Chapter 31

Rome, Italia

It did not come as a surprise that many gawked at them as they wandered the streets of Rome. All eyes were upon them. They were outsiders and Edemen didn't like the way he was glared at. He especially didn't care for the stares his mother received. She was oblivious to the stares, or perhaps she ignored them.

Edemen took great care to protect his mother and remained close to her side. He began to think their attire was the main thing that made them stick out in a crowd. Both he and his mother, dressed in leather vests with fur collared coats, attracted very unwanted attention.

"How much further until we reach the Lombard fortress?" he asked his mother.

"Another day. I was told the fortress is in the south."

That was a day too long. They wouldn't be able to ride through Rome, so they walked instead. Walking instead of riding was going to take much more than a day. Edemen knew they would stop to rest for the evening soon.

"Maybe we should buy some clothes," he said. "So we can blend in."

Farah glanced at him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are, Ede."

"I—I'm not, mother, but people are staring at us. I'm worried we'll get mauled," he whispered.

She understood her son's concerns, but she had grown accustomed to the glares. After she assured him that everything was alright, they came upon an inn close to the outskirts. Farah walked into the inn, ducking her head as she crossed the threshold. Everyone's chatter quieted to a whisper and Farah eyed the innkeeper standing behind a counter.

Nonchalantly, she strode up to the counter and threw down a bag of coin. The innkeeper, an elderly man, narrowed his eyes and shoved the coin.

"I won't house Huns in my inn," he gruffly said.

Farah's eyes never broke contact with his. She pushed the bag toward him once more and smiled.

"I don't speak your barbaric language either."

"I understand you perfectly fine," she coolly said, and the innkeeper stuttered. "I need a room for two for one night."

He leaned his weight against the countertop. "I told you; I don't house Huns!"

"Just one night," she urged him to accept payment. "We won't cause any trouble."

A man at a nearby table chuckled with his friends as they overheard the conversation. Edemen entered, shouldering his saddlebags. The three men at the table focused their gaze on Farah, one even attempting to touch her thigh. Edemen felt a surge of anger, dropping his saddlebags before striding over to the group. He seized the man's wrist and twisted it with a firm grip.

Farah's eyes flickered and she seized her son's arm. "Don't cause a scene."

He slowly backed away from the table, glaring at the cackling men. He felt a tug on his arm and turned to stand close to his mother.

"Won't cause any trouble, huh?" the innkeeper chided.

"It's not my fault that your guests can't control themselves. One night. That's all."

Tapping his fingers on the counter, he gave a long sigh, then agreed. He took the bag of coin and stashed it beneath the bar, then handed over a key.

"There's a room near the back. Nobody'll bother you there, but I want you two gone by sunup."

It had been a long day and Edemen wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. After he changed out of his muddy boots and pants, he laid out the fresh blankets on the bed. His mother emerged from behind a screen, stripped of her armor.

Farah sat on the bed, braiding her hair. Her son sat on his bed opposite her and crossed his legs. "Keep your weapons close. There are Roman soldiers here."

"I didn't see any soldiers around," he nervously said, eyes frantically scanning the room.

"They were sitting near the exit. They've been following us for two days."

Edemen ran to draw the curtains and lock the door. "Mother, why didn't you say anything? You could've been killed!"

She gave a slow eye-roll. "If they wanted me dead, they would've killed me two days ago. They're spying on us. We'll be alright."

"How can you not be concerned about this?"

She kissed his cheek. "Go to sleep, tatli kiz."

Edemen always understood that his mother lacked the skill of a warrior, unlike the other women in their family. While she may have been inept with weapons, her intellect far surpassed that of anyone in their tribe. If she had been aware of the spies this entire time, he couldn't help but feel foolish for not realizing it sooner.

Central Pannonia

Being able to sit outside without the stench of burning flesh had become a luxury. Gabrielle sat next to Anastasia, enjoying the cool breeze that spring brought. Near the orchards, Xena circled the trees with Elif glued to her hip. It was always an amusing yet joyful sight whenever Gabrielle saw Xena spending time with children. It truly softened the hardened warrior.

After Eksama's burial, the tribe was left with many questions, but one important one still rang days later: who was going to be the next commander? Gabrielle knew Xena would take that role up in a heartbeat if she could, despite all her talk of wanting to be away from the field. Xena loved the battlefield, no matter her age.

But the fact was that Xena couldn't be commander.

There needed to be a decision made soon. Gabrielle sent a letter to Arielle, hoping the news would reach her soon.

"Mother hates looking at me," Anastasia softly said. "I can't see her, but I can feel it. I know she doesn't look at me when she's close."

"How can you say that? Your mother loves you. I love you."

"It's not a matter if she loves me. I know she does and I know you do too."

Gabrielle understood Anastasia's words without question. Since their return from Sirmium, she provided solace to Xena for three consecutive nights. Throughout these nights, Gabrielle witnessed her wife's tears, as Xena wept herself into slumber. Xena confessed to feeling as if she had lost two people in a single day. She wondered if keeping this from Anastasia was wise, but she felt she would be betraying Xena.

She grasped Ana's hand. "When she looks at you, it isn't because she hates looking at you. She can't fix what's been done to you. And she...hates that."

"I knew this would come. I prepared myself for it. Every day, I could see less and less, but I never told anyone. Navaz knew but he's so damn polite that he never said anything" she blinked at Gabrielle. "I don't need her to fix me."

"Give her some time."

Xena decided that the most suitable way to occupy herself was by plucking berries from the bushes. Being amidst the crop fields made it an ideal pastime. While Xena collected bunches of berries, Elif focused on the leaves. Elif extended her hand towards the bush and forcefully tore a leaf from a branch. In that moment, Xena's attention was caught by a faint cough, causing her to swiftly turn her head and discover Elif attempting to consume the leaf.

Elif let out a rasping cough, causing a thick glob of saliva to escape her lips and trickle down her chin. Muttering quietly, Xena gently used her sleeve to clean the girl's face.

"That wasn't very pleasant, was it," she mumbled. "Bet you won't do that again."

With a handful of berries in her palm, she crushed them into a velvety paste. Elif whined as she tried to rid her tongue of the bitter leaf's taste. Xena applied the berry paste to Elif's lips, causing her to suddenly perk up and savor the sweet flavor.

"See? Much better than those nasty leaves."

Elif grinned, her lips and mouth tainted with the red hue of the berries. To an unknowing observer, Elif's mouth would appear as if it had endured a catastrophic mishap, rather than the consequence of berry picking.

Beyond the orchards, Csaba and a group of soldiers rode through the gates. Xena walked through the stalks of trees and met Csaba at the gates. To keep Elif satisfied, she chewed on her fingers soaked in berry juice.

Csaba smiled at his niece and pinched her cheek. "You two went berry picking, I see."

"It was her idea," Xena jested. "Were you able to take control of the stronghold?"

He nodded. "I have our men posted inside and outside the stronghold. The Gepids have relocated to north Sirmium. I have a feeling they have another stronghold. Cunimund knows he is outnumbered, but I wouldn't put it past him if he attacked again."

"As long as they don't come to Pannonia, we're safe."

Csaba walked alongside her towards the Adame, attempting to hold Elif's hand. She let out a loud whine, hiding her face in Xena's chest and suckling on her fingers. Csaba withdrew quickly and held back a chuckle.

"She must really like those berries," he assumed.

Xena wagged her head. "She needs a nap. She kept Ku awake all night."

Csaba did not miss the days when his children were babies. All those sleepless nights were not to be envied. "Um, I know Arielle isn't here, but we are without a commander. I don't know of anyone that could take Eksama's place."

"We will have to operate without one until Arielle returns."

"No disrespect to my sister, but the only reason we took the stronghold was because of your tactics," he muttered, hanging his head.

Compliments were pleasant, but voicing them could be risky. Xena understood her role in the tribe and would not challenge her granddaughter's decisions. She glanced at Gabrielle, knowing she would intervene if Xena ever questioned Arielle's leadership again.

She rested her hand on Csaba's shoulder. "Arielle is the ruler of the empire. She will decide who becomes the next commander. Not me."

"You are the most experienced tactician here, grandma. If anyone should have a say, it should be you."

As she gazed down at Elif nestled against her breast, her fingers gently combing through the girl's thick black curls, she felt bittersweet. Holding the small, fragile child in her arms served as a reminder of her limited time on the earth. In a strange way, Xena couldn't help but feel accountable for the various misfortunes that had befallen their tribe.

Lifting her eyes, Csaba gawped at her. "If she wants me to have a say then she will tell me," she said, clapping his shoulder.

Gabrielle spent most of her afternoon catering to reading letters from Shah Khosrow, which was an exhausting task. She also had to record them in the archive since Farah was gone. She never wanted to see another payment invoice again. She wondered how much longer Justin and Sophia would be able to fund this Gepid war. Another problem for a different day.

She walked into her chamber, shoulders slumped, and ready to collapse onto the bed. In the bath chamber, she heard splashing and light squealing. A child was here. Gabrielle took off her shoes and crept closer.

A warmth swelled within her as she witnessed Xena giving Elif a bath in the pool. She leaned against the wall, admiring how excited Elif was in Xena's arms, clapping her hands in the water.

Xena swiveled in the water and smiled. "Look who's here." she took Elif's hand and waved.

Gabrielle played along and waved back. She knelt beside the pool and kissed Xena's lips briefly, which made Elif yelp for attention.

"Oh, I'm sorry, how rude of me." She gave Elif's forehead a gentle peck. "You two have been inseparable all day."

"I thought Ku deserved a break. We walked around the orchards, picked berries, had a nap, and now we're on our second bath." Xena narrowed her eyes at the princess, who simply gave a toothless grin. "She had too many berries and we'll leave it at that."

Chuckling, Gabrielle shook her head. "I won't ask."

Against her wishes, Elif was taken out of the bath and dried off to be put in new clothes. She was now placed on the floor, playing with some wooden toys her sisters gave her. Xena joined her on the floor with a huff. Sitting beside her, Gabrielle reached for her hand. They watched Elif meticulously place the toys in order from largest to smallest.

Swirling her thumb over Xena's hand, she relayed what Ana had told her earlier in the day. "Anastasia knows you've been distant around her. She thinks you hate looking at her and I told her that you don't. I lied to her. The truth is that I know you hate looking at her like this."

Xena remained focused on the princess and tightened her jaw. "What a way to start a conversation," she snorted.

"You cried yourself to sleep for three nights since we got back, Xena."

"Did you tell her that?"

She detected some fear in her tone. "No, I didn't. You should talk to her when you are ready."

When she received a kiss on the cheek, she knew she had said the right thing. Xena knew what needed to be done and avoiding the situation would only make matters worse. They both knew that. Gabrielle tightened her grip around her hand, weaving their fingers together.

Elif started rambling nonsensically with a cheerful tone, her eyes wide with excitement. She awkwardly shuffled across the floor, attempting to position herself between their legs. Xena swiftly intervened, lifting her up and settling her on her lap.

"She's really attached to you," said Gabrielle.

"No, if someone isn't paying attention to her, she has a fit," she pressed her forehead against Elif's. "I blame your mother for that."

Chuckling, Gabrielle asked, "Do we know when Xerxes comes back from Persia? I hope Nousha isn't as ill as she claims to be."

"Knowing how those two left on bad terms, I don't think Nousha would lie about being sick. I hope it's nothing serious, but that woman isn't known to lie." To that, Gabrielle frowned. "Not about something like that."

Lombard Keep, South Italia

The Roman soldiers who followed them all the way from northern Italia proved to be no threat. It was just as his mother described. They were being spied on, but Edemen wanted to know who the Romans were reporting to. During this entire trip, he realized he was not ready to set out on any expedition on his own. He relied on his mother to bridge the language barriers during their travels, and her experience negotiating with people. He gained a new appreciation for his mother.

He trailed behind Farah as they entered the large stone fortress. It looked like it belonged to a Roman army long ago. Clearly, the Lombards made this place their home, and the people of Italia hated their presence.

King Alboin sat on a large wooden throne with a leg hung over the chair's arm. Beside him sat his wife, Clothsind, and a young girl, his daughter, Albusinda. He made no rush to greet his guests and instead made them stand and wait for him to greet them.

Alboin set his eyes on Farah and ran his fingers through his long blond hair. He swished the ale in his cup and hopped off his throne. As soon as he made a move toward her, Edemen stepped forward, hand on his sword.

Farah whispered, "Stand behind me. Don't react."

Edemen never broke eye contact with the Lombard king but obeyed his mother. Alboin wore an impish grin and drank the last bit of ale in the cup.

"You must forgive my son. He is distrusting of others and we were followed by Romans," she said, putting on a nervous smile.

Alboin's eyebrows rose. "It's been a while since Huns were in this region. You two attracted a lot of attention." He held out his hand. "You must be Queen Farah."

"Yes. We've traveled a long way to come here. I would like to start with our proposal."

"Are all Hun women as beautiful as you are?"

Edemen noticeably groaned in revulsion, grabbing the king's attention. He could almost feel his mother's eyes boring into him on the back of her head. Keeping his mouth shut was going to be challenging.

His mother put on her charm, of course, which only disgusted him more. "I can assure you that I am one of the few. About the proposal?"

They moved to a separate chamber, away from prying eyes and ears. Alboin had his wife and daughter escorted out of the room, which left only Farah and Edemen in his presence. He had his eye on the Hun prince, mildly amused by his protective nature.

"We've been working tirelessly to push the Gepids out of west Pannonia. I'm sure you're aware that the Byzantines are funding the war."

"I am very aware, Your Highness," said Alboin. "The Gepids are more stubborn than their cousins, the Goths."

Farah sucked in a breath. "We want to offer our funds to you and your army to fight the Gepids."

"I don't want Byzantine money, Queen Farah. I need something more secure."

"It is land you want," she assumed. Alboin flashed a smile. "If you take Sirmium then we will take all of the Gepid people. They will reside in our tribe."

Alboin smoothed his coarse beard. "That seems like an unfair deal on your end. Why place the enemy in your homeland?"

"Empire expansion," she concluded, smiling broadly. "If you refuse the funds, you will supply your army with your own weapons, feed them, house them, and train them. It seems to me that we are getting the better end of the deal."

"And if I refuse your proposal entirely?"

"I'm so glad you asked." She reached over and rested a hand on his knee. "You will have to face the Byzantines. You are already at odds with them. Maintaining your grip on Italia won't last if the Byzantines decide to attack you."

The Lombard king contemplated the deal, stroking his chin repeatedly. He knew how well the Huns were able to conquer massive amounts of land for empire expansion. The people before his reign fought against the Huns. It was unusual, and a bit comical, that the Huns wanted to work with him to defeat a well-known enemy.

He asked, "Will we have the aid of your army?"

Farah cast a crafty smile. "You may have access to our entire army if you wish. Does that mean we have a deal?"

Alboin, despite his hard exterior, was kind enough to offer a room for them to stay in until they were ready to leave. Edemen took a quick bath so his mother could take her time washing her hair. He was yet again impressed by her negotiating skills and found a new appreciation for her.

Farah sat on the bed after her bath and untangled her wet locks. After her son saw her struggling with the comb, he offered to detangle her hair for her. Edemen stood behind her, gently running the comb's teeth through her hair.

"You did a good job back there, mother," he told her. "Are you always so flirtatious when you negotiate?"

She detected a sour note in his tone. "Men can be easily swayed by a woman's beauty. The same goes for men and their ability to charm women. You didn't get your charm from your father I can tell you that." She turned her head and winked.

The prince's smile was slightly lopsided as he reflected on the countless times he had been told he bore a striking resemblance to his mother. It seemed that they shared more similarities than their shared appearance.

He moved to sit on the floor as he continued detangling her hair. "After this war is over, will I finally be able to marry Öza? I can't keep her waiting. We were supposed to wed seven months ago."

Farah tenderly tilted his chin. "I promise I will throw you the most extravagant ceremony."

Pontic Steppe

For the last week, Arielle worked with Bayan to come up with an amenable strategy to attack the Gepids. She dreaded this trip, but she was pleasantly surprised to find that they hadn't argued since she arrived. Whenever war was involved, they seemed to work best together. In the throne chamber, they drew plot points on a large map, strategically placing their armies together to fight as one unit.

As they mumbled to each other, loud footsteps stomped into the chamber. The whooshing sound of a wooden sword whisked in the air. Arielle lifted her eyes and saw Bayan's son running toward them giddily.

"Father, I've returned from the mountains! Look at my sword!"

Bayan, nervous to see Arielle's reaction, hurried across the room. "I am busy right now, Buyu. Show me later," he whispered.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your son?" Arielle said.

A lump gathered in his chest and he took in a deep breath. He wrapped his arm around his son's shoulders and walked with him. "Buyu, this is the Khagana of our empire. She is staying with us for a few days," he said, eyeing Arielle cautiously.

The boy, not much younger than Aurora, bore a striking resemblance to his mother, evident in his Mongoloid eyes. It was the first time Arielle met the boy, who served as a painful reminder of Bayan's infidelity.

The two stared at each other in silence until Buyu's mouth curled into a grin. "Do you like my sword, Khagana?"

Arielle smiled faintly. "It is a very fine blade."

"Do you have a lot of swords?"

"I'm more of a bow and arrow girl."

Bayan gruffly cleared his throat. "We have a lot of work to do. I will come to see you tonight."

Buyu nodded and bowed. "Khagana."

Arielle observed the boy darting out of the room, gleefully brandishing his sword. Resting her hand on her hip, she faced Bayan, who appeared utterly mortified. It occurred to her that he may have anticipated her to treat his son poorly. This notion tickled her, evoking a smile.

Anticipating a long night ahead, Arielle opted to dine in her guest suite. For a span of two hours, she leisurely consumed her meal, delicately picking at the morsels on her plate. She continued to receive an influx of letters and documents, demanding her attention for reading and signing. However, upon stumbling upon Gabrielle's letter, she was so taken aback that she almost expelled her food.

Arielle hurried out of the bedroom and marched down the hall. She discovered Bayan in his son's room, discussing the boy's recent trip to the mountains. This sight quickened her pulse. If only Bayan paid as much attention to Aurora as he did to his son, perhaps she wouldn't be constantly filled with anger towards him.

"Bayan," she announced, and he turned. "I need to speak with you."

He met her in the hallway and closed the door. "What's wrong?"

"Eksama is dead," she whispered. "This changes all of our plans. I don't have a commander to lead the army."

Bayan scratched the back of his neck. "I can be commander."

"You? We might be working together just fine right now, but if you become commander, you will have to follow all my orders."

"I am the Khagan. I can make my own orders, you know. We both rule this empire in case you have forgotten."

Arielle drew her eyebrows in and thought of all the possible terrible scenarios. "Bayan, this isn't going to work. We'll be at each other's throats."

"We don't need to be in the same place to lead an empire. Why would it be different if I become commander?" he insisted. "I can manage the Gepids. I was the one who brought the concern to you in the first place."

"You also wanted to marry off our daughter in exchange for an army," she spat back.

He was never going to hear the end of that, he realized. "Who were you going to choose to take Eksama's place? Your grandmother?" he snorted. "She is not in her prime anymore. Your mother is practically blind, Aurora is too young, and Eksama's daughter is no fighter."

There was no alternative candidate she could consider for the position. The only individual she could think of was Csaba, however, he did not possess the qualities necessary to lead armies effectively. Her father had no interest in ruling over a kingdom or commanding an army. She had no other options but herself, which would result in her being overwhelmed to the point of neglecting her children.

"You caused a lot of strife since you were last in Pannonia. You put your hands on Xerxes and threatened never to return as long as he is there. I am married to him. Xerxes isn't going anywhere," she tersely said.

"I can be civil with the Persian. I will hardly be in Pannonia."

Arielle crossed her arms. "You'll have to seek approval to become commander."

"I am the Khagan! You are the Khagana! We don't need approval from anyone."

She cackled and struck his chest. "You have forgotten the laws of the tribe, Bayan. Not just anyone can be a commander. If you want this, you'll have to prove yourself. Pack your bags, we're leaving for Pannonia tomorrow morning."

"But—but my son just got back. Give me two days, at least."

She clicked her tongue against her teeth. "I haven't seen my daughters in weeks, and my youngest is still a baby. I haven't seen Aurora in over a year. I think your son can manage without you for a few days."

Farah had committed the maps of territories to memory before her departure for Italia. As she made her way back to Pannonia, she wisely opted for a different route. Accompanied by Edemen, they sought refuge with King Alboin for a brief respite of two days before setting off again. Guiding them through the wooded outskirts of Italia, she followed the trail by the side of the Danube. The landscape had undergone a transformation, with the once lush forest now replaced by vast expanses of grasslands.

The sound of horses' hooves could be heard thundering on the firm ground. Farah turned quickly and spotted five Gepid horsemen approaching. Signaling to Edemen to come with her, she spurred her horse and rode off swiftly.

Her heart pounded as she struggled to ascend the hill, urging the horse to slow. She hesitated, reaching for the horn on her belt, contemplating signaling the gatekeeper in Pannonia. However, the tribe was far away, and blowing the horn might attract more Gepids in the vicinity.

A javelin narrowly missed Farah's head and struck the ground in front of her, causing her horse to rear up and throw her from the saddle. She let out a sharp cry as she fell to the ground and rolled down the hill.

Edemen steered his horse to turn around. "Mother, quick, get on!" he stretched his arm out.

Farah stumbled as she attempted to reach out for his hand on the hill. Her boots gripped the earth, but a thorn-covered net was swiftly thrown over her, causing her to hiss in pain as she fell, ensnared in its grasp.

The Gepid horsemen came closer, riding swiftly through the open fields. Edemen faced a difficult decision: stand and defend his mother or flee to his tribe. He understood he was outnumbered and outmatched, but he was determined to at least try.

He leaped from the horse, unsheathing his blade. The thundering hooves echoed in his ears as his gut scrunched. His eyes grew wide with fear as the Gepids slowed their pace. Without warning, an arrow grazed one of the horsemen, causing him to cry out and fall from his saddle.

Edemen glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of Arielle atop a horse, positioned alongside Bayan. They both poised their longbows, preparing to unleash four arrows each. Edemen hunkered down, his focus solely on freeing his mother from the net.

Arielle shouted, "Atmak!"

Arrows rained down on the field, forcing Edemen to shield Farah with his arms. Aware of the danger, they knew they had to escape. Arielle deliberately missed her shots twice to ensure their safety. She could only miss so many times.

"Mother, it isn't safe. When Arielle gives the next firing signal, we run."

"Atmak!"

Farah broke loose from the entanglement and seized his hand. Hand in hand, they sprinted, never glancing back.

Usdibad's scout, Thatis, pushed his way through the undergrowth. He saw the commander observing the battle. It was a brutal scene, with three out of five men meeting their demise from arrows piercing their chests.

"Lady with the bow is the Khagana, sir," Thatis reported.

Usdibad grunted in response, resigned to the fact that he could not rescue his troops. He observed the Huns' unique combat tactics with interest. As the Khagana circled the enemy on horseback and unleashed arrows, the Khagan engaged in close combat with his blade. Usdibad knew that his soldiers had no chance of survival in any direction they turned.

"Return to Sirmium and tell the king the Khagana and Khagan are working together."

Thatis hesitated. "Are you not returning with me, sir?"

The commander glared at him. "I gave you an order, Thatis."

Arielle and Bayan galloped through the field to find Edemen comforting his mother. Arielle got off her horse and knelt next to Farah, examining the wounds on her face and hands.

Edemen wrapped his arms around Arielle. "You two saved us! How did you know we were here?"

She kissed his hands. "We didn't. We were on our way to Pannonia and I wanted to check the stronghold in Sirmium. What are you two doing way out here?"

"We were coming back from Italia," Farah said. "Those white bastards attacked me for a second time! What do they want with me?"

Arielle sighed, shaking her head. "You're a queen, Farah. You're an easy target for them. If they can't get to me, they know they can get you."

"You're a prince and warrior. I didn't see you trying to defend your mother," Bayan said to Edemen.

Farah barked, "Do not talk to my son that way, Bayan."

"He's right," said Arielle, glaring at her nephew. "You should've been able to take down at least three of those Gepids alone. You came out without a scratch. Look at your mother!"

Suddenly, Edemen found himself trapped. He couldn't contest their claims. He should have been capable of shielding his mother, yet he failed. If they hadn't arrived just in the nick of time, both he and Farah would have suffered severe harm or worse.

"I'll round up the horses," Bayan said.

Edemen stood to the side as Arielle helped his mother mount the horse. He rubbed his forehead, beyond frustrated with himself. He grabbed Arielle's hand and took her aside. "I'll train better, Teyze. I'm clearly not worthy of the sword I carry."

She lightly brushed his cheek before turning with a slight smile to secure Farah in the saddle.

Central Pannonia

The tribe meeting was brief, with the suggestion of Bayan as the empire's commander not being unreasonable. With no one as youthful and capable of leading an army effectively as Bayan, the tribe had evolved into needing multiple leaders. In the past, when the tribe was smaller, only one king and commander reigned. Xena reminisced about those times, wishing she had made different decisions. Bayan, despite causing tension in the clan, was a suitable selection.

Xena's quick decision caught everyone off guard, her approval setting the tone for the rest to follow. Csaba and Navaz were the only ones not fully on board.

After the meeting ended, Csaba walked up to Bayan. There was a bit of fear in Bayan's eyes. "Thank you for rescuing my wife and son," he said.

Bayan raised a brow. "No problem. Can I give you some advice about Edemen?"

"I am giving you accolades. I don't need advice."

He nodded briefly. Bayan was aware of when to stop pushing the issue, especially with Csaba. He looked for Xena, who was talking with Gabrielle by the balcony. Nonchalantly, he interrupted their conversation and was met with puzzled expressions.

"May I speak to you alone?" he asked of Xena.

Gabrielle suppressed an eye-roll and trailed away, but not too far, in case she was needed.

Xena smiled gently. "Congratulations on your new position, Bayan."

"Thanks." He swayed on his heels, feeling the awkwardness. "I didn't expect you to vote for me."

"You were the most viable option—you were the only option," she said, a twinkle in her eye. "Despite what I think about you as a person, I think you're a great military leader, Bayan. You always have been. You're just a terrible husband and father."

He felt the sting of her words. He swallowed them and smiled faintly before leaving the room.

Gabrielle strolled over, watching him walk off. "That was pretty harsh, even for you."

"I'm not going to let him slide on that, Gabrielle. I never considered myself the greatest mother but I was never like him."

Her eyebrows flared and she exhaled a deep sigh. "Did you hear that Farah got the Lombards to sign a treaty with us? They're going to attack the Gepids. That's one less thing we have to worry about!"

"We shouldn't celebrate so soon. The Lombards aren't our friends."

"Always the skeptic," she mumbled.

With a wily smile, Xena playfully thwacked her spouse's arm.

Ku-Ilm hesitantly entered the room, unfamiliar with the conference chamber. She went unnoticed by the others, a welcome relief. Holding a letter tightly, she approached Xena and Gabrielle, who were engaged in their usual banter. She stood by silently, waiting to be acknowledged.

Gabrielle met her dark eyes with a flushed face. "Ku, hello."

"Hello, Gabrielle," she said, her eyes sparkling.

Xena turned with a curious raised eyebrow. "Is Elif escaping her room to come find me again?"

"Ha, no, I made sure she is heavily guarded this time. She's with Abbaseh," she said. "I have a letter for you."

She took the letter from Ku, tucked it into her pocket, and thanked her.

Gabrielle frowned and tilted her head. "Who's that from?" she asked.

"Aurora," she answered curtly. "I'll read it later."

As the night wore on, Aracsilla remained wide awake alongside her brothers. Every instance of their mother's injury brought about an endless torrent of tears from Aracsilla. Witnessing the pain inflicted upon her parents was something she despised, and Farah had suffered the most misfortune in the past year, enduring two injuries. In order to pacify the princess, her twin brothers engaged in the activity of crafting straw soldiers.

As she braided the straw for her soldier's hair, she saw Xena pass by the room. She hopped up and ran into the hallway.

"Khanum!" she yelped, then wrapped her limbs around Xena's leg. "Are you going to see my mom? Did you see what those Gepids did to her?" her eyes became teary.

Xena knelt to the girl's eye level. "A few cuts aren't going to taint your mother's beauty, I'm sure of it," she said, tapping Aracsilla's nose.

"She won't leave this house anymore, will she?"

"I think your mother is done with her missions for a while. She's all yours."

The girl sighed in relief. "Thank gods, because I can't take this anymore."

"Aracsilla, are you going to finish making this or what?" Aladar shouted.

Xena rose and the princess hurried back into the gathering room. That girl was a bundle full of emotions and fire, she thought. Now that she had been spotted, she decided to keep this visit short. She quickly went upstairs, checked for any servants, and quietly made her way to the guest quarters.

She knocked once and then opened the door.

Fusun's eyes sparkled with delight as she leaped from the bed and hurried over to Xena, eagerly extending her hands for the cherished letter. Her gaze was fixed on Xena's hand as it slowly withdrew from her pocket, revealing the precious parchment.

Just as she was about to snatch the letter, Xena put it behind her back.

"I can't be your messenger forever. You and Aurora need to find another arrangement. Understand?"

"Yes, Khanum, I understand."

Xena passed the letter over to Fusun, watching as her face lit up with excitement. It was a stroke of luck that the letter had ended up in Xena's hands instead of Aurora's intended recipient. After receiving one of Aurora's letters by mistake, Xena quickly deduced that the mysterious girl in Aurora's life was Fusun. Determined to keep her promise to Aurora, she took it upon herself to hand-deliver each letter from that point on.

Byzantine Encampment

General Baduarius had his boots propped up on the table when the Gepid commander barged into the tent. He nearly flew backward in his chair and quickly regained his composure.

"Usdibad, the hour is late," he said, standing up straight. "What brings you to my camp?"

The tall Gepid approached the table. "How would you feel knowing that the Lombards have sided with the Huns?"

Baduarius chuckled. "Impossible. That's absurd."

"They made an agreement. They will attack Gepid lands in tandem," Usdibad said as fact.

The color drained from the general's face. All the work he had done for over a year was all for nothing. He would never be able to sway Justin's mind if he failed to take control of Sirmium. The entire reason for supplying the Huns with money and soldiers was to be rid of the Gepids. Now, come to find out he had been swindled by the Huns.

Usdibad interrupted his racing thoughts, saying, "Take Sirmium before the Lombards do. If the land falls into Alboin's hands, you will never have peace in your empire again."