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Convergence
Texas has a whorehouse in it
Outside Hercules camp near Athens. Night
Callisto, Borias, and Iolaus huddled in the bushes as they remained carefully out of sight. Callisto could observe the guards as they were on their night patrol. Callisto noted that this section of the army was made up primarily of warlord armies who had pledged their loyalty to the greater cause of Hercules and the Corinthians. In the distance a fireball jetted through the sky. Iolaus lowered his head as the fireball landed on Athens. His friend was using catapults on Athens.
Borias said as he pointed to a company of mounted warriors, "They are Scythian Raiders from around the Caspian. Xena and I tangled with them on the way to Chin."
Callisto stated, "I see a banner which represents a group of Macedonian Gladiators. Tangled with them once in Illyria."
Iolaus observed, "A couple of those soldiers look Roman, but I don't think they are from Pompey legions. They might be remnants from Caesar's army. They would be considered outlaws by Rome. Survival and protection from Rome is a good enough cause to fight for Hercules."
Callisto stated aloud, "It would seem that any man worth his salts is willing to join the cause of Hercules, anything for the potential of power."
Borias added, "They sense power and gravitate towards it, the same thing happened with Xena and I when we marched on Corinth, we had volunteers from Anatolia and Africa, it always happens."
"That's because they are vultures, always looking for profit with no concern for his fellow man or the pain he causes," stated Iolaus.
Callisto changed the subject, not wanting to discuss any more of the nature of warlords. "How should we get in? Iolaus, Hercules would recognize you but Borias and I could easily get in by claiming support for Hercules."
Iolaus replied, "Only so you can help him capture me?"
Callisto rolled her eyes, "I thought Xena was paranoid. It's that or we try to sneak in, the three of us will be caught. Or we wait here and nothing happens."
Iolaus arrogantly said with a bit of spite, "I have a bright idea. If I can trust you that is. You two side with Herc, I sneak in see if I can eliminate their catapult or their storehouse or something."
Callisto's patience was wearing thin as she said replied back, "They would suspect us immediately you know. That's what you're hoping for, isn't it? Not going to work. Here's my idea."
Borias smashes Iolaus in the back head knocking him out. Callisto continued, "We knock you out, tie you up, bring you to Hercules and that way we can infiltrate the camp." Callisto and Borias tied the unconscious Iolaus up and prepared to take him in the camp.
8
Selenta's army was near Athens having set up camp for the night. The next morning the Army of Thebes would arrive at Athens and crush the great city underfoot. However tonight was about getting the army ready. Tomorrow they would cut off the city of Athens and with that all the Greek city states would surrender to Theban domination.
Together with Hercules they would then focus their power on Southern Greece and shatter the great city of Sparta, and that would be the beginning of a new era of Greek domination, and Thebes would lead the way.
8
Hercules knew that Selenta would soon cut off Athens from the north and the city would have little choice but to surrender. With Athens surrender they would march south and then they would defeat Sparta and her allies and from this would form the beginning of a new Herculean empire that would include Thebes, as just another vassal state. It was only a matter of time.
8
Aphrodite mused to herself about Ares. He thought he was the architect of this wonderful little battlefield. No, Ares was a fool. He never could have come up with something so beautiful. Two massive armies crashing at Athens, taking Athens and then turning the whole of Greece in a battlefield. Hercules and Thebes would leave Greece broken and one of the nastiest civil wars in Greek history. Aphrodite was truly proud of herself for her great achievement.
8
Xena and Gabrielle approached the main army of Thebes from the rear. They carefully snuck through the trees, infiltrating the camp. A roving guard approached their position. Xena guessed that Selenta had already become aware that she lost a small company of men so they were on high alert. Xena and Gabrielle watched as the guard walked very close to their location. But he turned and walked away. Close call, it's better for Xena not to attack right now so they could better infiltrate the army.
8
Chaos was not far from Xena, Though Chaos controlled the body, the consciousness of Anarchy remained as he said, "That Xena is quite good. But if she stops the Selenta then it will diminish the fun that is going here."
Chaos replied, "Yes dumbass, that is correct. We'll have to make sure that Xena doesn't stop them. Then we can get back to the task at hand, securing my power so that I may truly enter this world."
8
Xena approached the camp. From her view she saw several thousand soldiers. This would not be so easy. Suddenly her war cry echoed across the clearing. Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other in surprise. Xena wasn't the source of this war cry. Xena shouted. "Gabrielle! Get ready to run!"
Three whole battalions armed themselves and began running in the direction of Xena. All Xena could think was "Damn!" Thousands of arrows began to land around them as Xena and Gabrielle fled into the trees.
They quickly disappeared into the forest as it was all they could do was put as much distance as they could as between them and the several battalions of men that were after them. Xena stopped and turned back as she threw her chakram towards the rampaging army.
The chakram rapidly bounced off the head of several men as they pursued deep into the forest. Then it returned back to Xena. By this time Xena had reached Argo who she quickly mounted and then quickly pulling Gabrielle on Argo's back. They took off heading due north to get away from the charging army.
They had survived the encounter, but now there chance to stop the army from converging on Athens was lost. Xena gritted her teeth as she now had come up with a new plan to stop Selenta and the other Warlord. She wondered however, who could have gave her away. It's not Ares style. Things were not right in this world but with this event she would not rest easy tonight.