CHAPTER 21
Xena made her way to the gymnasium and waited for the reports that soon began to filter back from the platoons, as their prisoners and wounded were brought in. An hour went by, or perhaps more, and then, when she judged the time was right, the warrior headed for the main gate.
Cyrelle was pacing back and forth, a dark, restless figure just visible in the starlight. As soon as she noticed Xena's approach, she came hurrying toward her. "Is it time to go?" she demanded.
Xena glanced up at the position of the constellations. "Almost," she said.
"Good, because this waiting around is driving me nuts!"
The warrior laughed and put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You'd better get used to it," she said, "because one of the biggest parts of being a warrior is waiting. You have to wait for your scouts to report, wait for the right moment to attack, wait for your enemy to make a mistake--"
"I don't want to hear it," Cyrelle said impatiently as the two of them moved toward the gate. "I want to get on with the action."
"Are you scared?" Xena asked in a gentler tone.
"No. Well, maybe a little. Mostly, I'm just excited." She paused for a moment and then asked, "What's happening with the other platoons?"
"They seem to be getting through okay. By the time I left the gymnasium, four prisoners had been brought in, plus two of our people who got wounded."
"Badly wounded?"
"No. I think they'll be all right. Petros is taking care of them."
The women had reached the gate now, where Cyrelle's platoon members stood in a huddle, talking in low voices.
"Is it time, Xena?" one of them asked eagerly.
"Yes, it's time," she responded, "but remember that you're taking your orders from Cyrelle now, not from me."
"That's right," the lieutenant said promptly, "and here's the plan. We'll go out in pairs, with intervals between. Seth and I will go first. If the bridge is heavily guarded, we'll wait for some of the rest of you to catch up before we try to take out the guards. Then, when we get to the other end of the bridge, we'll regroup and get in position to launch the attack. Any questions?"
"What about Lyceus?" someone asked. "Do you think he's still tied out there?"
"Don't you worry about Lyceus," Xena said. "That's my job. If he's still there, I'll stop and take care of him. The rest of you just keep going. If he's not there, I'll follow you into the camp and try to find him after the battle starts."
There were nods from the others, and a few minutes later, the heavy gate swung open just far enough to let Cyrelle and Seth slip through. After a few minutes, another pair followed, and then, a short time later, a third pair. Xena brought up the rear, using her crutch as quietly and efficiently as possible. She kept her left hand on her chakram, and strained her eyes and ears to catch any hint of danger.
After a short distance, she came upon one of Demetri's men sprawled beside the road with Seth's arrow sticking out of his chest. Moving past him, Xena continued on toward the spot where Lyceus had been tied, and as she came closer, she could just make out his limp form sagging against the crossed timbers. A cold dread seized her, and she hurried forward, so intent on reaching the boy that she didn't notice the guard lying on the ground until she stumbled over him and almost fell. Recovering her balance, she bent down to peer at the man. He lay curled on his side, and Xena could hear his breathing and smell the stench of diarrhea. She guessed that he would be out for some time, but not wanting to take any chances, she pulled out a length of rope and quickly bound his hands and feet.
Then she covered the remaining distance to Lyceus, and dropping her crutch on the ground, reached out with both hands to lift the boy's head. His skin and hair felt so cold and damp that she feared the worst. "Lyceus," she called urgently. "It's Xena. Can you hear me? Lyceus?"
He groaned a little and opened his eyes. "Is it sunrise?" he whispered hoarsely. "I knew you would come at sunrise."
"No, it's not sunrise yet," Xena said with a smile of relief. "I got here a little early." She unhooked her chakram and bent down to slash the ropes that bound Lyceus' feet. But as she straightened up, a faint whizzing sound suddenly caused her whole body to go on the alert. Reaching out, she grabbed an arrow in midflight, only a handsbreadth from her face. Then, in the next instant, she sent her chakram hurtling in the direction of the archer. There was a choked cry, followed by the sound of a few last, gurgling breaths, and the blood-stained weapon returned to her hand.
"Wow, that was amazing!" murmured Lyceus. "It was just like in all those stories about you."
"Uh-huh," Xena said, wiping the chakram on her trouser leg, and then cutting the boy's wrists free.
He cried out with the pain of sudden movement, and as he stumbled against her, Xena caught him and lowered him to the ground.
"You must be pretty sore," she said.
"Yeah. And stiff and cold and really, really thirsty."
"Well, you're in luck," she told him as she opened her shoulder bag, "because your Auntie Xena has brought many wonderful things for you." She pulled out the waterskin, and he took it eagerly from her hand. "Don't drink too fast or too much at one time," she cautioned. "Otherwise, you'll be puking it all back up."
He nodded as he began to suck greedily at the waterskin.
Xena glanced up at the sky, noting that most of the stars had vanished in the pre-dawn light. Then she turned her attention back to the shoulder bag. "I've also got clothes for you, and some ointment for your sunburn," she said.
Lyceus reluctantly lowered the waterskin. "Thanks," he said. Then he drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped one arm around them while he reached for the clothes with the other hand.
"Do you want me to put the ointment on you?" she asked him.
"No," he said quickly. "I can do it." He turned partly away from her and opened the jar.
"You know, I've seen you without clothes before, Lyceus," Xena said with a fond smile.
"Yeah, but not since I was a kid -- I mean, until this happened."
His voice still had a raspy quality to it and he applied the ointment slowly and awkwardly, as if the slightest movement was painful.
"I still can't believe those bastards tied you out here," Xena said. "I really wasn't sure if you would make it through or not."
He looked back at her over his shoulder and gave her a weak grin. "Yeah," he admitted, "I kind of wondered about that myself."
"Well, you did better than a lot of grown men would have in the same situation," Xena said. "So I guess that means I'll have to stop thinking of you as a boy."
"Yeah, I guess you will," Lyceus agreed. He put down the ointment jar and took another long drink from the waterskin. "Is Mother really worried about me?" he asked.
"Yes, she is, but she doesn't know you were tied out here all day."
"She doesn't know?"
"No. She slept most of the day, and then I couldn't bring myself to tell her."
"That was probably very wise of you," Lyceus said as he eased his chiton over his head. "Ow! Everything I do hurts like Tartarus!"
"Yeah, I know, and I'm afraid it's going to be that way for a couple of days or so," Xena said. "But considering everything that's happened, you're really in pretty good shape. Oh, and I've got bread and cheese, if you're hungry," she added.
"I'm famished," he exclaimed, tearing into the food she handed him.
"Don't eat too fast," she warned him.
"Okay," he said as he continued stuffing bread into his mouth.
She could see him quite clearly now in the growing light, and looking toward the bridge, she saw the first pale beams of sunlight sifting through the river mist. A few moments later, the sound of Cyrelle's battle cry reached her ear, followed by muffled shouts and the distant clang of swords.
"What's going on?" asked Lyceus.
"The attack on Demetri's camp. It's just starting."
"Oh! I want to see it! Are you going there now?"
"No. I'm going to take you home and put you to bed." She stood up and reached a hand down to him. "Come on. Let's see how well you can walk."
"I can walk just fine," he said as she pulled him up. "Please, Xena, you've got to let me go see the battle!"
She shook her head. "Sweetheart, you're in no shape to be fighting battles," she said. "You're already a hero in the eyes of the townspeople, so now you can rest on your laurels."
"No, you don't understand," he said, grabbing her arms and turning her to face him. "The story of this battle will be told in Amphipolis for generations to come, and I want to be one of the first to tell that story." He looked at her, pleading with those green eyes that were so like Gabrielle's, and Xena felt her heart begin to melt.
But she tried again to dissuade him. "Lyceus," she said, "I just don't think--"
"I won't fight. I only want to watch, so I can tell the story later. I'm feeling much better, really I am. Look! I can walk and everything!" And with that, he turned and walked slowly away from her and then circled back. His movements were stiff, and he pressed his lips together in a valiant attempt to hide his pain.
Xena sighed and shook her head in exasperation. Then she bent to pull a small packet out of her shoulder bag.
"What's this?" Lyceus asked when she handed it to him.
"Willow bark. It should help dull the pain."
He nodded, then stuck a piece of bark in his mouth and began chewing, making a face meanwhile. "It's bitter," he said.
"Yes, but if you want to see the battle badly enough, you can put up with a little bitterness."
"I'm eating it, see?" he said eagerly. "I really want to go."
"I know. But here are the rules. You have to stick close to me, do everything I say, and stay out of the fighting. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Xena. Thank you."
"I can't believe I'm letting you do this," she muttered. "I should be sending you home to bed on a litter."
"Yeah, I guess you're just getting soft in your old age," Lyceus said with a grin. He picked up the waterskin and took another drink, then went back to chewing willow bark.
Xena put her crutch under her arm and turned toward the bridge, gesturing for Lyceus to follow. "'Old age'? What do you mean, 'old age'?" she demanded.
"Oh. Well, I--"
"Because I can still wrestle you under the table with one hand tied behind my back, and don't you forget it," she told him. Then she reached out and tousled his hair for a moment. "I can still do this to you, too," she added. "And this," as she pulled him closer and kissed him right above the ear. "And that will be true no matter how grown up you get, or how old and soft you think I am. Understood?"
"Understood," he answered, laughing.
* * * * *
The battle was already well underway by the time Xena and Lyceus entered the camp. Several of the townspeople were fighting the enemy one-on-one, using staffs or swords. Others, meanwhile, rousted groggy, sick-looking warriors out of the tents and took them away as prisoners.
Xena was as eager as Lyceus was to see how things were going, but mindful of the boy's safety, she led him around the main part of the action. Eventually, they made their way to the center of the camp, where they found Cyrelle engaged in a fierce sword fight with Altair. Xena and Lyceus crouched beside the supply tent to watch.
"Wow, she's really good, isn't she?" Lyceus said in a tone of wonder.
"Yes, she is." Xena could scarcely believe the girl's skill, even though she had been teaching her herself. But Cyrelle's prowess went far beyond lessons in technique. There was a natural confidence to her movements that made it look as if she had been using a sword since birth, rather than just for a couple of months. And although Altair was bigger than Cyrelle, and swung his blade with practiced accuracy and strength, it was clear to Xena that her daughter's native talent and agility would make her the victor of this match.
"Look!" Lyceus exclaimed, interrupting Xena's reverie. "Maphias captured Titos!"
Tearing her eyes reluctantly away from her daughter, Xena saw Maphias holding a knife blade to Titos' throat while he herded him toward the center of the camp. Demetri's lieutenant appeared dazed and frightened, and Xena guessed that he had been rudely roused from his herb-induced stupor in order to be taken prisoner.
"Poor guy," she said to Lyceus. "He never had a chance after somebody slipped a few herbs into his wine."
Lyceus grinned. "Yeah, I wonder who would do such a mean thing," he said.
Xena opened her mouth to reply, but just at that moment a surreptitious movement caught her eye. Someone was worming his way out from under the back wall of a tent, and when he had done so, he crouched briefly to survey his surroundings, then slunk off toward the rear of the camp. She wasn't sure, but she thought the fugitive just might be Demetri.
"Wait here," she ordered Lyceus, "and stay out of trouble."
"Where are you going?" he asked.
But she was already on her way, hurrying as fast as her crutch would allow her. She had to dodge around a tent or two before she finally got a good view of the fleeing warlord. Then as soon as she had a clear shot, she threw her chakram. It struck him in the back, and he pitched forward and lay still, apparently stunned.
Xena rushed to his side, arriving as he began making feeble efforts to get up. Jabbing her crutch into his back, she pinned him down and he ceased struggling. "So, Demetri. Running out on your army, are you?" she asked.
"Just kill me and get it over with," he said in a tone of defeat. "Death will be a blessing after these horrible stomach cramps."
She laughed. "Oh no, I'm afraid you don't get off that easily," she said. "I'd kind of enjoy seeing you suffer for a while before the judge sentences you to hang." She knelt down and bound his hands behind his back, then stood up again. "Get up," she commanded, poking him in the ribs with her crutch.
He stumbled awkwardly to his feet, and she pulled his sword from its scabbard and flung it away to one side. Then she moved in close behind him, grasping his right arm with her left hand. "If you try to run, I'll just send my chakram after you again," she warned.
"I'm not going to run," he said in a dull voice.
"Good. You're a smarter man than I thought. Now, let's get going."
"I don't know what happened," he muttered as they started forward. "Ares was supposed to be helping us. He always has before."
"Well, one thing I've learned about Ares is that he has an annoying habit of switching sides, just when you least expect it," Xena said. "Personally, I wouldn't trust that bastard as far as I can throw him."
Demetri gave a sudden groan and bent over, then dropped to his knees and groaned again.
Xena stopped and waited for her prisoner's stomach pains to pass, then yanked him back to his feet.
He looked at her, his face pale and sweaty. "Are you saying Ares switched over to fight for Amphipolis?" he asked. "Why would he do that?"
"You'll see in a minute," she promised, giving him a push to get him started walking again.
They continued on until they were near the supply tent. The battle between Altair and Cyrelle was over, and the defeated lieutenant knelt in the dust, his hands bound behind him. A short distance away, Titos was also on his knees, watching with terror-filled eyes as Cyrelle paced slowly around the prisoners, sword in hand. She stopped beside Titos and glared at him for a moment before announcing, "For killing my uncle, Toris, and for torturing Gabrielle and Lyceus, may both of you rot in Tartarus!" Then, in one smooth motion, she lifted her sword, swung it sideways, and sliced off Titos' head. A fountain of blood spurted up, spraying Cyrelle and everyone else who stood watching. Titos' head rolled across the ground and the lifeless body toppled forward, spilling a dark red pool onto the dry earth.
Xena stared in disbelief, her lips forming her daughter's name as she tried to call out, but no sound came from her throat. She reached for her chakram, but it was too late. Cyrelle's blade flashed again, and the blood from Altair's headless form poured out to mingle with Titos'.
"Who is that warrior?" asked Demetri in a tone of horror.
"It's my daughter, Cyrelle," Xena said grimly. "Her father is Ares."
"Oh," Demetri said, his voice little more than a whisper. "So that explains it."
"Yes, that explains it," Xena agreed, shoving him forward.
He was trembling now, and after taking a few reluctant steps, he halted. "I need to go to the latrine," he said.
"Sorry," Xena replied as she propelled him resolutely toward Cyrelle, "but the latrine's not on our itinerary. Guess you'll just have to shit on yourself." Her nose told her he had already done so, and the odor soon grew strong enough that she was forced to hold her breath.
Cyrelle looked up as they approached, a gleam of smug satisfaction in her eye. "So, Xena, did you catch yourself a little prisoner?" she asked.
"Yes. This is Demetri," Xena said, trying to keep her tone level, in spite of a rising tide of anger.
"Demetri! Oh, goody! And doesn't he smell nice, too! Bring him over here and I'll just put him out of his misery."
"No. You are not his executioner. Demetri is our prisoner, and he will have a fair trial."
Cyrelle regarded her for a moment, with eyes narrowed in what almost appeared to be a challenge. Then she shrugged and said, "Okay, whatever. You're the boss."
"You got that right," Xena affirmed. Then she turned to the warlord and asked, "Demetri, do you surrender?"
"Yes," he mumbled.
"Say it in a loud voice, so that everyone can hear," Xena prompted.
The warlord raised his head and looked at those gathered around -- the town's defenders and his own men whom they had captured. "I surrender my army to Xena and to the town of Amphipolis," he announced, and then turned his gaze toward the ground.
"All right, you heard him," Xena said. "Demetri surrenders. The battle is over. Go tell those people who are still fighting," she added, gesturing to three of the townspeople who were not holding prisoners, "and someone take the news back to town."
The three quickly nodded and ran off to do her bidding.
"Maphias," Xena called to her friend, and he hurried to her side.
"I'm sorry, Xena," he said quietly. "I should have tried to stop Cyrelle, but she acted so fast. I never would have turned Titos over to her if I'd known she was going to behead him."
"It's not your fault," Xena said. "We can't change what's been done. Right now I want you to escort Demetri to the gymnasium and make sure he's kept under heavy guard. Take another man with you, just in case there's any trouble."
"Okay," Maphias said, grabbing Demetri by one arm and signaling for Sandros to come help him.
As soon as they were gone, Xena went to where Cyrelle was standing. The girl had deliberately disobeyed orders, but Xena knew it was never a good idea to reprimand a lieutenant in front of the other troops. So in a low voice meant only for Cyrelle's ears, she demanded, "Why did you do that? Why did you kill those men when you knew I wanted them brought to justice?"
"I thought I was the one in charge here," Cyrelle responded.
"Yes, you were in charge, but you were still supposed to be following my orders."
"They deserved to die. The judge would have seen that and ordered their execution," Cyrelle said. "I just saved him the time and trouble."
"That's not how it works," Xena said and sighed. "We'll discuss this later. Right now--"
"Hey, is that Lyceus over there by the tent?" Cyrelle cut in excitedly. "I didn't even know he was here. Is he okay? It looks like he's puking."
Xena glanced over her shoulder and saw the boy on hands and knees, vomiting. She turned back to Cyrelle and said in a softened tone, "He'll be okay, once I get him home and put him to bed. He wouldn't go before. He insisted on seeing the battle."
"That sounds like Lyceus, all right," Cyrelle said with a grin.
"Anyway," Xena went on, "I'm going to leave you here in charge of the camp, but no one else is to be executed or harmed in any way. Do you understand me?"
"Yes."
"Good. For the time being, Demetri's troops are our prisoners, but keep them under a loose guard, and don't worry too much if any of them escape. Eventually, what I'd like to do is break up the army by sending the men off in different directions, to their homes or wherever."
"You're kidding!" Cyrelle said. "You would just let them go away unpunished?"
"Yes," Xena said, nodding. "They're just ordinary soldiers, Cyrelle, trying to stay alive and make a few dinars. Without a leader, they're no threat to us."
"Without a leader," Cyrelle echoed with an enigmatic smile. "Well, I guess we got rid of their stinkpot leader, didn't we?"
"Yeah," Xena said, and stared at her daughter for a moment before turning to look at Lyceus again. He was sitting with his face buried in his hands. "I've really got to go," she said to Cyrelle. "Can I trust you to follow my orders?"
"Sure. I'll take care of everything here in the camp."
Xena smiled at her lieutenant, although she still felt uneasy, somehow. "You did a good job leading the attack today," she said.
"Thanks," Cyrelle said, then quickly turned and walked away.
Xena bit her lip as she watched the girl go, then she went to Lyceus and knelt beside him. "How are you doing?" she asked as she touched his forehead and cheeks with gentle hands.
"Not so good," he admitted.
She nodded. "It feels like you're running a fever. We need to get you home."
Lyceus looked at her. "I didn't know there would be so much blood and everything," he said. "I mean, I didn't expect Cyrelle to chop those guys' heads off like that."
"I didn't expect it either," Xena said.
"Was that the first time she ever killed someone?"
"Yes, as far as I know, it was."
"Well, I guess I thought she would only kill as a last resort," Lyceus said. "And then I thought she would feel bad about it afterwards. But did you see her face, Xena?" He reached out to put an urgent hand on her arm. "It was like she actually enjoyed killing. I guess that's what made me feel so sick, all of a sudden. Well, that and seeing that blood squirting everywhere."
He gave her a weak smile, which she tried to return, but her face seemed to be frozen. Glancing over at Cyrelle, Xena saw that the girl was busy organizing guards for the prisoners. Everything looked to be under control, but somehow it didn't feel that way. A small shudder ran down Xena's spine, but ignoring it, she turned to Lyceus and said, "Okay, my young hero, can you walk, or am I going to have to carry you?"
"I can walk," he said.
"All right, then," she replied. "Let's get going."
CHAPTER 22
Gabrielle went back to bed after Xena left, but she could not sleep. She could only lie awake thinking about Xena, Lyceus, Cyrelle, and the upcoming battle. Her arm throbbed meanwhile, as did the stripes on her back, but in a strange way, she welcomed the pain because it made her feel more connected to her loved ones and to the defense of Amphipolis.
When the first hints of gray spread across the sky, she rose and slipped a chiton over her head, wincing as it touched her back and shoulders. Tying the belt proved to be somewhat difficult, since Xena had applied the splint so that it included most of Gabrielle's hand, as well as her wrist. But eventually she managed to fumble a knot of sorts. After that, she went into the main room, lit a lamp, and coaxed the banked coals into a fire to boil willow bark for tea. When it was ready, she sat at the table sipping and thinking, until her rumbling stomach reminded her that she had eaten almost nothing during the past day. Getting up, she found some bread and cheese on the shelf, along with a pomegranate, and sat down to eat them. How hungry was Lyceus by now, she wondered, and how much longer would it be until Xena managed to get to him with the food she had taken in her bag?
With a sigh, Gabrielle finished her breakfast, washed it down with the last of the tea, and then walked through the courtyard to the latrine. After that, she went into Xena's hut and sorted through the bandages until she found a strip of linen that seemed a good length for a sling. Using her left hand and her teeth, she tied a knot, and then slipped the loop over her head and put her splinted arm through it. The fit wasn't quite right, she knew, but it would have to do for now.
The streets were almost totally deserted, and Gabrielle realized that most of the merchants and others who would normally be up and about at this hour were in Demetri's camp right now, wielding staffs and swords. The sun had risen, but just barely, and most of Amphipolis still lay in deep shadow.
Turning toward the main gate, Gabrielle walked as quickly as she could without causing extra pain to her injuries. A young boy came running towards her, and she guessed he was a messenger, headed for the gymnasium or one of the other gates.
"How is the battle going?" she called to him. "Is there any news?"
He slowed his pace slightly. "It's only just started," he panted, "so there's no news yet. They just wanted me to tell everyone that it's started."
Gabrielle nodded. "Thanks," she said, and the boy hurried off. She continued along the street, and as she passed the tavern, she was surprised to hear someone call her name.
It was Acantha, coming from the entrance to the courtyard. "I was just going to check on you," she said as she fell into step with the bard. "I guess you're feeling better, if you're out walking the streets," she added.
"Yeah, I'm feeling better, but I'm still pretty sore," Gabrielle said. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd go wait for Xena to bring Lyceus back."
"Poor boy, I hope he's all right," Acantha said, and Gabrielle was surprised to hear the depth of concern in the other woman's voice.
"Hey," Gabrielle said, "could you fix this sling for me? I had trouble tying it, and I didn't get it the right length." She stopped and turned to her companion.
"Oh, sure, I'll be glad to do it," Acantha said. "You want it shorter?"
"Yeah."
She moved behind Gabrielle and began to untie the fabric knot.
"It looks like you're starting to show a little bit," Gabrielle said. "are you still having nausea?"
"Some days," Acantha admitted, "but it's a lot easier to bear now that I know what's causing it." She pulled the sling up shorter. "How's that?" she asked.
"That seems okay," Gabrielle said. "Thanks."
Acantha tied a new knot and the two women continued on to the gate.
"Hello? Up there on the wall?" Gabrielle called to the older man who was keeping watch. "Can you tell how the battle's going?"
He peered down at her. "Who's there? Is that you, Gabrielle?"
"Yes, it's me. Is there any news?"
"No, not really," he said. "We can hear them fighting, but there's still too much mist to see anything."
"Didn't anybody from Cyrelle's platoon come back to bring prisoners or news?" she persisted.
"Nope, nobody came back, but there's a guy out there with an arrow stuck in him. One of Demetri's guards, looks like."
"How about Lyceus?" Acantha asked. "Can you see if he's still there?"
"No, can't see him. Too much mist."
"What are you talking about?" Gabrielle demanded. "Why would Lyceus be out there? Last I heard, he was tied up in the camp."
Acantha stared at her in surprise. "Oh," she said. "Xena never told you?"
"Told me what?"
"Well, I knew she didn't want to tell you yesterday, since you were hurt and everything, but I thought by now she would have--"
Gabrielle grabbed Acantha's arm roughly with her left hand. "What?" she asked again. "What was Xena supposed to tell me?"
"Just that--" Acantha began, and then glanced up at the lookout, who was watching their exchange with interest. "Uh, well, I guess you're bound to find out anyway," she went on uncertainly.
"Find out what? Acantha, tell me!"
The other woman took a deep breath, then said, "Yesterday afternoon Demetri's men brought Lyceus over across the bridge and tied him out there in the sun, with no clothes on."
"And then they proceeded to leave him there all day," the lookout added. "And maybe all night, too, but nobody could see him anymore once it got dark."
"By the gods," whispered Gabrielle. Her knees felt weak suddenly, and her grip on Acantha's arm had become a necessary means of support. "Why didn't Xena tell me?" she asked.
"I'm sure she just didn't want you to worry," Acantha said, "I mean, any more than you were already worrying."
Her explanation sounded somewhat lame, but Gabrielle had to admit that it was probably the right one. Even after all these years, Xena was still trying to protect her from certain painful truths. Feeling stronger again, she let go of Acantha's arm. "Well, that explains why Xena was taking clothes and ointment and all those other things for Lyceus."
"Yeah, and if anybody can rescue him and then take good care of him, it's Xena," Acantha said.
Gabrielle nodded, but the weight of dread in her gut felt even heavier than before.
"Hey! I think I see something!" called a second lookout. Gabrielle recognized her as a woman who often sold woven goods in the marketplace.
"What do you see?" asked Gabrielle.
"I think I can see the stakes where Lyceus was tied, but he's not there now."
"Come on, we can look out through the slits in the gate," Acantha said, drawing Gabrielle forward.
They peered out, and Gabrielle could just make out the chi-shaped form in the thinning mist. Her stomach made a strange lurch, and for a moment she thought she was going to be sick. Then she said, "If Lyceus isn't there now, does that mean Xena already freed him? And if she did, why didn't she bring him back to town?"
"Maybe he wasn't there overnight," Acantha suggested. "Maybe Xena had to go find him inside the camp somewhere."
"Maybe so," Gabrielle said, feeling more hopeful again.
"I see a body!" announced the first lookout. "It's just a few paces to the right of the stakes."
"Oh, and there's another one, too!" the woman lookout said. "See it? It's over there to the left a ways."
"Yeah, I see it," agreed the old man.
Gabrielle stared at the dark shapes that were gradually becoming visible in the mist. If Xena had found Lyceus dead, she might have just left his body there and gone on to take part in the attack. After all, she wouldn't have been able to carry him back, not while using her crutch, anyway.
"He's dead," Gabrielle said in a dull tone. "Xena left his body there so she could go fight."
"You don't know that," Acantha said. "You don't know that he's dead. That might be a guard. I thought you were an optimist. I'm the one who always seems to see the dark side of a situation."
Gabrielle looked at her. Acantha had changed so much in the time since Toris' death, and especially since learning that she was with child. "Thanks," she said with a weak smile, and then turned away from the gate. Acantha was right. They didn't know for sure that Lyceus was dead, and if he was, surely Xena would have come back to tell them herself. For right now, all they could really do was wait.
* * * * *
Luckily, the wait was not too long. Within the hour, the first of the wounded began to make their way back to town, supporting each other as they limped along.
"Have you seen Lyceus?" Gabrielle asked several of them. "Or Xena?"
But they only shook their heads and stumbled on toward the gymnasium.
Then came a runner. "It's over!" he shouted while he was still many paces away. "Demetri surrendered, and his lieutenants are dead!" The gates swung open wide to admit him. "It's over! We won!" he cried again as he sped through.
A cheer went up from the lookouts and the growing crowd inside the gate.
"Excuse me," Gabrielle called to the runner as she hurried after him. "Did you see Xena in Demetri's camp? Or Lyceus?"
He stopped and looked back at her. "Well, of course I saw Xena," he said. "She's the one who captured Demetri. Can't say I saw Lyceus, though."
"Okay, thanks," Gabrielle said.
He nodded and then ran off down the street.
"People are going out through the gate," Acantha said, tugging on Gabrielle's sleeve. "Come on, it's safe to go out now."
Gabrielle followed the other woman, and they were soon standing in the bright morning sun outside the city walls. A group of children had gathered around the dead guard, giggling nervously as they dared each other to touch him. Several other people, ignoring the body, ventured farther along the road in the direction of the bridge.
"If the fighting's over, I guess we could go to the camp and look for Lyceus ourselves," Acantha said. "Do you want to do that?"
Gabrielle stared at the tents that were now clearly visible on the plain beyond the river. "I don't know," she said.
Acantha looked at her. "Okay," she said, "well, maybe we could just go over by the stakes where Lyceus was tied, and uh, look around a little."
Gabrielle knew what she meant. She was suggesting they go look and see if either of the two bodies near the stakes was Lyceus'. "I don't think I feel like walking that far," she responded.
"We'll just wait here then," Acantha said, patting the bard's arm. "Surely someone will bring news soon." She looked toward the camp again, and put a hand up to shade her eyes. "Who's that coming across the bridge now?" she asked. "It looks like it might be Maphias and Sandros, but I don't know who that is between them."
Gabrielle shaded her own eyes and peered at the approaching figures. "It looks like they've got a pretty good grip on him, so it must be a prisoner," she said. The man's head hung down so that she could not see his face, and he stumbled a little as he walked.
The two women watched in silence for a time, and then the prisoner cast his gaze up briefly at the city walls.
"It's Demetri," Gabrielle said in surprise, "but he looks so different -- so defeated, or something, that I--"
"That's Demetri?" Acantha exclaimed, starting forward to meet the three men. "Just let me get my hands on that son of a bitch!"
"Acantha, wait!" cried Gabrielle. She trotted after the other woman, cradling her broken arm with her left hand and gritting her teeth against the pain.
Maphias and Sandros stopped their prisoner in the road as Acantha ran up to them.
"Are you Demetri?" she demanded, just as Gabrielle came panting up behind her.
The warlord looked at her, then nodded.
"You smell just like the piece of shit you are," she said, and then spat in his face. He jerked back, but she came after him. "You murdering bastard!" she exclaimed. "You killed my husband! Hanging is much too good for you, you--" And apparently unable to find the right words, she threw herself at him, clawing and beating his face while he tried to back away.
"No! Acantha, stop!" Gabrielle cried, but with only one good arm, she was unable to pull the other woman away from the warlord.
"Keep hold of him!" Maphias called to Sandros, as he let go of Demetri and grabbed Acantha by both arms.
She continued to struggle for a few more moments, and then collapsed against him, sobbing.
"It's okay, Acantha," he said as he patted her shoulder awkwardly. "We all know how much you loved Toris. We loved him, too," he added.
"I'm sorry," Acantha murmured as she pulled away from him and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "I didn't mean to do that. I just--" She stopped speaking and glared at Demetri.
"Don't worry," Maphias said. "This bastard is going to get exactly what he deserves."
"Yes, I certainly hope so," Acantha agreed.
The carpenter nodded as he released her and took a new grip on the prisoner's arm.
"Maphias," Gabrielle said, touching his sleeve with an urgent hand. "Did you see Lyceus anywhere in the camp?" she asked. "Do you know if he--" She stopped, unable to finish the question.
"Lyceus?" he said, and then smiled at her. "Sure, I saw Lyceus. He was hiding beside the supply tent, watching the battle."
"Really? Then he's -- alive?"
"I saw him, too," Sandros put in, grinning, "and he looked pretty much alive to me."
"Yep, sunburned, but definitely alive," Maphias agreed.
"Oh, thank you!" Gabrielle said, squeezing his arm as she blinked back tears of relief. "Thank you for that good news!"
Maphias glanced over his shoulder toward the bridge. "Xena was talking to Cyrelle when we left the camp," he said, "but I imagine she and Lyceus will be along soon."
Gabrielle nodded and stepped back so that the men could continue on toward the gate. Then she turned her attention toward the bridge, shading her eyes again.
"Do you want to walk that direction?" Acantha asked.
"Yeah," Gabrielle responded, and they began walking slowly along the road. They had almost reached the river when they saw Xena and Lyceus coming out of the camp. The boy looked somewhat unsteady on his feet, and he walked with one hand on the warrior's left shoulder, while she supported him with an arm around his waist.
"Lyceus!" Gabrielle called out and rushed across the bridge to meet him, no longer conscious of her own pain.
"Be careful," he warned when she tried to embrace him, "it hurts." Then he gave her a rueful smile.
"I know exactly what you mean," she said, smiling back, and standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "I was so worried about you," she went on. Then she looked at Xena and added, "You should have told me what they did to him."
"Yes, I'm sorry. I should have told you," the warrior admitted. "But as you can see, there was really no need to worry. Lyceus turned out to be as tough as they come." She grinned and ruffled his hair briefly. Then she said, "All we need to do now is get him home and put him to bed."
* * * * *
"Xena, what's wrong?" Gabrielle asked later, as the two of them stood inside the front door to their house. "For a commander who has just won a major battle, you don't seem very happy."
"Don't I?" Xena said, running a hand distractedly through her hair. "Well, I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet that we really won." She glanced over at Lyceus' cot. "Are you sure you feel like sitting up with him until he falls asleep?" she asked.
"Of course. I'll be fine."
Xena nodded. "That opium I gave him should knock him out pretty quickly -- not to mention that he's exhausted, after everything he's been through." She took her crutch from where it leaned against the wall, and tucked it under her arm. Then she turned back to Gabrielle. "I won't be gone long. I just want to check on the prisoners and the wounded at the gymnasium."
"Well, Acantha went over there to help out, you know," Gabrielle said with a smile, "so I'm sure she's got everyone organized and working hard by now. And isn't Petros supposed to be taking care of the wounded?"
"He is, but . . ." Xena's voice trailed off, and her eyes took on a distant look that Gabrielle could not interpret.
"Xena, what is it?" she asked again.
"It's nothing," the warrior returned, giving Gabrielle an unconvincing smile. "I'll be back soon." She touched the bard's cheek lightly, then opened the door and stepped out into the street.
"Were you two talking about me?" Lyceus called in a drowsy voice.
"Not really," Gabrielle said, returning to his cot and sitting down on a stool beside it. "What makes you think everything is about you?"
"Just that Xena said I was a hero," he said with a grin.
"Well, she's right. You are a hero."
"I watched the whole battle."
"Yes, so I heard."
"Now I can tell stories about it," he went on.
"I'm sure you'll tell wonderful stories," Gabrielle said, brushing the hair back from his face, "but right now you need to go to sleep."
"Uh-huh," he murmured. He closed his eyes, but after a moment he opened them again. "I think Xena was pretty mad at Cyrelle," he said.
"Mad at Cyrelle? How come?"
"'Cause she cut those guys' heads off. Titos and . . . the other one."
"Altair?"
"Yeah."
Gabrielle frowned. "You mean she was fighting them, and she--"
"Not fighting," Lyceus said. His words began to slur a little as the opium took effect. "She made them kneel down and then -- whack!" he finished, with a sidewise movement of his hand to illustrate.
"You mean she executed them?"
"Uh-huh. I think she liked . . . all that blood . . . but not me." His eyes closed. "Made me puke," he mumbled.
"Where was Xena while this was going on?" asked Gabrielle. "Didn't she try to stop Cyrelle?"
But there was no answer to her question, only the deep, steady breathing of a young hero asleep.
Gabrielle sat back a little on the stool. She was pretty sure she had discovered the cause of Xena's distress. Maybe she could get her to talk about it later on. For now, Gabrielle could only sigh and sit gazing at Lyceus. The skin of his face was shiny with ointment, and looked painfully swollen, but at least he was here with her, safe at home. Cyrelle, on the other hand, was still out there somewhere, wrestling with her dark side -- if she hadn't already given in to it. No wonder Xena was worried.
After a time, Gabrielle got up and went into the sleeping room, leaving the curtain open. She stretched out on her stomach, not really expecting to fall asleep. Apparently, she did, though, since the next thing she became aware of was the sound of Xena's softly limping footsteps in the main room. She heard the warrior go out through the back door, and waited for her to return. When she didn't, Gabrielle slipped out of bed and followed her lover into the courtyard.
Xena was sitting on a low stool at the edge of one of the herb beds, busily pulling weeds. Gabrielle walked over and lowered herself to sit on the flagstones beside the older woman.
Glancing briefly at her, Xena asked, "Did you get any sleep?"
"A little," Gabrielle replied. "I thought you might join me."
Xena shrugged. "I'm not really sleepy," she said.
She began to pull weeds again, and Gabrielle sat silent for several minutes, watching her face. Finally, she said, "Thank you, Xena. For saving Lyceus."
"You don't have to thank me," the warrior responded. "Lyceus is like a son to me. I'm not going to let anything happen to him, if I can help it."
"I know, but still . . ." She reached out to touch Xena's shoulder and run her fingers through the long, gray hair lying across it. "Lyceus told me that Cyrelle beheaded those two lieutenants," she said. "Is that what you're upset about?"
"Among other things," Xena admitted. She appeared to still be focused on her gardening task, but now her hands stopped moving among the plants.
"What other things?" Gabrielle asked softly.
The warrior drew in a deep breath and let it out again. Then she straightened up and turned to look at Gabrielle. "I feel pretty certain that Ares and Cyrelle have made some sort of plan, which they are about to launch," she said, "I think I can guess part of the plan, but until I know everything, I just don't know how to fight them."
"Fight them? Are you talking about a physical battle with Ares -- or with Cyrelle?"
"I don't know," Xena said. "It all depends on what they're up to. Maybe I'll just decide to let them go off and do whatever it is, without opposition."
There was a tone of defeat in her voice that brought an ache to Gabrielle's heart. She slid her hand up under Xena's hair and began to rub the back of her neck. "Where's Cyrelle now?" she asked. "Still in Demetri's camp?"
Xena nodded. "I left her in charge there."
"Do you think that was wise? Maybe you should have brought her back to town so we could keep an eye on her."
"No, I need to let this thing play out, and the sooner, the better."
"How long do you think it will be until we know something?"
"Not long," Xena said, closing her eyes and stretching her neck in response to Gabrielle's massage. "Defeating Demetri was just too easy, so I think the whole thing was engineered by Ares as part of whatever he's doing with Cyrelle."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Gabrielle agreed. She moved her hand to Xena's left shoulder and began working to release some of the tension there.
"You know, I appreciate what you're trying to do," Xena said after a few moments, "but I'm afraid that making me relax right now may be a lost cause."
"I could do a better job if I didn't have this stupid broken arm," Gabrielle said as she started work on Xena's other shoulder. Then she asked, "Have you eaten anything recently? Acantha brought us some eggs yesterday, so I could scramble those with some onions and dried meat."
"You can do that with one hand?" Xena asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I think so."
"All right. I guess it's about time I tried to eat something."
"Good," Gabrielle said. She got to her feet and held out her hand to help Xena up. Then the two of them went into the house.
"Do you think we should wake Lyceus, so he can eat?" Gabrielle asked.
Xena glanced over at the sleeping boy. "No," she said. "I think sleep is more important for him right now than food." She pulled out a chair, sat down, and propped her elbows on the table. Then she buried her face in her hands.
"Looks like you need some sleep, yourself," Gabrielle commented.
"Probably so," Xena agreed.
The bard turned to the fireplace and had just finished adding several sticks of wood when a knock sounded on the door.
"I'll get it," Xena said, looking suddenly alert again as she rose from the table and hobbled across the room.
It was Maphias. "I have some news," he said in a grim tone.
"Come in," Xena said, drawing him into the room and closing the door behind him. "Come sit down at the table," she went on, "and try not to wake Lyceus."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Maphias whispered. "How's he doing?"
"He'll be all right," Xena said, moving to the table and gesturing for Maphias to take a seat. "I gave him some opium, so he's not too likely to wake up, but just keep your voice down."
"Okay, sure," he said as he slid into his seat.
Xena sat at the end of the table, and Gabrielle took the chair opposite Maphias. "So what's the news?" Gabrielle asked.
"It's about Cyrelle," he said.
"What happened to her? Is she hurt?" Gabrielle asked.
"No, she's not hurt," he said, staring down at the tabletop. "It's something else." He was silent for a few moments, and then he looked at Xena.
"Go on," she said gently. "You can tell me."
"Well," he began, "Cyrelle has sort of, uh, taken over Demetri's army."
"Taken over? What do you mean?" asked Gabrielle. She noted that Xena did not look surprised.
"She made a speech to the men," he said. "She told them they could avoid being punished if they would swear allegiance to her as their commander. She said they could help fight Ares' battle to achieve universal peace. They would conquer towns and use the spoils of war to make a better world. She--" He gave a rueful grin. "Well, you know how Cyrelle can get people all worked up into a frenzy over some cause or other," he went on. "Anyway, most of Demetri's men knelt down and vowed to serve her. And some of the fighters from Amphipolis did the same."
"How do you know all this?" Gabrielle asked. "Were you in the camp when it happened?"
"Yes. I went back there after Sandros and I took Demetri to the gymnasium. I'm sure Cyrelle knew I wouldn't join her army, so she sent me to deliver her list of demands."
"What does she want?" Xena asked.
He took a deep breath. "She wants Amphipolis to provide thirty new recruits for her army, four wagonloads of food and wine, plus fifty percent of the proceeds from the gold and timber trade."
Xena stared at him for a moment and then began to laugh. "What a greedy little daughter I've produced!" she said. "At least Demetri only asked for forty percent." She shook her head and then added, "And I suppose that if we don't meet her demands, she's threatened to destroy the town and sell all its inhabitants into slavery."
"Either that or put us to the sword," Maphias said glumly.
"I can't believe this!" Gabrielle burst out. "I can't believe Cyrelle would turn against her own people like this! Xena, this is our daughter we're talking about!"
"This is Ares' daughter we're talking about," Xena reminded her. "Although I'm sure I contributed my share of darkness to the mix."
"Xena, you can't blame yourself for--" Gabrielle began, but the warrior silenced her with a sharp wave of her hand.
Turning to Maphias, she said, "Here's the proposal I want you to take back to Cyrelle. Tell her I will meet her in single combat tomorrow morning when the sun is two hours high, on the road between Amphipolis and the bridge. If she wins, the town will honor her demands. If I win, she will surrender her army, and the men will be dispersed and sent home."
Gabrielle stared at her lover for several long moments, and then glanced at Maphias, who looked to be as surprised as she herself was.
"Xena, are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. "I mean, it's true that Cyrelle is young and inexperienced, but I've seen her fight, and--"
"I'm sure," Xena said.
"Well, maybe the town council should at least talk about it," Maphias went on.
"No. We haven't got time for a bunch of lengthy discussions right now. The town council put me in charge of defending Amphipolis, and this is how I choose to defend it."
Maphias still looked unconvinced. He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again.
"Look," Xena said, putting a hand on his arm, "we've already had enough people get hurt or killed fighting Demetri. If I fight Cyrelle alone, only one person is at risk."
He sighed. "Xena, let's face it, you're just not as young as you used to be," he said. "Not to mention that you're, well, lame." He shifted uncomfortably, then continued, "Anyway, for you to try to fight this kind of battle alone -- it just seems really dangerous." He stopped speaking and looked at Gabrielle. "What do you think?" he asked. "Can't you get Xena to change her mind?"
She shook her head and smiled a little, trying to ignore the fear that sat like a lead weight in her stomach. "I learned long ago that it doesn't do much good to question Xena in matters like this. If she feels that she can defeat Cyrelle, I have to trust that she can do it."
Xena smiled at her, then said, "Okay, Maphias, the bard has spoken, so I just need for you to--"
"What if Cyrelle doesn't agree to your proposal?" he asked.
"Oh, I think she will," Xena said. "And do you know why? Because she's taking orders from Ares now, and this is the kind of thing he loves. A daughter fighting her mother. What could be more fun than that? He'll definitely tell her to go for it."
"Yeah, but--" Maphias began.
"Just deliver the message! That's an order."
"Yes, Commander," he replied, then gave her a weak grin as he pushed back his chair and stood up.
"Maphias, have you eaten?" Gabrielle asked. "We were just going to have some scrambled eggs, and you're welcome to join us."
"Thanks, but I managed to grab a little food earlier," he said. "And anyway, I'm sure Xena wants this message delivered right away."
"You bet!" Xena said, as she got up and walked with him to the door. "Thanks, Maphias. You're not only a good soldier, but also a good friend. Everything's going to work out. You'll just have to trust me on this one."
Gabrielle sat at the table without moving until Xena came back and resumed her seat. Then she said, "You knew this was going to happen, didn't you? That's why you weren't surprised when Maphias brought the news."
"Well, I knew that Demetri was just a pawn, so I figured Ares had been using him to assemble an army for Cyrelle to command," Xena said. She paused for a moment, shook her head, and continued, "But I never guessed Cyrelle would turn around and attack Amphipolis."
"I know. I can't understand why she would do such a thing."
"This is Ares' work. She must be totally under his influence by now."
"But what about her friends and her family?" Gabrielle asked. "How could she even think about killing us or selling us into slavery?"
"If she had just wanted to take her army and go off somewhere, I was almost prepared to let her do it," Xena admitted. "But now--"
"Now you have to defend Amphipolis -- again."
"My first loyalty has to be to the townspeople, and to the rest of my family."
"But can you really do this, Xena? Can you fight your own daughter? What if it turns out to be a fight to the death? Could you actually--" She stopped, too horrified by the thought to continue.
"Nobody's talking about a fight to the death, Gabrielle. This is just a battle that happens to involve only two people. One of us will probably walk away humiliated, but no one has to die."
Gabrielle nodded. "Okay, that makes me feel better, but are you sure Cyrelle is going to understand it the same way?"
Xena shrugged. "Who knows what Cyrelle understands about anything these days?" she said. "The only thing I myself understand is that I'm hungry, and the scrambled eggs I was promised have yet to appear."
"You're hungry?" Gabrielle said, laughing as she got out of her chair. "I think I've just lost any appetite I had."
"I always feel better when I know exactly what I'm up against," Xena admitted.
"Well, good. I'm glad at least one of us feels okay about this situation." Gabrielle went to the shelf and took down a skillet, then stood staring at it, unable to turn her thoughts to the cooking of eggs. After a moment, she heard a soft footstep behind her, and felt Xena's arms gently encircle her.
"How about if I help you?" the older woman murmured as she kissed the top of Gabrielle's head. "Cooking with one hand is bound to be a little tricky."
"Kind of like fighting when you've only got one good leg to stand on?"
"Yeah, kind of like that."
"Xena, you can't cook a decent meal even when you use both hands," Gabrielle said, looking back over her shoulder to grin at her lover.
"I know, but that has never stopped me from trying," the warrior said. "Now, where are those eggs?"
* * * * *
The food tasted dry and flavorless in Gabrielle's mouth, and she found it impossible to finish her portion. Xena, on the other hand, ate all her eggs and then wiped the plate clean with a piece of bread. They were just finishing when a boy arrived with a message from Maphias saying that Cyrelle had agreed to Xena's proposed match.
"Good," the warrior said to Gabrielle in a tone of grim irony. "Now I just have to decide whether to use my crutch and fight left-handed, or fight right-handed and limp a lot."
"Use the crutch," Gabrielle said as she picked up their plates. "It might come in handy as a weapon, and if you find it slows you down, you can always ditch it."
"Yeah, you're right," Xena agreed. Then she yawned and stretched. "I'm thinking about taking a nap," she said.
"Go ahead. I can clean up."
"I'll be glad to help."
"No, I can do it. You need the rest."
"Okay," Xena said, as she got up from the table. "I probably won't sleep all that long. Wake me up if anything happens." She turned and limped over to Lyceus' cot, where she stood studying the boy for a short time before bending down to touch his face. Then, apparently satisfied that he was doing all right, she continued into the sleeping room.
Gabrielle took her time washing the dishes, partly because it was awkward to do with only one hand, and also because she wanted to make as little noise as possible. But if her work went slowly, her mind, meanwhile, was racing, filled with horrible images of Xena and Cyrelle slashing at each other with swords.
When the last dish had been dried and returned to the shelf, Gabrielle hung the damp linen towel over the back of a chair and then went into the smaller room. Xena lay on her back, asleep, the lines of tension now erased from her face. She looked young again, or so it seemed to Gabrielle -- almost as young as she had looked when they first met.
There had been so many difficult battles to fight, through the years, but Xena had somehow come through them all. Why should this battle be any different? Gabrielle tried to take comfort in this thought, but she found she could not. Too much time had passed since Xena had done any serious fighting. And no matter how much skill she retained, she was bound to be less agile now, simply because of her leg. The bard closed her eyes for a moment and breathed a long sigh. Then, turning, she made her way back through the main room and out the door that led to the courtyard.
The heat of the afternoon sun came as something of a shock after the cool dimness of the house. But Gabrielle welcomed the warmth, hoping it would banish the feeling of chill from her gut. Sitting down on the bench beside the door, she squinted into the courtyard and suddenly found herself remembering how Cyrelle used to skip and run there, riding stick horses, and playing at sword fighting whenever she thought Xena wasn't watching. What a wild child she had been -- but deeply loved, none the less. And now she had repaid them by turning against her mother, her family, and everyone she knew. It just didn't make any sense.
Tears stung Gabrielle's eyes, and as she brushed them away, she had the sudden sensation that she was not alone in the courtyard. Looking up, she saw Ares lounging against the back gate.
"You bastard!" Gabrielle exclaimed, jumping up and starting toward him. "How dare you show your face around here! Haven't you done enough damage already?"
He smiled and shrugged, then straightened up and sauntered forward. "You can save her, you know," he said.
"Save who? Cyrelle?"
"No, not Cyrelle," he said, obviously amused. "Cyrelle doesn't need saving. I'm talking about Xena."
"Xena doesn't need saving, either," Gabrielle said stoutly. "She's just as good a warrior as she ever was."
"No, she's not, and you know it," Ares responded. "She's getting old, so her reflexes are slower, and she's a cripple. Cyrelle won't have much trouble at all killing her."
"Killing her?" Gabrielle said, as she felt her whole body turn to ice. "But it's not a fight to the death. Xena said it was just . . ." Her voice trailed off.
"Xena can believe whatever she wants to," Ares said in a tone of maddening calmness, "but Cyrelle may have other ideas."
"Cyrelle wouldn't kill her own mother. She loves Xena. And she knows what kind of sacrifices Xena has made for her."
"Perhaps, but Cyrelle also knows that Xena stands between her and her destiny as a warrior."
"That's not true," Gabrielle protested. "Xena let her become a warrior. She even taught her to use a sword."
"Yes, but only so she could help defend Amphipolis," Ares said. "Do you think Xena really wants Cyrelle to go on fighting? Do you think she would let Cyrelle lead my army as my Warrior Queen?"
"Well, actually, Xena told me she might be willing to let you and Cyrelle go off and do your thing, but now that Cyrelle has turned against Amphipolis--"
"This is a prosperous town," Ares cut in. "We need the wealth of Amphipolis to launch our campaign. All Xena has to do is give Cyrelle what she's asking for, and no one will get hurt."
"No one except the people of Amphipolis. We can't possibly afford to give what Cyrelle is asking."
"Sure you can," Ares said casually. "And wouldn't you be willing to make a few small sacrifices to keep Xena from being killed?"
"It's not up to me. This is a whole town we're talking about."
"Yes, and Xena is their skilled and beloved healer. Don't you think the townspeople care about saving her? There's no point in her sacrificing her life to save them, because once she's dead, they'll still have to meet Cyrelle's demands. If they don't, they'll lose their own lives, or at least their freedom."
"But if Xena defeats Cyrelle--"
"It won't happen, trust me," Ares said flatly. "Have you seen Cyrelle fight lately?"
Gabrielle stared at him, trying to think how to answer. "I can't believe this," she said finally. "I just can't believe that Cyrelle would do this to the people she loves."
Ares moved closer and put a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Believe it, Gabrielle," he said. "It's the truth, and if you don't face it, you risk losing everything, starting with the person you love most in the world." Then he gave her a cold smile. "Talk to Xena. Tell her what I said. I think she'll see there's only one thing to be done here." And with that, he turned away, and promptly vanished.
Trembling, Gabrielle walked slowly toward the house. Was Ares right? Could Cyrelle actually be willing to kill Xena? She opened the door and stepped inside, then walked to the sleeping room. Standing beside the bed, she stared at her lover in silence for a few moments, then burst out, "Xena! Wake up!"
The warrior gave a small start and opened her eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"It's Ares. He was just here, in the courtyard. He said Cyrelle intends to kill you."
The color drained from Xena's face. She pushed herself up to a sitting position and then moved over to make space for Gabrielle. "Sit down," she said quietly. "Tell me about it."