STANDING UPON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPITOUS
The skeleton warrior turned sharply watching as one of the men from the summit appeared. He moved forward grabbing his arm. "What the hell is going on? Why aren't you guarding the summits aqueducts?" The man turned slightly. "I was told by my commander to come down here." The skeleton warrior raised his weapon. "Did you see any problem with your aqueduct, half the city has lost its fresh water!?" The man shook his head. "I saw nothing I have no idea what you're talking about! Please don't hurt me!" The skeleton warrior grunted grinding his jaw bone in annoyance. "Pathetic warrior, if they didn't need you up there I'd kill you!" Gabrielle breathed in looking at the skeleton hand on her arm she watched the glowing eyes narrowed.
The skeleton warrior hadn't realized, he couldn't tell the difference to him she looked just like the badly wounded warrior she'd knocked out in the mountains. Even her words sounded like his, she lowered her gaze. "I beg forgiveness…I was only doing what I was commanded to do." The skeleton warrior let go of her arm as he looked up. "Pitiful warrior, get out of my sight!" She bowed her head slowly. "As you command." She stepped away from him slowly moving in to the crowds who all ignored her. She slowly raised the eagle warrior headdress putting it on. She was wearing the warrior's red and yellow hanging skirt over her own as well as and decorated red and gold collar which hung down covering the shoulders straps of her bodice.
It all matched the red of her other clothes just like it had done all that time ago the only difference was that she still had her boots on. No one would even notice though, none of them would even see her true image until she wanted them to. That was the beauty of the sun gods lesser pendent, the only issue was that its effects were very short only lasting for a couple of hours. After that you had to change in to someone new, she looked around her as she pulled up the axe which she taken, the weapon was once again for show. There were a thousands of people to pick from, all she needed was to knock any one of them out and take something of there's. Like hair or a feather from their headdress.
She ran her fingers over the gold pendent, it was something she'd heard a rumour about it when she'd first come to Mexica. She'd never expected the sun god would let her borrow it, it was the only one of its kind and had belonged to his step sister Coyolxauhqui. His sister and her brothers had attacked his mother Coatlicue causing him to be born. He had grown in to a man the moment after his birth so he could protect his mother, from her and the other four hundred children who wanted her dead because they all believed her pregnancy was shameful, as she wasn't married. He had slain his sister and the other gods claiming his place as the first war god in existence he'd then used there dead bodies to create the stars and the moon.
She slowly looking up at the sun which was now high in the sky she smiled for a moment only to realize it was a sad smile. Maybe her plan was wrong, maybe this wasn't the way, but what other way was there? Itzli was right to storm in to this place would have gotten her killed very quickly. He was always right when it came to what he knew about Mexica. He was like an open scroll that she had always looked to for information. He'd told her most of what he known out of fear but she had come so much to depend on him for what he knew. She looked at her hand for a long moment that was another reason he deserved his freedom. If he found that young girl in the fertility goddess's city and chose to be her father, he would be able to tell her all the things he knew.
She would see the world the way he saw it with its beautiful mountains and steams and every part of its stunning landscapes, grand temples and cities which were unlike any other. Despite that this was a brutal place which could be so freighting on so many levels it did have primal beauty which couldn't be ignored. It was funny after all her time here she was only seeing it now she was seeing the beautiful carvings and temples as if she'd only just seen them for the first time. She was starting to understand why warriors from every continent came here. Although most had come for the gold, others had been lured here by this primal beauty which was unmatched and unlike any other.
She breathed in turning the corner seeing a group of people who were looking at a water fountain close by which had stopped working. She looked down slightly the weapon house had to be here somewhere. Xena's weapons were probably there on display for all the people to see. It was too much of a prize for Tezcatlipoca not to flaunt. He would see them as something that he could use to tell people that he had control over her because he had her lover. She felt herself sneer no one had control of everything not even gods. She'd seen the Greek gods in her previous lifetime fall from grace and be forced from there place of comfort by the one god which had led to their deaths only for them to be all brought back when she'd changed time. Nothing was ever certain things could rise and fall in the blink an eye, she looked down sadly nothing was forever. All things had a beginning, middle and an end. It was hard to push the sadness she was starting to feel under as it rose up painfully in her chest. A part of her didn't want to push it under because for the first time since she had come back here she was starting to feel her emotions fully.
8
Ares painfully opened one eye watching as everything slowly came back in to focus. He blinked catching sight of the gold sandals of the sun god who was standing over him. He coughed painfully if the bastard had hit him any harder one of his teeth would have been dislodged. "You know I don't know who I hate more you, or her!" Huitzilopochtli didn't think as he grabbed the lesser god by his collar pulling him to his feet. "You will not be rude in her presence again. I know now that she doesn't hold you in high regard." Ares grunted aloud. "Yeah well I don't hold her in high regard, she's an irritating blonde." He felt the pain as he was slammed against the wall full force.
Huitzilopochtli narrowed his gaze. "If she were to request it, I would kill you lesser war god. I would make you feel the force of my malice and all the punishments that come with it. You would know pain beyond anything you have ever experienced." He leaned closer. "Do not think that because I show kindness to my mortals that I would not show my temper to other gods who deserve it." He leaned closer. "Why do you hate her so much? Do you feel that talent like hers is worthless?" Ares narrowed his gaze feeling the other gods grip tighten. "She took something that was mine, which she had no right to own!" Huitzilopochtli smiled slightly. "Was that one of your godly items, which you used to instil fear in to helpless mortals?"
Ares felt his teeth grind together. "She stole Xena from me! I've never been able to compete with her because Xena always picks her over me!" Huitzilopochtli stopped still feeling his gaze narrow slowly. "I would not pick you, you are a vile little lesser god who has no sense of honour or nobility. You don't deserve anything." He felt his cold smile widen. "The Warrior Princess is all so right not to pick you, despite that she is not worthy of the Blood Jaguar's love." Ares narrowed his gaze. "Where is Xena? She wasn't here with her when she came here, what have you done with her!?" Huitzilopochtli laughed slightly. "You are so very foolish lesser god. I have not taken the one you prize I would not waste my time on such a pitiful being."
He turned slightly. "The very god who blew your golden chariot out of the sky has taken her. That was the reason that the Blood Jaguar came to my keep, to ask for my help." He felt his teeth grind together. "The Warrior Princess won't survive to return to you, or to the Blood Jaguar." He leaned closer. "I have made sure of that lesser god." Ares wanted to laugh but he felt himself stop before it left his throat, the sun god was not lying he could see it in his eyes. The bastard wanted her dead it was a clear as day. He breathed in feeling his teeth grind together. "You're going to kill Xena, just to get Gabrielle!?" Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "Is it not true that you would destroy the Blood Jaguar to obtain the Warrior Princess if it suited your purposes?"
He turned slightly. "I would not kill her though, I would not need to Tezcatlipoca is the one who will do what is required and no one will be there to save her, just as no one is here to save you now lesser god." Ares breathed in sharply. "Your plan will fail." Tezcatlipoca let go of him stepping back. "What makes you say this lesser god?" Ares narrowed his gaze. "Because I've spent years trying to do what, what you're doing right now. You'll always loose and they always win that's how it works." Tezcatlipoca laughed coldly as he eyed him. "No that is how it works for you because you are a lesser god." He stepped back moving towards the throne room. "I was the first war god any thing I want is mine, it always has been."
8
Itzli looked at the open scroll again he could see the symbols which had been drawn quickly and very roughly with the Blood Jaguar's quill. She was trying so hard to get them right. Despite that she could speak his language fluently she couldn't write it that well. He could tell by the ink spatters that she was becoming frustrated and had started to press her quill in to the rough scroll hard. His gaze slowly travelled over her written words as he ignored the warriors as they passed him by bowing their heads slightly. He looked at the second scroll seated next to him on the platform it was sealed tight with both wax and a silver ribbon. He looked up slightly watching as the golden winged horse snorted tapping its hoof.
He let his gaze travel over the orders again it was simple set of orders, and they all made sense to him. He looked up slightly, why was his god doing this? It was so unheard of. He knew he'd always liked her but to defy her last orders, it wasn't noble and there was no honour in it. It also seemed sick and twisted in his view. This was not what he had been taught it was not in his ideas ether. It was odd that his views of these codes and been twisted. He'd now righted these ideas and now he was being told to be dishonourable because it was for love. How was that love? It sounded so jealous and tainted and it didn't make any sense to him.
Why was it, since he'd returned here everything had just felt so wrong and out of place? He didn't care for this position he'd been given ether. It was a boring retirement, which he really didn't want. He had at least thirty more years fight left in his body and yet he was being put out pasture like some crippled llama that was too old to function. Yes he could see his whole boring life stretching out in front of him, being surrounded by retired warriors and high society who would all suck up to him. He'd also be surrounded by women who just wanted cheap sex with him, not because they liked him but because of his status. Oh he would have loved that a lifetime ago but now it seemed so redundant, he wanted to fight on the front lines with out battle he was nothing.
The truth was he was being forced to choose between Huitzilopochtli and Gabrielle, who he had now come to like. Like everyone else Huitzilopochtli probably believed that he didn't like her that much, so his loyalty would be with out question. Huitzilopochtli would punish him if he betrayed him but he wouldn't punish his family, they would still receive the gifts that had always been his way. The punishment for betrayal was a very bitter one it evolved being stripped of your rank and your weapons. Then the sun god himself would break your hands in a way that they'd never heal probably and you'd never be able to use a weapon again as long as you lived. You'd never see battle again and you'd never get the honourable death every warrior craved. Instead you'd be forced to grow old and go insane with out ever seeing blood or victory again it was a slow death of the heart and soul. He shook his head staring at the scroll as he put a hand on his face. Why couldn't this be easy? Why did he have to choose one death over another? He grunted aloud why couldn't he just choose like he did everything else?
"You look troubled."
Itzli pulled up sharply seeing that Coaxoch was standing next to him, he rolling the scroll up in his hands. The truth was he wouldn't have, had the courage to ask this heavenly warrior anything before now, he would have seen himself as unworthy. He still didn't feel truly worthy but the truth was that this warrior had so much more experience than him. He was probably over a hundred years old and had seen things that he had never seen. He looked down slightly. "I am troubled." Coaxoch turned slightly. "Why are you so troubled when you have received such great reward?" Itzli sighed aloud. "Because I feel that my real reward was to serve the Blood Jaguar it made me feel whole…this reward doesn't."
Coaxoch smiled slightly as he leaned against the platform. "Then you should serve her." He looked up slightly. "Just because she freed you does not mean that you shouldn't serve her. You can serve her now as a friend, rather than a servant." Itzli slowly met his gaze. "What would you do if you had to choose between your gods orders and what you what?" Coaxoch leaned down slightly. "I would choose what gives me the greatest honour." Itzli eyed him for a long moment. "Then you would choose your gods orders?" Coaxoch shook his head. "You misunderstand me I would choose what is right and noble. Not every order that is given holds honour and nether is it always the right thing to do."
He turned slowly raising his glowing weapon. "You must choose what is right, even if it not necessarily the order you are given. Great warriors are not defined by what they told to do they are defined by the action of their personal choices." He patted Itzli's shoulder as he turned towards the inner keeps steps. "That is the choice that defines our souls in the end." Itzli watched him go he looked down slightly feeling all his emotions go in to turmoil he knew what was the right choice. He knew that he would rather go with this choice than the other but it was also the wrong choice in his god's eyes. He sighed aloud as he leaned forward running his hand through his headdresses feathers in frustration.
8
Gabrielle she eased up her hand watching as for a spilt second a shimmer of white light appeared over it. Her gaze darted sharply she wouldn't be able to keep this warriors form much longer, she needed a new one. She narrowed her gaze catching sight of the four huge buildings at the end of the street all were being guarded closely by un-dead warriors. She could smell the burning of food in a house close by no doubt someone was smoking something which didn't smell that nice. A dark smoke could be seen rising through the open door. She turned the corner only to feel a sharp pain as her shoulder was grabbed harshly. She was pulled around then savagely slammed in to the wall.
Her gaze slowly met that of a skeleton warrior's who was grinding her jaw bone in disgust. "What are you doing here, you worm?! You're meant to be up in the mountains guarding the aqueducts!" Gabrielle breathed in watching as the glowing eyes narrowed, she lowered her voice to a small whisper. "I was sent here by order." The female warriors red eyes opened slightly as she leaned forward, putting her other hand on her covered chest. "Don't give me that! I've been watching you, for the last hour. You're not meant to be in this area your lesser rank doesn't allow it!" She pulled out her axe raising it slowly to the man's face. "So you can ether tell me why you're here or I can start cutting you open slowly!"
Gabrielle looked up slowly feeling a cruel smile form on her lips. "Well it's like this I'm here to free one of your big animals. This isn't really my form I'm just borrowing it. I'm also here to bring hell to your city, because you took something which was mine." She narrowed her gaze "And I want it back." The skeleton warrior pulled back, utter confusion showing her eyes. Gabrielle watched as the shimmers of white light flowed over her body. "I need a new form and yours will do just fine." She didn't think as she brought up her axe hilt slamming it full force in to the skeletons warriors face, causing her skull to be smashed from her neck. She brought the axe around ignoring the sound of the warrior's ribs smashing with the force.
The skeleton warrior's broken body fell back hitting the floor of the small street hard. Her legs were still flailing along with the hands and arms her glowing red eyes looked up in shock as she tried to move her mouth, only to cause her skull to fall sideways in to the dirt. Gabrielle leaned down grabbing the fallen skull pulling off the moving jaw bone in one swift motion. She placed the upper head down ignoring the glowing eyes which stared at her with utter loathing as she raised it to pendent watching as white light blasted out from it moving across the jaw bone. All over her body the shimmers of white star light vanished in an instant. She brought up her foot slamming it in to the skeletons body watching as it landed in side the smoke filled house opposite.
She threw the jaw bone to one side as she started walking past skulled head. The sun's rays burst through the dark street causing her hand to change in to a skeleton's for a split second, which was the proof that the pendent was working. She carried on moving ignoring the sudden screams from the house close by as the owners realized that half an un-dead skeletons body had fallen in to it. She stepped forward in to the main street watching as the other un-dead warriors guarding the buildings looked up. "I have new orders." The first warrior looked up his red eyes showing utter confusion. "New orders…what new orders?" Gabrielle smiled watching as they all looked at each other. "The Blood Jaguar has been spotted on the west side of the city. You are to take the best units of men you can find and track her down and bring her to our mighty Jaguar god alive!"
The first male skeleton warrior looked up narrowing his gaze. "The Blood Jaguar's here?!" Gabrielle raised her axe slowly meeting his gaze she could see the fear appearing in all their eyes. "Did you not hear my orders? Get moving now you stupid bastards!" She watched as all ten of them ran past her she didn't think as she grabbed the last warrior savagely. "You're to give me the keys to the animal pens!" The nervous young skeleton warrior who was a young boy by the sound of his small whimper looked up watching as the other warriors disappeared. "I'm not allowed to give my keys up…its orders." Gabrielle yanked him around slamming him in to the wall full force. "These orders are from our might Jaguar god himself! Do you dare to deny your gods orders!?"
She sneered at him. "Do you know what your god will do to you, if he is disobeyed? He'll send you in to the seventh hell!" The young warrior pulled up they keys instantly the fear showing in his eyes. Gabrielle smiled again although it felt more like a cruel leer. She let go of him snatching the keys from his hand. "Your god will be most pleased." The young warrior backed away his eyes showing how unsure he was, she turned sharply. "Now get out of my sight!" The young warrior bolted in to a run disappearing from sight. Her gaze slowly turned back to huge buildings whose thick metal cage bars were twice as thick as her arm. They were in a crisscross mesh that started at the top and came down to her feet keeping everything in side locked away tight.
She leaned closer to first building catching sight of a dark rippling lake in side which would be almost black as pitch if not for the slight shimmers of sunlight coming through the bars. She moved closer narrowing her gaze only to pull back in sharply as a huge python slammed its head in to the bars. Its jaws opened wide as it hissed. She sneered slightly she hated snakes, and this one despite being two thirds the size of Milintica was still large and dangerous looking. She looked at the keys for a long moment before shaking her head. She moved to the next building, ignoring the snake's eyes as they followed her. She leaned over looking at the black lake inside the pen.
It rippled and churned as green scales hit the surface and two red eyes slowly opened to look at her. It was a huge crocodile about half the size of the one she'd seen in the swamps. She breathed in deeply as she watched the huge jaws open causing a low rumple hit the air. She could see that part of the cage could be pulled open so food could be slotted in. Her gaze drifted to the huge wooden pikes which were used to nudge it in. No one was brave enough to go in to these cages to give these monsters their food. She raised the keys slowly to the lock it was a huge sliding metal bar with a thick piece for your hands to grab on to so you could move it across. It could only be opened when the three keys locks above had been opened. As each was opening it would pull a heavy locking bar back which held the larger bar in place.
She pushed the key in to the first lock hearing it turn followed by the sound of the bar coming free. She moved the key to the other lock ignoring the smashing sound as the second bar came free. The locking systems and its cogs were also far more advanced than anything she'd seen. Which meant it was a godly design and had probably been designed by Tezcatlipoca himself. She heard the smash as the last bar came free all this had been done to stop creatures like Milintica from breaking free again. She pulled the keys back putting the ring on her belt hook with the Chakram. Her gaze darted slightly as her hands slammed in to the main bars hand hold. She felt her feet dig in to the floor as she began to push it across.
She heard the sound as it began to move in a painfully slow grind, which sent pain through her shoulders. She pushed harder feeling her teeth grind together, each step hurt as she moved the bar inch by inch. This job was for two people, not one and her progress was slow and painfully because of it. She didn't care what it took, she was going to open this pen or by the gods she was going to die trying. She closed her eyes ignoring how much it hurt as she pushed even harder, she could feel the sweat on the back of her neck. It felt like forever was going by as she moved further forward. It was hard to ignore how much both her shoulders were starting to ache her fingers were also starting to sting from holding the metal so tightly.
She looked up slowly watching as the bar hit the end of the pen in what felt slow motion causing it to clang loudly as heavy metal, stuck heavy metal. She felt her feet slowly move back as the huge door began to open. It creaked as it hit the other cage which was still closed causing the huge snake to hiss again in anger. She felt her self breath in sharply she wasn't going to stay here any longer, she'd been here far too long as it was. She felt her feet hit the floor hard as she bolted in to a run heading towards one of the smaller ally ways close to one she'd battled the skeleton warrior in. She turned slightly seeing the huge scaled body as it came out of the pen causing water to hit the ground. She narrowed her gaze just in time to see the scaled body pass her by as the huge animal made its way towards the main streets. The warriors would not rest as soon as they saw this creature was free, they would do everything in their power to capture it and put it back in its cage. She smiled evilly and that would mean less of them would be guarding the main streets.
8
Ehecatl moved towards the Warrior Princess he eyed the guard who was looking nervous. "No water! What do you mean no water?!" Amimitl slowly came towards him. "He means we have no water on one side of the city, as he says." Ehecatl turned sharply. "I want this fixed now! I want every street checked for a blockage!" Amimitl looked up sharply. "It's already been done it's not in the city! I've already had twelve warriors report that to me!" He turned sharply watching as a wounded man was dragged up the steps by skeleton warrior who looked nervous. He threw the wounded man down at his feet the man clutched his bandaged leg painfully. Ehecatl looked up sharply. "What is this?"
The nervous skeleton warrior's eyes darted slightly. "He's from the mountain…he saw the…." Ehecatl watched him step back nervously as he came forward. "He saw who!?" The living man pulled the rag from his chest showing of the bloody claw marks which were still bleeding slightly. The fear and terror in his eyes was unnerving. Ehecatl kneeled down in front of him grinding his jaw bone. "Who did you see warrior?" He raised his skeleton hand to the bloody chest wound. "Who gave you this?" The man looked up slightly. "The Blood Jaguar, she caused a rock slide in the mountain…she blocked the aqueduct!" Ehecatl grabbed his shoulder harshly. "No one can cause an aqueduct to block! That's inhuman!"
The terrified man looked up slightly. "She had a weapon, a ring of silver! It took down the mountain side!" Ehecatl stood up roaring in anger. "Take him away! Then take a group up to mountain and unblock the main aqueduct!" The skeleton warrior looked up slightly. "There's more." Ehecatl turned sharply. "More?" The skeleton warrior stepped back pointing to the wounded man. "I saw him…but it wasn't him!" Amimitl folded his arms. "You mean that she's able to pose as others?" The skeleton warrior's eyes darted in panic. "Yes! I thought it was him it even felt like I touched his arm…but it wasn't it was trick, she tricked my eyes and I don't know how. Even the soul in his eyes looked like his." Ehecatl turned sharply watching as the skeleton warrior dragged the wounded man to his feet.
He turned snarling in anger. "I want the Blood Jaguar found and I want her at my feet! She looks like this maggot right now so it shouldn't be that hard to find her!" He watched as the skeleton warrior moved in to action savagely pulling the wounded man behind him. Amimitl turned slowly. "She's using a godly item how do we know that it doesn't allow her to change from person to person? She could be anyone!" Ehecatl slowly met his gaze. "You think I haven't thought of that? Of course I have you idiot!" He found him self stiffening as a cold laugh drifted through the air, he turned seeing that it was coming from the Warrior Princess. He slowly walked towards her seeing her pull on her chains weakly. "Your in no position to laugh Warrior Princess, her coming here will mean your death."
He slowly met her ice blue gaze. "I also doubt that death will be pleasant or quick." Xena looked up trying to ignore how much it hurt to keep her eyes open and how hungry she was feeling. "I doubt your afterlife will be pleasant if your fail to stop her." Ehecatl snarled aloud as he eyed her. "What is the ring weapon she carries? What is it called and what, does it do!" Xena sneered slightly. "Why don't you ask the Star Coyote? She knows all about me, I'm sure she'll fill you in." Ehecatl looked up sharply. "Don't play games with me Warrior Princess!" Xena slowly met his gaze. "Or you'll what, kill me? You un-dead warriors always seem to make threats which you can't justify or have no power to commit, it's pathetic."
Ehecatl raised his skeleton hand slowly. "The Star Coyote should have been mine! She should be in love with me not you!" Xena breathed in slowly and deeply. "I wish she was in love with you, since I hate her on every level." She turned slowly. "She betrayed you and used you and yet you still love her. Are you willing to go to your destruction for her as well?" She looked up slightly. "I can tell you now that destruction won't be pleasant for you, mine wasn't." Ehecatl eased up his axe slightly. "I would go to the seventh hell and back if I meant I could win her love!" Xena turned sharply. "You'll never win her love! She doesn't know how to love anyone! She only understands how to take from others and manipulate them."
Ehecatl raised his weapon higher. "You don't know her like I do." Xena slowly narrowed her gaze. "That's where you're wrong, I know more about her than you ever could. I know how she thinks and how she feels, and I know that anyone who loves her always pays the price. You should have been paying more attention to our last conversation it was supposed to enlighten you!" Amimitl stepped forward, when was this madness going to end? They had enough troubles as it was with out Ehecatl acting this way. He grinded is jaw bone in disgust he wasn't fit to lead right now! His disgusting little obsession with the Star Coyote was driving him to ruin. As was his jealousy which was consuming him completely.
He stopped sharply as darker thoughts swept through his mind, if he were to fall then he was next in line. After all he'd never liked Ehecatl he was a moody bastard who was old and well overdue for replacement. He'd put up with him for all these years because he had to, not because he wanted to. Plus he had looked for a chink in his armour quite often only to find none. Nothing fazed the ancient warrior, but now something finally had and his weakness was becoming all too obvious. He wished he could smile because if he could it would be a gloating smile of joy. He could just let him carry on and let him give himself enough rope to hang himself then he could assume command over the whole army. He stepped back slightly, Ehecatl ways of war were also old and it needed someone fresh and bold to take over. Someone who had waited far to long for this day to arrive. Someone who had been so very patient while he'd waited in the wings for more years than he cared to even count. That someone was him.
End of part 41
Silvermoonlight
