The Warrior and Willow

Chapter Eleven

Traitor

As soon as Xena and Willow were out of sight, one of the Amazons, named Mana, made her way to Morgar's hut, trying not to be seen. When she was sure no one was looking, she softly tapped on the piece of wood fastened to the opening of the door for just that reason, then quickly went inside. Morgar was not displeased at her sudden entrance.

"You have information?" he asked.

Daring not to meet his eyes, Mana nodded, then said, "I do. Information I think you must know."

"Then what is it?"

"I overheard them talking before they came out for the morning meal. I was at the rear of their hut, and the one who looks like Gabrielle said she has no magic in her. She said it did not come with her. And she and Xena are concerned that you will find out. And Xena said she does not trust you."

For several moments Morgar was silent. He then put his hand on the top of Mana's head. "You have done well. When this is over, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest imagination."

Mana nodded in acceptance of his praise.

"Now go," he told her. "I must reflect and ponder on the significance of this information."

The Amazon bowed and with a cautious look outside, left Morgar's hut as furtively as she arrived.

"I knew there was something unusual about her," he muttered to himself. "As much as I dislike altering my plans, I think the time has come."

Steeling himself, Morgar left his hut and headed in the direction Xena and Willow had gone. It didn't take long for him to find them. They were standing in front of their hut talking to Yakutamor. As he concentrated, his hands were beginning to glow as he focused his powers.

The hairs on the back of Xena's neck started to rise. Some sixth sense was telling her something was wrong. Some thing was not as it should be. And as Morgar threw out his hands and a crackling orb of energy flew towards them, Xena right hand shot out, hitting Willow's left shoulder and her left hand hit Yakutamor's right one, knocking them to the ground as she dove straight ahead, allowing the orb to pass harmlessly over her.

And barely missing a beat, Xena turned over and threw her Chakram while still lying flat on her back. It flew straight at him and he barely was able to duck away from it. But it gave the three of them time to scramble to their feet.

"RUN!" Xena yelled at them, and Willow and Yakutamor wasted no time in getting behind the hut and out of sight.

Morgar threw out his hands a second time at Xena. This time twin energy orbs exited his fingertips. Xena made several diving rolls in a row, and when she came to her feet she snagged the Chakram out of the air, and holding it in its center curve, she used it to deflect a fourth, larger and more powerful ball back in the direction it had come.

This time, Morgar was the one to dive into the dirt to escape death. When he got to his feet, Xena was ready for another assault. But just as he was about to let loose another ball of blue fire, he gasped, then looked down at his chest at the bloody arrow head and twelve inches of the shaft sticking out of him. Almost immediately, a second one joined the first.

As Morgar dropped to his knees, Xena could see Yakutamor standing some distance away, holding a bow with yet another arrow at the ready. Instead of hiding, she had run to a secret stash of weapons and then circled around behind him. Xena cautiously approached as Morgar fell face down in the dirt, snapping off the two arrows sticking out of him. She turned him over causing the arrows still sticking out of his back to twist to the side, causing him even more pain.

She slapped his face until his eyes opened. "What in Tartatus is going on?"

Blinking himself to full consciousness, Morgar could only glare at her. His eyes cut to Willow, who had come out to join Xena.

"So, are you going to tell us why you wanted Gabrielle and me dead? Or do I have to make sure you until you die an even more horribly painful death?"

Xena heard Willow's sharp intake of breath. This wasn't something she was comfortable with. Xena looked over at her and winked with the eye away from Morgar. Willow nodded almost imperceptibly indicating she knew Xena was bluffing.

"You!" Morgar said, the hate and contempt in his voice giving him strength. "You kill our gods as if they were vermin beneath your feet! You have deprived all of mankind of their wisdom and benevolent guardianship. Without the gods we are like children lost in the forest. We have no direction, no purpose, no reason to continue. All because you had to protect that contemptible, filthy, murderous daughter of yours. How could her life even begin to compare with that of the gods you so coldly and brutally murdered?"

"It figures," Xena said. "A religious fanatic. No one's more dangerous than they are."

"You really killed the gods?" Willow asked in awe.

"Only Athena, Hades, Poseidon, Artemis, Hephaestus, Discord, and Deimos. Oh, and the Furies."

"But -- how? Where did you get such power?"

"From the one god of Eli. I'll tell you about it later, after we've finished here."

"Damn straight, you will. That's one story I've GOT to hear!"

"All right," Xena said to Morgar. "Now we know why you wanted us dead. And I can understand why you needed Willow's power since I have the power to kill shamans as well as gods. But why here, out in the middle of nowhere? You could have tried to kill us in Greece."

"Because I knew Ares would prevent it. It's no secret he's in love with you, and even with the powers I have acquired, I could not prevail against the God of War. And the same is true for Gabrielle and Aphrodite. Stories are told of their friendship. Even her powers are greater than mine."

Willow, amazed at what she was hearing, got up from Morgar and walked out of hearing range and motioned for Xena to join her. "So now what?" she asked. "What are you going to do with him?"

"Nothing. He won't live much longer."