Castlewarming Chapters 301-310
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 301
by Shambalayogi
"What the ****?" Ioannes said out loud at the results of Ares' actions. He
didn't usually use words like that out loud but this was a little
disconcerting.
"Uhh, this wasn't anything I, er ... we did, was it?" Sal's disembodied
voice said to anyone or no one.
"No, no,'' Angel's familiar voice carried from behind Sal and Ioannes to
them. "This is just Ares."
"Well, well," Raincloud mused out loud. "Round and round we go."
"Angel," Eeyoraus' sounded a little strained. "Where are we going? Where
are we going?"
"I have no idea," Angel answered.
"No, my dear Angel," Ares suddenly announced. "you don't know where we are
going. But you all are about to find out."
As suddenly as it appeared, the fogginess cleared. They hadn't had any
sense of being lifted or moved. As if Ares could sense these thoughts, he
answered them impatiently.
"Of course, you didn't feel anything. I'm no amateur at this," he snapped.
"And you won't have to worry about those prisoners anymore. I've taken care
of them."
"You are now located just to the north and back side of Antianos, on the
edges of an olive grove, if I have it right. The warlords should be on the
other side of the town, right in front of the main gates but not right up
against the walls. They haven't started a siege of Antianos. So, you should
be perfectly safe here now."
"And now, I have to be going. I have a job to get to," Ares announced to
the group.
"My lady," he nodded to Angel, snapped his fingers and was gone in a flash
of light.
The implication seemed to all that if they got into further trouble and
weren't safe, it would be their own faults and maybe they shouldn't be
playing war if they couldn't handle it.
As they looked around, the whole camp set up looked exactly the same as it
had been in their old location. But over the olive trees they could see the
back wall of a town. It was an easy walk to the wall, they were that close
to it.
The small group looked around and assessed their surroundings. It appeared
that everything was indeed transported to the new location, except the
prisoners. No one really cared where or how they went just that they were
gone.
"Eeyoraus, can you check the blind and make sure the boys are ok?" asked
Angel,
As Eeyoraus headed toward the blind, RainCloud and Ioannes along with
Salmoneus headed toward the healing station to make sure everything was in
tact. Angel looked at Lyrical and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I am now that were are closer to the battle field. I am very relieved we
are in a position to help our sisters and friends." Lyrical said.
"Shouldn't we get the boys into the town where its safer and let Kendaa
know where we are?" she asked.
"I'm glad your alright, and yes we do need to let Kendaa know we are here,"
said Angel, "I may have to use telepathy to get in touch with her to find
out the best way into the city."
"I'll go and help Eeyoraus get them ready." said Lyrical. She started to
head toward the blind when Angel stopped her. "Oh no you don't," she said,
" You don't go anywhere until RainCloud says you are 100%. And don't even
think about arguing with me because you will lose."
"If I go and see RainCloud now and she says I'm fine, which I am, then can
I help Eeyoraus?" Lyrical inquired.
"Only if RainCloud tells me herself. I have a feeling you would say
anything to get back in action. Am I right?" asked Angel.
" Let me put it this way," said Lyrical laughed as left to see RainCloud,"
You aren't wrong."
RainCloud gave Lyrical the ok to help get the boys ready and told Angel as
much but, she also told Angel that Lyrical was to have restricted duties
and remain back here with her.
"I just haven't had enough time to really check her out completely and
until then I want her near by and out of harms way. Besides, she will be
invaluable to me once the fighting starts." RainCloud continued, "With
Eeyoraus, Salmoneus and Ioannes as well, I should be just fine. Any idea on
how we get into the city and get in touch with the rest of our sisters?"
"I am about to contact Kendaa now and let her know what is going on and
where we are." said Angel, " I also want to know how they are as well."
With that RainCloud left her and went back to the healing area so she could
contact Kendaa.
RainCloud had a slight headache. She had everything checked since they had
been moved and everything seemed perfectly intact as it had been in the
previous location. Before anything else happened, she decided to sit and
brew herself a cup of chamomile tea. While she waited on the tea, she
thought about how she had woken up in the middle of the night. She vaguely
remembered hearing Lyrical and Aphrodite's granddaughter talking, talking.
And she was sure someone was weeping in there somewhere, maybe a nightmare
or two. The gods knew, she had her own nightmares sometimes. Eeyoraus must
certainly have some possible nightmares as a result of all those years as a
donkey. That must something to deal with, suddenly becoming a goddess! And
didn't Lyrical have that situation, too? It seemed to RainCloud, that both
women would need some training in handling their new abilities.
She had seen very sensitive individuals become completely overwhelmed with
what they picked up from other people and situations. If they didn't know
how to handle it, they could be driven insane from it. She had been called
in as a healer once or twice to deal with someone like this, but there
wasn't anything she could do. They were both too far gone in madness or
another world of their own for most healers to help them.
While she sipped her tea, she say Ioannes standing looking in the direction
of the walls of Antianos. She knew what was coming next, when he turned to
walk toward her.
"Raincloud, I want to go with Angel to Antianos and find out what's going
on." Ioannes announced as he stopped in front of her.
"I want to know what happened to our four adventurers, too, Ioannes.
Apparently no fighting has started yet from what Ares said. If you really
want to be part of the fighting, I can't tell you not to go." Raincloud
answered. "As for Angel, I'm not sure she is actually going to the city.
She may be just contacting Kendaa telepathically. I left her just over
there." She pointed in the direction she had seen Angel last.
Ioannes shook his head. "I told Kendaa I would do whatever she thought
best. So, I don't think I want to join the fighting. But I want to know if
Shamba is there. And I would like to know the battle plans if they have
them." He paused here thinking that maybe the commanders wouldn't tell him.
"That is also something you should know to make any plans you might need.
And do they have anything in Antianos you need here?"
"Not that I can think of at the moment," Raincloud said sipping. Her head
was feeling better already.
Ares watched the new camp unobserved. He paid particular attention to where
Angel was within the camp. Ares didn't want her to get too close to her. He
didn't want her to sense his presence before he was ready to talk to her.
He'd missed her the night before. It was hard to stay away from her, but he
had been so angry, if she had said one wrong word he probably would have
lost his temper & hurt her. So, yesterday, after the work was done he'd
stayed just outside the boundaries of the camp, watching & listening, just
in case there was more trouble. He'd even slept by himself just outside the
camp.
Ares watched Angel now as she made sure everything was checked to ensure
everything had been transported along with them. That was so like her,
always maddeningly thorough. He figured that her next move would be to
contact Kendaa or one of the others to let them know the camps new
location. He smiled to himself as she sat down to do just that.
Angel contacted Kendaa by telepathy. She gave her the camp's exact location
as well as a brief explanation of what had happened recently. When she was
done she got the feeling she was being watched & looked around for Ares.
There he was, watching her from behind a tree not far from where she was.
She got up & walked toward him.
Ioannes had just found her & had been about to speak to her when she rose
from her position on the ground. She had not even seen him coming toward
her. She started walking toward a tree, smiling. It was not until she had
almost reached her destination that Ioannes saw Ares materialize. He
watched as Ares wordlessly closed the gap between them. The God pulled her
into his arms & kissed her. Ioannes knew it would not be wise to disturb
them just now, especially after the argument they'd had yesterday. He
turned & headed back in the direction he'd come from.
Ioannes walked a ways from where he had observed Ares whisk Angel away and
then sat down. By the heavens, Ares wasn't ever … Oh, never, mind, Ioannes
told himself. Think about what you want to do next.
He rubbed the back of his neck deciding what to do next. He'd hope to get
from Angel an idea of what was going on with the war party in the city. He
was used to knowing what was going on at Corinth in the business even if he
wasn't in charge of all the nitty gritty details. But here he wasn't the
one in charge and didn't have a good way of finding out what was going on.
And there were too many parties involved to ask anyway.
He felt pretty sure Shamba and Arkie's group had to have been picked up by
someone with the Amazons. There was the issue of how the boys were going to
be taken to Antianos. A few minutes later he was explaining to Raincloud
and other in the group what he had seen of Ares and Angel.
"Well, I'm sure Angel told Kendaa everything she needs to know. But now we
won't know what Kendaa told Angel for a while yet," Raincloud observed
ruefully.
Lyrical spoke next. "Kendaa knows Angel might have to take off for other
obligations. And not just because of Ares looking for her. And we should
know what's going on before we just take the boys there. There could be
someone in the grove between us and our sister Amazons." She nodded in the
direction of the trees.
"I'd bet on Ares putting us down where we were perfectly safe at least for
the moment." Raincloud told them. "He wanted us safe if for no other reason
than Angel was with us. But that doesn't mean some enemy can't show up from
now on. So, the sooner we have more solid contact with the others, the
better."
"Do we even know how to get into the city from here?" Sal added. "Do they
have a back door or something?
"I know you want to go to the city," Raincloud said to Ioannes. "Why don't
you go on and see about this gate thing and find out what's going on
and have someone come back to tell us what is going on. I can't believe
that if Kendaa knows we're here she won't send someone to check on us no
matter what Angel might have told her."
Half-expecting to meet someone before he reached the city wall, Ioannes
kept on the path that ran through the olive trees. He had his horse with
him, reins in one hand. He had his sword in the other hand. The trees grew
right up to the back of the city walls. These old trees must have been a
producing grove at one time since there were so many of them. They grew in
a way that looked like they were planted here.
The closer he got the more he could see there was no large gate like the
main one on the other side of the city. But Ioannes was sure there had to
be some way in and out of Antianos besides the main gate. Unless this was
something the city elders and council had completely overlooked. It would
be very bad planning not to have one or two ways out of the city besides
the main gate in case of a siege or some other dire circumstances.
He stopped where the path ended about 20 to 25 feet from the wall. He about
jumped out of his skin when he heard a voice behind him.
"Ah, there you are, my good man. We didn't expect you, or anyone else, to
show up so quickly."
Ioannes turned to see Autolycus giving him his confident smile. Then
Ioannes smiled, relieved but amused it was the King of Thieves. Leave it to
Autolycus, to be standing outside the walls of a city that didn't seem to
have a way in. No doubt, Auto was here looking or because he already knew a
way in. Maybe more than one way in.
"Who is 'we', sir?" Ioannes asked.
"We is us." Wikewike said from above the two men. She was crouched on a
tree branch just above their heads. She lightly jumped down. As she landed
next to them, two other Amazons came down from two other trees.
"And why are you calling him," she grinned at Ioannes and gestured at Auto,
"sir?"
"Because, he's knows quality when he sees it." Auto answered smoothly.
Wikewike shook her head at Auto. "As soon as she knew you were her, Kendaa
sent us to check out the lay of the land between the back wall and your
camp. Autolycus, here, has graciously showed us a way to pass through the
wall. No doubt, not the only way … ."
"A man is entitled to his secrets of his livelihood." Auto said. "Now, if
you will follow me, Ioannes of the House of Malinkor. I will escort you
into Antianos."
"How did you know what house I come from?" Ioannes asked surprised before
he had a chance to think. Malinkor had been his grandfather.
"I am well acquainted with all the best houses in Corinth," Auto answered
with raised eyebrows. "Although, not so personally well acquainted with
their inhabitants."
Ioannes told them to follow the path straight to the edge of the camp. He
and Wike told each other just the brief version of what had happened since
the war group left the base camp. The rest could be filled in by others.
Wikewike and the other two Amazons went on to the camp. It was only a
half-mile or so. It had taken Ioannes less than a half-hour to make the
walk. Auto and Ioannes with horse, went through the wall into Antianos.
Autolycus took Ioannes to the city council chambers that had become war
headquarters.
As they walked in to the beautiful stonework chamber, they saw parchment
maps laid out laid out on the large tables. The council tables were made of
fine masonry work of stone rather than wood. Even the benches and chairs
for the tables were polished stonework.
Food and drink were set on two side tables. Other chairs had been brought
it from other rooms and weapons and various kinds of equipment were draped
on some of them.
The leaders of the war effort weren't immediately present. But Maddie,
Joxer, Greensleeves and Gabrielle were poring over a map at one table.
Ioannes recognized some of the hunters from the Tripoli Cooperative
villages and a few Amazons were there. Aquillea came from behind a stone
column with some kind of garment in her hands deciding what to do with it.
Iolaus stood at the table with a mug of something in his hand. The two men
from the future sat on one of the stone benches.
Various people in the chamber looked up and greeted them as Ioannes and
Autolycus stopped in the middle of the room. They went over to where Maddie
was sitting. Aquillea and Iolaus came over. After a few minutes of warm
greetings and exchanging some news, Ioannes and Iolaus walked over to where
drink was. Iolaus drew them both a glass of ale.
"You know, Antianos is famous for it's ale," the Golden Hunter said as he
handed Ioannes the glass.
"Oh, his family probably owns who makes it," Auto said coming over to get a
glass himself.
"No, no. There's three breweries in Antianos. We co-signed on a loan for
one of the breweries when it got started many years ago. That's been paid
off long ago." Ioannes said before he thankfully sank into his mug of ale.
"Didn't your grandfather start your business? Farming or something?" Iolaus
paused trying to place the name of Ioannes' grandfather. Ioannes leaned his
head back against a stone column blissfully savoring the excellent ale.
Without opening his eyes, Ioannes said. "My grandfather, Malinkor, got his
start in shit."
Both the other men almost choked at that.
"My grandfather had an extra wagon and hired it out to haul things when he
wasn't in his fields. Logs, crops … and then he saw a need and started …
waste materials for fertilizers, even compost heaps in city gardens. Part
of our local business is still hauling this stuff around." He went and drew
himself another ale.
"Leave to the guys to talk about drink and business even with a war going
on," Shamba said as she quietly came up beside Ioannes. Auto reached over
and took the ale out of Ioannes' hand before he even knew what happened.
The next few minutes Iolaus and Auto drank their ales and talked while the
other two were busy catching up with other things.
Aquillea felt certain that Maddie and greenie were watching her, but she
had yet to catch them in the act. Truth be told, they had been keeping an
eye on her ever since greenie had learned of the encounter with Khestrany.
But after Wikewike had happened upon the group on the street and informed
them of the arrival of the base camp, the dark warrior was certain her
sister-friends were studying her even more intently. So when the small
company reached the headquarters, Aquillea tried to distance herself from
the others as much as possible without looking too suspicious.
Hercules and Xena had been inspecting the wall surrounding Antianos when
they overheard the buzz in the streets about the back gate arrivals.
"Iolaus?" the demi-god spoke his hopeful thought aloud.
The Warrior Princess nodded back to the center of town. "Go on. . . ." she
offered, grinning. "This really isn't a two person job anyway. I'm *pretty
sure* I can handle it on my own." Hercules nodded his thanks and jogged
back to the city council building.
The son of Zeus paused in the entryway of the council chamber and took an
inventory. Five of his six missing friends were in attendance, including
the Golden Hunter. Hercules had continually reminded himself that the lost
heroes knew how to take care of themselves, but the relief that now swept
through him bore witness to the concern he had been unwilling to admit.
"Decided to take the scenic route, did we?" he teased, crossing the room to
greet his best friend.
Hercules wrapped a big arm around the smaller man and admonished him with a
smirk, "About time you got here!" Iolaus shrugged sheepishly and returned
his pal's smile although it seemed to not quite reach his eyes. While
noting this, the demi-god turned toward Aquillea, arms spread wide, meaning
to greet her with a warm embrace. Instead, the woman reached out her arm,
clasping his in the traditional Amazon greeting. She too gave her old
friend a radiant smile but something beyond weariness seemed to stare out
from her dark brown eyes.
"All right," said the freshly concerned Hercules, "is someone gonna tell me
what happened?" Half the eyes in the room fell on Iolaus, the other half on
Aquillea. No one said a word. The handsome hero spoke again, his voice
ringing with that unique brand of sarcastic politeness. "Oh. . . . I'm
sorry. . . . That sounded. . . . like a *question*, didn't it? So, let me
rephrase that. . . .Someone is going to tell me what happened."
Finally, Aquillea said, "It's a long story."
"Well, why don't we start with this?" the hero asked, reaching out as if to
turn the Amazon's face to better reveal an ugly, purple bruise marring it.
The dark woman took a step back. "It's nothing. . . . We're fine."
Iolaus was about to say something but Maddie, after receiving an
encouraging nod from greensleeves, interrupted. "They are not fine.
Khestrany came back as a Bacchai last night and attacked them. . . It was a
pretty brutal fight from the story the bruises tell. . . Of course, neither
of them has been exactly ripe with details."
Greenie continued, "I think we really ought to have RainCloud give them a
once over. . . . at least Aquillea. She was already exhausted and in pain,
and today's ride can only have aggravated things. . . . I'm. . . . " the
Amazon hesitated. I'm not entirely sure she's fit for battle."
Aquillea wheeled on her sister-friend feeling betrayed. Her eyes stared
wide in disbelief as she slowly shook her head. "I'm fine!" she
protested, "Gods, greenie. . . . you checked me out yourself!"
As Wikewike and her sisters approached the camp, Wikewike let out a
greeting cry and was answered by Stripe. The two Amazon Sisters gave the
traditional handshake and then hugged.
"It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other, but is sure seems
that way." said Stripe.
"I know what you mean," said Wikewike, "So much has happened in such a
short time, it's hard to take it all in. Are Angel or RainCloud around, I
need to deliver a couple of messages from Kendaa and find out what's been
going on with you."
"RainCloud and Angel were both in camp when I left for guard duty, but that
was about an hour ago." said Stripe. "I'm sure you will find RainCloud in
the healing area. This camp is set up identical to the other one."
"Thanks, Stripe." said Wikewike, "If you like one of our sisters can stay
with you and help guard the perimeter."
"Thanks that would be great." said Stripe. They clasped hands, and Wikewike
and one of the sisters went to find the camp and talk to RainCloud. As they
walked out of the trees, Wikewike was amazed at how the camp looked the
same as it did in the last location. If she hadn't just come from the city,
she would have sworn she was back at the original camp site.
"Wikewike!" shouted Eeyoraus, as she ran toward her sister, "It is good to
see you." The two sisters hugged and as they walked toward the healing
area where RainCloud was, Eeyoraus pointed to where they kept the food, so
the Amazon sister with Wikewike, could get an idea of what the camp need in
the way of supplies. Eeyoraus left Wikewike as RainCloud approached, and
headed back to help Lyrical.
"RainCloud," Wikewike greeted her sister, " How is everything? Is Angel
around?"
"Angel left with Ares a little while ago and I don't know when she will
return." answered RainCloud, " as to your other question, let me fill you
in on what has been going on since you and the others left."
RainCloud spent the next several minutes filling Wikewike in on all the
events that had taken place over the last couple of days. When she told her
about the attack by Arnon Wikewike asked," Where is Lyrical now, and is she
alright?"
"She is doing just fine." replied RainCloud, "But I don't want her over
doing it. What she really needs is a good nights sleep. Of course, we could
all use one of those, and I for one plan on doing just that once this is
all over." RainCloud continued, " As to where she is, right now she is
helping Eeyoraus get the children ready. We want to try and get them into
the city where it is a lot safer and there is a lot more for them to do.
This will free also free Eeyoraus and Lyrical to help me should the need
arise. Personally, I wouldn't be a bit upset if we were bored out of our
minds."
Wikewike agreed with RainCloud and was about to ask her a question when
they were interrupted by.........
"You know, Auto, I could use one of those, too," Arkie chided Auto as he
was about to start on another glass. She had come into the council chamber
on one side of the room just after Hercules had found Iolaus and pulled him
closer to where Aquillea was standing. She had sat down quietly to get her
bearings before she said anything to anyone. She didn't want to tell anyone
that she was afraid of feeling the shock of all these happenings of the
last couple of days.
"I should be happy to do that for you, Arkie," Auto said grandly. And with
a flourish he handed her to glass he had intended for himself. She took it
gratefully.
"Was that mine?" Ioannes said finally realizing he had lost his second ale
about the time Shamba found him.
"I have no idea but I'll get you another, and another." Auto drew two, no
three glasses and handed Ioannes and Shamba each one. And he took the
third.
"To finding absent friends," the King of Thieves raised his glass.
They all agreed to this.
"Lady Arkie, how are you taking all of this?" Ioannes asked Arkie seeing
that she almost drained the whole glass at once.
"I'm a little … I don't know how I'm taking this." Arkie set her glass
down. "It's all so, …. I don't know what compared to where I'm from. If I
stop too long to think about it, I don't know what I'd feel, think ..." She
finished and drank a little more.
"The council provided food, drink and places to get some sleep if we wanted
before the fight. The Amazons and the army are to attack at moonrise
tonight." Shamba explained to Ioannes. "Arkie was lying down for a while."
"Moonrise comes close after sunset tonight," Ioannes observed. "So, just a
few hours until sunset and then they go."
Just then Hercules raised his voice demanding an explanation of some kind
from his oldest friends.
