Chapter 28: White Devil: Part II
Fusun knew about the numerous riots rampant in Constantinople and the rumors of enemies lurking at the borders. Memories of gossip in the slave quarters and countless nights spent in the kitchen flooded her mind. Yet, she never witnessed an invasion until now. For the past week, she confined herself within the Adame, consumed by fear, dreading another assault from the Gepids.
She perched on the balcony, casting furtive glances through the windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aurora. Unexpectedly, Aurora was nowhere to be found, and she couldn't muster the courage to sneak out of the Adame to find her.
"Fusun."
Gasping, she spun around. The queen's chambermaid stood behind her.
"Queen Farah wants to see you," said Nasrin.
Ascending the staircase, she arrived at the queen's chambers. Inhaling deeply, she crossed the threshold. Upon opening the door, her eyes fell upon the wounded queen, reclining in bed, reading.
Farah fought to maintain her posture and signaled Fusun to come closer. Even the tiniest motion drained her energy. Though her rib wound had been treated and stitched, it remained raw. A forceful cough or sudden jerk could easily tear apart her sutures.
Fusun sat on the edge of the bed at a fair distance. "You look better, ma'am."
"I wish I felt better." she held her side and stared at Fusun. "I know I'm not your mother, and I have no intention of mothering you, but you are under my care," she said with a faint grin.
"I thank you for taking care of me and letting me live with you."
Farah creased her eyebrows. "I saw you running to the Adame when the fire started."
Her cheeks tinged pink and her mind raced. She was caught and perhaps, Aurora would be caught as well.
"Why were you outside?"
"I...heard the horn. I didn't know what was happening so I ran."
"That doesn't explain why you were out by yourself."
Fusun felt relieved to know that the queen hadn't seen everything. She didn't see her with Aurora at all.
"The crop fields. I was watering the crops. I like to walk around after dark."
"I'm glad you like exploring the tribe, Fusun, but don't go wandering around at night. I don't even let my sons to do that."
"Yes ma'am, I'm sorry."
The queen gave her a long stare before casting a yielding smile.
Since the tribe was now vulnerable to attacks on all sides, a plan needed to be implemented. Xena gathered Eksama and Cera into the throne chamber to discuss the plan. There was a large map laid out on the floor with the wooden totems, marking the Hun and Gepid territories.
Using a large baton, she pointed to the Gepid territory on the map. "They are very close to us. Their territory used to be further away."
Eksama interjected, "The Lombards must've pushed them out."
"Right, which means you need to order a border patrol. We can't have Gepids coming into Pannonia. They were bold enough to start a small fire. I don't want to know what they're planning next."
A noticeable disfavor was present on Eksama's face. The plan was not a good one, in her opinion. She knew the Gepids very well—she once ruled them. She knew all their strategies and animalistic tactics. They were brutal.
"If the Lombards pushed them out, we should be more worried about them."
Xena put a hand on her hip. "And why is that? The Lombards didn't attack us."
"I don't think we should guard the borders. You said so yourself that the Shah is sending his troops. We're going to look like a huge target."
"Guarding the border is the safest thing to do. We have thousands of people living in Pannonia."
Eksama walked across the map, coming face to face with her. "Should I remind you of the time I ransacked Pannonia?" her tone sharp. "I stalked. I waited. I waited until it was the right moment to attack. Gepids have more patience than Huns."
Xena was the first to break eye contact. "Are you saying we should wait for their next attack?"
"No, I'm saying that guarding the border won't do any good. We haven't heard a peep from the Lombards in years. I think we should pay them a visit and lay low."
That prompted a one-note laugh from the Khanum. "We are getting paid by the Byzantines to make sure Gepids don't invade, not to shmooze with the Lombards."
"This is my suggestion. You said I know the Gepids best."
It took a lot of patience not to take back her word. Xena knew that arguing with Eksama served no purpose. Biting her inner cheek, she tasted blood. She agreed to the suggestion with a sharp nod.
"And who do you suggest should go meet with...the Lombards?" she sourly asked.
Eksama said with a smile, "Well, it can't be me. Those bastards hate me. I'll leave that decision up to you."
Concluding the meeting, Eksama sauntered away with Cera following her. They passed Gabrielle in the doorway, and she eyed the tall redheads cautiously. Gabrielle entered the throne chamber and grasped Xena's shoulder.
"How did it go?"
"Eksama's a piece of work."
Gabrielle looked over her shoulder and sighed. All she could think about was Cera and she knew for a fact she didn't talk with Anastasia. She also hadn't told Xena about her fears of Cera working under Anastasia. With everything that happened in the short span of time, she didn't think it was wise to mention it.
"Arielle's in labor. It started last night," she relayed.
Xena's eyes flared. "Who's with her?"
"Revkah and Anastasia. Did you want to go? I can finish writing your plots down."
"No," she sharply answered. "I'll finish up here."
Gabrielle frowned. "Are you sure? I don't mind staying."
"I said I'll finish it."
The sudden change in her wife's demeanor was highly unusual. Normally, Xena would eagerly join Arielle without hesitation, unless there was some pressing matter at hand. This unexpected attitude left her confused.
"Well, maybe you can go later."
"Maybe. There should be some old maps of Lombard territories in the archives. Could you check to see if we have any?"
"Sure, yeah," Gabrielle said, studying her wife's fidgety fingers. "Anything else I need to grab?"
Xena chewed on her nailbeds. "No, that should be it. Thanks."
On her knees, Arielle stretched her arms out in front of her as far they would reach. She gripped the sheets, her fingers curling as pain ripped through her body. Within her, a searing inferno of pain blazed in her core like a fiery ring. Gasping for air, she emitted a stifled growl of frustration and restraint.
She had given birth three times, but this time was exceptionally difficult. No matter what position she tried, it seemed to have no effect. As she strained to listen, she could hear her mother and Revkah whispering to each other, but the words were muffled and indistinct.
Letting out a deep breath, she gazed up at the ceiling, her vision clouded by dark specks. A soothing touch, cool against her flushed skin, traced her cheek, and she instantly recognized the comforting presence of her mother.
Revkah quickly gathered a medley of aromatic herbs. With nimble fingers, she ground the herbs into a velvety paste. All the while, her gaze never wavered from Arielle.
"Khatun, talk to her," she said.
Anastasia gripped her daughter's hand. "Do you remember when you asked your father for a horse?" she said, attempting to distract her. "You were so happy when you got that horse."
Arielle closed her eyes, drifting.
"Do you remember what you named him?"
Revkah poured the herbal mixture into a cup and stirred vigorously. "Keep her talking."
She tried once more. "Do you remember the horse's name?"
Arielle's eyes flickered. "Tempest."
"Good, very good. Describe him to me."
"Um, black...braided tail," she mumbled. "White stripe on his forehead."
As the midwife neared the bed, Ana aided Arielle in rising, providing her with support. Revkah gently raised Arielle's chin and guided the herbal concoction to her mouth. Despite its bitterness, Arielle consumed the drink.
Coughing, she garbled, "What—what is that?"
Anastasia peered into her daughter's foggy eyes, fighting to preserve her own clarity despite the haunting memories that threatened to overshadow her. The herbal concoction her mother had once administered had plunged her into a disorienting haze, rendering her utterly incoherent. And now, Arielle's present condition mirrored that very instance.
"It will speed up the labor," said Revkah. "Khatun, help me get her into the prone position."
"Again? She is exhausted. Can't she rest for a while?"
"I do not have a lot of time. Get her in the position," she barked, sparking a bit of fear in Ana, which prompted her to follow the order.
Gabrielle lay in bed, her back turned to Xena, wide-eyed and fully awake. She rolled over to find Xena also awake, gazing up at the ceiling. With her fingers, Gabrielle twirled Xena's silvery ebony hair, but even that failed to distract her from the intense gaze fixed on the wooden dome above the bed.
"I have something to tell you," she whispered.
Xena never broke her distant stare. "Yes?"
"When I talked to Cera about Ana's regency, she said something very cruel." Finally, this sparked Xena's attention. "I'm afraid of what might happen when Ana becomes regent."
"What did she say?"
"She's still upset with Ana about this whole...commander thing."
"Gabrielle, what did she say?"
Sighing, she said, "She...she just made a comment that Anastasia wasn't competent to lead the empire because she's..." she took a pause. "She's partially blind."
At that, Xena shook her head. "My sweet Cera? She couldn't have said that."
"But she did, Xena." she moved closer, splaying a hand over Xena's chest. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It's been bothering the hell out of me!"
Xena discovered a new facet of her granddaughter within the past year. Gabrielle's words didn't shock her, yet she struggled to accept them. She couldn't attribute Cera's behavior solely to Eksama's influence, as she had witnessed Cera's callousness before. It seemed to be a manifestation of repressed anger, which was understandable considering the multitude of reasons for Cera's rage.
Her wife's fears and worries left her feeling vulnerable, prompting her to divulge her own worries about Arielle.
"I was short with you earlier, but it's nothing to do with you. I was steamed about something else," she said quietly, clamping her hands together.
She felt Gabrielle's hand gently wrap around her clenched hands.
"The reason I didn't want to be with Arielle is because..." she pressed her lips together. "Because Ana told me the meeting with the midwife was not looking too good. I didn't want to be in the room."
Gabrielle reached over and wiped a tear from Xena's cheek, then kissed her forehead. Snuggling close to her, she said, "That's an honest thing to be scared about. I'll stay here with you, awake, until morning. We can go see her then."
It was going to be a very long night.
Xerxes exhausted himself trying to occupy his daughters, but fatigue consumed him. When Abbaseh and Boran finally surrendered to sleep, he stationed himself outside Arielle's chamber. Succumbing to weariness, he drifted into slumber until the sun's rays roused him. Stretching and stifling a yawn, he massaged his temples and squinted at the shut doors.
It was quiet and he was surprised neither Revkah nor Anastasia came to get him. He knew better than to barge into the room but the silence was driving him mad. While he continued to wait, Xena and Gabrielle strode through the hallway, still dressed in their nightwear.
He rose from the bench to greet them. "I haven't heard any news yet," he told them.
Xena fixated on the closed doors. She felt Gabrielle distinctively grip her hand, which gave her strength to open one of the doors and enter the chamber.
Her attention was immediately drawn to the basket of stained linens at the foot of the bed. Revkah stood nearby, dipping cloths into a basin of warm water with a steady rhythm. Arielle, hunched over on the bed, emitted a combination of sobs and groans? Xena couldn't tell.
Arielle released a throaty growl. "Fuck!"
Strangely, her granddaughter's lewd mouth brought her some relief.
Xena released Gabrielle's hand and approached the foot of the bed, lowering herself onto her knees. She grasped Arielle's wrists firmly, compelling her to meet her gaze. All she beheld was a weary, utterly depleted woman.
"I can't do it. I can't," she cried, hot tears flowing down her cheeks.
"You can, Arielle."
She observed as the midwife slid her hand beneath Arielle's shift, her face lighting up with delight.
"The child has turned," said Revkah.
Arielle's hazy state seemed to dissipate instantly, a fierce determination glimmered in her eyes, ignited by Revkah's words.
She had been fighting against the demands of her body, wearing herself out as she relentlessly pushed through the pain. But now, she surrendered completely to her body, granting it the exact thing it craved. Breaking free from the hours of silent torment, she released a raw and primal howl.
She let out a soft moan as a wave of bliss washed over her, finally granting her release. The sound of her newborn's first cry filled the room, instantly soothing her worries. Locking eyes with her grandmother, she shifted her gaze to Gabrielle and her mother, who stood proudly before her. Each of them wore a luminous smile, while she herself managed to conjure a tired yet contented grin.
After removing everything from the bed, Arielle lay back against the pillows, her entire body quivering with a rush of adrenaline. The lingering pain was now nothing more than a slight inconvenience.
Xena pressed her lips to her forehead. "You did great, kid."
"Only took 33 hours. I don't know how much longer I could do that."
Revkah quickly swaddled the baby in a wool blanket. "Congratulations, Khagana, you have a healthy princess."
"Another girl!" squealed Gabrielle.
In her arms, Arielle cradled her newborn daughter, gently skimming her rosy cheek. "What trouble you've caused," she whispered.
With his wife confined to bed, he recognized the perfect moment to discuss their son. Csaba had recently returned from seeing Arielle. As he sat on the bed, he gently kissed Farah's cheek; his face adorned with a wide grin.
"Tell me!" she said, as she swatted his arm.
"It's a girl."
She gasped. "I don't know how Arielle is going to manage with all those girls."
"One is enough for me," he mumbled.
Farah pretended she did not hear him, but she did. She also felt the same way at times. Their daughter proved to be quite a handful, often displaying unruly behavior. Farah held onto hope that as Aracsilla grew older, her behavior would gradually improve.
Her husband took a small peek at her bandaged wound. She winced at the slightest touch, to which Csaba quickly snatched his hand away.
"Sorry. It looks a lot better than it did."
"It still hurts. I can't even get out of bed on my own."
Csaba half-smiled, knowing how being still must be torturous for her. She was always busying herself with something; either with their children, her studies, tribal affairs, or math. She really liked math.
"Perfect, because we need to talk about Edemen and Öza," he said.
"Yes, I think we need to."
Surprised to hear that response, he felt more confident talking freely. "They should get married soon."
Farah twisted her mouth, playing with the loose threads on the blanket. "I agree. But I need you to acknowledge what Edemen did."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"Csaba, he slept with several young women, including one of the maids! I need to know he won't do that if he marries Öza."
He snorted, saying, "You don't trust our son?"
"No, I do not. I watched my sister's husband sleep with other women throughout their entire marriage. I won't have that happen to Öza. Promise me you will talk to him."
He had heard these words before, echoing his mother's and Gabrielle's views. They were all aware of it, but he stubbornly refused to accept it. Edemen was a skilled warrior, yet an insufferably spoiled prince.
"I will talk to him." He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I promise."
Anastasia took the reins as regent while Arielle was away, and the next two months flew by. She swiftly collected the initial military payments from Justin and Sophia within the first fortnight of her rule. Utilizing Gabrielle as her scribe, she compelled Shah Khosrow to provide regular reports on Adarmahan through a series of letters. So far, Adarmahan remained elusive.
A long-lost custom was revived, compelling every member of the clan to partake in weekly gatherings. Gone were the days of deceit and partial truths. The meetings were now mandatory for all able-bodied individuals eligible for battle.
In the conference room, a fiery debate erupted among the three households. Xena observed from her seat as one faction clashed with another. It seemed that gathering the entire family in a single room to dissect the intricacies of warfare for hours on end was perhaps not the wisest idea.
On the left edge of the circle, Eksama, her daughter Austraia, and her nephews Kurt and Utigur huddled closely. Through some unspoken bond, they stood united, clashing with the rest of the clan in heated debates.
Cera and Mirac, alongside Ursula, Ebnedzar, and Oran, occupied the right side. In comparison to the rest, they maintained a remarkable silence, with Ebnedzar intermittently intervening to calm the disputes.
In the center, Csaba, Farah, and Edemen sat across from Ana, Navaz, Xena, and Gabrielle. Amongst all present, Csaba and Eksama were the ones who spoke the most.
And there was Gabrielle, struggling to transcribe the meeting's dialogues. Her inkwell swiftly emptied as she penned furiously.
"Me and Utigur should go to the Lombards," said Kurt. "We're Attila's grandsons. They will have to listen to us."
He caught the sound of his cousin's laughter and scowled. His younger sibling rose abruptly and positioned himself in the middle of the circle.
"You have something to say, Csaba?" asked Utigur.
"You two haven't seen a battle yet. What makes you think an old Lombard king is going to listen to anything you have to say?"
Kurt joined his brother. "I don't hear you offering any solutions, cousin. You're the oldest grandson yet you enjoy a life of leisure these days."
Csaba stood up and confronted his considerably younger cousins. Their disrespect and naivety were truly pitiful.
"I see Eksama's foul attitude has rubbed off on you two," he snarked.
Eksama, with a scowl on her face, strode to the center and forcefully pushed Csaba's shoulder. Positioning herself as a shield between Kurt and Utigur, she created a divide within the family. Persistently, she sought to incite Csaba, prodding at his chest, yelling in his face.
Austraia cried out, "Mother, stop!"
Ebnedzar grabbed hold of his sister's shoulders and attempted to pull her away.
"Do not touch me!" she yapped.
Xena observed from the sidelines as the feud raged on, her eyes darting back and forth. Glancing at her daughter, she too was speechless. It had been ages since she witnessed such intense family conflict, reminiscent of the days when Attila and his brother clashed over tribal dominance.
"This has gone on long enough," she rumbled.
Xena rose, brandishing her blade, and positioned it between Eksama and Csaba. Their ceaseless quarreling came to an abrupt halt as they observed the blade's proximity to their chests.
"Go sit down. All of you."
Everyone took their seats. Silence filled the room; a thick tension permeated the air.
"I shouldn't have had to do that," she said, sheathing her blade. "We are supposed to work together. Instead, you all are fighting like children."
In the midst of the circle, she turned on her heels slowly, observing the bowed heads of all, consumed by shame. She continued twirling until she fixed her gaze upon Kurt and Utigur.
"Your father would be mortified by your behavior. Csaba's right, you're both too young to take on such a demanding task."
The two princes' faces flushed red and their heads dipped.
Then she spoke to Eksama, "And you—you and Ebnedzar are the last of Attila's children still alive. Act like it."
Xena returned to her seat on the floor and nodded to Anastasia.
"That was good," whispered Gabrielle.
"They were acting like lunatics," she whispered back.
Ana cleared her throat. "We will send a message to the Lombards, asking to meet with them. Until we receive an answer, Eksama and Cera will continue to train the army. We will also—"
She paused, seeing a hand raised. "Yes?"
"You still haven't named who will meet with the Lombards," said Kurt.
Csaba, visibly irritated with his cousin, sternly said, "She is your Khatun. Address her that way."
Kurt pursed his mouth. "When will you name the people to go meet the Lombards, Khatun?"
"It won't be you, Kurt," she answered. "I have another job for you. You and Utigur will be posted in the Byzantine camp near the Danube."
She had hoped that would appease the restless prince. Upon catching him whispering to his brother, she disregarded it. She lacked the will to confront any further conflicts.
"Csaba, Oran, and Mirac will help the Persian troops guard the border. We'll meet again next month since you all have your assignments."
Kurt audibly grunted. "So, you aren't going to assign anyone to the Lombards?"
"Come off it, will you?" spat Csaba.
"It's alright, Csaba," his mother said, her tone calm. "I will send Farah and Edemen. Do you have any more questions, Kurt?"
Arielle fought for hours until her daughter finally succumbed to slumber. She delicately placed the baby in the bassinet, swaddling her. Weary and worn, Arielle gazed upon her child, her smile faint and fatigued. Once again, she grappled with the demands of caring for a baby, finding it more draining than she remembered. Perhaps age had caught up with her.
It took her and Xerxes more than a week to come up with a name for their daughter. They even argued over it, which she found amusing in retrospect. Abbaseh and Boran were given Persian names, and Arielle had agreed to that. However, this time, she had no desire for their daughter to have a Persian name.
After a ten-day quarrel, they settled on Elif. She could only envision the expression on Nousha's face upon receiving the letter concerning her granddaughter's name. Arielle yearned to witness it firsthand.
A knock on the door made her flinch. She spun around to Gabrielle smiling from the doorway.
"I just put Elif down," she whispered.
Gabrielle tip-toed into the room. "Sorry. I'll be quiet." She leaned over the bassinet, gazing at the slumbering princess. "You asked to see me?"
"Yes, I wanted to know how Aurora is doing with her studies. She hardly comes to see me and when she does, she can't wait to leave."
Gabrielle furrowed her eyebrows. "Arielle, she hasn't been to the archives for over a month."
"Hmm." She crossed her arms. "Then what is she doing?"
"I don't really know. I haven't really had the time to keep up with her since your mother took over. I missed dinner three nights in a row last week!"
Arielle's smile twisted, aware of her mother's brazen nature. The grip of her mother's authority had been loathed during her youth, constrained by a myriad of rules, guidelines, and expectations. She prayed that Aurora wouldn't succumb to the same dilemma. Arielle believed she was fair, granting Aurora unrestricted freedom; a liberty her mother would have never granted.
"Could you ask my grandma to keep an eye on Aurora for me?"
Gabrielle nodded as she stole a second glance at the baby.
"Do you think she would be open to sword-training Aurora?"
Blinking, she gawped at Arielle. "Well...you know she would never turn down an opportunity to teach. But didn't you say Aurora hates sparring, archery, and anything to do with a sword?"
Arielle sighed. "Yes, but she's worrying me. One day, she will take my place. What kind of Khagana will she be if she doesn't know how to use a weapon? How will she lead an army? She can't sit in a room and write laws all day, which she isn't even putting in the work to do that now."
"I don't know what happened. She was hounding me to mentor her, and now...she has no interest in anything," she added.
"I'll talk with Xena and update you when I can. Remember, I'm not giving out any information about the empire," she said in slight jest, wagging her finger.
Arielle gave a weary laugh. "I don't have any desire to know what's going on. To tell you the truth, I'm enjoying the break."
Spying on teenagers.
Her favorite thing to do.
Not.
Xena had never undertaken such a duty before. Training Arielle to be queen since she was a child was a whole other story. Arielle was constantly by her side, and when she wasn't...well, she simply wasn't, indicating she was engaged in some mischief.
However, Aurora was a girl Xena never needed to concern herself with. Yet, she could never comprehend why Aurora had been so elusive during the fire a few months ago. She even lied to Ana's face! Xena could never forget that, but since Aurora was always well-behaved and never caused trouble, her odd behavior went unnoticed.
Over the next few days, she tailed Aurora, following her every move. It had been a while since she engaged in a stealth mission. Was it a mission? Yes, it was.
After dinner, Aurora went to her room, though she didn't stay long. She came out, wearing a different set of clothes. She gently placed her headdress on a stand before hurrying down the hall.
Hidden in a dark hall, Xena emerged, narrowing her eyes as the princess left the Adame.
Stepping outside, she looked around but there was no sign of Aurora. Raising her eyebrow, she trailed down the stairs, searching every dark corner that she could see. No movement whatsoever.
"Dammit."
She returned to the Adame and entered her bedroom, throwing her kozak onto the bed. Gabrielle, in the middle of writing, was jolted by the headdress hitting her foot.
"Dinner wasn't that terrible. No fighting this time," she said.
"It's not that. It's Aurora."
"Oh, yeah. How's that going?"
Xena sat on the bed, taking off her boots. "I lost her. She left the Adame. I can't believe she moved that quickly. Arielle was never that slick."
"Wait, she left? It's after dark. Xena, you need to go find her!"
"You really think I'm going to find her?" she sneered. "Whatever she's doing, she does not want to be found. She'll come back."
She did come back.
The next morning, Xena watched the princess leave her quarters, heading toward the dining hall. She strode up beside her and Aurora flickered a small grin.
"I think you and I should train. How does after breakfast sound?"
Aurora frowned. "I'll pass."
"I don't like bows that much, either, you know. Swords are my weapon of choice. I know you don't like them, but it wouldn't hurt if you tried."
"No thanks, Grandma Khanum."
This was going to be tougher than she thought. Aurora was incredibly stubborn, much like her mother. Except this type of stubbornness was annoying. At least with Arielle, she could argue with her. Aurora never gave her the chance to argue.
Xena decided to try a different tactic. "How are your studies going?"
There was a long pause before the princess answered, "Good."
"Hmm. Reading a lot of old manuscripts? Have you been using that pen set that Gabrielle got you?"
"Yeah, I use it all the time."
"You'll have to show me your work. I could come to your room after we eat. I remember you having excellent penmanship."
Aurora's voice trembled as she said, "Maybe some other time."
Now, this was just irritating, thought Xena. She blocked the princess' path, nearly colliding with her. Aurora looked up, shooting her a fierce glare. Finally, the wrath hidden inside her became evident. It was merely a question of when Aurora would unleash it.
"You must take me for a fool," said Xena. "I know you haven't been keeping up with your studies. You forget who I share a room with. You haven't studied with Gabrielle in over a month."
"Well, I—I don't want to do it anymore," she stuttered, her voice cracking.
"You don't want to study. You don't want to spar. You don't want to do target practice. What do you want to do, Aurora?"
"Fine, you want me to train with you, I'll train. Move out of my way," she said, waiting for Xena to move. She huffed and brushed by, stomping down the hall.
That familiar tone. She knew it well. It resurfaced countless memories of her clashes with Arielle. The grating tone provoked a slight twitch of her lip.
Breakfast dragged on, each moment stretching out endlessly. Xena and Aurora rendezvoused outside, where Xena swiftly snatched two wooden swords from the rack. The girl's fury simmered, palpable in the air. She flung the sword towards Aurora, commencing a graceful twirl with her own.
They circled one another in a dance. Xena made the initial move, lunging with her sword, but Aurora deftly evaded it. Another attempt met the same fate. Xena held back, showing mercy, but Aurora's fury grew.
"Why did you lie to me?"
Aurora maintained her focus as she wielded the sword, clashing it with her adversary's. Another swing ensued, yet her speed fell short. Xena delivered a forceful blow to Aurora's back, causing her to gasp and her headdress to obscure her vision.
"You lied to me three times."
Adjusting her headdress, she twirled, her breaths deep and heavy. Advancing, she continued to exert the sword, the clash of her weapon echoing with each strike she delivered. Her fury persisted, her tolerance for being struck in the arm, leg, and back reaching its limit.
She produced a low, guttural growl, summoning all her might, she fiercely thrust her hands forward, forcefully propelling Xena's chest with a decisive push. The impact caused Xena to stumble backward, her footing momentarily faltering.
"Oh, you're real mad, aren't you."
"You keep hitting me!"
"And you keep lying to me!" she barked back. "What's going on with you?"
"You wanted to spar, so let's spar."
Xena tossed the sword. "No, we're done here. I saw you sneak out of the Adame last night."
Aurora lowered her weapon. "You were following me?"
"I obviously didn't do a very good job because I couldn't find you. Where are you going?" she asked in a calmer voice this time around.
"I can't believe you were spying on me!"
Xena took a very cautious step forward. She asked in a hushed voice, "Are you seeing a boy?"
"No!"
"Then what the hell are you doing that you need to sneak out after dark for?"
The princess, overwhelmed with fear, hurled the sword aside and fled, dashing across the desolate plains. Xena, observing the girl's frantic sprint, planted her hands on her hips and exhaled a drawn-out sigh.
"Aren't you going to go after her?"
She pivoted sharply, and Gohar stood before her, sporting a mischievous grin. Unbeknownst to her, she had unwittingly entertained a spectator.
"You saw all of that, huh?"
"I saw enough." Gohar walked over and picked up the wooden sword. "She's out every night, you know."
Xena's lips thinned.
"My Alps and I like to drink late at night outside. I see her all the time."
"And you never thought to mention this to anyone?"
Gohar shrugged. "Didn't know you were looking for her."
"Do you know where she goes? Do you see anyone with her?"
"No, and no."
This conversation was entirely unhelpful. And she was tired. With nothing left to contribute, she gave Gohar a brief nod, then trudged her way back to the Adame.
"I could help train her," Gohar said from afar, stopping Xena in her tracks. "I'm leaving for the Caucasus soon. She could come with me, if the Khagana allows it. I used to love training girls her age."