Xena: Warrior Princess

Assassin, Oracle, Bard.

by

Bat Morda

Xena, Gabrielle Callisto and Argo etc... are owned by MCA/Universal yadda yadda. This story has sex between two women in it. If it's illegal where you live- or you're underage (under 18)- or you're easily offended - stop reading now and take a nice long bath. You know who you are. This story has some pretty dark elements to it. Specifically it has a villain/anti-hero with a past that includes child sexual abuse. I wouldn't say that I'm terribly graphic or go into gory detail, but it is something that is described. If you're not up to reading about such things then go do something else- I won't be offended.

Assassin Oracle Bard

By Bat Morda

Bat Morda@aol.com

1996

Prologue: Callisto

Callisto sauntered into in the prison wrinkling her nose in distaste against the fetid stench of refuse and decay. Her eyes gleaming, she walked along the corridor of gated cells with the jail keep until she reached the end of the stone corridor. Few prisoners were currently housed in these iron cages, those who were appeared to be asleep, drunk or both.

"I want to talk to that one." She said unceremoniously to the `keep, gazing at the occupant leaning against the stone wall of the last cell. The stout man nodded and inserted his key into the heavy lock. With a swift turn and hard pull he opened the heavy barred door. The occupant of the cell eyed Callisto with interest, not moving as the warrior studied her, nodding approvingly.

"Leave us." Callisto said to the jail keep who shut the door, it's lock snapping into place with a clang, without a second glance the big man turned and left.

"Uncanny," Callisto said, with a light chuckle. "You're absolutely perfect."

"Nice of you to think so." The prisoner replied dully, "mind telling me who you are?"

"My name is Callisto. Not that you'd ever heard of me I suppose, what I want to know is- have you ever heard of a woman named Xena."

The prisoner shrugged. "I'm in prison, not living under a rock. Of course I've heard of the Warrior Princess."

Callisto paused in her stalking. "Sharp tongue for one who needs my help."

"I don't recall asking for your help?"

"Ah, but you will. What is your name girl?"

The prisoner frowned at being called `girl', she always hated that. Especially coming from someone who couldn't be much older than herself. "Alandra," she replied.

"Ah, but that's not what I've heard." Callisto teased in a sing song voice, gazing into vibrant green eyes. You may go by the name Alandra but that's not who you are, is it Raven?"

The prisoner arched her eyebrows slightly at the accusation. "You think I'm Raven- The Raven? My friend, you are deluded."

"Is that so?" Callisto asked, laughter in her voice. "Then explain to me why a woman of ill repute, who was housed in this very jail, left this morning...dead."

"Must have been something she ate." The prisoner replied, "the food isn't very good here."

Callisto circled the smaller woman, "it had nothing to do with the fact she was carrying Martinus' child? What better place to dispose of trash than in a garbage dump? I suppose Martinus was going to put up your bail today except that I killed him this morning."

Green eyes narrowed with controlled rage, "so I guess I work for you now?"

"Oh, I like you" Callisto purred, "you're smart. But what is a woman with such a sunny disposition doing with a name like Raven?"

"You know," Raven replied, "Light exterior- dark heart."

"And I don't doubt your darkness Raven," Callisto said, appreciatively. "Don't forget that. Smart, dark in time I might think you beautiful as well."

"I can hardly wait." Raven replied dryly. Callisto responded with a backhand slap across Raven's face. The young girl didn't flinch, but continued to study the warrior with mild amusement.

"There are limits to my tolerance of impertinence." Callisto spat.

"Apparently." Raven replied.

Taking a deep breath Callisto continued. "So if you know about Xena, do you also know about the woman she travels with."

Raven shrugged, "I've heard she travels with a bard who isn't too shabby with a quarter staff. Can't say I pay much attention to the Warrior Princess' private life, I intend to avoid meeting her."

"Ah, but if you want my help- you'll just have to risk it. Tell me Raven, have you ever seen the Oracle at Minos?"

Raven shook her head, wishing the war lord would leave- make that, get her out of jail then leave. She was beginning to think the woman mad; people that cheerful were usually crazy.

"Not many people have, she's quite shy. But I have a simple plan, if you help me I will get you out of this dreadful place- you do this one small thing for me and you will be free to go your own way."

"I'm listening." Raven said, evenly.

"I want you to go to Minos. Make an attempt on the Oracle's life- but don't kill her. Xena is in the area and naturally they will send for her help. When they do, I want you to kill her little traveling companion, Gabrielle."

"And then?" Raven asked, flicking strawberry blond hair behind her shoulder.

Callisto smiled, looking into Raven's green eyes, "I want you to take her place."

Chapter 1: Assassin

Gabrielle shifted her stance slightly and swung her staff in a tight arc behind her opponents legs. Instead of connecting, the blow was easily blocked as she'd hoped. Her opponent, now slightly off balance was in no position to block her next strike to the mid-section. Had it been anyone but Xena, the blow would have connected solidly.

"No fair." Gabrielle complained as Xena leaped gracefully over her head, landing behind her. Argo lifted her head from the clover field at the outburst, chiming in with a loud nicker. "I didn't ask you." Gabrielle shot back to the mare.

"Argo has a point." Xena observed dryly, "all's fair in love and war."

"Then perhaps I'm fighting on the wrong battle field." Gabrielle replied with a glare.

Xena arched an eyebrow. "You've had enough practice for one day?" She asked, noticing the thin sheen of sweat covering the bards body, her red hair hanging in damp tendrils.

"With the staff maybe." Gabrielle replied stepping closer to the warrior. With deliberate movements she unclasped her top, letting it fall to the ground. Running her hands slowly over her breasts and down her abdomen a seductive smile slid across her lips at Xena's eyes widening in appreciation. Gracefully she undid her skirt and let it fall to earth as well, watching Xena's eyes roam over her body. When the azure blue gaze fell to her hips, the warrior moistened her lips unconsciously. Leaning in for a hungry kiss, Gabrielle ducked out of her grasp with a laugh.

"Gotcha!" She exclaimed, taking off at a run to the nearby lake.

With a wry grin Xena watched her lover run for a few moments before removing her own armor. They'd been working out all morning and a swim in the lake would feel quite good. She took her time, her pulse quickening in anticipation of the cool water, and Gabrielle.

Naked, Xena walked through the short grass to the shore of the lake. Gabrielle was no where in sight, so Xena stopped to listen. The waterfall tumbling into the crystal blue waters of the lake made listening difficult but the warrior's keen hearing picked up the heavy panting of the concealed bard.

Still unable to locate her visually, Xena began climbing the rocks that rimmed the side of the lake. Gabrielle was close by- just hidden. About twenty feet up the sheer rock wall, nearing the waterfall an outcrop of rock overhung the deep lake. It was from behind the outcrop that Gabrielle came at Xena yelling loudly, swinging on a rope.

"Yiyiyiyiyiyiy" She howled, in her best Xena impersonation. Xena flattened herself against the rock face and let the bard swing past. As she headed back over the water, Xena leaped and caught the rope a body's length above the bard.

"Hey!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

"Let me guess," Xena replied coolly, "no fair?"

"We'll see about that princess." Gabrielle replied beginning to climb the rope.

Xena couldn't help but remember the time they'd been trapped in that well. Gabrielle barely able to hang on, much less climb. Hard to believe it had only been a short year ago, the bard had come so far, and improved so much. *And stolen your heart in the process*, Xena thought ruefully. They'd only been lovers for several months and still, every time with the bard was a rebirth for the warrior.

Gabrielle reached Xena's foot, and securing her position on the rope with her feet, she gently caressed Xena's leg with her free hand. "Give up Xena?" She asked, reaching the warrior's knee, nibbling on it playfully.

"To a *bard*?" Xena replied, "I don't think so."

Gabrielle smiled, and hoisted herself two more times. Still secure on the rope, she was able to lean forward and trail wet kisses across the warrior's thighs.

"Gabrielle," Xena murmured, "I don't think this is the best place for"

The words died on her lips as Gabrielle gently teased the soft down between Xena's legs, first with her fingers then, her mouth.

"Oh really?" Gabrielle said, drawing back. "Well maybe this will be more to your liking." Another couple of pulls on the rope and she was even with the warrior's breasts. Sliding her free arm around Xena, Gabrielle attacked one ample breast hungrily, then the other. She released Xena long enough to shift the rope then brought her legs up, hooking them around Xena's hips. With a chuckle, she let go of the rope, wrapping her arms around Xena as well. "Not quite like the last time I climbed you like a tree?" She murmured into Xena's neck.

"Better," Xena replied. "Defiantly better." Xena could feel Gabrielle's moist labia pressing against her own sex, and did her best to think clearly. Under the circumstances, it was very difficult. *I can let go*, she thought, looking down into the deep blue of the lake. But the thought of falling twenty feet into cold water, with a bard wrapped around her body was unsettling. Besides there was the chance that Gabrielle might be hurt. Very carefully she passed her hands over each other as she slowly descended the rope. She almost lost her grip a couple of times as the bard's tongue caressed the outside of her ear, or her teeth nipped at her throat. Gabrielle shifted again, sending a charge like electricity through Xena's groin as nimble fingers reached to caress an already taught nipple.

Xena gasped as the cold water closed on her feet. The rope descended all the way to the water and she was going to make use of every inch of it. Gabrielle's ambush could not go unanswered. Shifting again Gabrielle straddled Xena's thigh, sliding her wet cleft down, until she could take a firm breast into her mouth.

Gabrielle squealed in surprise as Xena let go of the rope and gracefully slid into the water, bard still attached. Under the surface of the cool lake, Xena trailed her arms up the sides of Gabrielle's body, reaching behind her neck and claiming her mouth with her own as they broke the surface. They kissed for long minutes, Xena treading water for them both, Gabrielle's strong legs still wrapped around the warrior's middle. Finally Xena headed to shore, awkward but well worth it. When the water was shallow enough for her feet to touch bottom, she hoisted the bard higher, claiming the bards breasts with her hungry mouth.

"Xena." Gabrielle panted.

"Mummmm?" Xena asked her attention focused on the task at hand.

"Why do you always win?"

Xena drew back from the bards breast and gave the question some thought. "Are you complaining?" She finally asked.

Gabrielle smiled, lovingly brushing wet bangs away from the warrior's forehead. "No" She breathed, canting her head, claiming Xena's lips with her own.

"Good," Xena replied when the tender kiss broke. "Because I see this as a tie," she said as she carrying her to their camp on the grassy bank.

From the dark shadows in the cliff wall, Raven watched. Skilled in silence and patience she could sit immobile for hours, days if necessary. Her back supported by the rock wall, limbs relaxed and comfortable she watched and listened; studying the bard with professional detachment. At first Callisto had been angry with her refusal to carry out her orders as planned. *"How can I take the bards place on looks alone?"* Raven asked. *"What good is assuming the role then failing as soon as I open my mouth to speak. Will that not alert Xena all the more?" * Callisto had finally been won over by the assassin's logic and had given her a month to follow the duo provided she could do so unobserved.

Glad to be out of the rancid jail, Raven welcomed the challenge. And it was indeed a challenge. It took a week of careful observation of their trail before she could follow close enough to see her quarry, undetected, and several days more before she could get close enough to hear them. She spent part of her day determining where they were headed, then it was a matter of scouting ahead to find the most likely camp spot. After finding a safe spot to hide it was a matter of waiting- and Raven was very good at waiting. At first she spent as many nights alone as in the company of her quarry- but as she grew to understand the warrior's thinking, she was now always in good company.

She sat and watched in silence, night after night. Listening to their conversation, noting the cadence of the bard's speech, reading their body language, watching them make love. She would drift into a light sleep only when she saw Xena sleeping. Then after they departed in the morning, she'd doze for a couple of hours before choosing an alternate route to their likely destination and sprinting. Raven ate very little. Some bread, and cheese she carried with her as well as, berries, and other edible plants she found along the way. She wasted no time hunting game, getting some protein instead from a variety of insects encountered in her search for plants. It was simple, basic and assassins, the good ones at any rate, knew to keep things simple.

So she watched with a sense of detached professionalism as Xena gently lowered her bard to the ground. Soft spoken endearments were exchanged as the warrior covered the bard's body with her own. Strong hands caressed the face so like Raven's even as long fingers stroked strawberry blond hair the same shade as her own. Raven was used to the uncanny resemblance of Gabrielle by now, although at first it had been a bit of a shock. Raven noted that she would need to get her hair cut, a little shorter on the bottom and she'd need it short over her eyes- but that was easily done. Getting the right outfit might be a bit harder but it could be done. She didn't take notes, there was no need.

Raven remembered everything. Every book she ever read, every conversation she'd ever heard. Every sight, every sound, scent, every body, every kill they were all with her always. After one glance at the bard's garb, Raven noted the color, cut, weave of the material. A lesser assassin might have just planned to steal the bard's clothes after the deed was done. But Raven never stole from the dead. She was an assassin, not a thief. Besides depending on one's *client* for anything was risky, often blood stains were enough to undo sloppy assassins- and Raven was not sloppy.

Attention to detail had been a way of life since she could remember. At once her salvation and her curse. Her earliest life must have been much like any other child of her village- she didn't know she couldn't remember back that far. No, her memory, every crystal clear image was after it entered her life and shattered everything.

*It*. The beast that had moved into their house after her father had died in a farming accident. She suspected her older brother had received *it's* attentions first. Adonis didn't handle *it's* affections well. Like her he rarely ate, seldom spoke, never smiled. Ravaged by remorse and guilt he took the rage out on himself. First with fire then knives, finally when he could take no more he hung himself in the barn. He was sixteen. Raven was ten at the time. She could not be sure but suspected *it* started with her when she was eight. Pinned down on the table from *it's* greasy bulk she turned her head from the fetid stench of *it's* breath. As she did, she saw a raven perched on the branch of the tree outside. No longer was she a little girl being raped by monster grunting like a boar in rut. She was the raven. She studied the details of the bird's form. The shade of black, the quick movements of the bird's head, the wisdom of those avian eyes. If she were a bird, a raven, she could fly away, be elsewhere. From that moment on when *it* happened she was gone. Unconcerned by the betrayal of her own body, she left it. She would fly, leaving the village, the valley everything terrestrial and claim the sky as her own.

Sadly, she would return, when *it* rolled off of her like a beached whale and told her to get out. After wiping herself off in the kitchen, she would go out to the chicken pen and gather eggs or milk the cow. All the while honing her rage, and waiting. Raven thought it left few visible scars. She would not eat eggs, nor milk and whenever she came across a wild boar, she killed it. Killing was a natural part of life, there were predators and prey. She did not run from the predatory part of her nature, rather she emersed herself in it like a hot bath.

Raven remembered her first kill very clearly. Around the one year anniversary of her brother's death, *it* didn't seem to notice. For some reason *it* was drunker than usual and that proved to be *it's* fatal mistake. Raven was not a large for her age, actually she was rather slight and clearly undernourished. She was however very strong- even for the age of eleven, and inside of her a weapon forged from her torment and honed on her rage waited to be drawn. This particular evening *it* decided on some new sport. Taking a wine skin, *it* dumped the entire contents over Raven's nude form. After telling her to hold the wineskin *it* began to lick the purple liquid from her flesh. As *it* moved up her calves Raven fingered the strap on the wine skin experimentally. The strap was thick but not wide, and most likely long enough. She felt a surge of calm mixed with adrenaline as the weapon unsheathed itself. Before *it* got past her knees she had wrapped the chord around it's neck and with muscles she didn't realize she had, strangled *it*. Oh *it* tried to fight but too much wine and a lumbering bulk were no match for years of meticulously honed rage. As *it* turned more purple than the wine staining Raven's skin, she noted the bulge of *its* eyes, the silent gasp for air *it* would not get and the look of terror as *it* realized *it* was about to die. Only then did Raven smile. The look of satisfaction easing across her features was the last thing *it* ever saw.

After that her weapon became her life. Killing became her profession. Everyone eventually ended up in the Elysian Fields or Tartarus- she just helped some arrive there sooner. She was quick, efficient and careful. Her clients were usually dead before they realized they were in any danger. It kept them from begging for their lives, not that it would have made a difference. Usually there was little or no pain involved for the client; for Raven it was a point of professional pride. Sure she could make it hurt, but only did that if the client in some way reminded her of *it*.

Before even seeing Gabrielle Raven decided it would be best to quickly break the bard's neck. Make it look like an accident if at all possible. If Callisto wanted to take credit to torment the warrior, Raven didn't care. But she knew of Xena's healing proficiency, so most of her options were out.

The assassin's expression didn't change as Gabrielle's cries of passion became louder, the sounds of desire and fulfillment filling the early afternoon air. She watched the passionate scene before her with neither disgust nor excitement only detached interest. The amorous display held the same fascination one might have for the unusual plumage of a rare bird, even more so since she would most likely be a participant if Callisto's plan came to completion.

Callisto's plan bothered Raven. Clearly the war lord was insane, not the calculated clear thinking insanity that Raven suspected she'd succumbed to, but the raving insanity of a madwoman. Raven had only accepted the job from a desire to be out of that rancid prison. With Martinus dead Callisto was indeed her only hope. The prospect of killing the bard didn't bother her, but the requirement to take her place- even if only for a short time did lace Raven's thoughts with worry. While she had assumed many roles in her career as an assassin, this one as lover would be new.

Raven wasn't stupid. She knew that looking like Gabrielle, and sounding like Gabrielle would not be enough to convince the warrior that she was indeed Gabrielle. She wasn't squeamish about the prospect of physical intimacy but knew that if the warrior didn't suspect by then Raven strongly doubted she smelled like Gabrielle after all. Besides there were thousands of minutely subtle signals exchanged by people in a constant symphony of sensation. While she could feel them, and distill most of them into very specific elements, she doubted she could mimic them, certainly not all of them, for very long. This was a challenge that while she readily accepted it, had honest doubts if she was up to it. So with calm eyes Raven waited and watched as Xena surrendered herself to the gentle ministrations of her lover and was again reborn.

Chapter 2: Oracle

Daphne woke with a start, the word *sister* dying on her lips. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light of a few embers in the fire place she saw gentle eyes gazing into her own. With a small sigh she relaxed.

"Daphne, are you all right?" A warm voice asked, rich with concern.

"Just a dream Beatrice" Daphne replied nodding slightly and touching the loving arms that held her in a circle of protection.

"A dream or a vision?" Beatrice asked, relaxing her hold slightly, but not letting Daphne go.

Daphne shook her head, closing her eyes in an attempt to erase the memory of her recent sleep. It wasn't fading. "I don't know yet love," she shrugged, "what happened?"

Beatrice released her hold on Daphne and after sliding out of bed, crossed the small room to the fire place. She quickly put some small sticks on the embers which quickly ignited into flame. "You became very still," she explained as she put several larger logs onto the fire. "Something was clearly bothering you, you were very tense, and you got cold."

Daphne nodded, taking in the details supplied by her lover. Oh, she might be the famed Oracle of Minos, but it was Beatrice who was instrumental in sorting out her thoughts and dreams that became prophecy. "Did I say anything?"

Beatrice shook her head, her long braid swinging gently with the motion of her head. "No wait." She said suddenly, looking up. "You said the word sister' just as you were waking up."

Daphne arched an eyebrow at the information that at the moment meant nothing to her. Without being asked, Beatrice crossed back to the table by the bed and picking up a heavy glass pitcher, filled a matching goblet with water. She handed the goblet to Daphne who took it gratefully, kissing the inside of her wrist in thanks.

Beatrice smiled at the gesture. Socially their roles were quite different but Daphne never failed to let her know, with every fiber of her being just how much she was loved. Unconsciously she fingered the three small hoops pierced through her left eyebrow that marked her as a slave. Daphne's slave. Turning back to the table she picked up Daphne's tablet and quill, handing them over as she crawled back into bed.

"Is it my imagination or do you actually read my mind?" Daphne asked as she snuggled back into the warm embrace of her lover.

"You're not hard to read love," Beatrice replied, taking a sip of water from the offered glass. Daphne smiled and began to scribble on the tablet. "So what did you see?" Beatrice asked as she lightly kissed the strawberry blond hair at Daphne's temple. Lightly caressing the oracle's neck, she deliberately tried to distract her from her sketching. It was important for the drawing to emerge on it's own.

Daphne knew this as well and sighed at the loving attention. "There was darkness, a lot of it. That may be why I got so cold. Not the dark of night, but the dark of evil. Well not quite evil, maybe something else, I'm not sure."

"Go on." Beatrice murmured behind Daphne's ear.

"I keep seeing the image of a mirror, but I think it's a symbol." Her thoughts were starting to coalesce and the speed of her sketching increased.

"Dark and light perhaps?" Beatrice asked.

"Something like that. But this is more personal." Daphne stilled her hand and turned in her slave's embrace. Genuine dread clouded vibrant green eyes. "I'm involved."

Beatrice kissed her gently. "Go on love," she encouraged.

"I see lovers."

"Us perhaps?"

Daphne shook her head. "Not us, but like us. There are so many parallels. I can see Fate weaving frantically, so many similar threads coming together. Similar threads but made from the wool of very different sheep. Two of us are similar, another is so different. So dark. There is one with an affinity for dark- it's so confusing." Daphne began to rock slightly, staring off into the vision of her dream. Her words began to rush out, tumbling over each other like water from the pitcher. "I see death, hatred, torment. Someone tries to kill me but it's a ruse. There is a battle. A vulture watches from a tree as an eagle battles a smaller bird over the death of a sparrow. I can't see the other, it's too dark. This bodes badly for the eagle. With the sparrow gone darkness rushes out. An inky blackness covers the land and Aires stands in triumph." Slumping back into Beatrice's embrace Daphne took several deep breaths.

"Is there anything more?"

Daphne nodded mutely, closing her eyes tightly against the awareness that slammed into her consciousness with all the force of a war hammer. "The darkness," she whispered tightly, "is my sister." Glancing down at her tablet she closed her eyes again at the sketch glaring back at her. A raven perched in a tree stared back at her, eyes shining brightly.

Beatrice gently pried the quill pen from cold fingers. Taking the tablet and the glass she placed them carefully on the table near the bed. Turning back she wrapped her arms around the cold body of the oracle murmuring gently into the hollow of her neck. "It's over love, we can sort this out in the morning."

"But" Daphne choked, fighting for some breathing space from the appalling vision.

"Shhhh" Beatrice whispered trailing delicate kisses along the length of her throat. "You will be Oracle in the morning, but for now you're mine."

"I don't deserve you Beatrice." Daphne murmured, grateful for the opportunity to surrender yet again to the woman easing her back down into the pillows.

"Deserve me?" Beatrice chuckled, "love, you own me."

"No more than you own me." Daphne whispered, gently touching the three rings above her lover's eyebrow. With that she drew the woman who was her heart and soul to her. Surrendering herself and yet claiming herself in the process.

With skilled movements, born of years of familiarity, passion ebbed and flowed chasing the demons of Daphne's vision from their bedroom. Beatrice well knew the toll the *gift *of prophecy took from her lover. It was at moments like these where she felt she knew her place in the universe. It was within her power to fill the well in Daphne's soul that the visions drained. Only she could give the oracle the strength she needed to banish the night terrors from her sight, to let her rest, to let her live. Oracles were notorious for dying young, their ability taking just too much from them. With her help Beatrice knew that Daphne might not only live to be an old woman, but would also have a life in the process. While tradition, culture and society at large might see their relationship as drastically different, each woman knew they were equal partners in the office as well as life of Oracle of Minos. Without Beatrice, Daphne would not be able to help so many and that knowledge made her smile. Not because she craved power or position, but because it was so apparent how much she meant to the wise woman.

Beatrice smiled as Daphne gently rolled her over. Straddling her hips, looking down with love in her eyes Daphne slowly undid the braid that kept her strawberry blond mane in place for sleeping. Beatrice loved the sight of her with her hair down, the feel of it, the way it reflected fire light. As full lips descended on her own, caressing and exploring her body Beatrice's thoughts drifted back to her arrival at the palace. In moments she relived first meeting this gentle woman who treated her with such reverence, to loving her for the first time.

Born into slavery, it was all Beatrice ever knew. She was luckier than most, her mother had been a skilled cook to a kindly nobleman. He allowed his servant to keep her child and she grew up attending to his children. She was permitted to sit in during their education and became quite learned. When her mother died, he agreed to sell her away from memories that were too painful to bear. Passing through several noble households, not all of which were pleasant, she arrived here in Minos. Purchased by the king himself. She was a gift to his daughter, who she discovered was only a couple of years older than herself.

That was six years ago, when she was seventeen. At nineteen, Daphne was only the kings Daughter, not the Oracle of Minos. From the very beginning Daphne treated her with special care. There was a shy giddiness to the young woman's words and actions that as a slave Beatrice found very confusing. It was only in the course of tidying the woman's library that she found the writings. Writing that since early adolescence predicted a number of events. There were mentions of headaches, nightmares, rain storms, good crops, bad crops and the arrival of a slave. Beatrice blushed as she read the description of herself, then blushed further to what Daphne had described in vivid detail doing with her. She stopped reading abruptly when she got to the part where Daphne described discovering Beatrice reading her words. The slave turned slowly to see Daphne enter from the garden, smiling at her with devotion shining from her face.

Beatrice sighed at the memory of then and the sensation of now, as Daphne parted the folds of her labia with her tongue. She would never refuse Daphne, even though she knew Daphne would not think badly of her for doing so. While the vestiges of slavery were important to the people outside the palace, within the palace walls they held no meaning. Granted it took several years of constant effort on Daphne's part but in time Beatrice did believe. Only rarely did the specter of servitude rear it's ugly head and when it did it was the doing of some other member of her father's staff. Daphne had made it abundantly clear that she would in no circumstances assume the mantle of Oracle unless she and Beatrice were granted a private residence and privacy. At the time Beatrice had wondered out loud why Daphne just didn't burn her papers of ownership.

"Oh, I did that the day you arrived," she had replied.

Beatrice opened her eyes to the aroma of cinnamon filling the cozy bedroom. "You're up early." She said propping herself up on an elbow, studying the figure hunched over the desk, writing.

"I can't be decadent every morning, now can I?" Daphne replied as she rose from the heavy wooden table. Moving to the blazing fire place, she picked up a heavy mug of tea from where she'd set it to keep warm. "Sleep well?" She asked with a wry grin, handing the tea to her lover.

"What sleep I got was blissful, and the sleep I missed even more so."

"Glad to hear it." Daphne replied leaning in for a luxurious kiss. "Because I need you to do something."

"About the vision?"

Daphne detected the subtle note of disappointment in the younger woman's voice and smiled. Beatrice was irresistible when she was insatiable, but at the moment too much hung in the balance. "Yes love, about the vision." With gentle hands she unclasped her lovers arms from around her neck and crossed back to her desk, looking over at what she'd just written. "I need you to take my horse and go to a tavern, it's in the outer most village to the south. I don't know the tavern's name, but you'll know it- a red rooster will be walking around just outside."

"Appropriately vague for a vision." Beatrice quipped.

Daphne ignored the jibe and continued. "Inside, sitting by themselves at a table will be two women, the eagle and the sparrow."

Beatrice peered over the rim of her mug. "The lovers?"

Daphne shrugged, "I think so but I'm not sure. You'll know them when you see them, I think one of them might remind you of me."

"The eagle or the sparrow?" Beatrice asked, annoyed with the vagueness of prophecy- a name or two from time to time would be nice.

"You tell me, love." Daphne shot back.

"How can I? You didn't include siren in that list."

Daphne smiled in spite of herself. "You will need to take the small portrait with you. I don't know why," she added forestalling the next barrage of questions "I just know you need to. I need to meet with these women, but not here- someplace safe and secret. The temple will be watched so we have to be careful. When you leave that village do so separately, go to the next village north, I will try to meet you by the well at the west end."

"And the darkness?"

"She will be in the village attending to business of her own."

Beatrice nodded and got out of bed. "When do I leave?"

Daphne looked at her with concern clouding her delicate features. "Have your bath and dress, after you've eaten you can go." She shook her head, "I wish I could go myself and leave you out of this"

Beatrice held up her hand. "We're in this together love, besides you've already told me I'm going to live to be a very old woman. Is there anything else I should know."

Daphne nodded, glancing down again to her notes, "if you see a lost child in the village- leave him be. Keep the eagle and the sparrow away from him as well. If I don't meet you by the well, come back here and we'll try tomorrow night. Be careful," Daphne admonished, "one of these women is especially dangerous, while my prophecies haven't been wrong yet- I'd hate for your longevity to be my first erroneous prediction."

Beatrice eased out of bed and headed for the bath. "Daphne," she said with a wry grin, "your most infuriating quality is that you're never wrong."

Daphne watched her go hoping to Athena she was right. Finally she stood and thinking about Beatrice's favorite foods headed to the kitchen to fix her breakfast.

Raven finished her business with the shop keep with out any trouble. She'd bought a few supplies and managed a pleasant conversation with the shop keep's wife who was a seamstress. Her outfit, Gabrielle's outfit would be ready by sundown. She looked at his selection of boots with interest. "These from Athens?" Raven asked, fingering the leather.

"Good eye." The shop keep commented. "You're such a nice girl, I'll let you have em for five dinars."

"Highway robbery if you ask me." Raven shot back with a winning smile, "but I'll take em. Could you throw in a bar of that soap?"

He nodded adding the selected soap to her small bundle of items. She counted out his money- twice to make sure and with a nod headed back into the market square. She would pick up her goods when she came to retrieve her new clothes. Raven glanced at the sky. Xena and Gabrielle would be arriving soon. She needed to find someone to cut her hair and disappear until sundown. She had avoided Xena's campsite the night before, wanting to get into town and conduct her business before the bard and warrior arrived. As a precaution she'd darkened her hair with bark oil and wore a shawl. Relying on a hunch and tavern gossip, she headed to the stream that she'd noticed just outside the village.

She'd not walked far when the sound of young women singing reached her ears. She took a deep breath and forcibly lightened her step, singing softly to herself to alert the group she was approaching. Before she reached the bathers however, she heard a startled cry.

"Torus, get away from here, we're bathing."

"I can see that love," The enthusiastic male voice replied, more giggles erupted.

"You can't see me until we're married."

"I can't wait until tonight."

"Don't worry Elaine, Seph and I have to take the wash back anyway- we'll see you later." A gentle female voice interjected.

Raven watched as two young women left, they carried an assortment of laundry with them giggling all the way. Raven waited until the young man got close to his beloved before showing herself at the streams edge.

"Um excuse me." Raven said in a timid voice.

The lovers looked up. Torus initially with alarm until he saw Raven's unthreatening form. "Elaine?" Raven looked at the woman hopefully, "your father the innkeeper sent me- he said you were the best hair cutter in the village, he also said you were getting married and some extra dinars to start out with would be welcome." Raven was relieved at the young woman's smile. *So the old buzzard was telling the truth to that drunken sot of a merchant who needed a trim*, she thought. Inns might be good for little else than information, but they do supply that.

"Do you want your hair cut?" Elaine asked, Torus glared at his betrothed for offering.

"Yes," Raven managed to blush, "I'll be seeing my own beloved tomorrow and wanted to look nice- he's been away for so long."

Elaine smiled knowingly and gestured for the assassin to join them. "This won't take long Torus, you can wait. How would you like it cut?"

Raven headed back through town a half hour later, except for the color, with Gabrielle's hair. Two young lovers were floating face down in the stream, necks broken most likely the unlucky victims of a bad fall. *Too bad*, Raven mused, *it was a great hair cut*- but getting one's hair cut at a streams edge was unusual enough to be remembered. That created loose ends, and Raven never left loose ends. Without giving them another thought she headed to the tavern. Something made her stop halfway across the small village street. A woman approached from the opposite direction, apparently looking for something. She eyed all the small thatched buildings with interest. It was Raven's instinct to freeze, but a statue in this active street would stand out like a beacon, so she continued on her way, shawl pulled more tightly around her. A red rooster crossed in front of the tavern, right past the door and Raven noticed the woman smile. With sure steps she headed for the door. With a casual glance she smiled at Raven who returned the greeting in kind. She watched for a moment more as the woman greeted other passers by with the same open friendly smile. When the woman was inside the building Raven let out a slow sigh of relief- she'd not been noticed, but she was not going to risk an acquaintance. She'd killed enough for one day- and she wasn't even getting paid by the body.

Her thoughts were disturbed by the cries of a small child. She turned to see a young boy standing in the middle of the street wailing- three fingers of his pudgy hand in his mouth, tears streaming down his face. Raven looked around the boy, people continued about their business ignoring him. Cautiously she walked over. The boy looked to be about six, his clothes were heavily mended but clean.

"What's the matter?" Raven asked, kneeling down to look him in the eye.

"I can't find my mommy." The boy wailed.

"If you stop crying, I'll help you- how does that sound?"

The boy considered his options. He was afraid, but at least now there was someone to talk to. He sniffled loudly, "I guess so." He replied. Raven walked to the nearby well, as she turned her back she didn't see two more figures enter the tavern. Slimy fingers reached up and took her hand. Raven frowned but let the boy hold her hand. When she reached the well she drew up a cup of water and handed it to the boy. She also handed him the corner of her shawl.

The boy took a drink of water and looked questioningly at the corner of material.

"Dip the fabric in the water and clean your face boy, you'll feel better."

Afraid to disobey and loose his only friend on the planet he complied. To his utter astonishment, he did feel a bit better.

"What's your name?"

"Maxar." He replied in a small voice, determined not to cry.

"Okay Max. Where were you going with your mother?" Raven asked, taking the cup back from the boy and finishing the water he didn't drink.

He dried his face on the other corner of Raven's shawl. "Shopping."

Raven shook her head. "I could have guessed that much. Come on Max, think. Was it food? Clothes? Soap? Think about your house- what did you need more of?"

Max blinked. No one had ever talked to him this way before. It was up to him to find his mommy. The nice lady would help but he had to help her. He tried to remember that morning. What had she said? "Duck!" he exclaimed.

Quickly Raven crouched down and looked behind her, turning back to the boy in puzzlement. He laughed at the sight. "We were going to have duck for dinner."

With a wry grin, Raven stood up. Taking the now clean hand in her own, she headed to the poultry vendor. They were only halfway there when a frantic woman rushed up to them.

"Maxar! By Zeus where have you been!" She hugged him fiercely, checking him quickly for signs of injury.

"The lady helped me find you." Max replied, tugging at Raven's skirt.

"Thank you so much." the woman said, looking up at Raven with tear filled eyes.

"He did all the work, I just listened to him." Raven replied quietly, squeezing Max's hand quickly and stepping away. He beamed at her then turned to his mother.

"Can I be Max?" Was the last thing she heard him say as she headed down the street.

Chapter 3: Bard

Entering the dimly lit tavern Gabrielle sighed. The aroma of spicy food filled her nostrils unhampered by the usual stenches commonly found in taverns. The ripe smell of unwashed bodies was almost nonexistent, not surprising since the tavern was almost empty, and for a change she did not detect the scent of rancid ale. "Nice place." She murmured to Xena as they made their way inside.

Xena quickly surveyed the inhabitants of the common room. One man asleep by the fire, another man alone- waiting for someone, a cloaked woman alone in the corner, two men conducting business over a bowl of something steaming, two more gambling, two bar maids behind the bar and one inn keep. Gabrielle walked up to the bar and addressed one of the women.

"I'd like some hot cider and a mulled mead." The woman looked at her expectantly, then moved to fill the order when she saw Gabrielle put a couple of coins on the counter. "What smells so good?" She asked, picking up the two goblets.

The woman picked up the coins. "Stew, sit down- I'll bring you lunch."

Gabrielle followed Xena to the table by the fire. She stared down at the lone man who was studying the door. When he turned his head he was visibly startled by the sight of leather and bronze filling his view. His eyes slowly traveled upward until they reached penetrating blue. He gazed at the warrior for long moments before she finally smiled pointedly at his seat. With a start, he realized what she wanted. He grabbed his drink and headed to another table.

"You do that just to be intimidating." Gabrielle quipped, taking the seat next to Xena.

"I did that to get near the fire, it's cold out there."

"I didn't think Warrior Princesses were supposed to notice the cold." Gabrielle shot back playfully.

"Oh, we notice the cold alright, we're just not supposed to show it."

"Funny," Gabrielle considered, "you weren't cold this morning."

"I don't intend to be cold this evening either." Xena replied a slow smile easing across her mouth.

Gabrielle felt herself flush. *Gods but she's sexy * she mused. It was still hard to get used to, this new side to the warrior. She had known Xena had a sense of humor, dry and under developed as it may be, and known the warrior was a passionate, fiercely loyal person, generally speaking. What she hadn't anticipated was that Xena could be playful. Passionate and playful at the same time. She still smiled when she thought about their first night together as lovers.

The rain storm on their way back from Athens had driven them from the road to an Inn for the night. It had apparently driven everyone else in as well. The room was at a premium, only one palate and a small one at that, although she did manage to haggle baths for both of them into the price. Gabrielle had come in from checking on Argo, cold and dripping from the rain only to find Xena relaxing in the tub, curls of steam rising up off of the water.

"How'd that tub get in here?" She had asked unloading Argo's saddle bags onto the floor and trying to get some of the excess water out of her hair.

"I carried it." Xena replied not bothering to open her eyes.

"Getting soft aren't you warrior princess, I could have been a brigand."

"A brigand with Gabrielle's footsteps. That would be interesting." Xena smiled.

Gabrielle frowned, her mood sour from the cold and list of chores she'd already performed. "So do I get the tub next?" Gabrielle asked hopefully, ignoring Xena's state of supreme relaxation.

"Um Hummm." Xena sighed, which the bard found more than a little unsettling, even as she was irritated. "But you might want to start bringing up your water to heat now, I'm not getting out any time soon."

"I go stable Argo, check on her hay, unsaddle the beast, bring our supplies up, arrange for our room and bath and now I have to fetch my own bath water?!"

Xena opened one eye, "at least I didn't make you fetch mine." She replied closing her eye again.

Gabrielle stormed out muttering under her breath unkind things about warrior types.

Xena had seemed far too relaxed all evening. She'd tried several times to startle, or surprise the warrior woman. None of them worked. While she could see Xena's weapons always near by, the usual tension she carried on the road, was no where to be seen.

Finally that night as they readied for bed Gabrielle stretched painfully, pinching the back of her neck with her fingers. She had not appreciated the requirement of carrying the used bath water back down the stairs in buckets in order to refill the tub with hot water- then repeating the process after her bath. While far from relaxed, at least she was clean.

"So admit it Xena- your whole reason for having me around is to wait on you?" She asked hotly.

"No." Xena replied evenly, "But I consider it a definite perk."

"Mind telling me why you're so blasted relaxed? Or do I have to beat it out of you."

"Come here." She requested gently, her eyes laughing. Xena was sitting on the edge of the bed, she scooted back, making room for Gabrielle to sit in front of her. With gentle force she turned Gabrielle around and sat her down on the edge of the bed. She carefully began to brush the hair of the fuming bard. "Just so you won't beat it out of me I'll tell you why I'm relaxed."

"Okay." Gabrielle replied, still angry but finding it difficult to remember why with the gentle hands on her hair.

"It's safe here. I know the innkeeper, it's a secure room, a relatively peaceful village and people are nicer in rainstorms. Trouble makers don't relish the possibility of being turned out into a storm. I certainly wouldn't want to make trouble in this kind of weather."

"So you're saying," Gabrielle replied hotly until strong hands began to massage the knots out of her shoulders, "you're relaxed because you can be."

"Mummmm." Xena replied.

"So why aren't you being nicer to me."

"Gabrielle, I *am* being nicer to you."

Gabrielle realized minutes had gone by and she'd not spoken. "Oh, I guess you are," she replied absently. Coherent thought was almost impossible above the din of her singing muscles. She felt warm, very warm and knew it wasn't just the fire in their room. She wondered absently if Xena could tell. "But it's just because you don't want me to beat you to a pulp."

"Oh, that could happen. I worry about it every night." Xena replied amused.

"Hey," Gabrielle shot back, "you think you're tough- but I could get you off guard if I wanted to"

"Mummmm." Xena murmured slowly bringing her hands to a stop. "Better?" She asked. She smiled at the bards affirming nod. "Then we'd better get some sleep. Think you can keep from snoring tonight?" She glanced away to avoid the bard's angry glare. She also didn't notice Gabrielle look at the bed approvingly.

Xena began to lay a blanket on the floor by the bed and Gabrielle stopped her. "Ah, Xena I think you'd better sleep with me."

Xena looked at her questioningly. "Bed's not very big."

"Yeah, but it is cold in here."

"I don't feel cold."

"That's because you're a warrior. Warrior's don't get cold, everyone knows it. Bard's however do so unless you want chattering teeth to accompany my snoring"

"Okay, okay." Xena held up her hand, "makes no difference to me."

*We'll see about that*. Gabrielle thought. Xena put on a sleeping shift and climbed into bed with the bard. The bed was next to the wall, so Gabrielle moved close to it. Xena put her sword, chakram and boot dagger with in easy reach and laid down on her side, away from Gabrielle facing the door.

"Hey!" Xena exclaimed as she drew the covers over herself. Something cold was resting against her calves

"My feet will warm up, remember that's why you're here." Xena grunted enduring the chill from the body resting against her own. After a moments worth of getting comfortable in the crowded palate, she settled in for sleep.

"You smell good." Gabrielle commented just as Xena's thoughts drifted toward slumber.

"Ah, thanks, it's" Xena replied uncertainly.

"The bath, I know." Gabrielle continued. "But generally speaking- you *do* smell good. Faintly of leather, but in a nice way. Night Xena."

"Night Gabrielle." Xena replied, puzzling through the bard's comment.

About ten minutes later Gabrielle piped up again. "You're incredibly beautiful too."

"What?" Xena asked, eyes flying open.

"I said you're incredibly beautiful too." Gabrielle said clearly, "surely you must know it. It isn't like you've not been told by every war lord we run into"

"Ah, yeah." Xena muttered, "I didn't know you thought so"

"Of course I think so. Goodness, I've told you before. At least I thought I had. If not, make no mistake you are without a doubt the most magnificent creature I've ever seen."

"Ah" Xena stammered

"I mean your eyes, alone."

"What about my eyes?" Xena asked, beginning to suspect the bard was up to something.

"They are the most intense blue I've ever seen- almost like lapis. Your hair, like ebony, skin of bronze, muscles of granite and a smile well it's beyond words."

"Mummmmm."

"It's only your personality that needs work. Physically you're perfect. I can see why Hercules prefers"

"Prefers what?" Xena asked hotly, sitting up and glaring down at the bard.

"To spend time with you in small doses. I mean I know he enjoys your company but not too much of it."

Recognizing the playful tone of Gabrielle's voice Xena wasn't angry, but curious. She wondered where the bard was going. "If there *was* anything between Hercules and me I think I might be offended. But there isn't, and yes Gabrielle, I am *very* good company."

"Uh hunh, always boasting- is that something they teach in warrior school?"

"Gabrielle" Xena said in a warning tone.

"Yes, many skills, I know, I know."

Looking down at the bard Xena was surprised by the fire in her friends eyes. Green eyes were practically smoldering with challenge, at this moment she looked simply incredible. "Gabrielle what's gotten into you?"

Gabrielle sat up, "I'm sorry Xena, I just don't believe you're the most gifted lover that's ever crossed the street- okay. No hard feelings, I just don't buy it."

"Like you would know." Xena shot back, stung in spite of herself by the bard's words.

"Oh, you *bought* that virgin act- oh that's rich." Gabrielle could see that she was getting a rise out of the stoic warrior. *Definitely got her off guard*, she thought. Only this playful teasing was no longer heading where she expected. *I'll just wing it*, she told herself.

"I see." Xena replied, challenge in her own eyes. "So you're telling me you're experienced? With men and women Gabrielle? Or just men?"

The question baffled the bard. *Great, now what am I going to do?* She took a guess, "Ah, with both- aren't you?"

"Oh, of course- it's part of warrior school you know." Xena smiled a slow sultry smile. She had her now. "So prove it."

"What?"

"Kiss me, oh great wielder of worldly experience." Xena said calmly. "I don't bite often." Laughter danced triumphantly in the warrior's eyes which hardened the bard's resolve. "Look I'll even make it easy for you I'll close my eyes." Xena leaned in a bit and closed her eyes.

*She doesn't think I'll do it?!* Gabrielle seethed to herself. *I'll show her!*

Xena was surprised by the feel of soft lips pressing tentatively against her own. She was even more surprised by the emotion surging through her veins in response. She waited a moment for the moist warmth to leave, leave her lips and leave her aching- only they didn't. If anything the warm softness pressed against her own was intensifying. The mouth became boulder as she melted under the contact. Sensing the warrior's surrender Gabrielle's tongue made its first forays into Xena's mouth seeking greater intimacy, and getting it. Xena slowly brought her arms up the bard's body, holding her close, even as she felt small hands around her own neck and shoulders. When the kiss broke, Xena felt naked in the gaze of penetrating green eyes.

"Wow," Gabrielle breathed, "that was for real."

"Yes is was." Xena whispered back. Then regaining her composure, moved back from the bard. "Look Gabrielle," She began in a rush, "I'm sorry, I know you didn't mean I'll sleep on the floor okay."

"No." Gabrielle replied, her eyes still wide and full of wonder. "You're not getting on the floor, and I don't think you'll be getting much sleep."

"Gabrielle, what are you saying." Xena's voice was thick with building emotion.

"I'm saying Xena, that I *want* you. I've wanted you forever and I'm only beginning to realize how much right now. And I suspect you want me too."

"I do." Xena breathed.

"So take me." And that was all the encouragement the warrior needed.

Gabrielle's memory was interrupted by the sensation of a knee, Xena's knee, pressing firmly against her own. She looked up quickly, Xena's eyes intent on someone moving up behind her. Slowly a cloaked figure eased around their table.

"By the Goddess remarkable." The figure facing Gabrielle breathed.

"What?" Gabrielle asked.

"Your face"

"What do you want?" Xena asked, her voice full of warning.

The figure quickly turned to face Xena, removing the hood of her cloak in the process. "I'm sorry warrior." She began in a gentle voice. "May I sit down? I would like to explain."

Xena nodded, studying the woman carefully as she sat down.

"My name is Beatrice, I belong to the Oracle of Minos"

"Belong?" Gabrielle asked.

"A slave, Gabrielle." Xena said quietly, nodding to the three rings pierced through the woman's left eyebrow. When Beatrice turned her head Gabrielle saw them, tiny gold rings, and nodded. Before she could respond, one of the barmaids approached the table, setting a steaming bowl of stew in front of the warrior and the bard, as well as a small loaf of bread between them.

Gabrielle closed her eyes and smiled, inhaling the complex fragrance of the stew. "I haven't had squash in forever!" She commented looking into her bowl, "and here's carrots and broccoli? I'll have to remember this place." After catching Xena's indulgent glance she shook her head and returned her attention to the newcomer at their table. "I'm sorry Beatrice, you were saying you're a slave?"

"Yes, " Beatrice continued, smiling at the bard's response to her food. *So like Daphne*, she thought, *always hungry*. "In name at least, although I don't really function in that capacity- I'm quite spoiled actually." Gabrielle took a moment to study the woman since she couldn't very well talk with her mouth full of stew. Beatrice was tanned, like Xena and had long brown hair that hung well past her shoulders in soft curls. What was most unusual about the woman, to Gabrielle anyway, was her eyes. They were a vibrant hazel with gold flecks. She looked too beautiful and pampered to be a slave. Although this was the bard's first trip to the city of Minos she was aware the society here accepted slavery, detestable as it was. Now however she was able to see that the rings through the eyebrow not only identified slaves, but apparently classified them into some sort of caste system as well. She had seen people earlier with one ring and at the time had not realized what it meant.

"Here, let me show you." Beatrice went on, and was about to put her hand beneath the folds of her cloak. With a quick glance to Xena she explained. "Daphne asked me to bring a scroll to show you. It's in my pocket" Xena nodded and the slave slowly extracted a scroll case from her garment. Carefully she opened it and slowly unrolled a thin piece of hide. "This is a portrait I painted of Daphne a few months ago. I'm no artist but I think you'll see"

She left her words hanging. There was no need to explain. Unrolled before Xena and Gabrielle was a small, exquisite portrait of the bard- or rather of some one who could have easily been the bard. A young woman with strawberry blond hair gazed at the viewer with a smile that radiated amused indulgence.

"It's amazing." Gabrielle breathed, setting down her spoon, looking closely at the picture.

"The resemblanceI've never seen anything like it" Beatrice continued.

"Oh we have," Gabrielle broke in with a laugh, "If you ever meet Princess Diana or her father's cook Meg"

"I take it this is the Oracle of Minos?" Xena asked, her voice serious.

Beatrice nodded, "Yes. Not many have seen her- she does not make her predictions in public as the Oracle at Delphi does. We live adjacent to the temple of Artemis, her prophecies are read by the high priestess there. She had a vision last night, involving an eagle, and a raven battling over the death of a sparrow as a vulture watched. She fears," Beatrice turned to look pointedly at Gabrielle, "you may be the sparrow. Daphne would like to meet with the two of you, and discuss this further."

"Where?" Xena asked, keeping the bard silent with a glance.

Beatrice scanned the tavern common room before answering. When she spoke her voice was barely above a whisper "there is another village just north of here. Water well- west end."

"We'll consider it." Xena replied.

Beatrice looked as if she were about to say something in response then changed her mind. Instead she sighed, "very well. We will be there should you decide to come. There is one other thing though. The darkness Daphne fears will kill your bard is near. I don't know why, but should you see a child lost in the street- leave him be. It has to do with keeping you out of darkness' path."

Xena nodded once and the slave stood. With a final glance at Gabrielle she turned and left the tavern. Gabrielle looked at Xena who appeared preoccupied with her stew. She knew that this was not the case but left her in silence to mull over her own thoughts. She turned her attention back to her bowl when she spotted the portrait still sitting uncurled on the table. She spun around to see if the slave was out of sight. "Wait, you forgot your"

"Leave it Gabrielle." Xena said, "you can return it when me meet them later."

"So we are going?"

Xena returned her attention to her stew, the food was good but she'd lost her appetite. "I think so. Unless we see a lost child, then I might want to see who else in interested."

They ate in silence. Xena brooding about Gabrielle being in danger, Gabrielle gazing in rapt fascination at the portrait on the table. "She's beautiful." She murmured, unaware she'd spoken out loud.

"Yes she is." Xena confirmed.

Gabrielle's response died on her lips as loud cries erupted outside the entrance to the inn. Wails of despair and sorrow ripped through the late afternoon quiet as Xena and Gabrielle headed outside. Two bodies were lying in a cart partially filled with straw, the inn keeper wailing over the lifeless female body. Gabrielle rushed to his side and tried to urge him away from the carnage. "My daughter," he pleaded.

"What happened?" Xena asked the cart owner.

With a sad glance at the inn keep he shrugged. "Found em floating in the stream. Looks like they slipped on some rocks, fell broke their necks."

"My baby, Elaine." The innkeeper sobbed tenderly stroking the wet black hair partially covering her face.

"Gabrielle, why don't you take him inside." Xena urged. The bard nodded, and putting her arm around the inn keep, and with gentle words led him indoors.

"Tragedy, that one." the cart owner said looking back down. "Elaine and Torus were to be married tonight. I'm not surprised he'd stolen a visit at the ritual bath, I did that myself when I got married. But Elaine can't swim- don't know why they'd go walking around on those slippery stones."

Xena nodded, indicating that she was listening to the man, but she wasn't looking at him. She studied each of the lifeless forms with interest. Easing a hand behind each of the necks, she could feel where the bones had broken. She also noticed patches of discoloration on the forehead of each corpse. Something caught the warrior's eye and she turned her attention to the front of the dress on the female, Elaine- she reminded herself. Several short tufts of hair clung to the front of the woman's skirt, near the waist. Several more people rushed over to the cart. Thankful for the distraction, Xena quickly picked up several bits of hair and closed them in her palm.

"Goddess no!" The newcomer wailed. "I saw her not two hours ago."

"Easy Seph." The cart driver placed a comforting arm around the young woman's shoulders. "These things happen, they're together in the Elysian Fields now"

"When did you see this woman last?" Xena asked as gently as she could.

"I was with Elaine when she was bathing by the stream. We heard someone approach- sounded like a woman then we saw Torus across the bank. He came to visit. Trini and I left with the laundry to let them be alone." Her slight frame was trembled with renewed sobbing. Xena felt bad for the girl, but pressed on.

"When you left- did you see the other woman you thought was approaching?"

Seph stopped her sniveling for a moment and considered the question. "No." She answered, "we didn't see anyone. Must have just been Torus we heard approaching."

Xena nodded. There was nothing else to be gained from pushing so she let her be. With a final nod to the cart driver, she made her way back into inn to check on Gabrielle. The inn keeper was sitting on a stool sobbing uncontrollably. Gabrielle stood next to him, a comforting hand on his shoulder, listening. Shortly several more people entered the inn going to the elderly man's side. A heavy set woman wrapped him in a motherly embrace and held him as he sobbed. Gabrielle made her way back to Xena as the warrior closed the top of the scroll case.

Once outside the inn, Xena unteathered Argo and headed out of town. "What a tragedy." Gabrielle commented, walking at the warrior's side. "He lost his wife last summer, now to loose his daughter"

"His daughter wasn't lost Gabrielle," Xena replied, "she was taken. That was no accident."

"What makes you say that?" The bard asked.

Xena casually looked around before answering. Nobody on the sparsely populated street was paying any attention to them. "The breaks in their necks are not consistent with the bruises on their heads- which makes me think that their necks were broken before they fell. Besides two people slipping- and both breaking their necks in almost the same spot? Not very likely- but whoever did this is good, very good."

Gabrielle shuddered "how creepy".

"Did you find out anything from the inn keeper?" Xena asked as they passed the market area of the village nearing the front gate.

"Not really" Gabrielle replied. "He was very upset. Elaine and Torus were going to be married. He said that the town joked that the couple would take care of the village from head to toe. Elaine cut hair and Torus was the son of the cobbler."

"Cut hair?" Xena murmured to herself as their attention was diverted.

"Here she is mommy." A small voice said, grabbing onto Gabrielle's hand.

The bard looked down in surprise to a small face beaming up at her. Xena glanced up and saw the woman finish her transaction with the butcher and rush over.

"I'm so glad Maxar found you"

"Max mom, just Max." The boy interjected.

The woman nodded, hushing her son, "I just wanted to thank you again for finding him. Please take this," she said pushing the small bundle into Gabrielle's hands, "it's nothing really- just some sweet meats and stuffed dates- but I had to do something. Maxa- Max is so precious to me"

"I'm sorry I" Gabrielle began confused.

"I won't take no for an answer." The woman continued, her eyes gentle. "What you did was very kind. Children can get so frightened. Thank you."

Before Gabrielle could think of an alternative refusal, the woman turned and grasping the boy's hand was gone. "What was that all about?" She finally wondered aloud, looking at Xena.

"Obviously mistook you for someone else." The warrior replied, picking up the horse's reigns once again. "Or someone that looks just like you."

Both women looked at each other remembering the words of the oracle's slave. *Lost child, darkness*, Gabrielle thought. "Is the oracle a good guy or a bad one?" She wondered out loud.

"We'll find out." Xena replied.

Chapter 4: Well

Callisto walked through the dense forest with careful steps. Pausing a moment, she listened. Only the normal sounds of the forest assailed her ears, the last traces of a fire, already a vanishing scent on the breeze. "Oh, you're good Raven. Very good. Now show yourself." She raised her voice for the last command and was startled by the nearness of the response.

"Trying to sneak up on assassins can be very hazardous to your health." Raven replied.

Callisto snapped her attention skyward to see Gabrielle's twin calmly standing among the thick branches. With casual grace, she swung down from the lowest branch and with a back flip landed behind the war lord.

Grinning with approval Callisto walked a slow circle around the assassin. "You've outdone yourself Raven." She murmured. "You look exactly like the irritating blond." The clothes were a perfect match, even the worn detail of the Amazon style fighting staff. In every way she duplicated the bard's appearance. "Now put out your hand." Callisto commanded.

Raven did as she was asked and before she could draw her hand back, a dagger flashed in the warrior's hand cutting a small gash into the palm of the assassin's hand. "Ow!" Raven exclaimed, drawing her hand back angry. She was not seriously hurt, but the cut would leave a scar.

"I intend to know exactly who is who." Callisto explained, although Raven hadn't asked for an explanation.

"You mean the fact that the bard is the dead one isn't good enough for you?" Raven shot back, sucking on her bleeding palm.

"Oh, that." Callisto laughed. "There's been a change of plan."

"I don't change plans, Callisto." Raven growled.

In a lightning move the warrior unsheathed her sword, flipped over the head of the assassin and held the steel tip to the base of Raven's back. "If you don't want me to run you through, you'll start now." She hissed.

"When you said irritating blond' I think you were referring to the wrong one." Raven muttered with a shrug. "So what is *our* new plan?"

"You are going to take the brat's place, but you're not going to kill her. I want her captured- alive." Raven's silence told Callisto all she needed to know about how the assassin saw her plan. "It is not as risky as you think. There is someone else who is going to join my little party- once I have her and the brat I'll be ready to properly entertain Xena. I think revenge is a dish best served after a long meal. Don't you agree?"

Raven turned and stepped into the extended sword, letting the blade nick a scratch in her abdomen, oblivious to the blood. "Revenge is a dish only worth serving if it will be consumed. Your dinner guest may very well decide she does not want to sit for a long meal. Revenge, Callisto, is pointless unless it is eaten."

"Oh, Xena will stay all right." Callisto said, eyes shining with their insanity.

"Callisto, you're a fool." Raven replied shaking her head sadly.

Striking out with a backhand, Callisto's fist was blocked. Deftly Raven grabbed her arm and with more speed and strength than the war lord gave her credit for, she found herself flipped in the air, flat on her back gasping for air.

Turning her back Raven clearly spoke as she walked away. "I've let you mark me twice Callisto, don't try for a third or I'll kill you."

"We'll see about that little girl." Callisto growled, getting to her feet.

Calmly, Raven pivoted back. "This disguise is working better than you think Callisto. Remember I *am not* sweet Gabrielle. I kill for a living, and while I have yet to kill an employer- you are defiantly pushing me. I will do your plan your way. But don't for a moment think you can bully me the way you do Theodorus or the rest of your men. I'll work for you, until this is over- but you don't own me. Unlike you, I'm used to working alone- killing in a thick forest without an army to back me up. You however, while tactically brilliant, are a war lord- not an assassin. Don't taunt me, show some respect and we'll get along fine."

Callisto considered the words, sounding so foreign coming from Gabrielle's face. Raven had a point, Callisto granted that. "Very well, Raven- friends." And sheathing her sword closed the distance between them. "So I take it you're ready to make the switch?"

"Not quite." Raven replied. "There are still a few things I think I should practice." To Callisto's amazement she had shifted into Gabrielle's voice. The phrasing, cadence, tone of her speech- it had the gentle warm quality of the bard. "I was wondering Callisto," Raven/Gabrielle said with a light laugh, "how well can you impersonate Xena?"

"Well enough." Callisto replied with the flat tone of the Warrior Princess.

"Good." Raven/Gabrielle said as a sultry smile eased across her face. Easing a gentle hand behind the warrior's neck she drew Callisto in and covered startled lips with her own. Breaking the passionate kiss Callisto's eyes sparkled with desire.

"I'm so glad I decided to be friends." She murmured, drawing the assassin down to the forest floor.

Raven monitored herself with the attention to detail of a perfectionist. What was clearly fun and games to the warrior was of life saving import to the assassin. Focusing, she was able to clearly see Callisto as Xena. *Not too much muscle*, she told herself as she straddled the warrior, trailing teasing kisses down the exposed line of throat. Forceful hands tugged at her top; Raven gently captured Callisto's hands in her own and after transferring both wrists to her left hand, pinned them above the warrior's head on the forest floor. "Not so fast Callisto," she breathed, "I'm the one who needs to practice- not you."

Callisto sighed with delight as Raven loosened the straps on her armor with her free hand. Not taking her lips from the warrior's skin she deftly removed the pieces of leather and chain mail. *Slower, Raven- tempo's off*, she chided herself as she eased her body between Callisto's legs. Recalling the intimate details from Xena and Gabrielle's numerous occasions of love making, Raven concentrated on the subtle nuances of body language. *Hair over the right shoulder while kissing her breasts, shift to the left side as you trail down the abdomen. Bite at the hip bone and collar bone, little conversation, keep phrases short.* In her mind, Raven could imagine Xena's responses. Starting slow enough would have the warrior arching her back against the ground offering the bard luscious breasts. Raven shrugged out of her skirt, while teasing and tasting the fullness of the warrior's breasts. Resting her thigh between the apex of Callisto's legs she slowly rose and moved her thigh against warm wetness as she returned to capture the warrior's hungry mouth.

After several slight rocking motion's of the assassin's thigh Callisto was panting heavily. "Gods yeeessssss," she groaned, wrapping her fingers into strawberry blond hair. For a time Callisto completely forgot that this was not Gabrielle. *So this is what it's like to be Xena*, she thought. *Enjoying the pleasures of this flesh at any given whim. I'm so glad I won't be killing her- right away.* Callisto rolled her eyes back as Gabrielle's warm soft tongue made it's first forays into her center, lapping at her wetness, feasting slowly. Callisto pictured Xena watching such a display. Her bard willingly feasting on another. The war lord's pulse shot up at the idea. Xena's pain, the torment of watching, the betrayal. The very idea shot Callisto up to the precipice of climax. She could feel Gabrielle holding her there, not letting her back down, not sending her over the edge. After a blissful eternity of the bard's tongue working miracles between her legs, she was sent over that edge- with such force Callisto had neither the will or the means to stifle her cry of release.

Before Callisto could bring her breathing back to normal, Raven gracefully stood, feet still planted between the warrior's calves. Looking down at Callisto's blissful smile, she allowed herself a moment of professional pride. "Thanks," Raven said simply, stepping away from the warrior and picking up a water skin. "I think I've got the hang of it."

"You certainly do." Callisto agreed.

"I'm going to the stream to clean up- don't follow me."

"But what about you?" Callisto asked, with a seductive smile easing across her features.

"Thanks, but no." Raven replied politely. *This wasn't about sex you fool*, she thought to herself as she walked to the stream, *this is about survival_ mine.*

Callisto laid back on the forrest floor, smiled up at the trees letting out a light laugh. She felt very spoiled and was enjoying every moment of it. This was a bad time to remember that she couldn't let the assassin live- still at the moment she felt too good to let even that dampen her mood.

Beatrice paced back and forth, agitated. The alcove around the well was deserted save for herself and the Oracle, which only served to heighten her stress.

"Please love, you're exhausting me." Daphne remarked mildly from where she sat on a bench across from the well.

"I told her how important this was," Beatrice complained, "I don't know why she wouldn't come."

"They'll be here, Beatrice. Now, please- sit."

Beatrice turned with a retort then changed her mind. "How much longer, then?" She asked.

"Sometime's love I say things, not because I've seen it- but because I assume it." Daphne couldn't help but smile at her lovers look of frustration. "I don't understand why you get so consumed by this. I'm the one living with the vision after all"

Now it was the slaves turn to smile. Taking a seat on the bench next to the Oracle, she took her hand affectionately. "So you don't have to live with the vision and worry about it. Trust me Daphne, if I wasn't uptight about her absence, I suspect you would be."

Daphne shrugged, "I suppose you're right. You said she was with a warrior?"

"Yes, a big one. Beautiful, but not very friendly looking- not that they ever are. Most defiantly the eagle."

"Did you catch her name?"

Beatrice began to shake her head when a rich voice cut in.

"The name's Xena."

Both women turned to see the Warrior Princess calmly leaning against the water well. Arms crossed confidently across her chest, one leg folded against the stone well.

"Xena!- I had no idea," Beatrice gasped.

Both women stood, but only Daphne crossed the short distance to face the warrior. "I'm Daphne." She said simply, noting Xena's look of controlled amazement.

Xena couldn't help but stare. The oracle's resemblance to Gabrielle was remarkable, aside from her clothing which was more affluent, the two could have been twins. "Is Gabrielle here?" Daphne asked after Xena had studied her for several moments.

"Perhaps." Xena replied evenly, a thin smile easing across her face. "I thought we'd talk first." Casually the warrior noted the ends of Daphne's strawberry blond hair. With a small sense of relief, she noticed that it was not freshly cut.

"I see." Daphne replied without offense. "Keeping her from harms way. It seems I should suspect no less from the reformed Warrior Princess. I trust that the recent stories I've heard do mean you've altered course somewhat- and are not just on a vacation from blood lust?" Xena shrugged noncommittally. She knew the oracle was not deliberately trying to bait her. Unlike Gabrielle, Daphne did not seem too adept at small talk. "Very well," the oracle continued, looking intently at Xena. "You've got doubts about me, I can see it. Lets have it, I'd like to know what I can say or do to assure you that Gabrielle's safety is also foremost on my mind. Any suggestions?"

"You're the Oracle."

"I can't believe you!" Beatrice blurted, "she's here at great personal risk"

"Beatrice, please." Daphne implored. "I'll handle this, love."

"What does she mean great personal risk'?" Xena asked, an eyebrow arching.

Daphne shrugged, "I rarely leave the temple because the majority of my prophesies involve death. For some odd reason people think intimidating the messenger eradicates the message. A lot of people are reluctant to meet Hade's sister Celesta." Suddenly she smiled warmly, the simple act transforming her face, causing the air to catch in the warrior's throat, despite her reservations. She so looked like her Gabrielle. "Most but not all of my prophecies involve Celesta," Daphne continued. "I had a vision several months ago about King Gregor- or rather his son Gabriel." Daphne could see recognition in the warrior's eyes of the baby she and Gabrielle had saved. "In time he will marry and his wife will have a daughter. To honor his namesake, they will name the baby Xena. By the time Gabriel is grown he will have heard many stories about the bard he is named after and her warrior companion. His daughter will become the first female ruler of Gregor's kingdom, and do you know what she will be called warrior princess?" Daphne laughed, a light lyrical sound, "Xena, Queen of Hearts, because she will be so adored by her people."

"Oh, how sweet."

Daphne turned to the voice coming from a dark alcove off to her side. "Gabrielle?" She inquired gently.

Xena frowned and also turned her attention to the bard slipping from the shelter of darkness. Slowly she approached and stood toe to toe with the Oracle of Minos. "Unbelievable." She breathed and reached out a tentative hand to the oracle's face. Daphne didn't move, but let the bard touch her. A glance to Xena revealed the warrior's hand resting on her chakram. "Did you really see that, in a vision?" Gabrielle asked, stepping around the oracle, studying her from all sides.

"Yes Gabrielle, I did." Daphne replied, "but for it to happen, you need to stay safe and make sure there are stories of you and Xena for the future King Gabriel to pass down."

"Perhaps you could elaborate a little on your vision?" Xena asked in a measured voice. "The unpleasant one."

"Very well, Xena, I'll explain what I can. My visions are usually steeped in symbolism, like most prophecy. I saw three women linked together as if parts of a three sided mirror. I've no doubt now that I am one, Gabrielle is another and someone else, a dangerous someone else is the third. There is another woman I can't place. I see her as a vulture- someone who sits and watches, pulling the strings from behind. The dark part of the mirror- the raven, kills the light part of the mirror, Gabrielle who I see as a sparrow. The champion of the fallen lightness, with a dark past of her own, who I can only assume is you Xena, will battle to avenge Gabrielle's death. You will win that fight, but when you do all else will be lost. I suspect you will return to the road of blood and Ares will stand in triumph as you press forward, leaving carnage in your wake."

Xena was quiet for a long moment. When she finally spoke it was to ask, "How do you fit in?"

Daphne shrugged. "I don't play much of a role other than seeing the vision play out. An attempt will be made on my life which will only serve to lure you to the trap set by the vulture and the raven. However I think if I play a larger role, it will completely offset the balance and void the prophecy."

"But what if you are the dark one?" Gabrielle asked, "this could be part of your plan to gain our trust then kill me."

Xena looked at Gabrielle a bit surprised. Granted, that had been a concern of hers, she was just surprised to hear the bard voice it.

Daphne nodded, "That is true, I suppose this will all hinge on whether you trust me or not. Search your feelings Gabrielle, am I the one you need to fear?"

Xena watched with clear blue eyes as the two women studied each other. A glance revealed Beatrice doing the same. Finally the bard nodded. "I trust her Xena. She isn't the one who wants to hurt me." With a sigh the slave started breathing again, and Xena realized she'd held her own breath as well.

"What do you propose?" The warrior asked.

After a quick glance to her slave, the oracle answered. "I think Gabrielle and I should switch places"

"No!" Beatrice pleaded, "Daphne, you can't. The danger, you could"

Daphne turned with gentle eyes and approached her lover. She spoke softly but her words were for the warrior and bard as well as her slave. "Love, I think this has to be. I couldn't be in any better care than that of Xena. Besides, you're not going to go on a bloody rampage should something happen to me"

"You've known this all along?" Beatrice asked, her voice quietly accusing.

Daphne looked away, "not exactly, but it is all falling into place now, after seeing Gabrielle and realizing the eagle in question is Xena."

Tears were beginning to well up in her eyes Beatrice continued, "you've told me you've seen my death. Daphne, have you seen yours?"

"How can I answer that Beatrice? I've seen my death many times. Had you not happened in my life, I'd be dead already. I see my death as an old woman, I also see it now. I'm an Oracle Beatrice. Every time I understand a strand of fate, the warp and weft of life's tapestry changes as does my place in it. The answer to your question is yes, this may be my end, but it might not." Daphne glanced over at Xena. "I trust Xena with my life, as I trust you with Gabrielle's."

"What do you think, Xena?" Gabrielle asked as Daphne gently held her softly sobbing lover.

"I think she's right Gabrielle. You trust her, if what she's said is the truth, then you would be safer in the temple than with me." Xena answered absently, strangely absorbed by the sight of the oracle and her lover. Something seemed right about the decision that had been reached, she could almost feel the approval of the fates. It also added an amount of gravity to the situation that was uncomfortable. She turned to Gabrielle, her azure eyes intense, taking in every feature of the bard. "Gabrielle," Xena said her name as tenderly as she could, "you've never shied away from a fight and it isn't that I think you incapable of handling this one, but I think you should do as Daphne suggests. I love you more than I've ever loved anything, and I want you to be safe." Xena lowered her voice even further, "I also think Beatrice is going to need your help- whatever the outcome."

Gabrielle nodded, taking the warrior's hands in her own. "I know Xena. And for once I agree with you.

Breaking away from their embrace, but still with a protective arm draped around her slaves shoulders Daphne walked back to the well. "I don't know what type of attempt will be made on the Oracle's life- but it will be a ruse- I think intended to lure you into the city."

Xena nodded, "what is the chance that our meeting has already voided this prophecy?"

Daphne shook her head, "until I have another vision with the same or similar symbols I've no way of knowing. Anything is possible- for all I know the darkness could have been struck dead by lightning or highway robbers last night and all of this is pointless."

"Somehow I don't think we'll be that lucky." Gabrielle interjected.

Daphne grinned, "I agree. Still, the real drawback to prophecy in general is the uncertainty of it all. But I'd rather be prepared for the worst even as we hope for the best."

"When will you make the switch?" Beatrice asked sullenly.

"I'd say tonight." Xena replied. "I don't think you should risk another meeting out here." the warrior gripped the slave's forearm with a strong hand. "I'll protect her with my life Beatrice- nothing will happen to her."

Beatrice nodded. "If it were anyone but you Xena- I'd refuse."

The four separated again for a moment of quiet good-byes. Beatrice started crying again, and Daphne forced a face of bravery that she did not entirely feel. Gabrielle let several silent moments go by before she finally spoke.

"Xena." She said gently, "I know you're uncomfortable. You're torn between wanting me safe, and wanting me with you." Xena looked up into the green eyes that could read her so well as Gabrielle continued. "I'm torn too. I honestly can't think of a safer place to be than in the protection of your arms. But this is right- you and I both feel it. I'm glad you've got the confidence in me now to protect myself as well as someone else"

"It's not just that Gabrielle." Xena interjected. "I meant what I said. I love you more than anything. Yes I know you can take care of yourself- in many ways better than I can. You're not a little girl any more- not that I ever really thought you were"

"Even when I acted like it?"

Xena grinned, the crooked smile that made the bard beam with love, "you were just being endearing." She replied, drawing Gabrielle into a tight embrace.

"I love you Xena." Gabrielle murmured into Xena's chest, as she felt the powerful heart hammer under the leather. She lifted her head to receive her warrior's kiss, and reluctantly broke away.

A quick survey of the alcoves around the well and the two streets leading to the well revealed them all deserted. With a curt nod from the warrior, bard and oracle began to undress.

"What happens if I'm called upon for some Oracle type duty?" Gabrielle asked, minutes later looking down at her new outfit.

"Don't worry." Daphne replied, adjusting the strings on Gabrielle's green top. "Beatrice, will help you with anything that should come up. She knows my job better than I do." Picking up the Amazon fighting staff she added, "What's the stick for?"

Xena gently took it from her. "It's a staff- and I don't think you'll be needing it." She smiled at Gabrielle's giggle. "We'll be staying a short distance from the city. We'll be easy to find after the failed attempt. If nothing happens in three days- Beatrice and I will meet back here to discuss our options. Agreed?"

All three women nodded, "I should have another vision by then if there's been a change." Daphne nodded. After another quiet goodbye both pairs of women departed the village.

That night Xena smiled into her soup. They were camping again- in the outskirts of the Minos fields. Both women were uncomfortable with small talk and had without words had agreed to accept it. Daphne was amazed by everything she saw; it was clear she had never been out of the city. Still it was Xena who was surprised when the oracle presented a fresh picked bouquet of herbs to flavor their soup. "Just because I don't seen them in the wild, does not mean I don't recognize them from the kitchen." had been the oracle's dry reply.

With the unspoken concern that someone might be watching them, Daphne kept her comments about her life minimal and vague. "I do so love to watch the stars come out." She said as the sun hid behind the horizon. "We've a balcony back home where I'd sit in the evenings and watch the show."

"I've always been impressed by their variation." Xena said, finishing the last of her soup. "I mean at a first glance they all seem like little white points of light, but when you look- really look, they're different shades of reds and yellows as well."

"I didn't think warrior's spent much time star gazing?" Daphne asked with a smile.

"I've been doing more of it recently." She finished quietly, a tad embarrassed.

"I know." Daphne replied gently, "love does that to you." Xena snapped her eyes up causing an even wider smile to grace the oracle's lips. "Don't worry- Xena. I promise not to tell her."

"Very funny *Gabrielle.*" Xena grumbled, causing more smiles and laughter.

"Okay, lets go over this again. I cause a quiet distraction by the river. We assume Xena comes alone- letting Gabrielle sleep. You knock out the bard and take her"

"Yes and you take her place. What is the problem Raven?" Callisto ranted impatiently.

"The problem is the *assume* part and the fact that a distraction by the river may get my clothes wet and will make it almost impossible to get to the camp sight before the warrior. You can't simply feign sleep after running one hundred yards."

"Fine! Than what?"

Raven took a deep breath. She needed to find some way to handle the mad woman and soon- or decide to kill her and get it over with. Absently she looked at the ground and her eyes fell on the map of the area Callisto had brought. A stand of trees near the entrance to the city held her attention as a plan began to take shape.

Chapter 5: Temple

"Wow, would you look at this place?" Gabrielle breathed as Beatrice lead the bard into the temple of Artemis. A small ante room opened up into the main chamber of the temple. Mosaics and graceful statuary were softly lit by the light from hundreds of candles. They were alone, a fact for which Gabrielle was supremely grateful. "Will I have to do anything here?" She asked quietly as they neared the towering statue of the virgin goddess.

Beatrice shook her head. "No. Daphne consults with the temple priestesses every morning but that happens in a chamber that joins our house to the temple. This way." Leading the bard by the hand they passed through a curtain behind the marble goddess. Through a doorway and down a narrow hall, another door opened into a comfortable room. There was a small fire place, a low table, two couches and several piles of soft cushions on the floor. "This is where you'll meet with the high priestess of the temple tomorrow morning. She'll ask you how you're feeling and if anything of any import is going on at the temple she'll let you know. Don't feel compelled to give her grand prophesies, Daphne is highly irregular in that department."

Gabrielle nodded taking it all in. Passing through the next door her breath caught in her throat. Obviously the main room of a private residence, it was elegant but not opulent. Her eyes traveled across the main room slowly. Large windows at the back let in the last of the days light, and several candles were lit through out the room making it light, but cozy. Every where the bards eyes landed there was something. A book, scroll, vase, pillow, or statue. The overall effect was cluttered, but charmingly so. "This is so strange." Gabrielle whispered. "I've never seen this place in my life, but it feels so comfortable."

Beatrice sighed, "I'm not surprised Gabrielle. Daphne did the decorating. It's her personality you see surrounding you. While she isn't much for idle conversation, she has other ways of putting people at ease." Gabrielle absently nodded and was about to step further into the room when a gentle hand restrained her. "If you don't mind, it's our custom to take our shoes off before entering- don't worry, the floor is quite warm."

Gabrielle did as she was asked and slipped her boots off, putting them on a stand in the doorway obviously for that purpose. To her surprise the stone floor was comfortably warm, as were the eclectic rugs that carpeted the floor. Beatrice followed her into the room and answered her silent question. "Water flows from a nearby hot spring under the floor on it's way to her father's palace. In the summer we keep the place cool by diverting the water away from here."

"What's it like?" Gabrielle asked, "living with an oracle?" A moment later she blushed, the question seemingly came from no where and she remembered that Daphne might be a painful subject for the salve at the moment. To her surprise Beatrice smiled warmly.

"Speaking to someone else who lives with an entity larger than life- I think you know Gabrielle. But to answer your question, Daphne isn't an oracle all of the time. She isn't all knowing, or always right. Sometimes she's rather thick headed and stubborn." Gabrielle nodded in agreement, Xena could be like that too. "But there is no denying that she is different. She has more insight, a quicker grasp of things and often I feel well mundane and ordinary." Gabrielle nodded again, she knew that feeling too. "Once I asked here why there even were oracles. Daphne told me that Oracles are Fate's way of keeping the Gods honest. Since the Gods cheat, Fate gives special insight to some to compensate and maintain a balance."

Gabrielle strolled around the room considering the slaves words. Distracted by an unusual set of stones on the shelf she didn't realize she was speaking until the question was out. By then it was too late. "Why does she have a slave- I mean she doesn't seem like the type."

Quickly looking at the woman studying her, Gabrielle felt a hundred shades of embarrassment at once. "I'm sorry Beatrice, I didn't"

"It's okay, really." Beatrice had stepped behind a low counter to the side of the room and began to prepare some tea. "Technically I'm not really a slave. Daphne burned the papers years ago. But the fact is, her father King Minos III, like all of the kings before him endorse the practice. Daphne has argued that it isn't morally or economically right but she won't be in much of a position to make changes until she takes the throne." *If she lives that long*, Beatrice thought bitterly. "People are slow to change their views and they won't change at all unless pushed, but she has little leverage at the moment. Still, she is not opposed to framing unrelated unpleasant prophecy in the context of the evils of slavery and some people are worried, but not enough."

Beatrice made her way back around the counter and handed the bard a steaming cup of tea. Gabrielle inhaled the steam cautiously, eyes brightening in the process. "What is this? It smells wonderful."

"An odd concoction of herbs that until now only Daphne could tolerate. I think it tastes like swamp water- but apparently I'm in the minority."

Beatrice showed Gabrielle the rest of the house. They sat together for a time on the balcony watching the stars come out, then returned to the main room. After a brief argument involving who got to sleep on the couch, Beatrice retired to bed. Gabrielle sat up for several hours reading through the writings of someone so different, yet so like herself. *I wonder what Xena is doing right now*? She thought as she absently pulled another scroll from the shelf. She could almost envision a somewhat awkward warrior princess trying to reassure an untalkative "bard". At the same time Gabrielle pondered the slaves words. She and Daphne were so much alike, yet Beatrice spoke of Daphne's intellectual quickness and sharp wit with almost awe. As if looking at a painting from the back she began to see how she saw Xena, and realized that within her there was something Xena might have found as equally impressive. With a bashful smile on her lips at the thought she turned her attention to the scroll.

**I don't remember much of my birth. I suppose I should be grateful, I'm afraid if I did I'd be claustrophobic or something. I do remember a bit about the womb though. It was dark. Dark and crowded. Dark, crowded but warm. Quite nice actually. There were two of us. I think I was born first, but as I said I can't remember. I realize now that the woman I've known as mother wasn't really so. Mother, I imagine was a girl who got herself into a whole heap of trouble with the King of Minos- or maybe she was a slave, I simply don't know. Anyway I suspect mother wanted a child very badly so father took one- me and gave me to her to raise. The other woman kept the other. I don't know what ever happened to her. Perhaps she had an easier time of it, I don't know. I suspect someday I'll meet her again- life has a funny way of completing cycles.

Still, people often talk about having someone so like them yet completely unrelated out there. I wonder if that is the case for me too? Is there someone, in a village somewhere with my eyes and my hair living a different life? Is she a mother? A crafts woman? Perhaps she seeks a life of adventure? Sometime's I think my life is one of adventure. Many nights I go to sleep honestly doubting I'll ever wake up- often hoping I wont. But then the headaches subside and I'm given another chance to leave some kind of impression on the world around me. What greater adventure could there be than to live one's life to the fullest? Ah, I know, to live one's life with someone else to the fullest- that'd have to be it. I think there is an innate redeeming quality to lives lived in tandem. Left to their own devices, isolation tends to bring out the worst in people, while companionship somehow encourages us to be our better selves. But some people, who live alone and isolated ripple with the support of community and others, while some blissfully partnered are completely alone. I must be missing something.**

Gabrielle put the scroll down. What an odd way of writing she thought. Unedited thoughts, written candidly- intimate and personal but not quite a private journal. Clearly these words were intended to be read by others. Gabrielle noticed a date at the bottom of the scroll. Her eyes went wide checking to make sure she read it accurately. No mistake. According to the date listed, if Daphne was the author- she couldn't have been more than ten at the time she wrote it. Selecting another scroll even farther down in the stack, Gabrielle opened it and read. Events of a child's day were dutifully recorded by the child, nothing unusual. She picked up more of the same until she picked one that discussed nightmares. Gabrielle read out loud.

"Last nights dream was terrible. It was funny because there were only women it. But it wasn't terrible because of that, that part was rather nice. Except for the mean ones. And there were several of those. Two women wore funny outfits- like walking tack shops. Leather and shiny stuff. One was bad, the other sort of bad- but not really. Or not right then, it was hard to tell. They were all grown- no one like me, but several women looked like me- one of them bad as well. The bad thing was, everybody died. One woman- her arms tied up above her head was impaled by a big spear, another had her head cut off and the third, the bad one was killed by one of the tack shop women. It was sad because the tack shop woman had a way to save two of the women, right at her fingertips- but she didn't know it. I hate dreams about death, I wish they would stop."

Slowly Gabrielle put down the scroll and picked up her tea. After a couple of thoughtful sips she put the mug down and carefully put the scrolls back. Something was nagging at her, only she wasn't sure exactly what it was. "If Daphne saw all of this before," she muttered to herself, "there should be some clue as to how to end it." With a grimace she noticed that her back was stiff. She stood, frowning at the loud crunch from her back and walked around the room. With a disappointed sigh she remembered that she left the scroll case with Daphne's portrait in her bag on Argo's saddle. There was nothing to be done for it. She'd have to return the portrait when all of this was over. Again she was drawn to the shelf with unusual rocks. Many of them were egg shaped, made of different minerals. Some she recognized, most were foreign to her.

On another shelf all alone, was an ornate scroll case. Giving in to temptation, she eased it from it's perch and opened the end. After carefully unrolling it's contents she studied the complex diagrams pictured. Clearly a work of scientific study, the diagrams illustrated a series of angles and projections. Daphne seemed to have many interests. With a shrug, Gabrielle carefully returned the scroll to it's case and placed it back on it's shelf. After pouring herself another cup of tea, she returned to the desk. Not the least bit sleepy, she decided to read another scroll.

"You're up early."

Gabrielle jumped at the cheerful voice that greeted her from the bedroom doorway. Shaking her head in disbelief she quickly counted the number of scrolls on the desk. There were seven.

"Have you been up long?" Beatrice asked as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Ah, I got to reading, and forgot to go to bed." Gabrielle replied, embarrassed.

Beatrice smiled, unsurprised. "Probably the tea. Or maybe because it's a strange house?" She continued among the clatter of dishes, "I quit reading Daphne's writings a long time ago. For some reason every one I picked up- somehow seemed to pertain to me. It was too unsettling."

"I know what you mean." Gabrielle murmured quietly.

"Well," Beatrice continued, "why don't you have a bath- if you'd like one. I'll have something for you to eat when you're done. It's still a couple of hours before you've got to meet with the high priestess."

Gabrielle felt relaxed and oddly refreshed after her bath. The light breakfast Beatrice had prepared for her was one of the best she'd ever eaten, she decided as she finished the last of her eggs and fruit. When it was time the two adjourned to the ante- room right outside the main door.

"Ursa, the priestess will come in and sit. Offer her some tea, she's already eaten though so don't offer food. If she accepts the tea and she usually does, I'll go get it. When I'm gone she may ask if you've had any visions. Just tell her no. If she looks disappointed don't be surprised, and take no offense- that's just the way she is." Gabrielle nodded. "She may talk a bit about temple news. Perhaps ask your advice on something or other." Beatrice studied Gabrielle carefully and patted her arm affectionately. "Answer however you'd like- I'm sure you'll do fine."

Before Gabrielle could respond the door opened and she sat, trying to appear as calm as possible as a lone figure entered the room. The High Priestess of the temple of Artemis was thin, dressed in a shroud with her face covered. Her eyes quickly scanned the room when they came to rest on Gabrielle her breath caught in her throat.

"Callisto." Gabrielle said, matter-of-factly.

"Why my dear Oracle- you are good." Callisto replied smoothly, removing the shroud covering her head.

"It's what I do." Gabrielle said simply.

"Get up. You're coming with me."

"You can't be serious." Beatrice blurted, standing in between Callisto and Gabrielle. "Daphne doesn't leave the ugh."

"Oh, I'm dead serious." Callisto said as she watched the slaves body fall to the ground. Instantly Gabrielle was over her, checking for a pulse. Callisto had kicked her full in the chest, knocking out the wind and breaking several ribs in the process. If she'd drawn her sword- Gabrielle was certain the slave would be dead. As it was, she was only unconscious.

"Are we ready my dear?" Callisto asked sweetly, slowly drawing her sword, after removing the last of her ceremonial shroud. Petrified Gabrielle nodded mutely and stood. She walked past Callisto as indicated and distantly heard the whoosh of the sword hilt as it came down, connecting with the base of her skull turning her world to darkness.

End Part 1