Xena watched as Joxer, pulled a flint stone and torched a pink smoking stick. "A call for the boat?"
He chuckled. "Always the questions with you. No, a message of our success!"
Slipping across the cavern's ledge, the trio paused for grumblings from Claudius yawning from his cave. Then, Sahara lead them past a stone fortress for a dark plateau then sang an odd tune into the darkness. "My seniors wont be long. We will need there torches."
Gabrielle slipped off her skunky cape. "Xena, you did this on purpose."
Xena pointed to Sahara, collect her cape and toss both into the caverns. We have guests coming." Gabrielle tried to manage the task losing her scarf to guard her nose. "Ewh, I can still smell it on me!"
Xena searched the darkness with her hand on chakram. Torches progressed slowly revealing a crooked valley ahead. With Sahara's tune being repied, Xena moved upwind of Gabrielle and Sahara.
A company of twenty-seven bow-warriors arrived with a quick quest for a skunk that ended around the trio. The leader, Zariaha, greeted Sahara.
"Eros by with you." Zariah took a scroll from Sahara and read fast with torch. "This is Xena?"
Sahara nodded yes. "Xena and her aid, Gabrielle."
Zariaha greeted Xena, "Eros be with you, Xena. Congratulations on your safe trek through Claudius's pass." Zariah's eyes were watering. "We've a facility at shore pass, your friend can use to wash off the odor. But our Matriarch has orders to see you as soon as you arrived."
Xena briefly waved to Gabrielle and was thankful she left ahead with the stench behind. A viking-type row boat intrigued Xena as she watched the mountain shore quickly dissappear with Gabrielle in a large wooden fortress. The patrol's torches vanished as she watched them close massive log doors. Xena turned to mists admiring the oarsmen who continued blindly.
The short trip, hinted lights of a thriving city, but the high cliffs offered nothing to see and Xena's destiny was a tunnel beneathe Penumbra's city. The shore patrol withdrew and royal guards accepted the scroll then Xena, an outsider.
No greetings were made as a leading guard blew a conch before she waved Xena to follow up a wide bending stairwell. With oil-bases lanterns, lighting their way from sunken mirror-nukes throughout the castle's stonewalls, Xena noticed golden arrows within the royal guards backpack.
"Is gold in abundance here?", she asked
The lead guard turned, knowing her underling dare not answer. "Brazen to siphon matters that shouldn't concern you."
"I was only making conversation about your bows and arrow. They are distinct." Xena replied.
"Make haste in your steps instead. That is our way, Xena."
The royal guards grew as Xena approached two massive oak doors opening to reveal a brilliantly rainbow-reflecting chamber.
"Announcing, Xena, from the other worlds!", echoed behind Xena, then the doors were pushed closed.
Xena noticed stain-glass windows on opposite walls to her sides, benches of a dozen black robbed scribes waited beneath the windows and ahead a mild throne of three chairs in the center. Without fanfare, a door opened to Xena's right and soon, a gracious mature woman lead two other women in similiar garb to the center thrones. They were head to toe in billowing brillant vestments. Twelve weaponless followers filled chairs to their left and right. With eyes of an eagle watching her, Xena focused on the central woman, the image of Lauren Bacall, gracious waves which raised the light level in the chamber.
"So, you are the warrior princess! I am Antigone, ruler of Penumbra and the lands you know as Argive." Antigone's voice carried crisp, sure, and full. "Thank you for responding so quickly, Xena. I'm sure your path was not easy, and unfortunatley neither is the task I need you to fulfill."
Xena denied an offered seat and a tray with unknown libation, watching Antigone waltz about the large elligent chamber, reading a scroll and etching the bottom. "You failed to mention the specifics of this favor you need."
Antigone chuckled. "It is no favor, Xena. You will fulfill your task, or Gabrielle will die."
Xena drew her sword and forward warrior guards reacted same, the tension bred stillness.
Antigone nodded to her companions and then smiled at Xena. "That will not save your friend, and you know that." Antigone continued to her throne, dainty silk fluttering behind her. "A lavender jeweled scepter brings protection to our farmers from various plagues the Olmpians select for amusement. It seems it was stolen, but the thief made Claudius a fine desert. With it in his liar, I feel you are the only one qualified to retrieve it. Even more now, that you've survived the crossing of the pass."
"Let Gabrielle go." Xena waited for a response, but Antigone never flinched and almost grinned.
"Gabrielle is well and you start tomorrow morning, after you've rested. You will need that rest. By following evening, Zeus and Hera have demanded a human sacrifice. There is little negotiation there and we both know who will be first, should you deny your task!" Antigone, stepped from her throne, straight to Xena, waving her guards to refrain as she came to the cusp of Xena's sword. "If I could be candidate, you would not be here. But the Olympians have agreed to you or your traveling companion. You want to take my life, Warrior? I have no fear! My life has been full and purposeful, yet your friend will still die...only faster."
Xena held her sword firm, but Antigone did not back off. "What happens if I fail?"
"If you try and fail, then your life was forfeit in battle. The Olympians are barred from our lands and the Mystic providence is perserved. The following morning, Gabrielle will be lead to the safe end of Dagman's bog. You have my word. Destruction is a last course of action."
Xena glared at her. "And should I return this scepter to you. It's only your word that I have to trust Gabrielle and I leave here unharmed, with full knowledge of Argive?"
Antigone turned to a bowing grey hair gentlemen. "Scribe, the agreement to grant Gabrielle and Xena free passage." She smiled accepting his scroll then passed it to Xena. "As for you bringing a war party in reprissal, you are certainly knowledgable enough to try. But, realize you will not have been first. Not that I think, that matter in your profession?"
"And Now?" Stepping back, Xena sleaved her sword, accepting a clear glass goblet of milk.
Antigone nodded. "Desperate times, ask cautious measures. You will be confined by my royal guards. In the morning, my best warrior will accompany you to Claudius' canyon. Gabrielle will be well cared for, in your absence. Good Luck, Xena. Eros be with you!"
Shortly after sipping her milk, Xena's strength withdrew and her gobblet crashed on the floor. Antigone's guards raced taking her arms, the last memory as sleep came quick.
Xena awoke not knowing where Gabrielle was held but understanding Antigone's position for the moment. The cell was a cot, a light breakfast of grapes and breads left on a small shelf and simple comforts of human necessity with no windows to view a sunrise. Several hardy knocks and Xena jumped watching the locked door finally open.
A massive figured bent his head inside. "I'm Joxer, Xena. If I'm to guide you safely to Claudius, we need to leave now!"
Xena amused herself with another Joxer, who clanked as he walked, though more of a mountain than a man. "I'm ready, Joxer. I've friend with your name." She wondered of how this mini-giants mother must have suffered in birth and manytimes afterwards.
"And is he a warrior?", he asked, leading her down a short walk to the water tunnel.
Xena nodded. "Head to toe", she offered and thought, 'when he can tell the two apart.'
She followed Joxer into a familiar viking-boat and watched twenty rowers glide oars as the opening to the sea passed. Xena surveyed the surrounding rock ledges of Penumbra without a hint of Gabrielle.
As she listened, she heard children ahead from shores she didn't cross the night before. They played and played, yet their parent's clustered in tight clicks along the main road of their small village. Hoping out of the boat, Joxer lead Xena passed adobe huts which Xena wouldn't stare at but heard, time and time again: "ANTIGONE will protect us from Zeus", and "Hera never curbs her thirst for blood." then oddly "ANTIGONE pledges to be Hera's first sacrifice! What will we do?" and "Eros go with her! Antigone brought forth a savior" and "Faith is the power, belief dare not mar."
At the base, Xena moved quickly ahead of Joxer up the mountain side but his massive frame passed her. It was the highest ridge Xena had ever known, dangerously crumbing with some of her toe holds slipping but keeping pace. "Why have the mystics abandoned you?"
He stopped near the top, pulling Xena on a short ledge with him. "The Mystics are a matter not needed for your task.", he warned and stretched for a long smooth reached for a cliff. "Go, ahead!"
Xena climbed Joxer to the edge, the level was vast and abandoned. "I'm sorry, keep thinking of the other Joxer. He is a trustee, knowledgable on such matters." She noticed a massive arch, thinking of the pulley, but keeping her questions.
Joxer came to the top and stopped. "Then, he must be a better class than I. Or a moron, betraying the confidence of his people!"
It was midday, when Joxer dropped their provision bags among the last stretch, several old trees buckled their roots along the ground. As Xena watched, he tied several rope ladders to oaks and tossed their ends over the side.
Xena peeked into the canyon. "I take it, from here is for me alone?"
He nodded yes. "There's a small ledge a few leagues down and a narrow descent which will lead you to Claudius' cave. Follow the walls to a smooth footing of rock. There will be a split in the side of his cavern, fit for you to enter his cave. Beware of Witashca, they fight in numbers but fear fast. And, Good luck, Xena." He watched her descend and jog a trail down into the cavern. "I'll be waiting here, for your return. Eros be with you!"
Xena sprinted, hand on her chakram, near the wall among the outter cover of nearby trees. Her mission was for Gabrielle, for Sahara, and for the children playing as their parents postponed panic stretching faith. Ahead was easy following the cavern wall to a base plateau where a petite enterance clarified a safe route into Claudius' trophy room. The pulley she noted from the pass was high above and crushed containers reeking of vinegar with fruitflies buzzing in circles, surrounded the plateau. She sighted the slit-enterance and a hint of movement of something watching from within.
It was midday and she had plenty of time, if Claudius stayed asleep. Considering the width of the slit, she traded her chakram for sword and entered, listening into the shadows as her eyes adjust. A few paces in, she ducked, hearing scurrying paces above her on her left. Then she moved ahead, on her right, Claudius snored behind the catacomb wall blocking view of his larger chamber.
Ahead, Xena spied Claudius' trophy cave glowing green. Xena gawked at his massive piles of gem glitters from centuries of treasured finds, golden trickets from ships too brazen to his shore, walls of encrusted jewels and gems, and more as Xena crept forward through the narrow passage, cautiously.
First was a quick shadow, flying high and to her left breathing heavy. Two seconds of foul stench warned of a young brazen Witashca dropping behind her.
YiYi, Ya!" Xena twirled her sword slashing another one in front before beheading the young Witashca behind her.
Hera spoke from everywhere. "Kill her!" and flooded the chamber with her dark evil laughter."Claudius, wake!! Kill her!"
"Not today. YAA" Xena hacked and hopped to a ledge where others lay waiting. One quick flick and her chakram flew sparkes spitting from stone targets and ricotting screaches marking owners of heavy limbs plopping to the ground.
She knew they were running, but being houseguests of Claudius, she knew her safetytime was cut short, Claudius yawned at the far side of his home, then growled at the sun. Xena leaped to the ledge above, then hopped the tops of several stalagmites for his trophy cave. In a grande dive, she landed just shy of the lavender scepter and climbed across a gritty jewel/gem pile towards the scepter's purple haze. Feeling the cave quake as Claudius rolled to stand, Xena snatched the scepter and a pocket full of gems, dumping a poach of pork jerky, Gabrielle's home. But, Claudius was roaring knowing she was there and crawling to his hoofs trotting towards her direction. Xena dove across the gem pile for sure ground and then saw Claudius seeing her.
The cavern shook as one of his pinchers pounded it's wall. Watching as his pincher fanned for air, Xena hurried two hops, falling off the last stalagmite as Claudius crashed the walls again. Ahead, Xena sighted two approaching shadows of older Witashka with clubs blocking her exit. Running for the narrow catacombs safe from Claudius' reach, Xena stopped feeling his rocks smashed the cavity behind her!! She heard Claudius scratching the ground for more shale, and tossed the brillant lavender scepter towards the older Witashkas ahead.
Again, rocks crashed but in the cavity in front. Watching the Witashka scatter, Xena raced snatching the scepter and sliding out the split exit for the sun. Again, she heard Claudius roaring and crashing stones echoing out the catacomb. For the moment, she was safe to run in the open to save time.
She raced for the path up, knewing the massive warrior was waiting, possibly to thwart a new threat to Argive. He waved his loaded sword hand, and Xena could feel Claudius stomping towards their direction. The massive warrior stood ready for Claudius ignoring Xena with the scepter.
"Go! Go up , now!!" he barked, and starting twirling a large bola whipping the air with it's massive stone ends.
Xena, raced a roped ladder to the ledge where Claudius could not reach and turned to see Joxer releasing his bola. "Come on!", she yelled, but Joxer remained fixated to die in battle.
"No time, Princess. Save Argive! Go!!"
"Joxer!! Hurry!", she screamed but Joxer knew he hadn't time, Claudius absorbed the bola with his left pincher and was reaching for Joxer's ledge with his hands.
Xena tossed the lavender scepter into their camp and retrieved a flask of skunk oil from her pouch. "YiYiYI Yes!", she screeched and Claudius stopped, watching with some amusment. He'd never seen a flying human. Then, Xena flung the flask at his brow, smashing it contents stinging his eyes, then landed next to Joxer.
Joxer jumped from Claudius' desparate right fist and cringed as Claudius wailed in pain.
"We go now, Princess!!", he shouted and tossed Xena up the ledge edge, like a sack of potatoes.
Claudius fell back and the second ledge started crumbling beneath Joxer. Xena pulled Joxer up and they scrambled ahead, only to have Atlas shift the world and the ground beneath them started to split and crumble. With Claudius roaring then racing for his seashore on the other side of his kingdom, Xena and Joxer clutched sharp grips in the mountain and abandoning all their provisions except for the scepter Xena sleeved with her sword. As shale craced and stones loosened, They barely noticed the remains of their camp crashing into the canyon behind them.
Neither realized their cuts and gashes or even the safety of a stable mound, slithering on their bellies for safety from Claudius' distant annoying wail then stopping midway through a peat oasis, a stable zone on the mountain top.
Joxer rattled to his feet, watching Xena do the same. "I told you to GO!"
Xena, blinked, holding her chakram but watching him frazzled and grabbing his hair to calm. "You're welcome." She watched him flinch and then, she got a healthy whiff. "I'm glad that skunk oil worked!"
"I am indebted to you Warrior Princess. My life is yours." He limped as they
continued back towards Argive.
Xena watched as Joxer, pulled a flint stone and torched a pink smoking stick.
"A call for the boat?"
He chuckled. "Always the questions with you. No, a message of our success!"