Disclaimer
Violence ~ Oh yeah, I'd say the violence starts here.
Sex/Subtext ~ Not much sex to write of but subtext is an always.
Copyright ~ I don't own X&G and company but I do own a few of the various
characters and the story idea is mine.
Time Frame: Sixth
Season Gabrielle and Xena. This is the sequel to A World Away so I recommend
reading it before reading this one.
Any feedback can be sent to me at... Red_Hope@yahoo.com
Homepage: http://www.oocities.org/red_hope1
Started:
Mini-Series One: The Reflection of the Mirror Story: Two
______________________________________________________________________________________
The Conqueror of The
Conqueror
By
Red Hope
Section 4
~*~*~*~
The Conqueror lifted
her right hand after she stopped Argo. She listened to the rattling of her
men’s amour and weapons come to a dead silence, she lowered her hand back down
to her saddle.
The two Amazons at the gates
of the Amazon Nation approached the ruler.
“Conqueror, what can we help
you with?”
“Queen Gabrielle asked for
me.” The ruler shifted a little in her saddle. “I believe she would want her
weapons master back.” She signalled back to a bit to an Amazon riding on a
horse.
The two Amazons smiled when
they saw Eponin safely seated on a warhorse.
“Go on,” ordered one of the
guards.
One Amazon went through the
slightly opened gates and rushed off in their search to find the Queen.
Palamon moved a little uneasily
in his saddle.
“How you feel?” asked the
Conqueror quietly.
The general sighed before
replying, “Still a little weak… and saddle sore.”
Xena softly laughed to herself and with an amused look, turned her head back to the
gates right when Gabrielle stepped through them.
“Welcome back, Conqueror.”
The ruler smiled down at her
friend. “Nice to see you again. I brought back a
gift.” She turned her head towards Eponin.
“Ep?”
The weapons master smiled then
carefully dismounted from her horse and came up to Gabrielle to hug her.
“Glad you made it back
safely,” whispered the warrior-bard.
“Me too,” joked the weapons
master.
Ephiny and Solari were next to
snake through the gates of the village. They too saw Eponin and went to greet
her happily.
The warrior-bard neared the
Conqueror; her head dropping back some to gaze up at the dark ruler. “Thank
you.”
“You’re welcome.” The ruler
kept her back stiff in the saddle, her posture rather calm. “The men I’ve
brought with me are for the Amazons.” She half turned her head, giving a signaled with her right hand.
A young man approached on
horseback to the Conqueror’s side.
“This is my new guard captain,
Joxer.”
The guard captain smiled at
the Amazon Queen.
“Nice to meet you, Queen
Gabrielle,” greeted Joxer.
Gabrielle stared at the man,
blinked, and shook her head; an amused look took over her features. “By the
God, I’d never would have imagined,” she whispered to
herself.
“What’s wrong?” inquired the
ruler.
“Nothing, Conqueror… its just in my world, our Joxer, I
could never imagine as quite… well the soldier.”
Xena raised an eyebrow at this
before saying, “Joxer has been one of my finest since
I started my campaign to conquer the known-world.”
Gabrielle simply nodded her
understanding. “Thank you, Conqueror. I know the Nation could use the extra
protection.” She then took a couple of steps back towards the gates. “Please
come into the Nation.”
“Thank you.” Xena dismounted
her mare before facing her guard captain. “Joxer, see
to it that the men setup a perimeter around the
Nation. Then meet us in the village.”
“Yes of course, my liege.” Joxer turned his horse around and ordered the men to follow
him.
Gabrielle, however, escorted
Palamon and the Conqueror, into the village. Ephiny, Solari, and the weapons
master tagged along behind Gabrielle.
“Have my ten Amazons been
cordial with you?” asked Gabrielle.
“Yes,” simply answered the
ruler but then she added, “They were rather helpful in stopping Draco and a few
of his men earlier.”
“I take it then it was a bit
difficult for Autolycus and Iolaus to make it out of the fort?”
“Yes some but… they managed.”
The Conqueror grinned.
The Amazon Queen chuckled. She
then came to a halt and called, “Teresa?”
Teresa came out of the stables
and spotted her Queen. “Yes, Gabrielle?” She quickly marched over to the group.
“Can you please take our
guests’ horses?”
The young Amazon nodded and
took the reins from Xena and then Palamon.
Solari nudged Eponin
carefully. “Here, give me your horse’s reigns. I can take care of him.”
“Thanks, Solar.”
“No problem.” The second in
command smiled before following Teresa into the stables.
The warrior-bard placed her
hands behind her back; she peered up at her tall, dark friend. “I want you to
meet the other queen of the Amazons.”
“I’d appreciate that.” The
Conqueror held out her hand to the younger woman to lead the way.
Gabrielle briefly smiled then
showed the group to Velasca’s hut. Once she was at
the door, she knocked three times.
Velasca quickly answered the
door, her features immediately going hard at seeing the Conqueror. “Conqueror,”
she stated rather harshly.
The ruler’s eyes faintly
narrowed.
“Conqueror, this is Queen
Velasca. She has been running a smaller village north of here.”
The Conqueror nodded, still
studying the other queen. Velasca made her skin crawl.
The small warrior then
directed to the general. “And this is Palamon.”
Velasca forced on a smile
towards Palamon.
Gabrielle noted the silence
and felt her own skin crawl at the tension. “Velasca, join us. We’re going to
my hut to discuss what’s ahead.”
The queen acknowledged her
answer, closing the door to her hut and following the group to the Queen’s hut.
Once inside, the group sat or
stood in various spots within the Queen's hut.
"Has there been any word
from Xena yet, Conqueror?" inquired the warrior-bard as she set on the
corner of the desk.
"Nothing," answered
the Conqueror, "but there should be something soon here."
Gabrielle simply nodded and
folded her arms against her chest. "Has anybody discussed the plans with
you, Eponin?"
The weapons master shook her
head in response.
"Okay, the way things are
working right now is Xena, Eve, and two other Amazons have gone to
"We?" The weapons master
raised an eyebrow.
"We…." Gabrielle
pointed to the ruler. "The Amazons and the
Conqueror."
"But-"
"We have a treaty to
uphold, Eponin," cut off Solari, she gave her
friend a challenging look.
The weapons master's expression
switched, and she replied, "I didn't know."
The warrior-bard slightly
smiled to herself at the second in command's interjection. "Hopefully the
fight against Sinteres and Draco will go well."
"What do you need of
me?" questioned the weapons master.
"Do you think you're up
to this, Ep?" Gabrielle lifted herself off the
corner of the table. "I need you but I do not want you strained."
The weapons master shook her
head. "I'm an Amazon, that's answer enough."
Gabrielle accepted the
response. "I need you to start organizing the Amazons with Solari's help." Her eyes flickered to Solari briefly
then back to the weapons master. "You two are to organize them and then setup various traps in the forest. And with Palamon's help… if that is okay by the Conqueror?" She
switched her attention to the dark ruler.
The Conqueror slowly nodded.
"Palamon will be happy to assist. Correct?"
"Yes of course, my
liege."
"Alright." Gabrielle sighed
while thinking for a moment.
"What if Sinteres and
Draco do not leave the compound?" cut in Velasca. "What then?"
The ruler chewed on her lower
lip before posing an answer, "We'll have to attack them then."
"Oh great, like we have
the man power for that," growled Velasca.
The Conqueror sharply turned
her head to the queen. "You may not but I certainly do… Queen
Velasca."
Gabrielle quickly straightened
off the desk and took a step forward. "The Conqueror is right, we will
have to attack. We cannot leave them there."
"Even I have seen that
fortress, it is built back into a small cliff side," started the queen.
"There is no way in Tartarus we can break into that compound."
"There is a way,"
broke in Eponin. "I think I've seen a way while Palamon and I were there."
"What was that?"
questioned the regent.
"I think I recall seeing
some kind of…." She couldn't find the right word for it.
"It was a type of mining
shaft," finished Palamon. "I think they use to mine in that cliff
side before it became a fortress."
Eponin nodded her agreement.
"Yes, it was well boarded over so neither of us could see in there very
well."
The Conqueror had her eyebrows
furrowed together as she considered this new information. "Palamon,
request Joxer to come in here."
"Yes, my liege." The
general quickly left the hut in search of Joxer.
"What are you
thinking?" inquired the Queen.
The Conqueror came to when she
heard Gabrielle's voice. "Back at the castle I have geographic maps of all
the lands I've conquered. I made sure to keep detailed records from every
valley to mining shaft to creek. Just incase I ever
ended up fighting in those lands again I at least knew the terrain well to take
to my advantage."
"You think you might have
this mining shaft in your records?" queried Solari.
"Most
likely." The Conqueror grinned.
"Did the shaft look
large, Ep?"
The weapons master glanced to
the warrior-bard. "Yeah it was pretty large, three people wide easy."
"Does anybody know what
the terrain is like going up the cliff?"
"It's fairly
jagged," replied Velasca. "I think we can scale it if need be."
"Hmmmm." Gabrielle lowered her head a
bit while considering this new information. "We'll have to work on
that."
Palamon and Joxer then entered into the hut.
"My
liege?" Joxer bowed his head before straightening
back up.
"Joxer,
I need you to send a fast rider back to
"For what, my
liege?"
The Conqueror completely faced
the smaller man. "Do you recall my maps of the different areas?"
"Yes of course."
"Whoever you send will
need to pick up the map on the area that Sinteres's
compound is located." She paused for a moment. "It'll be in the
western
"It'll be done, my liege.
I'll send somebody now."
"Good."
Joxer left as quickly as
he came, in search of his fastest rider.
"Okay Velasca, Solari,
and Eponin why don't you three start organizing the Amazons. Please have your
Amazons group up with Gabrielle's Amazons, Velasca."
The queen nodded. "Of course." She started for the door with the
second in command and Eponin following behind her.
After they left, Gabrielle
peered up at the Conqueror. "So, what you think about that mine
shaft?"
An evil grin broke out across
the ruler's face.
"Oh boy," muttered
the regent, which only made Palamon laugh quietly.
~*~*~*~
Eve sighed as she gazed down
at her new attire. "I can’t believe this. I didn't even wear stuff this
revealing when I was the Roman general."
Xena chuckled at her
daughter's words. "I know." She then glanced over to the other side
of the tent to Cyane. "Are you ready now?"
"I think so,"
replied the Amazon.
Varia suddenly rushed into the
changing tent. "Come on, they've started the auctions for the slaves. And
Gurkhan is here himself."
"Even better,"
muttered Xena. "You'll have to take care of them, Varia. I can't be
seen."
"Alright," replied
the queen. "Let's go."
Quickly Cyane and Eve followed Varia out of the tent.
"Torrid is waiting off to
the side of steps on the platform," whispered the queen as she mingled her
way through the crowd. "He'll be auctioning you two off."
"Alright," replied
Eve. "Is there anything we should do to… attract Gurkhan's
attention?"
"Yeah… look sexy,"
half teased the queen. She came up to the side of the stage and found Torrid.
"Here they are, Ra."
The Egyptian nodded and went
up two steps of the platform to come near a man. "I've got my slaves ready
anytime the auctioneer is ready."
"Okay," replied the
man simply. He then noted the auctioneer finished his current auction so he
quickly approached him. He whispered something to him.
The auctioneer happily smiled
at his crowd and held his hands out towards Eve and Cyane. "And the best
part of this slave auction is our two Amazonian belly dancers!"
"Oh great," grumbled
Eve.
Cyane laughed quietly as she
was pushed up the steps by Torrid.
Xena's daughter followed
behind and forced a sly grin on her lips when she came onto the stage before
the slavers.
The auctioneer instantly
started getting bids for the two women. He quickly started yelling out for 100 ducats
for them both then 125 followed by 150 and the price kept climbing.
"So how much you think
they'll get?" quietly asked Callisto as she appeared beside the Warrior
Princess.
Xena raised an eyebrow at the
naval captain. "A fair bit." She folded her arms across her chest as
she stood in front of the tent.
"I can imagine,"
agreed the captain. "Especially your daughter."
She grinned as her eyes lit up at the warrior.
The warrior bit slightly on
the inside of her mouth. "So have you met Queen Cleopatra before?"
she inquired in an amused tone.
Callisto raised an eyebrow at
the other woman. "Many times."
"Really?" Xena grinned at
the captain. "You two don't seem to get along too well."
"Noooo…
I'm afraid we don't have good relations."
"Hmmm." The warrior tried
to think about why they may not and a thought came to mind once she put herself
in the Conqueror's shoes. "She makes for a pretty good Queen of Egypt
huh?"
Callisto said nothing.
"I can see why the
Conqueror left her to govern
"She always has
been," agreed the naval captain.
"She is probably a little
more loyal than some in her realm." Xena directed a smug look at Callisto.
Callisto raised an eyebrow at
the Warrior Princess. "Only because Cleopatra is
desperate to keep her little kingdom. I'd fuck the Conqueror too if I
was weak as she." She shrugged before gazing back at the stage. "So
she's got two of the Conqueror's fingers… and I've got her navy," reminded
the captain as she disappeared in the crowd.
Xena ran her tongue along the
front of her teeth as she stared at Callisto briefly. "In my world and in
the next, some things never change with her." She then caught sight of
Varia weaving her way through the people. "Hey," she greeted.
"You think this'll work
out?" questioned the queen.
"It has too,"
replied the warrior quietly.
"Well far as I can tell
Gurkhan is not interested… he has yet to bid."
"Give him a chance."
Xena glanced at the slaver. "He's just waiting."
"For?"
The warrior licked her lips. "To give the highest bid."
"I hope you're
right," muttered the Amazon.
The auction for the two belly
dancers came to a pause on 600 ducats. The auctioneer continued calling out 600
ducats once, twice, and then the last third.
"1000 ducats!"
yelled Gurkhan.
The auctioneer spun around in
his spot to point at the slaver. "1000 ducats!"
He then focused on the crowd again. "1000 ducats can anybody beat that? Going once… going twice… going three." And then pointed back at Gurkhan quickly. "Sold
for 1000 ducats." He then gestured for Eve and Cyane to leave the
stage.
Xena grinned.
"Bingo," whispered
Varia.
~*~*~*~
Eve gazed around as she was
brought into the large steam room.
Cyane raised an eyebrow as she
noted the five other women in the water. "See her yet?" she whispered
quietly.
"No," muttered the
princess. She then slipped out of her robe as she neared the edge of the steam
pool. She carefully climbed into the water.
The Amazon quickly followed
Eve's example, going in afterwards. Nearing Xena's daughter, she asked,
"She will look like Gabrielle, exactly?"
"Pretty much
according to mother." Eve smiled as a fellow wife passed by her. After she
left, she uttered, "Just like Gabrielle except with longer hair and
younger features."
Cyane nodded faintly and moved
away a little from Eve. She leaned against the side of the pool, letting the
hot water sooth her.
Eve decided to do the same,
taking advantage of the nice situation. After a few moments, she closed her
eyes and began relaxing.
The Amazon also relaxed, her
eyes drifting shut.
Eve then felt the water
slightly jounce in a rhythmic manner, she knew somebody else just entered the
pool. Slowly she opened her eyes and instantly locked onto a small, blond
haired woman. A grin curled the corner of her lips. "Cy," she
muttered.
The Amazon quickly opened her
eyes and spotted Gabrielle across the pool. "Bingo." She glanced at
her friend then back to the Amazon Queen. "Let's go talk-"
"Not yet," cut off
the princess.
Gabrielle noted the two new wives
in the pool with the rest. She also could tell they carefully watched her but
she continued to ignore them. Shifting through the pool, she came to a group of
women off to one side of the large pool.
"Gabrielle," greeted
one woman, she smiled as well.
"Hi, Adonia."
The Amazon Queen returned the
warm smile. "How are you doing, Eboni?"
"Not too bad,"
replied Eboni.
"Does anybody know who is
dancing tonight?" inquired Eshe.
"Not really sure,"
started Eboni, "It could be one of those new
wives."
Gabrielle took a quick glimpse
at the two women at the other end of the pool. "Does anybody know who they
are?" She turned her attention back to her friends.
"Not yet," answered Adonia. "They just arrived."
"Hmmmm." The Amazon Queen furrowed her
eyebrows. "I'll be right back."
"Where you going?"
quickly asked Eshe.
"To find out who they are."
The Queen shrugged and waded through the water towards the two Amazons.
"Eve, she's coming over
here."
The princess chuckled. "I
can tell," she teased lightly.
Cyane huffed at her friend's
words. "This should be fun."
"Excuse me, I know you
two must be new here," started Gabrielle.
Eve straightened up instantly
and smiled at the duplicate of her Gabrielle. "Yes we are. I am Eve and
this is Cyane."
"I'm Gabrielle."
"Nice to meet
you." Cyane smiled shyly at the Amazon Queen.
The bard shook her head a
little then asked, "Cyane? So you're from
"Um… yes I am,"
replied the Amazon.
"I know, the name, Cyane,
from where I am from is very well known."
Eve chuckled quietly at that.
The Amazon Queen caught the
small laugh and just raised an eyebrow at her. "I know I have never met
you before, but you seem familiar." She stared into warm green eyes.
A very large grin developed on
Eve's face. "I think you've met my mother at one point."
Gabrielle became confused.
"You're mother?"
The princess folded her arms
against her chest. "Her name is Xena… the hero."
The Amazon Queen's lower jaw
went loose.
Suddenly there was a loud
footfall as a well dressed woman entered into the steam room.
Eve noted her angry stance and
her eyebrows knitted together. "Who is she?" she questioned loudly.
The woman quickly heard Eve's
question and walked over to her. "Who am I?" she growled lowly,
"You dare to question the number one wife?"
"I have no idea who you
were. I'm sorry," apologized Eve.
"Well, that's a good
little dog." The number one wife straightened up and addressed all of the
women, "New girls, listen up. I am Gurkhan's number one wife, and you are all dirt. I will one
day carry his heir. Eventually, my son will rule over Gurkhan's
kingdom. Anyone who comes between me and my Lord will feel my wrath. Believe
me, that is when you will truly wish you were dead…."
Eve grunted at the woman's
threat.
The number one wife's eyes
flash at the princess. In response, she kicked Eve directly in the face. "Bad dog." She then smirked at Eve's surprised
expression before walking out of the steam room.
"Goddamn," hissed
Xena's daughter as she wiped away the blood from under her nose.
"You okay?" Gabrielle
moved closer in to help.
Eve took a deep breath to
control her temper. "Yeah I'm fine, thanks." She finally felt her
temper come under better control. "She's a tough one, I'll give her
that."
"She is," agreed the
Amazon Queen. "Be careful what you say." She then took a step back to
give Eve more space. "Xena and Gabrielle are here?" she uttered.
"Yes," answered
Cyane. "Along with a number of Amazons from Gabrielle's
Nation."
"By the gods,"
whispered the Queen. "What has been happening? Are Eponin, Palamon and
Ephiny safe?"
"Ephiny is far as we
know," whispered Eve. "We're not sure about Eponin or Palamon, the
Conqueror was working on it when we left."
Eve then saw several of the
guards entering the room. "We'll talk more about it later… when it's
safer." She reassured the bard by squeezing her shoulders.
"Let's go, whores,"
ordered a guard.
~*~*~*~
Callisto halted her army and
yelled, "Make camp here."
"Think this is far
enough?" muttered the queen.
Xena nodded after being near
Mogador before in her times. "We should be safe enough from here."
Callisto shifted her horse
closer to the other two women. "This is actually where the Conqueror set
up camp the year she conquered Mogador."
"Nice to know,"
taunted the Amazon queen.
The naval captain raised an eyebrow.
"It'll be rather amusing, personally." She then pulled her horse's
left rein and started ordering the troops to set up camp.
Xena slightly turned in her
saddle towards the west and saw the sun would be setting in about a candlemark. "How about we pitch our tent?" She
turned back to Varia. "We'll then stake out Mogador as best as we can
before dinner. Alright?"
Varia nodded her agreement.
"Come on." The
warrior dismounted from her horse and the two women went about pitching their
tent. After about twenty minutes they had the tent well set up.
Varia came up beside the
Warrior Princess. "Let's go see what's happening down there."
Xena studied the compound
through the various scattered palm trees. "I just hope they're okay in
there."
"I'm sure they are,"
promised the queen.
Xena only sighed in response
then said, "Let's go on foot."
"Should we tell
Callisto?"
The warrior grinned and
replied, "Screw her. Let's go." She started off for the compound with
Varia at her side.
"What are we looking for
exactly?"
Xena considered the Amazon's
question. "Basically the easiest way in and out for all
five of us."
"What are we going to do
about Gurkhan?" Varia paused for a second. "Are we killing him or we leaving that up to Callisto?"
"I'm not sure yet."
The Warrior Princess sighed while considering her options. "First we need
to find a way to slip in." She chewed on her lower lip briefly. "And
I may need you to pose as one of Gurkhan's wives,
Varia."
"Why?" The queen
wasn't following the warrior's plan.
"To make sure Eve and
Cyane have Queen Gabrielle and to communicate with them."
Varia considered the Warrior
Princess's idea. "I have a feeling we'll have to save the other wives as
well," she mentioned.
"We're going to try our
best." Xena then shrugged as she carefully stepped through a few large
boulders in the hard sand. "But I have a feeling Queen Gabrielle can
handle them if she hasn't already." She then saw the compound coming into
view and was thankful that the sun had finally set in the west. Within a
minute, she decided where to go first. "Alright,
Varia." She came to a sudden stop. "See where that ledge is on
the wall side?"
"Yeah
sure."
"You think you could
scale that up to the ledge then get onto the patrol walk on the wall top?"
The Amazon considered it then
nodded. "As long as I have a rope to climb up,
sure."
"Alright." Xena then waited
for a moment and finally saw a guard walking down the wall. "Hmmm."
She folded her arms.
"What we going to do
about the guards?"
"Hold on," replied
the Warrior Princess. She watched the guard turn around at the end of the wall
and continue back down the wall. She counted the seconds until he returned back
to the ledge then turn around. "Alright that means you got thirty seconds
to climb the wall."
"What if he comes back by
then?"
The Warrior Princess grinned
at her friend. "Don't worry, you will make it up."
"Now the problem is how
to get into the compound."
"Well…." Xena
lowered her hands from across her chest and started walked backwards, her eyes
focused on the end of the wall. "There you go." She pointed up.
Varia followed the warrior's
direction and saw a door at the end of the guard wall. "Perfect."
"Let's hope though it'll
take you directly into the castle and not the compound grounds," mentioned
the Warrior Princess. "Alright, that'll have to do for now." She then
faced the Amazon. "Let's get you back to the camp and see if we can find
you some… suitable clothes for the mission."
Varia chuckled at her friend's
words. She started walking back to the camp with the warrior. "I'll go in
tomorrow night?"
"Yes… we'll give them a
day to organize themselves."
The queen nodded. "We
need to get Queen Gabrielle out of there soon though."
"I definitely agree,
Varia."
~*~*~*~
Gabrielle slipped out of her
room and saw nobody in the hallway. She brushed back a few strands behind her ears
then walked down the hall to the fifth room away from her own. Quietly she
knocked on the door; in response the door opened carefully. "Hey,"
she greeted.
Cyane smiled at the Amazon
Queen. "Come in quickly." She shoved the door more open as the bard
rushed past.
Eve peered up after hearing
the door shut and a newcomer enter. "Hi, Queen
Gabrielle." She stood up from her sofa with a smile on her face.
"Hi," greeted back
the bard. "And please, it's just Gabrielle."
The princess chuckled quietly,
nodding her understanding. "Sit down with us, please."
Gabrielle took a sofa chair
across from the love sofa.
Cyane sat beside Eve on the
sofa, her legs crossed and relaxed back into the sofa.
"How was the
Conqueror?" hastily asked the Amazon Queen.
"She was better when we
left."
Gabrielle released a sigh of
relief. "Good… I heard she went through the gauntlet and survived
it."
"She did," confirmed
Eve. "She was in a lot better shape when we left from
"I'm glad,"
whispered Gabrielle, she then lifted her eyes from the stone floor. "What
is going on?"
Eve took a deep breath.
"Well, mother… Xena and my queen, Varia, are here with the Conqueror's
naval captain and some men. We're all planning to get you out of here and
Callisto, the navel captain, has been ordered to destroy Mogador. Afterwards
we'll return back home."
"What's happening back in
"The overall plan was for
the Conqueror and the Amazons to attack Sinteres and Draco."
The bard furrowed her
eyebrows. "Where is Gabrielle then?"
"She is with your
Amazons," answered Cyane, "acting as Queen while you're playing
hooky."
The bard laughed at the
Amazon. "That's good to hear then." She finally sat back into her
chair. "Were there any plans yet to get Palamon and Eponin out?"
"Yes, the Conqueror was
hiring the King of Thieves to rescue them from the compound."
Gabrielle nodded at Eve's
answer. "I do have to request one thing."
Eve raised an eyebrow.
"The other wives need to
make it out of here safely as well."
Cyane glanced at the princess
in worry. "Eve, I'm not sure-"
"Cy, we can't leave them
here." Eve shook her head slightly. "If we do, they'll most likely
get killed. I think Callisto has it in her head to follow the Conqueror's orders
thoroughly."
The Amazon sighed out her
worry. "I know, just means we'll have to find someway to keep them safe
before Callisto strikes."
Eve licked her lips.
"We'll work on it." She returned her attention to Gabrielle. "In
the meantime, I'd recommend talking to the wives and telling them to prepare
themselves."
"What of the number one
wife?" questioned Cyane.
The Amazon Queen huffed.
"I'm not sure honestly. As much as I even dislike her, I think its best we
look after her. I just don't think it's wise to fill her in on what's
happening."
"Mmmm," agreed the
princess.
The bard then stood up.
"I better return to my room before the guard comes around to do
checks."
"Good idea." Cyane
stood up, heading to the door.
"Thank you for coming
over, Gabrielle." Eve smiled warmly and stood up.
The bard took a step forward
and unexpectedly hugged Xena's daughter. "And thank you for coming for
me."
Eve felt herself warm up from
the sincere thank you, she hugged her back tightly. "All
my pleasure. Please go."
Gabrielle nodded then went to
the door. "Thank you too, Cyane."
Cyane smiled shyly.
"You're welcome, Queen Gabrielle."
The bard chuckled then gave
her a warm hug as well. "It's Gabrielle."
The Amazon responded with a
chuckle. "Of course." After releasing her, she
opened the door silently.
Gabrielle slipped out of the
door and disappeared down the hallway without a noise.
~*Part 16*~
"Solari, how is
everything going?"
The second in command turned
around at hearing Gabrielle's voice. "We're moving along pretty well."
The warrior-bard came up
beside the Amazon in the middle of the sparring field. "Good. Where is Ep?"
"She is taking care of
the Amazons that need new or more weapons in the armoury."
Gabrielle nodded her approval.
She continued watching the various groups of Amazons sparring on the field.
"When do you think they'll be ready?"
Solari folded her arms against
her chest while she considered the question. "I bet in two days." She
studied the troops of Amazons. "This afternoon Ep
is going to work with Palamon on the traps in the surrounding forest by Sinteres's compound."
"Sounds good,"
agreed the warrior-bard. "And have things with Joxer
and his men been fine?"
"No problems,"
admitted the second in command. "They've been very pleasant."
The Amazon Queen grinned.
"Wonderful." She then went more serious. "How do you think Ep is doing?"
The Amazon sighed with her
eyes lowering away from the sparring Amazons. "She
hanging in there, honestly." She peered up at her friend. "The
time in the compound was tough on her, I think." She narrowed her eyes
while looking towards the armoury. "I talked to her a little about what
happened…." She shook her head in confusion.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure but… I just
have the distinct feeling something definitely happened to her that she's
failing to mention."
Gabrielle nipped at her lower
lip. "You think they could have… raped her?"
"Its
possible… I'm starting to wonder about that too." Solari closed her eyes
briefly then opened them again, tints of anger reappeared in them. "She's been
quiet ever since she's gotten back. She won't really talk about anything that
happened… just glazing over it all."
"Hades," growled
Gabrielle. "I better talk to her."
Solari quickly grabbed her
friend's arm. "Gabrielle, I know you're worried, just like me, but you
have to understand Eponin."
"Trust me, I do… to this
day, she's still one of my Amazons at home." The warrior-bard pressed her
lips together. "I understand her pride but I also know she depends on her
family even if she won't admit it."
The second in command sighed,
she released the Queen's arm. "I know, I'm just
worried."
"Me too… let me talk to
her, okay?"
Solari nodded. "What
happens if she has been?"
"Then I think I'll pull
her off." Gabrielle shook her head. "She doesn't need this."
"But I think it's exactly
what she wants… too keep her mind off what happened." Solari's
features shifted back into worry.
"Yeah I know… I think
I'll ask the Conqueror if Eponin can go to her castle. Stay there until the war
is over for her own safety."
Solari looked away from her
friend and back to the Amazons. "You should send two others with
her."
"I was thinking that
myself… Amarice and Teresa. They're still a bit young
for this war."
"Especially
Amarice," added the second in command.
"Mmmm," agreed the
warrior-bard. "Alright, after Ep finishes up
with at the armoury send her to my hut."
"I'll do that."
Solari smiled but more sadly than anything. "Thanks, Gabrielle."
"For?"
"Looking after
us all." The second in command grinned. "I don't think this village is
quite use to having somebody as kind and gentle as you."
The Amazon Queen smiled at her
friend's words. "Oh you've always had somebody like me; she's just a
little tougher than me."
The Amazon laughed.
"True."
Gabrielle reached up to
briefly squeeze the other woman's arm. "I'll see you later, Solar."
She headed for the gates to check on Joxer.
~*~*~*~
Gabrielle lifted her head when the weapons
master entered her hut. "Afternoon, Ep."
"Hi,
Gabrielle." Eponin closed the door quietly behind herself.
"Solari said you wanted me for something."
"Yeah." The warrior-bard
stood up from the desk. "I need to talk to you." She grabbed a chair
from the corner of the room and brought it to her desk. "Sit down."
The Amazon took the offered
chair and tried relaxing.
Gabrielle sat back down and
folded her arms against her chest. "I and a few others have been worried
about you, Ep."
The weapons master furrowed
her eyebrows together in response. "What about?"
The Amazon Queen sighed, her
lips pressed against each other. "I want to know what happened to you
while you were in Sintere's compound."
"Nothing
really, Gabrielle." The Amazon shrugged slightly. "They drugged
Palamon and I… pretty much kept us in the cells."
"Pretty much?"
pressed on the warrior-bard.
Eponin just shrugged.
Gabrielle sighed deeply and
reached out, her right hand resting on her friend's knee. "Eponin, did
they do anything to you?"
The weapons master looked
away, her eyes lowered to the floor. After a moment, she closed her eyes.
"Yeah," she whispered. She looked back to her friend. "A couple
of the guards… well… I'm sure you can guess." She stared for a moment then
returned her attention to Gabrielle. "If I hadn't been drugged the entire
time, I could have easily protected myself."
The Queen squeezed the
weapon's master leg gently. "Ep, I can't even
imagine…."
"You don't want to,"
uttered the Amazon. "I try not to remember, honestly." She gave the
other woman a bitter smile.
"Ep…"
Gabrielle prepared herself with a deep breath. "I'm going to pull you out
of this one."
"What? Over… over
that?" lowly said the weapons master.
"Eponin, I will not let
you perform your duties after you've been raped," slightly growled the
Queen. She showed her temper only because she knew it was the only way to make Eponin
listen. "I've got Ephiny and Solari to handle it all."
The weapons master quickly
stood up and walked away, her back to the Queen.
The warrior-bard sighed
strongly. She stood up slowly and came up behind the Amazon. "Ep, you need time, please."
Eponin didn't respond, her head dropping down and her right hand went up to pull
her hair back.
"Eponin, please… you need
to leave here for awhile and heal."
The weapons master turned
around, her face streaked with tears.
Gabrielle felt her heart drop,
and she instantly pulled her friend in for a long hug. "Everything will be
fine, I promise."
"I know," whispered
Eponin. She remained silent while she continued to hug Gabrielle.
After about a minute or so,
Gabrielle pulled back but rested her hands on the Amazon's waist. "I'm
going to ask the Conqueror if you can stay in her castle until the war is over.
I'm sure she won't mind it and that way you can watch over
The weapons master just
nodded.
"You think you'll be
okay?"
"Yes," uttered the
weapon's master. She roughly wiped her tears away. "Thank you."
The warrior-bard sadly smiled.
"I'm always here to help, Ep." She hugged
her friend again. "You're family to me."
"To me
too." Eponin hugged Gabrielle tightly as she could.
The Queen released her friend
after a moment. "Go pack your stuff now. I'll tell Amarice and
Teresa."
The weapons master nodded and
went to the door. "Thank you again."
Gabrielle slightly smiled.
"Go on."
The Amazon left the hut just
as quietly as she first came.
The warrior-bard shook her
head at the thought of Sintere's men touching the
weapons master. She could only imagine what that would do to Eponin. In many
ways, she was similar to Xena and both of them held a lot of pride about
themselves.
Gabrielle walked back to her
desk and quickly jotted down a letter to the Conqueror. Afterwards, she exited
the hut and went in search of Solari. And as she hunted for Solari, she
considered how it would break either Eponin or Xena to lose a fight simply
because they were too weak by mere medicines. They both counted on their
physical strength has protection; she knew how it would eat Eponin up very much
like it would Xena.
"Solari?" The warrior-bard
waved her hand, with the message, at the second in command.
"Hey," greeted the
Amazon. "What's going on?"
Gabrielle joined the Amazon
next to the training field. "Can you get an Amazon rider to deliver this
to the Conqueror?"
"Yes of course."
Solari took the message.
"Ep
is going to
Solari knew exactly what that
meant. "Will she be okay?"
"I'm hoping so,"
whispered the Queen. "I think she needs time away to recover."
"I agree."
Gabrielle sighed. "Get
that message taken care of for me. I'm going to go find Amarice and
Teresa."
"They are going
too?"
"Yeah I think its for the best." The Amazon Queen started stepping
away but stopped. "If you see Eph, tell her what's going on too."
"Alright.
"Thanks, Solari."
"No problem," called
back the second in command.
Gabrielle hung her head down
as she walked towards Ephiny's hut to see if she
could catch the regent.
~*~*~*~
“Okay, let’s get this started,” ordered the Queen.
Palamon nodded his agreement after studying the surrounding forest near
Sinteres’s compound.
“I think we should stick to the traditional ground traps,” started
Ephiny.
Gabrielle crossed her arms and considered. “You think there’s enough
foliage to cover the ground for that?”
Ephiny glanced around the area briefly. “Yeah I think so, not as many
as normal, but we can get quite a few in.” She grinned at her Queen. “They work
very well.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard,” teased back the warrior-bard. She then went
serious again.
“How about the trees?” inquired Palamon.
“Archers?”
“I think so,” agreed the regent. “We have some fine archers in the
Nation.”
Gabrielle ran her fingers through her hair while in the middle of her
thoughts. “How many archers does the Conqueror have, Palamon?”
“I think she only brought a hundred men this time.”
“That will do.” Gabrielle peered back up at Palamon. “Ask the Conqueror
for me if we may post her archers in the trees this time with a few Amazons to
support them.”
“I will do that.”
The Queen then asked Ephiny, “Do we have much rope, sturdy rope?”
“Yes. What for?”
“What we can do is tie one end of the rope to a tree. Then have two
Amazons on the other end to snap it.”
“Alright, sounds good,” agreed the Amazon. “I don’t think Sinteres has
any calvary does he?”
“No he doesn’t fortunately, all his men are on foot,” replied Palamon.
“Now remember,” started Gabrielle, “These men won’t be coming at us
until we break into the fortress.”
Ephiny furrowed her eyebrows. “We did decide that going through the
mining shaft will work?”
“Yes,” answered the Queen. “I believe the Conqueror is suppose to receive the plans today. So our job is to stop
the men when they scatter out of the fortress.” She licked her lips then added,
“I believe the Conqueror plans to smoke them out of there.”
“Well I think if we keep most of our people in the trees, then Draco’s men will not expect it.”
“Leave a few forces on the ground as not to make them suspect,” tagged
on Palamon.
“I agree,” stated the Queen. “I do want those archers in the trees.
They’ll be able to pick off people rather quickly, I have not doubt.”
“A few warriors in the trees as well?” urged the regent. “Incase there
are some men on horseback.”
“We better,” agreed the Queen.
Palamon lifted and pressed his arms against his chest. “I think the
Conqueror wants to be sure we surround the enemy.” He turned his head down to
the Gabrielle. “She does not want anybody escaping at all.”
Gabrielle sighed but nodded none the less. “I think that’ll be easy to
do.” She paused then broke the silence with a question. “Is the Conqueror in the
camp?”
“Yes she is,” replied the general.
“I think I’ll need to talk to her more about the plans.” She turned her
attention then to Ephiny. “Go back to the village and tell Solari what is going
on. Have her here tomorrow morning with Amazons to begin the traps. Okay?”
“Not a problem,” replied Ephiny. “When will you be back in the
village?”
The warrior-bard gazed past her friend and saw the setting sun. “I
would say in about four candlemarks, no later.”
“Okay.” Ephiny gave a brief smile. “See you then.” She then lifted her
eyes up to Palamon. “Thanks for the help, Palamon.”
“My pleasure.”
The Amazon then turned and headed to the group of horses. She went
directly to her horse that was tied to a tree. After mounting her horse, she
broke out into a gallop for the Nation.
Gabrielle turned back to the general after the regent left. “Do you
think we’ll have a problem stopping Sinteres and Draco?”
“No, I don’t think it’ll be a hard task.” He then considered the fight
ahead. “The only concern I have is trying to smoke them out of the compound.”
“Me too.”
Gabrielle sighed as she started walking to her horse.
The general followed beside his friend. “But knowing the Conqueror, she
will handle that easily.”
“I know,” whispered the warrior-bard.
Palamon neared his own horse but didn’t mount right away. “Are you
fearful?”
Gabrielle sighed while untying her horse’s rein from the tree branch.
“I always am when it involves war… when it involves people I love.”
The general lowered his eyes as he considered her words. “I use to
too.” He looked back at Gabrielle. “Until I lost my family to war, now… I have
nothing to be fearful of.”
The warrior-bard mounted her horse but gazed down at the man. “That is
when you know you’ve been fighting for too long.”
Palamon thought over the statement and he felt pieces of his old self
returned. “I suppose you’re right.” He turned and climbed into his horse’s
saddle. After positioning himself comfortably in the saddle, he turned his
horse around and led the way to the Conqueror’s camp.
Within half of a candlemark, the pair had
arrived in the camp. They first went to settle their horses in the makeshift
stable area. Afterwards, they went directly to the Conqueror’s tent.
“Come inside,” ordered the ruler in a deep voice. When she looked up,
she saw Palamon enter first then the warrior-bard. She gave a hidden smile to
her friend. “You two are just in time.”
“Why is that, Conqueror?” questioned the warrior-bard.
“I just received the map of this area.”
Palamon’s
expression lit up at this news. “Is there a mining shaft there?”
“Yes, there is,” confirmed the ruler. She crossed the tent and went to
the large table in the middle of the room. She pointed to a spot on the map.
Gabrielle and the general joined her at either side and studied the
map.
“It luckily runs upwards for a number of feet then levels off here.”
The Conqueror points to the exact spot. “And this is the spot where the top of
the ridge is.”
“So this means we can dig down to meet the shaft?”
The Conqueror nodded at her general’s question.
“It will take several men and a good day,” reminded the warrior-bard.
“Which we have,” stated the ruler. “I have plenty of men and we’ll have
just enough time to dig down to the shaft.” She straightened up from looking
over the table. “As a matter of fact, I plan to take some men over tonight to
start this.”
“It would probably be for the best,” agreed Gabrielle. “Palamon,
Ephiny, and I were discussing the plans for the fight within the forest.”
“What did you three decide on?” inquired the Warrior Princess.
“Well, we’re going to setup two types of traps. Ground
traps and rope trips.” Gabrielle turned her body to face her friend
more. “Then, with your permission, we’d like to use your archers and place them
in the trees along with some of the Amazon archers.”
The Conqueror’s head was bobbing up and down as she listened.
“They will take care of picking off the enemy. We’ll keep a few
warriors in the trees as well incase any of Draco’s
men are on horseback.”
“Now, I would like Sinteres and Draco cut off from escape.” The ruler
folded her arms over her chest. “I want a wall of men five people thick from
one side of the compound all the way to the other sound of the compound’s wall.
Is that clear?”
“Yes of course, Conqueror, I understand.” Gabrielle took a deep breath.
“You want the formation in a ‘u’ shape?”
“Yes, my men and I will push them into the centre
of the ‘u’ and then close them off from the compound.” Xena chewed on her lower
lip momentarily. “Then we will form a circle around them then start to squeeze
them in tighter until they’re all dead.”
Gabrielle simply nodded her agreement; her stomach turned in worry
though.
“I think that’s everything for now,” decided the ruler. She faced her
general then. “I need you to stay here to watch over the men. I’m going to
begin this operation to the mining shaft. Go round up about twenty men, now.”
“Yes, my liege.” The general quickly left the tent in search of the
men.
“My liege, did you get my message about Eponin?”
The Conqueror turned back to her friend. “I did, Gabrielle.” She sighed
as her ruler persona disappeared from herself. “Eponin is welcomed to stay in
the castle along with Amarice and Teresa.” She gave a faint worried expression.
“Why are you sending her there? I know she’s the weapons master.”
The warrior-bard sighed, her attention turning away. “Ep was….”
“They touched her?” whispered the ruler hotly.
“They did,” confirmed the Amazon Queen. She returned her focus to her
friend. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea for her to fight this one. I want
her to get away from the war.”
“I understand, Gabrielle.”
“Thank you, Conqueror.” Gabrielle then shrugged before adding,
“Besides, they will be there to inform the others when they return from
“True,” agreed the Warrior Princess. She then lightly touched her
friend’s arm that rested against her chest. “How are you doing?”
“I’m stressed,” confessed the smaller woman. “How
about you?”
“Not too bed,” answered the Conqueror. “You will be okay with this?”
“Yeah… done this plenty of times.” Gabrielle sighed and lowered her arms, which caused
the ruler to let go of her. “I need to start heading back.”
“Alright.”
Xena pressed her lips together for a second then said, “I’ll have some men go
with you just to make sure you get back safely.”
“Thank you and thank you for letting Eponin stay in the castle.”
“You’re welcome, Gabrielle.” The Conqueror turned and ordered, “Come
with me.”
The warrior-bard followed her friend out of the tent. Together, they
found seven warriors to escort her back to the Nation. Within ten minutes, she
was mounted back on her horse with her escort around her. “Thank you,
Conqueror. See you soon.”
The Conqueror grinned and watched her ride out of camp. Soon as she was
gone, Palamon came up beside her.
“Your men are ready, my liege.”
“Perfect,” purred the dark ruler.
~*~*~*~
“Be careful, Varia,” whispered the warrior.
The Amazon queen nodded her head as she pulled the robe closer against
her body. She gazed up at the wall she had to scale tonight and mentally
prepared herself. Her right hand tightened around the climbing rope, which she
brought with her that had a hook at one end.
Xena watched the guard come to the end of the wall, turn, and then
continue back down the wall. “Go,” she whispered.
The Amazon sprinted for the wall and as she ran, she loosened the rope
in her hand. Once she released enough rope, she began swing it in a circle with
hook. As she neared the wall, she counted ten more steps then she hurled the
hook upwards.
The hook rocketed through the air with the rope attached behind. It
landed neatly on the wall’s floor and Varia jerked it until it caught between
two pillars. She then leapt towards the wall, helping herself get three feet up
the wall already. Hastily she began scaling up the wall.
The Warrior Princess watched and looked to her right to see the guard
was already walking back. “Hades,” she growled under her breath. She ran closer
towards the walls while reaching between her left gauntlet.
Once rather close to the wall, she extracted a tiny dart and removed a small
wood tube from her side. She narrowed her eyes and readied the dart in the
hollow tube. Bringing the tube up to her lips, she took a deep breath, aimed, then blew.
The guard suddenly stopped in his tracks and shook his head at the
stinging sensation in the side of his neck. He dropped his spear and fell
against a pillar, sliding down it and falling asleep.
Varia heard the guard fall so she looked down at Xena.
The Warrior Princess grinned devilishly.
The Amazon chuckled faintly but continued her way up the wall. Within
twenty seconds, her feet hit the floor of the wall and she pulled her rope up.
After she had it quickly coiled up, she lashed it to her side behind her robe.
She caught sight of the guard sleeping peacefully. Turning to her left, she
found the door and pulled it open quietly.
Xena watched as Varia disappeared behind the door. She just grinned
again then disappeared into the night in hiding.
Varia came to the end of the steps into a long corridor. “Great,” she
muttered, “Where to now?” She started down the corridor in hopes she’d find Eve
or Cyane soon. After making her way down the corridor, she came to a ‘T’ in her
travels. She had to go either right or left. Then she heard some voices; she
cocked her head to one side to figure out which way it was coming from.
The Amazon heard two female voices quietly whispering about something
or another. She closed her eyes and listened more carefully. She heard them
enter a room together and the door closing. Her eyes flew open; she turned to
the right and hurried down the hallway.
The only thing she could make out between the two women’s conversation
was Gabrielle’s name. She soon found the door that the two women went into. She
raised her fisted hand to the door but didn’t knock, she wasn’t sure. Taking a deep
breath, she knocked twice. After a few moments, a young woman answered the
door.
“Yes?” The wife furrowed an eyebrow. “Who are you?”
Varia pulled her hood back. “I’m looking for somebody,” she whispered.
She then saw the other woman behind the one that answered the door. Her eyes
lit up at the sight of Varia.
“Wait, you’re an Amazon,” excitedly whispered the other woman.
“Come in here quick.” The wife at the door pulled the queen inside and
closed the door hastily.
“What are you doing here?” asked one wife.
Varia sighed and replied, “I’m here to find three other wives… Gabrielle, Eve, and Cyane.”
“You mean the two new girls?”
Varia nodded her head.
“Are you here to help save us?” asked the same excited wife.
“Yes, if I can find any three of these Amazons.”
The two wives exchanged looks and the excited one explained, “Gabrielle
isn’t in her room.”
“Where is she then?”
The excited wife suddenly went serious. “She’s… she’s doing a private
dance to Gurkhan.”
“Oh centaur shit,” whispered the queen hotly. “What about Eve and
Cyane?”
“They should be in their room,” replied one wife. “By the way, I’m Eboni and this is Eshe.” She
paused then added, “We’re both friends with Gabrielle.”
The queen nodded her head. “You think you can help me find Eve and Cyane’s room?”
“Of course,” replied Eshe, “We know where
their room is.”
“You go ahead and take her, Eshe. I’ll stay
here to cover things.”
“Thanks, Eboni.” Eshe
slipped out of the door with Varia behind her.
The Amazon slipped her hood back on and followed behind the wife.
Eshe went
to the eighth door and carefully knocked on it. Once Cyane had it opened, she
whispered, “I brought a friends of yours.” She leaned
her head to the right.
The Amazon quickly noticed a smiling Varia.
“Queen Varia?” Cyane smiled and opened the door more. The wife and
queen both entered the room.
Eve had heard the pair come inside and came out of the washroom with a
robe on herself. “Queen Varia.”
“Hi, Eve,” greeted the queen. “How are things?” She glanced between
Xena’s daughter and Cyane.
“They’re okay,” replied Cyane.
“So far we’ve told each of the wives what’s happening here in a day or
two,” added the princess.
“What did they say?” inquired the queen.
“They’re all happy about it and will cooperate.” Eve paused in thought
but also said, “The only wife that does not know is the head wife.”
“We’re concerned she’ll tell Gurkhan,” explained Cyane.
The queen nodded her understanding. “How is Queen Gabrielle?”
“She’s fine, nothing wrong… so far,” reported Eve. “Have you spoken
with her?”
Cyane shook her head. “We assume she’s in her room.”
“She isn’t,” stated the queen.
Eve and Cyane exchanged confused looks.
“Gabrielle is doing a… private dance for Gurkhan,” helped Eshe.
“Can I ask what a private dance can entail?” urged Eve.
Eshe
lowered her eyes but looked back at Eve. “It starts out has a veil dance… just
between Gurkhan and Gabrielle. Depending on Gurkhan it might turn into more….”
She trailed off knowing everybody can figure out the rest. “Sometimes it is a
chance for a wife to gain ground. Maybe even become head wife if she is better
than the current one.”
Eve felt her teeth grinding together at this new information.
“We can’t let her…” Cyane whispered but didn’t finish her sentence. She
looked between the princess and Varia. “Should we stop it?”
Eve came out of her thoughts. “I have an idea.”
~*~*~*~
Queen Gabrielle kneeled down and brought her arms over her body, the
long veil between her two hands. She let the veil drift over her head as she
bowed to Gurkhan. Then slowly she heard Gurkhan begin to clap in applause.
He stood up from his chair and crossed the room to her. “Very nice, dear.” He stood above her and then ordered,
“Stand up.”
Gabrielle rose back up while hastily tying the veil around her waist.
She knew the usual drill to being a slave and what came next after something
like this. Her hard days as a slave reformed inside of herself as she tried
separating her two lives. She hated this old past of her life and she hoped to
Gods that the Conqueror could get her out of this one.
“You remind me of a wife I once had,” commented Gurkhan. He reached
out, running his finger tips around the features of her face. “Young, full of spirit, strong, and a little naive.” He grinned at the memories of his older wife.
“As a matter of fact, she looked quite similar to you… and came from
Gabrielle grinned at that, she closed her eyes as well. “She looked
like me huh?”
“Quite a bit,” whispered Gurkhan. He ran his fingertips down her neck.
“Except she had brown hair and a bit more curly. At
first she was a bit heavy but lost a lot of the… baby fat.” He brought his
fingertips back up her smooth neck and across her lips. “Green eyes like
yours.”
Gabrielle felt her heart stop at the mention of the description. “Where
from in
“Some small town that started with a ‘P’… it was sacked by the
Conqueror many years ago.”
The Queen’s breath became faster; her heartbeat sped up. She tried remaining
calm on the outside as she whispered, “What was her name?”
“She went by the name of… Sarah,” replied Gurkhan. His fingertips now
ran across the top of her chest.
Gabrielle’s eyes flew open at the name.
Gurkhan quickly noted the surprise in them, and he was opening his
mouth to ask a question.
The Queen knew what he was about to ask. She quickly moved in and
kissed him furiously, using all of her anger inside of herself.
The slaver returned the furious kiss while pushing his wife backward
towards his huge bed. He pulled back from the kiss then pushed her harshly into
the bed.
Gabrielle revealed a devilish grin. She lifted her legs up and opened
her legs to him.
Gurkhan felt a sly grin cross his features, he
crawled onto the bed and between her legs.
The Queen pushed away her emotions before grabbing his head and
beginning another passionate kiss. Suddenly Gurkhan stopped after there was a
loud bang at his door. He jumped out of his bed after hearing a few yells
outside the door.
Gabrielle launched out of the bed after the slaver did. Her heart
pounding and her body shaking.
The slaver threw open the door to see what was happening. Quickly he
found a dead guard at his feet and down the hall was his other guard fighting a
hooded figure. “Stop him!” he yelled, “Guards!” he cried out.
The hooded figure held up his sword and stopped the guard’s blade. He
then kicked hard at the guard’s throat, knocking the guard flat onto his back.
The hooded figure twirled their sword in midair then brought it down into
the guard’s chest, instantly killing them. He then looked up directly to
Gurkhan, his head then slightly moved to the right at seeing Queen Gabrielle at
the doorway. He then quickly came towards the slaver with his sword.
Gurkhan started yelling again, “Guards!”
The dark figure came right up to Gurkhan and held out the tip of his
sword towards the slaver’s throat.
Gabrielle’s eyes widened as she realized what the figure was planning
to do. She instantly stepped out in front Gurkhan, pressing her throat against
the tip of the sword. She could barely make out the figure’s face. She took a
deep breath, her chest raising high up in waiting.
Gurkhan didn’t move but noted the sound of his men running down the
corridor.
The hooded figure also noted the running footfall. They refocused on
Gabrielle.
The Queen held her breath and she slightly saw a grin develop on the
figure’s face, white teeth grinning back at her.
The figure walked five quick steps backwards, whirled around with their
cape flying around them, and he ran off.
Gabrielle released her breath but studied the running figure. She
furrowed her eyebrows when she thought about the sword the figure held. She
turned her head to the right when the guards arrived.
“Go after him,” ordered Gurkhan. “He went down there. Find him!” he
roared. After they were gone, he said, “Very brave, my dear.”
The bard faced her slaver and replied, “I figured it was for the best.”
“And how was that? He was planning to assassinate me.” He folded his
arms against his chest, an amusing smile on his lips.
“Well I doubt he would have set me free anyway,” explained the Queen, “either take me as his own, sell me, or even kill me.” She
shrugged. “I’m happy here.”
The slaver laughed quietly at her explanation. “Well then… since its been quite a night. I think you can return to your
room.”
The slave bowed her head. “Thank you.” She started down the hallway.
“But we are not finished, Gabrielle,” called the slaver.
“Not by a long shot,” retorted the bard quietly to herself
but she flashed a devilish grin to him. Once back to her room, she sighed a huge relief and leaned against her door. She
dropped her head against the door then slowly slid down it as she felt even
more weight compress onto her shoulders.
~*~*~*~
Varia stormed through the door onto the top of the wall. She quickly
did a birdcall.
Xena heard the call and reappeared out of the woods quickly. She raced
up to the wall.
“Xena,” she called, “I’m gonna fly.”
“Go,” called back the warrior. She spread out her legs and prepared herself.
The Amazon stepped back a little, she heard the guards coming down the
corridor. She reached over and closed the door quietly. She then started
running and then jumped. She held out her arms and closed her legs together
then aimed for Xena.
The Warrior Princess gritted her teeth then held up her hands. She
neatly caught her friend and swung her around onto her feet.
“We need to split,” rasped the queen.
“Come on.” The warrior took off sprinting towards the thin woods ahead.
Varia quickly followed behind as she too disappeared in the dark
evening.
The ten guards busted through the door onto the wall top. They looked
all over and could not find Gurkhan’s assassin
however they saw the wall guard asleep on the floor. One of the guards went
over to the sleeping guard to awake him and find out what happened.
Varia leaned against the tree and gasped for air, her head hung down.
“What happened?” asked a worried warrior.
The queen shook her head while she was catching her breath. She finally
lifted her head but dropped it back against the palm tree. “Sorry about that.”
“What the Hades happened in there?” urged Xena. “That was not suppose to happen.”
“I know… I know,” uttered the queen. She closed her eyes then started
explaining. “I found Eve and Cyane, they said the
wives know what’s going to happen. Queen Gabrielle is okay.”
“Then why the guards?”
“Queen Gabrielle was doing a… private dance for Gurkhan. I’m sure you
can guess what happens after the dance.”
Xena huffed and folded her arms.
“So your daughter suggested I break up the little private dance.” Varia
lit up her face with a grin.
The Warrior Princess chuckled at what the Amazon said.
“So I raced down to Gurkhan’s room and fought
with his guards. It seemed to stop them in the middle of things.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Yeah, I think I stopped them just in time,” stated the queen. “But….”
She shook her head.
“But what?” questioned the warrior.
“It was strange.” Varia’s eyebrows furrowed
together. “I tried acting like I was an assassin and when I went to act like I
was going to kill Gurkhan….” She stopped then focused her eyes on her friend.
“Queen Gabrielle stepped in between.”
Xena’s own confused expression came about. “The only reason I can think
of to why she’d do that was to get in good with Gurkhan.”
“Yes but… why? I mean, she knows she’s not staying or anything.”
“I know,” whispered the warrior. She looked away from the ground to
Varia again. “You feel okay now?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. It was a good chase.” The Amazon had a sly grin.
Xena laughed quietly at that. “Let’s get back to camp. We’ll decide on
the plans to get the wives out.”
Varia nodded her agreement. She lifted herself off the tree and walked
towards camp with the warrior.
~*Part 17*~
Eponin sighed as she sat in the horse’s saddle.
“Gods!” roared Amarice. “I can’t believe I’m stuck in
Teresa glanced at the weapons master.
Eponin shrugged and rolled her eyes.
Teresa chuckled quietly at that.
“I mean, doesn’t Gabrielle see how important it is that I stay in the
Nation?”
“Its Queen Gabrielle… to you,” corrected the weapons master.
“She tells Amazons to call her Gabrielle,” countered the young Amazon.
Eponin arched an eyebrow. “And did she tell you to your face you could
call her Gabrielle?”
“Um… not yet,” muttered Amarice.
“Then its Queen Gabrielle for you,” ordered the older Amazon.
Amarice huffed and looked away from the weapons master.
“Eponin, why did she have you come to
The weapons master was about to give her honest answer but quickly
stopped. “Well… she and the Conqueror asked me to watch over
“Oh… okay,” replied Teresa.
“And why do we have to have these escorts?” Amarice direct to the ten
guards behind them.
“Because I don’t think Gabrielle wants us kidnapped,” drew out Teresa.
The young Amazon grumbled about that. “What we going to do in
“Relax, I hope,” muttered the weapons master.
“Me too,” agreed Teresa. “Wine, dine, and pass time.”
The weapons master laughed at Teresa’s rhyme. “I’ll second that.”
“Argh that’s sssso
boring,” groaned Amarice. “I was looking forward to that war. I really can’t
stand that Gabrielle.”
Eponin brought her horse closer to Amarice’s
horse and grabbed her reins forcefully. She jerked the hors to a halt and
locked her angry eyes on the young Amazon. “Amarice,” she whispered hotly, “you
do not ever… ever speak badly about Gabrielle.” Her eyes burned into Amarice’s own. “She has saved us all from the Conqueror’s
darkness.” She paused then growled, “Never insult her again.”
Amarice felt herself starting to shake as she shrunk down to a foot
tall child. “I’m sorry,” she whispered fearfully.
The weapons master loosened her jaw and just threw the reins at
Amarice. She tapped her horse’s side and continued down the road.
Teresa quickly caught up to the weapons master to check on her.
Amarice watched them for a second then ordered her horse to walk again.
She lowered her head and tried holding back her upset.
“Hey you okay?” whispered Teresa.
Eponin sighed at the question and nodded. “Yeah… I shouldn’t have
yelled at her like that.”
“Its okay,” uttered the other Amazon. “Amarice was out of line.”
“So was I,” admitted the weapons master quietly.
Teresa sighed but then said, “I think she needed it. Gabrielle has done
a lot for us, Xena too.”
“Yes they have,” agreed the weapons master. “I admire them both.”
“I do too,” seconded the younger Amazon. “You will be okay, Eponin?”
“Yes, thank you, Teresa.”
The Amazon smiled at the weapons master.
“Hey please call me Ep too?”
Teresa smiled at that and nodded. “Thank you.”
Eponin chuckled but found herself smiling for
the first time since she was kidnapped.
“When do you think we’ll be in
“I think by late tonight,” replied the older Amazon. “Gabrielle and the
Conqueror suggested we not stop halfway.”
“Fearful that something could happen?”
“Yes,” responded Eponin, “and I have to agree. Sooner we get into
Teresa nodded her agreement.
~*~*~*~
Queen Gabrielle sighed as she gazed up towards the high cliff side.
“Conqueror?” she called up. She then saw the dark ruler come to the cliff’s
edge and smile down at her.
“Stay there, I’ll come down,” ordered the ruler.
Gabrielle nodded but dismounted from her horse. She then waved her hand
for Solari and the four other Amazons to dismount.
The Conqueror reappeared the around the corner of cliff bottom and came
up to the Queen. “Good to see you made it.”
“How is the progress?” inquired the warrior-bard.
“We are getting fairly close to the shaft,” answered the ruler. She
gazed up to the
“Have you heard anything from the escorts that took Eponin to
“I have not… they haven’t returned yet.” Xena crossed her arms over her
chest. “They will most likely return later this afternoon. How have the traps
been working out?”
“Pretty well,” replied the warrior-bard. “We’re about thirty percent
complete.”
The Conqueror nodded her head. “I did receive last night from Callisto.”
The Amazon Queen perked up at this news. “What has happened?”
“Callisto reported that they safely arrived in
“Did she say anything about their plans to rescue the Queen?”
“Nothing yet.” The Conqueror sighed and stated, “The next message I get will probably
be to inform us of either their success or failure.”
“Its only success, my liege,” simply declared the Queen.
The dark ruler grinned at her friend’s words. “Success
then.” She then went serious again. “How has my guard captain done?”
Gabrielle nodded to Solari.
The second in command took a step forward and said, “He has been
perfect. We greatly appreciate that you have made them available to us, Conqueror.”
“It was my pleasure,” replied the Conqueror. She felt a bit of her
anger for the Amazon depleted. “Now then, is there anything else, Queen
Gabrielle?”
“No, I just wanted to see what the status was of the shaft and if
you’ve heard any new news.”
“That is all,” stated Xena.
“Thank you, Conqueror.” The warrior-bard smiled briefly then remounted
her horse. Her Amazons did the same as her.
“Tomorrow stop by the camp, Queen Gabrielle. We will finalize the
attack plans again, bring Ephiny with you.”
“Yes of course, my liege.” Gabrielle bowed her head slightly.
The Conqueror grinned and slightly bowed her own then spun around and
disappeared around the corner.
The Amazon Queen wiped away her grin as she turned her horse around.
“Let’s get back to the woods and see how the traps are, ladies.”
“How do you think the others are doing at rescuing Queen Gabrielle?”
inquired an Amazon.
The warrior-bard sighed at the Amazon’s question. “I am very confident
that soon they will save her. My partner, her daughter, and my two Amazons can
handle that situation easily.”
The four Amazons smiled at their temporary Queen’s response.
“Come on, Amazons we have work to do.” Gabrielle urged her horse into a
gallop.
~*~*~*~
Varia sat down on her bed inside of the tent that she shared with Xena.
“Okay, so we’re going to have to help them escape through the compound once we
sneak our way in…?”
“Yes, I think you and I need to get inside posed as dancers.”
“Aren’t you worried about them seeing you as the Conqueror?”
The warrior grinned at the question. “That’s what veils are for. I can
manage something.” She then folded her arms. “Also, I think its
wise we have Callisto come in with us.”
“Oh gods, why?” whispered the queen. “She’ll only screw things up.”
The Warrior Princess shook her head and leaned against the post in the
middle of the tent. “We need her help in there, Varia. Plus it gives me a
chance to keep on eye on her. I think we can get Torrid to order the troops
into position then we let Callisto handle them once we get out with the wives.”
Varia understood now what Xena wanted. A way to keep checks on Callisto
to make sure she did not ‘accidentally’ kill one of the innocents plus just
have more help.
“Now the only problem will be figuring out a way in.”
“Wait, I have just the solution.” Varia grinned suddenly. “Eshe told me, right before I left, that her and few other
wives will be leaving today to go to town.”
Xena’s expression lit up at this new information. “Perfect,” she
purred. “How many wives?”
“Well she will be there along with Eboni and
with four others.”
“That will work perfectly.” Xena lifted her arms against her chest. “I
hope two are brunettes and one is blond.”
Varia chuckled but went serious again. “I think they’ll be going into
town later this afternoon for a candlemark or so.”
“Alright, we better get this plan into motion.” Xena shifted to the
exit of the tent. “You stay here, I’m going to find Ra
and Callisto.”
The Amazon nodded and watched her friend disappear out of the tent.
Within a few minutes, she returned with the naval captain and Torrid.
“What’s going on?” questioned Callisto. “I know you two have plans.”
“We do and we’re going to need your help, Callisto,” confessed the
Warrior Princess.
“Oh this does sound interesting.” A sly grin creased the naval
captain’s lips. “Do tell.”
Xena’s stomach turned but she explained the plans. “This afternoon,
several of Gurkhan’s wives are going into the town.
Varia, you, and I are to switch places with three of them. Get back into Gurkhan’s palace and find Queen Gabrielle, Eve, Cyane, and
the other wives. Once we do, we’ll make our escape hopefully and in the middle
of it, take out Gurkhan.”
“Then what?” probed Callisto.
“Once we’re safely away from the compound and with the army. You can
take care of your orders.”
Callisto raised an eyebrow as she studied both Xena and the Amazon.
“And exactly how are we going to make it all the way back here without getting
slaughtered?”
“Simple, we have Ra position the army closer to the compound but just
out of sight.”
Slowly the naval captain started nodding then suddenly a huge grin
broke out across her features again. “I like it. When do we go to town?”
Varia felt her own grin form.
“Now,” replied the warrior.
To Be
Continued in Section 5….