Her sister, Artemis, frowned at the Goddess of Love's exuberant display, as she carefully continued to watch proceedings play themselves out in the scrying bowl. As Hercules lurched a little precariously from the arena and Flaccus entered with his guards to claim the prone body of the unconscious, Warrior Princess, the Moon Goddess asked softly, "'Dite, you do remember just what we're trying to do here, don't you?"

Aphrodite stopped her wild victory dance and gave her sister one of those 'Course-I-Know-What-We're-Doing looks accompanied by a, "D'uh! Getting Xena and Gabrielle out of mean and moody Caesar's clutches," she replied under the other goddess' intense stare. She looked closely into the scrying image at the Roman Emperor and a frown of concentration appeared on her fair features, "Hey! You know, Arte, If Caesar went blonde and had a pair of wings he'd be a dead ringer for Cupid, ya think?"

Artemis found herself considering the notion for a moment before she shrugged it off and tried to return to the matter in hand, "Oh for Zeus' sake, 'Dite! Can't you concentrate on what we're trying to do rather than playing the fool and acting like you just won a bet!" When the expected retort didn't fly hotly back at her, Artemis turned to face her sister to find her looking uncomfortably guilty. "What? Are you trying not to tell me you did win a bet?" she snapped.

The Goddess of Love shuffled her feet a bit and then muttered a few words that sounded suspiciously like, "Well sort of."

Staring at her flighty sister, Artemis pinned her to the spot and growled, "What!"

Lightly flushing at being caught out, Aphrodite jumped into the breach and explained quickly, running her words together in her haste "ItwasonlyalittlebetwithHermes!"

The Moon Goddess gave her an exasperated stare, "But you already knew the outcome, 'Dite!"

"I know!" agreed the blonde with a characteristic smirk, "but Hermes didn't and he was sooo sure that deadly, dark and dangerous would win."

"That is really low, 'Dite. How can you reconcile the love thing with such trickery?" snapped Artemis without really thinking.

"Puh - leese!" retorted her sister, "That's totally not true! No one ever said that Love was fair!" A malicious gleam appeared in her eyes, "And, like, Hermes is the God of Trickery amongst other things ... so like, what goes around comes around, ya know?" She smirked a bit and then asked artfully, "Oh yeah, sweet cheeks. What was that whisper I heard about some wager you had going with Apollo?"

It was Artemis' turn to feel the flush of embarrassment upon her cheeks, "Now that's different, 'Dite," she protested.

"As if!" snorted the blonde.

The lithely muscular goddess shook a finger and snapped, "Yes it is! Apollo's my twin and even though I love him dearly, he's got this blind spot about Hercules and really needed a lesson." She pulled herself up to full height and tried to look calmly dignified as she added, "It's my duty as his sister to offer instruction where it's needed."

"Chill will ya! I'm just saying that I'm not the only one here who likes to play .. besides I think half of Olympus was taking bets on the outcome." snickered Aphrodite. They both settled down to watch the exchange between Caesar and Ephiny in the bowl once more, "So when do we get to take a more active role, huh?"

"Soon, 'Dite, soon," promised Artemis as she proudly observed her Regent manipulating the Roman, "Where's Ares hiding himself?"

"Well, like he was real bummed out when Xena blew him off again, and there was like this major war going down somewhere," she shook her hand in a vague direction, "So he took off in a huff, figuring that once the warrior babe got fed up of being Caesar's untamed pet, he'd get a call from her to get her out of there and back to his side what she belongs .. go figure!" the blonde replied.

"With luck, then, he'll stay out of the way .. he did his part anyway, and if he hangs around he might blow this for us." grinned Artemis, not realising that her War God brother was at that moment observing his sisters in his own scrying bowl.

"Well, well, well! The girls want to play with my chosen. Wonder what Apollo and Hermes are gonna say when they find out they've been had!" he muttered nastily. "Of course. If they do my work and get Xena out of there, who am I to complain? If they manage it I won't have to upset Caesar, and Pompey will think I've helped him .. and I win all around!" He grinned maliciously, "Then I can always use the leverage over the Apollo and Hermes thing to get some favours out of my two dear sisters."

Ephiny felt an intense satisfaction as she reviewed the events of the previous few days in her mind. It had been a busy time for her, and nerve wracking too. They had to rely on Caesar making the correct moves in the game with only the subtlest of prompting from her.

When Xena had slumped unconscious to the pit floor beneath where the Regent and Caesar were seated, a shocked silence had descended over the arena and muted cheering was sounded to herald "Heston's" victory .. mainly orchestrated by the strategically placed Amazon Warriors.

Taking a guarded look at the Emperor of Rome, Ephiny had noted his fixed stare and the clenched muscles in his jaw. She hadn't been certain which of their wagers it had hurt him to lose the most: the loss of dinars would hurt his pocket and curtail some of his lavish spending aimed at bribing the acquiescence of the fickle people, but the requirement that he publicly praise Pompey, his most ardent rival, before the senate would sting his pride and might just damage his political position.

Allowing him to stew in his own juices for a while, the Amazon Regent had watched as Heston had been escorted from the pit by Eponin, and the Roman soldiers had come in and securely chained Xena, once more, before dragging her limp body out of the arena. She had made a note to herself to praise Hercules for his fine acting as he had staggard unsteadily from the scene of his victory, knowing that the show would only further bait the trap that she had so meticulously laid.

Another glance at Caesar told her that it was time to stoke the fires of resentment and humiliation that she saw smouldering in her host's eyes. Leaning closer to the Roman and speaking words soft enough so that only he would hear, Ephiny said, "It seems that you owe me one million dinars, my Lord." She had artfully allowed a small smile to creep onto her face as she added, "And a speech that praises Pompey's worth to the senate."

She had deepened the smile as she saw his knuckles clench white around the arms of his seat, "He won by a fluke, madam!" Caesar grated out angrily, "All here could see that my slave had him beaten. If he hadn't staggered when he did, Xena would have finished him."

That had been their biggest worry .. that Caesar would recognise the artifice they had used to 'create' Hercules' win. However, the Roman seemed to have accepted the evidence of what he had seen as truth and had taken to heart that his 'slave' had only lost to a fluke accident that would never .. could never ..happen again.

Mentally clenching her teeth, Ephiny had extended a light touch to his arm and laughed softly, intimately, "Come now, my Lord! Surely you aren't such a poor sport as to take this loss in bad part? I had heard that Romans were sanguine about such affairs. I should hate to be disappointed in your generosity of spirit in this way." The words had tasted like ashes in her mouth, but she knew that they would force Caesar to, at least publicly, accept his losses in good grace. However, she could see his fertile mind working to try and minimize the extent of his defeat as any good general would.

"Not at all, highness," he had responded with as much gallantry as he could muster, "I was but disappointed that we could not see a natural outcome to such a fine match. I have no doubt that you will admit to as much disappointment as I that we did not see a true finish, merely some mockery of an accidental ending."

She had given him a bland stare for several heartbeats before she had forced an enchanting smile onto her face and replied, "Of course my Lord. A fight such as we have witnessed was far to good to have been ended in such a manner." She sighed with elaborate, fabricated, distress, "Unfortunately, a true ending is now denied to us and, for good or ill, my poor Heston has won his victory and my wagers!"

Caesar struggled hard not to glare at the Amazon, or shout angrily at her flippancy, "But surely, my love, we can arrange a re-match, perhaps a double or nothing wager to sweeten it? and maybe we can adjust those more private wagers to compensate for the sad ending of such a noble contest, too?"

Ephiny hesitated seeming to consider the Roman's offer for several long heartbeats before assuming a disappointed face and responding in a placating tone, "I'm truly sorry, my Lord, but unfortunately my time here is running short. My nation needs me home and my people and I will be leaving in a mere seven days .. and I'm afraid that my available time is fully occupied between now and then."

Caesar looked far from happy at that particular piece of news, "Ephiny, I had no idea that you would be leaving so soon ... we've had so little time to get to know each other," and the thought was clear to read in his mind, - And I need time to arrange another match and win back those wagers! -

"Parting will be such sweet sorrow, Julius," she got the name out without choking on it, "But I'm sure that you understand that I have responsibilities to my nation. Being a ruler, you must know how easily things can get out of hand," - Never a truer word, Eph! - she told herself, thinking of Tarelle and her cronies, "when you are not there to oversee things for yourself. I know the Amazon nation is small in comparison to your Roman Empire, but I'm certain that the principles are the same."

Caesar almost looked desperate, "But surely we can arrange a re-match before you leave!" he almost seemed to plead, clutching her hand as she withdrew it from his arm. Getting a grip of himself, the Roman had forced himself to a calmness he did not feel, "I would hate to think that we could not find the time to resolve the many issues that lay outstanding between us."

The Regent had appeared to think for some while about this heartfelt pleading, yet all the while Ephiny's stomach was churning, - This has to be done right, - she told herself. - We can't let him think that I'm giving in to this too easily or he could suspect collusion .. go steady here, Eph. Let him force the issue. - "I could not in good conscience break any of my engagements, my Lord .. but if a re-match could be made at one of the social engagements that we both will be attending over the next few days, I'm sure that my Heston will be eager to accommodate your wishes." She answered weakly, letting him see her reluctance. She almost smiled at the eager anticipation in the Roman's eyes, "In the meantime I will have my guards collect my winnings from you .. and as for the speech .." she saw his brown eyes go flinty before she unhurriedly continued, " ... perhaps we can renegotiate our little side bets to our mutual satisfaction."

Caesar had tried hard to hide his look of relief, but Ephiny's sharp eyes detected it anyway, "You have a soul made of honour, Ephiny .. I am sure that we'll be able to accommodate our mutual interests," he had promised with a smug look that told her he had regained his composure and confidence. It had been time to leave before he pushed his pursuit of her too far.

Explaining that she had a tiring day to look forward to on the morrow, Ephiny had made her excuses, gathered her entourage, and left Caesar's palace, hoping that the Roman Emperor and Graccus would do their part in the final workings of the delicate plan that had been concocted and hatched in her group's fertile minds.

Now, just three days later, she was preparing to attend a party at Graccus' palace and once more a contest between Xena and Hercules had been arranged as part of the evening's entertainment. Graccus had, by all accounts, played his part magnificently, resisting Caesar's pleas to accommodate the re-match, until the Roman ruler had all but ordered him to co-operate. All in all things had worked out near to perfection.

Hercules winced as he shifted his position on the couch where he had been resting. Far from having to act the ending to the fight, he had indeed had his legs buckle under him at the most opportune of times. - God's she packs a punch, - he thought shaking his head at the remembered pain and the ringing in his ears that had taken a full day to finally disperse. - If we ever fight for real, one of us could be in trouble ... and I'm not so certain which one of us it would be! It wasn't as if she was putting any real effort into the blows .. admittedly neither was I, but damn .. I'm the son of Zeus, for what it's worth! She's supposed to be a mortal! How'd she get so damn strong, anyway? -

He gingerly felt the bruising that covered his ribs. It had not been a performance when he had staggered from the pit. Once he was out side in the corridor, he had been forced to lean on Poni's offered shoulder (for once not accompanied by the Weapon's Master's normal sexual innuendo). He'd seen the look of shock on her face as she realised that Xena had actually managed to hurt him and it was echoed in the other two Amazon guard's eyes. Allowing himself to be guided to a bench that lined the wall of the corridor outside the door to the arena, he'd sunk down grateful for the chance to rest, get his breath back and clear his head a little.

All four of the Amazon contingent watched as Xena's unconscious form was dragged, none too gently, past them and away to some unknown destination. Eponin had spat in the Roman's direction, clearly unhappy at the treatment of a woman she counted as a friend .. but luckily, the supposed animosity, between the Warrior Princess and the Amazons, was well known and the chuckles from the legionaries suggested that they approved of the Weapons Master's sentiments.

With the soldiers gone, and Hercules somewhat recovered, Poni had growled, "Let's get Eph and get the Hades out of here," stalking down the corridor in the direction she knew would lead her up to the main hall where she could join up once more with the Regent.

Three days had passed since then .. days of disguised activity as they prepared to flee the city with the prize they'd come after, "You'll be free soon, Xena .. you have my oath on it!" he said softly, as he stood up. He was delegated to carry the very heavy chest of dinars from the palace down to the ship. With his godly strength, he could make the chest appear to be full of little more than clothing.