Usual disclaimers apply.

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Chapter 12

Jumping up on the table the healer pointed to, I watched as Zivah put the finishing touches on Tabitha's stitches. "How is she, Zivah?"

Washing her hands in the clean water basin next to her, Zivah began to wipe them as she headed to me. "I think she'll be okay. She was beaten pretty badly and had some deep cuts. No sign of rape though. That at least is a blessing."

I nodded, "It is. You ready to stitch me up?"

She nodded and moved behind me. "You want to take the tunic off or have me cut it?"

"Cut it," I shrugged as Mom came up to me with the healer. "It's ruined anyway. I have a feeling the cut is deeper than I originally thought."

"Shit, Sam," Zivah whistled. "Aunt Gabrielle, I need to pack this with herbs will you help me choose the right ones?"

Mom nodded and moved around the table to stand behind me as well.

"Why is your queen allowing a youngster to suture you?" the healer asked as she watched.

"Because Zivah has been studying with our healer for a full year now and she has learned a lot from my moms in the area of healing."

"Surely I could do this for you instead." The woman ran her hand through her brown locks and then shifted her eyes behind me as Mom instructed Zivah on the correct herbs after they had cleaned my wound.

Holding up one finger I stopped her next question, "Hold that thought. Mom, just a minute," taking my fingers I applied a pressure a point and immediately felt left shoulder and arm go numb. "Okay, I'm numb. Let me know when to release the pressure point."

The healer's eyes grew wide. "How did you do that?"

"A pressure point. Xena taught me. As for your question, yes you are more than capable of stitching me up, but I prefer Zivah and mom to do it. Nothing against your capabilities but I don't trust easily."

The woman snorted, "Yet you want our cooperation."

"Doesn't mean we have to blindly follow each other. Trust is earned, Micah. Surely you agree with that."

The woman dropped her shoulders and nodded, "I do. Now, if you'll allow it I'd like to see which herbs they are using."

"Go ahead," I smirked at her. "Just don't touch." I smiled at her and she grinned back.

"You are going to be a hell of a leader someday."

"I have a lot to live up to."

Seeing the door to the healer's hut open, I shook my head as Eponin finally dragged Rory inside. "Up," Ep pointed to a free table and Rory glared at her mother.

"I'm fine, just a little sprain."

"Up, now."

"I'm not a dog you know," Rory huffed before managing to get onto the table. "It's just a sprain."

"And we are going to let Zivah check it out to make sure, Rory. I can't even get your boot off."

"The swelling will eventually go down. Right, Sam?"

"Yup." I smirked. "Come on, Aunt Eponin, she's just being an Amazon."

"Damn pride," Eponin huffed and I giggled.

"Never thought I'd hear you say that."

"Never thought my fifteen year old daughter would be killing slavers alone." Eponin ran her hand through her hair. "What happened out there?"

"We will discuss that later," Mom's voice came from behind me. "Okay, Sam, release the pressure point."

I did so and groaned. "Damn that hurts."

"Language," Mom admonished.

Rory began to laugh. "Leave it to Aunt Gabrielle to get after you for language after having a sword driven into your shoulder."

"Yeah well, it's called priorities." I teased as Mom moved around the table and pulled my head down to kiss my forehead.

B"Can't have you thinking a warrior's mouth is okay at your age."

"Nope, just Trouble's age," Rory teased causing Mom to glare at her.

Mom moved to Rory and smiled at her, "It's a good thing I love you, Rory."

"Yup," Rory grinned. "And I'm injured, you can't take an injured junior Amazon to task. What type of message would that send?"

Mom sighed, "And they say I have a way with words." Feeling Rory's ankle Mom shook her head. "I need a knife."

Five knives appeared from various directions and I couldn't hold my laugh at Mom's whispered, "Warriors."

Cutting Rory's boot off, Mom whistled at the swelling and discoloration. "You managed to do this up rather well, little girl."

"Yeah, looks like she forgot to flip starting on her right foot," I teased.

"I am going to have a serious talk with your mother," Mom muttered as she accepted a basin of water from one of the healer's assistants. Putting Rory's foot in the basin she bathed the ankle in the cool water for a few moments. "Wrap her ankle in some wet clothes, the colder the better and elevate it. I'll check it in a few minutes and then wrap it to keep it stable."

Mom turned to Eponin, "She won't be walking on this ankle for a while, Ep. Make sure she remembers that."

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Rory, Zivah, and I were sitting on a bench in the council chambers. Regina had lost control before the meeting even started, Eponin was leaned against the wall looking as if she was getting ready to crack heads, and Mom was getting that look on her face.

Putting my fingers in my ears everyone around me followed suit and Mom's shrill whistle stopped all the posturing and arguing immediately. "Amazons Enough!"

"I want to know what happened as much as you do, but all of this bickering will get us nowhere. Queen Regina, if I may?"

The honey blonde nodded and smiled, "Be my guest, Queen Gabrielle."

"Sam, Zivah, and Rory please stand and tell us what happened."

Standing we moved forward and I took the floor, "We were in the woods outside the village with Sofie and Sadie. Sadie was practicing her bow and arrow and Sofie wanted to work on her tracking skills as well as help gather herbs.

"I heard footsteps in the underbrush and dropped from the tree. I assumed a defensive stance and Zivah and Rory did the same. A girl stumbled from the tree line and when I checked on her I recognized someone I knew from Potidaea by the name of Tabitha. I had Zivah check her out and tend to her wounds.

"I then heard more footsteps and instructed everyone to give their knives to Zivah before sending Sofie back to the village for help. I smelled two more attackers…"

"You're telling us you could smell the attackers?" an older warrior challenged.

I shrugged, "We were downwind. Anyway, I told them to get ready. Zivah was to protect Tabitha and we weren't going to play nice. Sadie wasn't quite ready for that and I told her to get in the tree and stay out of our way if she couldn't help.

"The men finally showed themselves. One named Talus tried to take me and I knocked him out. We were then attacked from all sides, there were six men in all. Zivah took out two with her knives. I managed two with the sword, and Rory took out one with her sword as well."

"You're telling us that the three of you killed six grown men with weapons?" the same Amazon spoke again.

I shook my head, "No, we killed five. Talus was alive when Mom and the rest of the backup arrived. After Mom questioned him we left for the village. I don't know if he's still alive or not."

"He's not," Regina spoke and nodded to me. "I have a few questions for the three of you before we discuss this matter further."

We all nodded and waited. "First, Zivah, why were you given the knives if you are studying to be a healer?"

Zivah shrugged, "I'm the best at hitting targets with knives in our village."

"How is that possible?"

"I had a bit of personal tutoring from the pirate called Nebula. She said I have a natural talent for it. I've practiced a lot as well. I'm also not afraid to do what needs to be done when under attack."

Regina nodded, "And Rory, how was your ankle injured?"

"I forgot to take off on my right foot when I flipped."

"Excuse me?"

"You have to take off on your right foot when you flip otherwise you land wrong and sprain an ankle." Rory bit her lip to stop the smirk, "I was dodging one of the attackers with a move Sam taught me. It allowed me to strike the attacker. It wasn't a painless death, but it worked."

Regina took a deep breath and finally turned to me, "And you, Princess. How is it you knew exactly what to do?"

"I am my mothers' daughter," I replied simply.

"Explain."

"With all due respect, Queen Regina, I am the daughter of Xena and Gabrielle. I would expect nothing less of myself but to do what needed to be done to protect my fellow sisters. I am adept as a warrior though I still have a lot to learn, I know this, but I did what needed to be done because it is my path."

"And Sadie? She told me you told her to get out of the way," Regina pressed.

"I did. She wasn't ready to kill if needed, I couldn't have her as a liability. At least in the tree I knew she would be safer and I could protect her if needed."

"And you felt it your job to protect everyone you were with?"

"I am the princess," I replied. "And as I said, I am my mothers' daughter."

"And you expect us to believe that children neutralized the attackers?" another Amazon asked.

"The bodies burning in the woods should answer that," I replied before Mom could. "We did what needed done. Now, if there are no more questions I would like to check on my friend at the healer's hut."

Mom nodded to me and I nodded back before heading out of the council chambers followed by Zivah and Eponin carrying Rory.

"You allow your daughter to speak like that in council?" the first older warrior addressed Gabrielle.

"I allow my daughter to answer the questions posed to her. As for what happened, I do not doubt her abilities. As she said with Xena and me as her mothers, she has a lot to live up to and we would expect nothing less of her.

"What bothers me is that those men managed to get past your outer defenses with an injured girl. A breach that allowed them to attack junior warriors. I can tell you that it would have ended much different if Sam had not been in that party today."

"What did the one known as Talus tell you?"

"That he was promised favor with the gods if he managed to capture Sam and take her to a man in the port city."

"And the name of the man?" Regina asked.

Gabrielle shook her head, "He never said."

"And you didn't think to force him to tell you before allowing him to be killed?" the older warrior spoke once more.

"He couldn't have told me the name. He didn't know."

"And how are you so sure of this, Gabrielle?" Regina's quiet question silenced everyone.

"Because only a fool would keep information after having experienced the pinch. He knew I would kill him. He told me all he knew."

Regina stood and began to pace. "And what would you have us do now?"

"Nothing," Gabrielle stood and held her hands up for silence. "We thank you for all you did today and I promise that we still wish to have relations with your village. You have proven yourselves to be true sisters.

"However I do not wish to cause you any more danger. Whatever is happening it is because of my daughter. As soon as Tabitha is stable we will leave for our village. I need to talk with Xena about this new development."

Regina nodded. "We will give you a wagon and horses for your journey, Gabrielle. Thank your daughter and nieces for us, we owe them much for their actions today."

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