Gabrielle initially thought the tension between Xena and Damian eased, but she had to realize it was surfacing again. She tried to occupy him, asking about his previous adventures, and while Damian's mood lightened when they talked, it only lasted temporarily. During an idle conversation, the missed horses came up again as well as Xena's old associates, but luckily, Gabrielle defused the situation before escalating.
"This isn't going to end well," said Xena to her friend while Damian was busy making a fire. "We won't reach Lyros without another fight."
That confirmed Gabrielle's fear. Despite Damian's willingness for a trial, he was aching to settle the score by himself.
"I wish I could do something about it. I can see him trying to resist the urge but…"
"He still seems to think that I may run away. It's turning into paranoia."
Gabrielle was contemplating on her options.
"You need to take a walk," she said eventually. Xena raised an eyebrow. "Listen…"
"Alright." Damian straightened up as the fire began crackling. "It's ready for cooking."
"Perfect." Gabrielle went closer. "Now that I have all the ingredients, you can have a taste of a good, traditional, potidaean soup."
"Can't wait to try it."
As Gabrielle filled the pot with water and put it above the fire, Xena stood up.
"I'll be back in a moment."
"Hold on!" Damian's head snapped toward her. "Where are you going?"
"I just look around."
"What for?"
"Damian," said Gabrielle when he stepped toward Xena. "I want to talk with you."
"We'll talk when we returned."
"No," Gabrielle caught his wrist, "now!"
"Maybe that will ease your mind." Xena threw her chakram to Damian, who caught it nervously by its inner side.
"Damian, listen to me!" Gabrielle tried keeping him from following her friend.
"I don't want the Thracian out of sight."
"Do you think she'd leave me and her chakram behind?"
"Well…" Damian rolled his eyes. "Probably not. But––"
"I told her to take a walk. I want to talk to you in private."
Damian reluctantly followed her back to the fire, constantly looking back until they could no longer see Xena.
"Alright." He moved around impatiently. "What is it?"
"You need some distance from Xena. You're both on edge near each other, and we saw what happened when it had gotten out of control."
"I'm doing my best to avoid further conflicts, but it's not easy. The Thracian––"
"Her name is Xena!"
"I know her name. And I've seen her true self when we last fought. One look in her eyes and you can see the darkness inside. She fights it, but she will never win that fight. Sooner or later, it will find its way out. She slipped before."
"You saw what you wanted to see. You antagonized Xena since we met. Just give her a chance to see her for what she is, not what she was."
Damian turned his attention to the chakram he gripped and raised it before his face.
"How many innocents have been killed by this trinket?" he snarled.
Gabrielle looked up from the soup's preparation.
"I don't know," she admitted. "But I do know how many have been saved by it."
Damian glanced at her, then slowly lowered the weapon.
"The pressure is too much." He sat down. "My village suffered enough, but now I have to deal with some unknown monster that terrorizes it. And I also have the Warrior Princess with me, who was responsible for our previous calamity. I don't think she'd go back on her promise, but… I feel I risk much by trusting her. Not to mention how the people of Lyros will react when they see her again."
He fixed his gaze on the ground and sighed.
"I don't know what's the right thing to do."
Gabrielle put her hand on Damian's shoulder.
"Xena's willing to go back and make up for the evil she's done, even if it costs her life. Things going the way you wanted. There's no need for more hostility between you."
Damian didn't answer immediately, so Gabrielle turned her attention to the boiling water. For a while, they just sat without a word until Damian broke the silence.
"You know, I think you were right." He closed his eyes. "It is… relieving to get away from her a little. I never realized how exhausting this constant vigil was."
"Maybe it would be best if you take some time away from Xena whenever you feel too strained. We're almost in Lyros, it is very unlikely that something comes up, and she leaves."
Damian was thinking, then sighed in submission.
"Alright. I'll advance a little trust. I hope it won't be misplaced."
"Believe me, I'm not eager to have Xena stand trial after helping you, but I know her. Her conscience wouldn't let her run away from it. Besides, you promised a fair trial. We also put our trust in your word."
Damian nodded.
"Fair enough."
By the time Gabrielle had finished cooking, Xena returned. Damian glanced at her, but neither of them said anything as they took a bowl of soup.
"It's really good," remarked Damian with a faint smile as he ate a spoonful.
"The secret is the right amount of seasoning as the ingredients mixing," replied Gabrielle. They continued eating in silence and she saw Damian keep looking toward Xena. Her friend noticed that too, but said nothing.
"So…" Damian finally addressed Xena, "you're an expert on shamanistic practices?"
"I've learned a few things during my travels," she answered.
"You said before that my practice has serious side effects. What are the signs? Surely, it doesn't happen instantly," he added when Xena narrowed her eyes.
"I'm not sure, I haven't witnessed it firsthand. I've heard that your human side, like compassion and love, slowly fades as well as your reasoning. Why?"
Damian briefly looked at Gabrielle and hesitated.
"While I traveled with Najara, we were once ambushed. The bandits knocked her out and archers began decimating our group. A woman with black hair and blue eyes led them. She didn't really look like you, but still reminded me of you. Then… things became hazy. I rushed the archers and… they kept dying easily. I caught an arrow of the woman and threw it back so hard, it stuck in her chest. The survivors of Najara's group said I fought like a man possessed."
Gabrielle didn't know what to say, and Xena was listening quietly.
"Something like that happened before I met Najara," Damian continued. "I found a village destroyed by a band of deserters. I asked the survivors where they went and tracked them down. I planned to pick them off one by one, but I was spotted as I dragged the first off his horse. I had no choice, but to stand and fight, and I remembered what they did to that village… then the rage took over. I barely felt the wounds I got, and even without weapons I had no trouble breaking their necks. It's not like I was completely out of control but… I felt intense bloodlust."
"If that's the result of your practice," said finally Xena, "it will only get worse. You may have some control now, but if it becomes permanent, you'll eventually stop caring who gets in your way."
"Maybe… it's not related," muttered Damian, unsure.
"Maybe. But is it worth the risk?"
The young man looked at Gabrielle, then Xena again.
"I… have to think about that."
After finishing their food, the trio broke camp. While Damian did not become much friendlier toward Xena, he was no longer on edge and did not try keeping an eye on her all the time. Gabrielle hoped it would be enough to reach Lyros without further incidents.
"You have more influence on Damian than I thought," said Xena to her friend while their companion was a little farther. "But if his mysterious frenzy shows up, a fight to the death could be unavoidable. It's a surprise it didn't come out so far."
Gabrielle sighed.
"Do you think there's a way to reverse it?"
Xena shook her head.
"If it comes from the ritual, not likely. But maybe it's just all the hate and torment he carries. If that's the case, maybe a closure could bring him some peace."
Gabrielle hoped that the latter was true. She still remembered what she felt after Callisto killed Perdicus, and knew that this revenge was something that drowned the world in blood. Though some animosity lingered, by now she mostly felt sadness toward Callisto. And Xena was more deserving of forgiveness than her.
After a lengthy walk, Damian led them off the path toward a hill.
"Shouldn't we follow the road?" asked Xena.
"It would make us circle around." Damian explained. "I'm trying to create a shortcut to make up for some of the time we're losing for being on foot. A little more effort, but we can slow down to rest later."
Gabrielle looked at the sky.
"Dark clouds gathering. It's going to rain soon."
"Then we better hurry. Climbing mountain in the rain won't be very safe."
Damian could proceed quickly, stepping on rocks and grabbing thick roots. Although Xena was able to keep up, Gabrielle kept falling behind. She had to tie her staff to her back to use both hands.
"Hey, wait!" she panted. "I can't go that fa––"
The handful of grass loosened in Gabrielle's hand, and she slid back. Xena went back to help her, and they double their effort to catch up with Damian. By the time they reached the topside, the first drops of rain hit the ground.
"Oh, no!" Gabrielle immediately objected when Damian examined the next shortcut. "I need a breather and I wouldn't risk climbing more if the rain gets worse."
Damian pressed his lips together, but in the end, he nodded.
"Let's follow the road then, and rest a little. If the weather won't get worse, we can climb higher."
"The way I see it, this shortcut only saves us one or two hours at best," remarked Xena. "We'll lose that advantage when we decide to gather our strength we lost during climbing."
Damian stepped before her and began walking backwards.
"Listen, I made this journey many times, so I know what I'm talking about."
"Did you try the shortcut on the way down or up? It takes much more effort and outright climbing won't––"
"I think I'm familiar with the surroundings of my home, thank you very much! I followed the road, climbed, I went all possible ways. I once even slid down of the mountain…"
Xena noticed a log hanging among the leaves of the nearby tree, which moved the moment the young man stepped under it.
"Damian, watch out!"
"Huh?"
He looked up. The branches cracked as the log started to fall, and Xena immediately rushed toward Damian. Before she could reach him, the young man casually jumped back. Xena only grabbed the air and, as she lost balance for a moment, the log fell on her legs. She landed on her elbow and cried out when a sharp pain ran through her calf.
"Xena!" Gabrielle ran to her while Damian looked around.
"That was very noble of you," he said and stepped to her, "but unnecessary. I can take care of myself."
He examined the log and tried to find a grip on it when Xena noticed a glint. She reached for her chakram, but Damian already grabbed his staff and caught an arrow that was meant for him. Another two flew toward him, but he blocked them as well.
"Is that all?" he yelled and walked toward the direction of the attacks. Xena and Gabrielle tried to move the log, but the attackers came out of hiding, shooting at the two women. Some of their arrows were repelled by Damian and Xena, yet it was enough distraction to prevent freeing the latter. Seeing that assailants were reluctant to engage in melee, Xena threw her chakram at them. It broke the bows' limbs or cut the strings, disabling the archers. Unfortunately, the weapon did not return, and the ruffians realized this was their best chance for an attack.
One of them threw a javelin at Damian. He caught it, spun around and, with the momentum, sent it back. The thug screamed as it stuck in his leg. Another charged at Damian with his spear. The young man knocked it sideway and struck his opponent in the face before another two took his place. Gabrielle was fighting another two, armed with swords, but she was still tired from the climbing to quickly deal with them. Xena drag her sword out from its sheath to defend herself; her attackers kept their distance, only poking toward the woman, to prevent her from freeing herself.
"Xena!" shouted Gabrielle, knocking down an opponent and blocking a strike. Damian appeared behind her other enemy, beating him down.
"This is a bit more interesting without killing," he remarked, and smiled. "Free the Thracian before they––"
He spun sideways and caught a throwing knife with his staff.
"You again?" He recognized the previously spared trapper while breaking off the half a dozen arrows from his weapon.
As the thug turned around and ran, Damian gave chase. A net trap rose under his leg, but he rolled forward before it could have caught him. The man smiled when the cutthroat reached a horse, hastily cutting the rope that tied it to a tree.
"I can't believe that!" The trapper snarled as he jumped in the saddle and bumped his heels against the horse. He glanced behind, but could not see his pursuer. "Where's that bastard?"
"Looking for me?"
The thug snapped his head toward the voice and his eyes widened when he saw Damian running next to him. Before he could have overcome his surprise, the young man lashed toward him. The horse neighed as rider was dragged off, and galloped away.
"What in Tartarus are you?" spat the trapper while Damian pushed him against a tree with his staff.
"You have a death wish or what?"
"I won't rest until I avenged my brother!"
The trapper's eyes darted behind Damian, who waited few seconds and kicked back. As he glanced at his victim, a feebly moaning guy just dropped his dagger, hunching with a painful expression. Damian casually pushed him to the ground and turned back at the leader.
"Look, if you want to die trying to avenge your brother, you picked the wrong time. I'm currently working on lowering my body count. Maybe I could have handed your brother to the authorities instead of killing him, but I assume then you'd still be after me for jailing him. I can spare your life if you stop annoying me with these hopeless attempts."
"Aren't you a real hero," the trapper said sarcastically. "Heroes are a bunch of naïve idiots who get themselves killed for their sentiments."
"Unlike you, right?" Damian snickered, then his expression became more serious. "You'll get a second pass if you stop embarrassing yourself."
"Alright, hero, let me go then. We'll see how things turn out."
Damian reluctantly stepped back. The trapper grinned and opened his palm.
"Oh, and if you'd be so kind to give my knife back too…"
"What's next, an erotic massage?" Damian ripped the knife out of his staff and with a sudden move, he stabbed it in the outlaw's palm.
"You see, I'm rather new to this worldview," he explained as the trapper's eyes widened in horror, staring at the knife in his shaking hand, "and I don't have many ideas how to keep you off my back without killing you. So here's the thing: your fighting days are over unless you start training your other hand, which I'll stab the next time we encounter. Then I'll break your legs and before long you won't have the means to chase me."
The bandit whimpered as the rain grew heavier around them, trying to decide whether to touch the knife or don't.
"So, be reasonable," Damian continued, "and choose a more productive life while you still have limbs. You can start right now by treating your wound in the nearby town. Now, I'll count to five and if you're still here, you'll wish you wouldn't. One…"
"Y-you––"
"Two… four…"
The trapper realized it was best to retreat. Damian watched him for a while, then he remembered his companions.
"Damn!"
Although Gabrielle lured the attackers away from Xena, and even knocked out one of them, the thugs were more rested than her. She disarmed one of her opponents, but when she swung her staff at him, the man caught it. His partner immediately slashed toward Gabrielle, who had to release her weapon and jump back. Unarmed, she could only retreat from the laughing bandits, dodging their attacks. She was looking for an opportunity to retrieve her staff during one of the clumsy strikes when her foot slipped as if the ground had disappeared under her. Gabrielle glanced behind, and to her dismay, she saw a chasm behind her.
"Gabrielle!" She heard Damian's voice.
The attackers looked behind, but as Gabrielle tried to sneak away from the chasm, the one with her staff suddenly hit her in the face. She lost her balance, and as she fell, Gabrielle caught a rock that stuck out. Underneath her was a flowing river, and even if she could somehow avoid being crushed on the rocks in the water, the current could carry her gods know where.
Gabrielle had heard the groan of the two thugs, and Damian's head appeared above. His face showed relief when he spotted her then tried to reach her with his staff. However, the rain made the rock dangerously slippery and Gabrielle didn't dare moving her hands.
"I… I can't do it!" she said.
"Thracian!" Damian looked behind for a moment, but couldn't see anyone. "Xena! Don't tell me you're still stuck!"
"I'm slipping!" moaned Gabrielle as she was losing grip.
Damian threw away the staff and drew his sword, then pushed himself off just as Gabrielle's hand slipped off the rock. He caught her hand and thrusted his sword in the side of the chasm. The young man cried out at the sudden pain in his arm as both Gabrielle's and his own weight pulled it, but still, he forced a smile on his face.
"Hi there! Hold onto me!" Damian raised her up to his waist. "There, hold tight! Just don't pull my pants off!"
"Don't make me laugh now!" said Gabrielle with a tortured giggle. Damian unsheathed his second sword and began slowly climbing. He could barely see through the rain, which already threatened to turn the hilt slippery.
"Oh, this won't…" he muttered, then shook his head. "No, it will work. I just need some vigorous rhythm. Gabrielle, do you know any stimulating song?"
"Song? Well… I can only think of one. But it's not the best."
"Doesn't matter, just go on! I need something quickly."
"Alright." Gabrielle took a deep breath and with a grimace, she began.
"Joxer, the mighty,
roams through the countryside,
He never needs a place to hide,
With Gabby as his sidekick,
Fighting with her little stick.
Righting wrongs and singing songs.
Being mighty all day long.
He's Joxer, he's Joxer the Mighty!"
Despite her embarrassment, the song helped Damian moving upwards.
"Gabrielle!" Xena appeared at the top of the cliff, and Damian painfully realized how far they were still. "Hold on!"
"I'm okay too, thanks for asking!" yelled the young man. "Gabrielle, just… just keep singing."
"What?" asked Gabrielle. "Oh, right, sorry, umm, Joxer the mighty, he's very tidy…"
In the meantime, Xena tested the nearby vines, but they tore easily and her wounded legs did not allow acrobatic tricks at the moment. The knocked out thugs regained consciousness, but she quickly sent both back to dreamland with a double punch, then once again looked into the chasm.
Damian had to cling onto everything he could muster to keep going. His left arm was burning since catching Gabrielle and climbing with swords was extremely uncomfortable, especially since the rain soaked the hilt. Only some occasional bumps helped where he could stick his legs to rest a few moments. He looked up.
"Gabrielle, can you reach her hand if you stand on my shoulder?"
She examined the distance.
"I… think so. But I'm afraid I'll lose my balance."
"Just hold onto my sword. The edge is not sharp near the guard."
Gabrielle gathered her courage and began climbing to his shoulder while Damian did his best to help her.
"I still can't reach you," said Xena. "Try standing on the sword! It will give enough lift to catch you."
The thought was scary. If Gabrielle slips or just Xena fails to catch her, she could fall.
"I-I don't know…"
"Come on! You can do it!"
Damian used his reserves to pull himself up to help Gabrielle. She took a deep breath and stepped on the blade. There wasn't much room, and it was very risky, yet she trusted her friend. She nearly slipped while reaching upwards, but Xena successfully caught her arm and pulled her up.
Without her weight, Damian could move again while humming the Joxer song, but the feeling of easier progress was rapidly disappearing.
"Take my hand, Damian!" she heard Xena.
"Nah, I can do it." However, during his next thrust, the sword slipped from his hand and fell into the chasm.
The man grasped the other weapon with panic and looked up again. He believed he could reach Xena's arm, but was very reluctant to accept her help. Still, there was more at stake than his pride. Damian let out a frustrated grunt and lifted himself up to reach Xena's hand. She caught him and, for a moment, the young man thought he would slip. However, the woman firmly held and pulled him up with surprising strength. When he finally reached the top, he lay on the ground, panting heavily. Gabrielle's relieved face appeared before him.
"That was fun." Damian flashed an exhausted grin. "Wanna do it again?"