Chapter 7

I've been stuck here for weeks with no way to leave. The women here are like hawks. They watch my every move and bathe me twice a day to make sure I'm clean and pure. I wait patiently inside the 'private chamber' along with a few other girls that were chosen. I listen and watch the other girls who come and go.

I sit here and rot in this place of solitude. I have no friends: no one to speak to because nobody understands me here. My absent voice is not an advantage in this palace even though Princess Tashibana thinks my muteness is a gift.

Here in the imperial palace I am a concubine. But what these Japanese people don't know is that I'm no slave. I'm a princess of one of the most powerful empires in the world. I am a princess of the Balkan Steppes, wife of the Son of Kerem, daughter of Ellac and Anastasia Khatun, granddaughter of Attila The Scourge of God and Commander Xena, sister of Queen Arielle and King Csaba.

But here I am a slave.

Two servants prepared Cera by bathing her twice in one day as usual. Tonight was the night she was to be brought to the imperial prince. She hadn't seen him in person and she couldn't ask the other girls what he was like because it was forbidden to communicate with the other concubines.

She dressed in a black kimono with red flowers painted on the sleeves. Her slim waist was bound with a thick red obi. She could hardly look at herself in the mirror as she didn't recognize herself with the kohl liner on her brown eyes, lips painted crimson and hair pulled back into a slick bun.

The women at the doors bowed their heads and opened the double doors, welcoming someone into the chamber. Cera looked into the mirror's reflection and saw a woman wearing a veil, a brown kimono with tribal patterns stitched into it.

She turned around to get a good look at the woman and all of the servants bowed from their waists and backed away as the mystery woman approached her. She studied the woman's facial features and she did not look like the rest of the Japanese women here.

The woman smile softly. "Princess Tashibana told me about you, Huna. Your name is Koryu."

Cera had no choice but to nod.

"You will walk the golden path to Prince Senka's room tonight. Follow the rules and you will do well here," she explains and Cera raised a confused eyebrow. "My name is Menokohime, mother of Prince Senka and head consort of the Emperor."

She continues, "what ever life you had before you came here…its best if you forget it. You belong here now. I'm sure my son will be very happy to have you in his presence. Behave yourself and you will be treated well, Huna."

Menokohime nudged her head at the servants. "Prepare her to leave in a few minutes. It's best not to keep the prince waiting."

Days of riding nonstop, the governor and her wife returned to their desecrated camp. There was not a soul in sight. The bodies of the fallen Chinese had been disposed of and the tents were piles of ashes, some food supply was left behind but everyone escaped or left.

Gabrielle galloped to a halt and looked around at the empty camp. "Where do you think they went?"

A man on horseback rode towards them and Xena drew her sword. He skid to a stop and put up his hands, showing he was unarmed. It was one of Tan Daoij's soldiers and Xena sheathed her weapon, although she distrusted every single Chinese person there was now.

"The Hun King took the army back to the imperial city!" he shouts from afar.

Gabrielle sighed. "Well at least we know that they're safe."

"Don't hold your breath, Gabrielle. We shouldn't trust anyone anymore. We are foreigners here. We need to keep riding until we get to the imperial city."

"I think we should give our horses a rest, Xena. We've been riding for days. We could walk some of the way until they feel rested."

The lieutenant groaned and dismounted the steed and began walking briskly through the snow. The Chinese soldier bowed his head and turned to ride away from them. She narrowed her eyes at the man and kept her eyes peeled for any intruders that might be lurking in the shadows.

Gabrielle had a few days to think to herself during the ride back. She contemplated telling her wife everything or keeping it a secret. She was bound to find out anyway, Gabrielle thought. But then again, this information could be used in the future and she wasn't too sure of her wife's intentions at the moment. Shah Balash was dead now and the Persians were surprisingly reserved and did not attempt to attack or kill them both. Wang also mysteriously disappeared.

The trek to the Tibetan Kingdom was odd to say the least. Gabrielle knew something was off about that little trip and the Persians wouldn't step foot in the area. She couldn't get a good read on her wife and she normally could read her very well since they'd been together for many years. But now, she wasn't sure.

She walked alongside her wife, giving her glances every now and then.

"If you want to say something, just say it," Xena said.

She caught her breath and decided to dive in. "The translator I spoke to told me something." She began and looked at her wife who was walking rather quickly. "He told me Peroz's son, Kavad, is going to be the new shah."

"Those Persians," the lieutenant scoffs with a chuckle added, "they never cease to amaze me with their abundance of people to take the throne."

She nods. "They…sent messengers to inform Kavad about what you did. I'm sure they'll reach the capital in two weeks."

"So you think they're going to come all the way to China to kill me?" Xena looks to her wife with a surly grin.

This was the first time Gabrielle saw her wife's arrogance showing. It was a strange sight to see. Perhaps being commander for decades had fallen off her wife's shoulders and now that the power had been taken from her she felt like she needed to redeem herself in a different way. She'd moved passed the cruelty and violence and became a soft hearted woman but was hard when she needed to be. Now, Gabrielle couldn't understand this new side of her wife or maybe it wasn't new at all and it had always been there. Or perhaps she was going back to her old ways and thought she was invincible again, which truth be told, she kind of was.

But we all have to fall some time.

"I think when we get to the imperial city that we need to write Csaba about what's happened."

Xena agreed. "Good idea. We'll regroup with everyone and find out the truth of what is really going on in that imperial city."

The governor licked her dry lips and felt some of her worry brush off her shoulders. "You think the source is coming from within?"

"Something's going on in that palace, Gabrielle, I just don't know what."

She stopped walking and turned to her petite wife. "You know I love you, right?"

Gabrielle smirked, "well…yeah?"

"Just had to say that because you've been acting strange around me." She lightly punched her wife's arm.

She cringed and rubbed her arm. Light punch, yeah right, the governor mused.

Arielle, Bayan and Ernak were welcomed into Emperor Liu's presence, surrounded by several of his councilmen and advisors. They all knelt down on their knees and Arielle struggled to lower herself to the floor. Her arm was in a sling and she wrapped her other arm round her sore ribs.

The emperor looked at the wounded commander and frowned. "Princess Arielle," he announced and she stood up with the help of Bayan's lending hand. She glared down at him and then looked at the emperor.

"Emperor," she breathed in deeply and winced from her short breath intake. "We were attacked by Chinese soldiers at our camp."

"Chinese soldiers?" he questioned.

She nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency. Your esteemed commander, Wang, came to my camp to give information about Prince Houfei. He confessed he knew where the prince was hiding out at and my lieutenant and governor took him to the location. They did not return and while they were gone, my camp was attacked. I've brought a soldier who can tell you everything."

Liu frowned and gripped the large armrests. "Be careful of what you're saying, Huna. Your brother is a good friend of mine. I'd hate for this to end our alliance."

Arielle raised her eyebrow. "I am not lying, emperor. Wang is working against you. He said he spies for Princess Bosi. He told me during his confession."

"How dare you speak against my daughter!" he shouts. "What an accusation, princess. My daughter would never commit such treachery in my kingdom."

"But emperor –"

"Take her away," he demanded.

Her eyes widened at the guards encircling her and Bayan stood up, drawing his sword to protect her. Ernak slowly rose from the floor and the guards grabbed Arielle and Bayan by their arms and dragged them away.

"No! Wait! It is the truth, emperor!" she yells, trying to defend herself. "Your highness! You must listen to me! You're being betrayed! Emperor!"

The doors closed and Ernak stood in the center of the throne room, staring at the Song emperor with his mouth agape.

"Is this what you bring me, Huna King? Slanderers?" Liu asked of him.

Ernak bowed his head respectfully, still trying to grasp what just happened. "No, emperor. We have your best interest and we are trying to protect your kingdom. Wang confessed he was working for Prince Houfei. My commander would not slander you or any of your family members. Xena was there. She can speak on the commander's behalf."

"And where is Xena?"

Cera was escorted to the prince's room by the two servants and they left her alone after a few moments. She looked around the room and walked further into it and spread the curtains apart and there was the imperial prince standing with his back turned to her.

He turned around and smiled at her. Cera looked into his eyes despite the servants telling her not to. It was forbidden to look the prince in the eye yet she did so anyway. Prince Senka circled her and admired her auburn hair, fair skin and slender frame.

"My wife specifically chose you for my pleasure," he tells her. "Did the harem maids not tell you the rules? You never bowed in my presence," he chuckled.

She frowned and laced her fingers together. She was not required to bow her head to any royal person due to the fact that she was royalty also. She refused to go against her customs and rules even though everyone in this palace believed she was a slave to the imperial family of Japan.

"Huna women aren't very obedient I've heard. No matter, you'll learn soon."

He smiles and touched her soft cheek and she grabbed his wrist. He raised his other hand to slap her and she grabbed his other wrist and gripped them until her knuckles turned white. The prince struggled under her strength and she released him and he took a step back. Rubbing his wrists he glared at his concubine.

"Disobedient and fearless. What a horrible combination," he muttered. "You aren't the first to resist me but you will learn in time that if you keep this up I will decapitate you."

Cera eyed a katana on the wall and remembered what her grandmother said to the children.

"The katana is the sharpest sword in the world. It can slice through parchment with a clean swipe."

She looked back at the prince who kept grinning at her. "So, what talents do you have?" he asks while pouring rice wine into a golden glass. "Do you play any instruments?"

She shook her head.

"You obviously can't sing. What a pity. I'm sure you would've had a lovely voice."

Cera half smiles, trying to hide her disgust for the prince. Her eyes darted back to the katana and the doors leading back to the private chamber.

"Did they explain your duties to you?"

She raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he meant.

Prince Senka chuckles and sat down on the floor, sipping the wine. "You belong to me now. You're in my exclusive harem. My wife and mother chose you so you could bear heirs for my future kingdom."

Her eyes widened and suddenly she felt very ill.

He licked his wine soaked lips. "I know Huna women reserve themselves for marriage. Surely you aren't tainted by a man yet. You are young and you don't appear to be a slave. Do Huns even have slaves anymore?" he laughs lightly. "Are you a virgin, Huna?"

Cera frowned and refused to answer the question. She reminded herself not to give in to the prince or anyone in this palace even if it meant her death.

"Since you aren't willing to answer any of my questions, how will you entertain me? My wife gave you a name. Koryu, was it?"

She lifts her chin and clenched her jaw. Another question she refused to answer.

"Do you dance?"

Cera smirks and curtly nods her head.

"Excellent. Let us see how well you dance. Don't disappoint me, Koryu."

He waved his hand to the musicians in the corner of the room and they began playing soft music on a flute and harp. Cera turned her back to the prince in took in a big breath. She took the two large pins out of her bun and her long hair tumbled down her backside. Senka's mouth jarred as he was about to take a sip of the wine.

She ruffled her hair and slowly slipped the kimono off her shoulder and extended a bare arm. She twirled her arm with the plucking of the harp strings and then wrapped her arm around her back and then exposed her second arm.

Twirling her arm with the music she brought both arms above her head and then loosened the obi sash about her waist and the kimono slipped off her body and fell to the floor. The prince leaned backward and admired her fair complexion, long slender legs and auburn hair covering all of her backside.

Cera turned around in her bare flesh and saw the prince's eyes light up. She smiled, trying to disclose her disgust and walked closer to him. She grabbed the obi sash that was on her waist and knelt down and wrapped it around his neck and winked at him.

The prince smiled and touched her chin and she pulled away quickly then spun around, moving gracefully across the room. Her eyes darted to the katana on the wall and she took the sword carefully with both hands and backed away quickly to the center of the room.

She balanced the sword on her head and twirled around, amusing the prince. When her back was turned she frowned and took the katana off her head and twirled it around slowly to match the notes of the music.

While he was distracted by the agile movements of her body she turned and came at him with the sword swaying with her hips and arms. She knelt down and glided the katana across his arm, drawing a small amount of blood.

He hissed and she licked the blood off his arm and grinned mischievously up at him. He still kept the smile on his face and then she pinned him to the ground and sat on top of him. She held the katana to his throat.

The music stopped.

He nervously glanced down at the blade and into her brown eyes. "Very impressive, Huna…" he whispers. "You are very good with a sword."

She pushed the blade up to his neck and grimaced.

"You plan to kill me?"

She furrowed her eyebrows and breathed heavily. Prince Senka kneed her in the groin and she gasped, pulling away the sword from his neck. He grabbed the katana and tossed it on the other side of the room and flipped her over onto her back.

"A fire dragon you are indeed, Koryu," he teased and her chest rose and fell heavily.

She tried to escape and he pressed his body against hers. He grabbed the sash around his neck and tied her wrists to the bed post. Cera looked above her and kicked her legs furiously. Senka frowned and pinched her cheeks together.

"If you are not obedient now, you are about to be, Huna," he hissed.

He traced his fingers along her breasts and then forced himself inside her. Cera gasped silently and her entire body tensed. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at his satisfactory face. Her silent cries and wails were unheard and unnoticed by the imperial prince as he continually thrashed her insides.

Her abdomen tightened and she opened her eyes and stared at the katana several feet away from her. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks and then her face relaxed as her body gently rocked back and forth. She blocked out everything and kept her eyes on the sword. Her body fell limp and her face was expressionless.

Even if I scream, nobody would hear me. If I attempt to resist, he will kill me. Nobody will hear my cries because nobody understands me. I'm as good as dead in this palace. I'm dead inside.

He stood up and stared down at the redhead Hun and saw her eyes staring off into the distance. She was not here, but somewhere else. He untied her hands from the bed post and her arms slid down to the floor.

He called out for the harem women waiting outside and they rushed in after the doors were opened.

"Take her back to the chamber."

Arielle sat on the floor in the emperor's dungeon and tapped her fingers on her knee impatiently. Days. It's been days since the emperor dismissed her and Ernak wasn't unable to speak with her and Bayan. Out of all people she had to be stuck in a small space with her cheating husband.

Bayan paced around the cell and her eyes followed his every step.

"Must you keep walking around like a parrot?" she griped.

"I'm just trying to figure out a way out of this. He can't keep us in here forever. We weren't lying about Wang."

She groans lowly. "I know that, Ernak knows that, you know that, but the emperor doesn't give a shit. He's either in denial or he's protecting his daughter. Princess Bosi isn't innocent."

"Or maybe she is?"

The door opened and Arielle stood up slowly and wrapped her uninjured arm around her aching ribs. She ran to the iron barred gate and smiled. "Gabrielle!" she beamed.

Then in walked Xena and Arielle's excitement faded and she backed away from the gate. Xena halted and turned on her heel, facing the gate. She laced her fingers together staring at her granddaughter and Bayan behind cell bars.

"Grandma…I can explain."

"No need," she said. "Ernak told me everything. The emperor allowed us to see you two for a short time."

Arielle bowed her head and sighed, ready for the lecture.

"Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that pretty little head of yours, Arielle. I leave the camp and you come to the imperial city and now you're in jail," she laughs. "You've made your first mistake. Good job."

Gabrielle frowned. "Xena, don't make her feel any worse than she already does. This wasn't her fault."

"Calm down, Gabrielle. I am rewarding her behavior."

Arielle lifted her head and stared at her grandmother confusedly. "You are?"

"Yes, congratulations. You've managed not to piss me off this time with your impulsive actions." She tells her and Arielle smiled yet she was still confused by the acknowledgment. "The emperor knows about Wang's betrayal and you've exposed Bosi, that's where you made the mistake. Next time, keep that information to yourself unless you have more proof," she advises.

"Are you going to get us out of here?" Arielle pleaded.

Xena stepped closer to the bars. "No, you're going to stay in here. Gabrielle and I will investigate the Wang and Bosi relationship. Gabrielle's going to talk to the emperor and see if she can coax him into releasing you two. Until then, stay put and don't cause trouble. I'm talking to you, Arielle."

The commander nods. "I'll be on my best behavior!"

"Uh huh. Come on, Gabrielle, we have a stealth mission to accomplish."

They walked down the corridor together and Gabrielle grabbed her wife's arm, halting them both. "Do you have plan?" she whispered.

Xena grinned from ear to ear. "I was hoping you did." She lightly slapped her wife on her back.

"Oh god. Xena…" she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You're much better at stealth missions anyway. You love to chat people up. This is right up your alley, governor," she winked.

"Does Ernak know about this plan of yours that you forgot to tell me about?"

Xena emits a smug face down at her wife. "You'll be the first to tell him."

"Oh my god. Next time, tell me the plan!"

"Noted. I wrote a letter to Csaba and it was delivered today. Now, on to find Ernak in this damn place. We need a female to go into the princess' room. Or maybe we could have someone follow her. Find out where she is without being too obvious. Got it?"

Gabrielle grumbled. "Got it…"

Anastasia sat behind her granddaughter brushing her wavy hair. She listened to Aurora's stories about how she and her cousins all got some sort of pox and their long recovery in the guest suite. Ku stood next to the doors, grinning and eyeing the princess from afar.

"Grandma khatun, when will Nisa have the baby?" Aurora asked.

"Ursula told me this morning that the baby is on its way," she said and the princess gasped.

"I hope it's a princess then I will have someone to play with," Aurora said and Ana raised her eyebrow. "Teyze Farah doesn't let me play with the boys."

Anastasia stopped brushing the girl's hair and turned her around with a gentle swivel of her shoulder. Aurora looked up at her, blinking her green eyes. "Why would she do that?"

Aurora shrugged. "I donno. Aman and Aladar play with swords. Can I learn to use one too?"

"Sure, tatli kiz. I'll teach you. I'll talk to Farah too."

The princess smiled and turned back around to have her hair brushed again. Csaba walked into the room after knocking a couple of times and received a glare from his mother. He knew he was not welcome in her room or anywhere near her since he told her the news of Arielle's campaign.

"Mother." He bowed his head. "I have news about Farah's illness."

She nodded and picked up Aurora off her lap. "Ku, take the princess to her room."

"Yes, khatun." Ku hurried over and grabbed Aurora's hand and left the room.

Anastasia sat on the edge of her bed and folded her hands in her lap. "What did you find out?" she asked her son.

"The physician tested her saliva and found oleander in her body. He says…she's been exposed to the herb for awhile."

She sighs deeply. "Have the kitchen searched for oleander leaves. Question all of the servants and maids. I can't have a snake in my home with everything else going on around here."

He bowed his head again and turned to leave.

"I didn't say you could leave."

He paused and turned back around.

She rose from the bed and walked over to her nervous son. She folded her arms and Csaba briefly looked her in the eye and lowered his head. "How could you send your grandmother off on your sister's campaign? You allowed her into the army against my wishes. You've made a mockery out of me, Csaba."

"Mother, you –you know how grandma can be."

"Yes, I do. She has a way with words. She's a master manipulator at times but I find it hard to believe that she manipulated you. Instead of behaving like a figure of authority you let her join the campaign because you knew I wouldn't approve and you also knew Arielle wasn't experienced enough. You broke the rules."

He nodded. "Yes I know. I am very sorry. Will you forgive me?" he could only hope.

Anastasia lifted her chin and exhaled. "And of all the positions you demoted your grandmother to lieutenant!" she spat and he flinched. "She has been the commander for this empire for several years and you disrespected her by giving her a role that is less than she deserves!"

He frowned, unsure why he was being scolded for giving his grandmother a role in the army. He thought that his mother would still be angry about allowing the former commander back into the army but now she was upset that he gave her a demotion.

"If you were going to break my rules you could have at least given her the role of captain, Csaba!" she took a brief paused. "Lieutenant," she snorted. "What a laughable role to give my mother. You humiliated her by doing that."

"Mother…I had no intention of humiliating you or grandma. I would never."

She rolled her eyes. "I've sent the letter Farah wrote to China. You better pray that everything is going according to plan over there, Csaba."

She grabbed her kozak hanging on a hook near her bed and placed it on her head. Looking into the mirror she adjusted the veil and positioned the headdress appropriately and tucked her hair behind her ears.

"I'm going to check on Farah." She walked by him and paused. "Where are the Yakut Alps?"

"They're in a secluded room."

She nods. "Good. I want them beheaded in the square."

His eyes widened and he swallowed. "…as you command, mother."

"Send their heads to Madhiya."

Ernak waited outside the palace for the lieutenant and governor to arrive. He spoke briefly with Tan Daoij and even though the emperor imprisoned Arielle and Bayan, the general was surprisingly loyal to him instead of Emperor Liu.

He saw them approaching and waved his hand. They stopped and looked around to make sure there weren't any lurkers around. "Ladies, I hope you have a plan. Tan Daoij said he is willing to help us no matter the cost."

Gabrielle looked at the Chinese General standing with a few soldiers. "Why would he help us after what the emperor did to Arielle?"

"You have a keen eye, Gabrielle. I was wondering the same thing but I trust him. I believe he knows something or maybe he's completely oblivious."

Xena folded her arms. "I don't like this mission anymore. There is something wrong and it's coming from inside the palace. We need to get close to Princess Bosi and find out what she's hiding."

"How are we going to do that?"

"I haven't figured that out yet. Gabrielle, you need to talk to the emperor. Convince him to release Arielle and Bayan. Ernak, Come with me." She hooked arms with the king and Gabrielle sighed, staring back at the palace.

Gabrielle knelt down on the floor as soon as the emperor walked into the throne room. He sat down and she lifted her eyes briefly and saw Empress Zhenfeng join him by his side, standing beside the throne.

"Governor, what can I do for you?" he asked.

She rose and stared at the two monarchs. "I came to ask for mercy," she began whilst staring at the empress, "Arielle didn't mean to insult the princess. She was just given a report of what was told to her. Wang did come into our camp and confessed he was working with your son."

"Wang has been my right hand man for a long time. He has no reason to betray me. As for my daughter, your commander insulted her. The princess wouldn't go against my kingdom."

She nodded. "I know emperor but you should consider that you have spies in your city. Wang gave us the locations of where your son is hiding out at and we escorted him to the location but we were accosted. Wang escaped and now we don't know where he is."

"You should keep better track of your hostages, governor."

He waved at the guards and the doors opened slowly. Gabrielle looked over her shoulder and saw Wang making his way into the throne chamber. She turned back around and breathed in heavily. Now she knew she wasn't going to win this argument.

Wang passed by her and she frowned, looking him in the eye. He smiled and bowed at his emperor then stood beside him and the empress.

"You may speak freely, Wang."

The commander grinned at Gabrielle who was trying her best to hide her rage. "I will forgive the beatings that your commander gave me. She was only doing her job after all."

"Why do you lie in front of your emperor?" she asked. "You told me that Princess Bosi employed you to spy on Houfei. Are you lying about that too?"

"I made no such promise to the princess," he defends himself.

She shook her head and muttered under her breath.

A messenger ran into the room holding a scroll in his hands. He knelt down on one knee and presented the letter to the emperor. "A message for you, lord."

Gabrielle eyed Liu as he opened the letter and read it over silently. She could see the seal on the bottom of the letter and knew it had to be from Anastasia or Csaba. She averted her eyes when the letter was handed back to the messenger and he darted out of the throne chamber.

"Anything more you'd like to add, governor?" the emperor asks.

She bowed her head. "I have nothing else to say, emperor. With your permission, I'll take my leave."

As soon as she left the throne room she went in search for the messenger. She flipped the hood over her head and walked briskly through the long corridor. She spotted the messenger turning a corner and ran after him. A couple of guards were heading her way and she slipped into a tight space and pressed her body to the wall, hiding her face.

The guards passed by and she poked her head around the corner and followed the messenger at least twenty steps behind. He opened a door and entered a dark room. Gabrielle hid behind a wall and waited for him to exit the room.

The messenger went in the opposite direction and she ran to the door and opened it slowly. She checked to see if anyone was coming and closed the door behind her and entered the room. The hood fell off her head as she lifted her eyes, staring at all of the messages and letters that were sent to the emperor. They were organized on shelves and they were numbered as well.

"Damn," she whispered.

She didn't know if she was going to be able to find the letter in this giant room. She quickly rummaged through a box of randomized letters and opened each one to find the seal of Attila on it. She found a few letters from Balash.

"What a surprise." She scoffed.

Men approached the room from outside and she grabbed the Persian letter and tucked it into her coat then crawled on the ground to hide underneath a table. She scooted backwards when the door was opened and a surge of candlelight illuminated the dark room.

"Where is the letter from the Hun Queen?" the man asked.

The messenger fumbled over to the box and Gabrielle watched his boots inch closer to her. She put a hand over her mouth and heard a lot of rummaging around above her.

"Right here, sir."

The guard looked at the letter and hummed. "The emperor wants this letter burned immediately. See it that it be done."

He walked out and Gabrielle crawled to the other end of the table and saw the young messenger carry the letter over to a large candle and he lit it and placed the letter on a table. She emerged from underneath the table and pulled out a dagger from her belt.

Slowly she approached him and wrapped her arm around his neck and stabbed him in the back. He yelped and she covered his mouth with her hand. She twisted the dagger in the wound and then shoved him aside.

Gabrielle smiled and retrieved the letter and unrolled the parchment and frowned. "Chinese!" she hissed.

"The Persians took you to the Tibetan Kingdom and then left you there?" asked Ernak.

Xena nodded.

"And you killed Balash. Am I hearing this correctly?"

"How many times do we have to go over this? He's dead. End of story."

The king rubbed his beard. "Xena, you've always been my favorite!" he smiled and kissed her cheek.

She grimaced and wiped her cheek with her glove. "Don't do that again."

"Xena!" the governor ran towards them, out of breath and her coat wafting in the cold wind. "Xena…I…" she halted and breathed out sharply, trying to catch her breath.

"Gabrielle," her wife smiled. "Were you able to get the emperor to release Arielle and Bayan?"

"No…"

"Gabrielle!"

"Just wait! I have something important to tell you." she says.

She pulled out the letter that was sent from Pannonia and handed it over to her. Xena looked at the letter written in Chinese letters and it was complete jargon to her. This was of no use to her and she stared at her wife confusedly.

"This letter…is from Pannonia. It was brought to the emperor by a messenger. When I was dismissed from the throne chamber I followed the messenger. The emperor ordered him to burn it. So…I…I killed the messenger."

Xena's eyes widened.

"I also got a letter from Balash," she took out the scroll in her coat and handed it over. She struggled to breathe the mountain air and wiped her sweaty brow.

Ernak whistled over to Tan Daoij and waved his hand. The general ran forth and bowed his head. Ernak snatched the letter from Xena's hands and gave it to him.

"Translate this. It is from my motherland."

The general nervously eyed the king and cleared his throat.

He reads.

"Arielle, I know you and your grandmother are on a campaign in China. I returned to Pannonia after spending time in Kazakhstan. Your sister's camp was attacked and she was kidnapped. I have been informed that Cera is in the imperial palace in Japan.

Retrieve Cera and return her to Pannonia."

Gabrielle held a hand over her heart. "Oh god…Cera. She's been trapped there this entire time and we're only a boat ride away!"

Xena furrowed her eyebrows and grabbed the general by the collar. "Are you sure that's what it says?"

Tan Daoij nodded. "Yes, lieutenant."

"Now Liu knows about Cera," she mumbled. "And he wanted to burn the letter?" she turned to her wife.

Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "There is something else."

"What else?!"

"Wang came to the throne chamber. He denied everything."

Ernak threw his arms in the air. "What a fucking mess!" he growled. "We need to go to Japan and save Cera. If anything's happened to her I'll make sure to bring heads back to Pannonia, I swear on my brother's grave."

Xena briefly smiled and gripped his shoulder. "We need to get Arielle and Bayan out of the palace first. The emperor is setting a trap for us. There is no way he's on our side now."

Gabrielle massaged her aching head. "Makes you think there's no Prince Houfei at all."

The lieutenant glared at the palace. "Ernak, we're going to organize a raid."

The king smiled deviously. "Ah, raids! My favorite. Tell me what you want me to do, Xena."

Bayan sat on the floor, leaned up against the wall and toyed with the shoelaces on his boots. He looked over at his wife who sat on the opposite end of the cell and she was picking at the chipped coating that was painted on the iron bars.

He chuckled out loud and Arielle whipped her head around, glaring at him. "What's so funny?" she asked.

"I was just thinking of that time we were held hostage by those Franks in West Pannonia. Your mother came to save us."

She smiled at the memory. "You could've gotten us killed, you know."

"By who? Your mother or the Franks?" he jokes.

He stares at her glistening blue eyes and then she turned away from him. His smile faded and he kept thinking of how horribly he treated her the last two years. He lied to her about Sarnai and then when he told her the news she blew up at him. He didn't expect his life to go this way.

"I…I will send Sarnai back to her tribe."

Arielle raised her eyebrow and leaned her head against the wall. "I'm not going to forgive you, Bayan. Our life will never be the same after what you did."

"I know," he whispers.

"Hun kings are allowed to marry multiple women. If you had asked for my approval then this might be a different story."

He smirked. "You would've agreed to me taking on a second wife?"

"In your dreams, Bayan."

The two looked at each other and shared a soft smile.

"I've thought about what to do with Sarnai," she explains. "I am divorcing you so you can marry her but I will tell my mother to write in the contract that Sarnai will have no power as queen. I will remain queen of Harran and continue my reign in Pannonia."

He nodded, thinking that was fair, more than fair actually.

"Will Aurora get to meet her brother at least?"

"Don't push it, Bayan. It's bad enough you let that whore near our daughter." She sighed deeply. "Do you even love her?"

"No…I don't."

She scoffed. "Then why do you want to marry her?!"

"Because if I don't she'll go back to her tribe in Mongolia and take my son away from me."

She smiled. "Perhaps that should be your punishment then. Live with your consequences, Bayan."

He sulked and folded his arms. Something dropped on his head and bounced onto the floor. He looked above him at the small barred window and then down at the ground. A small letter. He grabbed the rolled up letter and Arielle was too busy picking at the iron bars to notice.

"Arielle…" he got up and ran over to her and she frowned at the letter in his hand. "They're going to raid the palace."

She snatched the letter out of his hand and smiled. "Grandma you are amazing. But wait, why would she raid the palace?"

He looked into her pensive eyes. "Your grandmother is crazy. You must get that from her."

"Shut the hell up," she spat and kicked him backwards. "They've stripped us of our weapons so I guess we'll wait until we're busted out of here."

"Is it really so bad that you're stuck in here with me?" he teased.

Cera was put in a different room apart from the other concubines. The moment that the harem servants found out that she almost killed the prince she punished severely. She curled her legs close to her chest as she leaned against the wall. The soles of her feet ached from the servants whacking her with bamboo shoots.

She wrapped her arms around her bruised midsection and sobbed under her breath. The longer she remained in this room the more disconnected she felt from herself. She couldn't imagine what else these people could do to her. She counted her blessings that she was still alive but she had an inkling that wasn't going to last long.

All she could think about was her family and how much she missed seeing their faces. She thought for sure that she would've been rescued by now but it was clear that her family didn't have any idea where she was. She closed her eyes and saw her mother's face.

She smiled softly as she pictured her mother with a warm grin and bright eyes staring back at her. How she missed everyone in her life and now that was all taken away from her.

The door to the room creaked open and Princess Tashibana walked in with her two servants. Cera kept the smile on her face with her eyes closed, reminiscing the good times her family had. Images of her wedding swarmed in her thoughts and she could almost hear the music –the people following the steps of the tribal music; everyone gathering in circles, clapping their hands and singing together.

Tashibana frowned and told her servants to wait by the door. "Koryu."

Cera ignored the princess and kept daydreaming.

"I know you are not hard of hearing, Huna. Get up," she said. "I said get up!"

She grabbed Cera by the arm and hoisted her off the floor. Cera grunted and stared down into the woman's dark slanted eyes. Tashibana raised an eyebrow and then slapped Cera across the face.

Cera gasped and then slapped the Japanese princess back. The servants looked at each other nervously, unsure of what to do.

"Who do you think you are?"

Cera smiled and grabbed the princess' shoulders and head butted her in the forehead. Tashibana stumbled backward and fell to the floor with a loud thud. Cera eyed the servants who immediately left to find guards. She ran after them and grabbed them by their long braids and pulled them backwards and smashed the backs of their heads together.

The concubines gawked in horror as they stared at the tall redhead. Blood seeped from the servants' heads and the girls backed away from Cera.

Cera marched over to the doors and knocked furiously to get the guards attention outside. She grabbed two long hair pins and hid them underneath her willowy sleeve. They opened the doors and she stabbed them in the eyes with the hair pins and took both of their swords from their sheaths and sliced through their bodies.

Menokohime rounded the corner and noticed two dead guards on the floor and the tall Hun standing over them wielding two swords. Her mouth gaped and she hurried down the hallway. Cera lowered the two swords and ran after the prince's mother.

Her long legs covered her tracks well and Menokohime picked up her robes and scurried through the halls yelling for the guards help. Cera looked around and heard rabid footsteps marching her way. She saw a guard about to head her off at the corner of the hallway and she threw the sword and it landed in the middle of his forehead and she jumped over him.

Cera smiled and guards yelled throughout the palace. She caught up to the consort and grabbed her arm and they skid to a stop at a dead end. She pushed Menokohime through the window and climbed out after her.

She grabbed the consort's hand and ran across the roof to evade the guards chasing after them. Cera forcefully pushed Menokohime off the roof and jumped shortly after her. Cera looked around for a horse and saw one standing near the gates.

Bringing Menokohime with her she cut the rope around the horse's neck and pointed to the saddle. The woman looked into her eyes fearfully and Cera grunted, pushing the woman onto the horse. She climbed aboard and rode towards the gates.

Tashibana and Prince Senka ran to the window together and saw the redheaded Hun escaping with Menokohime on horseback. Senka growled and turned to his wife who had a sizeable wound on her forehead.

"I want them followed!" he ordered. "Bring my mother back here!"

Csaba met up with his cousin outside in the square and saw his mother's elite soldiers riding off to the border. Oran turned around and smiled at his cousin and made his way over.

"The heads of the Alps are being sent to Madhiya per your mother's request," he tells the king. "Your mother means business, cousin. She is more ruthless than Kreka Khatun!"

Csaba nodded. "I've noticed."

He was still upset that his mother refused to speak to him unless it had something to do with warfare. Even then their conversations were short and she didn't acknowledge him when they passed in the halls in the Adame. He'd never seen his mother so upset with him in his life and didn't have any idea on how to fix the situation.

"I will be traveling with Yeter back to the Gokturk Mountains in the spring."

Csaba frowned at his cousin. "Oh? I didn't know you were going back."

"Your mother ordered that we leave. Issik and Muqan will stay here so they can continue their studies. My mother is going to have her hands tied!"

"What does that mean?"

Oran awkwardly laughed. "Oh, didn't you hear? My mother is the advisor for Teyze Anastasia now. My father will be going to Rome to aid the Goths in the spring as well. He's the new commander for the Goths."

Csaba whipped his head around and glared at the Adame. He left his cousin's side and Oran stared at him confusedly at his sudden abrupt departure.

He rushed into the Adame in search for his mother. He grabbed a maid's arm. "Where is the khatun?"

The maid stammered a bit, "she –she's in the kitchen, your highness."

Anastasia had all of the maids and servants questioned but nobody was willing to talk. She resulted to going into the kitchen in person and ordered that all of the jars of herbs were emptied so she could inspect them with her own eyes.

The kitchen maids poured out all of the jars onto plates on the table and Anastasia brought the physician with her so he could test all of the herbs to make sure there weren't any pieces of oleander hidden in the crushed herbs.

She also had a meal prepared for Farah and stared at the nervous chambermaid. She picked up the spoon and dipped it into the spiced yogurt soup and held it up to the maid's mouth.

"Taste this."

The maid eyed the khatun and took the spoon from her. Her hand was shaking as she spooned the soup into her mouth. Anastasia narrowed her eyes; waiting for a reaction from the maid and saw nothing was happening.

"It's safe. Take the soup to Farah's room."

"Yes, khatun."

Csaba ran down the stairs and the maid carrying the tray of food stepped aside and bowed her head at his presence. He eyed his mother's long black veil and marched his way over.

"Mother, what is this? You gave the role of commander to Ebnedzar? Why was I not notified of this?"

She turned slowly to face her son. "My decision doesn't need to be discussed with you, Csaba."

"Mother! I am the king of the empire! You don't get to make decisions like that without my consent. You are breaking the order of command."

"I am breaking the order?!" she shouts. She composed herself and told the maids, "leave us."

The room was cleared and she folded her arms, looking her son in the eye. "You can't speak to me that way in front of your subjects, Csaba."

"And you can't make decisions like that –giving Ebnedzar the role of commander, Ursula is now your advisor? Just what do you think you're doing?"

"I saw that it was appropriate. Do not forget your place, Csaba. You are king of this empire, yes, but I am above you. All decisions must be approved by me. Kreka was very accommodating and lenient with her sons but I will not show you the same favor. You want to talk of breaking the chain of command; let's talk about that. You ordered a campaign without my consent. When will you get that through your head, Csaba?"

His nostrils flared and he looked at the table, refusing eye contact with her.

"If anything happens to Arielle I will blame it on you."

"Nothing will happen to her. Grandma is there."

She half smiled. "How could I forget?"

Ursula walked into the kitchen and saw the two having an intense staring contest likely due to a heated conversation. She bowed her head. "Anastasia Khatun, I have something important to discuss with you."

Anastasia lifted her chin whilst glaring at her son. "Wait in my room for me."

Ursula nodded and quickly head back upstairs.

She exhaled heavily and smiled at her son though he suspected it was a false gesture. "When Farah recovers I will assign her to a very important job. It is time that she behaves like a queen and represents the empire and myself, properly. I will also give you a job."

He pursed his mouth. "And what job would that be?"

"Rabia is a bit out of place here. She is not a queen nor a wife or mother. Banat is without a proper leader with you and Farah here. I want you to give the role of governor of Banat to Rabia. Since Gabrielle isn't here to write a contract I'll have Ursula write one. I know Rabia will be a great governor of her homeland."

Csaba swiped his tongue across his teeth. "As you see fit, mother. I will tell Rabia about your decision."

She cupped his cheeks and kissed his forehead. "You know I love you, tatli cocuk. I'm just trying to execute my power and sometimes I need to be hard on you. Don't take it personally."