Disclaimers
Violence: Of course there is violence in this, its Xena Warrior Princess.
Copyright: Xena, Gabrielle, Melinda Pappas, Janice Covington, Argo, Velasca, and the Amazons all are owned by Universal/MCA and Renaissance Pictures.
Subtext: There is love between two women which if offends you, then don’t read this story.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Webpage: http://www.redhope.net
Started: November 11, 2000 Saturday
Series 1: The Binding of the Soulmates of Time Series Number: 10 Story Number:
The Darkness: Protection
by Red Hope
Section 6
~*Part 12*~
Gabrielle forced her eyes open but slowly. As her blurry eyes begun to focus, she sensed somebody gently squeezing her left hand. Once she was able to recognize objects around her, she turned her head left.
"Hey," greeted a soft but sad voice.
The warrior-bard suddenly smiled sadly as she squeezed her Soulmate's hand back. "Hey."
"How are you feeling?"
The Amazon Queen rolled her head around some and muttered, "Okay." She then returned her attention to her partner again. "How are you doing?"
Xena sighed then responded, "Hanging in there."
"Where's Toris?"
The warrior gestured, with her head, to the opposite side of the dungeon.
Gabrielle glanced across and saw Toris out cold in another cell. "Is he okay?"
"I'm not sure," whispered the warrior. "He hasn't woken up yet." She then looked back to her Soulmate. "What happened to you?"
The Queen sighed and with her right hand, brushed back her bangs. She listened to the manacles rattle. "I was rushing out of the village to come find you." She turned her head to Xena again. "When I neared the border Janelle, Karena, Renotta, and Kate were there."
"Kate?" cut in Xena.
"Yes, she's supposedly a new Amazon." Gabrielle huffed then finished her story. "So they escorted me to the border but I noticed Kate had no Amazon feathers. I told Janelle and Karena but before we could take them both, they jumped us."
The warrior sighed. "Don't feel so bad. That's basically how Toris and I ended up here."
"Do you know what's going on yet?"
"Not really," answered the Warrior Princess. "All that I know is that Renotta and this Kate are the ones in charge."
"No clue where we are?"
"Not a one," grumbled Xena. "And its either Kate or Renotta that brings us food. So I really cannot get an idea of their soldiers." She paused then added, "They're keeping this tight."
"I'd say they've had this planned for quite sometime."
"Mmmm," agreed Xena.
"Any clue what they want?"
"Money maybe," suggested Xena. "We're both worth quite a bit."
"True," agreed Gabrielle. "This might be a ransom."
"I hope it's just that," muttered Xena quietly.
Gabrielle sighed at her partner's words but she squeezed the larger hand in her own. "We better think of a way out of here incase the Amazons can't get us out."
"We will," promised Xena.
~*~*~*~
"Ephiny!" yelled Solari. She sprinted through the village and waving a scroll in her right hand.
The regent had just came out of her hut to get breakfast but stopped when she heard Solari calling for her. "Solari" she called.
The second in command approached her partner and held out the scroll. "From the kidnappers," she rasped.
Ephiny's eyes widened as she grabbed the scroll. She tore it open and hastily read it over. "Hades," she growled a partial way through.
"What's going on?" asked Solari quietly.
"They're demanding money for their return." The regent peered up briefly but looked back down as she summarized what the scroll was about. "We have ten days to pay the ransom. If we do not, then Gabrielle and Xena will be sold to the highest bidder."
"Is there anything else?"
"Yes, each day up to the ten days, Xena and Gabrielle will be physically tortured." She lifted her eyes. "And Toris will be sent to us as a minor example of the various tortures that they will suffer."
"The sooner we pay the ransom the sooner we get them and the less they suffer, basically?"
"Yes," confirmed the regent.
Solari gulped before asking quietly, "How much they demanding?"
Ephiny closed her eyes as she lowered the scroll. Opening her eyes again, she whispered, "Ten thousand dinars."
"By Artemis…" gasped the second in command, "We can't…."
"I know," uttered the regent.
"Ephiny!" hollered Eponin, who came up to the pair. "Caitriona and Gloria just arrived with their tribes." She noted the regent really not responding to her. "Eph?"
Solari switched her attention to the weapons master. "We just got a message from the kidnappers."
"What's happening?" whispered Eponin.
"They want ten thousand dinars for them and if we do not pay in ten days then they will sell them to the highest bidder." The second in command then glanced at her lover.
Ephiny finished the rest. "And during that ten day period, they'll both be tortured."
"By the gods…." Eponin just exchanged looks with her two friends. "There's no way we can…."
"We know," uttered the second in command.
"Two more queens?" whispered Ephiny.
"Yeah," replied Eponin quietly. "Caitriona and Gloria."
"Alright, I'll take care of them." The regent started to walk off but stopped. "Who is left?"
"Aureus and Zahra," reported Solari solemnly.
Ephiny nodded then continued to the gates of the village. She immediately spotted the two queens directing their Amazons into various huts around the parameter of the village. "Queen Caitriona and queen Gloria," she greeted while forcing a smile.
"Ephiny," replied queen Caitriona. "How are you?"
"I'm okay. Yourselves?"
"Pretty well until we heard what happened," answered queen Gloria. "How are things looking?"
"Not so good," replied the regent. "Have you found enough room for all your Amazons?"
"Plenty, thank you." Caitriona smiled sadly before asking, "Are all of the Nations here?"
Ephiny shook her head lightly. "We're still missing queens Aureus and Zahra."
"I wouldn't think they'd be too far behind," muttered Gloria.
Caitriona nodded her head in agreement.
"Do you both recall where your huts were in the village?"
"Yes we do," answered Gloria. "Thank you. I'm sure you have a lot to do…?"
"Yes actually," agreed the regent. "If you'll excuse me? And if you do need anything feel free to ask my second in command, Solari, or my third in command, Teresa."
"Thank you." Caitriona smiled lightly then watched the regent head off. "What you think?"
Gloria sighed as she picked up her saddlebag of belongings from the ground. "She might be the new Queen soon."
Caitriona shook her head. "I doubt it." She grabbed her own saddlebag as well and started towards the village. "Queen Gabrielle does not give up easily."
"True," agreed eastern queen. "But how often do we deal with kidnappers in this Nation?"
Caitriona raised an eyebrow. "And how often do we deal with warlords?"
"I recall that one several years back." Gloria sighed but then added, "Queen Gabrielle did well with that warlord."
"Yes, especially considering how young she was at the time," reminded the western queen. "I am not worried about this one."
Gloria pressed her lips together. "I'm not either but… for some reason I keep thinking somebody is going to die." She glanced at her friend briefly then back at the surrounding village. "By the time everything is said and done… somebody is going to die and somebody is going to hurt."
"Or somebodys," uttered the other queen.
"Mmmm," agreed Gloria.
~*~*~*~
“Ephiny, calm down,” urged Eponin. She stepped in front of her friend’s pacing path and grabbed her shoulders. She looked directly at her friend. “We’ll get them back.”
The regent closed her eyes and whispered, “Dead or alive huh?” She shrugged her shoulders away while opening her eyes, she continued pacing back and forth in her hut.
Solari sighed as she sat down on the footboard of her and Ephiny’s bed. “Eph, we can handle this.”
Ephiny was shaking her head but not responding.
Suddenly the door opened and entered both Amarice and Teresa together.
“What’s going on?” inquired the Princess, she closed the door behind herself too. She waited for an answer from Ephiny but realized she wasn’t going to get one. So she glanced between Eponin and Solari.
“We received a message from the kidnappers.”
“What’s happening?” asked Teresa. She shifted closer to the weapons master’s side.
“They want ten thousand dinars for them,” replied the second in command. “And that’s in ten days, up until that date they will be physically tortured.”
“We’ll soon have Toris as an example,” whispered Eponin.
“Does anybody else know about this?” inquired Teresa.
“Not yet,” answered the weapons master.
Amarice sighed and looked away from the pacing regent. “I take it there’ll be a meeting tomorrow about it huh?”
“Most likely,” agreed Solari.
“We can’t pay that ransom,” suddenly spoke up Teresa.
All the Amazons, but Ephiny, started shaking their heads in agreement.
“What about our Goddesses?”
Ephiny stopped for once and looked to Amarice. “They’re not allowed to help us.”
“What? Why?” quickly asked the Princess.
“Because this is a trial from the Fates,” explained the regent, “and if we screw up, it means we’re disposable.”
“Disposable?” slightly growled the weapons master. “What kind of centaur shit is that?”
Ephiny shook her head, didn’t respond, and continued angrily pacing again.
“If we come out on top of this,” started Solari, “then the Fates will grant every Amazon’s soul immortality.”
“What’s that mean?” Teresa had a confused look as she folded her arms against her chest.
“It could mean a lot of things, really.”
Ephiny finally stopped again and tried explaining it as best as she could. “What I think it means is sometime in the future… we’ll be reborn so to speak. The Amazon line, our lines, will continue far into the future… further than we can imagine.”
“Well that’s good,” joked Amarice with a slight grunt. “What the Hades are we going to do?”
“That’s what we need to decide at the meeting tomorrow,” stated Solari.
“We can’t do anything?” growled Amarice. “We just can’t stand around here.”
“I’m afraid that’s all we can do,” hotly stated Ephiny. She stopped and faced the Princess. “We don’t have much choice, Amarice.”
“Ephiny, we need to do something,” persisted the Princess.
“And what should we do, Princess?” The regent stomped right up to the young Amazon. “Huh? What the Hades should we do?” She threw her right hand off to the right. “They’re out there, safely tucked away in a cell probably, and with a ransom on their heads.” She lowered her hand back down. “Think, Amarice. We don’t even know where these kidnappers are located. Not to mention even if we did, it is a gods be damned artic out there.” She stopped herself and just stared harshly at the other Amazon.
Amarice sighed and looked away.
Ephiny walked off and went to the window on the opposite side of the hut. She grasped the windowsill tightly until her knuckles went snow white.
Everybody in the room remained silent and felt the boiling tension from their regent.
Ephiny suddenly spun around, an extremely angry look on her face. “Look you four, whatever the Hades becomes of this, all of us are responsible to bringing them home safely.” She took a few steps closer to the group and made contact with each Amazon as she spoke. “It is our lives for them and I do not care what we have to do. Am I clear? Because if one of you feel as if you cannot handle this then leave my hut now.” She stopped and waited for anybody to move but nobody flinched for a second.
“I’ve always served them loyally,” whispered Eponin. She walked into the middle of the group and then stood beside Ephiny.
“They’re my family.” Amarice went beside her regent.
“Mine too,” agreed Solari, she too shifted into the group.
Teresa grinned and decided it was time for a joke. “Hey, I’m just hoping this’ll get me a higher position.” She moved into the group.
The four Amazons all chuckled for the first time.
“Seriously Amazons, we bring them home,” stated the regent.
Everybody nodded and finally realized they felt a sense of great hope filling them again.
“Come on, its been a long day for us all.” Ephiny sighed and whispered, “Let’s get dinner then rest.”
“I’ll second that,” agreed Amarice.
“Let’s go then,” urged Solari. She made her way to the door of the hut.
“Amarice, stay here. The rest of you go ahead, we’ll catch up.” Ephiny watched everybody file out and closed the door behind them.
“Ephiny, I’m-”
“Its okay, Amarice,” cut off the regent. “I understand what you’re saying and what you’re feeling.” She moved closer to her friend and grasped her shoulders. “I feel the same way… but we can’t do anything until we know more.” She squeezed the young Amazon’s shoulders tightly. “I was very much like you when I was your age. Ready to go, fix things, and kick ass.”
“What happened?” slightly teased the Princess.
Ephiny gave a faint grin but went serious again. “I learned if you leap before you think then there could be a heavy price to pay.”
Amarice sighed and her shoulders slumped. “I know… its just I can’t stand letting them get anymore hurt or endangered.”
“Yes I know so do I. But charging in might not be the answer and only get them more hurt than need be.”
The young Amazon solemnly nodded.
“They’ll be okay,” promised Ephiny. She felt a worn smile crease her lips as she gave one last squeeze then relinquished her hold. “And Amarice, I am sorry for snapping at you.”
“Its okay… I know where a Princess stands compared to a regent.”
Ephiny huffed as she went to her hut door. “Yeah, I stand without capitalization while you do.”
“Huh?” asked a confused Princess.
“Nothing,” replied the regent. She grabbed her cloak off one of the pegs by the door. “Hungry?”
“Definitely.” Amarice opened the door first and let her friend out. She followed the regent. “All the queens are here now?”
“Yes, the other two just came in about two candlemarks ago.”
“Oh gods, its gonna be packed in the food hut.”
“Mmmm,” agreed the regent. “Have you heard anything about Lesia?”
“Not yet.” Amarice sighed and dug her hands into her cloak pockets. “The healer seemed to think she’d be fine.”
Ephiny nodded a few times. “By the way, meant to ask you.”
“What’s that?”
“Who is that older Amazon that’s been with you lately?”
“Oh Talon.”
“That’s Talon?” asked a confused regent.
Amarice nodded a few times. “Yeah. Why?”
“Huh.” The older Amazon brushed back some of her curly hair. “I swear, I thought she was heavier than that.”
“Heavier?” Amarice started shaking her head. “No way… she’s all muscle.”
A huge grin appeared on the regent’s face. “Is that so?”
“Ephiny,” growled the Princess. “I’m not like the rest of you Amazons.”
“Oh damn,” grumbled the regent yet her grin came back. “So how you know she’s buff then, Amarice?”
“Oh gods….” Amarice laughed and looked away as a blush crept down her face.
The regent suddenly had a surprised look. “Amarice… both ways huh?” She threw an arm around the Princess’s shoulders and tugged her in close. “Glad you like both the ying and the yang. Good for you, Amarice.”
Amarice started laughing hysterically. “Ephiny!” she roared between her laughter.
Ephiny was grinning from ear to ear. “You’re so well rounded, Princess. I’m proud of you.”
“Oh gods, Eph.” The young Amazon finally stopped laughing. “Its not like that, I swear.”
The regent winked at her friend and squeezed her opposite shoulder. “Don’t worry, I thought the same thing at your age too. You’ll see. One day… you decide you wanna try something new and you do. It’ll just knock your feathers off.”
Amarice just laughed a few more times. “Eph, I do not need a sex education from you… of all people.”
Ephiny smirked and patted her friend’s back while releasing her. “I’ll let Talon do that.” She winked, took a few more steps, and grabbed the door to the food hut. She held it open for the Princess. “Higher Royalty first.”
The Princess just laughed quietly and decided not to argue about the entire ongoing between her and Talon. She grinned and stepped into the hut. As soon as she came inside, did Talon come up to her.
“Hey, Reece,” greeted the older Amazon.
Amarice groaned while a gigantic blush emerged. She then suddenly felt a huge slap on her back from Ephiny and heard a low snicker.
After that, Ephiny just moved onto the food line for dinner.
“What was that?” inquired Talon.
The Princess groaned again but quieter this time. “Bad joke,” she simply answered.
Talon shook her head in confusion but decided to let it go. “Dinner is good tonight.” She held up her mug. “Gonna grab something else to drink.”
“Yeah… I just….” The stumbling Amarice pointed at the food line.
“Get food, yeah I know.” Talon grinned and stepped past her. “I’ll see you at the table.”
“Uuuuuh… yeah, sure,” muttered the groaning Princess. She took a shaky breath then stepped into the food line. “Gods I can’t believe this,” she grumbled. She snatched a wood plate and then decided on what to eat for dinner. She had to actually agree though with Talon, it was a good food selection tonight. After she got her meal, she went to sit with the group. Once she was settled into her seat, she realized somebody’s half eaten dinner plate was to her left. She furrowed her eyebrows because she knew nobody ever sat to her left during dinner. After she considered it for a moment, she saw Talon step up beside the bench. “Oh gods,” she moaned to herself quietly.
Talon now saw that Ephiny was sitting at the table and knew she was in charge of this bench. “It is okay if I’m sitting here?”
The regent had a bright smile. “Oh certainly, Talon. You’re welcomed to sit here.” She watched the Amazon sit down beside the Princess. Her eyes flickered to a blushing Amarice then back to Talon. “You can sit here anytime, Talon. Feel free.”
Talon smiled warmly. “Thank you, Ephiny.”
“Call me Eph, please,” urged the regent.
Talon chuckled then offered, “My friends will call me T often.”
“Ooooh I like that,” piped up Teresa.
“Its taken,” reminded the weapons master.
The third in command huffed then poked at her olives. “You know, I don’t have a nickname.”
The entire group exchanged looks.
“Well… how about Terra?” suggested Solari.
“Oh gods no,” cut in Ephiny. “Then everybody will be calling her Terror.”
Amarice started to laugh at that. “And what’s wrong with that?”
“Hey!” Teresa pointed her fork at the Princess. “You would be talking about yourself,” she reminded.
Talon snickered and spoke up. “I think Terror Reece will suit you better.” She elbowed the Princess.
Everybody at the table laughed while Amarice stuck her tongue out at Talon.
Talon felt her jaw lock slightly, and she quickly looked down at her food. Suddenly food wasn’t what she wanted now.
“Okay… okay seriously,” cut in Teresa again. “I should have a nickname too. Everybody but me has one.”
“Not everybody,” stated Ephiny. She picked up an olive from her plate and popped it in her mouth.
“Yes everybody does. Name me one person that doesn’t… besides me.”
“Xena,” simply stated the regent.
“Oh wait,” countered Eponin, “She has one but none of us are allowed to say it to her.”
“What is it?” asked a curious Princess.
“Come on, Reece… you must have heard Gabrielle call her that,” piped up Solari.
The Princess considered it for many seconds.
“Especially since you traveled with them.”
“Yeah but they weren’t together then,” reminded Amarice to Ephiny.
“That’s true,” agreed Solari.
“She’ll call her Xen sometimes,” whispered Eponin.
Amarice laughed quietly at that. “That’s so cute.” She furrowed her eyebrows though. “What is it though? A big secret and we can’t call her it?”
“Noooooo.” Ephiny held up her hands. “I wouldn’t call her anything but Xena,” she stated.
“Why can’t we call her that?”
Eponin grinned and answered, “If you wanna get your head chopped off… go for it.”
The Princess had a sudden wicked grin. “I bet you could do it in front of Gabrielle. Xena wouldn’t do anything in front of Gabrielle.”
“That’s who we’re talking about!” roared Ephiny as she began laughing.
“We’re not talkin’ about Xena.” The second in command laughed a little too. “Gabrielle is who we’re scared of.”
The Princess started laughing and shaking her head. “She wouldn’t do anything,” she said more seriously now.
“Oh I dare you to call Xena that next time,” challenged Eponin evilly.
“I will,” declared the Princess.
Talon groaned while shaking her head. She knew too what would happen to the Princess.
“Okay now that we’re gonna get Amarice killed so I can be Princess next. We still need a nickname for me,” ordered the little third in command.
The Princess shot a mock glare at Teresa.
The third in command simply smirked back.
“We can call you… Res.”
“Race or Res?” Teresa lifted an eyebrow faintly.
“I don’t like that,” piped in Eponin.
“Well there goes that one.” Solari sighed and went back to her pasta.
Talon put her mug down and looked to Teresa. “I got a good one.”
“What’s that?” asked an excited Teresa.
“TC.”
Teresa blinked and looked to Eponin.
The weapons master grinned at her partner.
“I like it,” declared the happy third in command.
The group started laughing together.
“Thanks, T.”
Talon grinned at the regent. “No problem.”
“So Talon,” started the regent. She finished chewing her pasta then continued speaking. “Ever thought of joining the Royal Amazon line?”
The Amazon said nothing and stared at the regent in confusion.
“Eph, we don’t have anymore openings,” reminded the weapons master. She suddenly got a dirty look from the regent. “I mean… far as I know. Gabrielle might open up a few positions,” she hastily added.
The regent gave a wry grin then looked back to Talon. “There’s going to be a new… Royalty spot created.”
“Really?” inquired Talon. “What is that?”
Solari looked to Eponin in utter confusion and questioning.
Eponin shook her head and shrugged.
What’s she doing? mouthed the second in command.
Eponin shook her head more furiously this time because she had no clue either.
“Well, I think there’s going to be a position for an Amazon to protect the Queen and the Princess,” explained the regent. Now she could hear a huge groan from the Princess.
“A guard captain basically?” offered Talon.
“Yeah exactly,” agreed the regent.
“Eph, aren’t there suppose to be candidates for that and all. Interviews and what not.”
Ephiny raised an eyebrow at the Princess. “Amarice, I think we have our perfect candidate.”
“But Eph, Gabrielle likes to have… well a selection.”
“Well she should have gotten wider variety when it came to the Princess one,” taunted Teresa.
“Oh you’re just sore you missed out on it,” teased back the Princess.
Teresa laughed quietly to herself.
Ephiny finally cut back into the conversation. “Far as I’m concerned, Amarice… Talon would work perfect as the guard captain.”
“But-”
The regent held up her hand to stop the Princess’s protests. “Princess, I have spoken.”
The young Amazon groaned dramatically. “Yes, my regent.”
The regent evilly grinned but returned her attention to Talon. “So are you interested?”
Talon was at a lose for words but and finally answered, “Yes. And you are sure about this?”
“I’m positive… would not be asking otherwise.”
Talon happily smiled and said, “Thank you.”
“Oh no, thank you.” Ephiny winked. “We could use your… services.”
“But you are sure Queen Gabrielle will agree to this?” asked the worried Amazon.
The regent shook her head and seriously answered, “Talon, trust me. I know she’s been looking for a guard captain and asked me to find her one.” She then chuckled and added, “As you can tell, we do need one.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” grumbled Eponin.
“If you are sure, I’d love to,” finally answered Talon.
“Great.” Ephiny smiled happily. “Once we take care of this… slight problem and the Queen is back. We’ll do an official induction.” She stopped and looked down to Solari and Eponin. “Until then, you think you two can handle training Talon?”
“Um… sure, Eph,” replied Solari.
“Also.” Ephiny switched her attention to Amarice. “Princess, I’ll need you to teach Talon the finer points of Royalty.” She folded her arms against her chest. “I’m sure you remember all of that, Reece. It hasn’t been that long since your training.”
The grumbling Princess replied, “Yes, my regent.”
Ephiny glanced between the Princess, her second in command, and Eponin. “And you three can start training tomorrow too.”
The three Amazons nodded their heads.
“Great.” Ephiny smiled at Talon. “Thank you for agreeing.”
Talon returned the warm smile. “Thank you.”
“All my pleasure.” Ephiny stood up with her plate. “Well, I think I’m heading back to the hut.”
Solari peered up. “Am I invited?” she teased.
The regent chewed on her lower lip then retorted, “I’ve said no before and it never stopped you.”
The second in command laughed then stood up with her plate, she disappeared off in the food hut with her partner.
“Well… on that note,” started Eponin. She stood up with her plate and Teresa at her side. “We’re scooting too.”
“See yah later, Ep and… TC.”
The third in command grinned at Amarice. “See yah, Reece. Bye, T.” She headed off with Eponin.
Talon called back, “See yah, TC and Eponin.” She sighed after they left but then looked to her friend. “Well… that sure was random.”
“Mmmmm.” Amarice didn’t look at the other Amazon as she stared down at her plate. “Really random,” she sarcastically muttered. After a long sighed, she said, “I think I’m going to head to my hut.”
Talon nodded, she felt a bit of tension from Amarice. “Yeah… time to turn in.” She picked up her plate and stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Catch you later, Talon.” Amarice listened to her friend walking off. She lifted her elbows onto the table and dropped her head between her hands. Now she just sat there staring down at her few remains of dinner.
“Eph, what was that all about?” asked Solari when they got into their hut.
The regent shrugged as she walked into the washroom. “I think we need a guard captain,” she called out.
“Ephiny, you pulled a lot of centaur crap out of your ass tonight about that entire thing. Gabrielle is not looking for a guard captain. She wouldn’t even want one anyway.”
The regent came back into the main portion of the hut but now with her night shift on herself. “Solari, we need one. Look at what just happened. Not only were they kidnapped but we had an imposter that we didn’t even catch.”
The second in command sighed. She was sitting down at her desk chair and untying her boots. “I understand that but… Xena is her personal body guard.”
“And who is when she’s not around?” quipped the regent. She sat down on the foot of her bed. “Solar, we need somebody watching after them both. Not only that, we could have people going after Amarice… me or you. Any of the royal line.” She shook her head. “Gabrielle will agree, mark my words.”
“If you think so.” Solari pulled her boots off. “What about the council?”
“Forget the council,” brushed off the regent. She lowered herself bank into her bed but her legs still hung off the bed.
“Eph….” Solari leaned over her lover and stared down at her. “The council does make the final decisions.”
“Council shmancil… Gabrielle is the one in control now, not the council.” Ephiny grinned. “Remember who’s the chosen? Not the council. What the Queen wants, the Queen gets.”
Solari was shaking her head but was grinning. She straightened back up and went into the washroom but called out, “And how are you so sure Gabrielle will agree with this?”
“Because I know… she won’t argue with me,” coolly stated the regent.
The second in command was chuckling while coming back into the hut now in her nightclothes. “You’re probably right.” She sat down on the bed beside her lover. “And why Talon?”
“Because I think she’ll be perfect for it. She’s very nice and good with people.”
“We hardly know her yet.”
Ephiny shrugged but then added, “I remember her when she first came to the village seven years ago. She was a little over weight, shy as anything… worse than Teresa, and really believed that women were lesser than men. I mean, she had a low self esteem, Solar.” She pressed her lips together. “But now… she’s very fit, outgoing and not shy at all, and from what I can tell her self esteem is much better.”
Solari studied her partner but with a very curious expression. “There’s something else too.” She laid down on the bed but on her side next to the regent. “Give.”
Ephiny felt a devilish grin tug at her lips. “She’s got the hots for Amarice too.”
“You’re joking!” roared Solari. She suddenly sat back up with a surprised look. “Since when?”
“Since she went on that trip to find out about Renotta and Kate.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Solari shook her head in utter bafflement. “How can you be sure?”
“Oh come on, Solar.” Ephiny smirked then explained, “Suddenly she’s hanging out with Amarice. Not to mention has the guts to sit at our table without a real invite. Not that I would have minded.”
“Yeah I know.” Solari laughed in surprise. “Never saw that coming.” She then suddenly had a worried look. “Eph, Amarice doesn’t like women though.”
The regent wiggled her eyebrows then put her hands under her head. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
“You really think so?” urged the second in command.
“Yeah, I think so.” Yet the regent went a bit more serious. “Just… don’t tease her about it. I think the fact I have her training Talon kind of… upset her a bit.”
“Why?”
Ephiny shrugged while thinking about it. “She likes to think she’s always right… like some of us others. So she thinks she doesn’t like women or at least doesn’t think she should try it. I think if somebody rubs it in enough, it’ll get her upset and angry.”
“Gotcha.” Solari laid back down beside her partner. “I’ll tease her after,” she joked.
Ephiny grinned then pushed herself up into her bed.
“Tomorrow is going to be long with the council and other queens.” Solari crawled up into the bed and got under the sheets with Ephiny.
“Yeah I know.” The regent now felt the weight return onto her shoulders that’d been gone during dinner.
“You’re really worried,” whispered Solari. She turned onto her side, facing her partner, and pulled her into her arms.
“Yeah,” answered Ephiny. She snuggled in close and closed her eyes. “And I’m not even worried about one of them getting killed. I just know they won’t be killed and we’ll get them back.” She sighed while considering what she was so worried about then. “I guess… it’s the fact I don’t know what how we’re going to get from point A to point B, you know.”
“Yeah I do.” Solari kissed Ephiny’s temple then lowered her head back down. “That’s the scary part.”
“It is,” agreed the regent. She turned her lover’s arms and gave Solari a gentle kiss. “Go to sleep.”
“You too.” Solari closed her eyes as well and slowly drifted to sleep with Ephiny.
~*Part 13*~
All of the queens entered into the meeting hut last, after the council members. At one end of the table sat Masika as always and at the other, stood Ephiny in front of Queen Gabrielle’s chair.
Masika waited for everybody to gather into the room and for everybody to fall silent. After about two minutes, she finally spoke to everybody. “First, I would like to thank all of the queens for making it here so quickly especially during the winter.”
All of the queens began nodding their heads.
“Now that brings me to why we are all here,” continued Masika. “Our Queen, her consort Xena, and Xena’s brother Toris have all been captured by kidnappers.” She paused and focused her attention directly on the regent. “Ephiny, please fill in the queens with further details.”
“Thank you, Masika.” Ephiny grasped the top of the Queen’s empty chair then spoke. “A few days ago, Xena and Toris were ambushed about two days south of us. We were not sure by whom at first. A day after their capture, Queen Gabrielle decided to seek them out however on her ride out of the village she was taken surprise by a few men and two of our Amazons.”
“Two of our Amazons?” called out queen Aureus.
“Not quite, one was certainly one of our Amazon. The other was more of an imposter.”
“By Artemis, how the Hades did that happen?” growled out one queen.
“At this point,” cut in Masika, “it does not matter. Right now, our concern is getting our Queen back.” She eyed all of the queens, waiting for one of them to fight against her. She got no rebukes so she nodded to Ephiny to continue.
The regent gave a faint smile of thank you before continuing. “As I was saying, the Queen was kidnapped. Now just yesterday, we received a ransom letter from the kidnappers.” She unhooked the scroll from her side and listened to everybody in the room quietly whisper amongst each other at this news. She unrolled the scroll and waited for the silence. She then read it aloud and then afterwards rolled it back up. She held the scroll briefly but placed it down on the table. “Those are the kidnappers demands.”
“By the gods, ten thousand dinars?” questioned queen Zahra.
“I know, it’s a lot,” stated Ephiny.
“If we put all the Nations’ money together, it still would not be enough,” reminded queen Gloria.
Ephiny sadly nodded.
“Then what can we do?” called out one council member.
The room was silent for many moments.
Masika cleared her throat and looked down to Ephiny. “Have you any ideas, Ephiny?”
The regent lowered her head and stared down at the Queen’s chair as she considered. Very slowly, she lifted her head back up and finally answered, “I do… not, Masika.” Her head fell back down as she heard plenty of Amazons in the room yelling out. She closed her eyes for many moments while various people began demanding what would happen then.
“Everybody settle down!” ordered Masika. She slammed her fist on the table and stood up. “Quiet down, damn it.” She waited until everybody finally stopped yelling. “Thank you.” She then sat back down. “Now then, does anybody have any thoughts on this?”
“Well…” started queen Nyx, “maybe we can gather funds up from various allies.”
“And do you think they would even have enough?” called out a council member.
“Queen Nyx, despite how loyal some of our allies are,” reminded queen Caitriona, “they are not wealthy.”
Nyx sighed and countered, “Well, its better than giving up.”
“Well maybe none of you realize this but here is something to think about,” spoke up queen Mairead. “These kidnappers are… were Amazons. They can add the Nations’ piggy banks and know roughly how much money we have between us all.” She stopped, shrugged, and finished her idea. “Its obvious they know we cannot afford this and only plan to sell them to the highest bidder. Personally, I think this is just something to keep us busy and flustered until they can sell them.”
“I agree with queen Mairead,” announced queen Gloria. “These people are not stupid. They would not have gone through all this trouble and ransom them off for ten thousand dinars when we do not have it. The only person that’ll have that kind of money is a king. Its absurd. It’s just a distraction.”
“A distraction from what exactly?” countered a council member. “What’s there to distract us from?”
“Maybe from striking back,” replied queen Mairead.
“If that were the case,” cut in Ephiny, “then we would know where they are first. Even if we did, we cannot risk their lives.”
“Wait!” Queen Gloria stepped forward in front of the queens. “Are we still talking about Queen Gabrielle and Xena the Warrior Princess right?” She had a small grin on her lips.
Ephiny raised an eyebrow in challenge.
Gloria folded her arms against her chest. “If I remember right, I got my ass kicked by Queen Gabrielle in that contest.”
“Even I did,” stated queen Mairead. “Queen Gloria is right. This is Queen Gabrielle and Xena we are talking about. They can hold their own… against anybody or anything.”
“What are you purposing then?” inquired Masika.
Mairead stood next to queen Gloria now. “That we lay siege on these kidnappers.”
“And how do you purpose we do that when we do not know where they’re located?” reminded a council member.
“That’s easy,” answered Ephiny. She looked to the council member now. “They will bring Toris to us eventually. All we have to do is find out from Toris how long it took him from the kidnappers to here and how they traveled. Once we know that information, we can then scout the surrounding areas. It may take some time but we’ll be able to find them.”
Several of the queens nodded their heads.
“And exactly what happens if we do risk Xena and Queen Gabrielle’s lives?” Masika glanced between Ephiny and the queens. “For example, they are drugged.” She held her right hand out to the scroll on the table. “Even the ransom letter said they will be beaten for the ten days.”
“I don’t know, Masika.” Ephiny leaned against the Queen’s chair. “I have a feeling that somehow they will hold their own against Renotta and Kate.”
“How can you be so sure, regent?” urged the head council member.
Ephiny took a deep breath and stated, “I know… by Artemis, I know.”
Masika took the regent’s word and settled back into her chair. “You all honestly believe that this ransom is a distraction?” She looked to the queens.
“Yes,” answered queen Caitriona. “They know we cannot come up with that money. They’re just hoping though we’ll try to and keep busy trying to come up with it.”
“They’re buying time,” declared queen Mairead.
“For what?”
Ephiny looked to Masika and answered her question. “Why else? To ready their army.”
Mairead chuckled deeply at that and stated, “Pay backs are a bitch.” She shook her head and leaned her weight back onto her right foot.
“What do you mean?”
Mairead turned her head to queen Parvulus. “Renotta and Kate are out to get the Amazons back.”
“For what?” urged queen Parvulus.
“I think I can help with that,” interrupted the regent. “We did a little research on them. I believe this Amazon, Kate, is really a southern Amazon named Kyle.”
“Almost an Amazon,” corrected Mairead.
“Yes exactly.” Ephiny straightened up off the chair finally. “Supposedly Renotta was in love with an Amazon in the southern tribe at one time. Then I imagine Kyle shows up new to the tribe and they catch each other’s eye. They end up together and Renotta’s partner commits suicide because of it. Mairead can tell you the rest.”
The southern queen nodded. “After the suicide, we held Renotta and Kyle responsible but before we could expel them from the Nation, they left. Kyle disappeared while Renotta transferred up here to Queen Gabrielle’s tribe. Now it sounds like to me that they plan to get even with the Amazons.”
“Stupid little….” Queen Caitriona fell short on her words.
Ephiny looked down to the head council member. “Masika, I would like to request I assume full power as regent.”
Masika quickly turned her head to Ephiny, an astonished look on her features. “Full power?”
“Yes, please.”
“Wait,” cut in queen Goria, “what is full power?”
Masika took a deep breath and glanced over to Phyllis.
Phyllis nodded at Masika’s look. “It general, it means whoever the regent is assumes the Queen’s position until the Queen returns. It also means the regent no longer has to go through the council for authorization. She also, in this case, assumes power over all of the queens.”
“She becomes dictator then,” summed up queen Parvulus.
“In one word, yes,” agreed Phyllis.
Masika sighed and finally returned her attention to Ephiny. “Why should I grant this, Ephiny?”
Ephiny bit the inside of her mouth slightly but stood tall and eyes locked on the head council member. “I know what to do to save the Queen and her consort. But I need to assume full power without any questioning or anything to slow me down to do what I have to do. I’m asking you to trust me, Masika.”
Masika lowered her eyes to the table while considering Ephiny and her words along with the situation. “We are now at a standstill,” she said slowly and quietly, “when our two chosen are at risk. They are the ones to shape our destiny yet at the same time that cannot be done without us shaping their own.” She gradually lifted her eyes back up to Ephiny. “At times like these, we all must put our faith into one person that can lead us safely. Ephiny, I believe you can handle such a situation as this and I reside all my faith in you. You are another key to helping the Amazons surpass these desperate times.” She slowly stood up from her seat and ordered, “As the head council member, I grant Ephiny full power over all nine nations, the council, queens, and full control of all Amazons.” She paused but then quietly added, “Bring them back to us, Regent Ephiny.”
Ephiny nodded. “I promise I will.” She grabbed the scroll off the table.
~*~*~*~
“Holy Hades,” yelped Solari. “You’re what?”
“I’m thee Regent,” quietly stated Ephiny.
The second in command shook her head and asked, “You’re fully in powered?”
“Uh huh.”
Solari suddenly had a huge grin. “Cool.”
“Enjoy it,” teased Eponin.
The Regent laughed quietly. “I plan to.” Now she went more serious while looking back at the hundred or so Amazons practicing in the sparring area. “How many are there?”
“We have one thousand Amazons total,” reported the weapons master.
Ephiny slowly nodded her head while considering and staring at the Amazons. “Has the perimeter security been beefed up?”
“Yes.” Solari pressed her lips together then added, “Each side now has five Amazons.” She turned her head to Ephiny. “We also thought we could design a few look outs on the west, north, east, and south sides.”
“Good idea,” agreed the Regent.
“Do we have any plans yet?”
“Was there anything decided in the meeting?” also added in Eponin.
“Mairead came up with a good point in the meeting.”
“Mairead really?” joked Solari with a grin.
“What was it?” The nudged Solari to be quiet.
The second in command huffed but returned her full attention to her partner.
“She pointed out the fact that these are Amazons and that they know how much money the Nations have altogether.”
“So?” urged the second in command.
“Let her speak, Solar,” taunted the weapons master.
The all-powerful Regent lifted an eyebrow at her partner. “Ssssso… that means that they know we cannot pay that ransom. It’s just a distraction to keep us away from them.”
“Then what are we going to do?”
Ephiny sighed and folded her arms against her chest. “For once, I’m going with Mairead on this one. We’re going to attack them.”
Solari’s jaw fell to the ground. “What?”
“Close it… a fly could land in that big mouth of yours.”
Solari glared at the weapons master. She then looked back at Ephiny. “Honestly, you think that’s a good plan?”
“Yes. We can’t pay that ransom and we have no other options at this point.”
“What about Xena and Gabrielle?”
Ephiny’s eyes flickered over to Eponin. “I don’t think they’re planning to stick around and be sold to slavery.”
“She’s right on that one, Ep.” Solari peered up at her friend. “They won’t stand around and wait to be rescued either.”
“Yeah I know they won’t.” Eponin considered the idea. “We’re just going to need to find out where they are though.”
“Yes, that might be a little tricky.”
“What about Toris?” cut in Solari.
“Exactly,” agreed the Regent. “Once he’s here, we’ll be able to find out more information.”
“Let’s hope it’ll be enough to scout out the area.”
Ephiny shrugged a little. “I think it will be.”
“What about Renotta and Kyle?”
“What you mean, Ep?”
Eponin shrugged at the Regent’s question. “What we going to do about them? Kill them in the attack or plan to keep them alive?”
“We have to keep them alive,” cut in Solari. “They have to be held for trial for crimes against the Nation.”
“Yes… but Ephiny can bypass that since she is empowered now.”
The Regent turned her head away from her friends and studied the training Amazons ahead. “I think we’ll capture them. I’d rather keep to Amazon law.”
“Sounds good,” agreed the weapons master. She then turned her head back to the Regent. “What now though?”
Ephiny slightly shrugged but answered, “Nothing. We cannot do anything until Toris shows.”
“Who will we have scooting?”
Ephiny considered the second in command’s question. “Talon.”
“Amarice?” suggested Solari.
Ephiny nodded her agreement. “Teresa as well.”
“Send a few others with them?”
“Yes I think so.” Ephiny focused on her two friends. “Virginia will be one of them. All on horse back this time.”
“It’ll go much quicker,” agreed Solari.
The Regent glanced back to the practicing Amazons. “Until then… keep the Amazons at the ready. As soon as we know where they are, we’ll strike them.”
“Let’s hope Xena and Gabrielle will be ready for it.”
Ephiny only grinned at Solari’s words. “They will be.”
~*~*~*~
Xena narrowed her eyes when Renotta and Kyle came into the dungeon. They each had a plate of food and once at the Soulmate’s cells, they slipped them under the bar doors to them.
Gabrielle finally opened her eyes after hearing them come to the cells. After they each straightened up with empty hands, they went to Toris’s cell.
Toris had yet to awaken since he’d arrived with Xena. Even when his cell door creaked open, he still did not wake up.
Renotta neared the sleeping man and knelt down beside him.
Kyle waited at the door, just watching her partner unshackle the man. After he was completely free, she went to the other side of the man.
Together, Renotta and Kyle dragged Toris out of his cell and towards the large double set of wood doors.
“What you think they’re doing?” whispered Gabrielle.
Xena didn’t respond until they left the jailhouse with the huge doors slamming shut. “Gods only know.”
The warrior-bard shook her head and stared at the food just to the right of her hands. “I don’t trust this food.”
The warrior glanced down at her own and shook her head. “Don’t touch it.” She lowered her head back against the cool stone wall. She felt her body aching from sitting in this position for the last few days.
Gabrielle studied her partner and realized she was a little luckier than Xena. She was only chained by her hands however Xena was chained by both her hands and ankles. Renotta and Kyle knew the Warrior Princess too well if they shackled her down, limiting her capabilities to move.
“You think we can get out of her?” whispered the Queen.
Xena didn’t open her eyes while she considered the question. “We can… we will.”
“Any plans partner?” Gabrielle now started examining the jailhouse more carefully.
“Not sure just yet.” The Warrior Princess turned her head to the right and opened her crystal blue eyes. “We’re going to have to make our move soon though.”
“Before our bodies start to weaken anymore,” muttered the tiny warrior.
Xena nodded her agreement.
Gabrielle sighed and looked back at the food. Her eyes then traveled down the length of her body to her boots. Suddenly something metallic shimmered up to her and it caused a happy grin to crease her lips. “Xena?”
“Hmmmm?”
The warrior-bard leaned forward but only so much but she dragged her right leg up to her body. She grasped the hilt of her dagger and carefully extracted it. “Will this help?” She waved the dagger at her Soulmate.
Xena chuckled and stretched her right hand as far as she could get it.
Gabrielle reached out and was just able to place the blade into her partner’s hand.
“Thanks.” The warrior flipped the dagger in the air and caught it by the blade. She then drew her right arm in and hid the dagger behind her back. But before she could start picking at the shackles, the jailhouse doors flew open and Kyle entered. “Great,” she muttered.
Kyle went directly to Gabrielle’s cell and grasped the bars while grinning down at the warrior-bard.
“My Queen, its time you met Renotta’s better half.”
The Amazon Queen glared at the small Amazon.
Kyle chuckled but opened the door. She held out two pairs of shackles and bent down at the bottom of Gabrielle’s feet. “Don’t try anything.” She knelt down while saying, “You wouldn’t want to risk anybody’s life now.”
Gabrielle gritted her teeth as she felt the cool shackles tightening over her ankles. “What’s the point of all this, Kyle?”
“Nothing but girls just wanting to have some fun.” The grinning Kyle stood back up and held both pairs of shackles in her hands. “Now stand, Queen Gabrielle.”
The warrior-bard fisted her hands up but stood up slowly.
Kyle stood beside her now and began putting the cuffs around the Queen’s wrists.
Gabrielle felt a lump in her throat, she quickly looked to her partner.
Xena was watching the entire time and felt every bit of her anger flaring up inside herself.
The small warrior turned her head away and watched Kyle grab a leather collar off the wall next to her head. She closed her eyes not wanting to stare into the dark brown eyes. She felt the cold hands put the collar around her neck then strap it on tightly in the front. Next she felt a hard snap on the leash and she heard Xena’s shackles jerk.
“Xena, there’s nothing you can do,” stated Kyle. “Just sit back and enjoy the noise.” She stepped out of the cell and pulled on Gabrielle’s leash. “This way, my Queen.” She led the Amazon Queen down the hall then into a large sealed off room at the end. She pulled the door open and stepped behind Gabrielle. “You’re new home.” She suddenly kicked Gabrielle in the square of her back.
Gabrielle growled as she fell onto the floor in the small room. She took a few deep breaths but looked up to her left and saw several weapons hanging off pegs on the wall.
Kyle closed the door behind herself and grabbed Gabrielle by the centre of her cuffs. She lifted the small warrior up onto her knees.
Gabrielle kept her dark forest eyes on the woman. She watched her grab a short but thick and smooth stick off one of the pegs and neared her again.
“So how long have you been the Queen for, Queen Gabrielle?” Kyle strolled behind Gabrielle and to the opposite side of the room. She went to a small fireplace and knelt down beside it.
“Four years.”
Kyle nodded a few times while placing the stick down on the floor. “Very nice.” She took a minute to start the fire up. After she did that, she reached over to her left where a poker rested against the wall. “You enjoy being the Queen?” She pushed the poker into the fire and between a few burning logs.
“I’m proud to be the Queen,” coldly stated Gabrielle.
“Oh I’m sure of that.” Kyle pulled the poker out a little then pushed it back in. “But do you enjoy it?” She picked up the stick again and stood up, facing the Queen.
“Very much,” proudly replied Gabrielle. Her dark eyes lifted up to the woman. “We are a family, we protect each other. The Amazon spirit is unbreakable and I will never stop representing them.”
“We shall see.” Kyle patted the end of the stick in the palm of her free hand as she approached the Queen.
Gabrielle lifted her eyes up to the thin, sheer sunlight that beamed through the barred window. Suddenly she felt her back scream out in pain, and she bent forward. Then cool wood slipped under her chin and lifted her head back up.
“We shall certainly see, Queen Gabrielle.” Kyle furiously kicked at the Queen’s side, sending her onto her side. “You and your Amazons are a weak group of frail women.” She shook her head then kicked again.
Gabrielle closed her eyes but didn’t show any weaknesses.
“Renotta and I have learned this in under a year.” Kyle sarcastically laughed.
“And to think, you wanted to join, Kyle,” whispered the angry warrior-bard. Her feral green eyes flew open. “But neither you nor Renotta are good enough for my Nation.”
Kyle smirked back. “Yes, we are better than you and your Nation.” She walked around the Queen. “That is why you are here.” She held her hands up and out. “In my compound,” she lowered her right hand to the Queen, “shackled by my chains.” She growled and kicked the Amazon onto her back. “And suffering by my hands.”
Gabrielle took a shaky breath and forced herself up onto her knees. “It will be my Nation that will break your compound apart.” She slowly turned her head to Kyle. “But it will be Xena and I that break your spine, Kyle.”
Kyle knelt down beside the Queen. “Your Amazons are weak, my Queen. Your warrior is aging.” She leaned her head in closer. “And you are deluded by some goddess that will fade away into nothingness one day.” She quickly brought her right hand up and slapped Gabrielle hard across the face. “You are hopeless, Queen Gabrielle.” She grabbed a handful of short blond hair and jerked Gabrielle’s head back. “You’re as dead as your great Amazon Nation.”
Gabrielle felt her chest wheeze when the stick connected with her chest. She felt so much fire flare up down through her lungs, it was so hard to breathe now.
Kyle threw the Queen’s head forward then stood back up. She walked over to the fireplace and placed the wood stick on the small mantle. Bending forward, she slowly extracted the red glowing poker out of the fire. She turned around holding the poker up. “Now you’ll cry out the pain and fear your Nation is now consumed by.” She came up to the Amazon Queen and lowered the hot poker closer to Gabrielle’s side.
The Amazon Queen kept her eyes closed and her teeth clenched. She sensed the extreme heat next to her skin and then suddenly….
Xena closed her eyes when she heard the outcry of her Soulmate’s voice. She felt her right side rip her apart with extreme pain and all she could do was scream out her anger in unisons to Gabrielle’s.
~*Part 14*~
“Ephiny, its been four days since we received that message.”
The Regent sighed at her second in command’s words. “I know.”
“Eph, we only have six days left,” reminded the weapons master.
Ephiny quickly stood up from her chair, glaring at Eponin. “You think I do not realize this?” she hissed.
Eponin sighed and looked away. She walked over to the door of Ephiny’s hut and just stared at it.
The second in command neared her partner’s side and gently grasped her arm. “Calm down, love,” she whispered.
The Regent closed her eyes then finally uttered, “I’m sorry, Ep.”
The weapons master shook her head and grasped the door handle. “Its fine… I got things to do.” She quickly stepped out and slammed the door shut behind.
Ephiny felt her heavy shoulders drop down in defeat.
Solari slightly rubbed the Regent’s arm in hopes to relax her. “Ep is trying to help.”
“Yes I know.” Ephiny ran her free hand through her curly hair in frustration. “I’m just….”
“Stressed,” finished the other Amazon.
“Yeah,” admitted the Regent.
Now there was a knock at the Regent’s hut.
“Come in,” ordered Ephiny.
Solari released her partner’s arm as she realized it was heavy breathing Karena coming into the hut. “What’s going on?”
“Amarice sent me,” quickly replied the worried Amazon. “Xena’s brother is here.”
“What? Just now?” Ephiny quickly approached the Amazon.
Karena nodded her head. “He just arrived at the border.” She took a few deep breaths. “He’s… in bad shape.”
“Solari, go get Eilis and bring her with you.”
“You got it, Eph.” The second in command raced out of the door in search of the healer.
Ephiny though went up to Karena. “How’d he arrive? Was he with anybody?”
“No.” Karena finally straightened up from being hunched over. “Janelle, Virgina, and I were on patrol and found him on the ground.”
“Alright. Take me to them.”
Karena nodded and went out of the open door. She then led the Regent into the Amazon Forest and to where Toris rested on the ground.
Amarice, Janelle, and Virginia were already there surrounding Xena’s brother and trying to help him.
Ephiny bent down in the snow next to the well-beaten man. “Toris?” she whispered. She received no response of him but his chest was slowly rising and falling. She looked up to Janelle. “Run to Eilis’s hut and get her stretcher for me. We’re going to need it.”
Janelle nodded and hastily climbed to her feet. She then quickly raced off to the village.
Within a minute, Solari appeared with Eilis at her side. “Is he alive?” she asked while standing over the group.
The healer pushed her way through the Amazons and bent down on the other side of Toris. She lowered her bag of medicine onto the ground.
“He’s breathing,” finally replied Ephiny.
Eilis lifted Toris’s left arm and pressed her index and middle finger into the centre of his wrist. “His pulse is weak though,” she uttered. She then pressed the palm of her hand against his chest and realized his body was very cold. “We have to get him out of this gods be damned snow and cold,” she growled. Soon as she said that, Janelle arrived with the stretcher. “Good timing.”
“I aim to please, mate.” Janelle lowered it into the spot that Ephiny vacated.
“Alright,” started Ephiny, “Amarice, grab his feet and lets get him in the stretcher.” She grasped the man’s broad shoulders and together, they lifted him into the bed.
Eilis opened her medical bag and pulled out a blanket.
Amarice stepped between the handles of the stretch and bent her knees, grasping the handles.
Ephiny also took ahold of the handles and lifted the stretcher up with Amarice’s help.
The healer unfolded the blanket and threw it over Toris. “Get him to my hut.”
Amarice nodded and started leading the way back to the village.
Eilis though turned to Virginia. “Do me a favor, Virginia, rush to my hut and start my fireplace. I need water put into my large pot over the fire.”
“Of course, Eilis.” Virginia sprinted towards the village as fast as she could go.
The healer then turned to the two remaining Amazons. “Thank you, Janelle and Karena. Make sure you two stay warm out here.”
The two Amazons nodded and for reassurance they both tugged their cloaks closer.
Eilis nodded then hurried off to her hut to take care of Toris.
~*~*~*~
“How is he looking?” asked the worried Regent.
Eilis closed the door to Toris’s room. “I think he’ll make it.”
“You think?” asked Ephiny.
Amarice stood up from her chair and came closer to Ephiny. “What’s his condition?”
“Between the beating, lack of food, and the winter… he’s not in great shape.” Eilis walked over to her desk and sat down in her chair. “He suffered a lot. I doubt he won’t wake up anytime soon. His body seems full of a drugs as well.”
“What kind of drug?”
“I’m not quite sure… but its kept him weak for quite sometime,” replied the healer to Ephiny. “We need to let him rest right now.”
Ephiny nodded and walked over to the door with Amarice. “Let me know if his condition changes.”
“I will, my Regent,” promised the healer. She watched the two worried Amazons quietly leave her hut.
Amarice came to the bottom step of the hut and stopped. “What happens if Toris doesn’t know how long he traveled from there to here?”
The Regent shook her head as she stood in the snow. “I don’t know, Amarice.”
“What about tracks?”
Ephiny looked out over the village and watched the branches of the trees in the village. She saw how they bounced up and down from the wind. “I doubt there are any left.”
“How handy,” muttered the angry Princess. She took the last step down into the snow. “So what now?”
“We’re going to wait awhile and see if Toris comes around.”
The Princess opened her mouth about to rebel against that.
“Hold on.” Ephiny held up her hand. “I know what you’re going to say, Princess but let’s give him some time.”
Amarice shook her head but then reminded, “We only have so much time left, Eph.”
“I know,” whispered the worried Regent, “I know.” She took a few steps away. “I know something is going to show up… just give it a little more, Amarice.”
The Princess sighed and stared down at the snow around her feet. “Okay… I can wait.” She lifted her head back up. “I know you know what you’re doing and what’s right.”
The Regent slightly smiled at her friend’s words. “Thank you.”
Amarice came beside Ephiny and patted her back. “Welcome.”
Ephiny gave her friend a warm grin then said, “Let’s get some rest. Come on.”
Amarice nodded slowly and followed Ephiny to the middle of the village.
“My huts that way,” reminded Ephiny, she winked then added, “Goodnight.”
“Night, Eph.” Amarice gave a brief wave from a distance then continued on her way to her own hut. Once she was in her hut, she lit a few more candles so she could see better. Afterwards, she took her time stoking the fireplace and lightening it. Not much longer, she changed into her night shift but only laid there in her bed staring up at the ceiling. Soon a she was about to drift off to sleep, she shot up in bed when she heard somebody lightly knock on her door.
Amarice grumbled a little but called, “Yeah come in.” She watched as the door faintly opened and Talon’s head poke in some. All she could do was groan to herself. “Yes, Talon?”
“Can I come in for a second?” quietly asked the Amazon.
“Sure.” The Princess pulled her legs in and crossed them. “Is something wrong?”
Talon shrugged but closed the door behind and neared the bed. “Can I talk to you?”
“Why not?” Amarice patted the bed in offer. “Sit down.”
Talon sighed and sat down on the bed, her cloak faintly opening up. “Not sure how to quite put this but….”
Amarice raised an eyebrow in question.
The older Amazon sighed and looked away as she considered her own question. She did turn her head back to Amarice though. “I guess I just want to clear up something is all. I’ve been hearing a lot of people saying I like you… well like that.” She paused then quietly added, “Plus I’ve had just one two many people remind me that you’re only interested in men.” She stopped there and just waited for her friend’s response.
The Princess suddenly felt her stomach turn into many knots and to the point that it made her shake. “Well… is it true?”
“Oh its true, plenty of people tell me you’re straight.”
Amarice laughed at her friend’s joke. “Not that.” She sadly smiled at how Talon was trying to lighten the subject but they both knew it was a little more serious. “Do you, Talon honestly?”
Talon reached up and pulled back some of her dirty blond hair behind her right ear. “Honestly… I’m interested in you.”
The Princess licked her lips and nodded a few times. “Well that’s in the open.”
“I figured you were entitled to know since everybody else seems to.”
Amarice chuckled a little.
Talon sighed and patted her friend’s leg then stood up. “That was all I had to tell you.”
“Wait.” Amarice quickly grabbed the Amazon’s arm and pulled her back. “That’s it?”
Talon shrugged then simply answered, “Pretty much.”
“I mean… you’re not going to try and… well like you know, ask me to try it with you?” She started to stumble with her words. “Or if.. errr I’m interested in… something new? Stuff like that?”
“What’s the point?” countered Talon. “I figure if you are you will tell me. I don’t push anything on anybody, just keep them posted on how I feel about things.” She felt Amarice loose her grip on her hand so she headed for the door. “Anyway, goodnight, Amarice.”
The Princess sat there with her mouth hung open but she suddenly shook her head and said, “Yeah… uh goodnight, Talon.”
Talon grinned, opened the door, and quietly left.
Amarice just stared at the closed door then finally shook her head and the surprise away. “That… was weird.” She slid out of her bed and blew out all of the candles except for one. She then crawled into her bed and just lay there still stunned. “I think I seriously need to sleep.” She turned onto her left side and closed her eyes. “Definitely need to sleep.”
Ephiny sat down on the foot of her bed, dropped her head back, and let a very long yawn out. She then shook her head and a sleepy look formed on her features. She bent forward and slowly unlaced her boots then pushed them off.
She looked around the dimly lit hut and wondered if her partner would be back soon or not. She reached up and pulled back her long locks behind her head as she decided what to do next. “Bedtime, I think,” she muttered to herself.
The Regent stood up while lowering her hand and her hair falling back down. She then headed for the bathroom to change into her night shift, which only took her a couple of minutes to do. As she came back out of the bathroom, she felt a surprise shock jump through her body when she saw a tall woman standing in her hut. “Oh gods,” she gasped.
“No, just Artemis.”
Ephiny just stared at the goddess for a moment but she shook off her surprise and asked, “Why are you here, my goddess?”
Artemis chuckled at her Regent but she slowly neared her Amazon. “Don’t call me that please, Ephiny. Artemis works just fine.”
The Regent slightly nodded her head.
“And as to why I’m here is to help you but I don’t have much time.” The goddess sadly sighed as she folded her arms against her golden chest armour. “So listen carefully.”
Ephiny nodded and shifted all of her weight onto her right foot.
“To find the Soulmates, you must look to the rising sun for a pair of candlemarks. Once the Nation steps there, then you must fly quickly and sharply.” Artemis took one more step closer and softly smiled down at her Regent. “I trust you, Ephiny.” She suddenly reached out and grasped her Amazon’s shoulders with her large hands and began to squeeze. Artemis’s bright green eyes locked with Ephiny’s. “Do not forget your place, my Regent.”
“I never have, Artemis.”
The goddess grinned in response. “No, you have not… you are right.” She squeezed her Regent’s shoulders a little more.
Ephiny could now feel her shoulders heating up an intense amount but it immediately stopped when Artemis let go. “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome, Ephiny.” Artemis glanced over at the hut’s door then back to Ephiny. “Good luck.”
The Regent nodded then saw how her goddess glowed and disappeared. Soon as she was gone, Solari entered the hut.
Solari closed the door and shivered after being so cold. She took off her cloak and hung it up on the beg by the door. She finally gave her attention to her lover across the room. “Hey.”
Ephiny blinked and focused her attention on Solari. “Hey,” she whispered.
The second in command was about to go take her boots off but stopped when she saw the odd look on Ephiny’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” The regent blinked again but quietly added, “I was just talking with Artemis.”
“Oh that’s good.” Solari started for the desk chair but her step only went halfway as she turned her head back to Ephiny. "Artemis?”
“Uh huh.”
“Oh.” The second in command pressed her lips together in though but returned her attention to her partner. “Was it a good visit?”
“Yeah… it was.” Ephiny started to move and went to her bed, she crawled in while saying, “I’ll tell you when you get into bed.”
“Alright then.”
~*Part 15*~
Ephiny went directly to Amarice’s hut in the early morning. She banged on the door several times.
Amarice rolled out of the bed and grumbled as she opened the door. “Yeah?”
The Regent grinned at her friend’s tired expression. “Time to get up, Amarice.”
The Princess huffed and asked, “Can you come in? I’m freezing.”
Ephiny quietly chuckled and went inside of the hut, she slammed the door shut.
Amarice sighed while she was walking into the washroom to change back into her leathers. “What’s going on?”
Ephiny leaned back against the cool wood door. “You’re going off on a mission.”
“Oh fabulous!” yelled the Princess. “Where to now?”
“To find Xena and Gabrielle.”
Amarice suddenly reappeared out of the washroom but now in her leathers. “Finally?”
“Uh huh.” Ephiny lifted herself off the door and crossed over to her friend. “You, Talon, Teresa, and Virginia are going together.”
“Toris woke up?”
The Regent sadly shook her head.
“Then how do we know where to go?”
Ephiny had a faint grin as she answered, “Artemis.”
“She told you where to go?” Amarice perked up at this news. “Where to?”
“You’re to ride to the east… around two candlemarks or so.”
Amarice folded her arms against her chest. “When we find the place, then what?”
“You’re to send Virginia back. While you, Talon, and Teresa are there, you’re to do some recognizance.”
“Find out about the area, the compound, and what we’re up against?”
Ephiny simply nodded.
Amarice stepped around her friend and went to her desk. She sat down and pulled her boots around from the side of the desk. “You think it’ll be tough?”
“I’m not sure.”
The Princess sighed then slipped her feet into the boots. She bent forward and started lacing them up. “What are you going to do?”
“I plan to get the Amazons ready.”
Amarice peered up and asked, “What about the village?”
“Don’t worry, I plan to leave some Amazons here to protect it.”
The Princess nodded and sat back up in her chair. She slightly opened her mouth as a yawn seeped out.
“Come on, get moving.” Ephiny shifted over to the door. “The others should be ready by now.”
Amarice stood up and went to the door as well. She first grabbed her sword and sheathe off the closes peg. She reached back and started hook it into place.
“And you are in charge, Amarice. Alright?”
The Princess gave a huff as she reached back up and tugged her heavy cloak free. “Figured.” She threw her cloak on and buttoned it up.
Ephiny just gave a grin, patted her friend’s back, and left the hut with her.
Within about half of a candlemark, the Amazon group was ready to leave the village. Their horses were saddled up and their food along with other supplies was already packed. The four Amazons mounted their horses and were led out of the village by Ephiny and Solari.
Once they were a ways from the village, Teresa turned to the Princess. “Where are we going?”
Both Talon and Virginia also looked to Amarice in question.
The Princess raised an eyebrow. “Nobody told you three?”
“No,” replied the Amazons in unison.
Amarice suddenly had a big grin. “Oh.”
“Amarice, where are we going?” urged the third in command.
The Princess looked towards the sun directly ahead. “Towards the sun.”
“Seriously, Amarice.” Teresa had a very stern look now.
The Princess just chuckled but did say, “To the east for two candlemarks.”
The guard captain shook her head and tugged her cloak closer. “Is that two candlemarks of galloping, trotting, or walking?”
Amarice had a very confused look as she considered Talon’s question. “I’m not sure really.”
“Guess we’ll find out,” stated Teresa.
“Do ya’ll think Xena and the Queen are okay?” spoke up Virginia.
“Let’s hope so,” answered Teresa.
Amarice shifted some in her saddle and then added, “I’m sure they’re okay.”
“They are being beaten,” reminded Talon.
The Princess ran her tongue along the front of her teeth. “Alright, let’s go.” She spurred her horse into a gallop.
“Was it something I said?” whispered Virginia in worry.
“Don’t worry,” replied Teresa. “Let’s just stick with her.” She sent her own horse into a gallop behind Amarice.
The other two Amazons also followed in hopes they’d make it there in time sooner than later.