A/N

Thank everyone for your continued support! This is a short and sweet update but I really enjoyed writing this chapter!

Please let me know what you think!

...

Gabrielle paced her tent in agitation. Nothing was going to plan and her second in command had just given her some bad news. "They lost their trail?"

He nodded, his face draining of all colour. "They followed it as far as Potedia but after that it's like they vanished."

"The villagers didn't see anything?"

"They are claiming not to know anything. Either they are really good at lying our they didn't see them. The healer of the village seems to have disappeared as well, we think it's likely that he is with them," the man bit out quickly, as if delivering the news quickly would lessen its impact.

Gabrielle screeched in fury, hurling her dagger into the wooden beam supporting her tent. "WHY IS EVERYBODY SO INCOMPETENT?" Her second flinched, cowering into the shadows. Gabrielle saw the movement and felt a triumphant smirk cross her face, she enjoyed it when others were scared of her.

"Conqueror?" a small voice called hesitantly into the tent.

"I told you we weren't to be disturbed," she snarled. Why couldn't anybody follow simple instructions?

"I'm sorry but he is insisting on seeing you," the voice trembled.

With a sigh Gabrielle sat down at her desk, suddenly feeling weary, there was only one group of people who would dare to demand an audience with her. "Send him in."

An old man, wearing a purple robe, strode into the tent oozing with self importance. "Conqueror," he greeted, offering her a small bow.

She nodded in greeting, she knew that she had met him before but she couldn't recall his name, nor did she care. "Leave us," she said, flicking her fingers at her second. His face filled with relief and he bowed low before leaving.

The robed man waited until he knew they were alone before speaking, "I'm sorry to interrupt Conqueror but I was sent by Him."

Gabrielle held in her sigh of irritation, it was obvious who had sent him. He always sent them. "Does He have a message for me?"

"He is angry."

Gabrielle flinched, her hand unconsciously reaching for the scar that marred her left cheek.

The man smiled cruelly. "He said it is taking too long, the messenger needs to die for him to become the one true God."

"Do you really believe that I don't know that? There has been some complications."

"What complications?"

"The girl has protection, her God sent her Xena the Warrior Princess," as she said the name Gabrielle felt a tug in her lower abdomen and a pressure in her head, as if something was trying to burrow its way into her brain. She had no idea what the feeling was but it occurred whenever she thought of the dark haired woman. "She knows things, and the messenger, she caught my Chakram. How is that possible? Our God made it for me."

The man said nothing, staring at Gabrielle with disdain. Gabrielle swallowed her anger, if it had been anyone else that looked at her like that she would have killed him just to prove a point. "I have all my scouts out looking for them, when we find them I won't fail again." As she said the words a jolt of unease spread through her, the pressure in her head building. Something warm began to trickle from her nose, confused Gabrielle saw drops of glistening red falling onto the table in front of her.

"Conqueror? Are you ok?" the man asked, taking a step towards her.

"I am fine," she said holding up a hand and wiping away the blood, this had been happening with alarming frequency since her first meeting with Xena.

He looked at her with doubt but carried on, "He said that an Olympian has become involved, hiding them."

Gabrielle looked up sharply, "An Olympian? Why would they help the messenger? She is the reason for their downfall."

The old man shrugged, "He didn't tell me why."

"Which one is it? Ares?" Gabrielle asked slowly.

The man shook his head, "The power is softer, light."

"Aphrodite," Gabrielle muttered to herself. "If an Olympian is helping hide them, how can I find them?"

"The power has left a trace, He knows exactly where they are."

Gabrielle felt a triumphant smile cross her face.