"Damn!" she swore, hoping that nothing had gone wrong. If Xena and Gabrielle had remained trapped in Roman hands then everything that they had done had been for nothing.

She glared moodily up towards the prow where a work team were busy trying to rig some repairs to cover the hole in the decking. The last thing that they needed was a voyage back to Greece with a gaping hole that was open to the elements letting water into the ship where water was never intended to run in any quantity.

So far they seemed to be doing a pretty fair job. It appeared that all Amazons were trained, in their youth and early childhood, in many skills to find out where their talents lay, and because of such a broad education, each Amazon child picked up at least a rudimentary knowledge of many useful crafts. Once they reached their fourteenth winter, they were channeled into the career they best suited, learning their craft in far greater detail.

Nebula knew very little about the Amazon's training concepts, but she appreciated the fact that the warriors had the knowledge and skills to use some of the timber, kept for repairs, that had been hauled up from the hold for the job. By the time the longboat reached them, the damage to the deck would have been dealt with, and she would feel far more confident about facing the voyage back to Greece.

Glancing back to the rowboat, the pirate was pleased to see that it had made good time. "Get ready to cast them a line," she called to a couple of women. "Get everyone on board, and that boat hoisted and stowed as quickly as possible. I want to be away from here as soon as everyone is on deck. Topmen get aloft and be ready to set the sail when I give the order."

Seeing that all was in preparedness, the captain moved to the rail and watched as the boat came alongside. She could see two still forms laying between the thwarts and recognised both Xena and Gabrielle. - Well at least we have them, - she told herself. - It remains to be seen whether we're taking back the living or the dead. -

As the longboat bumped gently against the timbers of 'Wave Dancer's' hull, Nebula saw the bard stir, but the warrior remained unmoving. Amazons began the climb up to the deck, leaving Ephiny, Hercules and Toris to deal with the other two women. The demi-god lifted Xena's unresponsive body with casual ease, while the Regent steadied the boat as well as she could. The only way for the big man to make the climb with his burden, was to throw her over his shoulder, leaving his hands free to haul himself up with.

As Hercules began to make his ascent, Toris moved to Gabrielle's side. It appeared as if he intended transporting the bard the same way as her warrior partner was being moved, but the honey blonde had other ideas. She struggled, a little shakily, to her feet and faced Xena's brother with a grim look of determination on her face.

"I can do it, Toris. I was just a bit tired before, but I'm fine now," she told him firmly, although she added a smile to soften her quick words.

"If you're sure, Gabrielle," relented the raven haired man, his blue eyes unable to hide the flash of disappointment he felt. He doubted that he'd have a lot of chance to hold the bard in his arms during the voyage home.

"Positive," assured the Amazon Queen, but gentled the impact by telling him, "However, I'd be grateful if you could climb beside me. I'm not really keen on heights or climbing, and I still feel a little tired."

The radiant grin that Toris graced her with was worth the concession of her asking for his help. - Besides, - she told herself, - it's true. I'm exhausted and climbing, even just the side of the ship, makes me feel kind of sick .. and being on the sea doesn't help that either. -

When Gabrielle was ready, Toris moved to her side and slowed the pace of his ascent to her speed. He was ready to offer a steadying hand if she needed it and was happy to think that she'd been comfortable enough with him to ask his assistance in even this small matter.

Ephiny was able to allow free reign to the smirk that had forced it's way onto her face. - Gonna be an interesting ride home, - she snickered to herself as she thought about Toris, Iolaus and Joxer all vying for her Queen's attention, while Xena had Autolycus and Hercules mooning over her. - Not only that, - she told herself, - but I just know that there is going to be trouble in the infirmary. -

Xena had never been a patient of Sheraya, and so two of the most indomitable wills she had ever met had never come into conflict before. - I just hope Hercules remembers to remove all of Xena's weapons from within her reach! - she struggled not to chuckle as she climbed the ships side and swung herself over the railing.

As soon as the Regent was aboard, the Amazon deck hands set to work hauling the longboat up on deck to quickly hustle it away and stow it. While they were engaged in that task, the topmen, dropped the sail and re-aligned the rigging before hoisting the canvass once more so that 'Wave Dancer' could head away from the coast of Italia and Rome as swiftly as possible.

Ephiny watched as Toris and Gabrielle immediately made for the companionway that led down to the Captain's cabin .. now the ship's infirmary. She knew that their immediate concern would be to find out just how bad Xena's injuries were. She frowned as she realised that she hadn't had the chance to warn them about Joxer and Patroclese being hurt.

She sighed, - Well, they'll find out for themselves in a few moments. - She shook her blonde curls and headed towards where she could see Nebula and Malonda waiting for her. - Is it me, - she wondered, - or did the temperature just drop to somewhere below freezing? - She glanced at the two women all too aware of the frigid attitudes that they were displaying. - Now what? - she growled mentally. - Don't we have enough problems without these two starting a war between themselves. -

"How are things going here?" she asked with a smile, hoping to warm the atmosphere a little.

"Now that you're aboard we can set sail for home," the pirate answered flatly. Then seeing that Ephiny was attempting cut across the coldness between her and Malonda, she softened her tone a little and asked, "Is there anywhere you particularly want to go? Or should I just set a course for Acanthus?'

The Regent considered. Going back to the port that they had set sail from was, in a way, the logical thing to do, it was close to Amazon lands as well as being reasonably near Potidaea. However, she was fairly certain that Caesar was aware of where she had sailed from, and may just guess that they'd return there. On top of that, she wasn't too sure that Gabrielle, or Xena would want to be too close to the bard's former home in case they felt duty bound to visit her parents .. something that was always fraught with tension, or so Ephiny understood.

Finally she queried, "Can your ship navigate the Strymon River?"

"I've done it once or twice before," admitted Nebula with a puzzled frown. "Why?"

Ephiny smiled, "I think the best place to head for is Amphipolis. It's as good as choice as any I know .. and I've heard that one of the inns there has this great cook."

Malonda shook her head and gave a snort of disgust before throwing a look at Ephiny and telling her gruffly, "I have rota's to arrange. With Poni out of action, I need to make sure our warriors keep their skills up to the mark."

The blonde Regent gave her chief scout a hard look, "You do that, Malonda," she replied firmly and with more than an edge of hardness to her tone. "We may still have some fighting to do and I want the warriors at their peak!"

"My Queen," answered the scout sourly, offering a formal bow as she withdrew.

The Amazon ruler shook her head in exasperation, "Damn the woman. What's gotten in to her?"

Nebula, who'd been setting course, allowed 'Dancer' to stretch before the wind. A racer off the leash and happy to run. As she turned the wheel a point to starboard, she said quietly, "Not too happy about getting Xena free, is she?"

A harsh retort was on the Regent's lips, but she stilled the words before she voiced a sigh (which she seemed to be doing a lot of lately) and looked at the pirate who had become a friend on this strange adventure. She shook her head slightly and, finally, answered softly, "No .. she's not. I hope that I'm not going to have a major problem with her when I get back to Themiscyra."

Not looking at the blonde, the other woman concentrated her attention on the fill of the sail and her course, however, she asked another very pertinent question, "You got a lot of Amazons who don't like the Warrior Princess' relationship with your Queen?"

Ephiny bit her lip wondering if she should talk about a subject that she hadn't even fully broached with Gabrielle and had said nothing at all about it to Xena yet, "More than I'd like. Not enough to be a major threat .. I hope," she replied, moving over to lean on the rail and watch Ostia fall behind their port bow. She squinted back at the river mouth, at the wide gap between the two watchtowers and stiffened as a cry came down from the top of the mainmast.

"Deck there!"

"What do you see?" shouted back Nebula.

"Sail ho!" reported the lookout, pointing back towards Ostia.

"How many?" demanded the pirate, a concerned look etched on her brow.

"Ten .. no, twelve!" came the shouted reply, "And heading this way!"

"Poseidon's Trident!" cursed the captain as she cast a look behind.

"Can we outrun them?" demanded Ephiny.

"If the wind holds .. maybe," came the not too encouraging answer. "We're lucky that all the triremes are out with Veranius. We'd never outrun them .. but we may have a chance against those biremes. Not a big one .. and if any of the gods favour you, I'd start praying now."

Caesar stood in the cellar of the watchtower, his hand resting upon the winch mechanism for the chain that had delayed the fugitives escape, but ultimately had not managed to keep them captive. He had picked his way across the cellar, his eyes taking in the bloody aftermath of the battle that had been fought there, his face a blank mask to hide the fury that coursed through him.

He looked disdainfully upon the bodies of the fallen men. They had failed him. He had sent them to bring back his slaves, and they had failed his trust in them. His lips compressed into a white line as a black wave of rage swept over him and he had to fight off the desire to bellow his fury to the gods! His muscles quivered as he strained to control them; he wanted desperately to hack the dead apart .. to let them know his contempt for them, for their failure to perform the task he had set them to do.

The Roman took a deep breath, drawing in the stench of death. The fetid reek of bowels evacuated as life was drawn, the metallic, coppery tang of blood that pooled thick upon the stone flagged floor .. it was always present in the aftermath of battle and was an odour that he had revelled in for most of his life. Yet never, on the few occasions when it had happened to him, had he ever become used to the malodorous taint of defeat .. and that was what this was. This handful of bodies in a cellar in the depths of his own watchtower was a crushing defeat handed to him, yet again, by his most mortal enemy ....

"XENA!" he thundered out her name. The sound echoing around the chamber mocking the dead and living alike.

Pompey may be the rival for his dream of dominion over the greatest empire the world had ever seen .. an empire with Rome at its head and himself enthroned as undisputed ruler, but it was a woman he feared would be the one to ruin his destiny. He was confident in his ability to destroy any Roman led army that was foolish enough to stand against him ... yet he feared her. With or without an army she was his nemesis.

He leaned against the winch and allowed his thoughts to range as ideas and plans skittered frantically through his agile mind. He had embarked two cohorts on the biremes that lay at anchor in the port of Rome and had had the rest of the VIIth force march down to Ostia to join with him once they reached here. He, of course, intent upon reaching his quarry as swiftly as possible, had taken one of the bireme and had been rowed down the Tiber, ahead of the rest of the vessels which would need time to embark the soldiers, as quickly as the beaten galley slaves could manage. All to no avail. For upon arrival he had instantly perceived that the bird had flown. He had missed them by no more than a candlemark, maybe less .. and their ship was still in sight.

He pushed himself upright and walked across the blood washed floor, his white robes trailing through the crimson pools to where the body of Flaccus lay. The centurion had served him long and faithfully, yet in this all important instant he had failed him miserably. He poked the man with his sandled foot. He still wore the clothes he had dressed in for the ill fated gathering at Graccus' house, not wishing to delay his pursuit to take the time to change into his armour.

A clattering on the stairs drew his attention as a soldier ran into the cellar, "Lord Caesar." he gasped upon seeing his commander.

"Yes?" was the demand.

"The ships you were expecting .. they just came into sight, my Lord."

Keeping his glee upon hearing the news carefully hidden, all Caesar said was "Good." He looked around at the dead bodies surrounding him and issued an order to the optio who stood close by, "I want all these men crucified. The army must understand that Rome has no room for failure on their part. There will be no honourable burial for any of them. They will hang, like slaves, until they rot."

The optio swallowed soundlessly, before executing a salute and turning to his men to issue his own orders.

Turning back to the messenger, the ruler of Rome instructed, "Signal the fleet to pursue the escaped ship. They know what to do. With just a little luck they'll bring the fugitives, and the felons who aided them, back to Rome .. back to me .. and my mercy."

The soldier saluted and sprinted back up the stairs happy to be away from the charnel house stench that permeated the cellar, and not involved in the grim task that his fellow legionaries were undertaking. - By the gods, - he thought, - If the general can treat even Flaccus that way, what hope is there for the rest of us? -

Turning back for one last look at the battle scene, Caesar let his brown eyes linger briefly on the visage of the centurion who's face showed the agonised surprise of unexpected death. Finally he turned for the stairs and sent out a thought to the woman he hounded.

- You'll never be free of me, Xena. I'll have you brought back in chains and you'll never have the opportunity to run again. My oath on it! -

Hercules had carried Xena down to the impromptu infirmary, determined to get the warrior immediate medical attention. He hadn't realised that there were so many injured being treated there and had been very surprised to see Joxer and Patroclese occupying cots.

Sheraya looked up, from where she was administering a herbal medicine to Eponin, as the demi-god shouldered through the cabin door. Her attention went immediately to the unconscious woman that he carried and her eyes directed the son of Zeus to the empty bed in the corner of the room.

Carefully wiping away the residue of the mixture from Poni's mouth, Sheraya saw the big tawney haired man gently lay his burden down upon the designated cot, and smooth away her dark bangs from her face with a soft intimate gesture. It was obvious to the watching healer that the demi-god was exhibiting more than just friendship in his attitude and she had to fight a sentimental grin that threatened to crack her normally stern features.

As she stood, her musings were interrupted by the arrival of an exhausted looking Amazon Queen and Toris, who shot concerned glances to where his sister lay while keeping a careful eye on the young woman he was escorting. Their entrance was enough to stamp out the grin that had started to emerge and replace it with a sharp frown. Sheraya had work to do and she didn't need a lot of fussing relatives and friends gathered around her while she did it. Having Xena as a patient was going to be trial enough for her.

Drawing a deep breath, the Amazon healer used her firmest tone and told them, "All right. Everyone out so that I can get on with my job. There's no room in here for spectators."

"But ..." started three voices together, unwilling to be forced from the room.

"But me no buts," interrupted Sheraya uncompromisingly. "There's hardly room to turn around in here as it is without three more bodies taking up room, so out with the lot of you. I have work to do and you'll just be in my way! Go and find someone else to bother."

Although the men were visibly intimidated by the stern faced Amazon, Gabrielle told herself that she wasn't, - I'm Queen of the Amazon's, - she reminded herself firmly. - I can overrule her, right? - she questioned. - Right! - she answered herself, although she felt a distinct lack of confidence in her ability to command the healer in anything. However, she wasn't about to give up without trying, so she gathered her resolve, as she registered both Hercules and Toris retreating under Sheraya's rigid glare, and prepared to issue her declaration that she was staying right where she was.

"I said out," the healer told her sternly, before she could protest.

"But I can help!" pleaded Gabrielle, inwardly cringing at her lack of queenly resolve. She should have been commanding, not pleading like some child that wanted something an adult refused to give, "Xena's taught me a lot about healing."

Sheraya eyed her young monarch critically. She could see the dark rings forming around her eyes and the exhausted set to her shoulders. She was aware that the bard had substantial medical skills that she could use with all the patients that needed attention, but none of it would be any use unless she got some rest first. "Go and get some sleep, my Queen," she told Gabrielle in a tone that brooked no argument, "Maybe after you've slept you can come back and help here. But until you've rested you'll be no use to anyone, me, yourself, or Xena and these others."

"But ..." tried the honey haired woman again.

"I said no buts," growled Sheraya in a tone that made the bard feel like she was six again and being scolded by her mother. "Get out of here and get some sleep ... now!" barked the healer.

Gabrielle found herself outside the infirmary door before she had time to even realise that her feet had carried her there of their own accord. She looked up and found Hercules and Toris looking quizzically at her, "What?" she demanded.

"Are all Amazons like that?" asked the demi-god after a few moments of stunned disbelief.

"You have no idea," muttered Gabrielle as she went to try and find somewhere to sleep knowing that she had no chance of getting back to her injured friend's side until she had shaken off some of her tiredness.

The two men looked at each other and shrugged before returning to deck to find out what was happening up there.