The guards, in the hall outside, were Amazons that Eponin vouched for with her life. Berra and Turra would ensure that no one got close enough to the door to be able to overhear the conversation, even if they could manage to hear anything that was being said behind the thick wood panels.

They lounged on large cushions, around a cleared space on the floor which had been covered with plates and dishes that bore various products from Pompey's industrious kitchens. There was a pot of nutty cereal and bowls of honey for those with a sweet tooth. A wide variety of meats and cheeses were piled liberally on serving dishes and the freshly baked, warm bread gave off an enticing aroma. Fruit was abundant, including figs, dates and oranges as well as apples, pears and grapes. All in all there was enough to satisfy anyone's appetite, even the legendary one of a certain bard.

Iolaus, looking bleary eyed was giving a report on just what he and Toris had been able to find out from Jerushan, "We used the method that we'd worked out in Lugdunum for questioning the guard that we abducted. Once we got enough of the wine into her, Jerushan told us what she knew."

"Which was?" prompted Gabrielle, from her position at the head of the gathering, as she popped another date into her mouth.

"From what she said," Toris responded, "It was just a note from Tarelle trying to make contact with Caesar. She says she doesn't know what was in the note, but she told us that she was supposed to go back tomorrow evening so that she could make further arrangements with him."

"You might want to re-think that little bit of information and the accuracy of your examination technique," Autolycus commented wryly. All eyes turning towards the thief and he suddenly felt how a rabbit must when finding itself surrounded by predators. "Now look," he began in self defence, "I know I'm not too popular at the moment .. going off without a word to anyone like that, but," he countered their glowers and raised eyebrows, "I did it with the purest intentions."

"Pure gold intentions?" sniped Hercules pointedly looking at the bulges made by the purloined pouches under the thief's tunic.

"Yes," agreed the darkly handsome man. He caught Hercules' look and had the grace to flush a little, "My intentions were pure gold," he protested, "Look, we needed information. Our current position here is rocky to say the least, we need to know just what is going on amongst our 'friends' and enemies."

"Oh sure, chuckled Iolaus, "I bet you found out plenty in the Roman treasury."

"That," shrugged Autolycus uncomfortably, "was just a training exercise .. I need to keep my business hand in. However," he went onto the attack, "my other little visits were very productive and worth far more to us than all the dinars that they've got stuffed away in that vault of theirs."

He had everyone's attention now and a silence crept over the richly appointed room before Gabrielle sighed and asked, "Alright, Autolycus, tell us all about it."

The King of thieves chuckled and rubbed his hands together, "Well when Shorty's pirate friend," he got a quick couple of digs in a Iolaus for the fun of it, "dropped those lightning bolts on us, I figured we needed to know as much as we could about what everyone else in this game was up to. Now since I, by nature of my expertise, was best suited to finding these things out ..."

"Sneaking around and listening at doors," interpreted Iolaus annoyed about the cracks at his height and the nature of his friendship with Nebula.

"... I took it upon myself to find out what I could on our joint behalf," he brushed an index finger across his moustache," even at the risk of my own life."

"Just so he could play the hero!" sniped the blonde warrior.

"Cut it out Iolaus or we'll be here all day," Hercules pointed out.

"Well most of us can't go anywhere else anyway," snapped the blonde man, who was beginning to get 'cabin fever'.

"Hey guys," Ephiny interrupted them, "Whatever Autolycus has to say could be important to us, so why don't we just listen for a while, huh?"

"Please go on, Autolycus," encouraged Gabrielle with a small smile, "but try to stick to the point. We all know how highly you value your own skills .. not that we don't value them too," she assured him as she saw him frown at the small dig she couldn't resist giving voice to.

The thief gave her a look before deciding that it wasn't worth the energy in defending his, admittedly, dubious honour when everyone else was likely to side with Gabrielle against him, "Yes, well .. hrmph. I dodged over to the Amazon barracks to check out just who the main suspects were, and decided that I'd snoop there a bit later when Eponin finished doing her thing. Being at something of a loose end, I just happened to see Pompey returning from that banquette thing you went to, so decided to try and find out what was on his mind."

"And ..." encouraged Ephiny when he stopped to swallow some fruit juice.

"And basically he's going to use the Amazons for all their political worth, while making certain that Gabrielle, Toris, Joxer, Curly and me stay put ... even if he has to lock us all up in his dungeons. Which he will do, by the way, if any one of us tries to leave this building .. conventionally at least." He then filled them in on exactly what had been said between Pompey and Antonius.

"So in a nutshell," Eponin summed up, "You're saying that Pompey has little intention of letting you, Gabrielle, Toris, Joxer or Iolaus go. That he wants to distract Caesar by using Ephiny as a blind, and will happily see Xena, and everyone of us, dead if it serves his personal vendetta against Caesar?"

"That's pretty much spot on what he was saying," agreed the thief.

"Well at least we know exactly where we stand with Pompey," muttered Hercules, who was beginning to appreciate the true value of what Autolycus had been doing in the night.

"Alright," said the bard before taking a bite out of a pear and chewing thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing and asking, "What did you do next?"

The King of Thieves grinned rakishly at her before continuing, "Well having heard Nebula say that Xena was taken to Caesar's palace, and as I was intending to head over there anyway, I thought I'd take a look at how difficult it would be to 'steal' her out from under their noses." He nibbled thoughtfully at a fig before continuing, "I gotta tell you, it's a whole lot easier breaking into their damn treasury than getting close to the Warrior Princess. I never even got a look at her. She's being held in the drill-yard ..."

"In the yard?" questioned Toris confused.

"Weeell," drew out Autolycus, "not so much in as under."

"Are you being deliberately cryptic?" demanded Gabrielle, "And I thought Xena was bad!"

That got a full, white toothed, smile from Autolycus, "Habit," he said apologetically, "always keep 'em guessing." That earned him a snort of laughter from the bard and a few grins from amongst the others on the floor. "Actually, someone had dug a pit in the centre of that parade ground and covered it with a very heavy looking metal grill. They've set up beacons around the pit that flood the area with light and there are six guards in that lit area who check on her every quarter candlemark or so to make sure she's just where they left her. On top of that there's twenty guards all armed with nasty looking pistol crossbows that shoot darts, which I guess would be coated with some kind of sleeping drug."

"They had those while we were in Gaul. I think Caesar would rather not kill her unless he has to," interrupted Gabrielle. Everyone nodded thoughtfully at this information.

"Well anyway," continued the thief, "any thoughts I had of busting her out were ended then and there, because there's no way to sneak past those guards without being caught." He allowed that information to sink in before he went on to detail what he had overheard Caesar saying.

"So he knows we're here, then?" questioned Toris slamming his fist against his knee in anger.

"Hey!" Joxer suddenly chirped up, "You guys know what that means, don't ya?" He hurried on without waiting for an answer to his question, "It means Caesar's got a spy in Pompey's household working for him."

Iolaus shook his head in mute disbelief at the wanna be warrior, "More likely a double agent," the blonde warrior commented, "Otherwise Caesar would know that we weren't in the cells."

"Well done, short stuff," snickered Autolycus giving him a soft round of applause, "You're smarter than you look .. of course that isn't difficult."

Iolaus was up on his knees about to make a lunge at the thief, when he was restrained by Hercules' firm grasp, "Calm down, pal. We're all on the same side here."

Yeah!" retorted the smaller man, "Well tell that to the prince of .. of .. pilferers over there," he snarled.

"Cut it out Autolycus. We've got enough problems without fighting amongst ourselves," insisted the demi-god.

"Yeah, well," the thief said as he settled back down in his place, "We have a bigger problem than shor ..." he caught Hercules' steely gaze, "Umm .. Iolaus' prickly feelings."

"Like what?" questioned Joxer with zealous interest.

"Like the fact that Caesar's got the hots for Ephiny and is likely going to be panting after her like a resident of Tartarus would an ice-cube!" he pointed out.

Ephiny, Gabrielle and Eponin looked at each other almost seeming to have a silent conversation, one which neither the bard nor the Weapons Master was very happy with, "Well," said the Regent at last. "I think that if I can keep Caesar chasing me, it might just keep him off balance enough for us to get this plan to work."

"You'd be taking a big risk, Ephiny," Hercules warned, worried about just what could happen.

Gabrielle laid a concerned hand on her friend's arm, "Eph, that man is dangerous .. even Xena is careful about him. There's something about his personality .. it's strange. Xena says it's like a moth and a flame, an he's the flame. The attraction he exudes is almost impossible to resist, even when you know you're going to get burned. I don't want you to get hurt .. and I know Xena wouldn't want you to either," she told her friend with worried sincerity.

"I'll be alright, Gabrielle. I'll make sure that I've always got Hercules or one of the Amazon guards with me whenever I see him, that way I'll be protected," the Regent tried to reassure her Queen with more confidence than she really felt herself, - I've already felt that attraction, and it's going to be hard to resist him, - she admitted to herself.

"Well that just leaves our rebellious Amazons to deal with," put in Eponin gruffly, not at all happy with Ephiny's decision. "I'll get my head together with Autolycus and compare notes with him. Between us, we should be able to clear out the rotten eggs and get them safely out of the way aboard Nebula's ship."

"What are we going to do about this 'meeting' with Caesar tomorrow at the senate?" asked the bard, "I mean, someone needs to show up so he doesn't become suspicious."

There was silence in the large room for some few heartbeats before the Regent made a suggestion, "I think we should send Malonda with a message saying that I'd like to meet with him on a more private basis. We can then quibble about arrangements for a few days before we have to make up our minds what to do next." She looked around to gauge the response.

Eponin shook her head violently, "No. It has to be someone who knows what's going on here. We don't want to include anyone else, so it'll have to be me who goes."

Ephiny gave her friend a hard look, "You sure Poni? I mean, you're just not cut out to be a diplomat."

The Weapons Master shrugged, "Write a note and I'll just deliver it." She grinned as a thought struck her, "And if you're worried about my safety, you can send tall, fair and godly along with me as an escort .. might look cool wandering around Rome with him as my body slave." Her grin widened as she glanced over and saw the look that Hercules was giving her.

He transferred the look to the Queen Regent when she said thoughtfully, "That might not be such a bad idea, Poni."

The group settled down to plan out their various campaigns, knowing that they were very much resting between a rock and a hard place and needed to make absolutely certain that their actions were thought out well in advance with as many different contingencies for emergencies as possible.

Eponin stood in the foyer of the Roman Senate tapping her right foot in increasing agitation. She really hadn't liked Ephiny's plan, but she'd been so tied up in getting Tarelle and her confederates sorted out and hustled down to Nebula's ship, that she just hadn't found the time to get Ephiny alone and voice her strongly felt opinions.

- This is crazy, - she thought for about the hundredth time, starting to pace back and forth while ignoring the frown that she knew she was getting from Hercules. - From everything that Gabrielle's said, and what she's told us that Xena has said, Ephiny has got to be a sandwich short of a picnic to try and flirt with that man. - A grim look came on her face as a thought struck her, - If he does anything to hurt her, I'll gut him! -

Hercules watched the edgy Weapons Master feeling very much out of place and helpless here. He could say nothing to get the severely agitated Eponin to calm down even if he hadn't, in fact, shared the same reservations about the scheme to keep Caesar occupied as she did.

He forced himself not to sigh, knowing that almost any sound emanating from him would not be in keeping with his cover, and he could feel someone's eyes watching him with a burning intensity. Squatting down next to a marble column, he leaned his back on it and tried to look around the impressive architecture like some uncouth, uneducated bumpkin, while in truth the surrounding magnificence meant nothing to him .. after the wonders of Mount Olympus, most buildings were just pale imitations. Oh, another time he might have admired the craftsmanship, but today his mind was fixed firmly on locating the person who seemed to be showing such an intent interest in him.

Eventually he found the interested observer, partially hidden by a colonnade up on the balcony that rimmed the foyer, giving entrance to the gallery for spectators who followed the Senate's deliberations. Taking very casual looks in the direction of the man, Hercules determined that the watcher had not seen many more than twenty summers. He appeared to be good looking and had very distinctive, chestnut coloured, curly hair. The demi-god was fairly certain he had seen the man around Pompey's palace.

- Obviously Pompey wants to know what's happening between Caesar and the Amazons, - he mused, - but why is he showing so much interest in me? - he asked himself, well aware that the observers eyes stayed pinned on himself rather than the pacing Eponin.

He pushed his deliberations into the back of his mind when he saw the Weapons Master stiffen and look towards the entrance portico as Caesar and his entourage arrived, attracting all the attention of the milling crowds. Hercules noted that Eponin made no move to approach the Roman, he knew that they were there. He would just have to come to them.

As Caesar approached, Hercules made an obvious ploy of looking in the Roman noble's direction before pushing himself up to his full impressive height. It was necessary for everyone to think that he had seen Caesar before moving .. his disguise required that he maintain the impression of deafness.

Eponin tried valiantly to erase the scowl from her features as she watched Caesar approach her with a tail of fawning, advancement seeking, men trailing after him. - He is, - considered the Amazon, - the most arrogant, condescending, man I have ever had the misfortune to meet. -

Applying a stone faced mask to her features that made her look far more menacing than normal, she greeted Caesar with flat formality, "Hail Caesar, I bring you a message from Ephiny, by the grace of Artemis, Queen of the Amazons, Lioness of Themiscyra, Daughter of the Moon." She handed over the letter that the Regent and bard had worked hard upon crafting, adding things and removing others until they had constructed what they believed to be a suitably amiable and flirtatious missive that would both encourage and intrigue the Roman.

It said:

My Lord Caesar I so enjoyed your victory celebrations yesterday, I found it all so riveting. Is it true that everything Roman is always exhibited on such a grand scale? If so, that must keep the Roman population in a state of satiated exhaustion. How do you ever manage to pursue your conquests? My Amazons have been keenly comparing the performances of your Roman ... gladiators ... to the men of Greece. They seem to think that the Greeks make up in stamina and endurance what they loose to the Romans in weapon size and technique. However, as I frequently have told them, it's not the size of the weapon, but the skill of the wielder that makes a great .. gladiator! I find myself incredibly tied up with so many functions that I just must attend. I do so hope to be able to meet with you at some of them. I anticipate some lengthy discussions and look forward to hearing how well your training of the animal is going. I find myself looking forward with eager expectation to the match between your slave and my Heston, although we still have to negotiate the terms of the wager. Personally, I hope you drive a hard bargain and that we both gain some mutual satisfaction from this encounter. If you are not too burdened by affairs of State, perhaps we could discuss more of these issues at Ambrosius' party tomorrow evening? Just let Eponin know your answer and I will adjust my plans accordingly. Ephiny

Caesar's breathing seemed to quicken as he read the note and both Hercules and the Weapons Master noticed a predatory gleam kindle in his brown eyes. The Roman read the missive through a second time before casting an assessing glance at the demi-god, noting the 'concubines' sculpted muscular body and remembering the strength and endurance he had shown when fighting the Ethiopian, before tapping the letter lightly against his right thigh and telling Eponin, "Inform Queen Ephiny that I will look forward to our encounter at the house of Ambrosius, tomorrow night."

Poni answered with a short bow, and watched as Caesar disappeared towards the Senate door, still surrounded by a crowd of hangers-on that would have been ready to clean his boots with their tongues had he but asked them to. The Weapons Master's lip curled in distaste. - Well whatever he's got, I seem to be immune to it! - she sneered silently. - What a goat sucking, pig fricking, asshole of a male! - she crudely described him to herself.

As Caesar left them, Hercules' eyes had turned in the direction where the unobtrusive observer still remained at his post, carefully monitoring the exchange between the rival power in Rome and the Amazon's emissary. When he realised that he'd been spotted by the huge, silent man, the spy quickly ducked out of sight.

- I hate politics! - thought Hercules, - Xena, when all this is done, you and I are going to have a long discussion about just how much you owe me for this .. and just how you're going to repay me for it! - he thought with a wry grin, pretty much certain about what the method of payment would be.

Eponin turned and touched his arm, and soon the two were picking their way through Rome's crowded streets back towards the palace to let the others know that Caesar had taken the bait.

The party at Ambrosius' was an elaborate event, with groaning tables of exquisite finger foods, indoor fountains that spouted an endless supply of good wine, musicians, bards, acrobats, jugglers, poets and sundry other forms of entertainment including card tables for those who wished to indulge in, relatively, bloodless gambling and, of course, the inevitable series of pit matches that, Hercules was thankful, did not include an appearance by Heston, who was being saved for the potentially titanic contest with Caesar's barbarian slave.

Both Ephiny and Caesar attended, with colourful entourages, although the Amazon's leather, feather and bead ensembles far outshone the native population's in both exoticness and colour. The occasion was one of glittering spectacle and lavish over-abundance that spoke volumes for the extravagance and waste that was generated by the elite of Rome.

"By Artemis," grumbled Malonda to a tired Eponin, "The food that will be wasted here would feed most villages for a month!"

The Weapons Master nodded her agreement and stifled a yawn while keeping a discreet eye on Ephiny. She was being faithfully shadowed by Hercules as the Regent fenced with the enthusiastic Caesar who was preparing his pursuit and eventual seduction of the Amazon Queen, "Eph seems to be holding her own," she commented wryly, knowing that when they got back into the relative safety of their suite at Pompey's she'd be treated to chapter and verse of just what a slimy slug the Roman was.

- Still, - considered Eponin silently, - she's led him a better dance than I thought possible. He's practically broken his neck trying to get her off somewhere alone only to be frustrated at every turn by a big concubine or a variety of feathered Amazons. Definitely a good start to the game. -

"How much longer before we can all get out of here?" asked Malonda irritably, "These people are beginning to make me twitch .. and if just one more young Roman buck comes up to me and asks if he can pluck my feathers, I think I'll just take his head off at the neck and stuff it where the sun doesn't shine!" she growled belligerently.

Poni laughed mirthlessly, "Ya just gotta give them the right look. Make them think twice about even coming near." She demonstrated with an imitation of one of Xena's patented warrior glares that had a lurking Roman heading for the opposite side of the hall.

"You learn that from the big, bad, Warrior Princess?" questioned Malonda, a faint trace of disdain in her voice.

"Sure," agreed Eponin casually, "She's got many skills and that one comes in damn useful. Why?"

"Nothing," grunted the dark haired Amazon, "I just think everyone wants to make too big a fuss over her. For Artemis' sake! She's just another warrior .. a good one, I'll grant you," she added, noticing the Weapons Master about to object, "but just how much of her intimidating presence is based on reputation. Hades!" she swore, "Tarelle and her bunch want to get rid of her 'cause they're scared spitless of her. Ephiny and Gabrielle are so in awe of the superstar that they can't see any of her faults. It would just be nice if everyone saw her for what she really is."

"What's that, Loni?" questioned Eponin carefully. She wasn't sure that she liked what she was hearing from her fellow Amazon.

"A murdering bitch who's gotten away with her crimes time and again for no logical reason that I can see!" snapped the Malonda angrily.

Eponin stood quietly for a moment before she responded softly, "You're wrong, Malonda. Xena has never gotten away with anything. Her past is always with her no matter what she does, and her enemies are the kind with the power to hurt her badly, like Caesar has here."

With another disdainful look the scout commented, "Never thought you'd be drawn in by her, Eponin. Thought you were too pragmatic for all that bullshit that surrounds her," she snarled.

Sighing, the Weapons Master gave her second-in-command an appraising look, "I can understand someone not liking her," she told the other Amazon, "The gods know she's got enough history behind her to make half the world hate her. What you feel is entirely up to you .. just so long as it doesn't interfere with our sworn duty to protect our Queens."

Malonda gave her an almost outraged look, "Hey I never said anything against either Ephiny or Gabrielle."

"I never said you did, Loni," replied Eponin. "But anyone who does is going to answer to me." She fixed the other woman with a glare, and then decided to let the whole thing drop, "Look, that's the signal," she nudged the dark haired scout with her elbow as Ephiny ran her fingers through her golden curls, "It's time to get her out of here before the horny toad gets too insistent."

Chuckling, the two Amazons collected the rest of the honour guard and went to rescue their Regent from the insidious clutches of Caesar.

They were now deeply embroiled in the dangerous game that they were forced to play with Caesar, while keeping Pompey assured that they were still his pawns. It was difficult and draining. Those who could not leave the palace became testy and irritable with heavy doses of "Cabin Fever" as Gabrielle called it, having seen it before in Xena when she was forced to remain inactive and confined to one place. The four men with her all exhibited it to one degree or another. Joxer was hardly effected, but Iolaus and Toris were becoming more fractious as endless days ground on. Autolycus found relief by slipping out at night to keep track of what was happening in the enemy camps.

Ephiny and Eponin were continually at odds over the problem of keeping Caesar at a wide enough distance to insure the safety of the Regent. The Weapons Master thought two miles was too close, while Ephiny argued that Caesar's pursuit of her kept him enough off balance to avoid him starting to make awkward inquiries .. well that was what they hoped.

The rogue Amazons were contained in Nebula's ship and engaged upon useful activities there, keeping them occupied, out of harms way and out of a demon brew that was difficult enough to keep in the pot without everything boiling over anyway. It was an uncomfortable situation to say the least, and it teetered along for a full fourteen days towards the new moon before the pot got stirred hard.