Even from the quarter-mile distance that separated them, it was easy for Xena to make out Sarkon when he and his raiders came over the rise. He rode atop a titanic black stallion. His leather armor was studded with silver accents that glinted in the afternoon sun. He wore a silver helmet with a full face-plate and a black horse hair crest. Judging by how far below the horse's belly his feet dangled, Xena guessed him to be taller than even Zandar. If it came to face to face combat, she knew his size would give him a serious advantage. If their clothing were any indication, the ragtag group of bandits that he rode with was a melange of barbarians and Greeks. A couple of his riders wore Scythian helmets while some wore turbans, and others helmets of various Greek designs. Some carried shields and swords but a few were armed with bows. A couple had battle axes and other bludgeoning tools strapped to their horses.
"I told you he was nasty piece of business," Ares whispered to Xena from their hideout position.
"I count thirty-four," she answered.
"Murderers everyone," Ares spat with disgust.
"You know, I thought you'd be a fan."
"Of that? Oh Xena, you should know me better by now. Where's the discipline? Where's the skill? Even when I first took you in, I could tell you had the ability to be a leader, if you could only find your center. He's only in it for killing, there's no greater purpose. "
Xena took in what Ares was saying but didn't have the luxury of mulling over it very long because Sarkon gave the forward order.
His men took the road into town just as Xena had expected. Sarkon and his archers fell back letting the swordsmen take the lead into town. When they reached the edge of the village all dismounted except for Sarkon and five archers. Ares was right, they had little discipline which Xena could instantly see was going to work against her plan. Only a handful of them veered off toward the grainery the rest headed toward various homes and business to do their looting. It took everything Xena had to keep her position when she saw a thug with a warhammer enter the temple of Ares. She hoped those hidden in the basement would not panic.
Xena turned her eyes back to where Zandar was secreted. A single archer crouched at his side with a flaming arrow at the ready. Zandar looked to his god and nodded. Ares gave him a thumbs up then reached down and clasped Xena's hand affectionately.
She gave him a half-grin and shook her head to indicate that such displays had no place on the battlefield.
Then all Tartarus broke loose. Zandar gave his archer the signal. The flaming arrow hit the hidden casks causing them to burst into flames. The seven bandits who had turned toward the grainery were caught in the blaze. They flailed their arms trying to ward of the flames which only caused them to spread faster. Sarkon realized that he was under attack but he couldn't see Zandar's hidden troops. He searched the town wondering if he was being challenged by simple villagers or he was facing a military force. His other raiders made no move to help the burning men. A few of them even seemed to be enjoying the show.
Twenty seven to go.
Zandar gave the signal to his other two bowmen who had remained in the woods to fire. Their orders had been to go after Sarkon first, then his archers. Hopefully, that would even the playing field some. Zandar's archers let their arrows loose. Xena saw the first green fledged arrow hit it's target fatally in the jugular of one of the Slayer's men. Like an inexperienced soldier he grabbed at the offending object and tore it from his throat, blood squirted from his neck, spraying the rider next to him, who quickly dismounted to search for cover.
Twenty six
The second arrow would have hit its mark had Sarkon not raised his silver gauntlet just in time to defect the missile. His armor was strong, Xena thought, the arrow didn't even pierce it. She wondered what kind of metal had been used to craft it. She had only ever seen one metal that strong. She glanced at Ares out of the corner of her eye. If he was playing a game with her she was going to kill him. Had he given this maniac Hephaestian metal just to fuck with her?
Ares caught the disgusted look.
"What?" he begged.
"That's Hephaestian metal, you sick son-of-a-bitch. And to think you almost had me fooled this time," she reached for her sword. God or not she was going to run him through.
Ares clamped down hard to stop her hand, "I did not give him the metal, Xena, I don't have any allegiance with him. Why would I do that? I just told you. . ."
"To screw with me," she interrupted through gritted teeth.
"We don't have time for this, Xena. Come on, keep your focus. If you wanna kill me later, so be it, but right now there is a battle opening up."
In the meantime Zandar's twin archers in the woods had reloaded as had the archer at his side. Sarkon had taken cover and his remaining bowmen were scrambling to do the same. The archer at Zandar's side caught one square in the back as he ran for the tavern. He fell face first onto the ground, he never moved again.
Twenty-five.
Two more arrows flew from the woods, one pierced the right thigh of one of Sarkon's swordsmen. He hobbled toward the blacksmith's door and used it to shield him while he tended his wound. The second hit its mark right in chest of a raider who was too stupid to take cover.
Twenty-four.
As the odds stood at two to one, Zandar began to like their chances a little better. He looked over to his god, he intended to give the order to charge but it appeared that Xena and Ares were in their own heated battle.
"What did you think to accomplish here today, Ares? You getting off on me and Zandar teaming up, is that it? Or did you expect me to strip him of command?" She couldn't pull her sword from its sheath because Ares had a vice grip on her forearm. So she improvised by headbutting him.
The blow to the head knocked him off balance. He fell back taking Xena with him. She ended up sprawled on top of him, giving her the advantage. She reared her knee back fully intending to rack him in the nuts but he disappeared. She blinked and started looking around for him immediately.
In the melee, she hadn't realized that she had given up her position. She heard the whiz of an arrow right before she snatched it out of the air like it was an insignificant fly.
Where had Ares gone? Did he really think he was going to get off that easily?
"I'll prove it to you," she heard him whisper in her ear just as she felt his presence behind her.
Two of Sarkon's men charged her, one carried a broad sword, the other raised a dagger high above his head as he approached. He suggestively grabbed his crotch with his free hand and licked his lips as he got within feet of Xena.
"Charmed," Xena winced then kicked him square in the face, dropping him like a sack of turnips.
The other raider brought his sword down only to meet Xena's in a clash of steel. Xena pushed him off as their swords locked and kicked him solidly in the gut for good measure.
She could still feel Ares but she couldn't see him. She faintly heard Xandar give the charge call just as dagger boy got back up on his feet.
"You're gonna pay for that, bitch. You like to play rough, oh, I'll give you rough," he jutted his hips at her, "I'm gonna fuck you til you bleed."
"You're the one that's gonna get speared," Xena sneered as she ran him clean through. As she watched the life force drain from him, she pushed hard against his shoulder to dislodge him from her sword.
Twenty-three.
After the encounter she realized she had lost Ares' presence. She looked around. Scenes of battle filled her eyes. Zandar's men were fully engaged with Sarkon's. The Slayer's men who had entered buildings to loot and pillage re-emerged at the sound of swords clashing. The brute with the war hammer, however, was still in the temple as far as she could tell. But, a full-on battle was underway.
The flames had spread toward the grainery and Xena hoped desperately that they could get the fire out without it doing too much damage to the town. Her stomach roiled at the smell of the burning flesh and the fresh copper that was starting to fill the air. Another grunt came at her headlong. slashing his sword. She parried his blow, then spun around and gored him with her blade.
Twenty-two
She scanned the area for Ares again. Finally, she saw him materialize as Sarkon mounted his steed and came barrelling toward her.
She whistled for Argo, she couldn't let him have the advantage of height and horse. She needed to even the odds.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Zandar send another raider to Hades.
Twenty-one.
Argo was there in a flash. Xena back flipped onto her mount and reared around to face the advancing killer.
When Sarkon was about thirty paces away, Ares appeared directly in the middle of the path that separated them.
What in the name of Zeus was he doing?
Sarkon was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the god but Xena noticed that he didn't seem to recognize Ares either.
Maybe she had been wrong, maybe she shouldn't have been so quick to judge the god of war.
Emotions, Damn emotions, she couldn't afford to think about all of this now!
Ares had only surprised Sarkon, it hadn't startled him and he only saw him as an obstacle between him and the woman warrior he was intent on killing.
As the Slayer continued toward Xena, Ares defiantly stood his ground. Sarkon would have to go through him if he was going to go after Xena.
Sarkon was less than impressed.
Xena expected Sarkon to ride right over Ares, she expected Ares to disappear just in time to prevent it from happening.
Then a split second before it occurred, it dawned on her what was going to happen. She didn't even have time to throw her chakram.
Sarkon continued to ride hard and swift. Instead of riding straight at Ares, he altered his course by inches. He drew his sword from his right hip with his left hand and with one smooth movement slashed the blade across the exposed chest of the god of war. Ares' pendant dropped to the ground as he fell to his knees in utter shock, his mouth agape, blood streamed down his torso.
"Nooooooooo!" Xena screamed as the scene unfolded in front of her. The bastard's sword was also made of Hephaestian metal.
Xena quickly unhooked her chakram and let it fly in anger. It undoubtedly his its mark but it simply ricocheted off the metallic helmet.
She had to get to Ares to see how badly he was hurt.
"Focus, I am inside you, Xena, I'll always be there," she could hear him but he was fading.
Sarkon and his horse were within feet now, Xena drew her sword. with her right hand and reached to grab her returning chakram with the left. She let out a fierce battle cry as she swung her sword at the Slayer's midsection. He deftly parried her slash as he rode by her. Before turning Argo for another pass, Xena looked down at Ares whose stared back at her blankly. He was going into shock.
"Zandar," she called but he couldn't hear her over the clamor of war. He stabbed another raider who fell to his death but Xena had lost count. Only one life mattered to her right now.
She had to end this fast or Ares was going to be in grave trouble.
The Slayer's horse snorted as it readied for another charge. Argo neighed in challenge. Xena realized that she was going to have to find an opening in Sarkon's armor if she was going to bring him down. She decided to try the armpit. She'd wait for him to swing first this time and as he raised his arm she would thrust her blade into him.
As he rode, she tried to focus all of her attention on hitting her mark. He rode, she rode, they charged at each other with blazing fury. As he got close, he made no move tp lift his sword. Change of plans. Xena kicked his sword from his hand, it flew into the air and thudded to the ground as Xena quickly threw her arm around his neck and using his own body as leverage got on his steed behind him. He was huge, a full head taller than Xena. He tried to shake her off but she ripped at his helmet. It went flying as they both fell from the horse. Xena didn't have time to notice the pain in her ribs. Sarkon's coal eyes burned with sick fury at the banshee who stood before him. He looked for his sword but it was fifteen feet away. Xena let out a piercing war cry and charged. Xena knew that she could not kill an unarmed man, it went entirely against her new creed. Still, she was losing time. She looked at Ares' prone form and nothing else mattered. Right or wrong, murder or justice, she was going to kill the bastard. She aimed her chakram directly for his head, he dodged just in time but was not able to recover his balance before Xena was on him. In one swift arc she brought her blade up and lopped off his head. She didn't even wait for his body to hit the ground before she ran to Ares' side. He was unconscious but still breathing. She called to Argo, she had to get him to the temple.
With their leader dead, Sarkon's men began to give up the battle, running off in different directions. Zandar took stock of his losses when he realized the skirmish was over. Seven dead. Senseless, but at least Xena had cut off the head of the beast both literally and figuratively. When he saw her trying to lift Ares' body, he ran to help her. He ordered his remaining men to put out the fire before it spread farther. As he walked toward Xena, he didn't understand how the god could have gotten injured, he was immortal after all.
"Let me help you," he positioned himself at Ares' feet. The god groaned when they hoisted him up.
"Do you think you can help me carry him to the temple?"
"How did this happen?"
"That metal, she gestured toward the sword. It's Hephaestian but it also must be enchanted somehow. It's not usually this lethal. It is generally used only to chain a god, not to maim or kill."
"I see, where would Sarkon get a hold of something like that?"
"Not sure, I thought it might have been Ares but I was wrong," a lump formed in her throat as she tried to fight back the tears that threatened.
Zandar had the tact not to mention it but he could tell that the relationship between Xena and Ares was not your typical god/warrior bond. She was in love with him and from what he could tell, his god loved this mortal woman too.
"Would another god have done this to get at Ares?" Zandar asked.
"Maybe! They're are plenty that would like to pay him back for his actions during the so-called Twilight of the Gods.?
"Do you know how to treat this wound?" Zandar knew basic battlefield medicine but was afraid that such a gash would be beyond healing. The amount of blood that had pooled around Ares' body would have been fatal to a mortal.
"I am going to do everything in my power," she answered as they reached the front door to the temple, "I saw a raider go in here, I don't think he has come out, we need to watch for him but let's try to get Ares in my room first. I'll lead the way."
They weren't so lucky. The tough heard them as they were opening the door. He came at them with his warhammer at the ready. Their hands were full with the god of war. As the guy slashed at Xena, she ducked and brought her fought up into a hard kick, knocking the guy back enough to give Xena and Zandar the time to gently lay Ares down and face the killer.
"If you leave now, you can save your life," Xena warned.
"Oh yeah, girlie,"
"Have it your way," Xena answered and pulled her sword, Zandar did the same. The thug was dead in seconds. His blood spilled onto the stone floor of the temple.
The effect on Ares was strong. His chosen had just killed in his temple, on his behalf. It strengthened him like no animal sacrifice could have ever done.
"Xena," she heard him mutter behind her.
She turned to see that he had regained consciousness. The wound still marred his magnificent chest but it was starting to heal.
What could have healed him?
At her look of confusion, Ares pointed to the lifeless raider, "the sacrifice."
"It wasn't like that," she argued.
"Doesn't have to be intentional. You did it to protect me. You were serving me in another way. It had the same effect."
"What are you saying?"
"You are my chosen, Xena, when you worship me or serve me, it powers me like no other."
"Is that why you have striven to get me back all these years? Because it will strengthen you?"
"At first," he admitted, "but then I fucked up and fell in love."
"Come on," she sighed, "let's get you in bed."
"Is that all I had to do to get you to take me to bed? Come to within an inch of death?"
"That's all," she answered as she and Zandar supported him on their shoulders as the trio walked down the hall.
After getting Ares into her bed, Xena treated his wound with a medicinal salve and brewed him a tea that would fight off fever in case he got an infection.
She had Zandar to dispose of the thug and clean up the blood before she let the others out of the secret hiding place.
When she returned to her room with the tea, Ares was sitting on the edge of her bed like nothing had ever happened.
She shook her head, "I made you some tea but I guess you won't be needing it," she chuckled.
"Sorry, if I gave you a scare,"
"Me, you didn't give me a scare, I knew you'd be okay. You can't kill a cockroach."
"Ow," he smiled. "Come here."
She sat the tea down on the reading nook table and slowly ambled over to him.
He patted the bed inviting her to sit next to him.
She sat and turned to face him. She reached up and touched his chest. It was restored to all of its godly glory. He amazed her.
"Guess I'll need a new chain for my pendant, huh?"
"Guess so, you know I didn't think to grab it."
"Be right back," he was gone and back in a flash. He laid the pendant on the bedside table.
"Show off."
"You like it," he leaned in toward her.
"How do you think he got his hands on that metal?" Xena asked breathlessly as her pulse quickened.
"Apollo maybe, could be Dionysis. Perhaps even a minor deity."
"Perhaps."
"We don't have to worry about Sarkon anymore, though."
"No," she answered.
"I didn't even get to watch you finish him off."
"Oh you would have loved the rage that filled me."
"Rage?" he asked. "Did something particular upset you?" he added as he grinned lasciviously.
"It's not funny, I thought you were going to. . ." she couldn't bring herself to say it as fresh tears stung her eyes.
Ares was stunned. Here it was! Living, breathing proof that his princess loved him as much as he loved her.
"Now you know how I feel every time you pull that sword." He closed the distance between them. She curled her hand behind his head and brought him down for a deep passionate kiss. He put his arm around her and pulled her body closer. She winced. Her ribs were still bruised from the fall.
"Are you okay? Are you injured?"
"It's nothing," she shrugged it off and began kissing him again.
He wasn't going to press the point. He fervently returned her kisses. She pushed his vest off of him and gently pushed him back onto the soft downy mattress. She straddled the now shirtless god.
"Fighting always did get you worked up," he grinned.
"This is not about that," she answered. "This is about us."
She felt him harden in his leather.
He ran his hands up her thighs, up under her skirt and placed them on each hip.
She unhooked her breast plate. It hit the floor with a gentle clang. He inched her leather dress up over her hips. She grabbed the hem and worked it off of her. As she pushed the leather over her shoulders, her hips pushed downward onto his crotch eliciting a delicious moan from the god. Now, only in her cream colored shift, Xena begin to grind in slow rhythmic circles on his leather enshrouded organ. He fisted the sheets. Xena leaned forward and kissed him, biting his lip gently. He ran his hands up her side, she winced again.
"Xena?"
"Shhs, okay, you feel divine."
"I am," he stated matter-of-factly," as he nibbled along her jawline.
"Ummmm," she gushed as his tongue worked its way down her neck toward her collar bone.
"I could almost come from you touching and kissing me, I've waited so long to let myself have this."
"So you have wanted it?" He slipped one strap of the shift off her shoulder and kissed along her delicate skin. He lightly suckled at the rounded knob.
"Gods yes," she answered at set up. She was growing impatient to have him deep inside her. She slipped the other arm out of the shift and pulled it over her head revealing her nude torso.
He gasped. It wasn't the reaction she was expecting.
"By all that is holy Xena, why didn't you tell me about this?"
Her left side had turned a sickly purple black color, blood was clearly pooling beneath the surface.
Ares quickly transitioned from lover to caregiver, "you're gonna need a poultice on that. How do I make it?"
He gingerly rolled her so that she was on her back and he stood by the bed next to her. His godhood still straining against his leather crotch.
"It can wait," Xena writhed and ran a finger along the ridge of his penis.
"No, it can't and I am not fucking you with a wound like that. It might jar something loose for Hera's sake."
"Great! Nothing like a guy mentioning his mother in bed to spoil the mood. Fine! Marta will know what herbs to use. She's the silver haired lady that warned us about . . ."
"I know, I know, I'll be right back, and Xena please refrain from pleasuring yourself in my absence again."
"Fuck you," she called down the hallway after him. She grabbed his pendant from the side table and hurled it toward him. He halted it in mid-air and gently maneuvered it onto her chest where it held her in place like a weight.
"Don't make me chain you Xena!" He warned.
"Fine, I'll behave," she answered and the pendant returned to its normal weight. She grabbed it and inspected it for a second before placing it in the nightstand drawer. As she was closing the drawer, another pendant caught her attention, the chakram pendant he had given her years ago, the pendant made of Hephaestian metal which could control a god. She had stored it there for safe keeping. She closed the drawer and whispered, "Two can play at that game Ares."