Castlewarming Chapters 561-570 plain text
by Hercules Forum Collective
Chapter 561
by Aquillea
When the dark Amazon had earlier held the phantom brother she dreamt she
had killed, that had been a signal to Morpheus that she was "ready".
Normally, when mortals dream of physical danger, their instincts remind
them that it's a nightmare and they awaken before the realization of pain
or death. But the God of Dreams had already pushed his tormented pet to the
point where it was becoming difficult for her to distinguish dreams from
reality. When Aquillea had sat on the ground, weeping, as she wrapped her
arms around thin air, the immortal knew she would be susceptible to his
escalating retribution.
To ensure that his substitute victim remained unable to recognize his
dreams for what they were, Morpheus continued to weave in twisted fragments
of reality.
Upon his return to the lean-to, the healer from Antianos resumed his
examination of ravaged Amazon. Although it shouldn't have surprised him,
Alec was somewhat taken aback. He didn't see bodies this seriously battered
every day and he'd never seen such injuries with a female patient. He had
been right in saying he'd need plenty of comfrey and he reached for the
vessel of salve wondering if there would be enough.
Comfrey was used by healers both to ease pain and speed healing. It's
ability to act as an anti-inflammatory was responsible for both functions.
When applied externally to injuries such as contusions and sprains, comfrey
reduced swelling thereby partially relieving some of the associated
discomfort. When taken internally, the herb could facilitate the healing of
broken bones and internal bleeding, again by reducing inflammation and
allowing damaged ends to better contact each other so that they might mend.
The medicinal balm was applied with a physician's tender care, however, the
hands that touched Aquillea were those of Morpheus in the guise of a
lascivious warlord seeking "restitution". Despite Alec's gentle skill,
binding the fractured ribs resulted in pain that was multiplied many times
over as it was translated into Maloran's "punishment". The body of the
failing Amazon no longer protested these abuses as vigorously as it had
earlier, but Shait sensed what was happening and the outrage that lay
hidden under her deceptively calm exterior began searing her soul.
The mysterious deity thought back to her hasty egression from Egypt, what
she had learned on her journey, what she had discovered here in Greece. She
now had a strict ethical code of non-interference in the matters of mortals
along with a heart that belonged to a people who had taken her in as one of
their own. It was becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile these two
things, especially in a land where the gods had little in the way of
scruples.
'Is it the right path to stand back and watch innocents suffer at the hands
of beings who are more or less my peers?' she asked herself, then frowned
adding, 'More less than more if you ask me.'
'Maybe what they say is true, 'It's the exceptions that prove the rule.''
Real wisdom, Shait was beginning to understand, was in knowing when to
apply the rules and when the rules no longer applied.
The pensive deity watched as Alec finished his ministrations, then tucked
several furs around the shocky patient who once again lay quiet and still.
It had not been necessary for Morpheus-Maloran to ease up on his captive
simply because the healer had finished, but he did so nonetheless. Was it a
result of his selfish desire not to relinquish his plaything prematurely?
Was it the seed of compassionate esteem Shait sensed buried deeply within
the god? In the end it mattered little, what was important was that this
would be her last, best chance to intercede on Aquillea's behalf.
Although the goddess continued to have qualms, she reminded herself that
there was much more at stake here than the life of a single Amazon. Just
then, as if on cue, the backlit silhouette of the spitfire demi-goddess
reappeared at the entrance of the lean-to.
Shait knew only too well that it had been no accident, the donkey's
stumbling across the war party several days ago. And while the Golden
Hunter and only he could have lifted Aphrodite's curse, that was only a
fraction of the story. It had been ordained by destiny that Cupid's love
child and the academician's daughter would cross paths. A bond, faithful
and ancient, had already existed between the two long before their
seemingly chance encounter.
Eeyoraus was only just beginning to understand immeasurable power of her
love, a gift that could one day benefit the whole of Greece. As with any
power, however, love was not without its dark side and this is what worried
Shait. Loss could do terrible things to a loving heart.
Posted on Aug 08 1999, 07:16 PM
----------------------------------------------
Chapter 562
by Shambalayogi
Ioannes spotted Shamba sitting on one of the many stone benches along the
square. She had her sword out and she was drawing in the dirt with the
point. It wasn't like her to do something like that with it. The sword was
to be used in a martial art rather than real battle, but certainly not to
draw in the dirt. She also didn't have anything on her head in the cold.
That also wasn't like her.
She didn't look up as he came up to her even though he made plenty of noise
as he walked across the square. He sat down on the bench next to her.
"Ares has returned me and the sutra safely as he promised," Ioannes
announced after clearing his throat. "He said to thank you for the use of
the Kama Sutra. I am grateful to you for letting me take it." He gave the
box to Shamba.
"So, I see," she said as she took the box from him with one hand. She put
it in her lap without saying anything further.
Ioannes let a few silent seconds pass and decided on a direct approach.
"It's not like you to be out in the cold and have your sword out like
this--playing with it? Is something wrong?"
"I can't seem to find any of the people in the party we came here with.
some of the warlord's men left out there although apparently Maloran and
Stygnos were led off in chains with the king's army not long ago. So, some
of them may still be fighting but it seem like some of them should be still
in the city."
She looked at Ioannes with exasperation suddenly shaking her hand with the
box in it.
"What were you two really doing with this? You know how long it takes to
make one of these copies. You waited long enough for one of your own while
you were still in India."
"Ares seemed to think that people and gods in India have better ways to do
things than are done in Greece. He found me and wanted me to tell him and I
couldn't think of a better way than to show him the Kama sutra." Ioannes
said with a shrug. "How could I refuse the God of War?"
"As if you feared for your life! You're going to tell me the God of War
didn't know all these things?" Shamba gave Ioannes a look of total
disbelief.
Then she giggled at the idea of him having to explain all the details
without having pictures to show.
"I don't really know if he learned anything at all but he seemed to be
interested in everything I had to show him," Ioannes protested in
self-defense. But he knew if she was giggling, she wasn't going to hold the
situation against him any longer.
"So, did he have anything to show you?" Shamba said softly when she stopped
giggling.
Ioannes looked sideways at her, nodded towards her sword. "I'm not going to
answer that question as long as you have that sword in your hand."
"Well, then ... I'll put it away," she said archly. "But I thought it was
swordsmanship we were talking about .... "
Posted on Aug 09 1999, 10:29 PM
-----------------------------------------------
Chapter 563
by Aka
Aka was left alone in the woods outside the camp site. Should he follow the
red-haired Amazon? Should he just wait? Should he just attack now the whole
camp? What should be done? He decided to just stay put for the moment. He
didn't even need to come face-to-face with these other people. He didn't
need to put many faces on loved ones of his target. "I'm not a cold-
blooded killer," he thought to himself, "but I need to kill her...I have to
kill her!" He drew his blade, and sliced the air, preparing himself for
what he had to do. He drew the sword right up to his face, and stared at
his image reflecting off the cold, hard metal. He trusted into the ground,
and leaned on it. He looked into the blue sky, thinking on what to do next.
Just then, he saw a feather floating down from the sky. It slowly brushed
the ground, and then was still. He looked up towards the sky to see what
bird it came from, but, instead of a bird, he saw eyes in the sky.
Huge, blue, commanding eyes.
"Why haven't you killed her, yet," demanded a voice from the skies. Aka
started to get upset, but he didn't want to show his new friend this.
"I'm waiting for the right moment," stumbled AKA. "I couldn't do it with
that wizard standing there. It seems as if she made him mad, too. If I
would have done something to her, he would have tried to kill me, too.
"I TOLD you that there would be someone else after her. This woman is pure
evil. You don't think that you are the only one that wants her dead, do
you?"
"Well, no. No! But..."
"But, what?"
"I'm not evil. I don't want her friends and family to watch her die, like I
had to watch mine die. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."
"You fool! Have you forgotten what I told you? Did you forget what I told
you about her? Did you forget..."
"Of course, I didn't FORGET!!! I just, um..."
"Stop!! She was the one! She was the one who killed your family. *She's*
the one who burned down your village! She must die! She must die by your
hands, and no one else's, unless you don't want to see your parents again!"
"More than anything! I want them back!!"
"Then, go!! Kill her!! Remember to keep some of her blood, or I won't be
able to bring them back."
"Alright..." Aka said, and started to turn around, but paused for a second.
Aka picked up the feather, and stuffed it into his belt. It was the feather
of a peacock....
Posted on Aug 13 1999, 01:45 AM
--------------------------------------------------
Chapter 564
by greenie
Joxer looked at Kalas as if he'd lost it. What in all New Greeceland could
he have to smile about? Greenie had been taken by that slimy son of a
hydra, Rasheen, and they were just standing there doing nothing. "Hey, Oh
Princely One, just what do you have in mind? A plan, I hope?"
Kalas reached into the opening of his leather tunic. Carefully, he withdrew
a small object, and as the setting sun caught the swirling colors inside
the crystal pyramid, Joxer gasped aloud.
"The Chronos Stone! But how, where..."
"Before I joined the battle, one of Maloran's men was captured by my
advance scout. He had this in his possession. I assume he was taking it to
Maloran. Thank the Gods, he didn't succeed."
"Yeah, there's no telling what the outcome of the battle would have been if
Maloran had gotten his hands on that!"
"Yes, and many other battles, past and future." Joxer's eyes widened as he
realized what horrible chaos could have erupted if the warlord had used the
Chronos Stone to his advantage. At least they had been spared that.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's use the stone to rescue greenie.
Maybe we could go back to the time before Rasheen came here," Joxer began.
"I thought about that, but there might be too many repercussions if we
tried to go back into the past. The outcome of the battle could be changed.
Lives could be lost. So many things could go wrong." Joxer couldn't help
but agree. But that didn't answer the question of what they were going to
do to help greenie.
"So, what do you suggest we do?"
"Since we can't go into the past, the future is the only other logical
choice. I know someone there who can help us."
"You do? How is that? No...don't tell me...you didn't...not the Chronos
Stone!" Joxer exclaimed.
Kalas gave an almost sheepish grin. "Well, I confess to being a little
curious when the stone first came into my possession. I wanted to know what
my descendants were like. Suffice it to say, what I found out was amazing.
But enough talk! Are you ready, Joxer, my newfound comrade, to join me on
an adventure to save our little amazon?"
Joxer clasped Kalas on the shoulder, a sparkle in his dark brown eyes. "You
bet your last dinar I am!"
Kalas smiled at that and turned the stone ever so slightly, so as not to
disturb its enhanced powers. He had found out about the stone's all
consuming power on his earlier trip into time. On that voyage he had
brought along two of his soldiers, along with a couple of rabbits and three
squirrels, quite by accident. This time he intended not to make that
mistake again.
Gritting their teeth, the two men braced themselves for the shockwave to
come. They were not disappointed. In a blinding flash of glorious light and
an earth shuddering roar, the two ready made heroes disappeared into thin
air.
Posted on Aug 14 1999, 12:24 AM
--------------------------------------------------
Chapter 565
by greenie
Greensleeves warily eyed the platter of food being held under her nose. The
tantalizing aroma hit her empty stomach like a rock. Gods! When had she
last eaten? Had it been when she and Joxer returned to the base camp from
Bacchus' lair? So many things had happened since then it was hard to tell.
"You can take away your peace offering, you worm! You and I both know what
happened the last time you gave me food," she growled as she glared at
Rasheen, her eyes filled with hatred for this man. He gave a wickedly evil
laugh and rocked back on his heels. His icy eyes were almost level with
hers as he squatted next to her in the confines of his luxurious tent.
Greensleeves longed to slap the smug look from his face, but with her hands
and feet bound tightly as they were that was impossible. Still, it would
have been nice to wipe away that smile.
"My fiery one, I assure you this food has nothing in it. Come now, you need
to keep up your strength so you can live to fight me another day."
She looked him directly in the eyes and replied in a savage whisper, "Oh,
you better believe I'll fight you, with everything I have in me until the
bitter end!"
Rasheen felt her rage reach out to him. Ahh! This was what he loved about
this woman. Her hatred for him. It was like a fire smoldering, just waiting
to erupt into a blaze of all consuming heat. No other female had ever come
close to the feelings this one brought out in him. "Good," he said and
moved his hands to hers, "you can fight me later. Right now, I'm going to
untie your hands so you can eat. And don't even think about trying to
escape. I have covered that area completely."
He moved his hand ever so slightly and the opening of the tent rippled. In
the next instant a soft cloud of blue smoke swirled into the center of the
tent. It materialized into the wizard greenie had seen earlier. Though she
had heard tales of these mystic men, she had thought them just that. Tales
to be told around the camp fire. It was a rude awakening to find she was
wrong, so terribly wrong.
The wizard moved to the back of the tent and stood there watching greenie.
His eyes glowed with a mysterious green fire in the subdued light. With his
silvery hair and strange clothes, he epitomized everything that wasn't of
this world. His powers were held under control at the moment, but they
seemed to simmer just under his skin, waiting to erupt with mind blowing
force.
"This is Dresdin," Rasheen informed her as he untied her hands. "Think of
him as your keeper. I am sorry it has to be this way, but I will not lose
you again."
She gave him a look that would have defeated a lesser man. Slowly, she
began to rub her numb fingers, bringing back the flow of circulation.
"Since when have you ever been sorry for anything you've done, Rasheen? If
you have, I never saw it."
Rasheen laughed and passed her the platter of still warm food. "Ah, you
know me so well. I have no regrets. Now or ever."
Greenie ignored his arrogant comments and concentrated on the food in front
of her. She would have to chance that it didn't contain any drugs. Right
now, she needed the energy the meal would provide.
As she ate, her thoughts wandered once again to her sister friends. Night
was falling outside the tent Rasheen's men had set up for them. This was
not good news for Maddie. She was still Bacchai by night. What would happen
to her? And Quilla? By the Gods, who knew how her brave sister fared. Knots
of anxiety formed in greenie's stomach, making it impossible to swallow.
Rasheen looked at her as she blinked sudden tears away. "What troubles you,
little amazon?" he asked in a surprisingly gentle tone.
She took a deep breath and tried to gain control over her raw emotions.
Never would she show weakness to this man. Or give him the satisfaction of
her tears.
"Nothing, Rasheen, absolutely nothing," she replied and looked through the
opening of the tent at the setting sun. With a trembling sigh, she tried to
finish her meal. The delicacies stuck in her throat. Gods! Would she ever
see her sister friends again? She could only pray that Joxer would find her
soon and that the Gods would keep him safe. It was a prayer that was never
more sincere.
Posted on Aug 16 1999, 12:49 AM
-------------------------------------------------
Chapter 566
by Eeyoraus
It took several seconds for Eeyoraus' eyes to adjust to the dim light of
the lean-to after staring at Murlock's fire. Before she could see, a hand
touched her arm. She jumped.
"Well, I was going to ask you if you we're feeling better, but I can see
that you're not. In fact you seem more tense than you were." It was
Michael's deep melodic voice.
"I…I…feel…fine. I just needed a minute to my self. That's all."
"But your skin is so hot." He said as he moved his hand tenderly to her
face. "You should be almost frozen."
" Um…well… Michael. Michael, I have been so unfair to you. What have I
allowed to happen here? You gave up your whole life for me, didn't you? And
I just let you…whatever…la tee da…as if it's an everyday thing for a god to
give up being a god for someone he hardly knows. What have I done? You
don't even know me!" Her eyes where unfocused, her meaning obscure.
The exquisite Celt was flabbergasted. "Eeyoraus," he pled , "What are you
rambling about? You did nothing to cause this. What do you mean I don't
know you? I've always known you. You are the other half of my soul. What
happened out there?"
Michael reached to take her arm put she pulled away. The light of his life
was dimming before him. He felt helpless to stop it. He could not begin to
sense what was happening to her. Aquillea had been unconscious for hours
and Eeyoraus had been confident. The change had been so unanticipated. He
had known he knew her…he thought…until now.
"Nothing! Nothing happened out there! There is just too much happening at
once. This is happening to fast!"she practically screamed, "My best friend
is dying here! How am I supposed to think clearly? I don't do that on my
best days!"
"Your best friend? How long have you known her? " The demi-god shot back at
the apparently hysterical woman. "Three, maybe four days?!?!?!"
The fiery Amazon's head jerked brutally, as if she had been stuck with a
unexpected blow. Abruptly her look became introspective. "Forever" she
whispered.
The goddess of emotion turned toward the bed where her dark heart lay. She
seemed to look straight through the people crowded around her. Eeyoraus
eyes locked onto Aquillea's beautiful face. There was E!'s anchor, an
anchor she could not possibly cut lose from, hopelessly tangled deep
beneath the surface of this vast ocean of reality. She would have to dive
in and free her anchor herself or else she could never sail on. She looked
past the lurid goddess who seemed to know more about her than she knew
about herself, straight through the man they both adored. She saw no one
but Aquillea.
"Who knows how long I've loved you?"
Posted on Aug 18 1999, 01:01 AM.
-----------------------------------------------
Chapter 567
by Amora
Dixie looked around in amazement. She had never been further than Murlock's
castle walls before. True, she was just in another castle, but this one was
beautiful. Murlock's felt more like a jail. The walls grey and damp, always
dark inside. She always felt so trapped. Here she could feel the freedom,
and see the light. "Wow! Seth must have a million windows with the sun
shining through," she thought to herself. She moved to sit in the chair
below one of them. The sun was hitting it directly and the colors red,
blue, green, even purple seemed to dance together in the patchwork. She'd
never seen anything like it before. She knew Seth had been all across the
world, it must've come from another land. As she sat the sun hit her face
and she smiled in it's warmth. Out of the window she could see an emerald
forest and sapphire pond. Colors had never been so vibrant. Her world had
never seemed so new and wonderful. Seth would help her find her mother. He
would keep Murlock from coming here. As she ran her hands over the soft
material she rested in she thought of the place it must've come from, then
she realized that although she knew she was at Seth's castle, she did not
know where that was.
Suddenly fear swelled within her. Where was Seth? Why was he not next to
her when they arrived? Why had he left her alone for so long? Tears began
to feel her eyes, and Seth entered the room.
"What's wrong," he asked. She could hear the worry in his voice.
She sighed and a smile spread across her young face, "Nothing, I just
didn't know where you were and I didn't like being alone. I've never been
here you know."
"Yes, but I am sure you will love it. This is only one of my castles, but
this one will be the hardest for Murlock to find. I will know when he does
and we will leave before he arrives. For now feel free to do as you like,
but let me know, and stay where I can get to you in case he comes. I don't
want you to feel like a prisoner here, too, but for now it has to be this
way. I just don't want to lose you again and Murlock will be furious. He
would probably kill you without a second thought. Do you understand?"
"Of course I do. I know you won't trap me in as he did. I know you love me
Seth, uh Dad?" She answered a little uneasy.
"You don't have to call me that. I am your father, but you've always known
me as Seth. However, I do like the sound of it." He glowed. That was
natural for him, but now he seemed even brighter. Dixie loved him so, and
loved that he was her father. "Let me show you to your room."
As they walked Dixie noticed all the colorful furniture and decorations.
How many dinars does this man have, and did she hear him say this is only
one of his castles? She gleamed at the thought. How fun this would be. And
soon she would have a family, too. Her head spun with love and joy. She'd
never experienced a feeling like this before, but she prayed it would never
end. That reminded her, "Um, Dad, when are we going to find my mother?"
I don't know, Dixie, I mean Amora. Would you like to start using your real
name now?" She nodded and he continued. " I want to find her, too. We need
to find her before Murlock does. Here's your room."
Posted on Aug 18 1999, 03:24 AM
-------------------------------------------
Chapter 568
by Shamba
Ioannes laughed loudly when Shamba finished her comment about
swordsmanship.
"Well, I should have seen that coming," he said to her as she sat there
smiling, shamelessly, back at him.
"Ah, you two are in good shape, I see." Kendaa looked them both over with a
smile. "I heard you laughing and came to see who it was."
The Amazon commander had come from the direction of the council chamber.
"Oh, well ... we saw some action of our own," Shamba replied gesturing with
her sword now in its sheath. "What is happening now?"
"Well, we have the leaders well in hand." Kendaa grinned with obvious
pleasure at the fact that the warlord's were taken care of and most of the
battle over. She happily filled them in on the details of the fight inside
the warlords' camp after she sent the fiery arrow as a signal for the
battle to resume. "We brought them back from their camp after they were
finally all rounded up. Iphicles was in a great hurry to see them in irons
and hauled away to the magistrates of Corinth. They have been a thorn in
his side for a couple of years now. I don't know if Prince Kalas went with
Iphicles to the city or not. Now that I think of it, I'm not even sure
where it is that Kalas is a prince of ... He arrived in the middle of
everything and immediately started fighting."
"So, the king has them in shackles like he wanted them. I wasn't sure the
army would leave here so quickly." Ioannes wondered if he would have to
wait to see his brother in Corinth.
"There'll be some clean up operations for a few days," Kendaa continued.
"Some of the fighters escaped us but not for very long. There are to many
of us after them; Amazons and village hunters.
"There was also quite a group of captives inside the camp. They rebelled
and fought with us. Whether they will want to return to their homes or
something else is up to them. The king said he would supply funds for
Antianos to help the captives until they decide what to do with themselves.
"Iphicles also left a small contingent of Corinthian soldiers behind, at
least for a while. He said it was until all the renegades were rounded up.
Some members of the Antianos council are pleased with this and some members
are not. They are probably afraid that the army will never leave now that
they are here.
"Well, we will see ..."
"Now," Kendaa said looking around the square. "I really need to find where
some of my Amazons have gone. I've sent some out to round up renegades. The
group that went out on their own returned from their mission but I don't
know where half of them have gotten to now."
"And I had hoped to see Hercules and Iolaus before they got away somewhere.
If I know them at all, they would want to stay for some kind of
celebration. Especially, Iolaus, he never misses an opportunity like that.
And the others with them, Auto, Joxer, Greensleeves, ..." Kendaa turned to
the Greek yogis on the stone bench,
"and you two and the others we met on the way ... You must come as well."
Posted on Aug 18 1999, 06:44 PM
--------------------------------------------
Chapter 569
by Lyrical
As Wikewike told her tragic tale, a strange calm came over the goddess of
love. Listening intently to every word, pictures of the events flashed
through her mind as an intense anger slowly began consuming all her other
emotions.
Tears streamed down Wikewike's face as she finished, Aphrodite reached out
and held the young Amazon.
"I promise you, Callisto will not get away with this." Aphrodite said
through clenched teeth, "Rule or no rule, she dies."
Wikewike slowly pulled away from the goddess, stunned by both the words
Aphrodite spoke as well as, the intensity with which they were spoken.
Judging by the look on her face, Wikewike could see that Aphrodite was
anything but filled with love.
"Wikewike will you please go & find the healer, Alec?" she said, " I want
him to check Lyrical."
"Of course," said Wikewike, "Is he still with Aquillea?"
Aphrodite just nodded her head and Wikewike quietly left the lean-to.
Staring blankly at the wall, Aphrodite zeroed in on her target. Once found,
it was a matter of seconds, until a light flashed beside her.
"What?!" exclaimed Ares. Then as he looked at his sister, his facial
expression hardened.
"Who is it" he demanded.
"Callisto." said Aphrodite, her eyes fixed on the cot, "I want her
eliminated."
Ares raised an eyebrow and for the first time, looked down at Lyrical's all
but lifeless form.
"She did this, didn't she?" Ares inquired softly.
Aphrodite just nodded her head slowly.
"This explains a lot, dear sister," he commented. "Does Hercules know?"
"No,' she said softly.
"I'll find out all I can on Callisto's whereabouts." said Ares, "By the
time I return, my dear brother should be back." In a flash, he was gone.
Just as Ares departed, Wikewike returned. She was alone as she entered the
lean-to.
"Alec had his hands full with Aquillea. " she said, "However, he did tell
me a couple of things to do for Lyrical.
1) Keep her as warm as possible.
2) Keep up a steady flow of conversation.
Alec said this would provide stimulation for her senses and may help to
keep her from slipping away to fast."
Aphrodite turned toward Wikewike, eyes fixed with a look of determination.
"Did Alec tell you….." she stopped in mid sentence.
"Stay with her Wikewike!" was all she said as she vanished in a flash of
light.
Posted on Aug 18 1999, 06:45 PM
------------------------------------------------
Chapter 570
by Shambalayogi
"I would be delighted to come to such a celebration and so would Ioannes."
Shambalayogi just beamed at the idea of a victory party with Amazons,
hunters, heroes, gods, demi-gods, goddesses and demi-goddesses. All of them
and music, dancing, ale, wine, good food ... she could wear all her silver
jewelry.
"I have not seen any of the Amazons or Hercules or any of that group since
the planning for the moonrise battle," Ioannes said.
"We all had to go separate ways for the battle. One group actually went out
on its own, but it turned out it was the right thing to do. There was a
dangerous situation in a village behind us that needed to be set right.
However, I'm not clear as to what happened there and if it was really set
right. That's one thing I have to find out," Kendaa sighed.
"I've looked in all the obvious places for everyone and anyone and I
haven't found them, even Xena seems to have disappeared out of the
warlord's camp. Gabrielle was with the group that went to the village and
should be back."
"Have you been to the camp behind the city?" Ioannes suggested to Kendaa
who appeared stymied as what to do next.
"No, and that's probably the next obvious place to look for someone,"
Kendaa said slowly, nodding in agreement with Ioannes' suggestion.
"Unless …, "Ioannes sat up suddenly. "You think that means they're at the
camp because they're wounded or something."
"I can't come up with a good alternative to this. Either several are hurt
or somebody is hurt badly and their friends and others are there with
them," Kendaa continued with this unpleasant thought.
"Maddie, Greensleeves, and the others ... these Amazons should not have
gone off to somewhere else without letting me or other Amazons know where
they are. The men who go with these Amazons, Joxer and Autolycus, whoever
else are probably with them. Hercules and Iolaus could be gone someplace
else but I'm betting they are with them, too."
"The base camp with RainCloud and the healer from Antianos is probably
where they all are."
"Now, you came from there to Antianos when Ares brought you all here,
Ioannes of Corinth. What is the fastest way there?"
Ioannes thought a moment.
"Coming in the back way was the safest way at the time but I suppose we
could just go out the front gate and around the walls to the back."
