Callisto was at the main gate looking out into the early afternoon sun. If her spies had been correct it meant that Xena should be either at the city or within an hour away from the city. The leather clad woman had over the years seen the warrior escape many traps and failures of her own doing but this had to be the most amazing one yet. The blond had given the dark haired woman enough of the knockout drug to take out an entire army and yet somehow she had awaken to escape the burning ship and then proceeded to escape Poseidon's clutches.
Of course the woman had given up on the gods a long time ago. That had happened while watching from the hills as her village burned to the ground. There was not a building nor an animal nor a human being left once the ashes had stopped smoking. The only thing that Callisto had found after traveling down to her home village was her doll. It had been scorched but was still recognizable. After she had caught up with the warlord she had tossed the doll in the warrior's tent.
It was all she could do at the time. She had neither the skill nor the size to go against the warlord. Over the years she had watched the warlord and learned from afar how to handle a sword. As she got older she had gone to every low class bar and used her only method as payment in learning more skills. It was another reason that she thought that love was something that only weak minded people thought existed. Even one of her lieutenants had professed his love for her. She had gutted him like a pig.
The blond haired woman had already been all over every square inch of the city five times over not nearly convinced that her men were competent to deal with the warrior. She was. Callisto had complete confidence in herself. After all it was Xena that had created the wild crazy woman that was running around the city making sure that it was at least somewhat prepared. The city's council had not taken the news that the warlord was alive and coming to the city well. But they had given her a second chance to make it right.
As the sun sank even lower Callisto decided that a break was in order. By now her evening meal would be ready and waiting for her in her quarters. It would also give her a chance to play with her new play toys. The crazy woman was beginning to see why Xena might just care for the young bard. The stories that she told to the boy from across the room were priceless. Watching the two interact had almost made her heart soften. It reminded her of her mother who had also been known around her small village as a storyteller.
But those thoughts had quickly been erased by the screams coming from her mother while she had been trapped along with her sister in their hut. One of Xena's men had come along and blocked the doorway just before he had set fire to the roof. If Callisto had not been going to the communal well to bring water back for the start of supper she too would have been in there. If she thought about it she could feel the water spray against her leg after she had dropped the bucket and stood in shock at first. Then she had found her feet and ran at the first sounds of screams.
All this was pushed from her mind as she walked the great distance from the gates of Corinth and into the large hut that she had been given. There were very few citizens out and about. There were armed men everywhere which made her smile. Even as good as the warrior was there was no way that she could find a way in. Every entrance was covered by at least six guards. The smaller entrances were guarded by four. The walls were lined with men. She was very proud of herself indeed.
Finally she made it to the place she tentatively called home. Two sets of eyes were upon her when she walked in the door. The boy was leaning as close to the bard as he could. From the look upon his face Gabrielle had apparently been in the middle of telling him yet another story. The blond girl was also as close as she could get to the young boy. Her body and face still looked almost the same yet she seemed to be able to move about just a little better.
It probably helped that Callisto had finally allowed the healer to stop by but only twice in the last day. If Xena had not been on the prowl she would have stationed the healer in the room. A sick plaything was not a good plaything. She only wanted the healer there when she was there so that made it difficult for the healer to be there. Neither of her prisoners had moved when she entered and that disappointed her a little. She had hoped that they had a healthy fear of her and would at least flinch.
Course they both, especially the boy, had been around the destroyer of nations. Seeing the warrior kill and maim probably was old hat for the two. But then again maybe not as the boy always seemed to be near Xena and yet kept back when a battle or something nastier had happened. As for the girl well Callisto had not seen her capture and had not been around the past two weeks watching. She had been too busy in Corinth and making her deal with Poseidon.
Sure enough, her dinner was waiting on the large table. Callisto made her way there and began eating the rich meats and fruits that went along with being in charge. As she ate and drank her ale she noticed that her two playthings also had been served their dinners. They ate in silence not looking at her or each other. It surprised her that the bard was not trying harder to get with the kid. There was something about her that just made the mad woman think she would do such a thing.
That gave the mad woman an idea. After she had inhaled her food she went to the door and called for one of her men. "Get me one of the jailors that can move the chains. I want to put the two prisoners here closer together." When the man looked at her skeptically she went to backhand him. He moved with speed if not grace after that. Callisto paced back and forth waiting impatiently for the man to return. Finally there was a knock on the door and she opened it. "I want the boys chains moved so that he can be next to the girls. Not so they touch of course."
The man nodded at her. Callisto watched as he worked in silence and grace. He moved the boy and the pillows he sat upon. Then he carefully measured the length of chain and went about securing the chain into the wall. It took him only moments to do and before he turned to go he checked to make sure that Gabrielle's chains were also secure. "Both all set." He saluted his boss as he termed her and took off without another word glad to be away from the crazy lady. What she had done to the girl made him shiver.
Callisto made her way over to her chained prisoners. "Sorry I haven't been around as much." As she bent down she could see Gabrielle flinch just a tiny bit and that made her smile. Afraid of me as she should be. But she hasn't seen anything yet. Just hope Xena doesn't show up and ruin this for me. "As soon as I find your mistress and kill her properly than I will get to spend almost all my time with you. Won't that be fun?"
Gabrielle managed to look the crazy woman in the eye but refused to be baited into saying anything. She had vowed after the first out and out beating that she had taken that she would be damned if she said anything to the woman unless absolutely necessary. She was grateful however that Callisto had moved the boy closer to her. If something was to happen and they were somehow able to get free or better yet if Xena showed up then the closer proximity was a good thing.
"What? Cat got the bard's tongue?" Callisto eyed her captive. "You might want to consider speaking as I could always cut your tongue out and then there will be no more stories or talking whatsoever." Green eyes tried not to show it but a flash of fear flashed in them. The mad woman had to admit she was impressed how together the young girl was maintaining herself. Just a flinch here or a flash in the eyes there. It was very impressive indeed.
The bard looked at the boy and then at Callisto. She swallowed hard as it always seemed her mouth went dry and constricted whenever her captor was around. "Would you like me to tell you a story?" Big brown eyes grew even rounder. Instantly the bard was afraid that was the wrong thing to say. "I don't know many stories and I haven't made up too many of my own. It is a skill I'm just starting to develop. My only other skills have to do with housework."
Callisto absorbed this information. You know I really truly do believe she is this young and innocent and naïve. I wonder if Xena knew what she was getting when she took this girl in. Probably all that she saw was a very sexy young girl that she could train in the bedroom how she liked it. Almost want to reunite them because I think this girl is going to shatter the warrior into a thousand pieces emotional. "Well if I want a story I'll let you know. What I want from you is to tell me everything you know about your mistress."
That took Gabrielle back a little and this time she could not keep the fear and the trepidation off from her face. Her knowledge of the warrior was really next to none. She had spent literally a total of maybe two days awake enough to really learn anything about the warrior at least in her mind. And yet there seemed to be an instant emotional connection that had concluded with that kiss. Oh how that kiss lingered in her mind. It was never far from her thoughts as was the warrior herself.
The bard was quiet for several moments trying to figure out what so say. Her fear was rising every second that she remained silent as she knew that Callisto was not a patient person and had a hair trigger. "I can tell you how we met. I was being taken by her men. One was about to whip me. She came out of nowhere and took the whip from him." She thought back for a moment while still wondering just how much to tell the other woman. "Then our eyes met and she told the guy basically that I was her personal slave and to make sure no one touched me."
Callisto nodded her head. "That sounds like her." She looked to see that the boy was just as interested in what Gabrielle was saying as she was. That interested her. The boy had intelligence in his eyes that looked a little familiar to her. In fact there was something very familiar about the boy. The blond could not place it but he reminded her of someone. But she pushed that back out of her mind as she wanted to learn more about Xena. "Go on."
"Well, the first night she threatened to whip me but I passed out instead. Then she tried to…" Gabrielle glanced over at the boy trying to figure out the right words. "Make me do something I didn't want to. I was able to talk her out of it." That got a surprised look on Callisto's face and the bard simply shrugged in response. "Then we made for the ship but it turned cold and it was raining. By the time we got to the ship I was sicker than sick. In fact I didn't really start feeling good until the day you captured us."
The evil blond again absorbed all this information. What she was being told sounded like the warlord and yet didn't sound like the warlord. It was confusing her to say the least. She also had the inkling that the bard was leaving something out but for the moment decided that it was enough what she had been told. "Well. That sounds nothing like Xena. I hope you are telling me the truth. I'd hate for you to have bruises upon bruises."
Gabrielle winced at the thought. She was so over getting beat up that it wasn't even funny. Emotional abuse was just as exhausting as physical abuse but it wasn't nearly as painful. Once again she took in the now wide eyed boy that was sitting cross legged listening intently to her. The eyes and the face were very familiar to the bard. In fact if she didn't know any better she could swear he had the build of…But it could not be as there was no way Xena would have a child. Was there? "You came in on us just after Satrina attacked. Not much more to tell other than Xena saved my life. Twice. Satrina poisoned me and then tried to stab me."
Callisto's eyes grew round and wide at this information. She had known that the slave had been desperate to get Xena to herself but had no clue that she had already made two attempts on the young blond's life. That was incredible. That was someone after the blond's own heart except that she would not do it for love. "You have been through a lot in such a short time. No wonder you really didn't want to talk. That's all right. I'll leave you for now. Maybe you can make up more stuff."
The bard watched her walk out the door. Does she really think I'm lying? I don't know what more to do to convince her. I never lied. I just didn't tell her everything. I especially am never going to tell her we kissed. The storyteller looked down at her belly were the words were just now scabbing over. Look what she did to me when she thought I was lying. The stupid bitch! I think I actually want Xena to tear her from limb from limb. She turned her attention the boy. "Hi. My name is Gabrielle."
The boy looked at her. He knew that for some reason that his mistress had really like this girl. It had made him mad when he had heard she had been poisoned. It also had made him mad when he saw her all bruise covered and bleeding. His first instincts had been to pummel the mean blond but knew that he could not do that chained. He also knew that it was not smart to get yourself hurt that way you could try and help the person that was. "My name is Solon. You tell really good stories."
Because of the bruises you really couldn't see just how much the blond blushed at the compliment. Of course Xena had already told her she liked her second story so that had been nice. Although she had some practice with the younger crowd which had included her sister. Lila. I wonder where you are. I wonder if Xena really did sell you. "Thank you. I've not been telling them for very long. Can I ask how long have you been with the mistress?"
Solon thought about the question and could not help wonder why she had asked that. To him the life that he had led so far was normal though he knew most of the ones he stayed with had not been as babies like he had. In a way it made him feel special that the mistress had taken him in and kept him around as long as she had. "I'm almost ten. As long as I can remember I've been with the mistress. She's always treated me very well. I like her a lot. I hate it when people say bad stuff about her like that nasty lady."
Gabrielle instantly liked the little boy more than she could say. Her young mind was racing with the little bit of information she had gathered. She was adding up his looks and the fact that Xena had kept him since he was a baby. If her calculations were correct it was a shocking bit of news. It also put Solon in a great deal of danger. In fact if Callisto found out he was he would be in more danger than she was. I'll do whatever I can to keep him safe, my queen. "I don't like it either. I'll admit that the mistress has been a little mean to me but I think deep down she's a good person. We all get mean sometimes."
The young boy nodded in agreement. If he hadn't like the bard before he did now. She wasn't coddling him like some of the older people did. She hadn't held back about the mistress being mean. The pretty blond had simply said what he had thought all along. His mistress was only human that made mistakes but overall she was really good and everything she did was for a good reason. "I like you." His little ears and cheeks became bright red when he said that. "I hope after the mistress rescues us we can spend time together. Maybe you can tell me more stories?"
The bard blushed a little though the bruises covered that nicely. The young boy was sweet and adorable and though she had not been around Xena all that much she reflected on what she had seen in the woman's eyes. While it was true she had threatened her with harm and even killed men there was something lurking behind those eyes more than just the hate and anger. Maybe it was a young girl a lot like Solon that had been hurt and this was the results.
But that is what happened to Callisto as well, hadn't it? The bard remembered the story of how it was Xena that had destroyed her village and killed all of her family. If that act had not only turned the demon woman into the hateful vengeful person that she was but also insane how was it that Xena had not truly gone insane? Maybe her will was stronger or maybe there was more to each story than she knew. There was definitely more to both women's story and she would find out Xena's overtime.
Gabrielle smiled brightly at him. "I'll try and make up more stories. I really like telling them. I never got the chance to really before." They were interrupted by a series of horns going off. She managed to get to a sitting position though it hurt so bad that it made her want to throw up. Finally her body adjusted to the sitting position. The bard sat there waiting to see what was happening. She had heard larger villages had warnings for attacks. Could this be Xena? "Solon, there is trouble. Just keep yourself close to me if we should get free." She looked at his face and saw how much he wanted to protect her. "We'll take care of one another."
That seemed to appease the young boy and a small smile was upon his lips. The bard could also see fear and knew it was probably written across her face as well. If it was Xena she was happy and knew in her heart that she would be all right. There was just one thing she feared. Just as she thought that, Callisto burst into the room slamming the door behind her. The woman had her sword drawn and was coming at them with murderous intent. Just then the door behind them shattered open to reveal a blood and gore covered figure that was obviously pissed off. Gabrielle smiled.
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Xena had stopped for rest only twice and that was only because the horse that she had acquired had needed it. Once again she was grateful for the horse as she was now just on the outer rim of Corinth. The only thing that would have been better was her army here to back her up. But regardless she would go into the city and she would slice and dice until she had gutted Callisto like a pig and was holding Gabrielle in her arms. Hopefully Solon was there and it would make her feel complete.
The warrior stopped lifting the water skin to her lips in mid motion. Complete? Since when would I feel complete? One little peasant girl and my son and I feel complete? The warrior shook her head trying to get those kinds of thoughts out of her head. It was a sign of weakness to put stock in another person. Too many people had betrayed her in the past. There had only been one person that had stuck by her even after he had seen her going down a very dark path.
Lyceus had followed her around like a puppy dog. He had been the one person to believe in her. Not even her mother had ever believed her when she had said that the man had raped her. Her child had been too wild and she'd always known that something like that would happen because she wanted it to happen. Her mother saying that had made it hard to defend her home village but her little brother had been there. That was why she had done it.
Well that and it had felt good to fight. It had felt good to be able to be better than someone. Cortese had been, at the time, one of the worst warlords to deal with. He rarely accepted surrender and just kept beating places until there was little left. So she went after him to show everyone who the big bad was. Then Lyceus had come to her saying he wanted to help defend the village. Why had she not said no to her little brother? If she had than maybe just maybe he'd still be alive.
Would that have changed who she was? Probably not. Just like Solon and Gabrielle now. They may have a place in her heart and slightly alter how she did things but they would not change who she was deep down inside. She liked to fight. She liked the smell of blood. She liked the feel of bones cracking against her fist or against her sword. She definitely liked having people look at her with fear in their eyes and not want to come anywhere near her.
The warrior smiled at the thought and continued with her drink. The four water skins she had with her were mostly empty and she would need a creek or a spring to fill them before she continued to the city. The smell of water caught her attention and she followed it. A noise also caught her attention and she drew her backup sword from the place of honor at her back. Carefully she dismounted from her black stallion and tied his reins loosely to a low tree branch.
The warrior stalked her new prey but stopped in mid step as she recognized the man at the spring. It was the man that was in charge of her scouts. Quietly she walked up to the man. Her loud deep voice made the man fall into the spring. "Glad I've found you Meleager." He was also one of her older soldiers but in his time he had led armies and was still a strong fighter. "Did you come all this way to take a bath?" The warlord chuckled.
Meleager quickly got himself out of the water and standing at attention. He saluted his general. He had often thought that if he had a daughter she would be a lot this wild child that did have a softer side. Just not many people got to see it. He was one of the few. "I was looking for your advance party so that I could take word back to Paleamon." He studied her dress and the extra sword and knew that things were not good. "Perhaps another message is in order?"
Xena nodded. "You are one of the few I'll say this to this way. I was stupid. I let my guard down." She silently sheathed her sword and started to fill her empty water skins. "Someone from my past I didn't even know existed took over the ship. She left me for dead in the cells. Lucky for me I'm not just good looking but I'm also smart. Had to deal with a few things but I'm here. And I'm on my way to exact revenge. She has an army, not sure how big. Tell Paleamon to get here double time. I'm going in as soon as I find an opening."
Of course the older soldier wanted to tell her to just wait for her army to get here but he knew better. When the warlord got that look on her face he knew better than most not to argue with her. So instead he saluted. "It'll be a day and a half ride back and then probably four or five days for the army. Oh and he told me about the little project you had him do. It's taken care of." Once again he saluted and he took the water skin he'd been filling and took off.
The warlord thought about his words. They must have come into some trouble or bad weather because they should only be two or three days out. No matter. Soon she would have another army to go along with the large force that was making their way from the south. She collected her water skins and ran to her horse vaulting easily up onto him. With a renewed found confidence she rode for Corinth like the wind reveling in the feel of her hair whipping against her skin.
Several hours later she had stashed her horse outside where no one would look to find it. After having taken in the city's defenses she was impressed with Callisto. But she was not about to let some leather clad bitch get the better of her. She had found a narrow passage way that was so narrow she had to remove both swords and hold them beside her and still some of her skin scraped against the stone walls. Boy was she ever glad that she had found the leathers to protect at least some of her skin.
The passage way opened up and she found herself in one of the small huts on the outer rim of the city. She scared the daylights out of the occupants but managed to keep them from screaming. In fact she simply put them all permanently asleep not feeling a thing as they were all soldiers. Though the sun shown down brightly there were still many shadows and her tall dark figure blending in so easily with them. When a group of soldiers passed by she listened intently. One of them mentioned where Callisto was and she smiled at the needed information.
Without setting off an alarm she got as close to where the soldier had said remembering the streets from the maps she had been studying. It wasn't until she was outside Callisto's headquarters that she allowed herself to be seen. After that it was pure carnage on her part. Every soldier that came after her whether it was one on one or groups of up to ten men found the tip of her swords. Though not used to using two swords she practiced for occasions such as this.
Blood was flying. Bone was flying. Flesh was flying. Body parts were flying. Soon the warrior was covered head to toe with battle gore. The smell of the blood and the feel of the battle were making her skin become alive. Her whole body felt so alive that lack of sleep was nothing for her to overcome. Warning horns were sounded and she knew that before long the entire army would be upon her. That was all right because what she had planned would make them hers.
Finally, after having slaughter nearly fifty men, she was standing in a hallway. There were no more soldiers here but she had heard a door slam. Above the smell of the blood and gore she managed to catch a familiar scent. As long as she lived she would never forget what that blond bitch smelled like so she could track her down and gut her from below her navel to her chin. She waited just a moment standing in front of the door letting her anger build even greater.
Xena let fly with a kick and the door went shattering in a thousand and one pieces. Quickly she took in the scene before her. Solon and Gabrielle were chained next to one another fear in their eyes. Callisto had her sword in her hand and had been going after them. Fire was in the warrior's eyes when she met the psycho bitch's eyes. She could have sworn over Callisto's shoulder she could see a smile on her Lil One's face. "Are you prepared to die, bitch?" The demon blond let out a yell and both warriors ascended on one another.