Chapter 6

A flash of gold light alerted Athena to the arrival of her brother. She glanced at him for a moment and then redirected her attention back to scene unfolding before her. Some of these warriors were good while others she wondered how they had even managed to find the camp the night before. There were a few that she could tell will serve her well.

Apollo approached her and made a chair appear beside her and sat down.

"So Sis how goes the try outs?" he asked as he looked down at the training ground.

He briefly scanned the area to check if anything held any interest but didn't notice anything worthwhile. There were about twelve groups altogether.

"There are a few promising warriors down there. Some wouldn't last a day as one of my archers but this group over here…." Athena pointed out, directing Apollo's attention to their left about ten yards away from them. "….they have excellent potential."

Apollo followed her observation to a small knit group of about seven women who were engaged in a fight against some of Athena's elite archers. He took note of them one by one and when he got to the fourth one he stopped. His eyes scanned her body from head to toe and he liked what he saw. There was a special kind of fierceness in the way she blocked her opponents' blows again and again.

"That one, over there." Apollo inquired from Athena. "The one with the blue eyes. She is showing some spirit. A rare thing to find these days." He smiled as he watched her. She looked magnificent.

Athena took note of her brother's assessment of the young warrior. She too had noticed that she could be a great asset to her archers. She didn't assume victory before she finished a fight like most of the other ones did. She would bide her time and then strike when the opening presented itself to her.

"Yes she has shown great qualities here today. She has the makings of a great warrior." Athena smiled to herself thinking about how this mortal woman would help her bring her archers to an even more lethal threat when faced.

"Yes she does have great qualities." Apollo repeated but what Athena had meant as a warrior he had obviously meant as a woman. His eyes were glued to her throughout her match. He took in her appearance and the way her body moved. He followed the curve of her legs till they disappeared under the hem of her skirt. He wanted to feel how soft those legs were. He moved his eyes up the rest of her body to her breasts that were raising and falling rapidly from the exertion of the fight. He licked his lips at the sight and continued upward to her face. Her soft blue eyes that seemed to shine with something that he could not pin point were absolutely mesmerizing. And last but not least, her lips…her lips that were just begging him for the attention that he would be more than happy to oblige.

He smiled to himself at this and then Athena broke him from his thoughts.

"That one over there is also a little head strong but a worthy asset if trained correctly." Apollo followed her movement to the woman a few feet away from the one he was engulfed in. He took her in for a second but quickly looked back to the object of his desire.

Athena gave a signal and soon everyone stopped their fighting. Her archers exited the arena and only the recruits were left standing there. She raised from her seat and took in everyone of the recruits.

"As all of you must have heard by now, some of you will not continue after today. I only have room for the best and while some showed great potential others outshined the rest."

As she said that last part, her gaze lingered on Xena for a few seconds.

"The following groups are to be dismissed. Groups five, one, two, ten, eleven, twelve, eight, three, seven and nine. Your services will no longer be needed."

Gasps and sobs could be heard throughout the arena. They suspected that not all would make it but to have so many leave the camp only proved just how hard it was to join in the first place. The eliminated groups were guided out of the arena by some of Athena's archers. The Goddess turned her attention to the two groups that were still standing in front of her.

"Congratulations.. you lucky few now have the honor of serving me and my archers."

"You are all to report for training tomorrow to better assess to where you will fall amongst my troops. I suggest you take this time to rest as tomorrow will not be easy." Athena took in all of their demeanors. Some looked like they could use the rest while others seemed to be ready for that training now. She smiled to herself seeing that the ones who still had some fight left all fell into the group that she had her eye on from the start.

Seeing as they were being dismissed the recruits began to file out of the training ground. Apollo slowly approached Athena while keeping his gaze focused on the dark haired warrior.

"I think you already know who you want. Why put them through more tomorrow?" he asked her wanting to know the answer.

"I need to know that what I saw here today was not just a spur of the moment achievement. They all need to prove their worth. Although some I'm sure will excel tomorrow, no matter what."

She had in mind just who those few would be. Without another word to her brother, she left him there, staring after her warriors.

Apollo watched as his new fixation was leaving the arena. "Oh she is worthy alright." he said to himself. And she would be his, he knew it. 'How could she resist? After all I am a God.' he thought, only convincing himself even more of his undeniable advantage and of the slight chance for her to say no. He grinned big as he left the arena in a shower of gold light.