They had spent two fruitless weeks searching when three of their men didn't return from Neopolitis. Their horses, gold, and clothes were also gone, packed up ahead of time in what looked like a planned desertion. Yesterday the scouts had finally picked up the trail not far from where they were camped. The men had carelessly left a trail of half smoldering fires that made them easy to find.

Xena rode with the party that would capture the deserters. She wore full battle gear and a stern frown as they came up over a rocky hill. The horses were sure footed and fast and the men running in the opposite direction were soon surrounded by horses and swords. Hamoan and Licidex dropped their weapons in surrender and let their heads hang. Hamoan's shoulders were shaking as he tried not to sob. The punishment for desertion was death.

Centricles drew his sword and swung wildly. His eyes were wide and scared.

"Drop it or die," Xena said. Centricles backed himself up against a stone wall and lifted his sword over his head. Xena ran him through.

Petracles had bound the other two men together. Xena held her sword to Licidex's throat. "What do you have to say?"

"We just wanted to go home, Xena. Your men are butchers."

"You only had two weeks left. Why leave now?"

Hamoan's eyes darted to Licidex.

"I see. Let's go," Xena said.

Her men prepared a makeshift gallows from a length of rope hung over a thick tree branch. Licidex and Hamoan watched from where they were bound on their horses as Petracles tested one noose and then the other. He gave Xena a nod and she nodded back.

"Will you reconsider, Xena?" Petracles asked softly. "They're young and brash. Licidex was just following Hamoan. They were friends in their village."

"Desertion is punishable by hanging. They chose their fate, not me. The next time someone thinks about leaving they'll remember this moment."

Xena nodded to her drummers and they started up the slow beat, the sound ringing through the quiet camp. Her troops stood facing the gallows, waiting. No one offered any protest. Licidex hung his head, tears running quietly down his nose. Hamoan glared at Xena and as she walked past he spit as her feet. Her hand came down to strike him across the face.

"Hang him first," she said with a cold smile.

It took three men to force Hamoan to his noose. When they finally got it around his neck there was no fight left in him. His nose was bleeding and a rib was cracked. He started up at the sky until the rock was rolled away from under his feet. Xena looked down as his feet started kicking, feeling sick to her stomach. Then they were still and it was Licidex's turn.

"It was an honor to serve you, Xena," he whispered at the ground. It was Amphipolis all over again. There was blood on her hands and pounding in her head, and she held the power of life and death. He was so young. They were all so young.

"Halt!"

The men held onto each of Licidex's arms and waited for her command. Xena walked over and cut off the ropes binding his wrists. Licidex dropped to his hands and knees. He was shaking as he prostrated himself before Xena. She wanted to reach down and touch his head. Her hands were clenched as she backed away.

"Hail, Xena!" the youth cried, breaking the stillness of the camp.

"Hail, Xena!" the camp echoed.

"Let's ride," she replied.

Licidex climbed into his saddle, following her close behind. Reverence shone from his face. The men were cheering her name as she went by and smiled down on them all. Her face was a mask of bravery when all she wanted to do was scream at the unfairness of it all. She had spared one life, but two boys had died. It was a paradox – necessary but pointless. Xena wondered if her uncertainty made her a good leader or a bad one.

"You did the right thing," a quiet voice said besides her. It was Petracles, looking at her with concern and an openness that made her stomach jump then clench. She rode away until he was out of hearing.

"Thank you," she whispered to herself.

Two weeks and a few leagues later Xena took twenty men on horses and ten more on foot and prepared to take Ennea. It was a larger village so conscripting men would be more difficult. Petracles had told her in these situations it was better to find the person at the top of the food chain; gain his allegiance and you had the village. Sometimes that meant buying loyalty with gold. Usually it meant intimidation. Xena waited impatiently while the villagers were roughly herded into the town's center.

"Bring me the council leader," Xena said. Ardemus nodded and pulled a man with a flowing white beard and large turban out from the crowd.

"We'll never submit to your demands, Warlord," the man snarled.

"What's your name?" Xena asked.

"Revin."

"Xena, watch out!" Petracles jumped in front of Xena, knocking Revin to the ground. He turned to Xena with a smile on his face then he collapsed. Blood the color of roses poured from his side where he had been stabbed. She watched it trickle out until all she could see was crimson. It blurred her vision and filled her head, leaving her shaking with rage.

"Take the village! Burn it all!" Xena screamed.

Revin scampered backwards before pushing himself up and running. He fell back down with an arrow sticking from his back.

Xena's men had been waiting with burning arrows and now they drew their bows back and with a twang the arrows flew onto roofs, sending them alight. Xena's sword flashed out and two villagers fell by her blade. The rest scattered in all directions, chased by her army. Xena knelt at Petracles' side, her shaking hands pushing a ripped piece of tunic into the wound. Her mind flashed to Lyceus, the dagger slicing his throat. The anger in her stomach boiled up and over until she couldn't contain it.

"Xena, I'll be alright," Petracles said. His face was very white. Some men were making more torches, others raiding the homes that were on fire before they burned to the ground. She heard women and children screaming somewhere. It was chaos.

"I have to set an example, Petracles. We have to protect all the villages, not just this one."

"Xena..."

"Burn the village!" she shouted, her sword raised high into the air.

Soon the whole village was on fire, bright hot flames that spread from house to house. People ran into their homes to save what they could and then fled with their children. The men piled weapons, clothing, food, and gold at her feet. Ennea belonged to her.

"This is what happens to those that deny me. Find anyone left and bring them to me," she said to Ardemus. He put his closed hand to his chest and bowed like a soldier. There was little of farming left in him. Xena held Petracles' arm as he swayed. His eyes had a glassy far-away look.

Ardemus returned with most of her men and three prisoners. She didn't ask where the other men were. She didn't care. She was completely focused on the prisoners.

"Who are you?" one of the men asked. The other two looked fearfully on in silence.

"Hi, I'm Xena. I'm a problem solver and you have a problem. I need loyal men, you need to live. What do you have to say?"

"Hail Xena," the man replied, swallowing hard.

"Hail Xena!" the other two echoed.

Xena nodded at Ardemus.

"Watch them closely over the next few days. If any one of them tries to leave, kill them all."

On hearing her words the first man tried to flee. Xena's men grabbed him and she turned away before they had finished killing him.

Petracles leaned heavily on her as they walked back to the horses. He mounted with difficulty and Xena held the reins of his horse as she set them trotting carefully back to camp, leaving the lost village behind her. That wound was deep and would take some time to heal. The men were already stowing away the loot on the other horses and Xena trusted that they would ride back to camp with it. Most of them had nowhere else to go and the recent hanging of Hameon to keep their loyalties straight. Licidex stayed behind to encourage their return.

She tended to Petracles' wounds herself, stitching them closed with a fine needle while he drank from a flask of ale to ease the pain. It was quickly growing dark and Xena ordered the men to start the fires and find them some dinner. She had set traps earlier in the day and she knew they had at least one rabbit to make a stew. Petracles watched her as she directed the men and there was a thoughtful look in his eyes as she seated herself down next to him once again.

"What happened today, Petracles? Were you trying to get yourself killed or are you just new at this?"

"I was trying to save the woman I've come to care about," he said, and his speech was slurred. Xena picked up the flask and shook it.

"You're drunk."

Petracles shrugged then winced. Xena placed a hand carefully on his and he smiled up at her.

"I lied to you, Xena," he said and she stiffened besides him. "I joined up with Cortese to try and infiltrate his army. I have a hundred men a week's ride from here."

"You're a warlord," Xena said flatly.

"You say that like it's a bad thing. Let's join forces and leave Greece behind us. The way you burned that village today, it's going to be hard for you to get more recruits. I know you did what needed to be done but word will spread and the villages will start to fight against you."

Xena studied the flickering flames, her stomach tight and heavy. The men were sorting through the gold and Ardemus walked over to drop a large purse at her feet. Xena smiled as she felt its weight.

"I've been sending you men since we started riding together. Join me Xena."

"You want me to join you as what, a lieutenant?" Xena asked.

"As an equal. I'm offering to share command with you if you'll take it. I want to give you that choice. I could have slipped off anytime."

"Why didn't you, Petracles?"

"You know why I wanted to stay. Xena, I'm in love with you."

"You don't even know me. And apparently I don't know you," Xena said quietly.

"I know you're an amazing and brave woman. And you're a natural leader, Xena. You respect your men and it's an honor to fight with you."

"I'm not a warlord, Petracles. I'm not even a warrior. I want to reshape the world, make it better and safer."

"Have you seen yourself lately? You're wearing battle armor. You have a sword that's seen plenty of blood. How many men have you killed? Xena, come with me."

Xena scratched patterns in the dirt with her sword, lost in thought. Her lips were pulled down in a frown. Petracles held his side with one hand then propped himself up next to her, kissing the side of her mouth until she smiled.

"Stay with me in my tent tonight, Xena. I don't want to be alone," he whispered.

Xena paused, her blue eyes holding his golden ones. She shook her head.

"I need time to think and besides you're injured. Good night."

Xena strode off towards her own tent, leaving him by the fire. It was early in the evening and the tent seemed colder and lonelier for it. Her thoughts should have been about power and turning this situation to her advantage, not about stolen kisses and long talks in the dark by a campfire. It was a long time before she drifted off into an uneasy sleep. That night she didn't dream of the God of War, but a gentler man with soft eyes.