When they left their camp the bard rode Argo once again. She insisted she felt well enough to walk, but her dark haired friend insisted. "You're just getting your strength back. There's no need in taking a chance on getting too run down. Just relax and enjoy the ride."

"You're treating me like a baby, Xena," the teller of stories complained.

"So? Just shut up and enjoy it, cause once you're really better the party's over." The blond set her mount in stubborn lines and let her breath out with a sigh of resignation. The warrior turned away to hide her smile.

No one commented on their number being depleted by one. The morning stayed chilly and the humans wore their cloaks. The healer did not. She left her feet bare as well and seemed not to notice the frost that covered the ground. She seemed to have shed her anxiety and grief of yesterday, but those closest to her knew the wounds were still there, buried deeply in her sensitive soul. She might seem indifferent to those who didn't know her, but the hunter and the demigod could feel her pain through the link of mind and soul the three of them shared.

The golden hunter walk beside the empath, her hand held in his. He knew that she needed the closeness of those who shared her soul. The demigod walked beside her as well, not touching her physically but rather with his mind.

She felt better today. The strong support of the two men she loved had done much to help her deal with the horrors she had witnessed in the grassy ravine.

Her father of the soul had done much to ease her mind as well. He had given her a strong warning to be careful of the demigod's half brother. But he also reassured her that her feelings could still be trusted. "Do not start doubting yourself, my daughter. You are right. There may come a time you will be forced to fight him. But you are most powerful. Use the gifts of the earth wisely and she will provide the strength needed to stop even the gods of Olympus. I am not suggesting a physical battle, or even a battle of powers. It will be, I believe, more a battle of wits than anything. You, my soul's daughter, are well equipped to defeat him. Believe in yourself. That will lend you strength."

"But I have no wish to defeat him. I wish to help him. He does not have to be the way he is."

"I know, my daughter. But he is far too powerful to take chances with. Then too, your faith in the side of him he struggles so hard to hide may make a profound difference. Trust your heart to guide you, but remember there is more at stake here than your need to heal the pain of this god. Your powers must not be used for evil, no matter what the cost."

It was well past midday when the travelers stopped. They ate some dried meat and washed it down with water from their flasks. They were in the hidden grove of trees where the hunter and the demigod had spent so much time training the men and women of Acubus to fight for their homes. The healer sent her mind to the coastal village but felt no alarm.

"Let Xena and I go in first," the son of Zeus suggested. "Then we'll send for you if it's all right to enter the village. We've come too far to take a chance on being stopped now." He turned to the empath. "Are you up to watching for trouble out here?"

"Of course. I sense nothing at this time. Do not worry about us."

He smiled at her and squeezed her shoulder. He turned to the hunter and offered his arm in a warrior's grasp. "Take care of the girls, my friend."

"You know I will."

The warrior princess stood impatiently waiting for her big friend to get on with it. "We could have been there already," she mumbled under her breath.

They moved cautiously through the brush. The dark beauty wasn't as convinced as the demigod that the healer's prediction of a clear field to the village awaited them. She preferred to rely on her own skills and not on some woodland creature's mind.

Hercules led her to the back of Granny's place. He took his time, feeling ahead with his mind. He'd never tried to use what his sister of the soul called his earthly powers in this way before, but he saw no harm in trying now as long as he also used his other senses. He peeked around the side of the old one's cottage and scanned the yard in front. Assured the yard was empty he moved his eyes further out and searched the village itself.

With a quick nod to the warrior he moved around the side of the cottage and stepped through the door without knocking.

Granny was ready with her club, and might have done some real damage if she had landed the blow. The big man stopped the club before it landed and stood holding one end while the old woman held the other.

"Oh my," the old one stated breathlessly. A smile crossed her face. "I'm glad to see you, young man."

"Do you greet all your guests with a club?" he grinned back.

She turned the club loose and gave him an innocent look. "Only those who forget their manners and don't knock."

The big man carefully scanned the yard and village once more then motioned for the warrior princess to join him. He watched the village for a moment after the girl slipped past him then carefully closed the door. "Granny, meet Xena. Xena, this is Granny."

Both women eyed each other with suspicion for a moment, then seeming to come to a favorable conclusion about each other the warrior held out her hand and the older woman took it.

The old one turned to the son of Zeus. "I nearly bashed your head in. Tensions are high."

"Knowing you, I was expecting something like that. Tell us what's been happening here."

The old woman sighed. She motioned for them to take a seat at the table then she set mugs of cider before them. "I'd say you know something is amiss by your actions." The demigod nodded and the old one continued. "There are two fools fighting over a bone, and we're in the middle."

"What happened to Giles?"

The white haired woman narrowed her eyes at the big man. "So, Sira is with you then?"

"Yes. She's in the grove with Iolaus and another friend. Tell us what happened."

"They came here for food. They meant to take it and leave us nothing. We wouldn't have minded sharing or selling them some of it. But they wanted it all. We stopped them this time." She took a thoughtful sip of her cider. "Giles didn't make it."

The half man, half god had been sitting forward in his chair, but at the old one's words he sat back with a sigh. The frown between his brows deepened. He'd liked the leather smith. He was a good man, fair and just. "I'm sorry, Granny."

"I delivered him, you know. Biggest baby I ever saw. Helped nurse him through the croup once. He was a good man."

The big man leaned forward and took a dry wrinkled hand in his. It was a small hand, the veins blue as they reached back from the knuckles to the slim wrist. The big man studied the hand a moment. How much life had she felt with that hand in the years she had spent on the earth? How many cuts and bruises had she soothed? How many babies had she changed? He wondered if the hand had ever caressed a lover. She was married once. Did she run her hand through his hair?

"Old ones are meant to go first. We shouldn't have to bury the young."

He squeezed her hand. "Is the village secure now?"

"Yes. At least for the time being. They took the mine and killed the miners to get it. We've had word that they've taken over the village closest to us. I fear for the good folks there." She sat in silence for a moment. "Are you here to help us?"

"That's the idea."

"They need our supplies and they need the harbor. They'll be back."

"That's what we figured."

"Well, Pothose knows we're here," Xena offered. "We shouldn't have let that whiny little weasel go."

"I don't give a damn if they know we're here. Let them come looking for it."

The girl gave him a disgusted look. "And get even more of the villagers killed?"

"We're not so easily killed, young woman." Granny interrupted. "We'll fight for our homes if we have to, and we'll die doing it if we have to."

"Great. All I need is a bunch of well meaning fools to get themselves slaughtered, pretending they're tough."

"Then why are you here? We don't need your help, Missy. We did all right with Demos and his bunch."

"Demos? Demos was a fool. And I'm a fool for being here when I could be out there convincing Pothose to behave himself."

"Then you just have at it."

"Come on, ladies," the demigod interrupted. "We're all on the same side."

The warrior sneered at him. "I'm going after the others."

The big man caught her hand. "No need." He closed his eyes and sent his mind to the healer. He felt her response and opened his eyes. He knew he could trust Iolaus to bring them in, and besides that he knew Sira would warn him if there was trouble. "They're on their way."

Xena tried to pull her hand from his grasp. "There could still be some of Pothose's men out there."

"They're safe. I would sense from Sira if there was trouble."

She pulled her hand away. "You don't mind if I check for myself, do you?"

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."

The dark beauty slipped out through the door and the demigod turned to the ancient one. "Think you can put us up for awhile?"

"Of course."

"There's that grove of trees out back. The weather is mild still, we can put up a shelter of some kind and stay out there. Iolaus will hunt."

She reached out and patted his hand. "Don't worry. I've been praying to the gods of Olympus and to Sira's god for help with this situation. Your being here is an answer to those prayers."

He smiled at her. "How are the others? Barnabus, Calla, Elias? What about Jug? I know he and Giles were close. How about Hector?"

"Jug took it hard. He was wounded in the fight also, although not too seriously. Everyone else is fine. No one else knew you were coming. Elias came to me, but he was afraid to say anything to the others for fear he might have misunderstood Sira's message. He didn't want to get their hopes up."

"If it comes to us making a stand to save the village, how many can we count on?"

"The ones you asked about earlier and a few more. Elias and Barnabus have worked hard to keep their skills and they've helped some of the others. There are more here in the village now. Our little hamlet has attracted more families and some who left before when Demos was terrorizing us have returned."

The big man let his breath out in a sigh. It was good to know others could help, and yet hearing that even more families now lived in the coastal village meant more people to worry about. How did this become my fight and not theirs or Xena's? he asked himself. But he knew the answer. He had friends here. Still, even if he hadn't he would be here. These people needed him.

As if reading his thoughts Granny rose, and standing beside him she squeezed his shoulder. "How about I start a meal, then I'll go for Barnabus. You're tired and frustrated, but a good meal will help."
He smiled at her and she smiled back. The smile smoothed some of the wrinkles from her face and made her look much younger. He began to see where Calla got her beauty.

"I'm more frustrated than hungry." He rose and began to pace. "Why can't these fools leave innocent people alone? Why can't all fools leave good people like you alone?"

"Then there'd be no need for heroes and you'd be out of a job."

"It'd be worth it," he chuckled. "While you fix that meal I'll look the grove over. We can't all move in here with you." With a quick salute he let himself out of the cottage.

The grove would do nicely, he decided. With a tarp strung between some of the trees to give them shelter should it rain, and a fire to keep them warm, they should be fine.

Xena led the others to Hercules and he explained his talk with Granny and his idea of making a place for them under the trees.

The bard sank gratefully to a rock. Her face wore a look of pain and fatigue. Sira, always the healer, sat on the ground at her feet. Placing her hands on Gabrielle's knees she closed her eyes and began to sway. She took some of the pain to herself and sent strength to the weaver of tales.

The hunter tapped on Granny's door and let himself in.

The old one grinned from ear to ear. "It's good to have you here, young man."

He smiled back, and with a quick stride he was beside her. He hugged her. "It's good to see you too, Granny. I just wish it was under better circumstances."

"Yes. We all do."

"That food for us?"

"Of course. You don't think I'd be able to eat that much, do you?"

"You're pretty tough. Maybe you could at that."

"Humph."

He smiled at her again. "Want some help?"

"Heck, yes. Let's get this out to the others. Then I'll go for Barnabus and some of the others. We've all been worried sick about these two packs of animals threatening us. Having you here will relieve their minds just as it has mine."

Calla and Barnabus came to them in the grove. The healer left Gabrielle's side and rose to hug the shepherdess. Calla wiped tears from her eyes and held out her daughter, almost a year old now, for her friend to see. The little one held her arms out to the healer for her own hug and the yosemin was glad to oblige. When the healer released the child she went to Gabrielle and held her arms out for a hug. The bard was just as happy to give it as the healer had been. Next the little girl made her way on wobbly legs to the warrior's side. The dark haired one tried to avoid her but the child wasn't so easily put off.

Finally the former warlord resigned herself to her fate and hugged the child. She found she rather enjoyed it. She clung to the child for a moment, taking in the sweet scent of babyhood that still clung to the chubby pink cheeks of the lass who looked so much like her mother.

Xena reluctantly released the child, and looking up she found the healer watching her. She knows, the warrior moaned to herself. Damn it. Can I keep nothing from her? She felt the empath's comfort flow to her, and for just a moment she let it enfold her. Then she closed her mind quite effectively and turned to join the men.

Hercules and Iolaus were next on the little one's list and she was rewarded with a hug from both. The hunter swung her up to his shoulders and brought her back to her mother.

"Oh, Calla, she is absolutely adorable. What is her name?"
"We named her Sira." Calla smiled at her friend.

Sira looked up in shock. She studied the shepherdess' face for a moment. Tears stung her eyes. "You named her after me?"

Calla put an arm around the healer. "Of course. If it hadn't been for you, Barnabus and I might not have found each other."

"You loved each other, you just did not know it yet."

The blacksmith held his hand out to the empath and she took it. He studied her face a moment. "You okay, little healer? You have dark circles under your eyes." He ran a massive finger gently across the dark smudges.

"I have been worried about my friends here in Acubus."

"I wish we had met again under more favorable circumstances. But I guess we'll just have to make them more favorable."

"How is Elias?"

"He's well. He's a good man. He works harder than two men. He should be here any minute."

"You were wonderful to trust him and to give him a second chance."

"I've never regretted it. He's helped build my business. He helps Calla with the sheep. He takes care of Little Sira, and she adores him. It seems there's very little he can't accomplish if he puts his mind to it."

"Hercules!" Elias came striding toward them. He had grown even broader in the shoulders. His arms bulged with muscle. This husky young man resembled very little of the tall thin boy who had befriended the empath. He held his hand out first to the demigod then the hunter. With a broad grin on his handsome features he took the healer in a tight embrace. "I didn't trust myself. I felt your mind on mine but I was afraid to believe it was true." He held her at arms length. "I can't believe you're here, all of you. Thank the gods, the human's and the yosemin's gods." He turned to the demigod. "How's Jason?"

"He's fully recovered, thanks to Sira."

"Good. He's a good man."

He was introduced to Xena. "We met before, at least in passing. You stopped Demos from robbing a shipment of silver on it's way to Corinth."

"Yes, I remember that. But I don't remember you." The dark girl eyed the young man suspiciously.

He chuckled. "No reason you should really. I stood back and held the horses. But I've seen you fight. I'm glad you're on our side."

He kept shooting looks at the bard, now sitting on a blanket next to Calla and Little Sira. Sira saw the looks, and taking pity, led him to the bard. He knelt beside her, and taking her hand he brought it to his lips and placed a light kiss on her knuckles. "Gabrielle. It's such a beautiful name. Very fitting for such a beautiful flower."

The bard blushed a becoming shade of pink. "Thank you."

"Elias," the blacksmith called, "stop flirting with the girls and come over here. We need to make plans."

Now Elias blushed, and with an apologetic smile to the bard he rose and joined the men. Sira joined them also. The hunter put an arm around her shoulder and led her to a log he had pulled up to the camp for just such a purpose. They sat side by side, holding hands as the others found places to sit. The demigod stood behind the warrior princess.

"So," Barnabus began, "how do we eliminate these two warlords that seem to think Acubus is fair game?"

"I plan to have a talk with Pothose," Xena offered.

"A talk? What in Tartarus good is that going to do?"

"He's not as foolish as some. He may just listen to reason."

The blacksmith snorted. "Yeah, sure, when pigs fly."

"We have to at least try. I'm not just going to go in there and start slashing and killing." She didn't even try to hide her anger.

"She's right, Barnabus," the son of Zeus added. "We have to at least try."

"All right, and what about Makarios?"

Xena rubbed a finger across her chin. "He's a bigger fool than most. I can't see him backing down, no matter what. The thing is, he has a bigger army at his disposal, which might be a deciding factor in whether Pothose decides to cooperate. He might just welcome our help in putting a stop to Makarios and his band of cutthroats."

Elias stood and began to pace. "So, we fight Makarios and leave Pothose with the mine?"

"Why not?" The warrior's words were spoken in contempt "Do you want it?"

"No. But what's to prevent him from waiting until we eliminate Makarios, then attacking us himself?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. He has more brains then I gave him credit for. "You have a point. But he's the lesser of the two evils. Besides, I think if he gave his word he would keep it."

"You think?" Now there was contempt in the young man's voice. "We're talking about our lives here. You come in here and do your magic. You stop Makarios and convince Pothose to make nice and be a good boy, then you leave feeling righteous and virtuous. And the minute you're gone he comes down here with his army and wipes us out. The only thing holding him back now is he can't leave his damned diamond mine unprotected or Makarios will have it."

"I still say�"

Elias raised his voice to stop her interruption. "He's tried it once already, but he didn't send enough men. He won't make that mistake again. We lost one man and another one was wounded. How many more must die before this thing is over?"

"So what do you want us to do? Kill them all?"

"All right, you two," Hercules interrupted. "You both have valid points. But I think Xena is right, we should at least talk with Pothose."

"When you go," the healer stated, "I will go with you." Elias gasped, the warrior princess jumped to her feet, the demigod searched her face, and the hunter's hold on her hand tightened.

"It'll be dangerous, Sira," Elias whispered.

"You can't be serious," the leather clad warrior objected. "We don't even know if we'll make it to his camp. And if we do, don't forget we're walking into their camp. Pothose will have all the advantage."

The empath nodded. "I am well aware of that. I am no fool. But you will need to know if what Pothose says is sincere. Besides that, should it turn nasty, I can help. Perhaps not with physical strength, but with mental strength."

Xena snorted. "This is ludicrous. All you'll do by insisting on going is weaken us. Iolaus will be so busy worrying about you, he'll be of little help in a battle. "

The healer stood. "I will go all the same. You have your talents, I have mine." She walked away to join Gabrielle and Calla on a blanket near the fire.

Xena turned red with anger. "Damn it, Iolaus, can't you handle your wife?"

He studied her face through narrowed eyes. "Afraid she'll prove her worth?"

"You're not seriously considering letting her come with us?"

"She'll come. She has the right to make that decision for herself. Whether you want to believe it or not, she's as much of a warrior as you are." He turned his back to the former warlord, and taking up his bow he disappeared through a screen of brush.

Elias turned his back to hide his smile. He hadn't forgotten how the yosemin had handled herself at the old monastery at Fashidra.

Barnabus looked from Hercules to the warrior princess. "So who else is going?"

Xena ignored him. "Hercules, surely you see the folly of this?"

"You don't object to Gabrielle helping you."

"I do but it does no good. Besides, look what happened to her."

"You can't wrap them up in silk and hide them away. They're both too strong willed and too damn stubborn."

Xena studied his face a moment. Then in frustration she stormed away. The demigod stood watching her back a moment. He knew where her anger came from. She was worried about the healer. She liked the quiet, poised blond and she feared for her, just as she feared for the bard. She would never admit that was the cause of her objection, however. To admit it meant to admit she cared. To care was a weakness, as far as the black haired warrior was concerned.

The men put up a tarp to protect them should it rain. The hunter brought back a deer and the meat now roasted over the fire. Jug and Hector joined the others in the makeshift shelter. Jug looked pale and drawn. He had received a deep gash on his left shoulder in the battle to protect Acubus. But the healer could feel from his thoughts that most of his weariness came from grief. Without a word the healer sat on the ground beside the young man, and placing her hands on his knees she sent her mind to touch his. He gave her a startled look but said nothing.

He reached out a hand and ran a finger across her cheek.

"If you will let me, I will ease some of your pain," she offered.

"You don't have to do that."

"I know. But I would like to help you."

With a weary nod he let his breath out with a sigh. "What do I do?"

"Just relax. Close your eyes and let me lead you."

"Elias told me what you did for him. Hector still talks about feeling your mind on his when he was so ill. I wish you could have been here when Giles was hurt."

"Relax. Let me lead your mind. See a meadow of flowers. Tall mountains caress the sky."

It was decided that Elias would join Hercules and the others when they started for the diamond mine. The other villagers would stay behind to protect Acubus. Gabrielle wanted to accompany them but Xena refused to allow it.

"You know I can help, Xena."

"Yes, I know that. But you're not completely healed yet."

"I can still be of help."

"Please, Gabrielle. Sit this one out for my sake if for no other reason. Once you're well it will be back to the old way, you beside me in the good times, and covering my back in the bad."

The bard nodded. "You'll be careful?"

"Don't be silly. I'm always careful."

"No, that's not always the case. That's why you need me to cover your back."

"Then stay here and get well so you can."

Calla brought vegetables and fruit to go with the meat the hunter had provided and they all ate together under the trees. Hector's wife joined them, along with their three children. It wasn't a party atmosphere, however. The plague that now threatened the village weighed too heavily on them. And they still grieved for their friend that had given his life to help protect them all. Little Sira fell asleep in her namesake's arms, while the adults around her talked of possible ways of protecting themselves.

"We should set a guard tonight, one at each end of town. Both armies will need food, and neither one of them is about to deplete his forces by sending men over the mountains for it."

The demigod turned to Barnabus. "Just how much food is available?"

"Why?" There was suspicion in the question.

"Could you sell some of your supplies?"

"I guess we could spare some. A ship is due anytime in the next two weeks or so. Normally we would try to save some of the food to trade. But if we have money we can still buy what we want. We have to save some things for the ship. They rely on us to supply some of their needs." He was lost in thought for a moment. "Yes, we could spare some food. But why give it to them?"

"Because," the warrior princess explained, "we want to keep on Pothose's good side. If we can prove to him the advantage in turning to honest business, the battle's half won."

"All right, you get Pothose to play nice and we'll sell him some food. He can ship his diamonds from our port as well. But he'll have to keep a tight rein on those bastards that follow him."

Hercules squeezed the blacksmith's shoulder. "If it's any consolation to you, the men that attacked Acubus and killed Giles were killed by some of Makarios' men."

"It's not really what I wanted. The time for revenge is past. The truth is, Calla is expecting again, and I, for one, just want to be left to enjoy my life. Elias and I have gone into partnership and we've increased our business tenfold." He ran an agitated hand through his hair. "It seems our little village is forever being influenced by outside forces. There was the first diamond strike that brought us the pier. This brought us the change from a farming community to an economy of trade. Then there was the fever that came to us from one of the ships. That damn near wiped us out. The thing with Demos..."

"But that, my friend," the half man, half god offered, "is life."

The blacksmith smiled at him. "You're right. And somehow the village has always survived. I hope we don't break that record."

The hunter and the healer made their bed a little apart from the others. The healer was weary, and welcomed the comfort the hunter's love brought to her. She lay in his arms, her head resting on his biceps, her back to him. He took up a small section of her hair, and bringing it to his nostrils he drank in the flower scent that always stirred his blood. He hadn't really been pleased with her wish to accompany them tomorrow. Xena was right. He would worry about her. If something should happen to her, he thought, Xena would also be right, that I would be of no use to them.

He tightened his hold on her. Still I've made my peace with who and what she is. She does have the right to make her own choice. Besides, he had a strong suspicion she wished to come because she would worry about him as well.

The night passed slowly, the damp air chilled those who guarded the village and sent fog to obscure the night. Ghostly shrouds of white hugged the ground and blew in swirls around the feet of Calla's sheep. A man slipped among the woolly beasts. The shepherdess had made pets of most of them and they had no fear of humans. Three were tied together and led from the pen behind the blacksmith's cottage. Neither the guards nor the mother and child sleeping in the cottage heard a sound, and Pothose's need for meat to feed his band of mercenaries was appeased for a couple of days. Squash was gathered from a fog shrouded field, and apples, still slightly green, were picked from a nearby tree.

Artak hadn't returned to his leader. His jaw was shattered and the pain was a living, breathing thing that consumed him. He wandered the hills then came across an isolated fisherman's cottage near the sea cliffs that protected the fertile valley from the ravages of the sea. The old man who had lived there all his life took pity on the outlaw and made him a bed on the floor of his cottage.

The warlord in residence at the diamond mine stayed ignorant of the increased number of defenders at Acubus. Had he known, he might have thought twice about risking a raid on the village.

Xena returned from her turn at guarding the sleeping village. The darkness still held the day at bay but the stars had faded. The warrior princess stirred the coals of the fire and added some small wood. It was seasoned wood and caught almost at once. The dark beauty started water for tea.

The healer joined her at the fire. The warrior wore her cloak to protect herself from the damp cold but the healer came to the fire with bare feet and no cloak.

Xena eyed her in disgust for a moment. "Aren't you cold?"

"No." She smiled at her friend. "Do you think talking to Pothose will do any good?"

The dark one sighed. "I hope so. He stands to gain more by cooperation. I just have to convince him of that."

"What we are planning to do today will be dangerous."

"Yeah, well, just getting up in the morning can be dangerous, remember."

"I will surround you with the power of the earth."

"What in Tartarus for?"

"Because you will be our leader in this and therefore in the most danger."
"Why should you care?"

"Because we are friends. I have felt your goodness and your integrity. What I have felt from you, I like." She

smiled. "Besides, my more than brother of the soul thinks very highly of you."

"Well, your husband doesn't."

"Actually, he does. I will not lie to you. He still has some resentment, but more at the betrayal than at you. He admires the changes you have made in your life."

"So, you know about that?"

"Yes, I know."

Xena felt uncomfortable. How must this woman feel to know I seduced the man she loves and that I did it as a way to try and get him to kill his best friend?

"You have no need to feel as you do now. I hold no resentment toward you. What happened back then was perpetrated by another person. Pain, loss, loneliness, and fear can make us do foolish things. But that Xena no longer exists."

"I wish I was as sure of that as you are."

Fog hung in tattered rags of gray around the tree tops as the small party left the village. Elias led them since he knew the location of the mine. They walked apart, spread out for better defense. The healer's mind searched around them for any hint of danger. She lifted her face to the gray sky that looked down on them. She felt invigorated by the moisture laden air. The dew sparkled in the dry grass and turned the soil to a dark rich brown. Birds sang in the brush and rabbits bounded before them as they walked. Sira, true child of nature, found a peace in the morning and sent a prayer to the earth. "Please do not let death rob the day of its beauty," she prayed.

The travelers were aware of the raid on Acubus. The guards of the night shot guilty looks at each other when the disappearance of the sheep and the fruit and vegetables was brought to their attention.

The empath was also upset. "I am sorry, Calla. I should have felt something."

"It's not your fault. You were exhausted. Besides, they stole the sheep right from under my nose and I didn't suspect a thing. Those little woolly fools are such pets, they let a stranger lead them to the slaughter without a sound."

The sun broke through the gray shroud and sent a feeble warmth to dry the fog. A butterfly landed on the healer's hand and rode for a time with the child of the forest. She made no move to disturb the winged flower and took comfort from its presence. "The earth is with me. Please, my mother, let this work. Help this man to accept the path that Xena has forged for him."

Two men on horseback came over a ridge and flanked the travelers. They said nothing, nor did they try to stop the travelers. Two more men on horses took positions behind them. The healer felt a sense of readiness but not hostility from the men.

The warrior reached for her sword. The healer walking beside her stopped her hand before it reached the hilt. "Wait, friend Xena. There is yet time for that. Drawing a sword now could be misinterpreted as aggressive rather than defensive. Let them make the first move."

"All right. But if they do, stand clear."

"If they do, you stand clear."

Three horsemen came over a ridge and stopped their horses before the travelers. The man on the middle horse was tall and powerfully built. His size seemed to dwarf the white horse he rode. His hair was coal black and hung down his back to his waist. The front was pulled back and fastened with a wide leather thong. He wore knee high suede boots of dark brown. His legs were covered with brown leather pants adorned with lacing and studded with silver. He wore a brown leather vest to match, held in place by a wide leather strap that held his sword scabbard to his back. Around his neck hung a large amulet of pewter. His skin was dark, his eyes slightly slanted and black.

"That's far enough, Hercules."

"Reis. I wouldn't expect to see you running with this crowd."

"Well, a man's got to eat. I spent most of my life in the Corinthian army. It doesn't train you for civilian life."

"You with Pothose or Makarios?"

"For the love of Zeus. Do you think I'd ride with Makarios? He's a bloody fool, with a total lack of regard for his men or life in general."

"We'd like to talk to Pothose."

"Why?"

"Because innocent people are getting killed, Reis."

"Pothose has diamonds on his mind, and fighting Makarios to keep those diamonds."

"There's a better way than by killing the locals."

"Yeah, I wasn't too happy about that either, but�" His words trailed off and he shrugged.

"So, will you let us pass?"

"Do you really think Pothose is going to listen?"

"I hope he does, Reis. If he's got good men like you riding for him, I'd hate to see them get killed."

"Is that a threat, old friend?"

"Let's call it a warning."

The man turned to Iolaus. "Your friend is talking war talk. Not so wise when you're outnumbered."

The hunter smiled at him. "The odds look about right to me." At the mercenary's raised eyebrows he continued. "Come on, Reis. You know us better than that. We've fought side by side. What we're trying to say is, we'll fight to protect the people of Acubus. But there's no need for that. We can make a deal. The people are willing to sell some supplies to Pothose."

"Why buy them when we can take them?"

"Because," the demigod answered for the hunter, "trying to take them could prove very uncomfortable for Pothose and his band of cutthroats."

The man on the horse laughed. "The same old Hercules. All right, my friends. You may pass." He turned to the man on his right. "Spread out and keep alert. I'm riding in with this bunch."

Reis motioned for the travelers to move ahead. He threw his leg over the horse's back and slid to the ground. Holding the reins in his hand he fell in beside the son of Zeus.

"So, how many do you have to defend Acubus?"

The big man chuckled. "Now you know I'm not going to answer that."

The other man grinned. "Tell me about the women." He motioned his head to indicate the warrior princess and the healer.

"The dark one is Xena."

"The Xena?"

"The one and only."

"Damn! What's she doing here?"

"Defending Acubus."

"I was afraid you were going to say that. What about the other one?"

"That's my sister, and Iolaus' wife. And if you think Xena's tough, wait until you see her in action."

The dark haired man looked over his shoulder. "She doesn't look so tough to me."

"I give you fair warning. You don't want to make her angry."

They walked on in silence for a moment. "How we going to rid ourselves of Makarios?"

The demigod let his breath out in a sigh. "Knowing his aversion to giving up, I'd say we're going to have to fight him."

"We're outnumbered."

"Combining forces would even the odds a little bit."

The dark man scratched at his chin a moment. "There could be other ways of evening the odds."

"You start that and it might just set him off."

"You said it yourself, we're going to have to fight him."

"Give us some time, Reis. Let's see if Pothose will cooperate."

"I hope he does. I'd hate to have to kill you, old friend."

"Your death wouldn't set too well on my conscience either."

Again there was silence and again Pothose's man broke it. "They sure have fat juicy sheep in that village."

"Was that your doing?"

"I was hungry."

"I should have known. You could sneak up on a man while he was looking right at you."

"But I'm not a thief by nature."

"Well, throw in a few dinars and we'll call it even."

The big man was lost in thought a moment then he removed a leather pouch from his belt. Pouring out a few coins, he handed them to the demigod. "That enough?"

"It should do nicely."

They came around a low lying hill and there before them was a rugged cliff. Its face was scarred with mines and caves. Two small huts lay off to the right. A corral had been set up to the left next to a mound of hay covered with a tarp. Smoke rose from a fire near an open kitchen, covered with another tarp.

A tall sparse man with almost completely white hair stepped from one of the caves and came toward them. His face was set in lines of anger. "What in bloody Tartarus is this, Reis?"

"This, Pothose, is Hercules. Over there we have Iolaus and Xena."

The warlord narrowed his eyes. His jaw muscle twitched. "What do you want?"

Xena stepped forward. "Come on, Pothose, you know me. We just want to talk."

His face was set in stern lines. "I have nothing to say."

"Then just listen."

"The diamonds are mine."

"You stole them from the miners and killed them to get it."

"Well, it's mine now and you're trespassing."

Sira sent her mind to the outlaw and found a lively mind behind the stubborn stance the man had taken. She stepped forward. "Please, at least hear us out. We have no intention of trying to take the mine from you. In fact, we have what we think is a way for the mine to turn an even greater profit for you, as well as helping the village of Acubus. It could make the difference between getting the real value for your hard work here at the mine, and killing innocent people."

"Why should I care about the village or its people?"

"Perhaps because you are not as cold blooded as you would like to appear."

"Yeah, right, lady."

"Then perhaps I am wrong in the reason, but the fact remains, you do care. I feel that from you. I also sense that the killing of the miners was not your real intention. But when one takes up weapons to gain something they covet, the chances for disaster are very great. You could be excused a lapse in judgment once, but not a second time. Listen to what we have to say. What have you got to lose?"

"Who in Tartarus are you?"

She smiled at the warlord. "A friend, if you will have me."

The man stood in thought for a moment. He kept his eyes on the defenders of Acubus but spoke to his man. "Reis, would you have Tull bring something to drink to my hut? Then join us."

Ten minutes later the warlord was completely absorbed in the plan the warrior princess laid out for him. "Your plan is all well and good, except I need supplies today. My men are starving."

"The villagers are willing to sell you some food. But you must pay fairly and you must realize there isn't all that much for them either. Still, if the demand for food goes up and merchants find out you're able to pay with diamonds, then they'll be most happy to supply your needs."

"I could just deal with the ships directly."

"Yes, you could, and the villagers wouldn't mind if you did. They'll still benefit by the added business your trade will draw."

"All right, let's say I'm willing to consider your proposal. What about Makarios?"

Xena sat back on the bench she occupied and leaned her back against the hut wall. The demigod answered for her. "You know he'll never give up."

"Yeah."

"We propose we join forces and deal with him as a united front."

"How in Tartarus are we going to do that? Are you going to bring all those damn villagers here? No, I didn't think so. And I'm not leaving the mine."

"I say we don't wait for them to come to us. We take it to them."

"Sure, and while we're off playing war with some of Makarios' men, the rest come in here and take the place. I don't think so. "

"You wouldn't stand a chance if he decides to come down here with his whole force and attack you. Why wait for that to happen?"

"Because right now, I have all the advantage."

The big man narrowed his eyes at the warlord. "How so?"

"I have his daughter."

The room was filled with silence. Reis stood opened mouthed beside his leader. "Since when?"

"Since about two hours ago."

"You're holding an innocent girl hostage?"

"Let's say I'm holding her for insurance. As long as Makarios makes nice, his daughter doesn't get hurt." The warlord looked out the door of his hut to try and determine the time of day. "Our friend should be getting the news anytime now."

"What are you planning to do with the girl?" The demigod's voice was controlled. Anyone who knew him knew this heralded danger.

"I have no intention of hurting her if Makarios cooperates."

"You can't keep her here forever."

"I only plan to keep her long enough to build my army. Makarios is a fool. With a few more men I'll walk down there and wipe him out. Then the damn girl's free to go."

The defenders of Acubus looked at each other. Pothose was right, he had the upper hand. Why should he agree to cooperate with them when he could keep Makarios at bay? They had counted on his need of their help.

The outlaw scratched at his chin. "It changes things, doesn't it. But I still like the thought of becoming a business man. You're right about the potential for bigger profit." He looked around him with a self satisfied look. "You tell the villagers I'll be sending in some men to buy some supplies. And tell them as soon as Makarios is out of the way I'll be in to get to know my new neighbors."

Sira rose and went to stand beside the warlord. She placed her hand on his arm. "You must not harm the girl."

"I won't unless I'm forced to."

"May I see her?"

"Why? Oh, I get it. You don't believe I have her. Or maybe you don't believe she's all right."

"No, I can sense your truth in what you tell us. I wish only to reassure her that she has friends."

"Well, I tell you what. If all goes well in Acubus, maybe I'll see about it. But I'll let her know you're real concerned."

"If," the half man, half god whispered through clinched teeth, "you harm that girl, you'll answer to me, Pothose."

"Maybe you better talk to Makarios and help him understand the importance of cooperation." The warlord left the hut.

Reis shook his head. "I had no idea he planned something like this. I don't condone kidnapping. Maybe I'll just move on."

The healer turned to him. "No, please. If you are here, the girl will have someone on her side. I cannot ask you to free her. I know that would be against your code of honor. You have sworn a loyalty to Pothose and you could not break that word. But stay. Keep an eye on the girl. She is so frightened."

The demigod took the healer's arm. "You feel her, my sister?"

"Yes."

"How old a girl are we talking about?"

"Ten or twelve perhaps."

"That bloody bastard." Reis voiced the thought of the others.

Xena jumped to her feet. "I say we get her out, now."

"Don't be a damn fool. He'd be expecting something like that from you, Xena. He'll be ready." The warrior princess narrowed her eyes at the tall dark outlaw. He ignored the look and turned to Sira. "I'll do what I can for her. You're right. I could walk away and not betray Pothose, but to work against him when I've sworn my loyalty to him, that I will not do."

Sira smiled at him. "It will ease the girl's mind to know someone cares."

They left the mine in silence. They hadn't gone far however when Elias voiced the thoughts of the others. "Now what?"

"We find a way to get the girl out of there," the hunter stated.

"It sounds like he's willing to work with the villagers at least."

"We still have to save the girl and we still have Makarios to worry about."

The tall young man nodded absentmindedly. "I wonder how Pothose knew about Makarios having a daughter and where she's been all this time."

"It doesn't matter," the demigod added. "We'll find a way to get her out of there."

"That's," Xena interrupted, "if she's even there."

The demigod ignored the warrior and turned to Sira. "Was the child being harmed?"

"No. She was just frightened."

"Would you know if that were to change?"

"Yes, I would know."

"Then for now we leave her there. Tomorrow we go see Makarios."

Xena snorted. "Why not just get the girl out? Pothose has all but agreed to work with Acubus."

"There are two reasons that might not work. We steal the girl away from Pothose and he gets angry. Three guesses where he'll take out his anger. Then with the girl gone Makarios will attack Pothose. Do any of us want Makarios living in the villagers back yard? Pothose is one thing, Makarios is another."

The hunter shook his head. "I can't believe Pothose would stoop to kidnapping."

"Yeah, well, money can change a person," Xena sneered.

Pothose paced the limited space of his hut. Why in Tartarus I ever listened to him in the first place, I'll never know. But he did know. He wouldn't admit it out loud or even allow the thoughts to form completely in his own mind, but the fact was he was afraid not to follow the suggestions of such a powerful being.

His bravado in front of Hercules had been convincing. He could be proud of that. Still, now that the big man was gone he felt shaky and sick inside. What am I going to do? I can't really harm the girl. He stopped pacing for a moment. She looked so frightened. He shuddered. The look of fear he'd seen in her dark brown eyes haunted him. She looks so much like my little sister.

He tried never to think about Veta. It always hurt too much. She was such a sweet child. Those big brown eyes and that chocolate brown hair. "Damn! Why does this have to haunt me now? Will I ever wash the stain of her blood from my hands?"

He stopped in the door and stood looking out at the evening sky. Her screams seemed to echo in his mind as they had that day. Despite being nearly eleven years older than his sister, they had been very close. The outlaw remembered how annoyed he'd pretend to get when she followed him around. The truth was, he enjoyed her company. His father and mother worked so hard to eak a living from the soil, and being the oldest he was expected to help them do it. Then when his mother almost died having her sixth child, even more work came to him. He hated it. He could admit now, that he wasn't the only one working sunup to sundown. But back then as a child it seemed he had all the responsibility and work heaped on his too thin shoulders.

The sister, just a little over a year his junior, took care of the babies and helped their mother in the house. Little Veta had started to follow him around because the older sister kept yelling at her to get out of the way and find something to keep her out of trouble.

Pothose let his breath out in a sigh. If only I had stayed on the farm and not gotten involved with that bunch of low life scum. He remembered how he had admired them at first. They seemed so tough and wise.

If only, he thought, I could have seen past the facade. He was drawn to the gang of boys by an uncontrollable need to be accepted and liked. He remembered how he had looked up to the leader of the group. He seemed so much bigger than life. He was tough and wise and fair, or so he'd seemed.

Pothose remembered how it had felt to see his hero kill that old man in cold blood. I should have stayed on the farm like my father told me to do.

It hadn't been too bad at first. He had stayed at home and only left once in awhile to be with the others. Then he had started spending more time with them. He had tried once to give his share of the money the gang of boys had stolen from a rich traveler, to his father. His father had thrown the money in his face.

"I won't take money that's soiled. You return that money to its rightful owner or don't bother coming home." So he stayed away. Stealing was one thing, murder was another. He remembered what it had felt like to confess his part in the raids and in the old man's murder. Then to see his friend, his hero, taken before the magistrate. He would never forget the look of hate Ventose had given him.

"But," Pothose tried to explain to his friend, "when you crushed his skull I was covered in blood. I was caught that way. What could I do? They were going to hang me. Forgive me, Ventose. I didn't mean to tell them about you."

"If I get out of this, you're a dead man."

Veta's screams filled his ears again. He saw again the horses as they came down from the ridge and picked up speed. Veta had come to stand beside him. Then the mad rush to try and out run the horses and Veta screaming as the horses overtook them. He remembered his own scream as she was churned beneath the horses' hooves. He could hear the horses screaming and Ventose laughing.

The warlord wiped the perspiration from his brow. He had left home that same day. He was battered and sore, physically and mentally. Three weeks later he killed his first man. Ventose couldn't match his fury. Ventose was a much better fighter, but Pothose was obsessed. He spent eight years looking for them. They knew he was coming and they scattered. Methodically he searched them out and killed them. His skills as a fighter grew and he developed a following. He became what Ventose had been, and yet through it all he had tempered his anger with reason. He tried not to kill unless he must, except where the riders of the horses that had killed his sister were concerned. There he showed no mercy. He hadn't hired himself and his men out to just any cause. He looked at both sides before choosing his battles.

He had no intention of walking away from the diamond mine. Once he had learned of the wealth to be had there he knew he must have it. He would have spared the lives of the miners if they had followed his advice and moved on. They chose to fight and brought it on themselves. He had let any who wished walk away. The others were killed in battle. That's as it should be. Once the revenge of his sister's death had been fulfilled he had never deliberately murdered anyone. Killing in battle, he figured, was an honorable thing.

It was like him not to acknowledge the fact that he had started the battles and that he killed innocent people in the battle for his own gain. He had a set of values and principles he stuck by no matter how warped they may be. Kidnapping went against these principles. But, he reasoned, there's so much at stake here. I could make something of myself. Xena's idea appeals to me, becoming a business man, he chuckled. Not bad for the son of a two bit farmer.

Still, taking the girl. He shook his head. But I needed the insurance and I need him on my side. Besides, I'm not really harming the girl.

The defenders returned to the village. They reported no trouble and a meal was started. No one had a solution to the problems that now presented themselves. Sira washed out some clothing then helped Gabrielle wash her hair. The bard now sat on a blanket before the healer while Sira combed the tangles from the reddish blond strands.

Elias sat on a rock near the fire watching them. Little Sira had fallen asleep on the blanket beside the healer and Calla took the opportunity to nap herself. The shepherdess had been glad for the coins from Reis. But she had made pets of the sheep and still felt a loss.

The hunter took Sira's blanket and gently laid it over the sleeping child. It was the blanket Calla had given her when they had been in Acubus that first time. It was always the healer's favorite and she carried it with her on all her travels.

Hector and Jug joined the others at the camp in the trees. "We've got trouble."

Hercules let his breath out in an agitated sigh. "Now what?"

"Makarios has several men stationed along the coast. They're waiting for a ship to arrive with supplies."

"How can you be sure?"

"We overheard a couple of the men talking. They plan to waylay the ship along the coast before it reaches Acubus. They have money to spend on the supplies but the plan is if the Captain of the ship won't sell to them, they'll take the cargo."

"How do they plan to stop the ship?"

"They have a couple of small boats ready. Down the coast, almost a day's sail south, ships come fairly close to the coast to avoid some rocks. The boats are waiting there to make contact with the ship. It's the same place Demos met ships to trade the goods he stole from us."

"Will the captain sell to them?"

"Most likely. Most of the ships have no real loyalty to us. They can take the money and replace their cargo then return to Acubus. Why pass up money for goods? Then again, if Makarios' men can convince the Captain it's not healthy to come on to Acubus, why take the chance?"

"Not healthy, as in danger from Pothose?"

"Or fever. Who knows? It's just supposition on my part. The thing is, we need those supplies."

Jug nodded. "We wouldn't mind sharing, but if they take it all we're going to be in trouble."

Sira braided a small strip of hair back from the bard's face, first on one side of the center part, then on the other side. She was tying them together when Jug made his statement. She looked up to meet the eyes of her more than brother of the soul. This was too reminiscent of Yucaipia. "You can hunt. The farms here produce food. There are chickens and sheep."

Elias nodded. "Sira is right, I believe. We should be able to feed ourselves. Maybe we'll run out of salt and flour, but we won't starve. If the ship doesn't make it we may run short on supplies to keep our businesses going. But that's a temporary set back. Still, I, for one, have no intention of sitting back and allowing a murdering low life such as Makarios have our supplies."

Barnabus smiled at his partner. "If we spread ourselves too thin, we leave ourselves wide open to attack. We were willing to sell the supplies to Pothose."

"This is different. Makarios will take the goods before we get our hands on them, and from all I've heard he's much worse than Pothose."

Barnabus snorted. "I don't know about that. Kidnapping a little girl sounds pretty low to me."

The son of Zeus interrupted the two of them. He knew how much they liked a good argument. But now wasn't the time. "How soon is the ship due?"

"Most likely not for a week or so."

"Good. That gives us some time to talk with Makarios." He turned to Sira. "How sincere was Pothose with his acceptance of our proposal to trade fairly with Acubus?"

"He was quite sincere. However, I have the belief that if things were to change, he may also. He would, I believe, seize whatever opportunity came his way." She was silent a moment. "For what it is worth, I do not think he is happy about ordering the kidnapping of Makarios' daughter. He was desperate and acted on impulse. But he has her now, and having her has backed him into a corner."

Their evening meal was complete. The setting sun left a hazy pink along the horizon to remind this side of the earth that it would return. The healer gathered her things and announced her intention of bathing in the river.

The hunter jumped to his feet. "It would be safer to bathe at Granny's. I'll heat you some water."

She shot him an annoyed look and headed out of the small grove of trees they called home for the moment. The golden one grabbed his sword and went after her. The demigod grinned and turned away.

"Sira," her disgruntled husband called. "Sira, wait up." She waited for him, and when he reached her she linked her arm through his.

"It is a beautiful evening."

"You're going to get yourself killed. What would be so bad about bathing at Granny's?"

"I much prefer bathing in the river. Besides, it would be very hard to be alone with you at the cottage."

He chuckled. "So that's the reason you insisted on bathing in the river?"

"I need the comfort that being with you will bring. You do not mind, do you?"

"Can't you tell? I hate the whole idea." He grabbed her and swung her around to face him. His arms slid around her and she leaned into him. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. It has been an eventful day, however, and I do miss being alone with you."

"I miss it too." He kissed her neck, then trailed kisses lower to plant a feather light kiss on the triangle indentation at the base of her throat. "You smell wonderful."

"I'll smell even better after my bath."

He laughed at her. "So you wish to bathe first?"

"I was in hopes we could bathe together."

She saw his pupils constrict and the light of desire shade his eyes a pale blue. Without a word he picked up the things she had dropped to hug him, and taking her hand he led her to the river.

He untied the crossed over tails of her top and pulled it aside. She wore a pale green lightweight undergarment made of soft woven moss next to her skin. It paled her skin to a healthy white that seemed to glimmer in the fading light. It did little to conceal her ample figure, in fact it seemed to set it off and call attention to the swell of her breasts. He took a ragged breath. Love and desire for this forest creature swept so swiftly over him that for a moment he felt light headed.

With hands that trembled slightly he unlaced the top of the woven moss garment. The look in is eyes sent a tingle up the healer's spine. He raised his eyes and met hers, and a whimper passed her trembling lips. He took her mouth with his.

She pulled his vest over his shoulders and he let it slip to the grass at his feet. She ran her hands over his chest and up to his hair. She buried her hands in his golden tresses and pulled his lips tightly against hers, then bit lightly at his lower lip.

He unfastened her trousers and slipped his hand inside them to below her waist. She wore nothing under the pants and the realization set him on fire. She stepped out of the pants and slipped her top off to stand before him naked. Then she unfastened his trousers. Her hands seemed to sear his skin. Her touch brought a tingle of energy to him and he saw the pale blue glow like a halo around her fingertips. Her mind touched his and pulled his thoughts to her. The lovers blended together in mind and body, and the hunter lay her on the grass.

He kissed the swell of her breasts. She whimpered and arched her back. Grasses moved to wind themselves around the girl and caress her skin. Tiny vines encircled strands of her long pale hair. Her moan of pleasure as the hunter took her startled a bird from a bush near the stream. The light was gone from the sky now and the night surrounded the lovers with its protective blanket of darkness.

It was much later before they bathed in the icy water of the river, and still later when they returned to the village of Acubus and their blankets. They were hailed by a guard and given a mischievous grin when they passed him.

Elias tried to keep his humor from his face but failed. "Nice night," he offered.

"Yes indeed," the hunter replied.

Elias chuckled. "You better get some sleep, my friend. You have guard duty later."

The hunter groaned. "Now why'd you have to remind me? I was enjoying myself until you mentioned that."

"Sorry. But you just looked too content."

The hunter snorted and they walked on.

Elias shook the hunter to wake him for his promised turn at guard duty. He was awake at once and started to rise. The healer moaned and clung to him. Elias turned away. It wasn't always easy being around the hunter and the empath. The love they had for each other seemed to fill the air at times and it often stirred the young man. He looked across the fire to where Gabrielle slept, her hair a golden red pool of shimmering light across the pack she used as a pillow. She's so beautiful, he thought. He looked quickly away as he felt his face flush and a painful tingle start at the base of his spine. His eyes returned to the bard. He had to fight the impulse to go to her and take her in his arms. I bet her skin is smooth and soft. Stop this, you damn fool, or you'll never get any sleep. He went to the fire and poured himself a mug of tea. He forced himself not to look at either Gabrielle or the hunter's bed.

Iolaus came to the fire and gladly took the tea the young man offered him. "It's not always easy to leave a nice warm bed or a nice warm woman."

Elias blushed, and against his will his eyes looked to the bard again. The hunter didn't miss the look and he grinned into his tea mug. With a quick salute of the mug he headed out of camp to take up a place of concealment from which to watch the night.

The healer rolled over to the side of the blanket the hunter had just vacated. She hated for him to be away from her. She sent her mind to his and felt an instant response. "Sleep, my lover," his mind soothed her. She smiled to herself. She felt drowsy and comforted by his mind on hers and she drifted back to sleep. Her dreams were filled with the hunter. Even in her sleep she longed to hold him and feel his flesh touching hers.

"Sira," he whispered in her ear. "Sira."

She opened sleepy eyes and there he was hovering above her. Pleasure swept over her. Her mind still muddled with sleep sensed nothing odd about his sudden appearance.

"Iolaus, my love." She put her arms around him and their lips touched. The healer gasped and pulled violently away. A hand shot out to cover her mouth and the form of the golden hunter transformed into that of the god of war. He shook his head when he sensed by her tightening muscles that she meant to struggle.

"I won't hurt you," he whispered. "Come with me. I wish only to talk with you." She hesitated. "You took my word once before. Will you again?" Still she said nothing. "I give my word I wish only to talk to you." The empath nodded. "If I remove my hand will you give your word not to scream?" She nodded again.

He slowly removed his hand from her mouth, ready to grab at her if she broke her word. When she stayed silent he rose and offered her a hand up. She hesitated for a moment then took his offer of assistance and let him pull her to her feet. Still holding her hand he led her from the camp.

He took her to a secluded place beyond some brush, then turned to face her. The girl shivered more from reaction than from cold. He waved his arm and a fire appeared. "Warm yourself," he offered.

"What is it you wish to speak with me about?"

"I didn't fool you for a minute back there, did I? It's a pity. Our kiss was all too short."

"Did you really believe you could fool me?"

"No. But it was worth a try. I seem to find you very� Shall we say, appealing?" The slight smile he wore was gone now and his face wore a serious look.

"Why have you brought me here?"

"Perhaps just to have the pleasure of your company."

She shivered again and a fine cloak of fur appeared in the god of war's hands. He moved behind her and gently laid it across her shoulders. "You're not frightened of me, are you?" She made no reply. His hands stayed on her shoulders a moment. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "You look very beautiful in furs. It brings out the animalistic beauty that seems such a part of you." He placed a kiss on her ear lobe.

She made no move to avoid his advances, nor did she respond. "Are you going to tell me why you have brought me here?"

He picked up a handful of her hair and brought it to his nostrils. "I need a favor, and I'm beginning to think you're the only one who can help me." She waited. He walked away from her but she didn't turn around. "I want you to�" he paused to search for the right words. "To help me convince Xena to return to my fold, as it were." His meaning was all too clear.

The empath turned to face him. "Surely you do not believe I would help you use Xena to perpetrate your evil?"

He walked to her and ran a knuckle along her cheek. "Actually, I thought perhaps you might." He smiled at her. "But perhaps you would like to take her place beside me. Your powers and mine combined." His voice was that of a lover. "Think of the possibilities, Sira."

"You do not want me. I have felt your desire for Xena."

He let his breath out in a sigh. "You're right. I must have her." His finger caressed her collar bone. His touch was warm and soft. "But I don't believe I want to give you up either."

He pulled her into his arms and took her lips in a gentle kiss. She did nothing to resist him and he deepened the kiss. The empath was unresponsive and the god of war pulled back to study her face a moment. "I sense that you're not entirely adverse to my advances. And yet, I don't think you're giving this your all. Shall we try again?" This time his kiss was demanding and she tried to push him away. He fought her for a moment then dropped his hands and stepped back. His breath was ragged. He swallowed, then swallowed again.

"Yes, to have you both would be a pleasure I couldn't turn away from."

"Somehow," she countered, her voice dripping sarcasm, "I do not see Xena as the sharing type."

He threw his dark head back and laughed. "You may be right. But what about you, little one? Are you willing to share?" His eyes danced with mischief. "But then, you share two men now, don't you?"

"You know that is not true. I love two men. But what you are referring to, I give to only one."

"How long do you think my dear brother will sit by and be content with that?"

"I do not think that is a concern. We are talking about Hercules, not you."

He laughed again. "I like you. You don't fear me. That's good. Maybe you're right. Maybe it is possible to love more than one person at a time."

The empath took a deep breath. "May I return to my blankets now?"

"Come, little one. Say you'll help me." She shook her head. "Come with me. Think of what I can offer you."

The girl looked down at herself. She was dressed in an expensive gown of pale yellow chiffon, shot with strands of golden thread. Her hands and neck were adorned with jewels. She stood at the edge of a golden carpet. Laid out on the carpet was an array of expensive food on gold, jewel encrusted plates. There was wine in golden decanters ready to pour into delicately carved golden goblets. There were satin pillows and cushions inviting her to rest.

The god of war presented the bounty to the healer with a wide sweep of his gauntlet clad arm. "All this and me as well." She stood in silence. "Come, you're not immune to my charms. I've felt that from you."

"Then surely you have felt the futility of this as well."

He gave her an annoyed look and with another sweep of his arm it was gone. The humor and seduction were gone from his voice. "Will you agree to help me?"

"Never. I have seen how you use your powers. I will never help you."

Her mind was rocked with the image of her son lying on the brown and dead summer grass, blood spilling from his side. The healer cried out and went to her knees. As quickly as the image had come, it was gone. "Now perhaps you begin to understand."

The healer rose and stood swaying before the god of war. Tears splashed from her chin to stain her top. "I will not help you, Ares." There was conviction in her voice but fear in her heart.

The god of war felt her fear. He always could feel the fear of others. Fear, hate, anger. These were his weapons. It was what he fed on, seeming to gain strength from the negative emotions around him. But he also sensed something else, something he was not so familiar with. And in feeling it he experienced emotions in himself that made him uncomfortable. He tried again to plant an image in the girl's mind but his thoughts couldn't penetrate her carefully constructed barrier.

With seeming ease she repelled his thoughts and sent her own to combat him. He pulled his mind quickly away from hers.

"Stop this, Ares. Stop the killing. Stop the hate. Stop all of it."

He stepped back and watched her through narrowed eyes. She's even more powerful than I thought. "You haven't seen the last of me, little one." With a flash of light, he was gone.

The girl stood where she was. She closed her eyes and let the tears slip from beneath her lashes. She shrank to the grass and her mind sought that of her chosen father. His mind instantly opened to her. "What do I do?" her mind implored him.

"You must resist him," his mind instructed her. "You must never give in to his evil. You are stronger than he is." He felt her thoughts of Hercus. "Yes, he could do many things to hurt you, my daughter. But you must resist, for your powers to be used for evil is unthinkable."

"Why, Father? Why has this come to me?"

"I do not know. I foresaw this, but why it must be so I cannot say."

"What if I am not strong enough?"

"You must be. Surely you see that. Should you give into his evil, you have lost everything that you hold dear. Besides that, once you succumb to his manipulation, what is to prevent him from harming your loved ones. They may yet live but they will not be yours, my daughter."

"You will protect my son?"

"With my life, I will protect him."

"And should it take my life to keep my powers from this evil, you will help Iolaus and Hercus to go on?"

"Need you ask that of me? Surely you feel the answer from my heart and my soul."

"To go to the earth to protect my powers from being used for evil holds no fear for me. But to cause my loved ones pain is an intolerable grief."

"The earth is with you, my child. Trust in her to help you."

The empath lowered her cheek to the grass. She rested it against the cold damp slivers of green vegetation. "Help me, my mother. Give me strength."

She stayed where she was for a time, letting the comfort the earth offered seep in to replace the fear she had felt. The grass caressed and comforted her, holding her and soothing her. When she was calmer she disengaged herself from the grass and vines that held her and returned to the camp in the trees behind Granny's cottage.

The hunter was there to take her into his arms. "Where have you been? I was worried sick."

"I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you."

He tightened his hold on her. "What is it?" He had sensed her anxiety. "What's happened?" She said nothing. Her grip on him was almost painful. "Sira, what's happened. Did someone hurt you?"

The demigod came to stand beside the hunter and the girl who held onto him so tightly. The hunter beseeched him with his eyes and the big man put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Tell us what has upset you, my more than sister."

Still the girl said nothing. The demigod sent his mind to his sister's but found it closed to him. He shot a bewildered look at the hunter and shook his head.

The god of war stood before the crossed swords on the wall of his temple. He felt confused, a state of mind he loathed. He turned in exasperation and surveyed his surroundings. I had no idea she was so powerful. Her powers are more of the mental than the physical, and most certainly not powers like those the gods of Olympus command. Still, while she may not possess the power of the gods, the power she does command is formidable.

He crossed the temple to stand before his throne of skulls. He ran a hand lovingly over the smooth cool surface of the bones. It took all my strength to plant that one image of her son's death. True, the image did frighten her, and yet it didn't devastate her as I thought it might. She has a strength that goes beyond her mind powers.

He moved to the front of the throne and sat down. He admitted that his manipulation had made her even more resistant to his persuasion. He also admitted the feelings hurting her had brought to him. Why does bringing her pain cause me such pain? Why did it hurt me to hurt her? He lunged to his feet. "Damn." This is intolerable. He began to pace the floor.

So, what if I were to carry out my threat? He shook his head. Somehow he no longer believed she would come to him to save her loved ones. He had sensed her willingness to give her life rather than surrender to his will. He hadn't considered that possibility. Still, he had vowed to eliminate her if he could not possess her. He stopped his pacing. The problem is, I no longer wish to see her dead. His mind stilled a moment. How is it possible for her to reach this part of me?

True, I find strong women irresistible. Xena has always stirred my blood. But the feelings she provokes are far different from those Sira touches.

Anger washed over him. "Damn her. My plan will succeed this time. I've failed too many times where Xena is concerned. And what about Sira? his mind demanded.

The hunter kept watching the girl he loved. She refused to tell him what had unnerved her and now seemed to have put it behind her. Still he knew how deeply she was affected by things and that if she chose to fool him about her feelings she could quite successfully do so. He'd suggested she not come with them today when they went to speak with Makarios. She'd given him a disgusted look and ignored the suggestion.

They left the village early. Barnabus accompanied them this time. Makarios was a hot headed fool, not known for giving an inch. There could be a very real danger in venturing into his territory. The warrior princess hadn't bothered to make the suggestion that Sira stay behind. She had insisted Gabrielle rest, but beyond that she had said very little to any of them, and especially the healer. Sira, lost in her own thoughts, hadn't noticed, but the demigod had. He moved up beside the dark beauty and walked with her in silence for a moment.

"So, what's up?"

"How so?"

"You made not one objection to Sira coming along this time."

The dark haired girl released an annoyed sigh.

"So?" the big man prodded.

"So?"

"What's got into you?"

"You're not going to let me alone unless I answer, are you?"
"Nope."

"I saw the way she handled herself yesterday. She stayed cool."

"It's real hard not to like her, isn't it?"

"Is that what you think I was doing?"

"Yes."

"Why would I do that?"
"Partly because you're jealous." The warrior made no comment. "You're jealous of the friendship between her and Gabrielle. You're jealous of her friendship with Argo. Even though you turned away from Iolaus you're jealous that he has Sira, and you're jealous that I love her."

"You're a fool. The salt air has pickled your half god brain."

"She has all the things you might want in this lifetime."

"I'm not the envious type."

"You also worry about her because despite your best efforts to hate her, you really like her."

"I do like her. In fact I like her a lot. She has a lot of courage. And maybe you're right. Maybe I am a little jealous." The dark girl shot a quick look over her shoulder. "She seems so frail. I've caused Iolaus enough pain. I don't want to be the source of any more. If something happened to Sira�" Her words trailed off.

"That could hardly be your fault. She demanded to come. She's a warrior, Xena. She'll do what must be done, and if it means her death she will face it head on."

"And what about Iolaus? It would kill him to lose her. You know better than I do how much he loves her. Besides, I wouldn't want to see you go through that either."

The big man nodded. "You're right. I don't even want to think about such an outcome. But we can't box her up and keep her in a closet either. She has a free spirit, just as Gabrielle does. They have to be free to make their own choices."

"Sometimes I wish I could go back to not caring about anyone or anything. Then it wouldn't hurt so much. Love hurts, and I hate the hurt."

"Yes, you're right," There was a lost wistful sound to his words. Xena cringed at the pain she had brought to this half man, half god she cared so much for. She shouldn't have reminded him of his own losses. He turned and looked at her. "Love can hurt, but what good is living without it?"

They walked on in silence. The warrior princess felt the healer's mind on hers. She always knows. I wonder how she does that. With a mental shrug she accepted the comfort the girl offered and walked on with a lighter heart. Maybe Hercules was right. Maybe living without love wouldn't be worth the effort. Damn it! Her mind shouted. She got under your skin after all. Now you have two vulnerable young women you care too damned much about.

They stopped near midday to refresh themselves at a small brook. Granny had put cold mutton between thick slices of bread spread with thick fresh butter. She wrapped it in cheese cloth to help keep it fresh then placed it in an oil skin bag. She stuffed in some apples and a large hunk of cheese.

"If you run into trouble, you're going to need all your strength," she reasoned. "So take the food and enjoy it." Hercules had shouldered the pack Granny held out to him and planted a kiss on her weathered cheek.

They finished their meal then started on. The men spread out a little. Their eyes scanned the horizon as the healer's mind scanned the land they now traversed. As they approached a low hill they must cross to reach the higher ground that would lead to Makarios' camp the healer stopped dead in her tracks.

"Someone is approaching. They are on the higher ground beyond the hill."

"They?" the demigod questioned.

The girl closed her eyes a moment. "There are at least once again as many as our number."

"Damn! They'll have the advantage of being on high ground." He looked around him.

"There." Elias pointed to a pass that could lead them to the high ground much quicker and at least put them on level ground with those who approached them.

"Sira, do we have time?"

She knew what he was asking. Would they have time to make the ridge and take a defensive posture before they were overtaken. "Yes, my brother, if we hurry."

The warrior princess was already headed toward the cleft in the hill. If they were caught in the narrow confines of the cleft it could prove disastrous for them. Without a word they followed the dark haired girl.

They made the ridge and moved forward. "Shouldn't we look for cover?" the blacksmith suggested.

"It is too late for that, Barnabus." The healer pointed to their left. A group of nearly twenty men marched boldly forward. Even as the blacksmith looked their way the approaching group spotted them and changed their direction slightly to intersect them.

"Spread out a little, but don't borrow trouble," the demigod ordered. "Let them make the first move."

"I fear this will not end peacefully." The healer offered. "They are spoiling for a fight."

"Figures," the hunter mumbled under his breath.

The men spread out to encircle the defenders of Acubus. "Who are you bloody fools, and what in Tartarus are you doing on Makarios' land?" The leader was a short stocky man of an indeterminate age. His hair was a dark brown with no gray showing and yet his face was old and wrinkled. His shoulders were broad with muscle and his forearms bulged above the black leather gauntlets he wore.

Hercules took a breath to calm himself. He hated self important, arrogant bullies. "We wish to speak with Makarios."

"What for?"

Feeling the response her brother meant to give, the healer placed her hand on his arm and sent a mental reprimand, and a reminder to behave himself.

"We wish to come to an agreement about the present situation."

"You with Pothose?"

"No, we come from Acubus."

The man laughed. "Then you're nothing but a bunch of lazy fishermen. I hate fishermen. Let's show these fools what it means to be real men." The others seemed to hesitate. "You can have the women..." Sira sent her mind out in a blast of thought and the leader never completed his thought. She heard the clash of swords but kept her mind directed at the leader.

He slumped to the ground, both hands to his head. The healer grabbed the sword he had flung aside as the pain she inflicted twisted his mind.

The demigod shouted at her and she turned quickly to block a sword blow meant for her. Elias threw a knife and the man fell forward. The yosemin sent her mind to thank the young man. She directed her mind to two men who fought Barnabus and one screamed in pain. The blacksmith's sword hilt along side the skull put him out of his misery for a time. The healer hated to think of the pain he would endure when he woke up.

Another man went down from a blow to the chin from the demigod's broad kick. Iolaus butted a man's forehead with his and the man slid to the grass.

Xena's war cry rang through the afternoon air and bounded against the hills. She somersaulted over the heads of three men and landed behind them. One went down under her sword.

The leader lunged at the demigod, but the man's mind was so muddled by the healer's blast that he didn't even see the fist coming and the blow took him square on the chin. Hercules cringed as he felt the bones give way. Where the man's mouth was before, there was only a bloody streak studded with broken teeth as his lower jaw scraped back and to the side away from the blow.

The leader screamed and the sound seemed to reverberate through the demigod's head and linger in his ears. The leader sprawled on the ground, coughing and choking. Sira knelt beside him and placed her hands on his neck. "He cannot breathe!" she shouted.

A man tried to strike the healer with a club and she swung her leg around to trip him. The club flew into the air. Catching it easily she brought it down on the man's head then turned back to the leader. It was too late, however. A jagged piece of jawbone had severed his wind pipe and cut his jugular vein.

Then as quickly as it had started, it was over. The healer still knelt beside the leader. Tears streamed down her face and the demigod came to kneel beside her.

"I never meant to kill him."

She had known this would bother her more than brother of the soul. Death affected him as deeply as it did her. She placed her hand over his where it rested on his knee. She had wiped the blood from her hands on the grass but the stain still remained faintly outlined on her pale skin.

"I know that, my more than brother. Besides, it was not really your fault. If I had not muddled his brain so much he may well have avoided your punch."

"If he hadn't been so bent on fighting in the first place."

"Once one is forced to fight, it is not always easy to control one's power."

He raised his eyes to meet hers. He knew she referred to the old master she had battled in the underground chambers of the old castle in Yucaipia.

"This isn't your fault either, my sister."

"No it is not. But we do have a lot in common. Sometimes our strength gets the best of us."

He nodded and let his breath out in a sigh. "You're right, it sometimes does."

The healer looked around her. The man she had clubbed still lay on the ground but he was conscious. Three were dead, and counting the man conscious beside her she counted four injured. She turned to the man she had clubbed and reached to place a hand on his arm. He cringed away from her and she sent her mind to him instead. He wasn't severely injured. She rose and went to the man Barnabus had stopped with a sword hilt to the temple. He was still unconscious but the healer wasn't overly concerned. Her sensitive mind told her he would survive. The hunter jerked him around and began to tie his hands behind his back and he moaned.

The other two men were tied already and she found no need to heal them either. She gave the earth's prayer for the men who had died and did her best to put the pain of three lives wasted, behind her.

The demigod jerked the man Sira had stopped, to his feet. "Are you with Makarios?" The man ignored the question. Hercules shook him. "Do you work for Makarios?"

"Yeah. So what?"

"What in Tartarus made you attack us?"

"You're in our territory."
"That's worth losing your life over?"

Rather than answering the big man he asked a question of his own. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I told your leader. We want to talk with Makarios."

"I doubt he'll allow that."

"Does he know about his daughter?"

"Yes, and he's fit to be tied." He narrowed his eyes at the son of Zeus. "I thought you said you're from Acubus."

"We are, but we had a little talk with Pothose yesterday. Where were you off to anyway?"

"None of your business."

The demigod shook him again. "I'm making it my business. Where were you headed?"

"Nowhere. We were just checking things out."

"He is lying, my brother," the healer stated in a matter of fact way.

The big man shook the outlaw even harder. "Give me the right answer this time."

"They were on their way to Acubus," Sira answered for him.

Hercules studied the girl's face a moment then turned back to the outlaw. He punctuated his words with a good hard shake at each. "Is (shake) that (shake) right (shake)?"

"So what if it is?"

"You were going to steal their food to feed your band of butchers. That really makes me angry. You should really think twice about incurring my wrath."

"Who in Tartarus are you?"

"Hercules."

"Yeah, sure. Anybody could say they were Hercules."

The demigod lifted the man off his feet by the neck and held him there. "Yeah, that's true. But not everybody could snap your neck with one hand. And that's just what will happen if you don't cooperate."

"What are you going to do with us?"

"You're coming along with us to talk with Makarios. Kind of an insurance policy, you might say."

"You'll never get there. They'll stop you before you even see Makarios. We've got a hundred men out there between you and the camp."

"Well, you'd better hope they don't start something, because if they do you'll be the first to die." He shook the man again. "You got that?" He jerked the man around and made sure his hands were tied tightly behind his back. Satisfied that they were, he pushed the outlaw before him. He picked up a sword dropped by one of the attackers and headed once again in the direction of the warlord's camp.

Iolaus and Xena herded the other three men ahead of them. Barnabus and Elias took up the sides. The healer moved up beside the demigod. She had picked up a staff left on the grass after the attack.

The son of Zeus shot her a quick look. "You know how to use that thing?"

She examined the stout piece of wood. "Yes, and if I must I will." She looked over her shoulder. "What about the dead?"

"Let Makarios worry about them."

The outlaw ahead of them looked over his shoulder. "Makarios will know you're coming. You let two many get away."

"Let him know. It makes no difference. If trouble starts you're a dead man." The demigod prodded the man in the back with the sword.

"That woman back there. That Xena?"

"The one and only."

"Makarios knows her. He might talk with her. Why not let me go ahead and talk to him? Give me a chance to convince him he should listen to you."

"No. We go as a group."

Sira sensed the outlaw's intention a split second before he made a quick dash. She threw the staff low and hard. The staff hit the man's ankle and tripped him. He fell hard and stayed where he was.

The demigod jerked him to his feet and the man cried out in pain. "My ankle's broke. You didn't have to do that."

"I didn't. She did." The big man motioned with his head at the healer.

Sira stood next to Xena. The warrior had pulled her whip to trip the man but hadn't gotten the chance to use it.

The man moaned. "You mean Xena?"

"No, I mean the other one."

"She tripped me? What's she got against me? She tripped me before, then clubs me half to death," he whined. "Now she breaks my leg."

"Don't push her or she'll do more that that."

"She's so damn small. How can she be so vicious?"

Xena turned to the healer and offered her arm. The girl took it in a firm warrior's grasp. "You did well, little healer. You think and react very quickly."

Sira smiled at her. "I had an unfair advantage. I sensed his intention just seconds before he moved."

"I say again, you did well. I'm glad you're with us."

"Thank you, my sister."

The dark haired girl looked startled for a moment. Then a wide smile crossed her face. "Sister." She dropped the healer's arm and indicated the complaining outlaw. "What about our friend? Is his ankle broken?"

"No. It is bruised, but he will live for a little while longer."

Hercules shoved the man ahead of him once again and walked with the sword at his back. The man limped painfully but whenever he slowed the sword dug into him and he had no choice but to continue on.

Before they had gone far a group of horsemen came up over a ridge and headed toward them. The demigod moved up closer to the outlaw and put a restraining hand on his shoulder. The point of the sword dug painfully into his back.

"Hey! Easy with that sword."

"Quit complaining. I haven't even pierced your leather jerkin. Yet."

Makarios led the horsemen. He sat his horse with an arrogant attitude. He pulled his horse up and held his hand up to stop the others. "What do you want here, Hercules?"

"We want to talk with you."

"You played havoc with my men."

"They came asking for it. We only wanted a chance to talk with you."

"There's nothing to talk about."

The outlaw Hercules held was getting nervous. "Let him have his say, Makarios. He's got a sword at my back."

The leader's face turned ugly with a snarl of hate. "You cowardly bastard. I ought to kill you myself."

"Look," the demigod interrupted, "you were sending men to attack Acubus. We have every intention of defending it. Do you really want to send your men up against myself? Or Xena? Come on, Makarios, you're no fool. It's a battle you can't win."

"I could bring my men down there and take that town in a minute."

"If you try it you better bring the whole damn army. And if you do that Pothose will know it and come after you. He's not fool enough to attack you in your stronghold, but you leave it and you're fair game. What we don't kill, he will."

"Then I'll attack that son of a bitch first."

"And risk your daughter's life?"

"If he lays one hand on my little girl, I'll personally hunt him down and kill him. My oath to the gods, his death won't be a pleasant one."

"Your daughter will be just as dead. Look, you have enough men here. Send a few over the mountains for supplies, or come peacefully to Acubus and buy some. We don't have much, but we'll share what we can."

"No, by the gods, I'll take what I need when I need it. There's a supply ship due any day. I'll get my supplies from that and you bloody villagers can go to Tartarus."

"We're not going to sit back and let that happen."

"I'll have the supplies all right. And I'll have the village and the damn diamond mine as well."

"You're talking nonsense. Pull out. Cut your losses and withdraw."

"You can go straight to Tartarus, you half human bastard!"

"No diamond mine is worth a little girl's life, Makarios. Pull out and give me two days to get your daughter back. Give me your word you'll stay away and give me the two days. I'll personally deliver the girl to you."

"Why would you take my word?" The warlord's voice was soft now. The question stemmed from a genius' need to understand the demigod's offer.

"You would swear it on your daughter's life. You wouldn't break such a pledge."

The warlord seemed to shrink before the big man's eyes. "I want my daughter back and I want her safe. You know, the funny thing is, she doesn't even know I'm her father. I've only visited her mother a handful of times since little Neca was born. I get money to her mother when I can. They don't have an easy life. Her mother grows vegetables and raises chickens to get by. I didn't think anyone knew about Neca. That's one reason I stay away. You know, a man in my line of work makes enemies."

"I'm sorry this has happened, Makarios. Give me your word and I'll do my damnedest to get her back to you."

The man on horseback sat in silence for a moment. "No, Hercules. I'll give you to the count of two to get out of here."

The demigod started to object. Sira lay her hand on his arm. "It is time to go, my brother. We can do nothing here."

He nodded reluctantly. "Start backing up," he instructed his group.

"Turn my men loose!" Makarios shouted.

"When we're safely away. You can find them with the dead we left back there. Come after them before we're away and they will join the others as buzzard dung."

The renegade leader made no move to follow. The healer kept her mind on his to make sure. They left the outlaws with the dead. Xena gathered any weapons she could find and they moved quickly away. When the healer assured them they weren't being followed they slowed their pace.

The demigod had said very little. The empath could sense his mood, however. She sent her mind to his and he allowed her to send him comfort. He looked up to shake his head at her.

"So now what, my brother?"

"So now we have a standoff. No one dares make a move." He sighed. "I thought he was going to go for it. I really did."

"He almost did. I also thought he would agree. It is as if there is something we are unaware of that made him refuse when he really did not want to."

Makarios paced the confines of the hut he occupied. The village he had taken over was not a prosperous one. He hadn't killed all the villagers. Some he had convinced they should find a healthier place to live. He had kept most of the food, however. Still it hadn't lasted more than a few days, and now they were dangerously low on supplies. He had four of his best hunters out in the hills almost continuously but they barely kept starvation away and his men were grumbling and complaining almost constantly.

After Hercules left, he ordered a group of ten men to take one of the farm wagons and go for supplies. If they went over the mountains to the east they should be able to get the supplies and get back to him within a week to ten days.

That was providing Pothose didn't get wind of his intention and send men to intercept the wagon. I should have taken Hercules up on his offer, he thought. He ran a hand through his short dark hair then along the line of gold hoops he wore in his left ear. Why was I such a fool to get mixed up with him in the first place? But he knew the answer. The thought of power had intoxicated him. To have such power on his side had seemed the greatest of conquests. Then too, he had been a little frightened and awed by the sheer evil he had sensed in the powerful one.

Still, to risk my daughter's life for him, that goes way beyond what I'm willing to risk.

The room was filled with light and the black leather clad form stood before the outlaw. Makarios went to his knees, his head lowered.

"Come, Makarios. Not thinking of backing out on our deal, are you?" The words were spoken in a deep casual drawl.

"No, my lord."

"Stand. You have no need to kneel at my feet. We're partners in this, aren't we?" The warlord stood but said nothing. "You don't need to worry about your daughter. You know I won't let anything happen to her."

"She's the only good thing I've done in my life." The words were whispered but the dark figure heard them.

He turned away to hide his disgust. "The diamonds will be yours and your daughter will be safe. Have a little faith in me."

"It's not that, my lord."

"Then what is it?"

"Nothing. I'm just worried about Neca."

"I've just told you not to worry." The voice was stern now. "Snap out of it."

"Yes, my lord."

The sun had set before Hercules and the others returned to Acubus. Calla, Gabrielle, and Granny had a meal waiting for them when they arrived. The group that gathered around the fire near the makeshift camp among the trees was a gloomy one. Hercules still hadn't shaken his moodiness. His sister of the soul couldn't tell if it came from the fact that a man had died at his hand today, or because Makarios had refused to listen to him.

"So," Granny asked of the hunter, "what do we do now?"

"We wait, at least for the moment. Somehow we need to get the girl from Pothose. Maybe a good time to try would be when the two armies go at each other."

"You really think it will come to that?"

"I'm afraid we all do."

"Will the girl still be alive by then?"

The demigod let his breath out in a sigh. "Despite what Pothose threatened, I don't believe he plans to kill the girl. Sira has touched his mind and she thinks it was just a bluff. Reis will do what he can to protect her. He gave his word, and it's a sure bet he'll die before he'll break it."

"Is Makarios going to get that ship full of supplies?"

"Not if we can help it."

"Well, me and some of the others talked it over a bit. We've started fishing more and Hector went hunting today. We'll get by. A whole fleet of supply ships aren't worth even one life."

"Maybe you're right. We'll see." The son of Zeus sat moodily near the fire for a time, then without a word he rose and left the encampment.

The healer, sitting next to the hunter, her hand in his, brought his hand to her lips and kissed the palm. "I will be back." She rose and the hunter rose with her. He pulled her into his arms.

"He's hurting, isn't he?"

"Yes. He takes death so personally."

"Well, be careful out there."

She nodded and followed her brother of the soul into the night. She found him by the river, his back leaning against a large boulder, one foot braced against the rock. He had felt, rather than heard her approach, and turned to greet her.

She met his earnest look with sympathy and he pulled her into his arms. She went willingly and rested her cheek against his jerkin.

"I am sorry you hurt, my brother. The pain does ease in time."

"Is this where you tell me it wasn't my fault that a man died, and tell me to put it behind me?"

"No. I know how impossible that would be. It was not your fault. But I understand your feelings. I say only that it will ease in time."

"I know. It's just that his death was so pointless."

"I suppose you could think of it that way. Then again, you were protecting so much. The village, the others with you today. A little girl being held out there somewhere. You are a healer, my brother. You were put on the earth for a very special reason. The earth works through you in wondrous ways."

She could sense his skepticism and continued. "A few short years ago, I would have said that anyone could be a warrior. Now I see that is not so. I thought that it only took practice. But I know better now. There must be something there to begin with. Your mother gave you strength of mind and spirit, your father gave you physical strength. From them you have wisdom, courage, and a deep compassion for all things. You have their quick mind and reflexes. These things make it possible for you to be a warrior, and the compassion makes it possible for you to be a healer. Sometimes to protect and heal the innocent, a life must be sacrificed. You cannot take up the weapons of war then expect to avoid the natural consequences of doing so."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I never thought I had gained anything from Zeus besides my physical strength."

"Ah, but you have. Your father has a very deep compassion for the mortals who inhabit this plane. He has sacrificed much to protect them from the other gods."

"What? What has he given up?"

"The love of his half mortal son for one thing." The big man stiffened but the healer continued. "He walks a thin line between protecting the earth from the other gods and keeping them in line, and losing the battle and leaving all mortals unprotected. He has used his power to kill those who threaten him, because if he does not, he may fall prey to them and then who would save the earth? He has risked much to insure the balance. And he has given the world a champion. You, my brother, have a destiny to fulfill. And in doing so there will be times when lives must end in the interest of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Your father learned this a very long time ago. Still, like you, he does not find it an easy thing.

"Do not get me wrong. The gods of Olympus are not my gods. Your earth goddess, Demeter, is not the earth goddess I worship, although sometimes the yosemin earth goddess is referred to as Demeter. My goddess is the earth herself. So many do not see the part the earth plays in our existence, but like the gods of Olympus they do play a part. Even the evil ones. And you, my more than brother, play an important part on this mortal plane as well."

He shook his head. "Why must life be so complicated?"

She chuckled. "You could ease the complication of your own life. You could become a farmer, tilling the soil on a farm near your mother. But you are no more cut out for that life than Iolaus or myself. The real truth is, you thrive on the complications that your life weaves for you."

"Maybe the world would be better off without the gods."
"No, my brother. Think where we would be with nothing or no one to look up to and answer to. What point would there be in living without the expectation of a superior being to live up to?"

His arms tightened around her. "Okay, then how about just eliminating the evil gods?"

"I think perhaps they have their usefulness as well. Remember, there must be a balance."

"How is it, you can always make me feel better about things? You've eased my mind about the death of that man. You've given me a new way of thinking about my father. Since meeting you, I've found a peace of sorts with the death of my family and of Serena."

"It is the tie of soul, my brother." She turned her face up to him and he brushed her lips with a kiss. There was nothing of lust in the kiss. She ran a finger over his lips and he closed his eyes for a moment.

"I love you, Sira."

"I love you also." She could feel his guilt because of his feelings for her. "It is not necessary to feel guilt that you care for me. Our souls, our hearts, and our minds have blended in a deep and lasting way. What you are feeling for me is not lustful. The earth has given this to us for a reason."

"I wonder if I'll ever be able to accept that?"

"I hope so. Because I need you as much as you need me. The day that I felt Iolaus' mind on mine changed my life. It brought me a soul mate. But more than that, it brought me a new life, a new understanding of the earth and the roll she has set for me. It also brought you to me."

"And that's a good thing?"

"Yes, my brother of the soul, it is a very good thing."

"If we could bottle your power to ease a wounded soul, we'd be rich."

"Well, do not tell Salmoneus about it or he will try and find a way to do just that."

The big man chuckled. The healer rose up on her tip toes. With a gentle hand in his hair she pulled his face down to hers and kissed his lips. For a moment he responded, then reluctantly he pulled away.

His voice was filled with wonder. "Is it like that for Iolaus? The blending of the soul..?" He stopped abruptly. "I'm sorry. That's none of my business. Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive. To answer your question, yes, it is like that for both of us."

"He's a very lucky man." His words were whispered.

"I believe it is I who is lucky."

He took her hand and they started back to the village. He was a little apprehensive about what his friend might think. He and Sira had been alone in the dark for some time.

They stepped into the firelight and the hunter jumped to his feet. He offered his arm to the demigod, who took it in a firm warrior's grasp. They looked each other in the eye a moment. The big man could feel the comfort the friend of his childhood, and more than friend of his adulthood offered.

The son of Zeus nodded. "Thank you, my friend."

"You know I'm here for you, Herc."

"You always have been."

He stood before her, his hand held out to beseech her to come to him. She felt tenderness build inside her. The emotions that ebbed around her left little doubt in her mind that despite his evil, he also knew pain and loneliness; a lost child who cried out for understanding and love.

She reached out to him. The need to ease his pain was great. He took her hand and led her from the camp and out toward the river. The moon shed a silver brilliance over the land and washed the healer's hair to white. The long flowing gown she wore swirled in the breeze. He left her for a moment to stand and watch her in the moonlight. The light seemed to shimmer around her and glow on her skin.

"You are beautiful," he whispered. Once again he took her hand and led her even further from the camp. She felt as if she were falling for a moment then she stood before a door. The moon was gone and the night was dark and cold. She shivered and he put his arm around her. His physical strength seemed to overwhelm her and draw strength from her and she shivered again. With a wave of his hand the door opened and he pulled her behind him. Candlelight flickered at the end of a stone tunnel and she longed to embrace it. She stepped out of the tunnel into a large room lit with hundreds of candles that filled the air with a smoky haze and dulled the edges of the room. To her right, two magnificent swords were crossed to hang in a prominent place on the wall. In front of her, on a low platform sat a huge black throne studded with silver and padded in black leather.

To her left, a suit of armor stood alone as if worn by someone she couldn't see, and beside it sat a throne made entirely of human skulls. Now the dress she wore was black. It made her fair skin and light hair seem even paler. Her features looked almost ashen in the smoky light. Now she sat on a throne beside him, the throne of skulls. The bones were cold and clammy beneath her hand and she shivered again.

Before her, suspended in waving lights of white and yellow were the ones she loved the most. Her mate of the soul and the half human man she loved more than a brother. Her son and the grandmother she had lost to evil, her father of the soul, Alcmene, Jason, Calla, Gabrielle, and Elias, they were all there and they called to her to help them. She cried out and grabbed the arm of the black clad figure that sat on his throne beside her.

"Stop their pain!" she demanded. But he only laughed. The sound filled the chamber and bounded back from the walls to fill her ears.

"Save them, Ares, please. If you care at all for me, save them."

"Only you can save them, little one. Only you."

"What must I do?"

"Embrace the dark forces that call to you. Turn your powers to me and aid me in my plan."

"No!" she screamed. "No! I will never do that. They would be lost to me then, as surely as they are lost to me now. My powers were given to me for good, not evil. If I lose sight of that, then I too will be lost."

"No!" she screamed. The hunter took her in his arms and rocked her like a baby. "It's just a dream, Sira. Wake up, my love."

She drew in a quick breath as if she were drowning and clung to him. "Do not leave me, Iolaus."

"I'm not going anywhere. You'll be all right. I have you."

Ares removed the sword from the wall and balanced it in his hand. He felt drained. It had taken much strength to plant the dream in the empath's mind. Anger washed over him. It was a stupid idea anyway, he told himself. And what's more, it was a bloody waste of time. I wouldn't have believed she could be so strong. Seeing her reaction to her son's death on the field of battle, she seemed so vulnerable. But her strength runs deeper than I bargained for. How had she, even in sleep, seen the deeper emotions that haunt and weaken me? But then without them she never would have gone on this little trip of the mind. Still, how is it she feels my pain and makes me feel it as well?

He shook his head. Yes, this was ill conceived. You mustn't try to play mind games with her. She sees too much of what lies beneath the surface.

He closed his eyes, and just for a moment he let himself remember what it had felt like to feel her love and comfort enfold him. Then with resolve he thrust the thoughts from his mind.

Sira sat at the fire. She hadn't slept well and the cold of the night seemed to possess her. She was so seldom cold, and seldom wore protection from it. Now, however, she couldn't seem to get warm. She sipped a mug of Tassis tea and felt the warmth of the liquid seep in to chase the cold from her. The warrior princess joined her by the fire. She had done her time on guard duty and looked forward to her blankets. The healer handed her a mug of tea.

"Thanks. You feeling better?"

"Yes. It was only a dream. I have them sometimes when my mind is involved with something."

"Want to talk about it?"

"There is nothing to talk about. I am fine, really."

"Yeah, right. I can see the dark circles under your eyes, and I've noticed you're not eating well either."

The healer let her breath out in a sigh. "Xena, have you ever been afraid? I mean really afraid? Not so much for yourself, but for someone else?"

The warrior princess didn't answer immediately. Her mind was lost in thought. "Yeah, I guess I have been."

The healer sensed what the dark beauty was thinking. She felt the other girl's fear as she remembered the time Gabrielle had died in the Thessalean healing temple.

"I sense that you fear something else as well," the yosemin stated. "I have the same fear."

"What fear would that be?"

"The fear of being left alone."

The warrior threw the last of her tea on the fire, and without a word she went to her bed. Damn her anyway. She always knows what I'm thinking. But it was an effective way of changing the subject. I still don't know what's bothering her. Have I ever been really afraid of anything? What an odd question. The warrior drifted to sleep.

Sira and Gabrielle took their washing to the river. The day was pleasant despite the cold beginning. When the clothing was done Sira suggested they swim in the river.

"It's too cold," the bard objected.

"No, it is not. Come with me and you will see." She pulled her top off and unlaced her trousers. "Are you coming?"

The bard shrugged and began to remove her boots. Sira waded into the water. It felt cool and refreshing and raised goose flesh on her arms and legs. She closed her eyes and let the pleasure of the liquid earth calm and comfort her. She turned as Gabrielle entered the water.

"You've got to be kidding. This must be straight off the snow."

"Take my hand and I will take some of the cold from you."

The bard frowned but did as she was told. The yosemin closed her eyes again and pulled the bard's mind to hers. "Calm your mind, Gabrielle. Let the feeling of cold wash away from you as the current flows past your body." Sira led her further into the water. "See? It is not so bad now."

"You're right. In fact, it feels nice. Think we could wash our hair?"

"I will help you first if you will help me."

"Deal." The storyteller waded to the shore and returned with a gourd and some soap.

Elias was returning from an unsuccessful hunting trip. He heard the girls' voices and went to check on them. He stopped short. He was concealed behind some brush and the bard hadn't heard his approach.

The young man saw Gabrielle leave the water. He drew in a quick breath. He looked to the water and saw Sira standing there to receive the things the bard had left the water for. He swallowed, swallowed again, then turned and stumbled from the river. He didn't return to camp, however. He needed a few minutes alone to clear his head. He knew his face was red and flushed. "They're so beautiful," he whispered. "I think I've just seen a vision of the Elysian fields."

The bard stayed low in the water so that the healer could reach her hair. "It's nice to finally find someone who's shorter than I am." The healer chuckled then set about washing the strawberry blond strands. When she was satisfied her friend's hair was clean, she rinsed it thoroughly. When it was her turn she ducked under the water to wet her hair.

The bard lathered her hands then ran them through the healer's pale mane. "You have such beautiful hair. It's like gold and silver mixed together. You've never cut your hair, have you?"

"Actually, I have several times. It would be longer than I am tall if I did not. Yosemin live longer than humans. I have been on the earth for over eighty years."

The bard gasped. "Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Well, so you're shorter and older. How about that?"

Sira splashed water at the bard and the girl returned the favor. They laughed and played in the water and the healer forgot for a time, her fear and apprehension.

The empath spent the rest of the day with Calla and Little Sira. The men were hunting or fishing. Food would soon be in short supply, and everyone did their parts to stretch what supplies were available. Sira showed Calla several plants that could be gleaned from nature to help the village with their need for food.

The yosemin healer cooked fish over a fire on a spit and served it with roots she had gathered and cooked in the coals. The day had been quiet and peaceful. No one was fooled, however. They knew without question that trouble was ahead of them.

Elias made a point of sitting next to Gabrielle to eat his meal. He'd stayed close to her most of the day and the blond found she rather liked the attentions of the tall muscular blacksmith. When the evening meal was complete he asked the bard if she would walk with him by the river.

"I would love to, Elias." They left the camp and were lost to sight in the darkness. Elias reached for the bard's hand and she gave it willingly. She decided it was rather nice to walk in the moonlight with an agreeable young man.

They stopped near the river and the bard turned to look out over the water. The moon shown on the surface in a ripple of silver.

"Isn't it beautiful?" the girl exclaimed.

"Yes, it most certainly is."

The blond turned at something in the young man's voice and found he was watching her, not the water. She blushed. "I meant the moonlight on the water, silly, not me." She turned back to the water. "See?" she pointed. He stood behind her and put his arms around her. She leaned back into him and rested her head against his broad chest.

"You're right, it is beautiful."

"Me? Or the water?" she teased.

"Both." He kissed the top of her head. "Your hair smells like roses."

"It's some soap I borrowed from Granny."

"I like it. The smell suits you. Both you and the flower are sweet and delicate. I've always loved the smell of roses. Someday, I'd like to have a cottage with roses in the front yard."

"A cottage all white and shiny," the bard added, "with a porch around the front and a white fence around the front yard."

"And lots and lots of roses."

"Maybe a tall shade tree with a bench beneath it."

"Yellow climbing roses will grow up the porch poles and across the roof."

"And a rocking chair with colorful cushions waits for someone to use it."

"There are creamy lace curtains at the windows."

"And," the girl whispered, "the sound of children playing."

He turned her around and took her lips in a light kiss. He made no demands on her, afraid he would frighten her away. She parted her lips and invited his tongue to enter. She wound her hands in his dark brown hair and pulled his lips tighter against hers.

He pulled away. He couldn't seem to catch his breath. "Gabrielle?"

She pulled him back to her and kissed him. Her kiss was demanding and urgent, and this time she pulled back from him.

"You're too good a kisser by far," she panted. "Maybe we'd better head back to camp."

He nodded but made no move to leave the river and the spell it had cast on them. Almost without meaning to, he kissed her again. He drank in the scent of roses. He felt the warmth of her body pressed tightly against his, and he remembered how she had looked standing naked on the riverbank.

He stepped back. "Wait, Gabrielle. You're right. We should get back. If we don't stop now I'll never be able to control myself." The girl let out a sigh of exasperation and followed it with a reluctant nod. She reached for his hand and they turned to walk back to camp. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I'll never think of roses in quite the same way again."

The morning was cold. A thick fog lay on the land and softened the day to a hazy gray. The men met at the makeshift camp in the grove of trees behind Granny's place. They planned to spend the day hunting and gathering wood.

The demigod finished his mug of tea and stood. "I think we should break up into groups of two or three. Pothose hasn't taken us up on our offer of food and he must be getting desperate. It would be safer to stay put here in the village, but I've been thinking that Granny's right. The supply ship isn't worth risking our lives for. Let them fight over it, and when this business is done I'll go over the mountain myself for supplies."

The hunter and the demigod headed to the hidden grove of trees where they had spent so many hours helping the people of the village learn how to defend themselves against tyranny.**

(As Told In "Acubus", The Second Adventure In The Empath Chronicles)

They found a place to conceal themselves that gave them a clear view of the meadow. Fog rolled in slow swirls along the ground and tore itself to ragged shreds of lacy gauze among the trees. It clung to the branches like the tattered sails of a ghostly ship, the black spars lost above in the mists that rose from a spectral sea.

The damp chill seemed to cling to their skin to rob the men of comfort. Rather than thin with the warmth of the sun, the fog seemed to thicken. The hunters had all but given up hope when the chance came to use their skill. The stag was large and would help supply the village with needed meat.

The hunter knelt beside the deer and gave the yosemin prayer of thanks to the earth for her abundance as he cut the animal's throat to bleed it.

"You always give a prayer of thanks now, don't you?"

The hunter looked up to smile at his half god friend. "Yeah, I guess I do. It seems to me that my hunting is better when I bring the earth into it."

The demigod shivered. "I wish you'd done that sooner. I'm ready for a warm fire and a hot mug of Tassis tea."

"And maybe a certain black haired wench to serve the tea and offer herself as a blanket?"

His friend grinned. "Now that sounds like a pleasant way to spend a cold foggy day."

They tied the deer to a pole, and carrying it between them they started back to Acubus. The son of Zeus felt his sister of the soul touch his mind and he opened it to her.

"Someone's approaching Acubus. Sira feel's it. Come on, let's hurry."

"They're all right, aren't they?"

"Yes, but I still want to be there when whoever it is arrives."

Pothose and four of his men rode slowly over a low ridge and approached the village of Acubus. They entered the far end of the street, and dismounting, the men led their horses forward. Hercules and Iolaus met them near the village's central well.

"Welcome, Pothose." The demigod recognized Reis but none of the others. "I assume this is a peaceful visit?"

"We've come to purchase supplies. My men are starving."

"We're short here ourselves but we'll sell you what we can."

The mercenary nodded. "I'd be grateful for whatever you can spare."

The big man studied him for a moment through narrowed eyes. Pothose had changed in the couple of days since he'd seen him last. He looked old and tired. Dark smudges shadowed his eyes and he looked as if he hadn't been eating or sleeping well.

"We've got some food and drink ready. Will you and your men join us?"

"Thank you. We'd be grateful."

The demigod led them to the fire and the healer poured them steaming mugs of tea. "Welcome."

Pothose took the offered mug and cupped it in his cold hands. "Thank you, miss."

"If you will sit I will bring you some food."

"I don't mean to take your food. I'll pass, but if you could spare some for my men I'd appreciate it."

"There is plenty of meat, and the earth will provide more when we need it. I insist you eat. I am very hungry, but it would be rude of me as a host to eat when a guest does not."

"In that case, I will eat. I wouldn't want to deprive such a gracious host her morning meal."

Gabrielle helped to serve. When everyone had food the healer took a plate of meat and bread and sat down near the warlord.

"Forgive me for saying so, but you do not look well, my friend."

The outlaw took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Running a diamond mine isn't as easy as it looks."

"Neca is well, I hope?"

"Yes. I wouldn't harm her."

"But she is frightened, and that bothers you."

"Yes. I never should have taken her in the first place. I was a fool."

"Bring her here to the village. We will see that she is returned to her mother." He said nothing. "Your sleep is invaded with dark dreams?"

"How in Tartarus do you know that?" She only shrugged. Hercules and Xena were listening closely to the conversation between the healer and the warlord. "I lost a sister once." He shrugged. "Neca reminds me of her somehow."

"This brings the pain and loneliness of her loss back to you?"

"Yeah, I guess that's what it is." He sighed. "I know this sounds ludicrous, but sometimes it almost feels like someone is planting the thoughts in my head."

The healer looked innocent and the demigod narrowed his eyes at her. She refused to look at him. He looked up at the warrior princess and the dark haired girl shrugged.

The outlaw set his plate aside. "The food was very good. Thank you." He stood. "I guess we should get those supplies now."

The horses were loaded with the food the villagers had sold to the mercenary. He walked back to his horse and the demigod followed him.

"I want that girl left unharmed, Pothose. If something happens to her you'll answer to me."

"I'm not an animal, Hercules. I have no intention of harming her. It was a hollow threat from the start."

"Bring her to the village."

"You know damn well I can't do that. Reis is taking good care of her."

"What about when the lid blows off this thing? And you know damn well it will."

The warlord had started to mount his horse, but he turned back to the demigod instead. He ran a hand through his white hair then nodded. "All right, I give you my word that if trouble starts I'll get the girl out of there. I'll see she gets safely away."

The big man nodded and thrust out his hand to the outlaw. "I'll take your word."

The other man took the offered arm in a warrior's grasp. "Thanks for the food." With that he mounted his horse and rode from the village.

The hunter and the demigod stood watching them as they rode away. The hunter scratched his neck. "Reis says Makarios has sent some men over the mountain to get supplies. Pothose is planning to ambush them when they return."

"That will start a full scale war," Xena added.

"Not necessarily. Makarios wouldn't take a chance on bringing harm to his daughter."

"This whole bloody thing stinks." The dark girl stormed away.

Hercules turned to his friend. "So much for getting her to serve me tea."

The hunter chuckled. "Did you hear that conversation between Pothose and Sira?"

"I heard it."

"You don't suppose that little minx has been manipulating that poor man's mind, do you?"

"I have a strong suspicion that is exactly what she's been up to."

The hunter laughed. "She never ceases to amaze me."

"Nor me."

"I guess we go hunting again tomorrow."

The demigod nodded. "This time I'm bringing my cloak and you're praying to the earth first."

"Maybe we should just bring the women with us."

"I wonder how much hunting would get done if we did."

Iolaus let his breath out in an exaggerated sigh. "You have a point."

The god of war paced his temple. Things were not progressing as well as he had hoped. "Every damned one of them has settled in as if they plan to spend the winter." He kicked a cushion that rested on the floor near the platform where his throne stood. "Well," he whispered to himself, "maybe it's time for a little intervention." He threw his head back and laughed. "I'll just stir the pot a little and see if I can speed up the cooking." He laughed again. "You're just too clever, Ares. Now, how do we get this thing on a roll?"

Elias and Gabrielle walked in the moonlight once again. A slight breeze had sprung up in the afternoon to chase away the fog, and the night was clear and cold. Elias walked with his arm around the bard's cloak covered shoulders.

"Are you warm enough?"

"With you here, I am."

"It's funny how good company keeps the cold away, isn't it?"

"No. People give off a warmth of their own."

He stopped walking and turned her to face him. "Want to share my warmth?"

"Yes." They kissed and the kiss lasted a long time. This time their kisses and caresses stayed gentle and soothing. The ardor of the night before was gone. The bard decided she liked this better. They didn't stay gone long. The cold drove them back to camp.

The healer and the hunter found a place of their own to be alone. The healer took the cold from the night for the hunter and they stayed away until almost dawn. When they returned to camp Xena was at the fire. The healer went right to her blankets but the hunter accepted a mug of tea.

"You going to serve a turn at guard duty tonight?"

The hunter grinned at the warrior princess. "Not tonight. I haven't had any sleep yet."

"Humph. Whose fault is that?"

"Mine."

"You should have gone to bed instead of playing footsie with Sira all night."

"I assure you, we were not playing footsie."

The dark haired girl looked uncomfortable and the hunter laughed. "Hector is taking my turn. I made arrangements before I�" He chuckled again, "played footsie."

Despite her late night the healer rose early. She stirred up the fire then made a trip to the woods. Frost crunched beneath her bare feet. She blew her breath out to see the white cloud. The sun turned the frost to millions of tiny stars around her and she opened her heart to the beauty. It looked as if the stars had fallen from the sky in the night to shower the earth with their brilliance. She found a place of concealment in the brush. She shivered with delight when a cold drop of melting frost rolled down her neck and on down the front of her shirt. A bird sang in a tree nearby, seemingly undisturbed by the cold. The sound added to the tranquillity the healer felt seep over her as she opened her heart and soul to her mother, the earth.

When she returned to the camp Gabrielle greeted her. "How can you walk on frozen ground with bare feet?"

The healer hugged her. "I am of the earth. I just do not feel the cold as you do." The empath looked innocent. "So how was your walk?"

The girl looked dreamy for a moment. "He's a wonderful man. I really like him. And he seems to respect me. He hasn't made any demands on me. In fact, he's been the perfect gentleman. Maybe too much of a gentleman? He stops us before things really get interesting."

The healer laughed. "I am glad you like him. But you owe him an explanation."

"What do you mean?"

"He is looking for something more than a walk in the moonlight." The bard blushed. "I do not mean that either. He is a gentleman. I meant a home and a wife."

"A white cottage," the bard whispered, "with roses and children." She turned to the healer. "I guess I haven't been very fair to him, have I?"

"There is time yet. His heart will ache for a time, but the wound will not be so deep that it will not heal."

"Why can't anything ever be simple?" The yosemin didn't answer. "Tonight. I'll be honest with him tonight."

"Good. I knew you would do the right thing."

"You're sure this hasn't gone too far?"
"He cares very much for you. But the love is not all consuming, yet. He will hurt, but he will heal."

"I wonder if I will?"

The men left the camp to hunt. Xena still slept. Gabrielle heated a tub of water and announced her intention of bathing near the river.

Sira looked up from the root she was peeling. "Wait until I finish and I will come with you."

The bard grabbed her staff. "I'll be fine."

Little Sira begged for a taste of the white insides of the root and the empath cut a small piece for her. When she looked up Gabrielle was walking away. "Be careful, my friend," Sira called to her. A sense of foreboding crept over the healer and she shivered.

Pothose stood motionless watching the god of war pace before him. "Makarios is on the move as we speak. He is coming here to take the mine from you."

"What would you have me do, Lord Ares?"

"You could ride out to stop him."

"The odds are a little uneven, don't you think?"

"Some of his men are gone. They went for supplies. Besides, you have me backing you. How can you lose?"

"I want the little girl out of this. I don't want her hurt."

"I don't give a damn about the girl. Do whatever you like with her. I only led you to her to help hold Makarios off." He stopped pacing and turned to face the outlaw. "Are you going out there to meet him or not?"

"We'll ride."

"Good. Good."

"Look, Makarios. Your daughter is in Acubus as we speak. She's under the care of Hercules. I saw to that. Now you must do me a favor. Pothose is on his way here to eliminate you once and for all. You must see that doesn't happen. I want that diamond mine. You and I will work very well together."

"I'll wipe the damn valley up with his pasty hide. No one harms my family."

"Good, then you will ride after him?"

"Yes, Lord Ares."

"Reis." Pothose motioned for him. "We're going after Makarios. There's no way of knowing the outcome of this. I want you to take the girl to the village. Make sure she's safe." He turned to his other men. "Get your horses and weapons. We ride to meet Makarios. Hurry, men. He's on his way here as we speak." He turned back to the outlaw at his side and thrust out his arm. "Take care of her and see she gets back to her mother."

"I will do so. You have my word."

"I knew I could count on you. It's been good riding with you, my friend."

The empath's apprehension grew. She had agreed to keep an eye on Little Sira while Calla worked with her sheep. The little girl played quietly on the grass nearby. The scene was one of tranquillity. The yosemin felt anything but tranquil, however. She shot a look at the sleeping warrior. She hated to wake her. The dark beauty had spent a great deal of time guarding the village during the last few nights. Sira had sensed her fatigue. The men were hunting. She looked around her. Granny had gone to pick berries with Hector's wife. Little Sira stood to walk to her namesake and stepped wrong. She cried out and the healer picked her up. She wasn't really hurt, and within moments she had stopped crying. She wrapped her arms around the yosemin's neck and planted a wet kiss on her neck.

The strawberry blond was just finishing lacing her boots. Despite the chill in the air the bard had enjoyed her bath. She had used the rose scented soap from Granny, but the scent had left a bittersweet melancholy mood upon the Amazon queen. She liked Elias. In fact, she admitted, she liked him a lot. Still, Sira was right. Elias deserved the truth. She just wasn't ready to settle down and raise a family. She wasn't ready to leave her life with Xena and become a blacksmith's wife. As if conjured up from her musing, the tall young man burst through a screen of brush. He was out of breath from running, perspiration dripped from his chin.

"Elias, what is it?"

"Gabrielle, thank the gods I found you." He tried to catch his breath. "It's Xena. She's back there," he pointed back the way he had come. "She's hurt bad. Pothose and Makarios are riding to battle and she's stuck in the middle. You've got to help her." He grabbed her arm in a painful grip. "Where are the others?"

"What? Xena is sleeping at camp."

"No. We thought we saw the ship. We went to check it out. We've got to help her. Where's Hercules?" The girl stared at him in silence a moment. He shook her arm. "Where is Hercules!"

"He's hunting. Go find him. I'll help Xena."

"Be careful, Gabrielle."

"Hurry!" The bard picked up her staff and began to run. Elias stood where he was a moment then began to walk slowly away. As he walked, the tall young man disappeared and the god of war walked in his place.

Granny returned to her cottage and the healer carried the sleeping child to her. "Please, will you watch Little Sira for me?"

"What is it, my child?"

"I am not sure. Maybe nothing."

"I'll watch her, but what are you planning to do?"

"Gabrielle is bathing near the river. I just want to check on her."

"Be careful."

Sira laid the little girl on the old woman's bed and planted a light kiss on the chubby cheek. She turned back to the grandmother and placed a kiss on her cheek as well. "I will return as soon as I can."

The healer walked with a purpose as she left the camp. Her anxiety seemed to grow with each step and she began to run. She neared the river and the god of war appeared in the path before her. She stopped abruptly.

"Come to see me?" he purred.

The girl looked around him. "Where is Gabrielle?"

"The irritating blond? Haven't seen her."

Sira started to walk past him and he took her arm to stop her. "Don't run away."

"I need to find Gabrielle."

"Let's talk about us, not some overly chatty, muddle headed twit."

The healer sent her mind to the god of war's. The intrusion was purely mental and yet the force made him take a step back. "Neat trick, little one. So now you know my plan." He laughed. "Kill the bard and Xena will be mine again. She will blame herself and go mad with rage and anger. And that is really quite a beautiful sight. I've seen it. It is truly something to behold." He studied the healer's face a moment. "The two armies are on their way to a battle and our little storyteller is caught right in the middle." He laughed again. "Clever, don't you think?"

"Why would you do this?"

He chuckled and ran a finger along her jaw line. "I'm the god of war. Why wouldn't I do this?"

"Because your heart is not in it."

"I don't have a heart."

"You do, you just do not use it. It is eaten up with bitterness and resentment." There was no cruelty in the girl's words, but rather sympathy.

"I suppose you even know why this is so?" There was the ring of acceptance in his voice. Pain seemed to follow the words that left his mouth and the healer's heart ached.

"I have felt your pain, Ares," she whispered.

"You're a fool. I thought better of you, Sira. I have no pain. Don't waste your time looking for something that isn't there."

"You could still stop this."

"Don't kid yourself. Even if I wanted to, it's gone too far. Besides, Xena must be mine."

"I know that you love her. But to force her to come to you would be a hollow victory indeed. Would it not be better to face loneliness than to have something so meaningless? There are those who care for you. Take comfort from them and wait for real love to come to you."

He grabbed her arms and shook her. "You talk like a fool. I don't give a damn for love. I want her as my champion."

"To harm an innocent like Gabrielle to gain something so meaningless is beneath you, Ares."

"I've done much worse, little one. Much worse."

"Who pays the ultimate price for your deeds?"

"I suppose, if I had a conscience, I would."

She searched his eyes a moment. "You will gain nothing from this Ares."

"Maybe I will. Maybe I'll also have you."

"I will never help you, and your mind is not strong enough to force me to. Despite your godly powers you have no control over me." She had known this moment would come. She had feared it. Now that it was upon her she no longer felt the fear. She knew what he was capable of. That he could and would harm those she loved to further his warped plan, she understood. That he might harm her, she was ready to face. Better that a few suffer, than to release her strength and power to him and allow what had been given to her to heal and help others to be used to harm them. She had won a silent victory here in the clearing near the river. She gave herself and her power to the earth, and faced the prospect of her worst fears becoming reality with acceptance and courage.

Ares narrowed his eyes at her. He sensed a change in the girl who stood before him. He felt pride in her quiet stance against him. "Think about what you may be giving up."

"Are you referring to you? You do not want me. Not really. You love Xena, but you cannot have her either. She will never come to you. That Xena is gone, Ares. Your half brother, the one you have used and hated, the one you have stolen so much from, the one you think the weaker of you two, he has done something you could not. He has changed a life forever. Such a profound change that it will never again be as it once was."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because Xena was never what you thought she was. She was never really an evil person. She has done great evil in her time. But that was not the real Xena. It was hate and fear and loneliness that perpetrated the evil, and even then she felt remorse. Even when you possessed her she was never really yours."

"You could be wrong," he stated.

"Yes, I could be," she nodded. But there was no subjugation in her words.

"You still haven't told me why I'm the way I am."

"You already know in your heart. Do you really want me to voice it?"

"I told you, I don't have a heart."

"Very well. Your were a lonely little boy, frightened and lost with no one there to comfort you. Your mother was too consumed with hate and jealousy to care for the son she had brought to life. Your father was away seeking earthly pleasures. Your own fear consumed you. You were a god. How could you feel fear? What is more, your mother had decreed you must be the god of war, a title and a responsibility you never really wanted."

He laughed but the healer continued. "No one must know your fear. No one must know your pain. To feel is a weakness, a flaw where none should be. So you turned the fear inside and let it control you. You had no choice but to let the pain eat away at you. Your mother was very clever really. Make a child with strong feelings and emotions. Plant fear and anger deep in his soul, then leave it to fester and form into hate."

The god of war was no longer laughing.

"You must hide the side of you that showed the flaw. At all costs it must be kept a secret. But it is too late for that now. Your secret is out. I know the real you, and soon others will also."

"No!" He grabbed her arms in a painful grip. "No. You're wrong. You think you're so clever, but you're wrong this time."

"Am I?"

He took a deep breath to calm himself. "You tell a good story, I'll give you that."

"The story comes from the heart you profess not to have."

She closed her eyes and sent her mind to the warrior princess. Too much time had passed. Gabrielle might already be in grave danger. Sira wished to go after her. The need to save her friend burned deep in her soul. But she must first battle against this god or her life and the lives of those she loved would never be safe.

She shut the god from her mind for a moment and concentrated her thoughts in a powerful blast of thought. She felt the warrior respond and took a moment to make her need clear. The warrior's mind was strong and directed. The message was passed from one mind to another and Sira felt relief flood over her.

Ares shook her. "What are you doing?" The girl opened her eyes but she said nothing. He shook her again. "What did you do?" Still she didn't answer. "Don't fight me, Sira. You will lose. You have too much you hold dear."

She took a deep breath. "You can hurt me, Ares, but you still will not win. Better to die, or for those I love to die, than to allow your hate to turn me to evil."

"Death is one thing, pain and torture are another."

"I am prepared to face that."

"And your son? What of his suffering?"

"He is the son of the earth. She will protect him. He will not suffer, but I think perhaps you might if you insist on this course of action."

"How," he chuckled, "do you figure that?"

"It will hurt you to harm my son and it will hurt you to cause me such pain."

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I want you with me, little one. Your strength invigorates me." He kissed her again.

She sent her mind to her brother of the soul. They must have a chance to save Gabrielle, and hopefully stop a war that neither side could win. She sensed the little girl Neca and knew that she was safe. She sent a prayer to the earth for that and strengthened her mind's touch on the demigod. She sent her mind to her mate of the soul and searched for Elias as well. I must buy them some time.

The demigod and the hunter topped a hill and looked down into the valley. "By the gods," the hunter whispered.

They could see both armies rushing toward each other. There wasn't much time. They grew closer by the minute. The son of Zeus grabbed at the hunter as his mind was met with a blast of thought. He felt light headed for a moment.

"The girls are in trouble. Let's go."

"There." The hunter pointed to where Gabrielle walked along a low ridge looking for Xena.

"She's right in the middle." The big man turned anguish eyes to his friend. They began to run.

Xena came over the ridge following the direction she felt from the healer. "No!" She shouted the word. She took in the advancing armies and the girl she loved more than a sister. "Gabrielle!" She was too far away to be heard, and yet the bard looked up. She saw the two groups of men bearing down on her and went white with shock. She stood staring at first one group then the other for a moment then ducked into a small hollow in the ground. Xena ran forward.

The god of war pulled Sira up against him and took her lips again. She let his tongue part them and touched his tongue with hers. He pulled back and took a deep breath. She could see his eyes turn darker with passion as he kissed her again. She wound her hand through his hair and kissed him back. She felt his loneliness wash over her and tenderness filled her heart. Ever the healer, she sent her mind to comfort him and he responded to her offer of love and sympathy. His kiss deepened and she responded. Her hand slipped down to his chest and touched the bristly hair that grew so dark on his warm skin. The need to help him with his pain and anger was strong in her and she allowed herself to become entranced by her need to heal. He cupped her breast through her top. A slight moan escaped her lips.

He pulled violently away from her. He grabbed her arms once more. "What have you done? Damn it! Answer me!"

"Xena is down there now, Ares. She is trying to save Gabrielle. She is in danger now. Stop this before it is too late."

"Damn you. It's already too late. She'll be killed. You did this?"

The warrior princess ran to Gabrielle and jerked her to her feet. "Run, Gabrielle. Go for help."

"I can't leave you."

"Go, damn it. I'll keep them off your back. Go! Now!"

Ares raised his hand to slap the child of the earth. She stood poised, waiting for the blow. He narrowed his eyes at her then lowered his hand. He wanted to kiss her again, not hit her. She had played her hand well and he knew she had won this round. Rather than being angered by the fact, he felt invigorated. She is truly worthy of me, he decided. He stepped back and disappeared.

Sira stood looking at the place where he had stood moments ago, then she turned and ran.

She reached the edge of the ridge. She grabbed Gabrielle as the frightened girl was climbing up the trail.

"Sira, we have to find help for Xena!" cried the breathless bard.

Sira looked down from the ridge and sent her mind to muddle the minds of those closest to the warrior. The faint sound of swords clashing and shouts could be heard even from where she stood. Gabrielle turned to look back and cried out as she saw the arrow embed itself in the warrior's thigh.

The dark girl fell to one knee and slashed up with her sword to block a blow designed to remove her head from the rest of her.

Sira strengthened her mind and made a small clearing around the fallen warrior. Gabrielle started to run forward but the healer stopped her. "Help me, Gabrielle. Open your mind to mine and lend me strength."

"I've got to get to her."

"Wait. Look." Sira pointed to the scene below them.

Ares now stood over Xena, defending her with his sword. "Xena, are you all right?" The god's face was pale, and the warrior saw a look of concern and compassion on his dark features that surprised her.

"Behind you!"

He turned at her cry and severed a man's head from his body with a powerful blow.

Hercules and Iolaus were fighting their way forward.

Sira shook Gabrielle. "Help me, damn it. Open your mind and concentrate." The healer lowered another barrier on her mind and strengthened her mind's blast on those who fought below. The hunter made it first and took the god of war's back.

Ares bent and gently took the warrior in his arms and rose. The demigod used his powerful fist to stop a man. Ares looked his brother in the eyes. "Take her," he demanded. "Get her out of here."

The demigod studied the god's eyes a moment, then with a backward punch over his shoulder he stopped a man approaching from behind. The big man read worry and concern on his brother's features. The god looked down at the woman he held and Hercules saw tenderness plainly written on the god's face.

"What are you up to, Ares?"

"I'm trying to save her, damn it. Now get her out of here. Find Sira. Go now." He shoved the girl into his brother's arms and thrust his sword back and up to slice a man through. The god turned an anguished face to the half god he had always hated. His eyes pleaded with the brother he had never gotten to know. "Take care of her," he whispered. The demigod looked into his eyes and nodded.

Ares turned to the hunter. "Iolaus, go with him. Help him get her to Sira."

The hunter slashed with his sword and his opponent stared at him with a shocked look of disbelief on his face, then he crumbled to the grass at the hunter's feet.

The god of war threw out his arm. A flash of light hit two men behind the golden one and they screamed. "Hurry, get to safety. Sira would never forgive me if you got hurt."

The demigod kicked at a man and felt the man's knee shatter beneath the blow.

Sira called upon the earth to aid her in her battle to hold back the men who blocked her more than brother's way to safety. The half man, half god saw an opening and moved forward. The hunter moved ahead of him and used his sword to advantage.

The healer lowered yet another barrier on her mind, and grabbing the bard's hand she ran forward. She looked up to see Makarios fall beneath a horse. He started to rise, but too late. A club came down on his head and the healer looked away. The blood and gore sent a shaft of nausea through her. She knew without question the warlord was dead. A man can't live with his brains splattered all over the winter grass.

Hercules kicked at another man and the hunter brought his sword hilt up against an unprotected chin. Then the demigod broke free and ran forward.

Sira rushed to him and placed her hands on the warrior. "She is fading fast. Hurry." She kept her hands on the dark haired girl and ran beside her brother of the soul.

"We have to get further from the battlefield!" the big man shouted. He continued up the ridge until he found a jumble of rocks and brush where he lowered the warrior to the ground. Sira touched the wounded girl's mind and found it muddled. She turned back to the field of battle to see if Ares was all right, but he was gone.

Iolaus saw the look. "He used his godly powers and vanished." She nodded and turned back to the warrior.

The arrow had gone through her thigh and nicked an artery on its destructive path through flesh and bone. Hercules kept his hands on the girl and moved to her head. He cradled the warrior's head in his lap and soothed the hair from her flushed face.

"We have got to stop the bleeding." Sira took some of the pain to herself. "Iolaus, break the arrow off so we can get it out." She grabbed the bard's hand and placed her first two fingers on the warrior's leg. "Press hard right here. You have to squeeze the vein against the bone beneath. Iolaus, break off the arrow. She is bleeding to death. Hurry." She drew even more of the pain to herself.

The hunter broke the arrow and both girls cried out. "Pull the arrow out, my love." Her voice was filled with pain. Without anchoring herself or leading the warrior to the earth, the healer transferred. To do so was very dangerous for her, but she felt her friend's life force slipping away.

The hunter pulled the arrow from the warrior's leg and the healer screamed. Blood welled out to cover the healer's hands. She called upon the earth to help her and pushed her finger into the open wound on the girl's leg. She sent the healing light down her hand and through her finger to the vein and willed it to seal. She swayed beside the dark beauty. Her chant came on a wave of pain filled breathlessness. The bleeding began to slow, then to stop.

"Release her now, Gabrielle."

"But it will start bleeding again."

"If we do not start the flow of blood to the rest of the leg she will lose it. Release the pressure slowly."

The bard did as she was instructed. Blood again showed around the healer's fingers but not so much this time. Sira strengthened her mind's hold on the warrior and waited.

Iolaus knelt beside the warrior and placed his hands on her side. After he had removed the arrow from the warrior's leg he had once again taken up his sword and stood ready to defend them. But there had really been no need. With Makarios gone his men began to slip away. No one seemed to notice the battle being fought on the ridge above them. Not a battle of swords, but a battle to save a warrior's life.

The hunter left his place beside the warrior and placed his hand on the healer's leg instead. He had been frightened by the ever widening stain of red that darkened her pant leg.

Gabrielle gasped and the hunter looked at her. "It's all right, Gabrielle." The look the bard turned to him was one of disbelief. She rose, and going to stand beside the hunter she squeezed his shoulder.

Elias and Barnabus came running up to them. The young man took one look at the bard and pulled her into his arms. She leaned into him and clung to him with shaking hands.

"It's all right, little queen. They'll both be all right, I'll wager. Sira saved my life once. She knows what she's doing."

The bard began to cry and he tightened his arms around her. "You have to believe in her. Sira could use your help right now. Besides, I didn't think Amazons cried."

"I'm not an Amazon right now. I'm just Xena's friend and she may die. And now Sira's hurt."

"I have you, little queen. Don't cry."

"She can't leave me, Elias. If she does, I'll never forgive her."

"You won't be alone. I'll be here for you. Besides, she isn't going anywhere."

The warrior held her hand out to the bard. "Gabrielle." The girl sank to her knees beside her friend and took the offered hand. "I'll be fine, Gabrielle."

"Oh, Xena, I thought I'd lost you."

"Come on now. Help Sira. Can't you see she's growing weak? Lend her your strength."

The hunter looked up at the injured girl's voice and studied his wife's face. "Sira." He called to her gently. "Sira," he repeated. He sent his mind to her and slowly she began to respond. After a moment she opened her eyes. They remained unfocused a moment longer. "Sira."

She turned to the man she loved above all others. "We should return to the village. It will freeze tonight."

"Is she going to be all right?"

"The immediate danger has passed. The bleeding has stopped and the wound is not large. If we can keep the infection away she will be survive."

He rose up on his knees and kissed her cheek.

Barnabus spoke for a moment with Elias then headed back to the village. Sira looked out over the grassy field below the ridge. Men walked among the dead and wounded. Sira knew she was too far away to hear the cries of those lying injured and possibly dying, and yet she swore she could hear them. The need to render aid to those in need pulled at her sensitive heart and tugged at her healer's soul. Reluctantly she turned away. She was in transfer with the warrior and the healing had gone too far to turn back now. The dark beauty had lost too much blood. Now her body was left unprotected from infection. She was too weak to fight for herself so the healer must fight for her.

The child of the forest sent a prayer to her mother earth and asked that the men below be blessed by the healing power of the earth. She consoled herself with knowing she had done all she could for them.

"Help me to lay down, my love."

The hunter did as he was asked. The healer couldn't straighten her leg out, and when she tried white hot pain shot through the leg and spread throughout her body. She cried out and lay on her side, shaking with reaction. The stain of blood on her leg began to spread again.

The demigod removed his leather jerkin, then his undershirt. The latter he handed to the hunter. "Make some bandages with this."

The golden one looked up at his friend and the look tore at the half god's heart. "She'll be fine, my friend."

Elias pulled his knife and helped the hunter cut the undershirt into long strips. "Barnabus has gone for a cart and some blankets. He should be back soon. I'm sorry we took so long getting here. We were following along the coast. The supply ship was headed toward the harbor and we wanted to keep an eye on it. We weren't aware that Makarios had pulled his men back to fight with Pothose. We were well out when I felt Sira's mind touch mine."

"It's all right, Elias," the son of Zeus assured him. "There's nothing you could have done. I'm concerned for Makarios' daughter. Maybe you could ride out to the mine and check on her?"

"She is at the village with Reis," the healer assured her brother of the soul. "I have sensed it."

"So, Pothose kept his word. I'm glad."

"He liked the little girl. She reminded him of his younger sister he watched die, while he was still a boy himself."

"And you made sure he didn't forget that fact, didn't you?"

"I did not harm him. I think perhaps he may be a better person for the few days of remembering." Her voice was distant and sleepy.

"You are amazing, my sister of the soul. Now sleep until the cart arrives. I'll continue to heal you both."

"Wake me if there is any change."

"Shhh. Sleep. We'll take care of things for now. You've fought hard, little one. You deserve a rest."

Sira lay on her side, watching the fire built close to the tarp covered shelter in the grove of trees behind Granny's cottage. It was past the waning of the moon, and the predawn sky was a dark sparkling canopy above the earth child's head. She had found the trip back to the village a nightmare. Xena had passed between a pain filled semiconscious state and oblivion. Her body was frighteningly weak and at the moment too depleted to reproduce the life sustaining fluid needed to help build her strength. Sira, on the other hand, was conscious for the trip. She wished she hadn't been. They had rested for a time then the empath had healed again. Soon she must make the effort to once again lead their minds in the trance of a transfer healing. For now, however, it was pleasant to remain still and enjoy the morning yet to come.

She felt her hand tingle where once a god had kissed it and she opened her mind to him. A brief sense of pride and tenderness toward her brushed across her thoughts. Now she felt his concern for the dark beauty he had hoped to turn back to the evil that had once consumed her. The child of the earth assured him she would take good care of the warrior. She sensed his gratitude briefly, then he was gone.

Careful not to move her leg more than she must, she turned over and sat up. The hunter came to her immediately. "All right, love?"

She nodded. "Could I have some water?" He held the water gourd to her lips. She took a long drink. She knew the water would help her body rebuild its blood supply. She hadn't lost as much blood as the warrior and she couldn't pass her own replenished store to the injured girl, but she could keep her own strength up and pass that strength on to her friend.

"Will you hunt today? The red meat of the deer will help our bodies grow stronger."

"I hate to leave you."

"I do not want you away from me either. But I have another favor to ask. Will you make sure the bodies of those men are buried. The thought of them lying there to rot eats away at me."

"The trading is all but finished and the ship is leaving tomorrow. I'll take some of the men from the village with me. I'll make sure the dead are taken care of."

"Thank you. I will rest easier knowing that."

"How about some soup? Granny made it and it's wonderful."

"Yes, please. I am not really hungry but the food will help my body to recover."

He helped her eat then helped her with some personal needs. With a sigh of resignation the healer turned back to the injured girl and sent her mind to seek the healing power of the earth.

The son of Zeus and the hunter walked the field of battle. The bodies were gone, leaving only blood stains to mark where men had fallen. The big man kicked up a chunk of leather strap that had once held armor in place. The villagers had been saved the need of burying the dead by Pothose. The warlord had gathered his men and gone to do the job. Some of Makarios' men had joined them in the task, the anger and animosity gone now with the need to take care of their fallen comrades. A large open pit had been dug and the dead of both armies had gone to the earth lying side by side in the newly turned soil. The scattered bits of equipment left when the battle was over had also been removed.

The big man looked up to search the sky. It was dark with heavy rain clouds. If they delivered their promised moisture, soon even the blood stains would be gone from the dry winter grass that moved in ripples of wind like waves on the sea.

Reis came up to them and fell in step beside them. He'd returned only briefly to Pothose. He'd taken it on himself to see that Makarios' daughter was returned to her mother and he hadn't stayed long at the diamond mine.

"When do you leave, my friend?" the hunter asked.

"Tomorrow. Mother and daughter have been separated long enough."

"It's a good thing you're doing."

"She's a sweet kid." Thunder rumbled in the distance and a few scattered drops of rain fell. The mercenary pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders. He was lost in thought. Neca had no idea that one of the bodies in the communal grave was that of her father. She knew Makarios only as a friend of her mother and a man that sometimes brought them money or had a messenger deliver it. The little girl had voiced her fear that her mother wouldn't fair well now that the money would stop and the former soldier of the Corinthian army was concerned for them.

The rain began in earnest and they returned to the village. Sira, Gabrielle, and Elias were lost in a trance of healing with the warrior princess and the men went to Granny's cottage.

The old one tossed them each a towel and without asking set steaming mugs of tea before them. Neca came to stand beside Reis. He gave her a warm smile. "You ready to leave tomorrow?"

"Yes, Reis."

"Good. We'll get you home as soon as we can."

"I wish Mother could come here to Acubus. Everyone is so friendly here. No one seems to go hungry here either."

Granny took a seat at the table. "You've had a hard time with just your mother and yourself to provide, haven't you?"

"Mother works so hard. We live a long way from other farms because Mother is always afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"My father has enemies and Mother fears they will harm us."

"Maybe you should convince your mother to come here. She would be welcome."

"Really, Granny? We could live in Acubus?"

"If your mother wants to, I don't see why not. There's always something to do here to make ends meet. There's Vector's old farm. The cottage needs work and the fields are a mess, but it wouldn't take all that long to fix it up."

The little girl turned to the former soldier. "Would you help us?"

"Me? I'm no farmer."

Neca rested her head on the man's broad shoulder. "Please?"

Reis looked embarrassed. "I suppose I could fix up the cottage. You know, make it livable anyway."

The girl kissed his cheek. "Will you help me convince Mother to come here?"

"I'll do the best I can, Neca. I think Acubus would be good for both of you."

Xena sat with her back propped against her cushion covered saddle. She was playing a game of chips with the demigod. Sira napped on the blankets beside her, one foot resting against that of the warrior to maintain the physical contact needed to hold the tie of transfer.

The blue eyed warrior chuckled as she won her second game and the son of Zeus moaned in defeat. The dark haired beauty felt well. The color had returned to her face and she felt impatient to be released from the bondage of healing. Gabrielle hovered around her like she was still on death's door and it was becoming bothersome. She had grown even more fond of the yosemin empath as the healing progressed and that also annoyed her. She hated to admit her feelings for others to herself or anyone else. Hercules had stayed close as well, helping with the healing and with some of their needs. The warrior had found it more than a little disturbing. She longed to feel his arms around her, holding her and easing some of the discomfort she felt at the recent events in her life. To make love to him and forget for a time would be good, she decided. She had promised herself she would keep her hands to herself. She couldn't afford to fall any more in love with him. Still, it was stimulating to think of the possibilities of another encounter.

She watched his hands as he gathered the chips. They were strong, well-shaped hands. Seeing the cords that reached back from his fingers to his wrists sent a shiver up her spine. She remembered all too well what those hands had felt like on her naked flesh. A tingle started in the pit of her stomach and spread over her entire body.

He looked up to dazzle her with a show of even white teeth and bright blue eyes. The wind blew whiffs of hair across his freshly shaved cheek and she longed to push the hair back. As if reading her thoughts the almost habitual frown between his brows deepened. "What is it?"

"What?" She shook her head to clear it.

"You were staring at me so intently. What's up?"

The girl blushed, and looked away. "Nothing."

He reached out and lifted her chin so that he could see her eyes again. Rising to his knees he kissed her lips. "I feel it too. When you're better, perhaps we should talk."

She sat in silence for a moment. "I can't. Not yet. There's still so much I must learn about myself."

"I could help you."

"You have. You do. Just knowing you care for me helps. But I need time."

"Then let me come with you and Gabrielle. We'll travel together and you can have all the time you need."

She turned pleading eyes to him. "Please don't pressure me," she whispered.

He kissed her lips again. "I'm sorry, Xena. That wasn't my intention."

"You know I care for you. Sometimes that's all that keeps me sane. But I'm just not ready for anything else right now."

He sat back and studied her face a moment. "All right. If that's the way it must be, I can wait."

She looked away then looked back. "Thank you."

He smiled at her. "I can't, however, guarantee I'll be able to keep my hands off of you."

She smiled back. "I think I can live with that. I'm not so sure I can keep my hands off of you either."

Sira and Xena had been in healing for over a week. Then there had come the time of physical contact that had lasted for four days. The wound on the warrior's leg was sealed over with new purple flesh. The wound on the healer's leg wasn't healed as well yet, but she knew that would come. She now led the dark beauty in the breaking of the physical contact. Xena had bounced back quickly, due a great deal to her strong physical condition before the injury.

Granny had insisted she move in with Calla and Barnabus for a few days and leave her cottage to the healer and her lover. Sira would have been content to stay in the shelter of the trees behind the cottage, but the old one knew the girl needed time alone with the man she loved before the healing sleep claimed her. The woods were covered in a light blanket of snow and Granny refused to let them find privacy in the outdoors when it was so cold and Sira was still not completely healed.

Sira had graciously accepted her offer. Hercules heated water while the healer led the warrior to the severing of the tie. He had a bath waiting for his sister of the soul. She kissed his cheek to thank him for his thoughtfulness, then firmly closing the door behind him she turned to the hunter. He picked her up in a tight hug and she drew a quick breath. Her lips demanded his and he gave them willingly. With hands that shook slightly he untied her top and pulled it over her shoulders. He kissed the soft white flesh of her neck, and then kissing a little lower he began to unlace her woven moss undershirt.

She pulled his head tightly against the cleft between her breasts and he ran his tongue over her heated flesh. She whimpered and the sound shot red hot desire through his lower half that left him feeling light headed. He had already removed his boots. Now she unlaced his pants and helped him step out of them. His skin was slightly damp with the perspiration of anticipation and the girl drew his masculine scent deep into her lungs. She ran her hands over his chest and helped him remove his vest.

With a quick step back to give herself room she unlaced her pants, and removing them she tossed them on the floor near his. He stood before her naked and she licked her trembling lips. His naked form always had the power to stir her soul and she reached out with her mind to caress his thoughts with hers. He closed his eyes a moment and let himself fall into the abyss of desire her mind drew him to. When she knelt before him he was sure he would never stop falling. Her tongue on his thigh sent a shiver up and down his spine. His quickly drawn, ragged breath sent a similar shiver to tease her sensitive nerves.

It had been morning when they entered the cottage. The day was almost over when he helped the yawning healer from the bath and dried her with a freshly laundered towel. He slipped one of Granny's nightdresses over her head, then picking her up he took her to the bed that Gabrielle had made up with fresh linen that morning. He laid her down then slipped into the bed beside her and pulled the covers over them both. He had been otherwise occupied and he hadn't kept the fire going. Now the room held a chill. He would make sure Sira slept the healing sleep first, then build the fire up again.

"Iolaus?"

He held her tightly against him. "Yes."

"I love you."

"Forever, my love."

"Even unto death."

He tightened his hold on her and moments later he felt her jerk as sleep claimed her. He sent a prayer to the earth mother. "Thank you for bringing her to me. I don't know what I've done in my life to deserve anything so wonderful and glorious, but I thank you for her."

He sent his mind to their son and felt the instant response. Sira had communicated with their son daily, and the hunter had joined in the mind's touch as well. He knew the boy would know his mother was in the healing sleep, but he wanted Hercus to know he would still touch his mind each day. His love for the family that filled his loneliness and took it from him swept over him and he felt humbled by its intensity.

Sira had been awake from the healing sleep for two days now. She and the hunter had now returned to the shelter in the grove of trees. The day was cold with a damp fog that smelled of the ocean and the healer sat near the fire shelling some peas she hoped to cook for their dinner. The last few days had been strangely quiet. No one had heard from Pothose and the villagers had gone about their lives. Where the warlord was getting supplies to feed his army, no one knew.

The demigod came to sit near his more than sister. "Are you well now, my sister?"

"Yes. Quite well, thank you."

"Do you want to tell me about Ares?"

The girl took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "What can I say? He tried to use me for his own gain, just as you knew he would."

"You should have told me."

"What could you have done?"

"I could have at least been there for you."

"You are always that, my more than brother."

"I would have tried my best to protect you and your family from him."

"I know that, but it was a battle I had to fight on my own."

He was silent a moment. "Thank you for saving Xena."

"You are welcome. But you helped also. You and another."

"Yes. Ares. I felt him there as well."

"I am sorry, my brother. I know that must have been uncomfortable for you." She smiled at him. "He really does care for Xena, you know?"

"No, I didn't know, not until I saw the look on his face on the battlefield. I mean I knew he wanted her to lead his army but I never knew he actually cared for her. I saw a side and a depth to him I didn't know existed. But you knew from the start, didn't you?"

"Yes, I felt that part of him. But do not blame yourself for not seeing it. I do not think he knew it was there either."

"Perhaps I understand him a little better now. I still have to wonder why he hates me so much."

At the pain in his words the girl reached out and took his hand. "Because your father loves you so much," she whispered. "And because you grew up with the love of your mother. I do not think anyone has ever loved him, not even himself."

The big man nodded, remembering his own lonely childhood. Still, he always had his mother's love and the companionship and friendship of Iolaus. He always knew that somewhere out there a father loved him. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sira. I just can't forget what went before."

"I know. But what has gone before has made you what you are now. It has shaped and changed you. I would not want you any different."

The god of war was in a black mood. He had just finished talking with his father. "I was a damn fool," he reprimanded himself. "This whole business was ill conceived. I should have known better after talking with her at the river by her cabin. You're most assuredly a fool, Ares. All that emotion on the battlefield." He slammed his fist into the wall. A silver plaque fell to the marble floor and rattled noisily along it. He hated this place, all white and shiny. Why his father insisted on surrounding himself with such foolishness he would never know. "You're a lot of help," he mumbled under his breath to the father that was nowhere in sight.

He had come here to try and convince Zeus that Sira was a threat to the gods of Olympus. He knew that was one sure way of getting his father's help in eliminating the healer. He had tried to convince his father that no mortal should have such power.

"Leave her alone, Ares," the king of the gods had said. "She's causing no harm to us. Besides, I like her."

"You like her?"

"She's cute."

"For the love of Olympus! Of course she's cute. But she has a mean bite."

"You shouldn't have tried to hurt her."

"Are you kidding?"

"It really galls you that you've finally found someone you can't manipulate. She's a worthy adversary, my son. Live with it."

The war god punched the wall again and his fist went through the stone. "I like her. She's cute," his voice was filled with sarcasm. Then a grin crossed his dark features. "She kisses damn well too." He remembered for a moment the feel of her in his arms. "Damn!" The wall came in for more punishment. "This whole thing will come back to haunt you. I ought�" He stopped and stood staring blankly at the wall he had been about to hit. "No, maybe not. Why do anything? Zeus is right. She really is doing no harm. Ares, now you're being an even bigger fool. The simple truth is you don't have any real desire to hurt her. She was right. For the first time in your life it would cause you pain to hurt another. I can't believe I'm saying this." He ran a hand over the wall rather than hitting it. The smooth stone felt cool against the palm of his hand. "Damn," he whispered. "All you really want to do is hold her in your arms and feel her mind touch yours. You've lost it," he told himself. "You've truly lost it."

The next day Reis, Neca, and the girl's mother Aurora arrived in Acubus. Aurora was tall and slender, with long auburn hair framing a heart shaped face that showed only slightly the hardships she had endured in her life. Sira liked her at once.

The mother was thrilled by the farm and the cottage and babbled enthusiastically about fixing the place to her liking. Neca and Aurora spent the night in the makeshift camp with the others and cheerfully pitched in to help with the dinner and the clean up after.

Sira watched Aurora and Reis, and within moments of meeting the woman the healer was sure the mercenary had found a new home as well. She wasn't sure he knew it yet, but she planned to see that he soon did.

The next morning the villagers cheerfully made their way to the farm Vector had abandoned when he went to Corinth to be near Venin. Without being asked and without expecting thanks they set about making the cottage livable. Hercules helped with the roof. Iolaus cleaned out the chimney. Elias, Gabrielle, and Barnabus went to the woods and returned with a wagon load of wood they had gathered from a deadfall. The wood was seasoned and ready for the fire. Other villagers tilled fields. It was too late in the year to plant, but by cleaning the fields now they would be much easier to prepare for planting in the spring. Hector repaired the bed in the cottage and found a second one for Neca. He cleaned and fixed the table and chairs the farmer had left. Someone donated curtains and Sira hung the pale yellow rectangles of cloth over the windows.

Women cleaned and scrubbed. A chicken coop was built and supplied with three hens and a rooster. The villagers worked for three days, making a home for the tall quiet mother and her daughter. Aurora walked around in a daze. Everywhere she looked someone she didn't even know was giving their time and their own belongings to make her welcome and to provide her with a home. She cried, then laughed, then cried again.

Aurora made bags and pouches of leather decorated with glass beads in intricate designs. Sira drew her some pictures of plants and flowers to add to her other patterns. Granny assured the mother that she could find a good market for her work with the ships that stopped in the harbor. Xena showed the auburn haired woman some embroidery stitches that could be incorporated into the beaded designs to get the delicate look of the drawings Sira did for her.

Reis was ever present, helping where he could and doing things for Aurora. Sira asked for his help to transplant some tea plants from the hills to the sheltered area behind the farm cottage. He smiled at her tolerantly, and grabbing a shovel in one hand he offered the healer his arm.

"Lead on, little healer." Sira linked her arm through his and they walked toward the hills. "It's really wonderful what the people of Acubus are doing for Aurora and Neca," he commented.

"They are good people."

"They truly are."

They walked on in silence for a moment. "The leather you wear," the healer broke the silence, "where did you purchase it?"

"I did this myself. I like working with leather. Taking a raw bit of hide and turning it into something useful."

"Did you know the villager who was killed defending Acubus was a tanner?"

"No," he answered, a suspicious tone to his voice.

"You know Jug?"

"Yes."

"They were partners." Reis said nothing. "Jug is looking for another partner now."

He gave a noncommittal, "I see."

Again they walked in silence. Again the healer broke it. "It will be awhile before Aurora will see a profit on her farm."

"Yes."

"She may need help for a time."

The former soldier of Corinth laughed. "So, little healer, you have it all worked out, do you?"

"You like her?"

"Yes, I like her."

"She likes you also."

"She does?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Neca is very fond of you."

"Yeah, we get along great. She's a special little girl."

They walked on in silence. The healer lightly touched the mercenary's mind and smiled to herself. The seed was planted. Now it was up to him to decide if he would let it grow. She knew from her touch on Aurora's mind that the mother had strong feelings for the man who walked beside her.

"You really think she likes me?"

"I know she does."

"How about that?"

Gabrielle asked Elias to walk with her. The weather had warmed a little and the bard wanted a chance to speak with the blacksmith. They held hands as they walked. The girl felt a sadness sweep over her. She really did like him. It wouldn't be easy to walk away.

When they neared the river he turned the girl to face him and took her lips. She responded despite herself, and for a moment she gave herself up to the night and her feelings for the man who held her so tightly against him.

She pulled back. "Elias, we need to talk."

"I'd rather do something else." He kissed her again.

"Please."

He sensed something in her tone and stopped his advances. "What is it, Gabrielle?"

"I'm really sorry. I've been very unfair to you."

"You're not staying, are you?"

"I'm just not ready for that."

He turned away. "I guess that doesn't really surprise me. What would an Amazon queen see in me?"

She came to stand before him and placed her hand on his arm. "It's not like that, Elias, and you know it. I really do care for you. I'm just not ready to settle down in a quiet village and be the blacksmith's wife. Come with Xena and me. You'd be welcome."

He shook his head. "I've been that route, although I wasn't fighting for good back then. No, I'm not ready to give up my life here."

"Then you can understand how I feel?"

He nodded. "Yes. I wish I didn't. It hurts right now. I wish I could blame you and hate you."

"Elias."

"I'm sorry. That wasn't very fair of me." He took her arm. "I'll take you back."

She wiped the tears from her chin. "I'm so sorry." He said nothing.

When they were close to camp he left her without a word. He heard her sob as he walked away but he didn't stop.

Sira walked out to join the bard and took her into her arms. "He will heal, Gabrielle."

"It hurts more than I thought it would."

"I am sorry, little bard."

"Oh, Sira, why can't my life be simple? Why must I always be looking for something new and different to stimulate me? Why couldn't I be happy to be a blacksmith's wife?"

"Because for now, your destiny lies with Xena. The earth has led you to this."

"You really think that's true?"

"I know it is."

The next day was warmer still. Calla let her sheep out to graze on the hill behind their cottage, and leaving one of the village boys to watch them she returned to the camp behind Granny's place. She saw the men on horseback approaching the village. Fearing the worst she ran ahead to warn her neighbors.

Pothose and several of his men rode to the edge of town. The warlord dismounted, and leaving his horse with the others he walked ahead. Hercules and Xena walked out to meet him.

"Pothose," the son of Zeus nodded.

"I wondered if the village could spare anymore supplies?"

"We've been waiting for you to come in. The ship has been here. I'm sure they can sell you some food."

The outlaw nodded. "We waylaid Makarios' men with the wagon of supplies. We took the stuff peacefully and left enough for his men to get by on. But it didn't go as far as we had hoped. I'd send my own men after food, but we're pulling out."

Iolaus and the healer had joined the demigod and the warrior near the well where they stood talking with the warlord. Sira looked up at the outlaw's declaration.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" the demigod asked.

"Diamonds ran out. Just like that, there just weren't anymore." The healer's hand tingled where Ares had kissed it in the underground chambers at Yucaipia. The warlord shook his head. "It was the damnedest thing. Anyway, there's no sense in sticking around now."

Reis and Aurora had now joined the others near the well and the warlord turned to his former second in command. "You coming with us?"

The powerfully built man put an arm around the shoulders of the tall auburn haired woman who stood next to him. "Not this time, my friend. I think I'll stick around for a bit."

The outlaw leader nodded then turned back to the demigod. "About those supplies."

The night shown bright and clear, the moon was but a sliver of silver that did little to light the dark forest where the healer and the hunter walked hand in hand. The girl led them forward with her mind's vision more than with her eyes. She found a place among some trees and spread the blanket she had brought with her over the winter grass. The hunter joined her on the blanket and took the girl he loved into his arms. She rested her head against his shoulder.

Xena and Hercules walked in the dark night as well. The warrior had announced her intention of leaving the village soon. Now that Pothose was no longer a threat there was no need for her and Gabrielle to stay.

The demigod reached for her hand and she squeezed his in response. They walked on in silence for a moment. The girl still limped slightly but the scar was gone. Sira had worked her magic once again, and besides the slight limp there was no outward evidence of the warrior's life threatening injury. The limp would eventually disappear as well.

The son of Zeus stopped walking and turned to face the dark beauty. He couldn't really see her features in the dark. He reached out a hand to cup her cheek. She reached up and held his hand against her face for a moment then turned her head to kiss the palm of his hand.

"I wish I could see your eyes," he whispered. "They have the power to hypnotize me."

She kissed his hand again and he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. She touched it lightly with her tongue. He drew in a ragged breath and pulled her to him. She turned her face up to him and he took her lips with passion.

Her lips parted in invitation and he took it eagerly. Her hand in his hair pulled his lips tightly against hers and a whimper escaped her lips.

His hands on her bottom pulled her up against him and he kissed her neck. She wore a dress tonight, one she had borrowed from Calla. It laced down her front in a tight bodice and flared around her hips to conceal and invite. Its pale lavender shade darkened her skin to a healthy glow that the big man had admired. He began to unlace the top of the dress. It was low cut and he kissed the soft flesh that showed above the neck line. She began to tremble and his tongue followed his lips to sear her skin.

He loosened the laces on her dress and pulled it over her head. She stood before him, clad in short pants and an undershirt. He drew in a quick breath, then handing her dress to her he turned away.

"What is it?" she whispered.

"If I don't stop now I won't be able to stop. I never meant for it to go this far."

She grabbed his arm and pulled him back around. She pulled her undershirt off and tossed it on the grass. "Well, I did."

With a moan he pulled her to him and kissed her neck then the swell of each breast. "I've tried so hard to keep my hands off of you."

"I know. It's been the same for me."

His lips on her naked flesh sent a shiver up her spine and she helped him pull his shirt off. She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest and shivered again as the hair tickled the sensitive skin between her fingers. She began to unlace his leather pants.

"Xena, I warn you. If you go any further I can't be held responsible for the consequences."

Her hand slid inside his pants. "Shut up and kiss me."

The cold drove the hunter and the healer back to camp. They had just arrived when Xena and Hercules stepped into the ring of light thrown out by the fire. Sira looked at the warrior princess and laughed.

"What's so funny, little yosemin?"

The healer kissed the dark girl's cheek. "You are. You have grass in your hair."

The warrior looked embarrassed and quickly tried to make some semblance of order from her tousled mane. "Well, you have grass in your hair too."

Sira laughed again and the warrior laughed with her this time. "What are you two giggling about?" the demigod asked, but the girls just laughed harder.

Gabrielle moped moodily around the camp. The day was foggy and gray, a perfect match for the bard's gloomy mood. Elias had stayed away from the camp and gone out of his way to avoid her. She and Xena were leaving in the morning and she wanted a chance to talk with him. With a sigh of exasperation she grabbed her cloak and staff and headed out of the village. Maybe a walk will help my humor, she decided. She walked toward the coast. She had always found a peace in the ocean. The sound of the waves washing against the shore could lift her spirits and kindle the flame of her desire to see what lay just over the next dune. The salty air gave promise of far away places that seemed to call to her wanderer's heart. She rounded a bend in the trail and Elias stood before her.

"Elias?"

"I saw you leave the village so I came over the bluff to intercept you."

"Elias, I�"

He took two long strides toward her even as she moved to meet him and he took her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I've been a jerk. I was hurting so bad."

"I'm sorry. I never meant to fall for you. I didn't want to hurt you."

"I know. I guess I knew that all along."

"Please try to understand why I can't stay."

He kissed her. "I do."

"You could still come with us."

He kissed her again. "No. For the first time in my life I have a home, a place to go to each night, a place that welcomes me. I'm doing the right and honest thing for the first time in my life and it feels good, Gabrielle. I have people here who love me. I can't give that up. Not yet anyway."

She began to cry. "I understand. These last couple of days I've been wondering if I could be happy staying here in Acubus. I would be happy with you. But there would always be something missing. Just now, looking out over the ocean I knew it would never work. I haven't fulfilled that part of me yet. Maybe someday I will."

He kissed the tears on her cheek. "I love you, Gabrielle. I want you to be happy. Go. Find what it is you seek. Our hearts will heal in time and we will always have these memories to hold onto."

She cried even harder. "Tomorrow, will you come with me to plant a rose bush at Aurora's cottage?"

He threw his head back and closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them she could see tears shining in their depths. "I'd like that very much."

The healer gathered her things and headed to the river. She washed a few things out then bathed in the icy water. She sat now on the riverbank, combing her hair to help dry it. The healer looked up and the god of war stood before her.

"Surprised?"

"No, I knew you were there."

He indicated the grass beside her. "May I?" She nodded and calmly continued to comb her hair. "I take it you've been expecting me."

"Yes."

"I would have come earlier but I wasn't sure of my welcome."

"Thank you for helping with Xena's healing."

The god of war inclined his head. "Your hair is very beautiful."

"Thank you."

"So, things have become a bit awkward between us, little one?"

"So it would seem."

"Come with me, Sira." His voice was even and serious. She shook her head. "What's your fondest desire?"

The feel of a baby in her arms flashed through her head. "Come with me, Sira, and I will make you the mother of a new nation." She shook her head again. "I knew that would be your answer. Still I had to try." He rose to leave and she stood also.

"So tell me, little one, have you carried out your threat to expose my weaknesses?"

"No, Ares. I had no need to. Besides, Hercules knew after seeing your concern for Xena." He nodded. She touched his mind and he smiled at her.

"Would you take my word one more time?"

"I always have," she whispered.

"I give you my word I will never harm you or your family."

She closed her eyes for a moment and strengthened her mind's touch on his. She could feel the sincerity in his words. She walked to him and placed her hand on his arm. "Thank you."

"You're sure you won't reconsider my offer?"

"Will you turn your power to good instead of evil?"

He shook his head.

"Since you have agreed to leave me and my family alone�"

"Oh no, little one," he interrupted. "I didn't say I would leave you alone. Only that I wouldn't harm you. I have every intention of looking in on you from time to time."

"Your visits will be most welcome."

He studied her face a moment. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes."

"I wonder how little brother would feel about that."

"You might be surprised. By the way, thank you for removing the reason for Pothose's residence in the valley."

"Well, I put the diamonds there in the first place. It was no big thing to take them away. But I believe you were planning to ask something of me."

"Since you have agreed not to harm me or my family, will you also agree to leave Xena alone?"

He laughed. He put his head back and laughed. The sound bounded off the cliff wall and along the river. With a flash of light he was gone.

"I knew that would be your answer. Still I had to try." She gathered her things and returned to the village.

Coming Soon: "A Kinder And Gentler God", The Sixth Adventure In The Empath Chronicles

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Disclaimer: Hercules, Iolaus, Xena, Gabrielle, and Ares, God Of War are the property of Renaissance Pictures, MCA/Universal, and Greek Mythology. No copyright infringement is intended. This story was written solely for the entertainment of the author and her readers.

Apologies are offered for placing the disclaimer at the end. The author thought it better to avoid spoiling the surprise of who the guest characters were.

For My Husband, Dan, Who's The Xena Fan Of The Family

Comments And Kind Criticism Are Always Welcome. E-mail Me At [email protected]