"Look, the road!" Damian pointed forward. "The village must be nearby. Hopefully, there are no more cursed traps to slow us down."
Although discussing her fighting style with him was invigorating, Gabrielle's thoughts returned to Damian's body count and his reluctance of letting the trapper walk away.
"Do you always kill your opponents during battle?" she asked him.
"If they are bandits or other scum who don't have the common sense of running away in time, then yes."
"And don't you have any remorse for those you've killed?"
"Humans have their immortal essence that we can't kill but like animals, we're made of meat, bone, and blood. You kill chickens, rabbits and other livestock without remorse. Why would human vermin be any different? At least some of them serve a good purpose: giving me the power to deal with the rest. Good without strength is helpless."
Now that the subject had arisen, Gabrielle couldn't resist.
"I'll may regret to ask but… how many… hearts have you…"
"You really enjoy torturing yourself, aren't you?" Damian smiled. "Guess."
Reluctant expression appeared on Gabrielle's face.
"I don't know. S-six?"
"No."
"Fewer? Please, tell me it is."
"It is."
Gabrielle was a bit relieved.
"F-four?"
"No. Yes! Yes, the first actually doesn't count. You see, I saved some girls from a warlord called Draco. I killed the guard next to the pen, but they noticed me before I could follow the girls. So I cut out his heart, smeared blood all over and chewed on it like a possessed. I didn't really eat it, just wanted to scare them, which worked pretty well." Damian chuckled. "Draco just stood there, trying to overcome the shock and pull his men together as they were running away. I threw the heart in his face and fled."
Gabrielle turned to Xena, disgusted, but her friend just listened with narrowed eyes.
"Afterwards," Damian continued, "I've learned more about this, out of curiosity. I studied a ritual around it, but restricted myself to exceptional foes. The first was a renegade Amazon, I believe. She wanted to take my stuff, so I took her heart." Damian laughed. "She was fast and agile, but lacked stamina to keep it up for long and I ended up slashing her throat. She provided the opportunity to test the ritual."
"The next was a Roman centurion, Gaius of Antioch. He was my commander for a short time before… leaving the army. I have no love for Rome anyway, it's just a big bully taking everything it can, and it already had its grimy hand on parts of Greece. Anyway, after losing a skirmish, Gaius was furious and wanted to set an example by decimation. I managed to provoke him into a single combat. Gods, it felt so good to tell off that egocentric bastard. He was big and very skilled but made the mistake of underestimating me. Sword through the chest."
Damian looked around as if he'd suspect another ambush. However, Gabrielle saw nothing and Xena showed no sign of alert either. It was unlikely that the trappers would attack them again.
"The third was an overzealous bounty hunter, called Milo," Damian continued. "We met during one of my low points and teamed up to make a little money. He was good at the job and our partnership proved profitable, but he had a rotten attitude. When we encountered a group of Horde savages, it wasn't above him to attempt killing defenseless women and children. Our disagreement escalated, but by then, I was familiar with his style and used it against him. Clean decapitation."
Gabrielle couldn't help noticing the fire in Damian's eyes and the pride in his voice while talking about these bloody victories.
"The last one was a brutal warlord, Erastos, the Scourge of Greece. You probably heard of him."
"You killed Erastos?" asked Xena and she could not hide her surprise.
"He was the type who could live without a heart. Was he a friend of yours?"
"Not quite. When he raided villages, he usually slaughtered everyone and everything. Even the likes of Draco were uneasy near him. How did you even get to him? He had an army."
"A king apparently had enough of him. A troop of soldiers scattered his army, but he slipped from their grasp, killing those who tried to capture him. They couldn't track him down… but I could. And I was not about to let him regain his strength. I caught Erastos with a handful of demoralized survivors of his army. I slit their throats during the night, but I was spotted by the last too early, and before I knew it, Erastos was charging at me."
He paused and grinned at his companions, watching their reactions. Xena had little emotion on her face, though she was curious how Damian could defeat someone like Erastos. Gabrielle thought it would make a good story, but found the tale too dark to consider it heroic.
"That guy was a hulking brute," he resumed, "and quicker than I expected from a beast like that. But not nearly quick enough. I danced around him, giving him cuts and stabs little by little. It was scary because it just made him mad at first, but the blood loss eventually took its toll. When he was slow enough, I stabbed him in the back of his head. Good riddance! Not long after that I've met Najara, so the heart eating days were postponed. And I haven't met a worthy opponent since then. Present company excluded."
"How could you even bring yourself to that habit?" asked Gabrielle, disgusted.
"If you starve long enough, you learn to be less picky. You just need to convince yourself that meat is meat. The Warrior Princess' lesson for survival." He flashed a glance at Xena.
In a few minutes, they reached the town. People were busy with their lives and most gave little attention to them.
"I'll get the supplies," said Gabrielle.
"Right." The man nodded. "We'll check if there are available horses."
They split up. Xena and Damian walked past the blacksmith's where they could hear clanking iron. Both of them were silent until Xena noticed from the corner of her eye that Damian was examining her body.
"Are you looking for something?" she asked. Damian coldly smiled at her.
"I was just admiring your armor."
Xena was sure that his admiration was more like looking for vulnerable spots but left it be.
"Hey, we are supposed to go to the stables!" Objected Damian when Xena turned toward the inn.
"I need a drink."
She stepped to the innkeeper, walking past the chattering guests, and ordered a jug of ale. Damian asked for milk and sat down at Xena's table.
"You should have asked for something stronger if you want to forget," he remarked.
"I'm not trying to forget," answered Xena and took a sip.
"Dulling your senses is dangerous when you're a warrior. Maybe that cup is all the advantage I need over you."
Xena didn't reply, but grew irritated with Damian's persistent stare.
"Are you afraid that I will disappear if you look away?"
"Could be. You have many skills." Damian drank and a disgusted grimace ran through face. He sniffed the milk then pushed the cup away.
"I thought we were over this."
"We're over when we finished in Lyros. I prefer not leaving anything to chance."
"If that makes you feel better."
Damian still kept staring, so Xena looked up and stood his gaze. The man's face flinched a few times, but he did not look away. Suddenly, Xena slapped the table, making Damian jerk back.
"Funny," he said when Xena smiled. "I suppose these little entertainments have to do. You know, I almost feel sorry for you. The mighty Warrior Princess, Destroyer of Nations, Champion of Ares and maybe fated to become Conqueror of the World… gives up her ambitions, lets her potential wither as she travels around, playing hero. Then submits to the judgement of a bunch of lowly peasants. Must be humiliating for you."
"There are more important things than glory and ambitions. Maybe you'll understand one day. When you're mature enough."
"And how does it feel, oh mature one, that you weren't able to best an immature kid? Does it wound your pride?"
Xena put her arm on the table and leaned closer.
"If I had intended to kill you, you'd be dead already."
Damian's mouth curled upwards.
"Before or after Gabrielle's intervention? If I hadn't had to worry about her, I'd travel with your head."
"I've heard that before," grinned Xena. "Plenty of wannabes have tried to kill me. And I'm still here."
The young man's visage darkened.
"Yes. You chose your enemies carefully. Farmers and old people. I would have gone crazy if I were you. If every time I closed my eyes, I'd hear all those helpless people, begging for mercy. To see their wailing wives embracing their children while you 'mercifully' slaughtered their husbands at the front of their eyes, and left them to their fates."
Xena smile disappeared and she no longer could maintain the intense eye contact.
"You can't kill those voices a second time," Damian continued. "They'll haunt you until you die. Then again, it's the least you deserve."
Xena stood up and went for the door. She needed fresh air and preferably a few minutes away from Damian. However, the young man immediately hurried after her.
"You follow me like some puppy," she hissed.
"As I said before, I don't want you to accidentally wander away for various reasons. I know, I know, you're ready to balance the scales, but I can think of reasons even you may not ignore."
"Like what?"
"Like your child."
Xena could not hide her surprise as she looked at him.
"What?"
Satisfaction filled Damian's face.
"When you kindly undressed before me, I noticed stretch marks. I doubt you merely were a chubby girl, so I suspect it must be a child. Where's the little rascal now?"
"Safe," she replied after a brief silence.
"Safe from what? From your enemies? Or from you?"
Xena turned away Damian. Solan was the last subject she intended to discuss with him.
"Did you tell your kid about your past?" Damian chuckled when Xena did not answer. "Oh, you didn't! Still, if you don't return, someone has to bring news of your fate. I believe it is my duty to do so, given the circumstances. What should I say when I'm asked about the why of it?"
Xena once again looked in Damian's eyes and stepped closer.
"You won't say anything to my son, you hear me? You won't even go near him!"
"A boy, you say?" smiled Damian. Xena silently cursed herself for letting it slip out. "Don't you think he should know the truth?"
"You want to talk about the truth?" Xena raised an eyebrow. "What would Hercules say about your heart-eating habit? Does your village know? Would your father approve? You pretend you're bringing me back for justice but this isn't about that, is it? You're aching for a duel. You want the glory for defeating the Warrior Princess and the power you may get from her heart."
"Maybe that's your way. But I'm nothing like you, Thracian."
"Oh, but you are. You're on the right path toward that."
"Is that so?" Damian looked at her with scornful expression, but Xena could see growing anger underneath.
"You're very casual about taking lives, saying we're no different from livestock. But once you've let yourself think that way, it doesn't take long before the innocent lives matter just as little. Believe me, I know." She tilted her head. "But that's the problem, isn't it? Despite what you keep saying, it is not me whom you really hate. You've realized that no matter how hard you try to resemble Hercules, you're closer to what I was."
As Damian stared at her, Xena noticed his eyes flash with anger before the punch came. Still, it was too fast for her to even react, and it landed on her face. She shook her head and took a deep breath.
"I'm afraid you've already used up your free shot at me."
Xena hit back, but Damian ducked, and with a howl, he grabbed her shoulder, pushing the woman backwards. She fell on the ground, grasping her opponent's leather tunic and with her leg she threw him over her head. As they jumped up, Xena kicked him in the stomach and aimed her next for his head, but Damian pulled it back in time. The woman then attacked with a series of punches yet Damian not only blocked and dodged them but also slipped through a few of his own. The hits grew distracting and as Xena tried defending herself from the rain of strikes, she felt a brutal kick. She flew back a few feet and gasped: despite of her armor, the stomp drove the air out of her lungs.
When Damian rushed at her, Xena rolled back to her feet. She blocked another kick with her leg, ran up Damian's chest and kicked him back with a flip.
"You're getting annoying," he huffed. Xena smiled.
"I haven't even started yet."
Gabrielle just returned from shopping and even found a staff for Damian. She was on her way to the stables when she noticed a small crowd and the sounds of fighting.
"Oh, no!" she pushed herself through the people. "No, no, no!"
Her fears became reality when she noticed her companions taking a battle stance.
"Stop it!" she yelled.
"Gabrielle, stay back!" Xena spat when her friend tried approaching them but she kept her eyes on Damian. "It's time to kick your cocky little butt!"
"The only thing you'll kick is the bucket, Thracian!"
Gabrielle reluctantly watched as the fight continued. Fortunately, they had not drawn weapons yet, but Gabrielle was ready to jump in if they did.
The brawl appeared evenly balanced; Xena could predict and avoid many of Damian's attacks, though he was fast enough to evade most of hers too. When he next tried to hit Xena, however, she grabbed his arm, entangling it with hers. She retaliated with a series of punches, occasionally blocking kicks with her leg. Restricted like that, Damian seemed helpless at first, but managed to grab Xena's other arm, and with a backflip, he kicked her in the jaw. The woman cried out and released him. She recovered from daze, only to see Damian's legs swing toward her, trapping her neck. Xena's eyes widened at the powerful hold and she steadied herself, while grasping her opponent's ankles. She struggled to free herself before Damian either forced her to the ground or broke her neck. With a shout, she gathered all her strength, and loosened the hold enough to throw Damian's legs down. He rolled back to gain distance, but Xena jumped after him and, as he stood up, she put the pinch on him.
Damian's eyes widened, and he fell to his knees.
"What the…?"
"Alright, Xena, you won." Gabrielle hurried to her. "Please, undo it!"
"Ask me nicely." She crouched and smiled at Damian. He looked at her and snarled.
"Eat… hedgehog!"
"Someone's a sore loser." She shook her head, but reversed the pinch. Damian rubbed his neck with relief and wiped away the blood that dripped from his nose. He looked at it with confused horror.
"That wasn't fair."
"No, but I wa––"
Before she could finish, Damian lashed out and hit the pressure points on Xena's neck. It was her time to be surprised. More than ten years had passed since she had felt the unpleasant tension in her head. The woman attempted to release it, but Damian caught her wrists.
"Damian!" Gabrielle stepped closer. "What are you doing?"
"Just giving our princess a taste of her own medicine." Damian smiled coldly, and when Gabrielle tried to take his hands off of Xena, he pushed her away with his shoulder. "You have nice tricks, Thracian, but I could feel where you applied the pinch. It would be poetic justice, dying by your own weapon. Or you could ask me nicely to reverse it."
The world slowly turned hazy around Xena. She did not want to give Damian the satisfaction to gloat, but she was increasingly uncertain about whether he would let her die. She felt as if his grasp would loosen before Gabrielle's staff knocked Damian down with a forceful hit. With her hands freed, Xena immediately opened up the blood flow.
"Ouch, that was unnecessary," groaned Damian, squeezing his face. "I was about to let her go."
"Next time, I won't ask, I just knock out the one who starts a fight."
"Alright!" Damian raised his hands. "I'm done!"
Gabrielle looked at Xena. She slowly stood up, watching the young man, then looked at her friend and nodded.
"Show's over!" Gabrielle yelled at the crowd.