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A Piece of My Heart

I sure hope I didn't brain my damage with this last chapter

8

"Dammit!" cursed Xena.

Callisto who was attending to Xena's injury coolly stated, "Easy…"

It wasn't the injury that was bothering her, but rather the belief that she had failed again. It pissed her off.

Callisto snapped the back piece of the Arrow as Gabrielle held Xena. Callisto eyed Xena once as she nodded back, then with considerable precision and force, Callisto shoved the arrow through Xena's shoulder. Xena groaned with pain as Callisto pulled the arrow completely out, tossing it aside.

Callisto grabbed a stick that had been turned into a poker, "Ok, turn over so I can get at your back."

Xena grimaced in pain as Callisto applied the wooden poker to her wound, cauterizing it. Xena then rolled back over so that Callisto could get to the arrow's exit point. Callisto jabbed the wound to close it up as Xena out of instinct put the pinch on Callisto.

Gabrielle stood to her feet in surprise, "Xena, what are you doing?"

Xena regained her awareness as she quickly removed the pinch from Callisto, "My bad… it's just… well, memories of our past are just a bit fresh."

Callisto rolled her eyes as she finished treating the wound.

8

Hercules proudly strode in front of us troops riding his steed, "My brave soldiers! Today we ride for glory as we move to crush the resistance. The resistance is led by the traitorous bitch called Xena, that murdering monster named Callisto, and Corinth's biggest traitor yet to be capture. Jason! Soon Greece will be ours, get ready, we ride!"

Selenta stood ready at the head of her own army. Hercules shout meant that it was time for the army to move. However, she was growing to dislike this alliance with Hercules, especially in the face of a potentially brutal bloody war of conquest in Southern Greece. She wanted power, but she thought it was a grasp too far. The enemies would never penetrate Corinth with the natural bottleneck the land formed, but fighting on their turf would mean blood and lots of it.

8

Argos, day 6 of the war in Greece

The men cheered as the first of the reinforcements appeared. From the city of Tegea, 2000 men arrived. Soldiers from the town of Megalopis would be their within a couple of hours but Sparta was a day and a half away at least. From the other direction, Xena, Callisto, and Gabrielle rode into camp as Xena met up with Tildas, Kaleipus and King Jason.

Xena stepped down from Argo alongside Callisto and Gabrielle. She said, "Hercules is marching this way, we need to be ready."

Jason nodded, "Very well," turning around facing the rest of his men he stated, "Sound the alarm, everyone prepare for war."

Xena and Callisto said in unison, "That's not good enough." Callisto paused to allow Xena to continue, "We can't beat Hercules by settling in for a siege. The way Hercules destroyed Athens, Argos would have no chance."

Jason asked with a cautious eye directed at the warrior princess, "What do you have in mind?"

"Give me command of the army, not only can I defeat Hercules, but I can drag the battle out until the whole of Greece shows up to fight him."

Jason sighed, "I have reason to believe you can, but I know one thing. You tried to take Corinth for yourself once and how can I be sure you won't try it again?"

Xena's face took on a dark scowl at the sudden statement.

Jason redirected his attention at the blonde warrior, "Callisto, you on the other hand never tried to take Corinth. I'm placing the army under your command; you will be assisted by Tildas the great. I'm aware of your past, but I believe in what has been spoken about you by the centaurs, that you are reformed"

Callisto wanted to argue but she could see that Jason would not be talked out of this. She paused, considering her options, then with heavy reluctance she stated, "I will not do unless Xena is my second in command."

Jason examined Xena closely. Tildas had overheard the exchange interjected, "I understand your distrust of the warrior princess. Her at the head of an army fighting against Corinthians set's a lot of centuars and soldiers alike on edge. Ten years are still fresh in our minds. But we'd be foolish not to use her in some way."

Jason bowed his head, "Very well, Xena, you are second in command to Callisto."

Xena was furious, insulted at Callisto picked over Xena because of Xena's history. Callisto with her history was considered a safer choice than Xena. Pressing her lips together in irritation she asked, "So, what do you want to do?"

"Well, I've got some decent ideas but you know more about conquest than I do, so what do you have in mind?"

Xena set aside her emotions, preferring to just do what needed to be done, "We have Centaurs, and when I was coming back from Ch'in I had I run in with some Parthians. They would use mounted warriors with bows and javelins and they would ride in circles in front of their enemies. Their enemies couldn't ever get to them but the Parthians would just shoot them down with ease. The enemy would chase them fruitlessly. The Centaurs could do the same thing to great effect."

Callisto replied, "Add that with some guerilla tactics in the surrounding forest we can deal with these pigs as they come."

"Hercules does have cavalry so we need to be careful."

8

A couple hours later

Hercules and Selenta rode aside each other at the head of the army discussing plans for the war against Argos when they noticed another army from the north.

Selenta mused, "Who do you think they are?"

Hercules smiled, "They belong to Sicyon, a north of here, and Argos. Foolish for them to try to help Argos.

Hercules raised his sword as he stared back at his men, "All Cavalry units charge, wipe them from the face of the earth."

Hercules and Selenta led the charge shouting war cries. The men of Sicyon quickly moved to face the attackers head on, but the cavalry smashed into them at full force sending the group of 1200 men into complete disarray. Cavalry moved to encircle the army to prevent any attempt to escape as the soldiers of Sicyon tried to fall back away from the Corinthians, but to no avail.

Hercules with his sword charged the enemy position slicing a man across the chest, then twisting back he beheading a soldier who tried to escape Cavalry pushed in on them as the remaining soldier gathered back to back. They had no chance as the Cavalry sliced through the men.

Eventually the remaining 500 men threw their hands up offering surrender. Hercules stated,, "Those of you who wish to join our army stand next to my horse." About 50 men went to join Hercules. The others asked to be returned to their city.

Hercules' face wore a cold grin, "We don't exchange prisoners!" The soldiers of Hercules swept through the now unarmed men and cut them down in seconds ending the small skirmish.

8

Southern Scandinavia

Anarchy said, "Here it is." Anarchy said joining the second part of the Heart of Chaos with the First.

Chaos said, "Yes, one more to go."

8

Xena was off in the woods taking care of the needs of nature. She was nearly finished when she spotted what appeared to be a purple stone sticking out the ground. Xena never was one to collect rocks, but something about this one called to her. With a quick grasp she plucked it from the ground, then with her business done, she rejoined Callisto.