Chapter 4

Xena stomped her stomach back down to its proper place. She could do amazing flips and ride horses at breakneck speed but this weird teleporting the gods did always made her stomach very uneasy.

"You okay?" Ares asked quietly.

"Yeah, stomach doesn't handle your method of travel well when it's empty." She shook her head, took a few deep breaths, and was able to stand on her own two feet. "So where are we?" She asked, glancing around at the slightly unfamiliar land.

"It is the land with no name."

"Land with no…" Realization dawned on Xena.

"We're in another land!" Her voice went up an octave, she had assumed all of the tombs were in Greece and she had not agree to go traversing the globe.

"Do not worry Xena. Athena will not follow you here, she is less than welcome and we are only a short walk from the tomb, maybe a day at most." Ares reassured her. Xena growled but resigned herself to being in the war gods company for a little while longer than she wanted.

"So where is this tomb?"

"East from here, toward the low Sea." Ares gestured to his left.

"Well, lets get walking."

"Hold on." Ares let loose a piercing whistle, the ground started to rumble, and the familiar sound of horses reached Xena's ears accompanied by unfamiliar whooping sounds and whistles. The herd came to a halt at the command of three young, dark skinned boys, already scarred from many battles, their bright, youthful eyes held the shadows of death. Their hair was black as Xena's was long, braided with feathers and beads.

"They gestured between themselves then too Xena and Ares. Xena raised an eyebrow, great; they do not speak Greek the look seemed to say.

"Greetings Running Wolf." Ares raised a hand in greeting, speaking they language with ease.

"Lord Ares, welcome." The boy at the back of the herd dismounted and walked toward Xena and Ares, the two other boys bowed their head in respect but remained seated on their horses. "Tell us what need have you of our horses?"

"We have a journey to the East; they would expedite this journey greatly." Xena kept her mouth shut, simply watching the god speak…respectfully to the boy who could not have had more than sixteen summers behind him, but he carried himself with confidence.

"Your woman knows how to ride?" Xena knew the look the boy wore; she had seen it many times when she stepped onto the battlefield with seasoned male soldiers. Ares puffed up a bit, his woman he liked how that sounded.

"Yes, Xena can ride well, let her prove it." The young boy nodded and led a high-stepping stallion from the herd. Ares told Xena to mount the horse. She did not quite understand why she had to prove she could ride but if it made the trip easier, she was not arguing. If only Gabrielle could see her being all cooperative and peaceful, she would die of shock.

Xena approached the stallion who tossed his hand and watched her with wary eyes.

"Easy big boy," she crooned, approaching slowly, her hand out for him to sniff. "The stallion seemed to accept her approach and she walked along his side, her hand trailing on his dusky grey coat that looked as if it had been spattered with sea foam. She pet him allowing him to become accustomed to her touch. After a moment, four pairs of eyes focused on her. Xena pulled herself onto the stallion's back. The stallion tensed beneath Xena and she barely had time to wrap her fingers in his main before he was tearing off to open field, bucking and turning attempting to dislodge his rider. Xena held on for dear life. A WILD HORSE! Now it made sense why she was forced to show her riding skills. The boys were warriors and Ares is a man so he obviously was given respect as a male and as a warrior, but she was female…she had to EARN her respect. Xena set her mind to taming the proud beast. Argo had been the same the first time Xena had tried to ride her. After Argo tossed her and she suffered a broken arm she had learned a new tactic for taming the animal.

"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke in spurts, trying not to bite off her own tongue and hold on until the stallion either tired or listened. Ares watched as Xena kept her seat, his eyes filled with cautious pride. He had watched the Warrior Princess since she was but a babe and her mother had killed the drunken lout known as husband and father to that family. Even Ares held no affection for the man, but he was a good solider. Finally, the stallion stopped its wild bucking and Xena sat tall on its back, her eyes tight around the edges, sweat dripping down her face. There was no breeze and despite the low set of the sun, it was still stiflingly hot.

"Good, now stay calm." Xena ordered in a soft, warm voice. She slid from his back and stroked his thick neck, her fingers working to slick away the sweat from his hide. Xena had left her grooming supplies with Argo and Gabrielle and she wished she at least had a treat to offer the proud beast. "Good boy, would you like to go back to your mares now?" The horse tossed his man and Xena smiled, taking it as an affirmative. They walked back slowly, side by side, Xena's hand on his neck the entire way.

"He's a good horse Ares, strong." Ares nodded and turned to Running Wolf and his companions.

"Told you Xena could ride." Running Wolf quickly hid his admiration.

"Come Lord Ares, you and your…Xena can make camp with us tonight, start fresh with the morning." The stallion bumped Xena's shoulder making her smile.

"At least I have one friend here." She murmured against his muzzle. Ares heard the comment but schooled his features to hide the pain of his disappointment.