It had been something of a nerve wracking ordeal getting out of their loose captivity in Pompey's palace. Admittedly the security surrounding them had become remarkably lax in the past few days .. they no longer had to endure the daily head count, and trips to the kitchens had been accomplished without the normal shadow of a couple of their host's soldiers. In actuality, it appeared that since Pompey had removed himself from the city, he had ceased to care whether his 'captives' remained within his custody or not. Yet even with this lurking in the backs of their minds, it was something of a relief to clear the building's grounds, without the Roman General's men surrounding them and hauling them off into close confinement.

The trip through the city to Graccus' house had actually been a time of exuberance and enjoyment for Gabrielle and the men. For the first time in many days they had got outside the confinement of four walls and the sights and sounds, although vaguely familiar to the bard from her previous trip, were very new and interesting for her companions in captivity. To a certain extent, they were disappointed to finally reach their destination, as it meant once more relinquishing the open space of the outdoors to be enclosed (however temporarily) in a building. Yet, at the same time, the rising excitement of what they were here to do made them eager to get on with the show.

The home of Graccus was brightly lit and gaily caparisoned in readiness for the feast and entertainment arranged by the host and his wife. The soiree was packed with the neutral senators that favoured neither Caesar, nor Pompey, but would have preferred a return to the old system of rule under the senate itself .. they yearned for a return to the days of the true republic, away from the dictatorship of the military magnates who ruled with iron fists backed up by armed soldiers hardened in the service of the Empire. While men of this republican persuasion were in the majority here at this gathering, they had learned the hard way to guard their tongues and true feelings, for there were always those looking to cultivate patronage from either Caesar, or Pompey, by betraying a fellow senator.

The Amazon's arrival drew cheering from a good portion of the gathering guests, especially the younger set of both men and women. Although nearly all Romans considered the warrior women to be a backward and barbaric race, they still enjoyed the freshness that these visitors brought to a city that had become jaded with all the riches and sophistication that was common place to them. Gabrielle wondered just what these same people would think of the Amazon's after their evening's entertainment came to an end.

As Ephiny detached herself, Eponin, Malonda, Hercules and a guard of eight from the main bulk of her warriors, Gabrielle and the disguised men found themselves being discretely shepherded off to a quiet corner by about a dozen other warriors while the rest of the group dispersed into similar bunches around the hall, some engaging in polite conversation with the other guests, other groups assuming a 'back off' posture that kept any of the Romans from intruding upon their chosen space. Needless to say, Gabrielle's guards were one of the groups that 'demanded' to be left alone.

"Hey," hissed Joxer brightly, "any chance of getting something to eat and drink? I'm starved." his voice sounded oddly muffled behind the Amazon mask.

Iolaus scowled, even though the expression wouldn't be seen by his companion, "Knock it off, Jox!" he growled. "We can't eat or drink anything while these masks are down, and we sure as Hades can't lift them up."

There was a short silence as the wannabe warrior thought about that, "Oh!" he answered finally. "But can't we ...."

"No!" hissed Toris and Iolaus in unison.

"Look guys," warned Gabrielle sternly, "Just hold it down .. we're not supposed to attract attention .. right?"

"Right," agreed the three men with varying degrees of enthusiasm .. none of them appreciated being spoken to as if they were naughty boys. They were all well aware of the gravity of the situation and were prey to nerves. So attempting to look like Amazon warriors they stood and practised being stoicly silent.

Gabrielle turned away from them and muttered so softly that no one else could hear, "I can't wait to get this evening over with so we can get out of this gods forsaken city!"

Caesar smiled at his reflection in the full length looking glass before him. Dressed in an imperial purple toga, he looked every inch the powerful ruler of the most powerful Empire in the known world. he intended to make an impression this evening .. not only for those spineless cretins that inhabited the senate, but especially for the barbarian queen, Ephiny. He smiled seductively at himself .. the woman made him burn with the want of her, one taste had barely been enough to whet his appetite. He wanted more and he intended that tonight she would not be able to resist his advances .. one way or another.

The prospect that Xena would win tonight also aroused his desires. He loved to watch the woman fight, knowing she had no choice but to perform at his whim. His control over her, while not complete, left him lusting for complete dominance and he was determined that the mighty Warrior Princess would, in time, bow down and acknowledge him master, - Even if I have to break every bone in your body to get you to do it! - he snarled to himself. It was a prospect he looked forward to, and he hoped that Flaccus would be able to find some entertaining methods that could be employed to break the woman's spirit.

The smile slid off his face as Pompeia swept into his rooms without bothering to knock or to have herself announced, "Are you ready Julius?" she demanded brusquely, "I declare you take more time in your primping and preparations than that old whore Diamanta Petronius," she chided referring to a notorious madam of a house of ill-repute who continued to 'entertain' though reported to be well into her sixtieth summer.

"My position requires me to look my best, my dear" he answered as patiently as he could, 'It would hardly do for me to appear at Graccus' less than properly prepared."

She sniffed, "You are not going to take my warning about that Amazon trollop then?" she stated curtly.

Caesar turned and glared at her, "My dear Pompeia, since when have you ever cared about the women I chose to entertain me."

She laughed at him, "Oh please, Julius, the woman is little more than a savage .. I have absolutely no concern whether you rut with her or not," she sneered, "But I'm telling you that there is something between her and that slave of yours and I don't trust them. I'm looking out for your best political interests here, my dear."

Her husband sighed. They'd had this conversation ad infinitum over the past three days. No matter how many times he pointed out the battering that Xena had taking in the pit fight, she couldn't be shaken from the belief that the Amazon slut was conspiring with the slave to free her. He had gone over the fact that Ephiny had resisted his attempts at gaining a rematch between Xena and her man until his head spun from going around in circles and still she persisted in her stubborn belief. Angrily he turned on her and snapped, "The only thing that you're concerned about is your position as wife of the Dictator of Rome .. without me you are nothing! I think, perhaps you should remember that."

She glared at him, certain that she was right and he was wrong, but the more she pointed it out to him the more stubborn and hard headed he became about the situation. Finally, knowing that nothing she was going to say was going to make a difference she demanded, "Are you ready .. we're already late as it is."

"That's the prerogative of the ruler, my dear," he answered flashing his teeth at her. "Nothing can start until we .. I .. arrive, so I can take all the time I need." He checked himself in the mirror once more, brushing some impossible speck off of his robes before turning to his impatient wife and offering her his arm, "Shall we?" he invited.

Placing her hand on his, the pair exited the room and headed for the slave carried palanquins that would transport them to their destination.

Autolycus walked with self assured steps as he approached the imposing edifice of Caesar's palace, getting barely a glance from any of the sentries on duty in the gathering gloom of the evening. Jauntily he trotted up the marble stairway and made his way confidently through the huge double doors clutching a scroll as if intent upon delivering it. No one thought to question his presence, messengers were a common occurrence here and the man was dressed in the uniform of the messenger corps.

Once inside, the King of Thieves made his way to the stairs that led to the upper apartments, where he knew he would find his objective. He moved with an arrogant assumptive air that spoke loudly of his unquestionable right to be there .. it was an attitude that had got him into .. and out of .. some of the most secure treasuries and vaults in Greece, and he was certain that it would serve the same purpose here. So when a voice called out to him, he did his best to ignore it.

"Hey! You .. messenger!" the voice insisted.

- Get lost .. find something or someone else to bother! - Autolycus' mind willed the man to go away as he continued his relentless march along the corridor.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" insisted the voice again louder now.

- Damn, damn, damn, damn! - swore the thief who saw his only option was to swing around and confront the man, before he attracted too much attention.

Taking a deep breath Autolycus turned to face a tall fair haired young man wearing a plain white chiton. He had an air of authority about him, but was far from the standard military type he expected to see within Caesar's household, "Did you want me for something? I'm kind of in a hurry," the thief asked casually.

Blue eyes regarded the messenger somewhat suspiciously, "You're new here .. I haven't seen you before, yet your face seems vaguely familiar."

"Ah .. the curse of my family," responded Autolycus with a laugh, "Ten brothers and all of us looking close enough alike that everywhere we go we seem familiar to someone who knows one of us." He laughed and leaned a little closer, "Between you and me that little handicap has got me into more trouble than any that I could have got myself into. And I'm pretty good at finding trouble on my own."

The Roman stared at him, distrust still plain upon his face, "Where are you going with that?" He indicated the scroll that the thief was carrying.

"Orders to deliver it to the General's office and leave it on his desk," returned Autolycus smartly, "Actually, pulling this duty was a pain .. I only got it 'cause I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was supposed to have met my girl nearly a candlemark ago, but I had to wait around for the scribe to finish writing the damned thing before I could bring it over .. you know how it is."

The blonde man nodded reluctantly. Everything the messenger said seemed to be perfectly ordinary, but there was something about him that seemed to set warning bells off in his head, "Very well," he said finally. "I won't keep you any longer." He risked a tentative smile, "Your girlfriend will be getting concerned."

The King of Thieves felt a strong wash of relief sweep through him as he grinned an answer, "Nah, she'll be okay .. she loves me." With that, he turned on his heel and hurried off to Caesar's office, grateful that he'd prowled around enough to know the exact location. He was aware of the inquisitive Roman's eyes on his back until he turned a corner in the corridor.

- Sheesh! The life of a thief gets more exciting every day .. and quite frankly it's the kind of excitement I could do without. Maybe I should retire? - He thought about that for all of a heartbeat, - Nah! I couldn't do that to all my adoring fans. -

It didn't take him long to reach the door of Caesar's study, and once inside it was the work of a moment to pull the sack from, where it had been hidden behind his flowing military cape, retrieve his own clothes and change into them. - Much better, - he smirked, - No wonder these Roman's are always in such a bad temper, wanting to pick fights with every other country. This armour they wear is enough to make anyone look for a fight .. just in the hope that they'll get injured and out of the damned stuff! -

A quick look over to the wall by the window revealed what he had come to collect. Smiling happily to himself, he expertly removed the items from the display stand and packed them carefully into the sack he had brought with him .. then on an impulse he arranged the armour he had discarded in place of what he had taken, - I love my work! - he silently chuckled.

Having had no intention of leaving the way he had entered, a determination that had been reinforced by his encounter with the Roman in the corridor, Autolycus took a quick look around to see if there was anything else worth his attention and snagged a pretty looking, jewel encrusted knife from Caesar's desk before slipping out of the window into the shadowy safety on the night, - Just a little something for my trouble, - he told himself.

Patroclese had got all the way back to his rooms before it hit him just who the man was that he'd been talking to. "Autolycus!" he hissed as he flung himself back out of his door and headed at a trot all the way over to the other side of the building towards Caesar's study. He later wondered why it never occurred to him to call for a squad of guards to accompany him .. whatever the reason it was the moment that defined his change in life.

He was breathing deeply when he reached the office door, unguarded because Caesar wasn't there. He pressed the latch and pushed on the thick oak wood .. uncertain about what he was going to do or say now that he'd got there. - Face it, - he sneered at himself, - you may be able to handle yourself fairly well, but against any of Xena's friends you don't stand a chance. -

Still screwing up his courage he slipped into the room intent upon confronting the King of Thieves .. only to find the study deserted. - Fool, - he told himself, - he probably wasn't even coming here in the first place. What on earth possessed you to believe that a man like him would tell you the truth? - That train of thought then posed the question, - So where is he? -

As he tried to work out the answer to that, his eyes idly scanned the room .. almost as if looking for inspiration. They flicked past the window, over the trophy stand where the Caesar had Xena's accoutrements displayed, and on to the far wall where the shelves were stacked with row upon row of scrolls.

- That wasn't her armour! - his brain suddenly screamed at him as he took long strides over to the stand where Autolycus had hung his Roman uniform in place of Xena's leathers, armour and weapons. - Damn! - he swore to himself as the full impact of this robbery sank into his wildly scrabbling mind. He took a few steps backwards and settled on the edge of the desk as he bumped into it. Staring at the display his mind chanted a litany over and over, - They're going to do it .. They're going to do it. - as he tried to work out what he should be doing.

By rights, he should get a horse and get to Graccus' house as fast as he could to warn Caesar that the Amazon's were going to try and break the Warrior Princess free. The trouble was, he had known that that was what they were here for, from the moment he'd heard of their presence .. how could he explain that fact to his master? Or explain the fact that he'd seen fit to conceal the information that the bard, Gabrielle, was also Queen of the Amazons and that Xena was her chosen Champion? - More to the point, why did I concealed it? -

He ran tense fingers through his short cropped hair and let out a sigh of exasperation, - Life just gets more and more complicated, - he scolded himself. He knew, deep in his heart, that from the moment he'd met the Warrior Princess, he'd fallen under a spell. She was everything he'd heard and more .. and far less? Yet essentially she had a core of goodness that seemed almost to glow within her. In the bard it was even more pronounced .. which was why he found it impossible to see what Caesar was doing to them as being right, and his omissions were his small way of protesting that fact.

- So what do I do? - he demanded of himself. - If I tell Caesar what I suspect, then I condemn Xena and probably Gabrielle, to a life of torture and misery. If I don't say anything ... who would know? Just me and I won't say anything. - He found it really easy to convince himself to say nothing and felt a burden lift from him as he made the choice. He was about to leave and go back to his own room when a thought struck him like a bolt from the blue! - Oh God's! ... The children ..what about the children? If she escapes they die! - and once more his troubles descended upon him leaving him in the grip of a desperate decision, one that could easily damn his soul forever.

With everyone, finally assembled at Graccus' home, Aphrodite and Artemis finished preparing themselves for the roles they had appropriated. They took a final look in the scrying bowl at the milling crowds enjoying the senator's hospitality before looking up and smiling at each other.

"I just love it when a plan comes together," gushed the bubbly love goddess.

"Pull yourself together, 'Dite," smiled her sister, although she had trouble restraining her own excitement. Playing with mortals could be such fun. "Are you ready?" she asked the dizzy blonde.

"Like, since yesterday," assured Aphrodite.

"Then let the games begin," grinned Artemis as the pair disappeared in a cloud of golden, pink and green light.