PATHS ONCE TAKEN (BOOK 5:FINAL ROUND)
by OldScout
X.WILD HORSE.
1. SOMETHING.
The door to the private dining room swung open admitting Sarra. All three occupants had their hands on their weapons, waiting for the woman to enter. "I brought who you asked for." As she spoke, three women appeared in the doorway.
"Mother." Ipiphany exclaimed as Gabrielle walked in behind Sarra.
'Mother?' Sarra looked at the red headed woman with her. She knew the two with Princess Ella were Amazons, they had made no attempts to hide the clothes they wore beneath their robes. But these others were too, of course she should have known.
The two Amazons exchanged a very quick embrace as the others filed in and Sarra closed the door. She watched the greetings then the frown as the eldest was about to take issue with something.
"Where's Delthea?" Serena asked, looking at the other two new arrivals.
Ipiphany turned to Gabrielle. "By the gods," she said, concern gripping her face. "what happened to Delthea?"
Gabrielle put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Don't worry, King Triton requested our company on his trip to see Prince Orian. Delthea has taken on the task of keeping him safe."
Ipiphany considered the ramifications of what Gabrielle just told her. She turned to the young warrior at the Queen's side. "Lisin, I am honored to have you a full part of my family."
"There are others more worthy." the young Amazon replied.
"If you were not worthy." Gabrielle said softly, "I would not have chosen you." She turned back to her daughter. "As for you, young lady, your orders were to take Princess Ella to Amazon territory. We promised Xena we would keep her safe."
"We were attacked on the road." Ipiphany replied. "Ella knew them and recognized the threat they held for both countries. We decided to come here to warn Prince Orian, Ella doesn't believe he is involved in this plot."
"I know." Gabrielle said. "King Triton has also come to Catatona to warn Orian of the trouble and betrayals in his country. Okay, we'll talk of this again, later, when all is settled."
A coded knock came at the door and it swung open revealing a darkly tanned woman dressed similarly to Gabrielle and her guard. Sarra looked at the woman realizing that these three were not the only Amazons who had come here tonight.
"My Queen." the woman said to Gabrielle. "There are many soldiers here, like the ones we found in the woods after the attack."
"Like them how?"
"Their armor is of Catatona, but we can tell they are not soldiers."
"Mercenaries." Gabrielle said as the woman closed the door. She turned to Sarra. "They've been hired to impersonate Catatonan soldiers and bring war to your countries."
Something else was still caught in Sarra's mind. "Your the Amazon Queen?" she said to the woman standing before her.
Gabrielle put a finger to Sarra's lips. "Shh, there are other things to worry about now, we have to get out of here before these mercenaries find us hiding, they'll definitely recognize Ella if they find her hidden away like this."
Down stairs, two women and four men entered the Wild Horse. The taller of the women kept the hood of her cloak up, covering most of her face. Even if not for the anonymous woman's commanding figure, the others would have drawn attention. It wasn't often men wearing captain's insignia from both Catatonan and Calatonian royal guard were ever seen together.
The crowd parted before Xena as she approached the bar. Behind her, the others spread out taking up positions to protect each other and the Queen. "Ale." Xena requested as the tender approached.
The man glanced at the imposing figure in front of him. He then glanced at a room to the right of the door. "Gotta check your weapons before I can serve ya ale."
Xena pulled her hood back, letting it drop to her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes gleamed in the torch light and the white streak in her hair glistened down her shoulder. "I give my weapons to no one. Now, do you refuse your Queen?"
Immediately there was a mug of the tavern's finest ale on the bar. She picked up the mug and scanned the totally quiet tavern. A sea of faces stared back at her. The tall woman sipped the ale and studied the crowd. She saw what she was afraid of, a scattering of soldiers in old Catatonan armor. They were here waiting for her. Had they caught one of her men, or just followed the messengers? It didn't matter, the cards were delt, she would play out the hand.
A woman ran out of a service entrance and pushed her way to the bar. "My Queen." the woman said as she ducked under the counter.
"Ah, Sarra." Xena said raising an eyebrow. "Your little tavern has certainly grown since I first started coming here."
"If only my father knew that some day you'd be Queen. You were always a good friend."
A frown crossed Xena's face. "I'm sorry for what's going to happen here tonight."
Sarra looked around the crowded tavern. "I've been afraid something was going to happen." she said quietly. "Do I have time to get my patrons out?"
Xena stared at the mercenaries starting to jockey for position. "Do it now."
The woman turned to her servers. "Get everyone out, quickly."
As the patrons hurried out, over thirty mercenaries stood their ground. Other faces emerged from the throng, Xena immediately recognized Amazon warriors, even without their traditional dress and adornments. Descending one of the flights of stairs was a very familiar blond. Gabrielle pushed her way past several mercenaries and approached the bar across from Xena.
"You always turn up in the most unlikely of places." Xena said in greeting.
The old bard quirked a smile at her friend. "And you always seem to have a knack for attracting trouble."
"It's a dirty job, but one of us has to do it."
"Enough of this reunion!" one of the mercenaries close behind Gabrielle snarled.
"Quiet." Xena hissed at the man, "or you die first."
The man reached for his sword but hesitated with a glare from the queen.
"There's something you need to know." Gabrielle said quietly. "I found my messenger and her charge here tonight too."
A raised eyebrow was Xena's response to Gabrielle's revelation. "That changes a lot. This is going to be a rough one." As she spoke, Xena looked at the mercenaries who still stood around not knowing what to do next.
After unfastening her cloak, Xena dropped it off her shoulders, revealing the fully armed Warrior Queen. Her great sword hung from a sheath on her left hip. The charkram dangled from a hook at the back of her weapons belt, on the front hung a coiled whip and a long knife with curved blade and bone handle. Finally, Xena unhooked her scabbard and laid her sword on the bar before her. She reached down and gathered her skirt, hitching the hem into her belt, revealing her heavy boots and knee high greaves.
Taking Xena's lead, the rest of her band started removing their cloaks and freeing their weapons. The three Amazon warriors and two guard who had accompanied Gabrielle into the tavern revealed themselves by preparing their weapons as well.
Moving along the upper level, between the patrons who had stayed for the show, and the mercenaries waiting for their cue, three figures pushed their way toward an exit. Two where cloaked women who Xena recognized, the third was cloaked and hooded, but she recognized her own daughter's stride. A slight frown betrayed her as she watch the girl push away from her protectors and head toward the railing.
"Why are we both cursed with daughters exactly like you?" Xena said to Gabrielle.
Seeing the Queen's interest in the movement above, the leader of the mercenary band saw the women weaving through his men. "Seize them!" he commanded indicating the three new comers.
Every warrior in the Wild Horse went for their weapons. Xena grabbed her sword from the counter and threw the scabbard off the blade. The heavy leather and metal sheath sailed across the room, striking one of the mercenaries in the head.
The tense quiet of the room was broken by the nerve shattering scream of Xena's battle cry as she leaped to the top of the bar then leaped again. The warrior queen somersaulted across the server space landing on the opposite bar, in front of Gabrielle.
Above, ten mercenaries rushed toward Ipiphany, Serena and Ella. The Amazons tore off their cloaks, freeing themselves for the fight. The closest soldier grabbed Ella's cloak as she rushed by him, ripping the hooded garment from the young woman.
"It's the princess." Someone yelled and Xena's heart fluttered as she felt an arrow rush past her toward her daughter.
The man holding the girl's cloak stumbled back with a cross bow bolt buried in his shoulder. Xena jumped to the floor then looked back for the source of the bolt. Vanek smiled and reloaded.
"Don't let this become a blood bath." Xena growled at the lead mercenary and pointed her sword at the dirty man. "You have no idea what your about to unleash on yourselves." She smiled and it wasn't pleasant.
Above, the two Amazons held the mercenaries at bay as the men waited for a decision.
"Mother!" Ella yelled from the balcony. "They're Cunaxan, Orian had nothing to do with the betrayal."
"I know dear." Xena said coolly. "Now, we've got to get you out of here."
"Too late, bitch." the mercenary said. "We have our orders." He turned toward his men "We out number them three to one. Kill them all!"
2. BATH.
Hearing the order, Ipiphany didn't wait for the attack. The tall amazon jumped forward and buried her sword in one of her adversaries. Blood spilled out the wound as the soldier dropped to the floor. Ipiphany let go of her sword as the man fell, grabbing his sword to replace it. Kicking another man in the knee, she tore into the mercenaries around her.
Behind Ipiphany, Serena moved between the men threatening them and the princess. Four went around Ipiphany, attacking the blond Amazon. The attackers found themselves facing two foes as the young princess drew her short sword and joined her first real battle.
Xena saw the advance on her daughter and her protectors, but didn't have time to act to help the three women. All she could do was look back at her companions and motion to the upper level. Vanek and Terina both answered Xena's command, releasing arrows at the upper deck.
A surge of mercenaries swept down on Xena, Gabrielle and the Amazons. Again Xena's battle cry echoed through the building as she rushed at the mob of soldiers attacking her. With a viscous slash, Xena struck the first man to reach her. The mercenary screamed and dropped to his knees, clutching the bleeding stump that was his arm. Xena used the bleeding man as a spring board, she jumped to the kneeling man's shoulders then catapulted herself over the knot of troops in front of her.
A blur of black and a flash of steel landed in the middle of the mercenaries; men started dying. Gabrielle used the distraction of Xena's furious attack to wade into the same group of soldiers, making her own presence known. With her guard on either side of her, the Amazon Queen distracted a large number of the mercenaries, allowing Xena the freedom to start for the stairs and her daughter.
Blood flowed from Xena's sword as she fought her way up the stairs. She wasn't playing games with these fools, they threatened her family and she wouldn't allow anything to happen to them. Men charged down the stairs at the warrior, only to see a blur of steel and a spray of blood as the mercenaries in front of them met their fate.
From the front of the bar, Terina was momentarily distracted by the sight of the legendary Warrior Princess doing battle. But is was long enough, an archer on the second floor to see an opening. Fire exploded through the young princess' neck and arm as a crossbow bolt tore across her shoulder. She turned in time to the see the archer release a second bolt directly at her. Something blurred in front of her and a great weight slammed the young woman to the floor.
Terina struggled out from under the weight of a body now laying on her. She looked up to see the archer taking aim again. This time she was able to scramble the few hands across the floor to hide behind the bar, but she wasn't quick enough. The third bolt caught her in the thigh, imbedding deeply in thick muscle.
A cry of pain erupted from the young Amazon as she rolled to safety behind the bar. Fire of pain erupted from the girl's neck and thigh as she sat up in her refuge. Terina looked back to where she had been, some one had fallen on her, taking the arrow meant for her. Tears welled in her eyes as she pictured her beloved Victor laying with a Cunaxan bolt in his chest. A figure wearing Calatonian armor lay where she had been, but it wasn't Victor. Captain Vanek lay in her place, his face twisted in pain, blood dripped from his mouth and nose. The man's eyes stared blankly into nothingness. His empty crossbow still gripped in his right hand. A second arrow struck the proud warrior's lifeless body.
Terina peaked out around the edge of the bar in time to see the archer on the balcony release a bolt at another victim. She took the instant he needed to reload to lean out and grab one of Vanek's hands. Ignoring the pain of her wounds and using all of the strength the young Amazon had developed through her years of climbing trees and stringing bows she pulled the dead weight of the body behind the bar with her.
A quick search revealed Vanek's cross bow was empty, but undamaged, and his sheaths were empty. Terina looked at Vanek's empty bow and the bolts imbedded deeply in his back. She gritted her teeth, rolled the body on its side, then pushed with all she had on one of the bolts. Pain flared in Terina's arm and up her injured leg as she used it for leverage as she pushed on the arrow . Finally, the arrow came out Vanek's chest. It took an even greater effort to grip the bloody arrow and pull it free.
With a heavy sigh, Terina sat back against the bar, holding the bloody bolt to her chest. Tears ran down the girl's face as she tried to ignore the pain that seared through her shoulder and leg. She didn't even want to think of the bolt that was still imbedded in her own thigh.
Carefully, Terina took the bolt that still dripped with Vanek's blood and loaded it into his cross bow. With her mind's eye, she could see exactly where the archer was. The railing and over turned table he hid behind. The shape of his helmet, and how it covered his head to just above his eyes. How he kept himself low, so all she could see were his dark eyes over the top of his bow. Over the din of the battle that raged in the Wild Horse, Terina tried to pick out the familiar twang of the archer's crossbow. The same noise she heard when she was shot and when Captain Vanek died for her.
She almost missed it, but the snap was definite. He had fired, and she would only get one chance. Terina gritted her teeth and swung around so she was kneeling and facing the back of the bar. She brought the crossbow to bear and aimed down the bloody shaft of the bolt. Drops of dark blood lined the top of the weapon, making a perfect site as the young Amazon waited for her enemy to reappear.
As soon as Terina got the drops of blood lined up where she remembered the archer being, he popped up from behind the table, exactly where she expected. She waited. The man faced away from her, giving her only the side of his helmet as a target. She watched him slowly scan the room looking for a victim. As he swung his bow towards her, their eyes locked, Terina fired.
From the time they are young, Amazons are trained on many weapons. By tradition, all Amazons would choose a weapon, it would become their specialty. Many chose the way of the warrior and picked up the sword, others followed their Queen's lead and chose the graceful, unthreatening and underrated fighting staff. But others found they had a special skill, one that was not only learned but was a part of them, a gift of sight and coordination, steady hands and a natural understanding of distances and spaces. These women not only became archers, but pushed the bounds of the skill to new limits. The young Amazon Calatonian Princess, Terina, was one such Amazon. Though still developing, her skills with a bow were second to none.
The bolt Terina had pushed through her friend and savior leaped back to the man who had sent it. He was not expecting a target when he had locked eyes with the young Amazon, it was his only mistake of the night. Her aim was true, and the bloody weapon slammed home exactly where she had been looking. The bolt met no resistance, driving through its victim's eye and exploding out the back of his head. With the death of her attacker, the adrenaline drained from Terina and she collapsed in a bloody heap over Vanek.
By the time Terina had taken out the sniper, Xena had made it to the second level; bodies and gore marked the warrior's pass up the stairs. With wide eyes and a bright menacing smile Xena leaped to the landing, taking an aggressive on-guard stance. The mercenaries on the second floor had split up, six dueled with the Amazons and Princess Ella, while the other five waited for attack from below.
On the heals of the Queen of Catatona came Gabrielle and her guard. Now the four women stood and looked at the men facing them.
"Go help the kids." Gabrielle said casually. "We'll clean up this mess."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Xena smiled back then leaped straight up. She caught a low hanging lamp, swung once, jumped to a rafter in the middle of the ceiling and somersaulted back the floor, well behind the men who had blocked her path.
Immediately, a man fell to Xena's sword. She'd landed right behind one of several mercenaries Ipiphany had been holding at bay. The man turned at the movement behind him and was greeted with the flash of steel. The last thing the man saw was the blood splattered image of the Queen of Catatona snarl a toothy grin at him as she pulled her sword free of his mid section. No pain met the man as he died, darkness settled on his mind as the floor of the room reached up and embraced him.
Xena watched as her daughter held her own defending herself against the mercenaries until Ipiphany or Serena could step in. Xena started toward the melee surrounding her daughter.
A large man wearing well kept armor charged the warrior woman as she took stock of the fight that raged before her. Her long black hair flew about her head and she was covered with blood from her brutal attack up the stairs from below. At his approach, she turned toward him, ice blue eyes wide with the thrill of battle. A smile twisted her face as she braced herself for his attack.
The mercenary was expecting a warrior, someone who would meet his sword with hers. Someone who had dueled her way up the steps to his position, a clear thinking soldier. He was wrong. He found an animal protecting her young.
Two fast swings were quickly deflected by the woman. She looked him in the eyes and smiled as if asking 'Is that all you have?' He charged again. This time she kicked, ducked and rolled, standing up behind the man.
'It's a shame.' Xena thought as she stood up behind the mercenary. 'This one seemed to have potential.' She grabbed him around the forehead and drew her sword across his throat.
A gasp took Xena's attention beyond the realm of the battle. Standing against the walls of the inn, were patrons who had stayed to watch the show. They weren't the commoners from the neighborhood, or the travelers who had chosen the Wild Horse as a safe and hospitable haven. They were the from Catatona's aristocracy. The ones who were the regulars at the affairs of state. Members of her court and advisors to her advisors. They were the influential of Catatonan society, the only ones who thought themselves above dangers of a battle like this. Staying to watch their mysterious warrior queen do battle was the social and entertainment coup of the year.
A woman stood directly in front of Xena, her skin white with shock, blood from Xena's latest kill splattered across her face and fine tunic. "Enjoying yourself?" Xena snarled. Without waiting for a response, Xena pushed the dying mercenary at the woman leaving him to end his life at the feet of someone who had hoped to be entertained by his death.
Turning back to the battle Xena watched Serena take a strike to her head. The Amazon stumbled away dazed, blood pouring down the side of her face. Ipiphany had been drawn away from the princess and Serena was the only one who stood between the mercenaries and Ella.
What happened next Xena had no time to react. Ella turned just in time to see the man's swing. She raised her sword and blocked the strike, but the power of the attacked knocked her sword from her hand. Everything went so fast and 'by the book' all Xena could do was watch. Ella went down and rolled forward, producing the dagger Xena had given her for her last birthday. The move was perfect from hours of practice and Ella performed it flawlessly, rolling to her knees and plunging the dagger deep into her attacker's stomach.
Horror washed over the young princess's face as the man stumbled away. It was a look Xena recognized all too well, the look of an innocent who had just taken her first life. Enough! Xena grabbed her chakram, throwing it with all the skill she had developed from years of carrying the unique weapon. The two remaining mercenaries fell as the weapon bounced off their heads and ricocheted back to its owner.
After the chakram's return, Xena quickly covered the distance between herself and the mortally injured man stumbling away from the young princess. He never saw the specter of death approach. Xena walked up behind him, placed a hand on his chin and one on the side of his head. It was a move she had used too many times to ever count. His neck snapped with a loud crack, and the battle was over.
3. AFTERMATH.
"Are you okay?" Xena approached her daughter.
The girl trembled, looking at the blood on her hands and dagger. "I just killed a man."
"The first is always the hardest." Xena whispered. "But I killed him."
Ella looked up at the bloody savage that was her mother and met her eyes. "I did it just like Petriov trained me, just like I practiced over and over." she swallowed hard. "The wound was fatal."
"Perhaps he could have been saved."
The girl stared at her mother. "If he could have been saved, you would have saved him. Right?"
"Come," Xena held out her hand. "Let's get you out of here."
"BY THE GODS, TERINA!!!!!!!" Prince Victor's voice echoed through the Wild Horse.
Instead of looking to the source of the scream, Xena turned toward where Gabrielle was tending to Serena's injury. Fear and shock stiffened the Amazon Queen for an instant then she was bounding down the stairs with Ipiphany hot on her heals.
Keeping a firm grip on Ella, Xena followed Gabrielle down the stairs to the main bar. As the women arrived, Prince Victor and Captain Lyons were lifting the bloody form of the young princess to the bar. Gabrielle was immediately pushing the men away so she could examine her. She turned toward Sarra who had just emerged from the kitchen.
"Quick, get some water and bandages." As she spoke, Gabrielle took a knife from Terina's belt and started cutting the girl's clothes away.
With a light hand on her friend's shoulder, Xena looked over Gabrielle and studied Terina's wounds. "Shoulder and leg." She said softly. "Nothing fatal."
With Xena's words, Gabrielle untensed slightly. "Can you check the others?"
After placing Ella back in Ipiphany's care, Xena went to where several Amazons had gathered around the form of one of their sisters. A cross bow bolt was buried deep in the woman's stomach. Blood dripped from her mouth and seeped from the wound where the Amazons had packed compresses to stop the bleeding. Xena knelt beside the young warrior and examined the wound, carefully lifting the bandages to get a better idea of the extent of the injury. She leaned close and sniffed the wound. The patient breathed with short fast breaths, trying to satiate her natural need for oxygen. Xena sat back and sighed then pinched a nerve in the Amazon's neck, causing her breathing to steady out some.
"I've pinched a nerve in her neck, she'll feel a lot less pain now. Keep her comfortable." Xena stood and returned to Gabrielle. Placing a hand lightly on her friend's arm she said. "I'll take care of Terina, your warrior doesn't have a lot of time."
"I didn't know she was down." Gabrielle stammered after turning toward the injured warrior. Before Xena had a chance to respond, Gabrielle had handed the bandages over and rushed to the young woman's side.
Taking the young woman's hand, Gabrielle knelt beside the warrior and stroked the hair from her face. "Breathe easy, Merina." She whispered. "Everything's going to be okay."
Dirt and blood encrusted eye lids fluttered open and hazy brown eyes tried to focus on the Amazon Queen. "Is she safe?" The young warrior spoke with a rasping voice.
"Terina is fine." Gabrielle assured her. "It's you I'm worried about."
"My sword." Merina tried to turn her head. "Where's my sword?"
One of the Amazons picked up Merina's sword and set it down beside the fallen warrior. "It's right here." Gabrielle said placing Merina's free hand on the hilt of the weapon.
"Put it in my hand." Merina said weakly. "Ama.... warrior should die...sword in hand." She turned to Gabrielle. "My caste...." she whispered then coughed. "Tell Rhea, to remember me..... take my sword to her...... it was our mother's." Merina's body shuddered and spasmed with pain. After the surge passed, she looked back to Gabrielle. "been proud to serve you, so was mother, you bring honor to...nation" The warrior exhaled her last breath.
Tears rolled down Gabrielle's face as she gently laid Merina's hand down. So many had died in her arms, since Terries and it never got any easier. How many had she led to their deaths? How many trusted her with everything and gave their lives to prove it? Merina just did. Gabrielle looked at the sword still in the dead woman's hand. This was the second time she would carry it home to pass on to the next. Would Rhea die in her arms too? Just as the girl's mother and sister had?
Tears turned to sobs, soon Gabrielle felt arms around her. A familiar presence turned the Queen to see Xena had come to her side and held her now. Somebody put her arm around Gabrielle from the other side and leaned in close, Ipiphany joined her mother and wept for her pain. So they knelt, two great warriors comforting the strongest woman they had ever known.
XI. END GAME.
1. SHUFFLE.
Amongst the few survivors, Captain Lyons found one of the messengers, but even without him Gabrielle knew where King Triton had met up with the expedition. All of the cards had been delt, only the final hand was left to be played. The few hours that remained between the end of the battle in the Wild Horse and the rise of the sun would see the news carried to the Royal Palace.
The first rays of the morning sun glinted off the brightly decorated domes of the palace roofs. The first watch of sentries opened the front gates and began admitting the non-resident house staff.
A ragged group of travels stood hidden in an alley within sight of the palace . "Do you think she found King Triton?" One of the group asked another.
"She found him." Xena replied continuing to stare out at her home. She knew her message made it to Triton, Ipiphany never failed. But did she have enough time, would Triton and the remains of the expedition be able to get here, she would know in a few minutes.
A rider approached the gate. He was a city guard, and probably a Cunaxan. Thirteen pairs of eyes watched from the alley, as the messenger relayed an apparently urgent message. Soon the court yard was full of activity as Palace guard were rushed into position.
As the men were roused from the their morning routines, Xena watched them hustle into position. Some she recognized from the palace guard, other faces were new. Just as she'd feared, the troops she knew were loyal to her had been replaced with new, lesser trained troops. These had to be Cunaxan. They had everything but the throne itself, for to take it by force would cause a civil war and their power base wasn't that strong, yet. Xena knew there were many in the country who still clung to the hope that one day the House of Cunaxa would regain control of both countries. The only problem was there were many family clans all claiming to be the rightful heir to the Cunaxan crown. Without unity, they would never have the power to take and maintain the Catatonan throne.
"Here they come." One of the Amazons informed the group.
Coming up the road were fourteen riders. Four Royal Catatonan guard rode side by side at the front of the group. Behind the Guard was King Triton, wearing his full Calatonian armor, including Royal insignia. Triton was flank by two Amazon warriors. On his right was a woman dressed in full Amazon battle dress and war paint. Her face hidden behind a mask of black, white and yellow paint and her hair was formed tightly about the back of her head in thick traditional braided plates. Delthea had devoted her life as a royal guard and now carried her traditions to the protection of King Triton.
Opposite Delthea rode a much more plainly dressed Amazon warrior, her long brown hair was un-braided and hung loosely down her back. Her darkly tanned skin was not decorated with traditional war paint as Delthea's was, but the many weapons she carried and her confident demeanor still made the Amazon messenger a formidable presence. Following King Triton where the seven remaining Calatonian Royal Guard. To a man they had cleaned and polished their armor and weapons doing their part to give their king a proper escort.
With the approach of King Triton and the remains of Xena's forces, she motioned for her band to follow her. Xena, Ella and Gabrielle led the group out of the alley and the two forces joined on the road in front of the Palace. Xena, Ella, Gabrielle and King Triton took the lead, followed closely by Gabrielle's guard and the rest of the expedition.
As the leaders merged into position at the front, Xena turned toward Triton. "Beautiful morning for ride. Don't you think?"
"What a lovely capital you have." Triton returned. "It's a shame I haven't had a chance to visit before now." He looked back at his son and new daughter. The young girl rode stiffly on a tall horse. "I was pleased to hear Victor and Terina are well. How are Terina's wounds?"
"She's Amazon." Xena replied.
Behind the leaders, Delthea studied her Queen, years of service had created habits that would not die easily. She saw something out of place. A familiar broad sword had been securely packed across the bed roll. Delthea turned and scanned the faces of the group that had just joined them.
"Ipiphany," Delthea looked toward her old friend and student. "What happened to Merina?"
The messenger's face blanched. "By the gods," she whispered. "We were so busy planning this ride, I forgot to tell you....."
"How?"
"Crossbow." Ipiphany pointed toward her stomach. "Xena blocked the pain until she crossed."
"And the shooter, did you get him?"
"Best we could tell, it was the same one who shot Terina." Ipiphany looked back at her sister. "She took care of him."
"Too many dead, too many changes," Delthea said quietly. "This has not been a good trip."
2. DEAL.
Entrance into the Palace was not what Gabrielle had expected. The Guards, old and new broke rank at the gate and allowed the party to enter the court yard. Those still loyal to the throne and the Queen came to attention as Xena passed, the others just tried to avoid eye contact with her. Stable hands rushed forward to collect the horses; nobody said a word.
The royalaty dismounted first, Xena, Triton and Gabrielle, each giving the signal for their troops to join them. Xena and Ella looked around their home, dozens of unfamiliar faces stared back at them from the ranks of the familiar. Finally, several women approached, they wore simple knee length grey tunics and rushed toward the group.
"My Queen." one of them said. "We heard of the battle last night what a terrible thing. Prince Orian awaits you in the Grand Hall, and we are heating water for your bath now."
Gabrielle studied the women. These must the Queen's "hand maidens" but weren't anything like royal servants she had seen before, there was something different and familiar. The women were giving the Amazons strange looks, apparently sizing them up. These hand maidens weren't the usual pampered royal ladies in waiting, they were trained soldiers. No respectful Amazon could have missed the baring and demeanor of another warrior.
A grin of comprehension crossed Gabrielle's face. These women weren't just hand maidens, ladies waiting to do their Queen's bidding, they were the last defense. The final line between Xena's family and the enemies of the crown.
The group followed Xena and Ella from the opulent Outer Hall to the majestic Grand Hall. A great marble tiled floor stretched out before them as the group marched into the center of Catatona's monarchy. Grand chandeliers hung from the ceiling illuminating the fine, brightly colored tapestries that adorned the walls. The Catatonan Royal Palace was older then either country and had been the seat of government for both provinces until the civil war that had torn the kingdom apart. Now it was where Xena called home.
A crowd of soldiers, advisors, aristocrats and servants parted to open a path for the leaders of three nations and their entourage. They must have been waiting since receiving word of the battle at the Wild Horse. Some looked quite tired and only barely presentable for court.
The Queen of Catatona swept through the crowd as if no one had ever dared to challenge her rule. People rushed to gain way for their warrior Queen then gasped at the woman's bloodied and disheveled appearance finally sunk in. The group arrived at the throne diaz where Prince Orian and his aids waited.
"Mother," Orian said formally "I was distressed to hear of the incident last night. I'm greatly relieved to see that you and my dear sister are both safe and well." He was a tall young man, a bit taller then Xena and skinny, but not frail. Long, light brown hair hung past the young prince's shoulders. He wore a simple purple tunic with white cloth breeches, cinched at the waist by a gold colored cord. The young prince sat in the main chair at the center of the diaz. As he spoke, he stood and started to side step away from it. With Orian's movement, someone behind him cleared his throat and placed a hand lightly on the princes's shoulder.
3. DRAW.
Orian looked over his should at the man behind him, and Xena looked up as if noticing him for the first time. "Captain, it's been such a long time." Xena's icy voice was but a whisper, but all could hear it.
"Mother," Orian said. "I have been briefed on the situation with the rebels, but the Captain assures me that he has everything under control." The boy pulled his shoulders back in a pose Xena was sure he was coached on and had practiced.
He continued. "The council of Lords has also issued a decree that you step down and pass the crown to its proper heir. Your failure to recognize and stop this insurrection before it reached the capital proves that the Kingdom needs its true ruler in place."
An unpleasant smile came to Xena's lips "Let me get this straight, you stand there with the leader of the rebellion at your back as one of your advisors, and tell me that I failed the country by not stopping him sooner."
"The Captain?" Orian spat with a laugh. "He has been our savior, if it wasn't for him, I would never have had the men to search for the rebels and also properly guard the royal palace."
"You have played your cards well," Xena said to her old Captain. "But I am still alive, and am still Queen. Nobody ever takes something from me without paying a price."
"Please, Mother." Orian insisted. "Everybody knows you are not of royal blood, and hold the throne only because of the untimely death of Father." he looked back at the Captain for an instant then continued. "It is also known that when Father met you, you were serving drinks and waiting tables in your mother's inn."
"This country deserves better then a former barmaid as its leader." The Captain added, finally breaking his silence.
Xena couldn't believe what she was hearing, and looked at Orian who was nodding his agreement. She then scanned the faces of the others in the crowd, finally finding Gabrielle. The Amazon Queen was having a very hard time keeping a straight face.
"That's it?" Xena finally said to Orian. "They convinced you I was unfit because I helped my mother in her inn for six months before I met your father?"
"This country needs a true leader." the boy insisted.
"You mean you don't believe any of those stories about me? None of them?"
Xena's battle tattered appearance seemed to put Orian at odds with his decisions. Finally, he continued. "Father trained you and our troops well, but we've never properly used the army that he built. Since he came under your influence, we've signed treaties and suffered insults from our neighbors. You have no experience in the proper deployment and use of such a fighting force. If you did, we wouldn't be facing the problems we are now."
"Look at me boy," Xena held her arms open. "What do you see? A whole company of rebels lays dead at the Wild Horse and you still have the nerve to call me nothing but a barmaid?" Xena couldn't get angry, it was just too ridiculous.
"Your Amazon friends and Royal Guard are fine warriors." Orian bowed to Xena's company. "Thank you for protecting the Queen so well."
"Orian, your conversation is with me. How could you totally ignore everything you've ever heard about me?"
"And which stories are we suppose to believe?" The Captain asked. "Are you the terrible warlord who had half of Greece trembling at her feet?" Scattered members of the court scoffed at the thought. "Or perhaps, you're the great hero who allegedly helped free Prometheus and made peace with the Horde?"
4. CALL.
Xena held her tongue and slowly turned around carefully looking at the gathered crowd. Returning to Orian and the Captain. Her voice was calm. "You really want to know who and what I was?" She placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled a cord, releasing her cloak. The long, battered garment dropped to the marble floor; revealing her battle worn armor and filthy blooded traveling robe. Stepping away from the cloak and the puff of dust that had risen from it, Xena motioned for her hand maidens to help her. One picked up the robe, while two others started working the straps of her armor. As the women worked, Xena removed her heavy, over burdened weapons belt; handing it to the woman who had collected her cloak.
Soon, Xena stood before the crowd wearing nothing but a short linen shift. The garment was filthy, stained gray with sweat and blood. It was caked with weeks of road dirt. She walked toward her step son, bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor. "Now look at me. What do you see?" She held her palms toward the young prince, then spread her arms and slowly turned around giving Orian good a view of her battle scarred body. Thick muscles rippled below skin that was starting to blotch and wrinkle with age.
"Is this the body of a barmaid?" Xena's face went ashen as she turned back toward the throne. She held the palms of her hands back to the boy. "Does a barmaid carry scars from more than one Roman cross?
"Everyday you look at me and see the scars on my face. Now you can see them all. Scars on my arms, legs and body from battles too numerous to remember. Lash marks on my back from tormentors, and lovers."
She approached Orian and leaned forward to talk directly to him. "By the time I was your age, killing had become a way of life for me. The blood of thousands drips from my blade." She moved even closer to speak directly into his face. " I killed to defend my home. I killed to protect myself. I killed to avenge wrongs done to me. I killed for my army. I killed to instill fear. I killed because I could. I killed just to watch men die. I killed because I enjoyed it."
The room was dead, all eyes were on the barely clothed Queen. Xena didn't notice, she was focused on Orian. "Who am I? Who was I? They called me many things, Xena of Amphipilous, Warrior Princess," she hesitated then whispered. "the Butcher of Corinth, Destroyer of Nations." Xena's voice leveled out again and she allowed a smile to cross her lips. "But the most accurate was from Hercules himself.." she paused for effect. "Murderous Bitch." The words came more as a growl then as spoken language.
Xena straightened out to address the room again. "Somehow, I was able to climb out of the darkness. It wasn't easy, but with the help of an annoying farm girl, a 'want to be bard from Potadia', I stayed on the right path. It was still the way of the warrior, but a path away from the evil and darkness I had been following."
"Now you dare to second guess my use of the army? You, a boy, who has never seen the carnage of a battle field, or felt his blade end the life of a soldier who was just following the orders of another. I have no desire to make wars for your county. My desire for conquest and power was quenched a very long time ago. I promised your people the strength and respect they deserved and had been denied for so long. Now Catatona is stronger and more prosperous then it has been in decades."
5.TURN.
A slight tremble had come to Orian's face. "Perhaps I have been ill advised." he whispered.
"Quiet," the Captain hissed at Orian. "You are the rightful heir to the throne, don't let this woman bully you out of your birth right."
"Artaxerxes, that is your name isn't it?" Xena said calmly to her captain.
"I have lived in your shadow long enough." Artaxerxes replied. "I am tired of seeing our leaders bowing down to our neighbors, particularly Calatonia. Now they flaunt their new alliance with those Amazon friends of yours by daring to come into the royal palace as armed invaders."
With mention of the Amazons, Xena finally remembered to look back and check with her companions. Gabrielle stood in the middle of the group, casually leaning on her staff. Somehow the bard managed to look bored with the whole affair.
"Captain," Xena said as she turned back toward the dias. "You are charged with treason and crimes against the crown and her allies. How do you plead?"
The man smiled. "Treason is a capital crime. I choose to defend myself as the Tradition of the Sword allows." While he spoke, the captain produced his traditional wide, double edged sword. "Now tell me, who do you appoint as your prosecutor?"
Xena motioned to one of her women. "So that's it, after all of this planning, your willing to settle for a blood duel?"
"Plans are made to be changed. I've under estimated you at every turn. Without Orian to manipulate, I will never get the control over the armies that I need. Now name your prosecutor."
"The charges are mine, the crimes are against me." Xena stated flatly. "I will prosecute my own case."
"Wonderful, you taught me everything I know. Now the teacher shall become the student."
One of Xena's attendants came running from the outer chambers. The woman carried a thin sheathed sword and trotted silently up to her queen. Dropping to one knee in front of Xena, the woman held the sword up with both hands and bowed her head. "Thank you, L'Nathia." Xena said accepting the sword. L'Nathia returned to her station near Ella .
6. THE SWORD.
"What's this Tradition of the Sword?" Gabrielle asked Ella as she watched Xena and the Captain prepare for battle.
"It's an ancient tradition." Ella whispered. "When a highly ranked officer or nobleman is accused of a capital crime, they can defend themselves against their accuser and the charges in a dual to the death. It is known as a blood dual."
"She's been awake for over a full day now. And must be exhausted." King Triton observed. "Surely she knew he would invoke the Tradition?"
"Xena always knows what she's doing?"
"What kind of sword is that?" one of the Amazons asked.
The sword had a long, slightly curved blade with long handle. Only the outer side of the blade had a fully sharpened edge with the edge continuing back a quarter of the way back on spine of the blade.
"Once we traveled to lands far to the east." Gabrielle whispered. "Beyond the land of Chin. There I learned from a great master to fight with the staff. I became skilled enough that even Xena had trouble breaking my defenses." She looked back as the two combatants prepared for the fight.
"Xena learned too. She learned a new style of fighting. Very specific, very intricate and very hard to master. A master fighting in this style is almost impossible to defeat."
"If it is such a powerful skill, why doesn't she use it all the time?"
"Because it is defensive; and for it to be effective, you must not deviate from the style. Xena enjoys the fight too much to maintain the effectiveness."
"What if two master both using this style were to fight, who would win?" Ipiphany asked.
"Neither." Gabrielle said. "There would be no fight, for they would both stand all day waiting for the other to attack."
7. TRIAL.
The two combatants faced each other. The Captain brought his broad sword forward in a two handed grip while Xena struck an almost artistic pose, holding her thin sword in her right hand and to her side. Her bare feet planted firmly on the cold marble floor. She made a simple bow toward her opponent then brought the sword up into another well rehearsed pose.
The Captain laughed. "I didn't know you danced in your mother's inn as well as served drinks."
Xena said nothing. She just stared past the captain as if he wasn't there and waited.
"I didn't think it would be this easy." The captain said as he swung.
The strike missed, Xena easily stepped a aside, deflecting the Captain's blade with her own. Instead of trying to block the swing, she allowed his momentum to carry him past. Xena shifted from one position to another, waiting for the next attack.
"What was that, woman?" the Captain looked down at his sleeve where a spot of blood flowered on his tunic. "Point to the Queen." he hissed at her. "First blood. A lucky scratch."
Expressionless eyes stared past Artaxerxes. Xena held her pose, muscles loose, eyes clear she waited for the next attack. She was aware of the man who faced her, but didn't focus on him. She focused on the whole room, the people whispering around her, the soldiers and civilians, the Amazons and Calatonians, Gabrielle and Ella, and all the others. He said something and stepped forward. The movements of his body manifested in Xena's mind as if they were drawings from a teaching scroll. As the attack closed, the movements narrowed the possibilities of his attack; sword raised, shoulder back, left foot forward, head tilted, eyes glance to the side. Xena shifted her form, stepped to the side and brought her sword around, down and back up, a fast fluid motion.
She was there, then she wasn't. Artaxerxes looked around, once again she had avoided his attack. Now two paces away, she held another pose. That infernal sword held high over her head, the tip pointed directly at him. Something warmed his side. His tunic was ripped and a small amount of blood trickled from his side.
"Do you plan to scratch me to death woman?" He grimaced at the thought. Twice he attacked and barely touched metal, yet she had drawn blood both times.
The hunter stalked around his prey. She barely reacted to his movement. As he started to pass out of sight, she would flow into another pose that would keep him within sight.
Just as Xena was adjusting to keep him in sight, Artaxerxes attacked again. His heavy sword slammed down at Xena's thin blade. She let the strike through and just used her sword to deflect the attack instead of block it. Xena stepped into the attack and drove her knee into the man's stomach as he stumbled passed. She could have spun her sword around and plunged it into his back, or kick him in his backside and knocked him to the floor. But those moves weren't part of the discipline. Instead, she stepped aside and let him stumble to his knees. She stretched and repositioned, waiting for the next attack.
"Very good." The Captain muttered as he regained his footing. "You've surprised even me."
"You were right." Xena said softly. "I did teach you everything you know; but not everything I know."
He attacked again, sword raised high. Xena side stepped into the attack once again, only this time he had been too sloppy. He left an opening and Xena drew her sword up his front as he went by. Artaxerxes barley felt the cold of the thin blade then all strength left his body. His legs let go and he dropped to his knees. The heavy broad sword clattered to floor next to him.
8. VERDICT.
"The charge is treason." Xena stated. She looked down at the Captain kneeling before her. "The verdict is guilty. Do you have any last words before I pass sentence?"
Artaxerxes leaned forward and spit a wad of blood and mucus at Xena's feet. He looked down at the blood and gore he was clutching into his wound. "Long live Cunaxa."
"The sentence is death." Xena declared and raised her sword. Movement brought her head up to the crowd. Gabrielle and the Amazons had turned from the group and were headed out of the Great Hall. She looked back at Artaxerxes and swung.
Xena turned back to the crowd, blood still dripping from the blade held down to her side. She spotted Artaxerxes' men. They had started backing away from the rest of the group. "Get this mess out here."
The men hesitated, not sure the Queen was actually speaking to them. Xena walked toward them. "Yes, you. Get this animal out of my home. Then disappear, you are no longer welcome in Catatonia."
"Orian." Xena looked to her step son. The boy had gone sheet white. "Your decision of who to take advise from leaves a lot to be desired. I thought your father and I had taught you better then that." She walked toward the young man, leaving bloody foot prints in her wake.
He cast his eyes down. "You trusted him, he was your second since I was a boy."
"Look at me boy. A king should never defer to anybody." Xena put a finger to Orian's chin and lifted his eyes to her's. With a sigh she added. "We have a lot of work to do to prepare you, and only a few moons to do it in."
"You won't oppose me taking my place?" The prince whispered.
"Once Artaxerxes convinced you of that lie, I suppose the rest was easy." She turned back to the crowd and the Calatonians. "But first, King Triton, we have some unfinished business with your brother."
"Lord Winston's activities threatened your family as much as mine." Triton said. "When your ready, I would be honored if you and Queen Gabrielle would accompany me to deal with him."
9. LOOSE END.
Fog crawled across fields outside the keep. Lord Winston stood in a tower looking out at the morning sun burning the eastern horizon. Word had arrived, Triton and the others were coming. They would be here soon, perhaps their advance scouts were watching him now.
Winston straightened the tunic under his armor then picked up his helmet and rubbed a few specks of dust from its brightly polished black surface. He didn't wear his personal colors of the Keep, he wore the uniform of the King's guard and the rank of Commander of the Armies. It was the position he held at court until Triton ascended to the throne. By tradition, the second eldest son held the office, once qualified. Now he wore the uniform one last time, a symbol that he was still part of the royal family.
One of Winston's aids approached up the ladder of the tower. "My Lord." he said on arrival. "Our guests have been allowed from their quarters. They are cleaned up and their armor has been returned." He paused a second then added. "They are requesting the return of their weapons."
Silence hung in the air as Winston closed his eyes and took a long deep slow breath. "Prepare their weapons, but do not allow them access until Triton begins his approach. If they know he is here, I do not think they will start a skirmish."
"We'll know soon." the aid pointed across the field to a line of horse soldiers that had appeared at the tree line.
"Open the gates." Winston sighed. "Prepare my horse."
"What do you think he'll do?" Xena asked. She rode between Triton and Gabrielle.
"I've no idea." Triton said. "From the start of this lunacy, my brother's actions have defied explanation. He turned to his right and looked to his son. "You talked to him Julian. You know the mood of his men. What do you think?"
"When he told me his only concern was for the Kingdom." Julian said. "It was obvious that he was just repeating to his excuse. By his tone, I didn't think he cared if I believed him or not."
"They opened the gates." Gabrielle observed. "Shouldn't they be raising the alarm, manning the walls and such?"
A loan rider appeared in the entrance to the great keep. The rider's tall and spirited black horse danced in the portico for a moment then started toward the advancing army.
"It's Winston." Triton recognized his brother. "Perhaps he wishes to negotiate."
"Or ransom your soldiers he's holding." Xena suggested.
With a sigh and shake of his head, King Triton stepped his mount forward to meet Winston. "Take care, Sire." Lyons advised. "It could be a trap."
The two men faced each other. Both in nearly identical armor. "What is your game this time?" Triton said in greeting.
Winston bowed deeply. "My brother." He looked back up at Triton. "I have failed our country. I thought I knew what was best, but I was wrong."
"That's it?" Triton frowned. "After all that has happened, after all who have died, all you can do is apologize."
"What else is left? Start a war? Kill myself? Blame you? Someone else?" Winston's rough voice was barely above a whisper. He pointed back at the gate. Armored riders appeared and started forward. "Your men are safe and unharmed. I have returned all their possessions and weapons." Others appeared on foot behind Triton's men. "My own soldiers are now unarmed. We submit to your rule." With that, Winston removed his helmet and dropped it and his sword to the ground.
Triton hung his head in thought. A trial could tear his country apart, many people were loyal to Cunaxa. Yet he could not just sentence his own brother, on his own, without a trial. Finally he looked up. "You have disgraced our family and endangered our country. Gather your family, take only what you can carry on horse back and leave Calatonia. You are no longer welcome here."
"I had hoped you would spare the lives of my wife and children." Winston said quietly. "I knew my fate was set, my life forfeit. I was not expecting to live out this day."
"The last thing this country needs is a martyr for Cunaxa." Triton replied. "Now, gather your things and be gone."
As Winston turned to leave, Triton added. "My brother, I have long missed the friendship we shared in our youth."
Without looking back, Winston replied. "Youth is just the paradise of ignorance."
10. CLOSURE.
"But I have no experience running a Keep." Terina protested mildly. "I am just an orphaned peasant girl, raised as an Amazon."
"It warms my heart to hear you speak that way, my daughter." Triton said. "I have learned that those who are capable, but do not consider themselves worthy are usually the best choices. With you and Victor to lead it, I am sure Antora can reclaim the dignity and respect that were lost under Winston's reign."
"We'll make you proud, father." Victor put in before Terina could protest some more.
"You already do, my son." Triton turned back to the rest of his group who had gathered in Antora's great hall. "Gabrielle, I can not say enough how sorry I am for the loses you suffered. You came to my country with your closest friends and family to celebrate a wedding. Instead, you leave behind the ashes of three of your sisters, killed thanks in part to the treachery of my own brother."
A tear ran down Gabrielle's cheek. "With the lose of our friends, comes the joining of our families and a peace between two traditional enemies. Please honor the sacrifice and keep the peace and friendship alive."
Triton looked at the tall, painted Amazon warrior who still stood at his side. "Delthea, once I release you from your oath, what awaits you back in your home?"
"A new life. A seat on the council, the honor of training our newest warriors. Other leadership roles." The guard replied flatly.
"And if I do not release you?"
The woman's head snapped around and she finally looked at the man who was speaking to her. "Then I am honor bound to remain in Calatonia and serve you."
"I was thinking, Captain Lyons has expressed interest in leaving me and seeing more of the world. It seems his travels with me last year and the tales he has heard from your Queen have piqued his interest in what lies beyond the borders of his home." Trirtron faced the Amazon more directly. "I will need a new Captain of my guard, somebody I can trust with my life. My new daughter, Terina, will also need a familiar face. A friend and confidant she can turn to when the politics of life as Lady of the Keep become overwhelming. Do I release you from your oath to me? The decision is yours?"
Since the day Delthea took the oath and became one of the Queen's personal guards, she and not made another decision that so effected her destiny. She looked around the room and finally caught Queen Gabrielle's eyes. The woman smiled and gave an almost imperceptible nod. "Though released from it, my oath to my Queen is still a part of my being." Delthea finally stated. "I can not leave her youngest daughter here, in a foreign land, without connection to her heritage. Do not release me from my oath to you."
After all was said and done, Xena and Gabrielle found themselves walking back to the stables together. "What will you do?"
"What will I do when?" Xena looked at her longtime friend.
An uneasy smile crossed Gabrielle's face. "You know what I mean. Once you hand over leadership to Orian, what will you do? I was hoping you and Ella would come visit the Nation for awhile."
"I think Ella's place his next to her brother." Xena replied. "Orian needs an advisor he can trust."
Gabrielle knodded her agreement. "Bad advice can topple a throne." She then put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "But surely, you will have time to visit."
"Perhaps, eventually. But Captain Lyons has asked if I wanted to travel with him for awhile. It's been a long time since you and I were on the road. The idea of fresh travel sounds invigorating."
"From what I've heard." Gabrielle observed. "Captain Lyons has quite a bit of travelling planned, are you sure your up to it?"
A swift light slap to the back of Gabrielle's head was Xena's reply. "I am not THAT old yet. Thank you."
The two put an arm around each other and headed out of the hall to join the others at the feast. Gabrielle smiled everybody seemed to have bright new paths ahead of them. With the new aliance, even the Amazons' future seemed so much brighter then it did just a few short seasons ago. But she still had so much work to do to be sure the nation would endure.
Continued In Book 6 (Epilogue)