Chapter 11: The Hurry Up
Tarbus had retired away from his women to his quarters. It was a large space split into four rooms. There was his sleeping quarters, a bathroom, an area for him to relax and dine in without others present and a room in which he did his day to day business administering his growing land and trade routes.
He was sat at his desk in the administrative area double checking some levy figures he had been given by one of the local town leaders when there was a knock at the nearest door. There were two doors into his private quarters,the first led into his private quarters and the second into the room he was currently sat.
He wasn't expecting one of his commanders or a visitor but if someone was disturbing him unannounced it had to be important.
"Enter" he called out.
The door creaked open and the young Commander Rhesus entered, quietly closing the door behind him. It was hard to assess what news the Commander was bringing as he looked drained and indifferent. The warlord knew he had pushed the younger man hard over the last few days but he was quietly impressed how Rhesus had stuck to his task.
"What news?" he asked the Commander.
"The bad news is that the Edessian passed away a few minutes ago" Rhesus informed him flatly; "It was sudden, like her body just gave up."
Tarbus put the scroll he was reading down on the desk and leaned back in his chair. He slowly observed the man in front of him. Rhesus looked a little unnerved by his calm reaction to the news but didn't falter.
"And the good news?" the warlord inquired.
Rhesus shifted a little closer and pressed his hands against the end of the desk.
"When I asked her if it existed she always remained silent but towards the end when she was at her weakest I changed my question and asked if it was hidden in the town..." Rhesus began to explain.
Tarbus wasn't a patient man but he held his tongue and allowed the younger man to carry on his narrative.
"She replied with the words: outside...it had to be hidden in the cliffs outside the town" Rhesus finished.
This was the kind of news that could brighten up Tarbus day. This Edessian warrior had indirectly confirmed the existence of the artifact. At least he wouldn't go to all the trouble and expense to raise an army only to find it was a myth. The only problem was the cliff's covered a vast area and were not readily accessible.
"The town and its surrounding outposts in the forest block the way to the cliffs from the South and the river from the North" he stated.
"It will be much easier to punch a hole through their defenses in the forest than it would have been to fully invade the village" the young Commander eagerly countered.
Tarbus observed the other man. He looked worn down which was unsurprising considered the little sleep the Commander must have had over the last few days. Tarbus had one last task for him that night.
"Take a message to the armoury...tell them to employ local blacksmith's. I wan't the army ready to march by tomorrow afternoon."
Rhesus nodded his head affirmatively and turned to leave. The younger man had reached the door before Tarbus called him back.
"Rhesus" he adressed the man. "Then go get some rest...I expect you to be fit and ready to be my right hand man."
Rhesus turned back and nodded again, his expression one of relief. The young man was clearly glad to be back in the Warlords good graces. Once Rhesus had left Tarbus retired to his private chambers. He needed to rest up for the march of Edessia too.
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Meda pushed the doorway of Selene's hut open and entered without knocking. The town's elder was crushing some kind of scented powder and herbs together in a stone bowl. She ignored Meda's presence as she completed her task. The tall leader waited patiently; she knew better than to interrupt Selene whilst she was doing something spiritual. When the slender woman finished she placed the bowl back on her table with a number of other objects.
"Is the cleansing nearly complete?" Selene addressed her when finished.
"Very nearly" Meda informed her. "Are you ready to start?"
Selene nodded before turning away and carrying on her preparations. Meda watched as the elder pulled some plain brown robes over her clothing. The town leader wasn't sure if she was finished with so she lingered.
"Can you ask Gabrielle to bring something of Xena's to the ceremony?" Selene asked once she was dressed for the ceremony. "The stronger the link to Xena the better."
Meda wondered if the blonde bard still had any of Xena's possession's after two years of travel. If she didn't would it affect the ritual? It felt an awful lot like Xena was their last real hope so they couldn't afford it to go wrong. The leader shook of her sudden wave of negativity and looked to the town elder again.
"I'll go collect them now" Meda declared. As she left the hut she could hear the sound of Selene sparking a light with two pieces of flint.
