Chapter 3

Xena walked into the bar and sat down. The brains had worked in loosening the fibers of the hide, she had been able to manipulate it until it had dried supple and soft, then had hung it over the fire stoked with rotting wood in order to set it. That way if it got wet again, it would dry soft without the extra work of manipulating it again. After the skin had been smoked, she had used ligament and bone to stitch a small top and a skirt. She had only had one hide, and hadn't wanted to run out of material so she had made the skirt a little small too. She thought she must look like a Southern Amazon, only without all the decorations and frills.

The bar she had entered was in a small town, the second she had come to. There hadn't been any bars in the first and the people had refused to even look at her. She hoped this barkeep would be more helpful.

"Where am I?" She asked bluntly.

"Excuse me?" He blinked, wiping a dirty glass.

"I know I'm somewhere in or around the land of Chin," she could tell by the language in which the people whispered around her. "But I've… lost track of where exactly. Do you have a map?"

"No, I don't." He said shortly, "But you are in the town of Chien-sha."

"Ok, let me word my question another way. Where is the closest city, and what is it called?"

The barkeep glanced around nervously. They were the only two in the room. "Chien-ning is the closest. It's three days walk north of here. Now if you'll excuse me…"

Xena gave him a curt nod which he did not return. Instead he turned quickly on his heel and pushed through the door that must have led into the kitchen. She wished she was less conspicuous, that her eyes were slanted, her skin olive colored, her outfit more traditional and less revealing. Xena breathed an inaudible sigh. She had recognized the name of the city the barkeep had given her. If it was the same one that she knew by that name, she had about 400 miles of walking ahead of her. Pain stabbed her as she found herself wishing for a horse. What had ever happened to Argo? She brushed the thought aside as she stepped out of the door. After all, Gabrielle had walked many times that distance during their time together. The bright sunlight momentarily blinded her, but she blinked away the pain, pointed her feet south-east and headed straight out of town. She didn't like the attention she was receiving. If only she had been reborn with some cash. Dinars were good anywhere you went, since they were made of solid gold. She was at a loss as to how she was going to get herself a sword, something she felt completely naked without. And her chakram… that was something that could never be satisfactorily replaced. But replace it she would, after all she had learned to rely on it, it was a part of her fighting style, of herself. Once again she found herself in a dark brooding place and forcefully she pulled herself out of it. She had to keep her head clear. She had to focus.

She had been aware of the men following her even as she had been involved in her own thoughts. Either they were as clumsy as Gabrielle was the time she had tried on Xena's big boots, or they wanted her to know she was being followed. It soon became clear that it was the latter for as they put distance between them and the town the 7-8 men, as she had gathered by the cacophony of their footsteps, began to whistle and cat call. Xena didn't slow or turn around, or give any indication she heard them at all, but kept on at a steady pace toward the Ocean.

"Come on, sweet pea, want a taste of my sword?" One jeered. Yes, she would like a sword, but she doubted that was what this man was talking about.

"Answer us, whore, or you'll get it twice as hard!" another shouted. Xena highly doubted that. A smile was slowly growing on her face as she felt the impending battle. This would be fun.

"How much?" another man jeered, "If it's not too much we just might pay!" Oh, they'd pay alright.

At this point she laughed a low, cold giggle, and shook her head. Her limbs were tingling with anticipation, and the adrenaline was starting to build. How many others had they done this to? Justice would soon be served.

"Are you laughing at us, you slut?" A pause, then the fast pattering of a pair of heavy footsteps came quickly from behind. Finally, Xena paused her feet. She kept her hands at her side and her back turned until the very last second. Then she spun around, her eyes wide and wild, and hit the man in the face with a straight-from-the-shoulder punch. The man's head jerked back but his feet kept going, and he went horizontal in midair before falling to the ground.

"Anybody else?" She asked coolly. She didn't bother to pick up the short knife that had fallen to the ground beside the unconscious and unfortunate man. Instead she smiled pleasantly and signaled with her finger for them to come closer. They had momentarily stopped dead in their tracks when she had felled their comrade, but they quickly gathered themselves and approached at a walk, snickering.

"Think you're real tough, do ya?" One asked as the remaining 7 surrounded her.

"Oh you have no idea." She shifted her weight casually and gestured at their fallen comrade. "But why ask me? I think your buddy here could explain it to you. Nice and slow too, so that you can understand." Their leader growled and drew his sword. Her eyes gleamed at the sight. This was a welcome bit of luck. The man caught the sudden glimmer of excitement and took an uneasy step back.

"You're going to pay for that one." Another of the men threatened.

"No, you know I don't think I shall. It's a pretty sword, and it's as good as mine now."

"wha-?" the leader seemed to snap out of it, and an evil grin spread on his face. "Now what good's a sword to someone with a death wish?" He eyed her up and down. "Get her, boys!"

The words were barely out of his mouth when he doubled over in pain from the blow that was dealt him, and with another punch he was sent flying backwards onto his back. He was quickly joined on the ground by three of the others, two of which had been beaten unconscious, and the last of which clutched at his side and howled in agony. The leader sat up in time to see the last four hitting the floor, unconscious. He reached for his nose and winced as he touched its broken fragments. He jumped to his feet, raising his sword hand, but it was empty. He looked at disbelief at the warrior princess, who was swinging it idly, getting a feel for it. Rage burst from him in a roar as he hurled himself at her, only to find himself colliding with the dirt once more. How could anyone be so fast? Then he was being dragged bodily to his knees, where she set him down, then struck him on the neck. Pressure began building in his head, and he began to feel the first flutter of panic.

"Like I said, nice sword." Xena said grimly. "I think it was very kind of you to give it to me."

"I didn't-" he rasped, but she cut him off.

"Oh but you did. I consider it a thank you gift for saving your life."

He spluttered, "from what?" Even as he felt his life seeping away, he couldn't control the anger he felt inside of him. He had never seen a woman behave this way.

"From me." Xena struck his neck once more, and before he could feel the dizziness disappear, she had struck him again in the jaw with a hard fist, and left him unconscious.