Lost Friends - Part 2
Part 2
Dalney returned with two other soldiers carrying three trays of food and drink. The trays were loaded with bread and meat. After thanking Dalney and the other soldiers, Lando informed them that she'd be along shortly to start the interrogation of the prisoners.
"I'm starving!" Gabrielle exclaimed as she stared at the trays in front of her, salivating.
"Please Gabrielle, help yourself. It's the least I could do after you helped save that village back there." Lando said, as she grabbed for a drumstick from the tray of meat.
Xena reached for a piece of bread and asked, "So Lando, what are your plans for defeating this warlord?"
"Is there a way to defeat whoever this is? Gabrielle questioned. "I mean, you said that he never steps foot on the battlefield and you don't even know what this person looks like."
"That's what I hope to get out of the soldiers we captured. Speaking of which, I should go start the interrogation. If you will excuse me?" Lando got to her feet and continued, "Please stay, enjoy the food. I'll be back shortly."
"Lando, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you. Who knows, I may be able to help." Xena offered.
"Yeah, sure, that sounds good."
"Uhhh, I think I'll just take a look around the camp myself." Gabrielle said as she finished a piece of bread.
With that, Xena and Lando left the tent and headed to the prisoners tent. The two women were a sight to see as they walked side by side, their physical stature demanding obedience.
"Xena, I'm sorry for what happened back there at the village." Lando apologized, breaking the silence. "This warlord is so battle smart and ruthless, that for the longest time I was afraid it was you, and then when I saw you..."
Xena reached out to grab Lando by the shoulder and stopped her. "Lando, you don't have to apologize. You had every right to think that it was me. The last time we saw each other that's who I was. How could you have known that I've changed?"
"I could have asked." Lando remarked sarcastically. "No, seriously, I'm really glad you've changed and that you're here. If I'm going to defeat this warlord, I need the best and you are the best Xena. Together we may just be able to stop this madness."
"I'll do everything possible to help you Lando. I let you down once and I won't repeat the same mistake twice."
They reached the tent which was being guarded by two soldiers. Lando nodded and they lifted one of the flaps. Inside the tent were four men tied to chairs, with six of Lando's soldiers guarding them. The chairs were in a line in the middle of the tent, with each man blindfolded, facing the front of the tent.
"Well boys, which of you is going to be the one to tell me who your boss is, hmmm ?!!!" Lando asked, knowing full well she wouldn't get any response. "What about you, my friend!" she demanded, as she slapped the solider across the face. Though she drew blood from the corner of his mouth, he still didn't answer. "All right, you want to play hardball, we'll play hardball." Lando released a devastating blow to the soldiers' face, shattering his nose and sending him backward to the ground. She followed with a kick to his ribs as he lay still tied to the tipped chair. Xena, who until now was watching from the back of the tent, stepped forward as she saw what little self-control Lando had vanish.
"Lando, let me give it a try." Xena said, as she realized that Lando was on the verge of losing all self-control.
"Please, by all means." Lando offered, as she stepped back to regain her composure.
Xena stepped in front of the solider in the middle and, with swift hands, jabbed her fingers into precise spots on his neck. The soldiers' body immediately tensed up as he tried to fight it. "Don't bother to struggle, I've cut off the flow of blood to your brain. You'll be dead in 30 seconds unless you tell me who you work for." Blood began to trickle down his nose as he continued to strain. "Now tell me who you work for!" she demanded, delivering a back hand to his face. He just sat there, content with dying to protect the identity of his boss.
Only the noise of the solider struggling for his breath could be heard in the tent. Xena watched as he began to blackout from the oxygen depravation to his brain. Again with swift jabs of her hands, Xena released the hold, causing him to slump forward in the chair. Xena turned to Lando, who only shrugged her shoulders in frustration. She turned to the last solider and applied the same move to him, with the same results.
"Xena, can I see you outside?" Lando asked as she pointed to the tent flap.
The two women stepped out of the tent into the afternoon sun, squinting from the sudden brightness. "Xena, let's walk shall we."
Gabrielle, who had been touring the camp since Lando and Xena left for the interrogation, spotted the two women walking at the south end of camp. She ran to catch up with them. "Hey guys, how did it go? Find anything out?" she questioned, as she tapped Xena on the shoulder.
"Yeah, men can be bull headed." Lando replied sarcastically. "How can one person instill so much dedication or fear into his troops that they're willing to die?"
"We'll figure something out." Xena said confidently.
"Got a plan?" Gabrielle asked.
"No. I'm still working on that one." Xena replied.
"I hope it's a good one Xena." Lando countered. "Somehow we have to figure out his next move. Every time I finally catch up with him, he's ready. It's like he knows my moves before I do."
With that comment, Xena stopped. The three of them looked around then Xena asked, "Lando, have you considered the possibility that you may have a spy among your soldiers?"
"Xena! How could you even think that? All my soldiers are very dedicated to me and they don't believe in destruction." Lando defended.
"Lando, think about what you just said. That he seems to know your moves beforehand, and if he is such an awesome warlord, why wouldn't he put a spy in place to keep tabs on your moves. I would."
"I just don't see who it could possibly be Xena. All my men are so honest and dedicated."
"That's exactly what he wants you to think." Gabrielle interjected. "What better place to put a spy if you have no reason to doubt your troops."
"I see you've taught her well Xena."
"Yeah, she was a quick study." Xena joked, grinning at Gabrielle.
Camp was full of movement, with soldiers either sharpening their weapons or talking with others recounting their latest battle. Some of the villagers had returned along with the soldiers to retrieve medical supplies and food. With the afternoon sun starting to beat down hard, the three women walked back to Lando's tent. As they reached the tent, Dalney came running up from behind them.
"Lando, I have good news!" he yelled.
"What is it Dalney?" Lando asked curtly as she entered the tent with Xena, Gabrielle, and Dalney right behind her.
"I continued the interrogation and I finally got something out of one."
"A name?!" Lando questioned.
"No, but I got the location of their next attack!" he said beaming with pride at this accomplishment.
"Excellent job Dalney! Where is it going to be?"
"Haysa. Four days journey from here."
"Haysa! Damn! There's no way we can catch up to them before they reach the village." she said with frustration.
"It's only a two day journey if you cut through the Amazon territory." Xena spoke up. We can save two days."
"Yeah, if we could cut through. There's no way the Amazons will let us take an army through their territory. Not even this warlord would dare challenge them on their own land." Lando explained.
"I'm sure if you ask the Amazon Queen nicely she'll let you." Gabrielle said with a grin across her face as she turned to Xena and said "Don't you think so Xena?"
"Oh yeah, definitely." Xena supported her as a grin crossed her face as well.
"What are you two on? Why would the Amazons involve themselves and let us through? This has nothing to do with them. Besides, by the time I could set up a meeting with their Queen, it would be to late." Lando questioned.
"Oh by the way Lando, have I introduced you to Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons?" Xena asked. She was barely able to contain her laughter as she saw Lando's jaw drop to the ground at this news.
"What?...you....Queen....Amazons..." Lando stuttered.
"Pleasure to meet you Lando." Gabrielle said giggling. "So do you have something to ask me?" Gabrielle asked pointedly.
"By Zeus, the Amazon Queen." Lando said, still dumbfounded.
"Can you have your men ready to move in a few hours?" Xena asked.
"Uh yeah....Of course I can." Lando replied, still staring in disbelief at Gabrielle.
"The three of us will go ahead to meet the Amazons and make sure the way is clear for your men." Gabrielle instructed.
"All right, I'll have Dalney get the men ready and have them wait until I send word that it's safe to move." With that Lando turned and left the tent in search of Dalney.
"That was fun!" Gabrielle chuckled.
"Yeah. Yeah it was."
Lando explained everything to Dalney regarding crossing through the Amazon's territory. Dalney had many reservations about crossing Amazon land, but there really was no choice if they were to catch up with the warlord. Besides with the Amazon Queen with them, what could possibly go wrong? As Dalney set out to make sure everything would be ready for the move, Lando took off for a small group of trees at the west end of camp.
Kneeling on one knee, and looking toward the sky, she spoke. "Kane, I know you can hear me. I need some of that great advise of yours. People kept telling the pain I felt after you were killed would go away in time, but all it's done is get worse. I feel like a volcano ready to explode. I have a hard time controlling my rage. I almost killed a prisoner to get information. That's not me. It feels like I'm watching this other person control my body and I can do nothing about it. An old friend came back into my life today. Xena. I'm sure you remember me talking about her. But when I saw her, I almost killed her because I thought she was the one responsible for your death. I vowed to you that I would bring this person to justice, but when I had the chance to kill the one responsible, rage overtook me and I was out of control." Standing up and pacing in frustration, she continued. "I hate this! I hate this rage I feel. Now that Xena has agreed to help me, I know I can beat this warlord. But I don't know if I'll be able to control my rage when we come face to face. Please Kane, help me out here, give me some sign so I know what I'm doing is right.
"Xena!" Lando called as she came running up to Xena and Gabrielle who were getting Argo ready for the journey. Xena turned to Lando, who said "Everything will be ready when the word is sent to move."
"Yeah, I talked with Dalney. You all right? Dalney said he didn't know where you took off to." Xena questioned.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had some stuff I had to take care of. Are we ready to go?"
"Your horse is being saddled, then we should be set." Gabrielle replied.
"Great. I'll go get him and then we can take off." Lando said, then took off running to the makeshift stable.
"Something isn't right with her." Xena said as she watched Lando take off.
"What do you mean? She seems fine to me." Gabrielle replied.
"I don't know. She's just not the same person I once knew. The way she moves, the look in her eyes... I just know, she's different." Xena explained.
"You haven't seen her in a long time Xena. She has obviously been through a lot lately." She paused and turned toward the stable to see Lando emerging on a huge black stallion. "The death of a husband is enough to change anyone." she said solemnly. Then she turned to see that Xena had mounted Argo and giving her a reassuring look, reached her hand down to Gabrielle to help her up.
"All right, lead the way." Lando said as she pulled up next to them.
"Yaaaa.." Xena yelled as she spurred Argo on.
TO BE CONTINUED
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