Chapter 9

"Such matters are not your concern, Gabrielle."

An icy glare from Xena and Gabrielle understood this conversation was not safe. Still, she pressed on as this was not a time to be faint of heart.

"Tell me, Empress, as your professed love, aren't I supposed to be told the secrets that concern you? Am I part of you only in a limited sense—I get to have dinner with you, bed with you, and talk to you sometimes?"

Long fingers drummed angrily against bare skin of one thigh. Fingers belonging to an irritated Xena. She being reclined at table in the Roman fashion.

The room, deathly silent. Servants holding breath in fearful anticipation of what might be unleashed.

"Is my place only on the outskirts of your happiness? If it's nothing more than that, then I'm not truly your love."

"Out!" snarled Xena.

"As you command, Empress." Gabrielle stood. "I shall go to my bed…alone." Out she walked.

The golden goblet crashed against the wall, then clattered down onto the floor. The contents within bespattering both.

"How dare she question me!" Yelled Xena to none in particular.

Cold blue eyes fixed upon him, Vidalus felt terror grip him tight.

"Well?!" yelled Xena, "What say, you?!"

Vidalus swooned.

"Ye gods!" Thundered Xena. While pointing to other servants in the room. "Get him out of my sight!"

An unconscious Vidalus was dragged from the room.

"The rest…out!"

The remaining servants scattered.

She felt his presence and rolled eyes in exasperation.

A muted flash.

"Love is grand! Ain't it Xena!?" There he stood arms out wide, feigned smile on lips.

"Stow it Ares, I'm in no mood."

"You forget, how I love when you're mad, Xena." Ares took a deep breath. "The intoxicating fragrance of your anger acts as balm to my soul."

"You have no soul, just a black pit."

"Thank you." Ares grinned.

"It was not meant as a complement." Xena took goblet roughly in hand and poured wine.

"Enough playing with your toy, Xena. You have an empire to run."

"She is not a toy, Ares."

The god shrugged at that remark. "Distraction, then. Because that is what love is Xena, a distraction you can ill afford. Surely you-"

"Surely, I can do as I wish, Ares."

He smiled smug. "Forget the girl, what you need is the proper squire to fire your heart."

"If, perchance, you refer to yourself, I would answer when Hades freezes over."

His grin turned to a frown. "That can be arranged, Xena."

He took her hand in his, eyes locked on hers "You are sensational, Xena."

She pulled her hand away.

"There are many benefits of having a god as a suitor."

"I see no benefit, Ares." Said Xena while walking away.

"You and I, together. We can create demigods who will rule your empire for a thousand years."

"As I have said in the past, I say again now, no."

Ares growled low in displeasure. "You let thoughts for the girl cloud your judgement, Xena. You need and heir and I can give you an heir like no other."

"No."

"Why do you resist?" exasperation shone in Ares voice.

"Mortals and gods do not mix, Ares. What you really want is your proxy upon my hard-won throne, someone you control when I reside in Hades." She moved to recline in a plush chair. "Besides, what we had together Ares, is lust, not love."

"Love!" he thundered. "Love has no place in the begetting of a King!"

"A King?" A contemptuous laugh, "Some milksop you can manipulate? I'll have none of it! Not now, not ever!"

She watched as his lips pulled back revealing a wide toothy grin. "Then I say, try and gain an heir from that girl as best you can, Xena." He laughed. "It may be problematic. Especially, when you've not yet managed to… consummate your love."

She stiffened at that, giving Ares an icy glare. "There are always choices." She countered.

"Oh, of course, of course," he said in a mocking singsong tone. "Do what you will, but time passes Xena. I have eternity, you do not."

"If your intent was to woo me this night Ares, you have failed."

"Oh now, you don't think I would—""

"Try and use a moment of discord between Gabrielle and I in your favor? Yes."

"You are correct, I would." He chuckled. "She does not suit you, Xena.:

"Neither do you."

A moment of silence between them. He studying her intently by the low light of candles.

"Ah!" Ares slapped his thigh with one hand. "I should have known! That wee girl is not the sole cause of your fowl temper. No… It is something else."

Xena took a sip of wine. "And what, pray tell, would that be Ares?"

"You wish to be out there Xena." His hand raised, finger extending to the window, indicating the countryside beyond Rome. "You want to be leading armies, not ruling from royal apartments!"

"We all have our assigned duties." She replied soft.

A derisive laugh, "Poor, poor Xena." Mocked Ares. "Stuck shifting parchments while Sevastian wraps himself in glory of battles won."

"I forged this empire! Sevastian obeys my will!" she bellowed while slamming the goblet down. "Best he not forget it!"

"At his own peril, indeed." Replied Ares. "Still… you cannot deny your destiny, you are destined to fight! To conquer!

Her blood fired at his words. Her home was the field of battle!

"But…" breathed Ares while moving behind her chair. His breath washing over her ear. "Here…you…sit. In your…palace." That last word, palace, was said so derisively it incensed Xena.

"Leave me! She raged, "Haunt me no longer!"

Ares stepped away. In a flash, he disappeared. Only the diminishing echo of his laugh remained to gall her further.

"Lord Protector, this sober form hides wrongs!"

Eyes fluttered open. Sevastian pulled from meditation. Towering over him, stood Eponin."

"Wrongs, you say?" asked Sevastian mildly. "Tell me, the wrongs you suffer."

"Many apologies," grumbled the guard Clete. "The Commander would not take no as an answer and entered. I pondered stabbing her to prevent entrance, but felt you would disapprove."

"Clete. Thank you."

As his guard retreated from the tent, Sevastian rose.

"You embarrass me in front of the other commanders!"

"How so?"

"By purposely setting me up for failure!"

"Explain." Sevastian clasped hands behind back.

"Within war councils!"-snarled Eponin, "You know full well, I lack command experience, yet you consistently call upon me to contribute opinions!"

"A good idea does not depend on command experience. Further, as you confess to lacking command experience, there is no better way to learn than debating ideas with experienced commanders."

"You allow me to be chastened, and by men no less!"

Time to change tact. "Have you seen me spar with Xena?"

"Of course."

"How many times have I won?"

"None." Eponin chortled.

"Yet, when the Empress beckons, I rise up, to try again. Why? Why, after such defeat, do I go another round?"

"You answer your own question, Lord Protector, because she is the Empress."

"As you say, she is the Empress. Yes, I follow her command. Yet I tell you, I do so because I wish to learn."

Eponin stood silent, considering his logic.

"A fortnight ago, basic attack and defense were beyond you, yet now-"

"A leader…" began Eponin.

"Is honest." Sevastian leaned against the map table. You must be honest with yourself above all. Know where you lack and seek improvement. I ask questions in council so that you may learn."

"It is…" Eponin placed hands on hips while looking down at boots. "Uncomfortable for me to be in a position of both leader and student at the same time."

A smile played on Sevastian's lips, "I know the feeling."

Eponin thought on his words for a time.

"I know of your quality," continued Sevastian. "You are unequaled as a teacher of the martial arts. I admire your learning-by-doing approach with those you instruct."

"And you take that approach with me." Eponin let out a sigh. "Only, I allow pride to interfere." She looked down at her boots.

"There is no shame in it." He said firm, one hand balled into a fist to rap on the tabletop for emphasis. "I hear honest evaluation on your part, now take action to improve."

She raised head, deep brown eyes scrutinizing him for a long moment. "How is it, every time I talk with you, I feel ten hand spans taller afterward?"

Sevastian moved to pour warmed tea. "The Amazons respect you due to your fighting skill and position as consort. They must respect you as a battlefield commander."

"As it is just us two, my lord, tell me, is Xena a good teacher?"

"Unequaled." He did not elaborate further while handing Eponin a cup.

"I would ask another question."

"And that is?" Sevastian sat in his well-worn camp chair, gesturing Eponin to sit as well.

"While I understand the need to train, why do you move so slowly in traveling to Athens? Surely every moment we dally, Domitius Enobarbus gains time to improve his situation."

"Do you farm?"

She laughed at the question. "Of course not."

"In my wanderings about Greece, I've observed many a peasant working a field. From that experience, I tell you what every peasant knows, the days grow shorter, the nights colder."

Nonplussed, Eponin could only stare expectantly at Sevastian.

"Harvest is approaching. Enobarbus will lose the majority of his army."

Realization hit. Eponin smiled.

Sevastian took a sip of tea.

"My lord!" Announced Clete. "The Chief of Scouts!"

Marrhuhaedra entered the tent at a clip. Immediately she bowed low.

"What news?" Sevastian stood, setting tea cup aside.

"Much." She replied while pulling a series of parchments from a worn leather pouch.

Marrhuhaedra, or Mari as commonly called, hailed from the far northern Amazon tribes. Here she stood in attire designed to help blend into the landscape.

Both Sevastian and Eponin walked to the battered table Mari had placed maps upon.

"You will soon be visited by barbarians from the north."

"Germans?"

"Yes," Mari said succinct while brushing a lock of sun lightened hair from eyes.

Sevastian studied the map intently. Mari and her cohorts were the crème de la crème of scouts. Topography on the map outlined precisely, enemy movement shown exactly.

"Numbers?" he asked without looking up.

"Some 10,000"

"Condition of the army?"

"Poor," he glanced up to see the Amazon shake her head. "Old men, and boys who should have stayed home."

"This army numbers over 100,000, my lord. Eponin raised hands, indicating all which surrounded them. "The enemy cannot match us. Have they no eyes to see how hopeless the fight would be?!"

"Is it ruse? A lure?" Sevastian straitened looking up at Mari across the table. "Another force moving to encircle?"

"I have scouted far and wide round your army, my lord. I found no trace of another force."

"You are sure?" Eponin queried.

"If I was not sure," Mari said in a low tone. "I would have said so."

Eponin stood silent.

Sevastain gave Mari a look which spoke volumes about her cutting comment. She in turn bowed head for a moment, acknowledging his silent chastisement

He tapped on the map with one finger. "Here the Danube, correct?"

"Yes." Mari leaned in.

"And here a series of gorges the Germans call the Iron Gates?"

"Yes."

"This Army will continue its training regimen."

Mari smiled wryly, "You do not wish to give away your intent."

"Correct. When the time is right, we will attack."

"Why must we attack?" asked Eponin, "They are weak! A wholly unworthy advisory."

"Terror must be maintained, or the Empire will fall." Mari stated without looking at Eponin.

"Never leave an enemy at your back. I will not turn South with any force, no matter how weak, stationed behind this army."

"You believe they are in league with the traitors in Athens?" Mari raised up and crossed arms over chest.

"Perhaps, perhaps not. It does not matter, any and all enemies of the Empress shall be put to heel. However," continued Sevastian while looking at Eponin, "We have many choices in how we deal with this force."

"I do not follow."

"Then I will explain, but first Eponin, send a runner to call forth the senior commanders."

"I will do it personally, my lord."

"Good. Tell them to arrive at sunset for a war council."

"As you wish." Eponin took her leave.

"You are like the Empress, my lord, always thinking. You have a plan in mind."

"Sevastian. Mari there is no lord here at the moment."

"As you wish, Sevastian." She smiled.

For a long moment, he was silent, eyes looking over the map. "Are we are looking in the wrong place?"

"My lord?"

"Peasants… Enobarbus has an army made up of peasants."

"Yes?" Mari was puzzled.

"Are we looking for an organized army when we should be scrutinizing village dwellers?"

Mari's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "You think Enobarbus is hiding his troops in plain sight!"

"Yes." Sevastian pointed directly at the Amazon. The warlord Draco did the same long ago. What I want is proof, I want you to give me proof."

"I will find what you seek, Lord Protector."

"Good."

"And should I find evidence of an army in hiding?" Mari placed hands on hips

"Traitors to Empire, and those who harbor them will be crushed. I will set the army to work, clearing rats."

"How?" Mari quirked head to one side.

"The best way to flush out rats is with fire." Sevastian walked to the brazier and the pot sitting atop it.

"Tea?"

"Yes."

Mari looked on as he precisely poured a cup and then served it to her, displaying usual exquisite etiquette. His action unlike custom in her tribe, there inferior served superior. Far from feeling superior, Mari felt humbled. She believing Sevastian was demonstrating his respect for her ability both as Amazon and Scout.

She deeply appreciated his action, though she would never say such.

"A shame you persist in this course."

Swords struck, sparks flew.

"She is no Empress!"

"A pity," said Siri after plunging sword though the chest of the Amazon.

Siri let loose of the hilt, allowing the body to crumple to the ground. Once she was a Queen, Penthesilea by name. No longer. Now a bleeding piece of earth.

"Who else wishes to challenge!?" bellowed Siri while placing hands on hips.

Stunned silence from the assembled throng. Penthesilea, long rumored to be a daughter of Ares, was the greatest warrior of the southern tribes.

Gasps from the assembled Amazons as Siri roughly placed boot on the corpse and pulled the sword free. The tip of that bloody blade now pointed to Ephiny seated upon the throne.

"Submit to your Empress!"

At Siri's command, the warriors swallowed pride, moving to lay prostrate before Ephiny. Slowly, silently, some 30,000 Amazons fell prone.

Siri stepped to a position before Ephiny, then took to one knee. Her hands raised up that blood-stained blade, offering it hilt first to the Empress of Amazons.

Ephiny rose from her throne, taking hilt in hand, she bid Siri rise.

The Chosen of Artemis stood, then moved to a position behind and to the right of where Ephiny stood.

"My friends! Rise!" shouted Ephiny while walking toward the warriors. She placed a hand on the woman nearest. "I command that the sword you see me holding be buried along with Penthesilea's ashes. As with this sword, let all acrimony be buried between our peoples. Sisters! No more division between us! Amazons unite!"

A cheer began, it moving through the ranks, soon all Amazons chanting their loyalty to Ephiny.

Ephiny raised a hand, the warriors falling silent. "Today, we pay homage to Penthesilea in the order of her funeral pyre. Tonight, we feast to celebrate unity!"

Cheers greeted Ephiny's words.

Gabrielle groaned, grateful for the touch of the dampened cloth upon her forehead. The relief being ministered by the Empress.

"Perhaps, going by land would have been better?"

Green eyes fluttered open to gaze into blue. "No, no…I am fine. My seasickness should not be an annoyance to others. Your entire entourage, some hundreds all traveling by land due to me."

"They do as I say, Gabrielle." A slight smile from Xena. "We could try the – pinch – again."

Gabrielle shook head, firmly declining the offer. "I can't believe I actually ate raw squid!"

Xena shrugged, "Could have been worse. All in all, not the most terrible of side effects."

"Ugh…" was all Gabrielle could manage by response.

"How is it," Gabrielle grumped. "That whatever you wear, looks fantastic on you?"

Dark brows rose at that, blue eyes showing inner amusement.

"Low cut front, high waist, short hem…" Gabrielle continued. "…perfect matching accessories… …beautiful earrings, jewels about your neck. Even the dagger clasped to your arm bands and hoop thing on your belt match."

"Called a Chakram."

Gabrielle scrunched brows together cutely. "Well, whatever that hoop is called, it is a great accessory.

A chuckle from Xena. "My enemies have called this Chakram, many things, but never once a fashion accessory."

"I hope I'm not classified as an enemy?"

"No, you are not, having proved it long ago in that ramshackle barn, Gabrielle."

"I wish I could pour myself into anything and look great." She huffed.

"I thank you for the compliment."

My pleasure," grumped Gabrielle.

"I mean it sincerely." Added Xena. "I don't get many compliments from people." She leaned in towards the reclining Gabrielle. "You see, most are too spooked to speak while in my presence."

"I won't argue that."

"A first!" quipped Xena, who then laughed at Gabrielle's dour expression.

Gabrielle's eyes widened, mouth agape.

"What!?" Xena's eyes narrowed.

"You have a beautiful laugh. You should allow more to hear it."

Xena scoffed at that.

"I am sorry, Xena."

"For what?"

"I know I have little experience of the world as you do. I feel compelled to speak for those who cannot. To help those who cannot help themselves."

A sigh from Xena. "The world is not as we wish it to be."

"Why? You are the Empress; can you not make any change you wish?"

Normally the tone of this questioning would incense Xena, but she tamped down anger for Gabrielle.

"I am Empress, and yes, I rule absolutely."

"Then you can –"

"No! growled Xena. "I have already done much in the lands I control! I am the one who created order out of chaos! I swept away the warlords, united peoples under my rule!"

Gabrielle's forlorn look caused Xena to roll eyes in exasperation.

"Here I move Olympus to find you again, to free you, yet instead of gratitude I get argument!"

"I am most grateful Empress."

"You have a unique way of showing it." Xena immediately regretted the comment.

Silence between them.

"Gabrielle…" Xena stared ahead. "…you are naïve in the ways of the world, the ways of power. Yet, what you say gives me great insight. Perhaps, I have rushed to judgement, especially in matters in which I saw no great concern."

"Perdicus…"

"Yes." Breathed Xena. "What is done is done. I do not have the luxury of turning back time to correct mistakes."

Gabrielle nodded. "I must forgive."

"I had hoped you would find it in your heart to do so."

Gabrielle abruptly leaned forward and gave Xena a gentle peck on the cheek.

A robust groan escaped dark lips.

A smirk from Gabrielle. "Again, my Empress?"

"Yes." Gabrielle leaned forward once more. This time their lips met.

Gabrielle was enveloped in the intoxicating aura of Xena.

"Get well, Gabrielle," husked Xena after their lips had parted.

"I will be better when we land at Corinth."

"Corinth… far away Corinth." Lamented Xena.

"Patience is a virtue my Empress."

"I have few virtues Gabrielle, but for you, I will - try – and practice patience."