

A few mummers ran through the crowd, as everyone wondered how the pass could be closed up.  Most assumed that Xena had done it this morning, or that the storm at least had some part in it.

"No, Mictus will do whatever he can to get to the village.  He's…We need to set up some traps.  Whatever we can do to slow him down, take out some of his men.  We don't much time though."

"Then let's go!" cried a voice from the back.  Several others voiced their agreement.

Xena smiled and motioned for the crowd to quiet back down.  "I have come up with several devices and Tydus will show us where they are best suited."

"Everyone grab some tools from your homes, then meet back here as soon as you can," said the centaur, and the group dispersed immediately.

"So how did the mountain pass get blocked, Xena?"

The question belonged to Gabrielle, who leaned against her staff in the early morning light.  Xena had not talked much last night, and had gone to bed soon after Gabrielle had come back in.

Xena drew in a breath before answering.  "Ares did it last night."

"Ares?"

"Yeah, he's trying to convince me that we need to fight Mictus together."

"Why?"

"He says that Mictus is a god now."

"A god?"

Xena nodded.  "Ares also said that Mictus has the Hind's Blood and is going to go after the gods next."

"Do you believe him?"

"I don't know."

"Xena…"

"What?  It's not that I don't believe that Ares is telling the truth.  I saw too much fear in his eyes last night.  I don't believe his motives.  He wants something, I can feel it."

"Probably you," Gabrielle replied with a smirk.  After a warning look from Xena, she shrugged.  "Well, it's not like he hasn't tried everything to get you back."

"No.  If it was just a plot to get me back, I'd know.  No, he wants something else. I just don't know what it is."

A silence fell as Xena spoke her last words.  Behind them, they could hear the centaurs approaching once more.  Gabrielle forced herself to break the silence.

"So, are you going to tell them?"  She motioned with a jerk of her head towards Tydus and the others.  Now the men of the centaur village were coming up, all carrying tools or some kind or another.

"Not yet."

"Xena, you have to tell them!"

"I will, tonight.  But I can't risk letting them know just yet.  They'd lose some of their spirit, and weaker spirits make for weaker traps."

"It also makes for weaker warriors, Xena.  Tell them tonight and tomorrow the battle will see them with heavier hearts and maybe less hope."

"Gabrielle, even if I told them now, they'd still go into battle the same way.  I'm going to ride back out to the pass later.  I want to see for myself how things look."

"I thought you said you trust Ares."

"I do, but I need to see how things stand.  I need to see how powerful Mictus is."

"Okay, fine.  Do what you think is best."  Gabrielle threw up her hands in defeat.  Xena's mind was set, and whatever thoughts she had, she would be keeping to herself.