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EXT. Camp of the mercenaries – Day

XENA and CALES are still fighting back to back, surrounded by a shrinking group of mercenaries - and a growing number of dead or injured.

Both have fresh cuts and bruises added to their beaten bodies - in addition Xena has the deep cut on her back and one on her lower left arm, making it's use very painful. Cales has a major stabbing wound in his left shoulder, his left hand is still heavily bandaged and basically useless - and his armor seems to fall of his body any moment with a huge amount of cuts all over.

Xena is fighting with a sword in one and a pillum in the other hand while Cales has a new short sword in his right hand. Both fighters seem exhausted and attacks are scarce - basically they just try to fight off the opponents with occasional counter attacks to drive them back.

The OFFICER has taken over a place in the front row opposite Cales, giving him a hard time with his quick, well placed strikes of his sword.

Sounds of fighting can be also heard from around the tent circle, smoke and fires can be seen everywhere.

THEODORUS, the mercenaries general, suddenly appears between two half-burning tents and stumbles towards his own. He seems exhausted, his armor and body dirty and beaten, his left arm bloody from the shoulder where a deep cut seems to almost have separated the limb from the body. He stumbles a few steps and then he stops, staring at the scene in front of him.

Xena has pushed back another attack, losing her sword between the ribs of one mercenary. Using the spear like a staff she hits two other fighters so that they stumble and fall into their own ranks, giving Xena a short moment of peace.

She looks around and sees Theodorus, weakly trying to hold his balance only a few yards away. Xena quickly raises the spear like a javelin and throws it. Theodorus eyes grow wide, but he isn't able to react quickly enough - the weapon buries itself in his chest, the point coming out of his back. He is thrown backwards and falls to the ground, dead.

At the same time Cales is unable to block an attack by the officer against his legs and the sword stabs through his left thigh. Cales cries out in pain, but is able to swing his short weapon towards the officer's unprotected throat. The man tries to dodge the attack but is hindered by one of his man directly next to him. The sword cuts open his throat from one side to the other and he falls down where he stands.

Cales throws his sword against the nearest opponent who is able to block the weapon with his shield. But it allows Cales to go down on his left knee and pull out the sword with his right hand. He again cries out in pain and anger but has no time to take care of the wound. He instinctively blocks the next attack with sword that injured him and fights off a few more out of his kneeing position.

Xena, without weapon, and Cales, almost down and unconscious, seem easy prey to the remaining mercenaries.

Xena grabs a shield from the ground and blocks a few more attacks, Cales is less lucky and gets hit by a glancing blow on the head, losing consciousness and falling sideways - leaving Xena's back unprotected.

Right then Amazons storm the central area of the camp. A group lead by AMARICE, looking like they had fought all day - bloody, beaten, torn and dirty - are driving back a few mercenaries in front of them, shouting loudly.

Everything is over in a matter of seconds. The mercenaries immediately throw away there weapons and surrender - almost two dozen including the ones fleeing from the Amazons. But almost fifty or heavily injured soldiers lie around on the ground in this place alone.

Amarice runs over to Xena who stands over Cales, looking down on him, tired.