Chapter 28

Dawn...Rays of light stretched out to illuminate the desert landscape and the two Armies arrayed upon it.

"It would appear, that Caesar would stand and have parley." Xena lowered the looking glass.

"Typical man," Solari grunted, He wants us to venture out to him so he can blather."

"Be that as it may, we'll go out." Solari watched as Xena gathered Argo's reigns up.

Spurring Argo on, she rode out ahead of her men.

"Stay here Agis." ordered Solari. "Don't move until we give the signal."

Seeing that he understood, Solari moved to quickly follow the Empress.

Xena allowed Argo to amble forward, the last few paces before casually drawing back the reins to bring the mare to a halt. Within, she was pleased at seeing shock momentarily cross Caesar's features.

"Words, before blows, is it Julius?"

For quite some time, Caesar didn't respond, remaining quiet, examining the woman he had long ago ordered crucified.

Before him now was an fearful reincarnation, a Xena which bore no resemblance to the naive pirate captain he had seduced then betrayed without so much as a thought. This Xena dressed in midnight black leathers and bronze armor looked both daunting and self-assured.

He noted her eyes, how malicious they were in their piercing intensity.

"Not that I love words like you do Xena." Julius finally spoke. "I hear tell you gave a nice speech in Athens to cover your evil strokes. The populace calling out long live Xena! Hail Xena! Even while scores of greybeards where hacked to death.

Caesar's anger rose as Xena laughed at him.

"I accomplish what you cannot Julius." She leaned forward in Argo's saddle, mirth in her eyes. "Tell me has the Senate made you emperor yet? Or do they crown Gnaeus... Pompeius... Magnus?"

"Xena, it is so good to speak with you again." Caesar countered with much sarcasm. I must say how deeply it pains me that you will die today. Your death finishes the work I began on the Ides of March long ago. You remember that day don't you? The cross on the beach? Both your legs broken?"

Julius smiled as her look told him he had struck a nerve.

"Your overconfidence will be your undoing."

"Your opinion is neither required nor desired, woman." Caesar turned his attentions to Solari. "And just who is this barbarian wench Xena? This… thing… who dresses in leathers and feathers?"

"She is an Amazon, eager to right the wrongs Rome has committed against her people."

"Caesar!" Laevinus spoke while leering at Solari. "This one looks feisty! She'll make me a good concubine! If she be good in bed, perhaps a wife?"

"I'd see myself in Tartarus before I would marry a man, especially one as feckless as you." replied Solari.

"Vile woman!" Laevinus yelled. "If I did have the misfortune to be your husband I'd put poison in your wine!"

"If I were your wife, I'd drink it."

"Laevinus is it?" asked Xena without bothering to look at the man. "My spies tell me he is a dolt. Hearing him speak, I'm inclined to believe it. Could you find no one intelligent to follow your banner Julius?"

"Come, come!" an outraged Laevinus drew his sword. "Let's remember why we're here. If arguing makes us sweat, the battle ahead will turn that water to blood!"

Xena finally looked to Laevinus with scorn. "Go back to the dog hole that is Rome."

With great show Caesar pulled his own sword from its sheath so that his army behind might see. "I draw my sword against the Bitch of Greece! When shall it be sheathed again?" Asked Julius while lowering his sword so that the tip pointed directly at Xena. "Not until the last of your soldiers lie dead upon this field and you back upon the cross! That Xena is my destiny!"

A smirk upon dark lips… she was decidedly unimpressed with his bravado. Ever so slowly Xena leaned forward in the saddle, a deathly gaze locking on Caesar for some moments before she spoke.

"There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent, or hinder, or control, the resolve of a determined soul. Know today Caesar, you will die and your destiny with you. I shall leave you as you left me, nailed to a cross." Xena reined Argo back, "Come Solari, let's go. "If you dare to fight today Julius, meet me on the field, if not, come when you find courage."


"Love will be our shield and our weapon."

"I do not believe you can love your way out of this." Siri observed while looking up at the guru hanging from the cross.

"Siri," Sevastian admonished while gently poking the side of the Amazon leaning against him. Her arm was firmly placed in its usual spot upon his shoulder.

"I am but the first of many who will come after me, it has been foretold, the order of the Gods must fall."

"This guru spouts nonsense." Siri moved to hand Sevastain a silver chalice filled with watered down wine. He gladly accepted it from her as the heat of the day was climbing rapidly.

The Maharajah's had been as good as their word, rounding up Eli and his followers without Sevastian having to lift even one finger to help. Seems they had no love for the guru either. His teachings were upsetting to the leadership of the majority religion in India. Their help had allowed Siri to recall her Amazons from the search. Appraising the man, Sevastain could not understand why the Empress, in her wisdom, felt Eli was a threat. But... it was not his place to question, his place was to obey.

"I give you a choice Eli, an agonizing slow death, or I can order your legs broken, painful, but it will mercifully hasten your end." As Sevastian spoke, Siri gestured and her Amazon's brought chairs up for the two of them to sit in.

"I wish to suffer as it serves the greater good."

"Have it your way." Sitting he crossed his legs, glad he had chosen not to wear armor this day, instead wearing a light colored tunic and pleated trousers in the style of Jappa. On his feet, were sandals instead of boots. All gifted to him by the Empress long ago.

Siri, well... she didn't wear much so the heat wasn't a concern for her. A flaud leather skirt dyed blue, brown sandals, and a leather top which exposed her midriff.

Behind Amazon's moved to guard Sevastian's back as he sat.

"I do wish this business would end." Siri crossed her legs as well, pausing to take a sip of wine while gazing at the hundreds of crosses arrayed over the lush hillside. The army was camped outside the port of Dvaravati, in the kingdom of Surastra. The Maharajah generously gave Sevastian use of his country estate for the duration.

"Must we stay?" Siri asked taking the empty chalice from his hand, to refill it.

"The Empress orders it. I am to personally be witness to his death."

"I do not see why these should die, they appear peaceful to a fault."

Sevastian nodded ever so slightly in agreement. There was no defending it other than he was bound to obey Xena's order.

"Polemarch, your commanders have arrived. Shall we bring them to you?" asked the Amazon Scyleia.

"Yes, thank you."

"You needn't say thank you or please every time you give an order to an Amazon Sevastian." Siri chastised gently.

He shrugged, "Both politeness and kindness are underused." After he said the words, Sevastian thought about the irony of him speaking about manners while sitting in front of people he'd ordered crucified. But then again many eastern masters had said in writings that when you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.

The only one he'd actually ordered crucified was Eli, but his followers had insisted they have the... honor... of following him in his fate. Sevastian had found himself in the unlikely position of arguing with them, trying to persuade them into accepting a quick death. They had refused his pleas, and so he had washed his hands of the whole affair. If the followers of Eli wished to die on the cross, he would not stop them. The condemned did not resist at all making the choice to meekly go as lambs to slaughter.

Sevastian sat up a bit as Talmadeus, Mercer, and Menticles were brought before him surrounded by the always imposing Amazons. Those women took the job of protecting him very seriously. Both men stood in undisguised stupor at seeing hundreds hanging from crosses

"In reward for your service..." Sevastian paused allowing the men to refocus their attentions on him. He spoke up a bit, to project his voice over the moans from those on the crosses. "The Empress promotes you both to the rank of governor. You will rule over her largest provinces. Menticles, you now rule the former Persian Empire in the Empress' name. Your capital will be Babylon. Talmadeus, you rule India, I would suggest New Delhi as your capital. Mercer, you rule the Near Eastern lands. I would caution you to rule wisely, the Empress wants no trouble in these new provinces of her empire.

The three men looked at each other in shock.

"The army groups?" asked Talmadeus.

"Yours to use." replied Sevastain. "You have much to do in establishing firm control over so vast an area."

"And you Polemarch?"

Sevastian had to smile; Talmadeus was impatient to be without him looking over his shoulder.

"The Empress orders me and the Amazon's to requisition ships and sail to Egypt."

After a moment to digest this news, the two men gave the Imperial salute and moved to depart.

"Pardon me a moment." before Sevastian could say a word, Siri had gone.

Sevastian sat back in his chair, returning his observations to a slowly dying Eli.

"Are you sure this is how it has to be?" Eli asked. It didn't appear the guru was speaking to him. Sevastian momentarily followed Eli's gaze upward to the blue of the firmament above. "Isn't there some other way?"

"Hallucinations," Sevastian muttered slumping back in his chair, "Near death."

Ahead of him the Amazons crossed spears.

"How dare you block my path!" Talmadeus shouted, "Let me pass immediately!"

"They will, when I allow it."

He turned to find Siri standing behind, far too near for comfort.

"You have no right to keep me from my duties Amazon."

"What I have to say will only take a moment."

"And that would be?" asked Talmadeus, looking upward to meet her gaze.

"That you choose wisely in not attempting a coup against Sevastian. If you had, you'd be dead."

Old Talmadeus was silent, but his look told her he was unnerved.

"I know not of what you speak, Amazon."

"Of course you don't." Siri replied cynical.

"Rebellion is treason." Talmadeus continued.

"Yes indeed, you'd be wise to remember that as you begin your rule of India. Know that eyes everywhere will be watching you."

"A threat?"

"A promise." Siri replied.

A nod from her and the Amazons uncrossed their spears allowing him to leave in silence.

Her sword left its sheath with a whisper of metal against leather.

Dismounting from Argo, she patted the mare's neck while speaking a few words in the ear of her horse.

"Go on..." Xena commanded

Argo trotted off.

It had become clear Caesar intended to play defense, he would not attack and she could not allow any more Romans to cross over the pass.

Therefore, she would lead a charge to destroy Caesar once and for all.

Walking forward, Xena took up position in the center of her army now arrayed in a line of phalanxes to either side clear across the width of the field.

The men here hailed from regions across Greece, from Macedon and Thrace down to Crete and Ithaca. They were from cities like Pella and Ellis through to Athens and Corinth.

These here, standing with her, were the very best of Greece. They were all veteran soldiers, the shirkers and deserters having long gone. They would make this charge against the Romans even if she were not here to lead them. Her men also knew, that for many of them, today be their last fight.

Not one of them needed to be reminded of his duty.

Turning, she gazed upon her proud men, eyes moving to make contact with as many as possible. At long last she gave the command. An order she had dreamed of giving every moment since her crucifixion on that lonely stretch of beach.

"Forward!"

A yell rose from the troops as men readied themselves to march, shields were locked together, swords drawn, Sarissa points gleamed in the sun. Unit standards rose up, fluttering in the dry wind.

"March!"

The men in reserve units behind the line took off their helmets, raising them up in salute to those making this charge directly at the center of the enemy line.

"What hubris, she leads them forward herself."

Around Caesar was ordered chaos as men scrambled to finish readying his... surprise.

"Numbers?" he asked

"Some 40,000 come at us, the rest appear to be arrayed in a reserve line behind." reported Laevinus. "I know they are our enemy," Caesar's general looked out upon the thousands marching toward them with awe. "But by the gods they are a beautiful sight to behold!"

"Move reserves forward now."

"Caesar, they are forward. Some 30,000 thousand of our men, still have not yet crossed though the pass."

"Yes, even the delay I caused by asking for parley you failed to ensure they got through the pass in time. Now we are forced to make do with what we have. That is why I am glad Xena decides to advance. We must stand and play defense here, weaken her formation, then, when the moment is right we march forward to break the Greek line.

"Yes, Caesar."

"Have the Onagers stand ready."

Laevinus gave the order, it being yelled across the army. Men removed the tanned tarps of burlap off the catapults. The camouflage no longer needed. The Romans ahead broke formation in order to lie down on the ground so that the Onagers behind would have a clear shot.

"Loose!" ordered Caesar, jugs containing Greek fire arched into the air.

"Surprise Xena!" yelled Julius in triumph.

Screams from her men as fire tore a swath of destruction though her line.

Men on all sides fell, crying out as they burned them to death. Acrid smoke began to fill the battlefield along with the horrid sent of roasting flesh.

"Close the line!" she heard Virgillus yell, the men moving to tighten the formations back up to fill gaps left by those stricken by fire.

Looking up, more steaks of flame appeared in the sky as another volley directed against her troops arched down.

"Shields!" Xena bellowed, her voice carrying to every corner of the battlefield.

Her troops did as ordered, placing the concave shields overhead. Even then it was only partial protection against the splatter caused by the breaking of the clay urns holding the fire.

Above explosions, looking back up Xena watched as pots broke apart in the air, flame showering down upon her formations like deadly rain.

There was no choice...

Turning to face her men, she paced backward just long enough to give the order.

"Forward, at the double click!"

Her men let forth a yell brimming with defiance.

"March!"

As one, thousands of soldiers began to run directly toward the Roman line.

In the lead, with sword pointing directly at Caesar, she ran.


"Have you ever seen the like?" Solari sat upon her stallion in awe of the men charging across the field. They display the bravery of Amazons."

"By Artemis, they are taking a beating. Should we not move now to help?"

"No, Esippe. We wait until the Romans commit all, then we ride forward.


"Double the containers!" Ordered Caesar.

"That's it! He praised watching more fire being discharged into the sky. "Loose two at one go!"

"Laevinus! When my standard waves that is the signal to lead my men on and push these Greeks back. Push them back until their line breaks then we shall surround them!"

"Yes Caesar!" His general reined his horse back, and raced off.

"Each moment that passes Xena, you come closer to the cross." Julius grinned while raising his looking glass up to survey the field. "Where are my Ballista?!" he yelled, "I want spears shredding the Greek line!"

Moments later the giant crossbows began to fire.

She leaped up into the air into a forward flip to avoid the splatter of fire caused by an urn breaking in front of her.

Terrible shrieks filled her ears as withering fire tore her lines. Glancing to her right, she saw Virgillus fall, flames engulfing the commander. His standard bearer behind, managed to just avoid the hit, though his flag had caught, necessitating him lowering it just a moment to drag it upon the ground to put out the fire.

At the fall of his commander, Virgillus first captain, Nereto moved up to take command.

Ahead, the Roman line.

The catapults now forced to end their fiery onslaught lest they now hit their own troops.

Xena glanced up in time to see Caesar's banner waving wildly.

The men of the Roman legions rose up from the ground and quickly moved into formation.

Roman archers on the flanks opened up, arrows by the thousands hit her line as the legions marched forward, bulling directly into her line.

"Die!" she yelled as men clashed, slashing her sword through the first man who dared challenge her.

The Romans pushed, men in the rear of their phalanxes leaning against those in front of them, to force her men backward.

"Stand fast!" she roared, seeing her line beginning bow backward under the weight of the Roman assault. Grabbing the charkam at her hip, she let it fly slicing the throat of the Roman Laevinus. The look of shock upon his face as he toppled from his mount caused her to smile most feral.

"Xena, you cannot hold." Caesar lowered the looking glass. "Either you fall back and reform your line or your force is split in two right down the middle.

Only one thing troubled Julius, that being the location of the Greek cavalry.

It did not matter, his own cavalry would go forth to clear the flanks of her army and then sweep behind the Greeks.

Xena would be surrounded.

"Reform here!" She ordered pointing at the ground with bloody sword.

The men of her army did as bid, rushing back to where she stood, hurriedly trying to form ranks again to face the oncoming Roman legions marching forward. Raising her sword, she blocked a strike from a Roman foot soldier.

"Think you can take me boy?" she jeered while using her strength to easily shove the man back. With a yell he charged her, she burying her sword in his gut.

"You should have stayed in Rome." She kicked him in the chest to withdraw her blade. Xena readied herself for the next attacker, grinning when he stepped forward, her sword twirling in hand.


"The line is near collapse Solari!" Esippe yelled.

"Calm yourself." Solari replied, watching as what had begun as a bow in the Greek lines now had grown into a massive horseshoe shaped bulge. Greek and Roman Phalaxes were fully engaged, the Romans now appeared to be sending in any and all reserves they could attempting to end the stalemate and break the Greek line in two.

"Look there!" Esippe pointed, drawing Solari's attention.

"Finally! Caesar readies his cavalry!"

Solari turned in her saddle. "Remember the plan Esippe, sweep the Roman cavalry clear, and then turn, we envelop the Romans from behind. We encircle them. Understand?"

"Yes!"

"Ride!"


Sitting atop Bucephalus, Caesar watched as thousands of enemy cavalry surged forward over the small ridge. With arrow and sword, they cut through his horsemen before they could organize their assault. His cavalry broke in retreat, the flanks of his army now fully exposed to the enemy.

Behind the enemy cavalry Greek reinforcements followed. His Army, the whole of it was being surrounded with a hangman's noose.

"Hold the flank!" he yelled to no one in particular as his troops began to cave inward, being surrounded.

"Damn her! Damn that woman!"

All those round Caesar knew the woman to which he referred.

"Surprise!" Xena reveled in her moment of triumph as the Roman formations began to break, the enemy withdrawing in panic-stricken retreat.

There was nowhere to go, the legions were completely surrounded. Having moved out of formation, they became easy prey.

"Finally! Rome is on the run!" she yelled. "Kill them all!"

Her jubilation came to an abrupt end as she watched Julius turn and spur his horse back toward the pass, his remaining cavalrymen following behind. Julius made the choice to save himself, leaving his foot soldiers to die while he made his escape.

"Coward!" she yelled out. Caesar was many things, but she hadn't believed he would run from the field. For a moment Julius turned in the saddle and looked back, even above the cacophony of the fighting, perhaps he had heard her.

Raising fingers to her lips, Xena whistled then looked for Argo. The mare appeared, racing though the melee toward her.

Nothing could stop Argo, she would catch...

A bolt fired from a ballista ran her horse clear through, Argo staggered, then fell.

"No!"

The din of battle faded as she ran. Reaching Argo Xena fell to her knees. The cold analytical part of her knew there was nothing that could be done.

Argo would die.

She leaned forward, heart breaking as she touching her head to her horse as Argo breathed her last.

With murderous rage roiling within, Xena slowly stood then waded into the Romans.