One Year Later
Caspian Region, Barsils Encampment
When Aurora arrived at the Barsils clan, she was unprepared for its stark contrast to her Pannonian tribe. Here, amidst a melting pot of diverse tribes, languages, and talents, she realized that her own tribe back home was far more uniform, save for a few assimilated tribes. A revelation struck her: her royal status held no significance among these people who treated her no differently than the rest. She became aware she had a very pampered life.
From the moment she began to train with Gohar, she hated every minute of it. She was required to wake up before sunup, stretch, and run laps around the field. When she finally got the hang of the routine, Gohar would increase the intensity of the training exercises. Aurora became one of the fastest runners. That was until she had to run with plated armor on.
After half a year, Aurora's confidence swelled as she conquered her training routine. Day by day, it grew easier. By the end of the eighth month, she had attained mastery in the art of defense sparring, also excelling in the art of knife throwing.
She could never quite master the art of archery like her mother, but she was taken aback to discover that her true weapon of choice was the knife. Also, she found herself drawn to an unfamiliar bow; unlike anything she had ever seen. The crossbow, a weapon foreign to her people, was said to have originated from the distant Chinese tribes. It thrilled her to no end at the thought of bringing one home to proudly display to her mother.
Aurora thought she would have more time to herself. But that wasn't the case. The few letters she received from Fusun were often pushed aside, but she did manage to send a letter back every few weeks. Fusun's writing did improve over the course of the year. But she still struggled and would send drawings of what she observed in Pannonia in lieu of writing.
The drawings were greatly detailed. One depicted the Khagana, mounted on her steed, leading an army. Aurora was aware of the ongoing conflict in Pannonia, and Fusun's drawings accurately portrayed it. Observing the multitude of sketches featuring her mother on horseback, Aurora assumed that her mother's leave was cut short.
Aurora flipped through the drawings, lounging on a pile of pillows. A bag was thrown at her face and she growled, sitting up abruptly. She glared at Mara, who stood a few feet away from her with a mischievous grin.
"Got you some of those red beads that you like for your hair," said Mara.
"Did you have to throw them in my face?"
Mara sat down next to her and ripped the drawings out of her hand. She flipped through them, nodding and smiling. "Are these from Fusun? By gods, she must send you one every couple of weeks."
"I've been pretty terrible about responding," Aurora admitted. "She probably thinks I forgot about her."
"You're very busy training here. I'm sure she'll understand."
Mara pressed her lips against the princess' cheek, savoring the softness of her skin. Her kisses trailed along Aurora's jawline, gently grazing the skin behind her ear and tracing the curve of her neck. With her nimble fingers, Mara skillfully maneuvered beneath Aurora's tunic, deftly working the intricate laces on the bodice.
Startled by a warm palm clasping her breast, Aurora jolted, springing from the floor. Swiftly, she hastily fastened the laces of her tunic, her wide eyes fixated on the disgruntled woman lying beneath her.
"We shouldn't do this."
"Why? Is it because of Fusun? You're not married to her, you know."
"Please leave, Mara."
Aurora was the only one who could truly rival Mara. Mara, a few years ahead in age, dedicated herself to the path of an Alp. She earned great renown for her unrivaled skills in swordplay, archery, and hunting among their tribe. Yet, her downfall lay in her volatile temper, frequently leading her astray, particularly with her mentor, Gohar. And she was extremely flirtatious.
"See you around, princess."
Aurora gazed as Mara departed the yurt, finally exhaling the breath she had held within. Mara had captivated her from the instant of her arrival. And how could she not? Mara possessed a charm, strength, and prowess as a warrior that was unparalleled. Her midnight-black hair shimmered with a hint of blue, her skin pale as the snow that blanketed the mountains, and her eyes as dark as kohl. She possessed a physique finely honed for offensive combat.
She was irresistible.
And she just had to pick me, thought Aurora.
Gohar sat opposite the princess and tossed a letter to her. "Your mother sent that. The war with the Gepids is likely going to continue."
Aurora read through the letter and could feel her mother's pain in her words. She was supposed to be preparing to leave for Pannonia, but her mother wanted her to stay in the Barsils clan.
"I'm to stay here. For my safety," she reiterated.
"I know you wanted to go home," said Gohar. "If it makes you feel any better, I love training you. You're a quick learner, even if you got beat up several times."
Aurora smirked. "If anything, I learned how to not get beat up."
The Alp poured herself a cup of spiced wine. "Since you'll be staying a while longer, I thought you'd like to go on a little trip with me."
"A trip?"
"There's a newly established Khaganate near the Altai Mountains. It never hurts to have more allies, especially in the east. We're going to get acquainted with them and since you're the Khagana's daughter, they'll be more open to talk to us."
Aurora was aware that her standing held significance beyond the Barsils clan. Once, she believed it to be a burden, a haunting reminder of her parents' positions within the empire. However, her perspective had shifted. Now, she saw her title in a different light. If she could bring various tribes together, their collective power would render them invincible.
"Does my mother know about this new 'Khaganate'?"
"No, and that's why you're going. How exciting! Your first mission representing your people."
She hoped to do justice to her people. She doubted that a mere fifteen-year-old could leave a lasting impression on anyone, especially a Khaganate.
Gohar gently laid a hand on the princess's shoulder. "You should try to distance yourself from Mara. I know how she can be. Her charm wears out over time."
"Who are you to dictate who I can and cannot see?"
"I'm just giving you some advice. I've seen this happen before and I—"
Aurora swiftly jumped up and stormed off with Gohar yelling at her from within the yurt.
"She'll break your heart, Aurora! She'll hurt you!"
Sirmium, West Pannonia
The field was engulfed in smoke, flames, and corpses lay across the grasslands. The Gepids not only refused to give up the district of Sirmium like they promised the Byzantines, but they attacked Lombard territories. The fighting began six months prior, and it was left up to the Huns to push the Gepids out of Pannonia.
There were skirmishes here and there, but this battle had been the longest yet. For two weeks, the fight went on, and Hun soldiers were gathered by the dozens, each coming home with severe injuries, and some even died from their wounds.
In the Hun camp on the field, Xena instructed the ballistic weapons line. One by one, she instructed the soldiers to load the catapults, aiming for the center of the Gepid camp. Catapults were a last resort to stop the Gepids if only they could get close enough to the stronghold.
As night fell, everyone retreated to their camps and waited until morning for the next round of fighting. Xena stood near the catapult line, staring at the Gepid camp. The torches were lit around the camp and she could see the dark silhouettes staring directly at her from afar.
Gabrielle approached her from behind and tapped her arm. "You're still here," she said.
"We need to move the catapults closer so we can aim at the stronghold." She pointed to the large wooden fortress, guarded by Gepid troops. "If we can take that down, we can push the army into the city walls."
"We'll run out of ammunition if we keep this up," said Gabrielle.
"Then we need to be more strategic," she said, looking at her spouse. "Arielle's been out of commission for too long. She hasn't been on the battlefield in almost five years."
"No, don't do that. Don't blame her. We're doing the best we can."
Xena folded her arms and huffed. "Eksama is the commander and for once, she is playing by the rules."
"Oh, you mean, she's following Arielle's orders. What a concept!" she scoffed, then whacked Xena's arm. "You're being very impatient for someone who's done this hundreds of times."
All of the chosen tactics Arielle used were clearly not working. If it were up to Xena, she would have used several different strategies to annihilate the Gepid camp. It wasn't as if they didn't have enough supplies or men since the Byzantines were funding the military. Arielle was being entirely too careful with this war. She didn't want to take risks.
Inside the Khagana's tent stood Eksama, Csaba, and Arielle. On the floor lay the large map that displayed all of the Gepid and Hunnic territories in the area. As Arielle talked about the plot points, moving large wooden totems across the map, her grandmother walked in. Immediately, she noticed her grandmother's lip twitching.
Stomping her way over, everyone made a path. Xena's eyes scanned the map and slowly, she turned to face Arielle.
"What have you done to the map? You erased all my plot points."
"I'm devising a new plan," Arielle stated.
"There was nothing wrong with the plan I made. It was foolproof and you're ruining it."
Arielle raised her eyebrows and searched for anyone inside the tent to defend her. Csaba and Eksama bowed their heads and averted their gazes. She noticed Gabrielle in the back, who gave an apologetic frown.
Stunned, she responded coolly, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were in charge. Would you like to exchange kozaks?"
"Cut the crap, Arielle. Everyone here knows you're making bad decisions in this war. They're just too afraid to say so," Xena said, crossing her arms.
"Is that true?" she asked everyone present. "Do you all believe I am not making rational decisions?"
It was Csaba who opened his mouth to speak first but decided against it. Instead of defying and embarrassing his sister further, he silently exited the tent. Next, Eksama gave a brief smile, held her head down, and left the tent as well.
The act in itself felt like a slap in the face to Arielle. She couldn't argue her point. It was useless now. She dropped the staff, gave her grandmother a long, and hard, glare, then stormed off.
Gabrielle balled her hands into fists. Her heart raced as she witnessed such a humiliating scene. She grabbed Xena's shoulder and spun her around.
"You had no right to do that," she growled.
"I wasn't the only one thinking it!"
"She is your superior and you embarrassed her! You know better, Xena. I thought you were done with this—this arrogance of yours, but evidently not."
Xena's lips parted, stunned. "Arrogance. I am not arrogant."
"Yes. Yes, you can be," she continued. "There are ways to address things. If you didn't think Arielle was making good choices, you could've said it another way."
"And what about you?"
Gabrielle frowned. "What about me?"
"I've read your notes in your journal. You think the same thing I do."
"It's my job to document everything that happens. But even if I did say something to her, I wouldn't have embarrassed her the way you did."
When morning came, Gabrielle departed her tent. Looking over her shoulder, she took one last peek at Xena sleeping on the mat. Sleep did not come easy for either one of them. She knew Xena was awake for most of the night as was she. They didn't share any words last night and they likely wouldn't for the rest of the day.
Thinking about how the day ended yesterday, she wanted to see Arielle. As she traversed across the field, Eksama was already awake and on high alert. Across the grasslands, the Gepid camp was quiet. Very few soldiers were meandering in the campgrounds.
Gabrielle stayed focused on her first task of the day. She whispered Arielle's name outside of the large black tent. Without receiving a reply, she walked into the tent and found it empty.
After a quick search around the area, she walked to Csaba's tent. She barged inside and Csaba was half-clothed.
Csaba yelped, "Gods, Gabrielle!"
He quickly slipped on his tunic and realized she was not going to turn around. Turning his back to her, he pulled his pants up.
"Do you know where Arielle is?"
He grunted. "In her tent?"
"She's not."
Csaba paused for a second, thinking where his sister could be. It was unlikely that she was kidnapped because Arielle wouldn't let that happen. He hurried outside, barefoot and holding a short paring knife. Gabrielle followed him and noticed the soldiers giving odd looks. It was sort of strange that the king would be wandering around at this hour.
"Maybe we should go tell Eksama?" she suggested. "Wherever she is, I'm sure she's not in danger."
He thrust the knife toward Gabrielle's face. "You want me to tell my crazy aunt that my sister, the Khagana, has suddenly gone missing? I am most certainly not doing that."
Gabrielle gently swatted the knife away from her face. As she followed Csaba toward the edge of the camp, a rustle in the bushes made the hairs on her neck prickle. Csaba readied his sad little paring knife, ready for an attack.
They waited and then Arielle appeared from the brush. She gasped at the sight of her brother holding a knife, inches from her face.
"Fuck, Csaba! What is the matter with you?"
"Where were you?" he grabbed her into a hug. "You're covered in...mud."
She gave him a hard shove and took off her headdress. Not only was she covered in filth from head to toe, mud in her long, coiled locks, but her boots were soaked as were her stockings and feet. Arielle walked back to her tent with them, trying to draw as little attention as possible.
Behind a screen, Gabrielle helped her undress. Csaba was seated in the center of the tent, waiting and asking meaningless questions. Gabrielle poured a bucket of warm water into the tub.
"What were you really doing?" she asked in a whisper.
Arielle combed the mud from her hair and stepped into the tub. "I thought about what grandma said yesterday."
She grumbled under her breath, and said, "Don't listen to her, Arielle. What she said was uncalled for and it was—"
"Right. She was right, Gabrielle," she said, pouring water over her mud-caked hair. "I've been unfocused. I haven't been in the field for a long time. I was too busy having babies, I guess," she gave a small laugh.
"It doesn't mean what she said is okay. She humiliated you."
"Maybe I needed to be humiliated. I'm going to get everyone killed, Gabrielle! This is on me. Not the Byzantines. Not the Persians. Not Eksama. It's all me."
Gabrielle scrubbed her arm down with a cloth. The water was already murky. This bath was going to take several hours to get the mud out of Arielle's hair.
Still, she couldn't argue with her. If Arielle thought the humiliation yesterday was the right thing to do, how could she tell Xena? Oh, if she told her about this, Xena would absolutely love it. She'd boast about it for days or weeks.
"Does the mud and humiliation all go...together? I'm having a hard time following along."
Arielle smiled. "I took the time to plant a few surprises for the Gepids."
"She put bombs in the trees?"
Xena couldn't believe it when she heard what Arielle had done. Not only did the task take all night long, but it was incredibly dangerous to go that close to Gepid territory with no one accompanying her.
"Congratulations, your humiliation tactic worked," Gabrielle snidely said, crossing her arms.
"Well...it wasn't a tactic..."
"Because you were being an asshole, I know."
Xena quirked her mouth, wrinkling her nose as she glared at her wife.
"I deserve that. I do want to see these 'tree bombs' and how they work."
They ventured out of their tent and while the soldiers were preparing for the day, Arielle was talking with a group of soldiers, Eksama and Csaba. Her hair was soaking wet and she wore a loose tunic and pants with flats. Despite her appearance, everyone regarded her as their leader. It was a refreshing sight to see, and now Xena felt bad for how harsh she was toward Arielle.
After Arielle gave her instructions, she waved at her grandmother. "Thank you for calling me out yesterday. It was something I needed to hear."
Xena apologetically smiled. "I shouldn't have done that in front of Eksama and Csaba. It wasn't my place."
"But I needed it. Nobody was willing to stand up to me, except for you." she rose to her toes and kissed Xena's cheek. "Thank you."
A warmth swelled within Xena and she smiled smugly at Gabrielle. She had been proven right and there was nothing Gabrielle could do about it. She felt a pinch to her arm and she flinched, then pinched Gabrielle back.
Arielle overlooked the Gepid camp, deep in thought. "I have to go meet with Bayan in the Pontic region, which means I need this camp looked after." She turned on her heel. "I'm going to leave you two in charge while I'm away."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" asked Gabrielle.
She squeezed herself between them, embracing them tightly. Xena and Gabrielle furrowed their brows and exchanged glances. Then, they turned their puzzled gazes towards Arielle.
"I trust you two. I know you won't let me down."
Central Pannonia
The Gepid war proved to be a greater challenge than expected. As the conflict dragged on, Cera, Mirac, and Emese returned to the Nezak clan. Anastasia was dissatisfied with how she parted ways with her daughter. Cera departed Pannonia with a resentful demeanor and declined to meet her mother before leaving.
Sending letters was not optional because Anastasia couldn't read them and she knew Cera wouldn't write to her anyway. The only way this animosity could be fixed was for Ana to go see her daughter in person. One day, she thought.
That was seven months ago.
In the past few months, Xerxes was informed by his brother about Nousha's deteriorating health. With the Shah's blessings, Xerxes left Pannonia and embarked on a long journey back to his homeland of Persia.
That was two months ago.
Aurora had no choice but to remain with the Barsils clan during the Gepid war. Her return home was expected a month earlier. Anastasia pondered the transformation her granddaughter must have undergone while training to become a warrior.
That was fourteen months ago.
Anastasia was left in charge of a whole tribe while the others were away. She took care of Arielle's daughters whenever she could, with the assistance of Ku-Ilm. She shared her responsibilities with Navaz, who looked after Aladar, Aman, and Aracsilla while living in Csaba's house. As the Gepid war raged on, Farah and Edemen took a trip to Italia to meet with the Lombards, leaving the younger children behind.
In the gathering room, Anastasia sat near the window, gazing outside. Abbaseh and Boran were on the floor, fighting or playing. She blocked out the noise and allowed them to quarrel. In the next room, she heard Ku trying to soothe Elif's cries.
Clank.
Ana, startled, looked down at a shiny tray holding two glasses of piping hot tea. Raising her gaze, she noticed Ursula looming above her, accompanied by a cluster of women.
"I've brought some women to help you," said Ursula. "They will watch the girls while you and I have a talk."
Everything moved too fast for Anastasia to realize what was happening. In a mere few minutes, the Suevi women whisked the children away from the room and freed Ku-Ilm from the duty of watching over baby Elif. Abruptly, the room fell into silence, and seated beside her was Ursula, savoring a cup of tea.
She sipped the tea, feeling its warmth spread through her chest. It had been weeks since she last experienced silence, and now, finally, she was alone.
"Arielle once offered me a title to lead my clan," Ursula began. "I never wanted a title because it comes with responsibilities that nobody wants."
Anastasia nursed the cup, feeling the steam caress her cheeks with its warmth.
"I used to work for you and Kreka Khatun if you remember. We've been in this situation before. It just feels different because we're older," she jested.
"I definitely feel older," said Ana, laughing lightly.
"Those children we used to watch when they were young are now in the field. They have children of their own now." She sighed heavily, sensing Ana recoiling. "Seeing you like this reminds me of Kreka Khatun. She tried so hard to be the perfect matriarch until it killed her."
Never had Anastasia envisioned her life taking such a turn. Her vision had deteriorated significantly, leaving her dependent on others. In certain respects, it humbled her, while in others, it left her feeling burdensome.
"Let me help you, Anastasia."
Anastasia met Ursula's eyes and lowered the cup from her lips. "There...is a stack of correspondence letters in my room. I haven't touched them because I can't read them and I don't have the time."
Ursula extended a hand. "I will go get them and read them to you. We will look through them together after you've had some rest."
Sirmium, West Pannonia
The fighting ceased briefly, allowing the Gepids to gather their strength. However, their respite was short-lived as relentless assaults commenced, compelling the Huns to defend their encampment. In the absence of Arielle, Xena assumed command, and her directives were dutifully obeyed by all, including Eksama.
Xena positioned herself in the middle of the ballistic weapons line. She instructed Csaba to remain at the archery line, commanding the archers to release their arrows whenever the Gepids breached the rugged trenches. Eksama took charge of the soldiers on the forefront, a role burdened with the highest number of casualties on either side.
Close to the trees, Gabrielle placed herself next to the rope that connected all the explosives nestled within the trees. Upon receiving the cue, she would yank the rope, triggering the detonation of the bombs. This devastating act would create a path for the Hun army to conquer the Gepid stronghold.
On the battlefield, Eksama engaged in combat with three Gepid soldiers. Struck forcefully on her back, she was forced down onto one knee. With a fierce determination, she retaliated by sweeping her leg, causing the two soldiers to fall onto their backs. Swiftly, she rose and pierced her blade into the soldier's throat. As blood gushed from the man's neck, droplets stained her armor.
Breathless, her head throbbing from the echoes of screams and clashing swords, she glanced over her shoulder at Xena. Swiftly, she sprinted towards her horse and effortlessly mounted it, opting to charge into the heart of the battleground.
Xena rumbled. "Move the catapults!"
The soldiers exerted their strength to maneuver the catapults through the dense grass. With each successful push against the Gepids, Eksama provided an opportunity to advance the catapults nearer to the fortress.
As the catapults neared the trenches, Xena's peril heightened. Her grip on the sword's hilt remained steadfast. A tad bit nearer. Merely a handful of yards, and the fortress would crumble into fragments.
Eksama found herself encircled by a group of eight Gepids. Displaying remarkable skill, she defended herself against three Gepids simultaneously, dispatching two with a single, masterful stroke of her blade. Yet, even as she triumphed, two additional opponents stealthily approached from behind.
In a swift and calculated move, Xena retrieved a knife from her boot, launching it across the battlefield. With remarkable precision, the blade found its mark, piercing the back of the Gepid's skull.
She couldn't prevent the second assailant from attacking. The remaining Gepid warrior lunged towards Eksama. Xena's breath caught in her throat, her eyes fixated on the scene unfolding before her, as if time had slowed down. The discord of battle faded into an eerie silence, drowned out by the pounding of her own heartbeat in her ears. The soldier's weapon soared through the air with a chilling swiftness, and in one merciless motion, it sliced through Eksama's flank.
She dropped to her knees, her anguished cry reverberating through the chaos. Blood flowed freely from her side, as she clutched at the wound. In a desperate attempt to flee, the Gepid plunged his blade into her shoulder.
Gabrielle clutched the rope with unease before spotting the sign. Xena raised her hand, displaying two fingers. But that couldn't be right. Eksama remained out in the field, and Xena stood perilously close to the line of danger.
Hesitating to pull the rope, she shook her head. "Xena, come on, move," she muttered.
The soldiers advanced the catapults deeper into enemy territory, with Xena leading the way. Gabrielle's grip on the rope tightened, as she hesitated to give it a tug. Her eyes caught sight of Eksama's fall on the battlefield, her auburn locks mingling with the crimson pool beneath her.
Xena glanced at her and flicked her hand dismissively. She continued to shake her head, tears welling up as she understood the inevitable outcome if she tugged on the rope.
She silently mouthed the word 'no' repeatedly. Eventually, Xena's shout pierced through the air, reaching the ears of all.
"Pull it now!"
With tears streaming and eyes shut tight, Gabrielle yanked on the rope before racing back to the campgrounds.
The trees burst into flames, one after another, encircling the fortress with a fiery ring. The Gepids were caught off guard, their bodies hurled by the secondary blasts. Gabrielle covered her ears, but was unable to avert her gaze from the devastation.
Csaba hurriedly returned to the campgrounds upon hearing the initial explosion. Breathless, he instructed the archers to hold their ground until the fires subsided.
"Where's my grandma?"
In a state of dazed disbelief, Gabrielle was transfixed on the mesmerizing sight of the fire swiftly devouring the once lush grasslands. The battalion of soldiers tirelessly prepared the catapults, their movements obscured by the thick smog of billowing smoke that blanketed the entire field.
"Gabrielle, where is she?" he yelled.
"She told me to pull it," she mumbled.
Csaba's focus shifted to the blazing field. "I need two men to follow me!"
"Csaba, no, let me come with you."
"It's too dangerous. I'll bring her back. Stay here."
Xena emerged from beneath the two Gepids, hacking and struggling for breath amidst the smoky haze. She heaved their lifeless bodies aside and cast the shield away. Clutching her kozak's veil over her mouth, she crawled on her knees towards Eksama. Every movement seared her hands as embers rained down from the burning trees.
Above her head, three missiles were launched from the catapult line. She quickly dropped down and continued crawling through the burning grass. Eksama was sprawled on the ground, bathed in her own blood, her breaths faint. Xena reached out, gripping Eksama's arm and lifting it over her own shoulders.
With a fierce growl, she stood up and bore the burden of Eksama's weight. Eksama, unable to stand, was pulled through the field, her boots sinking into the earth.
In the midst of the deafening roar of the catapults, Xena's ears strained to catch the faint sound of her grandson's voice ringing through the chaos.
"Csaba!" she shouted. "Csaba, over here!"
Three horses materialized through the smokescreen. Csaba swiftly dismounted, seizing Eksama's lifeless form and flinging her across the saddle. With a firm smack on the horse's hindquarters, it bolted back to the campgrounds.
He cradled his grandmother's soot-covered face. "Are you alright?"
She gripped his shoulder. "She's not going to make it."
His jaw tightened. "I'm asking if you're alright."
She gave a curt nod and gently clapped his cheek. "Invade the stronghold, Csaba. I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Eksama's wounds were beyond salvaging. Her life ebbed away on a cold linen cot, while Gabrielle, having wiped and cleansed the blood from her arms, neck, and face, had the medics stitch her wounds to prevent further bleeding.
Gabrielle gently touched the fading queen's forehead. She observed the gradual, rhythmic decline of her breathing until her last exhalation. She clasped Eksama's hand and placed it tenderly over her heart.
Her head snapped towards the rumbling coughs, startling her. Without hesitation, she lunged towards her wife, whose face was smudged with soot. Showering Xena's lips and cheeks with kisses, she gently cleansed away the residue.
"Why did you stay behind? I'm so glad you're alright!"
Xena gruffly cleared her throat and gave a weak smile. "I think I inhaled enough smoke for five men. Thank you for not disobeying my command."
"Here, come sit down."
She urged Xena to sit on a stool and began to clean her face with a damp cloth. Xena's eyes wandered to the redheaded queen lying still on the cot.
Xena whispered, "She didn't make it."
Gabrielle squeezed the excess water from the cloth. "She took her last breath right before you walked in."
"I'll make sure I deliver her sword to Austraia."
They leaned in, their foreheads touching, and silence fell upon them. Side by side, they sat in perfect stillness, shutting their eyes to the world around them. The cacophony of the ongoing battle seemed to fade into the distance.
Gepid Fortress
King Cunimund observed with unease as his daughter, Rosamund, paced ceaselessly. Despite his attempts to calm her, she remained restless. Unlike the majority of Gepid women, who were raised to be warriors, Rosamund was a pampered woman, resistant to conforming to the customary roles of her people. Aware of her unsuitability for battle, Cunimund had always shielded her from such affairs, yet she persistently involved herself nonetheless.
After enduring weeks of waiting with little patience, Cunimund's long-awaited moment for answers arrived. Commander Usdibad, displaying clear signs of weariness from the battlefield, entered the chamber. With a hand firmly placed on his chest, Usdibad saluted.
Rosamund ran toward him. "What news do you bring?"
"I have unsettling news from the field," he said, eyeing the king's temper growing.
"Oh, we have lost the war, didn't we?" she said, panicking. "Father, I will not be ruled by Huns!"
"Shut your mouth!" her father roared. "Go sit down and stop squawking like a parrot."
Rosamund frowned and glared at him for a second too long. She saw her father rise from his chair and then she sat down, biting her tongue.
"What is this 'unsettling news'?"
Usdibad approached the table. "The Huns have invaded the stronghold."
"Goddammit! Damn it to Hell."
"But..."
Cunimund raised his head from his hands. "But what?"
"Eksama has been killed. The Huns are without a commander and we have ridden the world of a traitor," he said proudly, puffing his chest.
"Hmmph. As if the Huns cared about losing a commander. They have a whole clan ready to take Eksama's place!" Rosamund barked.
Usdibad barred his teeth. "You know nothing about the Huns. There have only been three known commanders in the empire! They are not fickle with their choice in commander!"
"Enough! I will not have fighting in this chamber," said the king. "What about the Khagana?"
"We did not locate her, sire."
Central Pannonia
Anastasia clutched Ursula's hand tightly as they sprinted through the corridor. News of a legion's arrival had propelled them into a frenzied quest to discover those who had returned. Anastasia, barely slowing her pace, descended the staircase with Ursula desperately trying to match her stride.
"My mother? Is my mother here?" she called out.
"We're over here, Ana," shouted Gabrielle.
She extended her arms out wide, and the soldiers and tribespeople gracefully parted to create a pathway. With each step she took, her heart raced faster. At last, she drew near enough to discern the familiar outline of her mother's figure. Her trembling hands reached out, gently brushing against her mother's face, before firmly clasping her hands.
Xena winced.
Anastasia's face contorted into a deep frown as she delicately maneuvered her fingers, tracing the contours of her mother's hands. The touch revealed a tightly wound gauze.
"What happened to your hands? Are they scratched?"
"Just a few burns," she protested, drawing her hands away.
She quickly observed her daughter's avoidant eye contact. Gazing into Ana's eyes, she was reminded of Eksama. The irony struck her - Eksama, slain by her own kind, while Ana, whom she had rendered blind, continues to live, incapable of perceiving the world around her.
"Your sight has gotten worse."
Anastasia dimly smiled. "Yes. It has." She searched for her mother's hands once more. "Has Csaba come back with you? Is he hurt?"
Gabrielle gently intervened and touched Ana's shoulder, which slightly startled her. "Csaba is still in Sirmium. He's not hurt." Then, Anastasia smiled in relief. "Xena needs to deliver a sword to Austraia."
"Austraia? A sword will be—" she froze and narrowed her eyes. "Eksama is dead," she realized.
I did not forget about Persia and their lovely politics ;)