See disclaimers in Part One

**********

Road Show: Part Three
By J.A. Bard

Chapter 1

On the Road Again

The cavern had its own sounds and smells of damp earth, trickling water, and old usage. But now it was intermingled with the murmuring of women's voices as they chatted amongst themselves, the smell of damp horses, herbal soaps from the bathing women, foods being cooked and the incense that was burning in a small wall altar.

The soft torchlight reflected off a single crystal stone the size of a large fist, which was fitted in the wall above the altar. Its shape was a featureless form of a voluptuous Gaia holding the sacred plant to visions in one hand and seeds in the other. Aleka sat cross-legged with her wrists dangling over her bent knees in what she felt was the center of the vortex, thirteen of her long strides from the front of the altar. She closed her eyes and felt her back straighten as she drew in a slow deep breath to begin the process of letting go. The air in and around this space was decidedly different. It set the fine hairs on her arms standing up. As long as she did not chant for the portal to open she could use the energy to protect her and help her to focus on projecting herself to the next site. She was reacquainting herself with an old method of travel.

The energy around her wasn't as strong as it was in Pasiphae, the small village the original journey started in. As she became more aware of her past as Aleka she realized how important it had been for them to seal the sacred caverns at Pasiphae from those who would use the portals for less than good intentions. Though she well knew that the unprepared or uninitiated could not safely enter the doorway, devious minds with less than good intentions would no doubt find a way to use it or those that were able to pass through. She had no doubt that as Xena the Warlord, she would have found a way to manipulate those that could freely travel through the portals to her advantage in her lust for conquering and attaining power over others. Animals that were moved through these portals were true to their nature given by the goddess and therefore were not affected.

She turned her thoughts back to what she needed to do. Taking another slow deep breath, holding it, then releasing it, she felt her body relax further. Long fingers that were idly stroking the carvings on the sides of the chair became still, chin that was tight from her clinched jaw became slack...then…her lighter self separated from her heavier body.

Aleka imagined the next site and felt a quick movement that was disorientating…and then she was hovering before a building in spirit. The temple had fields to the left that had been harvested and bedded for the winter; to the right laid a forest of tall trees; and before the temple stretched a stone walkway interspersed with sections for the planting of the usual herbs and flowers found in temple gardens. The sky was overcast showing winter rains were soon to fall in this part of the country too. The old temple butted up against the mountainside where the cavern she and the others would be appearing through lay.

Decorating the outside of the bronze plated temple doors was a winter solstice wreath with barley and wheat shafts woven in with the long stemmed mekon plant with its pods neatly intertwined to create a design representing the length of time Persephone spent with Hades. It was a temple of Demeter's. Dried leaves that the wind was blowing onto the steps were collecting in corners. The silver wood trees that were to the left of the temple were bare and shaking with the wind that blew through their silver limbs. The stone lined garden that bordered the sides of the walkway leading up to the temple was bare, as a winter garden would be. The statues that appeared to be scattered about the barren garden had only the stone work that wove around them to attest to the fact that if a flowering garden was there, there was a definite border and pattern to the placement of the statues. Demeter's statues had dried wreathes of wheat and barely draped around her neck and over her limbs while her daughter Persephone was draped in the traditional dark sackcloth. It had the appearance of a well cared for Temple.

Interesting. Demeter's followers now use Gaia's important temples away from the larger cities. Must be some kind of an arrangement between the goddesses, Aleka mused as she looked around her.

Moving from the outside of the temple to the inside, she found the stairwell that led down to the cellar of the temple. The stairwell was located in the apse, behind the altar to Demeter, hidden by an elaborately weaved wall hanging depicting the seasons and the goddesses participation in them. Aleka paused to glance back at her statue that was made of gold, silver, ivory and precious stones, depicting her waiting for her daughter's return. In her right hand she held barley, wheat and a mekon capsule, ready for planting. Her left hand held a long staff with the mekon capsule at one end and the pointed tip for drilling holes for the seeds at the other. The statue of Persephone was draped under black died sackcloth, just as the outside one was. It was custom during the winter months to represent the time when Persephone spent in the underworld with her husband, Hades. She moved on.

Hmm. Doors locked from temple side, she noted. She moved though the door and down into the cellar. She found one curved door that led into the side of the mountain. It could be barred from either side. We'll bar it from our side when we're here. No need to risk having a surprise visit from curious residents if they should hear noises coming from a locked room no longer used, she mused. It would be awkward, her other half agreed.

Aleka looked for other exits. All right. Let's see where we can exit from. Can't be strolling through the temple with cart and horses, now can we? She chuckled to herself. Her mischievous side was tempted to do it and let the explanation be given to the visions inspired by the opion sap, but the brevity of the knowledge that such portals existed and what they could be misused for kept the impulse in check.

There are two exits directly to the outside, Aleka reminded Xena. Right.

She moved along the cavern looking for the two other exits that most temples had for emergencies or as they had originally been intended, for moving supplies in and out of the cavern without disrupting temple activities. She found one covered with a large circular stone rolled in front of it. The second was hidden behind old piles of bags and discarded containers from long ago use.

What are they saving all this for? Xena asked disgustedly.

Aleka inspected the exit behind the rock door first. She traveled quickly though the tunnel which led to a trail that wound upward to the top of the mountain. On the outside the path led back down to the foot of the mountain. It would lead them down into a valley that headed west toward Canace.

Wrong direction.

She moved back to check the tunnel behind the piled debris. This one opened up into a grotto of more tall silver trees.

Rising higher she was able to find the old trail that led through the grove and out onto the road.

Ahh, the main road. The ground's muddy. It's going to take some time to cover our tracks. There's no way out of the cavern except through the muddy field, she observed.

We are cutting three days off travel time, Aleka pointed out to Xena's practical side.

Yea. You're right. I guess a candlemark off our time isn't too much, come to think of it, Xena conceded with a slight smile for her counterpart.

She then returned and made a closer inspection of the cavern finding little evidence that it had been used recently. The entrance was from the basement off from where the oracle would sit. As Demeter's temple there should still be an oracle below the ground yet it appeared it too had not been used for a long time.

Aleka made another visit around the temple to see where everyone was located then returned to the cavern where the circle of friends waited for her return.

Seven priestesses, fourteen initiates and some families doing business with the high priestess…it's a prosperous temple, so why is there no oracle? Aleka interjected between Xena's mental notes. We aren't going to get involved with anymore goddess problems. One is enough. Everyone looks too busy to be distracted with our arrival and departure, Aleka nodded to herself, closing the subject of why no oracle. It was a puzzle…but not for this time.

****

Startling blue eyes opened, alerting the others that Aleka was back. She slowly uncrossed her long legs as her senses adjusted back to her heavier form. Once settled, in one fluid motion she rose, turning to face the two that would lead the way.

"It is clear. The exit we'll be using is behind old bags and wine caskets." She nodded to Lily and Agnes who again insisted on going through the portal before her. "There is a door you can bar to make sure we don't have any surprise visits. Best to control the door ourselves and let them wonder than have to explain what they see."

The two women nodded, barely concealing their excitement. Was it from the anticipation of another trip through the portal or the anticipation of another adventure? Whichever, Aleka could feel it in the others too. Everyone was bathed, fed, packed, and ready.

Aleka closed her eyes and brought to memory the tone for the portal of their destination. Each cavern had a name and the tone was in the name. She started the hum then made it into a chant feeling the energy in the area pick up. The others took up the chant intensifying the energy. She could feel the unmistakable activity of an open portal around her. The smell in the air that swept over her was from another place. She stepped to the side where Iaia, Erica and Eleanor waited. They were to come through the portal last, after they had erased all traces of their presence. Inwardly she smiled at the trio who had become close friends.

She felt a nose bunting her elbow, and then teeth nibbling playfully on the cloth of her tunic as the golden mare waited for her turn to be herded through the portal following the cart. Aleka turned to look into the golden brown eyes that were to an old friend, letting a hand briefly stroke the nostrils that flared out as the golden mare breathed, then Aleka returned her attention back to the portal…waiting.

The feather returned three breaths later and the others started to move through the portal in an orderly, prearranged fashion with the count of five before each stepped through. Aleka would move through just before the trio. She wanted to be sure all traces of their presence were removed. She knew the existence of the portals could not be kept hidden, for already too many people knew of them, but proof of their use could be erased leaving something of them a mystery. The trio helped erase prints digging holes and burying waste and leaving unlit torches in convenient places in case they had to return.

As the Named, she was not to be the first or the last anywhere, so when they were finished, Aleka stepped through the portal before the trio. Without hesitation she stepped through feeling the tingling skirt over her arms, shoulders and down her legs. It ended at her second step, which put her in the new cavern.

Aleka looked around noting torches were lit for the women to move around without bumping into each other. Half of the debris blocking the entrance was already removed.

"Have you thought of what we're going to do about recovering this?" Lily asked as she moved out of the way of Brona's toss of an old mat on the pile that they had been dumping everything on.

"Yea. There are some planks there." Aleka gestured toward the other wall. "We can pile everything on them then move the planks against the opening. Whoever covered the opening did it from this side."

"Don't you think someone will notice everything is stacked differently and that the planks have been moved?"

"Hmmm. Maybe. Why don't you and I get to preparing the planks?" Aleka suggested.

When the others had finished unblocking the doorway. They all stood back to admire the doorframe that was covered in carvings. Lily couldn't resist feeling with her fingertips the carved surface. In the beam above were carved scenes that honored Gaia in her voluptuous state at harvest time. The left side pillar had carvings representing the seasons and the right had carvings representing the various stages of life. There were pits in the wood where at one time stones might have been imbedded.

"Look someone had forgotten to remove this stone." Lily observed. Before she could touch it Aleka knocked her hand away. "Whaaat! What's wrong." Lily asked startled.

"It's best not to touch what has been covered from sight and looks too conveniently placed for the pickings." Aleka advised

"Sounds like sage advice." Agnes nodded.

"Well, the carvings alone are beautiful. They must have really looked impressive before the stones were removed." Lily remarked.

"Let's get going. We have muddy tracks to cover before we get to the road." Aleka reminded the women.

"What's the weather like outside?" Lily asked, expecting their practical Leader to have noticed.

"It looks like rain before we get under shelter."

Lily sighed. "It is winter so I shouldn't be surprised, but Zeus, can't we get a break?"

Aleka laughed. "Gaia gave us three free days of travel with no stress, no mess."

Agnes poked Lily in the side as she moved past her with her horse. "Yea. So don't be giving her any ideas of us being ungrateful." She teased.

The main group of women moved out taking the horses while Aleka and the trio remained behind to move the planks in front of the doorway and wipe out their tracks. They piled the debris high enough for them to clamber out without toppling it, then closed the door from the tunnel side.

****

By dusk Aleka and Lily, whose turn it was to scout ahead had found a suitable place for a camp. It was protected from the cold wind and rain they had been facing all day. While waiting for the others to catch up with them they started to make shelters and setup a protected fire.

"If it gets any colder we're going to have snow before the morning." Lily commented to her companion who was weaving the edges of a shelter together.

Aleka glanced up at the row of caves Lily was looking at wistfully. "Not a good idea." She commented quietly as she resumed her work. "It's too far from where the horses will be and it will be too difficult to defend if we have to stay up there for any length of time."

Lily sighed. "Naturally. It's got to be a real experience in roughing it."

Aleka laughed to herself softly. Ooooo. She doesn't know what roughing it really is.

Lily seemed to sense what was going through the warrior's mind. "I know what you're thinking and I don't want to hear it." She grumbled.

The women continued with their preparations in silence. Finally Aleka surveyed their finished work and nodded.

"Let's wait up in the trees for our friends." Aleka drawled with a very mischievous glint in her blue eyes.

"OOOOhhh. I like the tone of your voice. I just loooovve to roost above unsuspecting chicks." Lily growled with humor. She rubbed her hands more for warmth than anticipation of fun.

Aleka looked at her. "Like a chicken hawk, huh?"

"Hmm."

****

Iaia was listening and enjoying the sounds and smells around her. Her senses were still heightened and she was taking advantage of it. Eleanor had told her it would take weeks for the last of the drugs from Malucu's combination to get out of her system, which is what they suspected was causing her senses to be heightened.

Iaia was riding up front with Erica, who took Lily's place when she moved to scout position with Aleka. The steady rain had finally abated with only a few drops falling now and then but they were all cold and wet with only the thoughts of a warm fire, food and relief from the cold wind on their collective minds.

Eleanor and Erica were looking for the mark that Aleka and Lily would have left to show where they were to move off the road for their night camp. Agnes who was riding next to Eleanor spotted the mark near the bushes first, since it was near her.

Agnes and Brona rode ahead while the others followed slower to keep close to the cart that was riding low in the soft dirt that was not a road. The two that were keeping an eye out behind them were nervously looking toward the road they just left for they were in full view of anyone who might travel past. They hadn't met anyone on the road that day, and though not many people traveled in the winter those that did were usually desperate or as unpleasant as the weather. Alala had lagged further behind to check a group of soldiers that her winged friends had spotted earlier. They all wanted to know who was behind them and how far just so they didn't get unannounced visitors at night

"It's up ahead, about a furlough." Agnes announced breathlessly as she came riding back. She didn't want to tell them that Aleka had scared her by dropping out of a tree neatly, to sit behind her on her mount, with a knife at her throat, to teach her that she should be more careful when entering a covered area. Lily had tried something similar on Brona who entered the forest cover with the same casualness, but the two women were evenly matched and both ended up falling off the horse and wrestling around in the mud, which caked the two women. Lily, however, was able to clean her dignity up before the others arrived.

No one dared to ask Brona what happened to her, as everyone already knew the drill. Aleka stressed the importance of the women staying alert and if she noticed anyone less then attentive she would see that something happened in their proximity to teach them a valuable lesson on survival. Daylight was short in the winter so their hyper vigilance wasn't a long eight candle marks. They all knew that sooner or later they would be in Brona's place, if they hadn't already…and on numerous occasions.

The trio was again in charge with covering the groups passage from view so they remained behind. Trying to undo the passage of the cart in the soft dirt was a challenge. The brush it had gone over wasn't as bad as the deep wheel marks it left on either side of it. They were halfway to the cover of the forest, still clearing tracks when Iaia suddenly became still.

"We've got company." Iaia whispered as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She could feel something different in the air coming from the direction they had passed. A part of her was excited at what she suspected was what a warrior must feel when she sensed things before others witnessed them.

The other two looked around carefully not questioning Iaia's announcement. The ground began to tremble after a few moments.

"Feels like a good size group heading this way." Erica looked around for cover, which there wasn't much of until they reached the tree line at the beginning of the forest. They wouldn't have time to reach it. They were a little past the halfway point between the road and the forest with tracks to still cover.

Erica quickly touched her horses leg and pulled his head at an angle so that he lowered himself down to the ground and then onto his side. She picked a part of the ground that dipped down slightly thereby making it impossible to see them if they lay flat, unless a rider came off the road looking. She lay beside her mount ready to bring him back up if needed. The other two women quickly followed suit, bringing their mounts into a laying position, not relishing the muddy ground. Iaia remembered that Agnes had told her Argo was a war-horse. She then would certainly know about this maneuver of blending in with the scenery, Iaia thought. She tossed her fur coat over the lighter colored horse and snuggled up close hoping Argo's body heat would make up for surrendering her warm coat to lay next to her in the cold mud.

The pounding of hooves was more noticeable as the women lay flat on the ground. Iaia could hear the distinct movement of two horses riding in front on either side of the road scouting the area out before them. It seemed like a quarter of a candlemark later that the rest of the troop passed by. Erica didn't rise immediately. Cautiously she raised her head and looked around. The rumble in the ground was fading.

"Not yet!" She hissed at the two women. They could hear the hoof beats of one lone rider moving quickly behind the main group.

Iaia raised her head a little when the beats seemed on top of them.

"It's Alala!"

Erica quickly gave the Amazon call. If Alala had not heard it the saker falcon and owl that were circling over head or even her mount would have signaled to their mistress. Alala quickly slowed looking carefully for a more solid place to cross over to their position. The three mud covered women were standing alongside their equally muddied mounts.

"There's a lot of activity on this road. We've got to get into the woods." She informed them trying not to grin at their appearance. She helped them erase the rest of the tracks making better time into the woods.

Aleka was beside them the moment they were under the shelter of the trees. She had been watching with concern at the passage of the soldiers.

"The lead scout noticed where we crossed over." She told the women.

"By Artemis's bow! I know I did a good job of covering up!" Erica muttered.

Aleka lightly tapped her muddied shoulder. She trusted Erica's skills, which was why she had appointed her to the job. "He may be familiar with this road and noticed something different."

Erica's face turned red. "Well, I did move a bush around." She admitted in a low voice. "But I can't see how one bush would make a difference." She muttered, knowing full well that a good scout would notice details.

Iaia and Eleanor's struggles to not laugh out loud only made it more noticeable as the giggling broke out when the two looked at each other.

Erica's face became redder.

"We've already moved camp further into the woods. It's going to be cold later on but we can't risk a fire for the night. I don't want to risk anyone smelling our fire and coming for a visit. We'll sleep two or more to a shelter. Unless you want to cuddle with the horses." Aleka raised an eyebrow remembering many events in her own life of having to share warmth with Argo. "There's a running stream near by so you can get some of that mud off." She added noting the women's uncomfortable shifting around from the mud.

Iaia could hear the soft feet above her that moved from branch to branch as Aleka was speaking. The guards are being posted, she thought. She was relieved she wasn't going to be on the first shift. She was hungry, dirty and tired.

"We may be in trouble if that guard decides to come back for another look." Alala remarked as she walked to the camp alongside of Aleka.

"Let's get everyone together and compare notes…after the three of you get a chance to clean up and get something warm inside of you." Aleka told the women over her shoulder.

****

"So, what have you found?" Aleka asked Alala when everyone was gathered in a tight circle around the fire. The warmth of their closeness was appreciated by all, as they couldn't ignore the howling of the wind through the treetops and the knowledge that the warm fire would soon be put out.

"There is a group of mercenaries about a candlemark behind the group that passed by. From a conversation I overheard, the two groups will meet up by tomorrow. It seems the mercenaries' scout the borders of Lord Menigines' lands. Menigines has his own men go out and collect reports from them about twice in a moon's cycle. The argument I overheard had to do with some of Menigines' soldiers making unscheduled visits. The two groups are not on friendly terms but then, they aren't at each others throats."

"Ah, Lord Menigines. He wants his kingdom to be known as one of the great learning centers in Macedonia." Lily nodded to the others. "It's his winter quarters that we're headed to. He's already married off his offspring to the surrounding influential families to insure his kingdom grows or has peaceful neighbors."

Alala looked at her with amusement. "I thought the temple priestesses were the only ones that could claim to know all the gossip from everywhere."

"Are you kidding? On an island of women, as an Ambassador for the Amazons, and Lesbos? Believe me, I am privy to more information than what I can use." Lily groaned. "With all the intrigues even a goddess would find it mind boggling to keep up."

"What's he doing, collecting for a harem?" Berik asked. Her hands were wrapped around a mug of hot tea.

"Well, actually he did inherit a harem when he conquered the area."

"Wait until he finds out the offspring of some of the inherited wives want to rule the land that they feel is their heritage." Erica shook her head knowingly. "I hope you're right when you said he's changed the practices of the previous ruler. If not, we may be in for more than what we can handle."

"I told you, he's a friend of Sappho and so is his new wife." Lily reassured them.

Aleka partially listened to the women letting the heat from her cup warm her hands. She stared into the cup watching the leaves that escaped the strainer move around the top of the brew. If the scout is familiar with this area he will know where someone is most likely to hide. It's good to stay away from those caves along the ridge as tempting as they appear in this weather. It would be the first place the soldiers will look. Aleka let her eyes wander around the outside of their camp seeing what others could not, aware of things that others would not be. We can take care of the soldiers from here. Camilia, Berik and Alala will stay with the horses…and Gabrielle. Our real danger is from the cold.

Alala and Lily had the second watch and were snuggling under the firs within the cozy shelters that were made earlier. Brona and Candra would join them on the second watch, while Berik and Agnes were given the chore of relieving anyone that became too cold to finish their shift. They had to wake up periodically and check on the others. A signal that was like cold branches brushing against each other was to be given if all was well.

Aleka, as usual, took the last shift with Erica, Iaia and Eleanor. Gari, Grace, Kynthia and Catherine were given the first shift. Aleka felt if the soldiers wanted to investigate an irregularity, they would send out a scouting team either at dusk or just before dawn. However, she didn't think it would be dusk in this case. No matter how well the scouting group knew the area, there was to be no moon that night and the clouds that the cold wind was blowing warned of snow. Aleka could smell it in the wind. Most soldiers didn't like to go skulking about in bad weather and without light. Unless she happened to be an ex warlord, Aleka chuckled to herself, who was bored and looking for some fun. Her chuckle went deeper when she felt the cringe from her counterpart at the thought of creeping about in the cold and in the dark. Better you than me, came the reply back.

The women on guard were cold and huddled against the bare trees trying to keep alert to any movement around them. The shifts were short so that no one would be out in the cold for too long. Aleka had given them suggestions on how to keep warm and warned them against the sleepiness that would overtake them if they became too cold. She made sure they knew that to come for help if they felt they were too cold was important and nothing to be ashamed about.

When Aleka came back from a quick parameter search she found Iaia was waiting up for her.

"Hey." She whispered softly as Aleka passed her shelter. "No one sleeps alone." Aleka was hesitant. Who left her alone in a shelter?

"Come on. I'm not going to bite, Aleka." The soft voice cajoled.

Aleka could hear the smile in her voice. She squelched the image of Gabrielle biting her neck and ignored the warm feeling that spread throughout her body at the thought. Without much more struggle she joined Iaia. She lay on her back and Iaia settled her head on her shoulder and was quickly asleep. The familiarity of Iaia's actions had Aleka wondering if Gabrielle's memories had surfaced.

The warmth from their bodies under the shelter kept the cold at bay. Aleka contently fell asleep until she heard familiar footsteps approach.

The first watch went by without a disturbance and without the women becoming ill from cold limbs. As the second shift ended, Alala reported to Aleka that her owl had spotted riders but they were about three candlemarks away, with torches. The wind had died but the chill was evident in the vapor from their breath.

"Get some rest and warmth until then." Aleka suggested as she pulled her warmed coat out from under the covers. Aleka moved out of the shelter and waited for Iaia to get up to give their warm places to Lily and Alala, who were getting off their shift.

So the men were coming this way. She looked up into the early morning sky and gauged what light they would have when the soldiers arrived. It still would be dark but the sunrise would not be long away. Just before dawn was the darkest time of the night. They can't move fast in the dark, even with torches. More than likely they'll put the torches out before they make their way through the valley about nine furloughs from the road. Her warrior side was delighted with this last idea. The challenge of disappearing in the dark when surrounded by an armed group was something she was skillful at and delighted in playing.

Aleka went to check up on the horses. Their warm breath on her hands was comforting as she greeted the ones that moved against her. She spent more time stroking a familiar neck then perhaps she really had time for. She sniffed the air and listened closely to the night sounds with her hand resting on the coarse winter coat of Argo's neck. "There's going to be some serious weather soon, Argo," she whispered in the attentive ear. She could see dark forms of the other women moving around the horses. A short form moved toward her. "I see you and Argo have become good friends." Iaia whispered as she let her hands rest on Argo's neck for warmth. It was so close to where Aleka had hers resting she could swear she could feel Aleka's warmth radiating from them.

"We have." Aleka softly admitted.

Argo's head turned around toward her and Aleka could image what look she was getting in the dark from those golden brown eyes, and she didn't have an apple to make up to her.

*****

Aleka took the northern position against a tree that gave her a good view of a valley that the soldier's would probably approach them from. She settled with her back comfortably against the tree, feeling as Aleka the life of the tree and its connection with the earth. Even in the cold winter there was awareness within this tall sentinel of what was going on in its environment. Aleka relished the reconnection with other forms of life that she had once had, which had colored her world in vibrant hues. Xena chucked and thought that having Gabrielle around made up for that loss. Gently Aleka moved her connection from her tall friend to the sounds on the wind that was blowing toward her from out of the valley.

It was about two candlemarks later that Alala moved to her side and indicated that the men had arrived and were moving along the valley floor. It was what her own senses had informed her. The smell of not too fresh clothing and horses gave their presence away. They didn't have the sense to check the wind direction.

"Wake and alert the others." She silently signaled her. She paused listening for a moment then turned to return to their dark camp. The others were up and silently removing traces of their camp. Lily and Agnes joined Aleka's tall shadow quickly.

"We need to find out how many there are." She whispered to the two women. Lily's shadow nodded.

"Agnes, the Amazons will do this alone." Aleka informed her. Agnes nodded in understanding. This required more stealth than her priestess had at that time for traveling in trees, especially in the dark.

The other women huddled around the three waiting for directions.

"Fan out. Gari, take the direction we've come from. Erica you go up the way they were last seen. Lily, check the area where we first were to set up camp. Berik .."

"Go back toward the mountain." She guessed.

"Right. Now go. You have a quarter candlemark before they reach the old camp site."

"Alala, is it safe for the owl to scout?"

"Yes."

"Good. We'll need her eyes to tell us what the others can't see."

"The rest of you, make sure traces of our camp here have been removed. Then get to your traps and only use them when it's necessary." She cautioned the priestesses. "Remember we don't want them to know we are here."

In the dark it was difficult to see if heads nodded in agreement but the barely audible sound of feet dispatching could be heard.

Aleka closed her eyes for a moment taking a deep breath of the cold air into her lungs. An image came to her bringing warmth. She pictured Iaia's head pressed against her shoulder and the arm that had slipped across her stomach in sleep. Taking another deep breath she moved her thoughts to a bigger problem at hand.

Iaia returned to help Camila and Alala with the horses. Aleka could see her shivering and was wondering if it was from apprehension.

Aleka turned and moved quickly and silently past Lily's position, over the uneven ground that was barely showing in gray shades from a sky that was just getting ready to move into daylight. She climbed a slight embankment and blended in with the ground pulling the hood of her fur coat closer around her face as she moved toward the valley.

She could feel feet moving over the earth before she heard their movement near by. Was it again Aleka's connection with the earth and its creatures? Xena shrugged it off. She was able to do it herself. Now is not the time to be comparing notes, she admonished her selves.

Some of the men were quieter than others. Aleka could finally see the shadows moving cautiously toward the area where they had made their first camp.

Their warm clothing is not shoddy. I think I'll have a look see at their horses.

Aleka let the men move past her content to watch them search out an area that was vacant. She was more interested in seeing if this was the mercenary group or the army Alala had talked about. So far she hadn't been able to spot an insignia on the warm furs. Once they had disappeared she got up and moved to where she thought their horses might be. Horses tell much about their owners.

Aleka found the guards to the horses easily. The two men guarding the horses were arguing which gave her more information than she could have gotten though other means. She stayed to listen until the rest of the group returned. It was a dark gray daylight with a few white flakes floating down from the overcast sky. A group of cold, damp and disgruntled soldiers and mercenaries stomped back into the makeshift camp. The leader had the men mount up and ride out quickly. Back to a village with warm food and lodgings, she thought enviously.

Aleka watched them from a tall tree as they disappeared out of sight. The two groups rode separately and the mercenary group did not appear to have a leader. Satisfied they weren't going to turn off the road and double back, Aleka dropped to the ground and started back to camp. She took a quick glance up at the sky and spotted the falcon spiraling above her. Once she started back the bird disappeared in the direction of their camp. Lily joined her as she reached an embankment near their first campsite. They were both cold and were thinking of a nice hot cup of tea that the scent of a fire told them could be a real possibility. Lily was blowing warm air into her cold hands as she trotted beside Aleka.

Aleka whistled their approach. Except for a few that were on guard the rest were gathered around a warm fire that was giving the women hot refreshment and the needed warmth. Lily was handed a cup of tea from Agnes as Aleka walked around looking for something. Lily guessed was an imaginary spy. Iaia filled two bowls with warm soup. Agnes filled another cup and handed it to Aleka when she returned her attention to the huddled group.

"How far did they get?" Aleka asked, as she wrapped her cold fingers around the hot cup of tea before taking the food Iaia offered.

"They didn't get this far. They were more interested in where we first set up. We left them enough evidence to show someone had been there but had left unhurriedly, just like you said."

"Good. It gives the reason for the bush being out of place. What about the scouts?"

"They looked up along the caves over there." Erica pointed.

"Good thing we didn't take cover there." Agnes nodded.

"I'd like to know why Menigines is mixing mercenaries with his regular soldiers. It may be that he's gearing up for winter hits by hungry warlords, but I would rather be sure." Why trust your borders to mercenaries when another's coin can cause a change in loyalties?

The others nodded. "It wouldn't be good to run into unfriendly border patrols." Lily muttered.

Aleka nodded. "Were on the border of Adris so it's to be expected that we run into his patrols."

"We should reach our destination, Lupurities by midday." Alala offered. She kept glancing at the sky and knew by the few flakes that were drifting down it was going to get colder.

"We'll need to hurry. We just may beat the heavier snow fall." Aleka nodded to Lily.

Lily also looked up at the sky. There was a break in the clouds in the direction they were heading, but a shift in the wind could change that. Lily smiled at Alala. "Another point in our favor."

Alala raised her eyebrows in question.

"No injuries."

"Ahhh. We have been lucky." She pointed to where a bruise had once been on Lily's forehead. "But a visit in one of the goddesses passage ways seems to take care of any injury."

Lily nodded. Travel though the portals had a lot of advantages. She wondered how the secret of their existence had been lost. As she pondered the good they could be used for the idea of the misuse and the misery the knowledge of them would create gave her an appreciation of the knowledge being forgotten.

Chapter 2

That Certain Feeling

Agnes and Lily rode ahead to connect with their contact in the village and arrange for their quarters. A hot meal and a warm room were on everyone's wish list. They were all hoping there was going to be room for them at the inn even if they had to squeeze in one room. It would be warmer and dryer than camping outside the village.

The snow began to fall in earnest just before the two came ridding back.

"Menigines, according to our contact, was the one that had requested from Sappho that our troupe visit Lapurities. Can you image that?" Lily yelled loud enough for the women to hear as they huddled under their furs. "He's our host and he has finished building up the castle the old king had started, which is where we will be staying. A lot was left out on the invitation," She nodded to Aleka.

"Hmm." Aleka nodded. "A castle, huh? I don't remember this area having one. Do you know exactly what was in Sappho's message to him?"

"Not exactly. There isn't much you can say in a carrier bird. Then there is the message itself. When and if it gets to a temple the temple will send out a human messenger if and when they have someone available and they will be carrying a translated version of the message so you don't really know what type of message the target will get." Lily explained tucking her hands under the flaps of her fur coat.

Aleka was well aware of the disadvantages of such communication.

"I sure hope his castle has the usual large bathing tubs because I could use a hot bath to thaw out my bones and I don't want to wait!" Muttered Erica.

"Well, there we are all in luck. The castle in built on top of a mineral pool." Lily told her.

"According to, Helga, our contact, Menigines gets bored during the winter and likes to arrange winter entertainment for his guests and anyone in the village who wants to partake. Those in the inn that were listening to our conversation were curious who would be crazy enough to be traveling in the winter weather." Agnes laughed.

"Warm baths here we come!" Eleanor gaily sang.

****

When they entered the village the snow was blanketing buildings on either side of the road. The road however, was muddy and churned as if a large group of travelers had recently passed by. Aleka watched a dark figure on a horse approach them.

"You're Sappho's troupe? Welcome from Menigines, Lord of this city. I am Captain Dunties. I'm to escort you into the castle and settle you before you meet your host."

Aleka recognized him through the way he carried himself as the leader of the group that had attempted to find their campsite in the early hours. So he was Menigines' Captain. His face was partially covered by the fur-lined cowl to his coat. The women were also warmly covered and with the cold wind that was accompanying the snowfall, no one was willing to uncover their faces even for a brief moment.

Their escort took them off to the side of the main road along a path that showed recent use by a group moving in single file. Aleka studied the main road that gave the appearance of recent usage by a large group for the white snow was gray slush scattered with fresh horse droppings and urine. The group had to have stopped for a while outside the first set of gates, the barbican, the way the snow was trampled down. As they neared the enceinte, the exterior of the castles walls, they followed their escort's example and dismounted to lead their horses along the path under the overhang of the battlement and under the low arch of the postern gate that opened up into a small courtyard of the castle. Above the gate was a hoarding but there seemed to be no guard posted. By the smell, they were near stables and a cesspit.

It doesn't smell as bad as some castles I've had the displeasure of visiting, Xena thought.

Aleka appraised the castle's layout from Xena's point of view while Aleka noticed the absence of feeling. What, Aleka asked in disbelief? There should be some sense of emotion from people passing here. Maybe the weather is keeping most people in, Xena suggested.

The enceinte, the outer walls, appeared to be the customary thickness. Without appearing to study the defenses, Aleka noted that the towers she could see had guards posted with small fires in them, keeping the soldier's warm. One walked out on the battlement and peered down at them, watching their movements until Captain Dunties gave a sign for him to reenter his warm tower room. Apparently, Menigines was still having work done on his castle for the curtain wall's foundation had been started and was only knee high at the moment. It was to be the second wall around the castle. It looked like Menigines was thinking of making this more than winter quarters.

Aleka didn't know if it was Argo or Iaia's intention, but the two were beside her as they walked into the open yard. She caught Iaia's elbow when she slipped in the mud without a break in her own stride.

Agnes was walking behind the two and smiled at their comfortable camaraderie. She could still feel the strong energy of the Named so their friendship, so far, was not jeopardizing the integrity of the quest. The connection they had between each other even if Gabrielle couldn't remember who she was in this life, was strong. Agnes realized that separating them for the journey would have been unrealistic. They would have found each other somehow.

Lily also watched the two figures walk side by side without speaking. She smiled to herself at their quiet companionship. The circle of friends had agreed to call Gabrielle Iaia on the journey so that someone who knew the Bard would not start looking for the companion that she usually traveled with or who would be somewhere nearby. To Iaia it didn't seem to matter for she didn't remember herself as Gabrielle. It was agreed not to try to get her to remember herself as Gabrielle, for there had to be a reason why she was not able to remember. Agnes had thought it was Gaia's doing for Gabrielle's loyalty to Xena would be too strong for her to see her as Aleka. That would not only weaken the energy around their quest but it would not give Iaia the chance to complete her own quest. For whatever reasons, it was for the better Lily felt.

Lily turned her attention to their other new member, Alala. It was easy enough to find a place for her. She was one of Athena's guards so she naturally fit in as a guard but she was adamant about not being labeled an Amazon. Lily wasn't sure how she should take it but agreed with Aleka's suggestion to let her be who she is, a guard from Athena's Temple. After all it was through Athena's messengers that arrangements were made for their visits to various villages, Aleka had reminded her. That reply surprised Lily for it was a switch from a woman who distrusted the gods under any guise. But then, there were a lot of surprises, for wasn't it for Gaia's sake the dark haired warrior took this quest up?

Lily could feel the wide smile crack skin on her cold face. Gabrielle was under a few goddesses' protection that she knew of and probably a few others that she didn't. How else can someone whose intentions are kind but who seems to draw trouble toward her always get out, though not always unscathed. The smile got wider as she thought of the dark haired warrior bodyguard friend that was usually not too far from her side. The smile gave way to a chuckle. She didn't see Agnes' staring at her wondering what was going on underneath the fur cowl that was covering most of her head and face.

A soldier stepped out of the garrison that ran alongside the wall until the corral stopped it. He waved to his captain. Everyone was looking forward to the acting troupes visit. He was hoping to be off duty for some of the performances. His wife had been talking about it since Menigines confirmed that an acting troupe would be performing for a few days. She overheard from the local castle gossip that Menigines had received a message from Sappho that one of her acting troupes would be passing through and had offered to perform for him if he provided them with food and shelter for a few days. Menigines welcomed bards, drama troupes and circus performers. In the beginning it was to educate the villagers. He believed that wisdom was taught in being exposed to these outside influences. But those close to him noticed that he had lately become more interested in competing with his neighbor Labducus, the trader who dealt in anything from flesh to food.

The subject of the competition varied season to season. The guard suspected it took the place of Menigines warlord competitiveness. Even Labducus was less interested in his trade business and more interested in competing with Menigines. Labducus, however, had sons and clever daughters to take over his business and he still kept a wary eye on them so that he would continue to make a profit. Menigines had Dunties, not his son, but whom he treated like a brother, who made sure that the land he had conquered, was kept safe.

The fact that the troupe was all women created quite a stir, among the young guards especially. Over half of the garrison had been sent out on their usual check up of the border areas the mercenaries were supposed to be patrolling for Menigines, and were not happy they would be missing the performances. They were all the older seasoned soldiers. Menigines didn't like sending the younger guards out in the cold winter unless they had been training for two full season cycles. The older guards that remained behind made sure to take advantage of this arrangement and gave all the unpleasant chores and duties, with the exception of watching the exits and entrances to the castle to the young men. One of the favorite discharging of duties was the experience of cleaning the cesspits and washing the garderobes. Captain Dunties has used it as a punishment for any of the soldiers that committed an infraction. These small stone chambers for toilet were four on each floor with drains that ran down into a cesspit below them. The Lady of the castle insisted they be cleaned every morning and the chambers be washed down with scented water regardless of the weather.

Parehu pulled his coat around him closer as he tried to memorize details of the well-covered figures for his wife. She would bother him for details. She would want more than the color of their furs. If anything, she had him properly trained to note detail. He had already sent Amagines, the other sentry, to let her know they had arrived. Lord Menigines had told them he would ring the bell three times to let everyone know within hearing distance that the performance would start in two candle marks.

****

Grace, who was riding the cart, followed Berik, Camila and Alala accompanied the three stable boys that came out into the bad weather to lead their horses into the covered stable area. Their horses were too important to just leave them with anyone and leading or herding eighteen horses was too much for three boys, even if the destination were a mere ten steps from where they were standing. Earlier in their journey, Aleka had pointed out to them that the stable was the best place to gather local gossip and check out the condition of a village, town or castle. It was important to know how many horses were in the stalls, how much winter food was being stored for the livestock in the castle, how well the equipment is kept up, who is the horse master, and the attitude of the men and boys toward the women. This was handy to know for women traveling far from home.

"Lord Menigines would like to know how many rooms you need?" Dunties asked Aleka as he led the women into a passageway that took them out of the weather. A young boy jumped up when Captain Dunties entered the hall and quickly handed him the torch he had been holding.

They weren't being led through the forebuilding, through the main entrance. That fact had Aleka's curiosity. Someone must be here we're not suppose to meet, her suspicious nature suggested. Aleka glanced at the stone decoration that was above the archway. It was covered with the recent snow and all that she recognized was the seashell.

"Let's first see how large the rooms are." She suggested.

The passage almost immediately opened up into a wide hallway that was busy with activity as supplies and trays of food moved in and out of the kitchen that they passed. The aromas from different dishes cooking caused a lot of stomachs to growl in appreciation. They timed their arrival right, the group was thinking, midmeal. Across from the kitchen was the buttery with its partitions wide open revealing barrels of something worth tasting as new supplies were rolled in, past the women who moved out of the way quickly.

"A caravan from Labducus, our neighbor to the north, had arrived just before you. I didn't think you would appreciate weaving in and out of the traffic in the ward. Not until you've at least had a chance to warm up and refresh yourselves." Dunties smiled.

"We must be keeping you from your duties then, Captain Dunties." Aleka mentioned politely.

"You are Lord Menigines honored guests so it is my duty to see that you are welcomed and settled before you see him. Besides, I much rather escort a group of gracious women into a warm castle then argue for hours with Mariko, the caravan leader, about this or that in the cold."

"Labducus is your neighboring city?" Lily asked politely.

"Ahh. No. He calls his city after Labdu. It's a trader's city. He deals in everything and anything. He and my Lord Menigines have developed a – friendly rivalry in acquisitions."

Aleka felt a slight prickle of warning. "Any particular type of acquisitions?"

At that moment her nose picked up a familiar smell that was permeating the interior of the castle. She glanced back at Agnes to see if she also noticed the smell. Agnes was busy listening to Lily give her a commentary on something.

Aleka turned her head back to Dunties who was answering her question.

Dunties chuckled as he led the way up a stairwell to the next floor, then turned down a hall and lit a torch to add some light to the darkened hallway. "Well, last summer it was a fleece." He looked at Aleka briefly. "It stunk so that didn't go for too long. During the fall it was Labducus's daughter. That was to teach the young men how to track and other games of stealth."

"I take it Labducus's daughter was good at hiding." Lily remarked, who had returned her attention to their escort.

Dunties started to laugh. "Oh yea."

Torches that were few and far between dimly lit the darkened corridor they were being led down. Aleka guessed they were the only ones in this part of the castle. Dunties pushed open a door and stepped back handing his torch to Aleka. The women moved into the room. Aleka pulled out an unlit torch near the door and lit it from hers and handed it to Lily.

"Nice and roomy." Lily commented as she moved in one direction and Aleka in another. They lit other torches to give the room more light. There were two loopholes in the sitting room, boarded against the weather, rattling from the wind. Agnes, however, went over and removed the panels with Berik's assistance. It let in cold air, but it was fresh and the hemp smoke that followed them in went directly toward the openings and was sucked out.

"Five could fit in here." Aleka commented stepping past the curtained room where a large bed rested. Her eyes narrowed a bit as she studied the metal designs on the bed's headboard. Mentally Aleka chastised herself for letting her imagination run away with her. They could merely be decorations.

"Are all the rooms this size?" Agnes asked as she sank onto the bed and those that could fit joined her. Lily busied herself lighting the fire in the room to take some of the chill out.

Dunties nodded allowing a smile to touch his lips as he watched the young women push at each other playfully to test the bed as children would.

Aleka's eyes narrowed further when she spotted some familiar attachments that were hanging above the bed neatly tied back to give the appearance of just being decorations. So, it's not my imagination. If they keep burning hemp we're going to have to keep the shutters off all the time.

"We'll sleep five to a room. Have you spare pallets for three rooms?" Aleka asked abruptly. She looked at the wood piled near the fireplace that Lily was carefully using to coax a healthy flame from. For a moment she thought of the cost of heating the rooms during the winter months. She had a few good reasons why she wasn't going to break them down into smaller groups, even if Menigines had the spare rooms. The most important was for defense. Looking back at the bed she decided for sure she didn't want the women to start pairing off but not so much as to protect them from themselves but from anyone in the castle thinking they could overpower two women. She was getting to suspect just what type of activity Menigines got involved in for the winter months and she was particular at just what type of entertainment they would be putting on and for who.

Dunties nodded. He leaned out the doorway and talked to the young man standing outside then turned back to Aleka.

"Let me show you some of the amenities of the rooms." Dunties continued. Aleka wondered just how much he was going to show them.

"The tub, as you can see is large and can accommodate five easily. The water is heated mainly from its source, a mineral pool behind the hall. But the water passes behind the fireplace, reheating it and by pushing this you fill up the tub. By releasing this, the water will empty from the tub. We don't lack water."

The women watched as he demonstrated. There was a collective sigh as everyone thought of how nice it would be to wash the mud off and to soak in something warm enough to reach their chilled bones.

"Who's the face at the bottom?" Brona asked. There was no torch light near enough for her to make the face out clearly.

"Aphrodite. She is one of the gods Lord Menigines honors. We have linens here, bathing oils, salts and if you don't find what you need," Dunties smiled, "call the guard and he will have someone attend to your requests. You are Menigines's honored guests and will be treated as such. If you have any problems, let me know. As you noted, our guards are young and some inexperienced. They are in training so they will need some prompting here and there."

Dunties pointed at a door that was off the sitting room. "That connects to the next room that you will be using. We'll set you up in the three adjoining rooms so that you can freely visit with one another."

"Good. Agnes, Lily, Gari, Brona and Candra will sleep here." Aleka smiled at the sighs from the women who were lucky to get the first chance for a warm bath. Water was already beginning to spill into the pool.

Aleka noticed the air in the room already smelled fresher though it was cold.

"You may not mind the high from the hemp, but we would rather chose our time for it." Agnes told the Captain as he glanced again at the opened shutters.

"Ahh. I see." He nodded. "Food will be brought to you." He continued, "I'm sure you are all hungry, especially for something warm. Lord Menigines suggests that you stay in your rooms and away from the hall for as long as the traders are here." Dunties smiled embarrassed. "They are slave traders and he does not wish to upset any of you." Dunties added as he led them through the small door that connected into the next room. The next room didn't have the any of the burning hemp smell but it did seem a bit stuffy so the women opened one of the shuttered loopholes.

The second room was similar to the first, with the same type of headboard on the bed which by then Lily and Agnes were whispering suggestions back and forth to each other. Aleka was just about ready to roll her eyes at what she was over hearing when she remembered Iaia was probably overhearing the same conversation.

"Say, don't the two of you want to go settle in your room?" Aleka hinted. She knew they were not unaffected from what they had already inhaled and that meant everyone else would be getting ideas too.

"The pools going to take a while to fill and the food hasn't arrived yet, so we thought we would take a look and see if all the rooms have the same –amenities." Lily smirked.

In the second room Aleka put Berik, Alala, Camila, Grace and Kynthia.

Aleka assigned herself, Iaia, Catherine, Erica and Eleanor, in the last room. Easier to keep an eye on her, was her reasoning for putting the two of them in the same room.

While the others settled into their rooms Aleka, Agnes and Lily met with Menigines and his wife Katy.

****

"So what did Agnes decide to stage?" Iaia asked as she stood in front of the fireplace with her cold hands over the fire. The water to their small pool was filling up but it wasn't deep enough to be worth stripping in the chilly room for.

"After she got a glimpse of the bedposts she was mumbling something about not doing any of Sappho's erotic satires." Eleanor answered as she prowled the room. The rooms were huge to her, the fireplace large, the pool was even bigger. Catherine was also inspecting the room and by the set of her shoulders, she did not like what she was seeing.

Iaia's mind was on the food that Dunties had said was on its way. Her growling stomach was making her jumpy. She needed to think of something else. She smiled as her eyes rested on the two bedrolls she had tossed in the corner out of the way.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of one large pallet with bedding. The young men that were carrying the pallet spent a lot of time looking the women over while trying to settle the pallet in the area Iaia pointed to, near the fire place. Erica's glare finally had them leaving before they got the courage to speak to the women.

"This place reminds me of a stable with too many young wanna be stallions and not enough mare's in season." Erica mumbled.

Iaia and the others were picking at the food that had arrived right after the pallet. Eleanor held up the Belladonna's smoked leaves that were under the berries. "Have you noticed that the majority of the foods here contain mixtures from Aphrodite's charms?"

"Aphrodite's charms?" Iaia asked as she dipped a celery stick into a sauce that looked delicious.

"Ya. Ya know, charms from her magical belt." Catherine looked up from the stuffed mushroom she was studying.

Iaia didn't pause as she ate another helping of the sauce. As Gabrielle she would have known of the many bard tales that talked of the love potions that came from the plants that adorned her magical belt, but as Iaia she didn't.

Iaia crunched on the celery stick savoring the tangy bite of the sauce.

Eleanor eyed her as she took a third generous helping of the sauce. Oh goddess, we are looking at trouble here, she thought giving Catherine and Erica a look that translated into the same thought.

"Hmmm. This – is -- good." Iaia murmured as she looked around for something else to test.

"Iaia…most of these foods are what make up love potions." Eleanor cautioned

Iaia's eyes opened wide. She carefully and regretfully replaced the pastry that looked like the one Eleanor was holding up to her eyes and inspecting closely.

"Henbane laced." She nodded to Iaia as she put the delicious mouthwatering pastry back on the plate with the others.

Iaia's stomach growled its objection at the interruption of her food consumption. "What's safe to eat?" She asked decidedly unhappy.

"Hmm." Eleanor emptied one of the basket contents into another and started to put in the food she thought was safe.

"This place is one Dionysus and Aphrodite living temple." Catherine announced. "I mean, look around you at the decorations not to mention the scene on the bottom of the pool. I feel like this is a temple. It's not…right. Whoever heard of the uninitiated living in a temple? Visiting, yea, but to carry on one's everyday activities without being in right mind…that's trouble."

Eleanor nodded as handed Iaia the basket.

"Oh, great!" Erica groaned. "You have got to see this statue!" Erica was sitting at the edge of the pool checking the depth. The statue Erica was mentioning had been draped with the curtain that served as a privacy corner for taking care of one's toilet if they didn't want to use the public garderobe, and for a body wash before stepping into the pool. "Like I really need all of this!"

"No, you certainly don't need help there." Eleanor told her softly as she took the curtain from Erica's hand and stepped behind the modesty curtain to prepare for the pool.

Iaia hid her smile, as she knew what Eleanor was referring to. The two had been spending a lot of time together, even when Aleka rotated pairings for training. Her thoughts easily moved to Aleka whose presence was keeping her own imagination active. For a moment she wondered if it was one sided. Nope. I heard her heart beating a bit faster than normal when I had talked her into sleeping under the fur next to me. Next to? You had her covered! You are just sooo bad!

"So, what do you want in your bath water? We have calamus, lavender, cinnamon, rosemary, and artemisia." Erica asked.

"Lavender!" Catherine and Eleanor said in unison.

Eleanor smiled sweetly at Erica as she slid into the pool next to her.

"Hmm. Ohhh kayyy." Erica replied laughing at their reactions. "It's gotta be that statue."

"Well, it won't be just the statue if you put any of that other stuff in the water." Eleanor pointed out.

"Why, what is wrong with the others?" Iaia asked.

The other three laughed. "They are like the spices in the food. When you eat the Aphrodisiacs, the herbs from Aphrodite's sacred belt, there is an insatiable desire for sex." Erica explained.

"Now you are misleading her." Eleanor chided her. "It enhances what is already present."

"And when one of those herbs for the bath coats the skin, the skin becomes so sensitive to touch that a mere caresses," Erica came very close to Eleanor, almost whispering in her ear, "can cause a major disturbance in ones flower bud." She finished breathing dramatically in Eleanor's ear.

"Cut that out!" Eleanor playfully splashed Erica.

"How do you know so much?" Iaia asked exasperated.

"Temple priestesses need to know these things for men and women turn to us when their relationships fail and their friends aren't any more help." Eleanor explained.

Iaia cocked her head to one side and thought about it. "But Erica isn't a temple priestess and none of you are from Aphrodite's temple." She pointed out.

Eleanor smiled. "Fertility and all things that grow from the ground are Demeter's concern. Demeter's flower is the poppy, one of the favorites for enhancing love making. As a priestess of her temple knowledge in the herbs that enhance fertility as well as to what heals I will have knowledge of. Aphrodite works on the affairs of the heart. The herbs she has on her sacred belt enhance the physical passion so it can keep up with the passion she awakens in the heart."

Iaia nodded in understanding. Had she heard this before?

"If you live on an island like Lesbos, the most romantic island I have ever heard of," Erica pointed out, "you hear, see and learn a lot about herbs. And then," she smiled smugly, "it was my mother's business to sell love potions to those that couldn't afford the Temple's mixtures."

"Ahhh. I see. Well, we shall have to see about this cutting into the goddesses' donations." Eleanor teased elbowing her under the water.

"Oooofff. Hey! I didn't say I did it. I just mixed the stuff." She objected grabbing the offending elbow and by the way Eleanor moved around, something else was being grabbed.

"Hmm. And I bet dipped in it too." Catherine teased from behind the curtain.

"Are you kidding? My mother was not going to have her daughters messing with any of that stuff. That's why she sent all of us off for schooling with the Amazons. She wanted to make sure whatever husband we ended up with it was because we chose to be with him and not because we were sold or had no other alternative."

The rising steam from the water picked up the lavender smell filling the room with its aroma.

"This place smells like a field of wild lavender." Catherine remarked as slid into the warm water.

"And we shall all smell like the sweet flowers that we are." Erica posed as if she were a flower.

"And you thought you couldn't act." Eleanor teased. "Next flower part, you get."

"I'll have to write it in one of those slow moving scenes." Iaia added laughing.

Iaia's imagination wasn't the only thing that was active. The sacred herbs of Aphrodite she had ingested were strong in her system but it didn't completely close out her warring internal factions that were warning her about the subject of her fantasies…Aleka. I can't even remember who this Gabrielle is. What if the dark haired warrior isn't waiting? Does Aleka have someone waiting for her? She realized she was more concerned about Aleka being spoken for than herself. That's what the problem was on the first journey, she reminded herself sternly. She definitely needed to talk to Eleanor. She needed to hear out loud her rationalization of why she was intensely interested in Aleka. The woman who haunted her night and day dreams was being driven out with images of Aleka.

Iaia closed her eyes for a moment to redirect her thoughts. The image of the dark haired woman appeared easily and just as soon as it appeared it was replaced with Aleka and the image wasn't of her in a casual pose. It didn't help when a flare of heat that began in her center between her legs, started to spread out to all her limbs. She could feel her face and then her ears burn with the heat. The desire to feel her skin against Aleka's became overwhelming. For a moment she held her breath then let it out when another image of Aleka came to mind in another provocative pose. She needed to do something other than think.

It was her turn to prepare for the pool. As she stepped behind the modesty curtain her eyes opened wider when she realized she was standing before the statue the others were giggling about. Oh, no, she groaned internally. This is not helping. Curiosity got the better of her as she stepped closer to figure out where one person's body part ended and another begin. She identified at least four different people in intimate intertwining embraces

She took a deep breath. In her mind's eye she could see a long wall painting depicting various scenes of couples and groups engaged in different intimate activities. It was in Aphrodite's temple! She had asked her companion if some of the poses the pictures showed were possible and she was assured that they were. Her faced blushed as she remembered feeling a pang of jealousy at how this person acquired the knowledge. Iaia shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts and images and busied herself with her toilet.

"Ohhh. We don't need that." Eleanor decided as she observed Iaia. She looked around for something to throw over the statue. Rising out of the pool she quickly found a cover.

Finishing with covering the statue Eleanor slid back into the pool and glanced at Catherine who was shaking her head.

"We have to keep our thoughts clear. Something's not right here. I'm sure of that." Eleanor told her. The atmosphere was like a pulse that caressed the skin and senses with a seductive rhythm. Eleanor knew the sensitivity was due in part from the aroma of the hemp that they had picked up on their way to their rooms. Since the halls were dark she wasn't able to tell how thick the smoke was but it smelled strong.

As a priestess, Eleanor saw love making as an experience that not just connected the participants with the rhythm of life around him or her, but connected each person, for a brief moment, to the other. Eleanor had only experienced the goddess Demeter in positive ways and, as one of her priestess, was attuned to the need for sexual union to be pleasant in order to continue to regenerate the energy of the spirit in a positive way. It was the intensity of the connection between the couple that contributed to keeping the sacredness of that rebirth in the experience of joining. There were responsibilities that went with this intimate connection and when she was working in the temple she reminded those that came for consultation of this by the rites and rituals she taught. But here, the feeling was not the same. Herbs and spices that were considered sacred were added to meals without the ritual or acknowledgement of their sacredness or the union they were enhancing. This was all wrong to her. Surely Aphrodite would want a conscious acknowledgement and gratitude paid to her for the use of her gifts to enhance the sexual union of two people who loved each other.

She sighed as she realized she didn't really know what type of energy the combination of Aphrodite and Dionysus brought up in their followers. In some cities Dionysus only represented wine and the drunks usually were aggressive and far from caring about the spiritual aspect in a sexual union.

Eleanor closed her eyes as the warm water closed over her and the oil gently coated her dry skin. She let her thoughts wander on the dramas and satires they had performed in the various towns and villages. To all of the women on this journey the dramas and satires they put on were treated as sacred unfoldments of everyone's struggles with good and bad. The masks were the sacred mirrors of the dark and light that everyone could identify with easily. Sacred dramas and satires were learned by a priestess from the moment she became an initiate.

For her this journey was showing her how easy it was for those that were busy trying to survive from day to day could forget the connection they have with the energy that was divine. It comforted her that through their traveling and production of the dramas they were helping these people reconnect. She also found that for some people that didn't have a favorite god or only made visits to the nearest temple when things were truly bad, had a stronger connection to the sacredness of their world than some guardians of the temples that she knew. She remembered one old man who had confessed to her after one of their performances that he always carried on conversations to Persephone because her plight with being torn with two different commitments was so like his own. But he had never been in a temple and had no intention of doing so in the future for he felt the temple was artificial and felt no connection to the goddess he had taken a likening to.

Eleanor turned her attention to Erica who was watching her with open desire, as she idly let her hands catch the water that was still flowing into the pool. Her feelings and desire for Erica had started before they begin the actual journey. They had both decided to wait until they were finished with the quest to explore their feelings for each other hoping that their attraction wasn't from their past lives. It made perfect sense then, but as they progressed on the journey their feelings were becoming stronger. Somewhere between their entrance to this castle and to their rooms their physical desire for each other intensified. She knew a lot of it had to do with the incense that was burning and filling the halls. The rest was to do with their desires that the stimulant was enhancing.

She should have guessed just by the two statues that were partially covered with snow on either side of the entrance to the castle, at what they were walking into. Aphrodite and Dionysus. The decoration over the arch portrayed some of the herbs that were reputed to make up Aphrodite's magical belt with her shell as the center of the arch. It had been covered with snow but the arrangement was familiar enough to her that she didn't need to see the entire design to know what it was.

****

While the others settled the horses and themselves, Menigines and his wife, Katy, entertained Lily, Agnes and Aleka with a small midday meal and pumped them for information on their travels and what dramas they were to put on.

Aleka was on the defensive from the time Minigines' Captain mentioned the competition for acquisitions, and strengthened at the restriction to their rooms, the hemp smoke in most of the halls, and now the steaming aroma of the dishes that were placed before them. She recognized some of the smells from herbs that were used to enhance strength and stamina, besides other things, in soldiers. After exchanging a knowing look with Agnes, Aleka knew she too was aware that the food had been flavored with more than mouth-watering spices. Agnes and Aleka took note of which dishes of food were liberally sprinkled and mixed with the herbs they were suspicious of. Agnes's glare at Lily kept Lily from eating the tainted food.

"Do you serve all your guests foods laced with henbane or," Aleka held up the dried mushroom mixture that was stuffed with other herbs that usually promised erotic appetites and physical stamina, "other such stimulants, not to mention the burning of hemp throughout the halls?"

"Well, yes. Our winter festivities are dedicated to Dionysus and Aphrodite." Menigines raised an eyebrow surprised. "It's what keeps our winters – warmer." He joked, smiling at his wife.

"Well, we're here to perform dramas written by Sappho or our playwright, nothing else." Aleka leaned close to Menigines whose chair was near hers. "Do you get my meaning?" Aleka dropped her voice. Aleka's threat was done under Xena's influence and Menigines the exwarlord did understand the undertone of a threat.

"Well, certainly. That's…of course, I mean, we meant no harm," he stammered surprised.

"Good, then you'll make sure the food we get is not -- spiced up." Aleka kept her voice low. It appeared to make Menigines's hair on the back of his neck rise for he was nervously scratching the back of his neck. "And stop burning the hemp down the hall we use. Is that understood?

"Yes. Certainly." He waved a hand at the messenger that was standing near his chair. The man quickly left to deliver, hopefully, that message.

Once that subject was settled, Agnes, Menigines and his wife, Katy had an energetic discussion on current and past plays, dramas, and satires. Menigines boasted of his own collection of scrolls in a well cared-for library. Their hosts openness in his discussions and his enthusiasm told Aleka that perhaps he meant no direct harm to them, however, she was distrustful of the atmosphere that was created with the mixture of Dionysus and Aphrodite. The followers she knew that followed Dionysus usually drank themselves into a stupor and most celebrants that Aleka knew were not nice drunks. Aphrodite's celebrants on the other hand, venerated the erotic side of lovemaking. It could be from one person to many, but the respect of person was intact, unlike Dionysus' wild followers that she knew from her warlord days. Aleka was not comfortable with the mixture.

Menigines wanted a rather ribald story written by Iaia, their playwright, to be presented on their third day. He wanted to add the scroll to his library and the honor of having an original staged for him. Aleka had seen a lot of erotic performances both in private and in the company of others. However, for the circle of friends to put one on for Menigines' and his cronies, was another matter. On the other hand, the idea of Iaia writing it was amusing. The shiver that accompanied the thought suddenly had her sitting up straighter. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea. She looked suspiciously at the bread she had been picking at.

"Lord Menigines," began Agnes, "your wife and you have a splendid knowledge of dramas, more than what most hosts we've visited with have shown, however, what we have learned under Sappho's tutelage is respect for the Muses and for the sacredness of the drama."

"What are you trying to say?" Lord Menigines asked leaning too close over Aleka to try to give Agnes an intimidating stare.

Aleka put out a hand and pushed him back. "She means," Aleka told him in a firm but soft voice, "we don't do satires that are for Bacchus type festivals."

Katy put a hand on his arm as he tried to think of what to say. "It's quite alright, Menie." She leaned over to whisper in his ear, which Aleka's keen hearing picked up.

"Let them write and perform without interference. We fulfill two of the four. Later we will collect on the other two."

Lord Menigines hesitated. He had hoped to fulfill three of the challenges without a problem, and the fourth he would have simply taken when he was ready. But now, he would have to change his plans.

He nodded to the women. "As you wish. You are my honored guests."

***

By the time the three returned to their rooms they also had an idea of how Menigines ran his castle and what he expected of his guests. One was that they were not to wander to the other side of the castle, the ward, or the hall, due to the visitors from Labdu. They were slave traders and Lord Mengines feared they would prey on them when it was time for them to leave. As if the women would let something that important slip.

There's that threat again, Aleka thought. Now why does he want us to stay away from the hall or inner ward? According to Captain Dunties when we first arrived we were free to visit the traders in the ward, but now…what has changed?

Agnes gave him the name of the satire they were putting on that evening. They had played it often enough that it wouldn't take much preparation.

Aleka was silent for the rest of the night working out a plan to find out what the fourth challenge Menigines had made with Labducus was. She was sure their isolation had to do with the bet and the fact that the caravan that arrived was from Labducus' city. Captain Dunties had conveniently not mentioned to them that they were part of a bet. She could feel her skin crawl with suspicion that the fourth bet wasn't going to be good news for them.

Agnes was not very talkative on the way back to their rooms either. She could feel the tension all around her and it was a nervous sexual tension. When the Named had suggested they travel as a drama troupe she felt the goddess herself had inspired her for it kept in tune with the priestess' dedication to their respective temples. The dramatis personae becomes inflamed with the divine message during the performance as the spirit imparts the message of the satire or drama to the audience. As priestesses, Agnes and the other priestesses, had been trained to be the divine messengers in this respect. That was why they had all appeared at the same time on Lesbos, to perform in her annual festival to the Muses.

Agnes shook her head in dismay. It had seemed that though the couple spoke knowingly of dramas, satires and bard tales, their own request lacked the depth of what these arts were about. It didn't make sense, unless she took into consideration that Menigines obsession with gambling with his neighbor took precedence over…It was so like Bacchus's followers. Aleka was right. They were going to draw the line there. Dionysus and Aphrodite together seemed to equal Bacchus in this case, and she was not a fan of his.

Lily kept her own counsel also. She had seen many intrigues as well as ran more than she cared to count of her own. She was sure Menigines had a bet with Labducus and it concerned them.

The room Agnes and Lily were sharing had a guard posted outside, as did the other two rooms. Aleka looked over the first guard who wasn't even old enough to grow a beard. If the guards were also consuming the herbs they would have to be posting their own guards on the other side of the door. By the looks exchanged between Agnes and Lily the feeling was shared.

Aleka followed Agnes and Lily into their room intending to check each room on her way to her own. Gari and Brona were picking delicately at the food on the table with Candra pointing out the foods to avoid. They all looked up as the three entered the room.

"We've asked for unspiced foods." Agnes told the women.

"Great. I don't want to even picture what would happen to that guard outside the door if we ate most of this stuff." Brona disgustedly pointed to a sauce that looked tasty. "Look at that! They ruined a good dip."

"We'll have to have one person up at all times." Aleka told the women in a low tone.

Lily nodded in agreement. "Lord Menigines gives me a bad case of 'let's get outta here.' I'll set it up here. Should we leave the connecting doors open?"

"No. Too drafty. Let's set up an unpredictable time for each guard to signal each other that all is well or otherwise. Lily, you and Alala will accompany me tonight on a closer look at this castle and its contents."

Lily nodded. "Say about three past the high mark?"

"Three candlemarks past midnight. Good. Everyone should be deeply asleep, including the guards."

Aleka nodded to the others and passed through into the next room. In the second room the women were still in the pool talking in low tones.

Aleka stopped at the pool's edge.

"What did you find out?" She asked in a low voice of Alala.

"That Menigines is a consumed bettin' man." Alala told her softly.

"Money?" Aleka asked.

"No. It's more of an ego thing. Both Labducus' wife and Menigines' had made the men swear off bettin money. The two women are twin sisters. But it doesn't lessen the stakes. The stable boys had all sorts of stories about their rivalry. The latest one has to do with us. They had almost spilled the beans when the stable master came in and just about had a fit that they were standin around gossipin instead of workin. Now, he's one we'll be gettin' to know tomorrow. He's been with Menigines for a long time."

"We need to find out what the bet is." Aleka told her. "There are four conditions to the bet. We know three of them. He needs to get an original drama or satire written for him, it has to be performed on our third day, and it has to be Bacchus material."

"What?" Berik asked in a loud whisper. "He's crazy. Do you know what those dramas are like?" Images of the priestesses rolling around on the floor in sexual orgies to please a male crowd so they can find a corner or a partner to fulfill a private fantasy was not something she wanted part of.

Aleka held her hand up. "He already knows Bacchus stuff is out."

"And?" Alala asked suspiciously.

"He said okay -- but I don't believe him. That's two out of four. If he's that much of a bettin man, he'll want all four."

"What do you think the fourth is?" Camilia asked.

"I have a bad feeling it's his own playwright. It fits in with his asking about Iaia and putting this test to her to write something for him. It also fits in with his competitive nature. He has to have it all. I know the type. We're going to have to keep an eye on Iaia." The knot in her stomach was giving her heartburn. I don't remember getting stomachaches from worrying about her. Ahh. That's me. Gads I forgot what they were like. Well, stop it.

"Alala, how does a walk at the dead hour sound to you?"

"Three candlemarks past? I'll be ready."

"Post a guard throughout the night. Set up a code with Lily between the watches. We'll close the doors between the rooms. I can see you already noticed it creates a draft when open." She noticed they had the adjoining door already closed. However, behind the door she could hear laughter.

"It kept putting out the torch." Candra nodded. "And it was cold."

Tired Aleka made her way to her room. They had two candlemarks to get ready for their evening performance.

Entering the room the squeals and laughter became louder. The noise was coming from the bathing room behind the curtain. The floral smell mixed with the food that was spread out on the center table was pleasing. She noted the women had moved the offensive dishes to one side of the table. Aleka was relieved, however she did notice some of the sauce looked like it had been sampled. Her suspicion was that Iaia was one of the testers. The enjoyment of food was just as strong in Iaia as in Gabrielle. Her glance took in the added pallet and the two familiar bedrolls that were lying on top of it. Her heartbeat increased as she recognized whose they were.

She became distracted by what she was hearing, a splashing war. Images of other occasions where she had digressed to such play came unbidden to her. She decided she would join them. Nothing like a warm water fight to relieve tension. She stripped quickly and stepped behind the modesty curtain for a quick toilet and to clean off the dirt her quick wash before dining with Menigines missed.

"Hey, no fair!" Sputtered a wet Eleanor that appeared to be teamed up with Erica and were against Catherine and Iaia. Iaia had entangled her legs around Eleanor's under water and pulled her feet from under her.

"I happened to learn that from a friend of mine who knows the art of water warfare very well." She giggled back

Iaia tried not to look at the mysteriously familiar body that slid into the water as Eleanor made room for her. That put Aleka directly across from her. Various erotic scenes kept flashing though her mind as the person she found especially desirous was soaking across from her and she had to keep her hands off her, or did she? She had stopped asking herself why she was attracted to Aleka and decided resisting the attraction may be counter to what her quest was about. What if I'm suppose to reciprocate Aleka's feelings for me this time around, she asked herself reasonably?

"Menigines wants our playwright to write a sensuous satire. He's opened his library for Iaia to study various scrolls he has on the subject, just in case," Aleka looked directly at Iaia with her blue eyes sparkling with mischief, "she needs inspiration."

Eleanor started to laugh. With the henbane and whatever else Iaia had ingested she didn't need inspiration in a scroll. She looked over at Iaia whose look of astonishment went to a frown then a smirk of her own.

"Hmm. Well, I guess a little bit of research never hurt anyone. Do I look under S for Satyr behavior, or B for Bacchus festivals?"

"Actually, we told him we weren't going to do it. Just an original satire or drama will suffice. I'm sure with all your experience in writing stories you can handle it." Aleka smiled

"Hmm. A library?" Iaia returned surprised. "I'd like to take a peek at it." She still didn't remember her life as Gabrielle, the Bard, but libraries, research and writing had a definite attraction to her. She was having fun working with Agnes on writing or rewording various parts in plays the group put on to fit the village or town they visited.

Aleka's eyes closed as she could feel her muscles relax surrounded by the warm water. She needed to concentrate on something else besides the green eyes directly in front of her that were showing a mischievous glint. Oh, goddess. I hope Iaia isn't…Forget it. Even if she doesn't remember herself as Gabrielle…she is Gabrielle.

Aleka let the others carry the conversation while she thought of business, like the castle's residents. There was a scattering of different cultures working in the castle. She didn't feel they were slaves, though usually there were a few. Were they men and women from Menigines warlord days? She shifted her thoughts to the castle's defenses along the wall walk that she had seen, the castle's condition, the guards, the upkeep of the rooms, and the general atmosphere of the castle. Her mind was very busy reviewing these details. For winter quarters, Menigines kept it clean and well maintained. It was the atmosphere and what was done to maintain the atmosphere that bothered her. It wasn't a place she would have chosen to bring a group such as theirs to.

Everything we experience on this journey is part of the challenge to this pilgrimage, she reminded herself, "so, dare I guess at what the challenge here is?

Under water, Iaia let her big toe trace the outline of the tantalizing familiar muscular leg slowly up towards the knee it was deliciously attached to. Aleka's eyes suddenly opened and she sat up in the water. The others started to laugh not fooled by the innocent look on Iaia's face.

"Well, what do you think about this place?" Aleka asked to no one in particular but her eyes flashed a warning look at Iaia to stop what she was doing.

Iaia smiled sweetly back at her. She could see the colors whirling around Aleka's head and shoulders and translated them to desire, which heightened her own. The colors were just like the colors around Erica and Eleanor and she knew where their thoughts were. Iaia had the ability to see colors around things since she was a child. Her rendering of portraits with auras was her trademark, until she painted at her husband's direction. When she had lost her desire to paint the world had become less colorful for her.

"Well, if Aphrodite and Dionysus are our host's gods to honor, and the food keeps coming in as heavily spiced as it was, I would say some of us may not get out of this place without losing some of our…innocence." Erica snorted eyeing Iaia.

Iaia caught the glance. "Whose innocence?" She asked indignantly.

"I think between the henbane and whatever else was in what Iaia ate she's going to have some interesting dreams, to say nothing of what she writes." Eleanor teased.

"I'm sure Iaia is going to do just fine." Aleka told them. "Right?" She dared to look into the dark dilated eyes that were encircled with dark green malachite. Oh, oh. The dark enlarged centers of her eyes were either caused by the henbane or…desire. Whichever one, Aleka knew she was going to be in trouble real soon.

"Of course. I know exactly what to do in a situation like this. I've had this happen to me once before." Iaia waved a dripping hand in the air casually. Suddenly she had a puzzled look on her face. "I have?" She mumbled to herself.

Aleka tried to not laugh remembering Gabrielle's experience with henbane and her chorus of stalagmites.

Iaia's eyes grew small as she gave Aleka's poor attempt to hide her laughter a dirty look.

"Welllll!" Aleka's voice went up as Iaia's foot moved above her knee on the inside of her thigh. Aleka's hand wrapped around the strong ankle before any more progress could be made and gave a tug that pulled Iaia under the water. Aleka found herself having to defend herself from an under water attack. The others quickly scrambled out of the pool as water started to erupt everywhere as Aleka and Iaia attempted to drown each other.

Though the water fight lasted a short time, half the water that had been in the pool was now on the stone floor. The others from the neighboring rooms, curious by the squeals and laughter from Gabrielle, rushed to the room to see waves of water roll onto the tiled bathing room floor while two figures in the center of the pool continued to dunk, trip and splash each other.

Their audience was delighted to share a playful moment in the private lives of two remarkable women who were legendary in their partnership in this life. They all knew that once they resumed their lives after the journey, they would probably not witness the private sharing of play between them again. The joy between the two, and perhaps with the influence of Aphrodite's charms that were inhaled or ingested, though they tried to keep their contact low, linked the women with an unseen bond that vibrated with a life of its own. In that moment when everyone's heart was open with a sharing of playful joy, a goddess who was watching gave them a valuable gift. Respect for her sacred herbs and their shared open hearts sanctified the moment.

Finally Iaia stopped and dripping wet glared at her pool partner, "I'm going to get you!" She growled and lunged toward the equally dripping wet dark figure that was laughing at her threat. Aleka caught Iaia in mid flight and dangled her upside down over the remaining water.

"Run that by me again." Aleka gloated.

The surrounding audience was laughing, some holding their sides as they watched a frustrated Iaia, who was dangling upside down by one foot, wrap her arms around herself and pout.

The banging on the bedchamber's door suddenly stopped everyone's laughter. Lily cautiously opened the door. Her eyebrows rose as a young boy nervously stood before her in a warrior's garb that reminded her of her grandson dressed in his warrior's costume that he had received on his tenth Winter's Solstice as a gift from her.

"Yes, what is it?" She asked impatiently.

"Ahhh. I…ahhh. we…ya…we were worried…something was…."

Lily blocked his attempts to look into the room. "Son, do you have a problem?"

"Welllll." His voice died as he found himself looking into the eyes of Aleka whom had tossed on a robe and was standing dripping wet in the doorframe next to Lily.

"Get outta here." She told him in a low voice.

The young boy backed peddled rapidly down the hall to where the other two guards were standing, watching with anticipation.

"Bacchus and his ugly…."

"Don't!" Agnes pursed her lips at Lily as she shut the door angrily. "Don't bring that vile creatures name into this group. Not when we just had shared a very nice moment together." She finished in a low voice.

The others nodded.

"I don't think I'll ever forget the joy…" Catherine started.

"Hey. It was just a water fight." Aleka told the women, breaking the mood. "Now let's get going. We have a performance to prepare for."

As Aleka was drying her hair she made a mental note to sleep on the floor that night -- and the other nights too. Though the water fight relieved an immediate tension it also made her aware how much she missed Gabrielle's companionship. It was…like other moments she and Gabrielle shared as they traveled. I don't think Iaia and I could have had that connection then, Aleka observed sadly. We had other obligations. Hmm…Xena didn't want to think about either lives and missed opportunities.

The other women finished with their dressing while tossing their lines back and forth. Iaia occasionally corrected a line.

The performance went without any problems, but the women noticed they had no connection with their audience. They politely clapped when the drama was finished and some stopped the women to tell them they enjoyed it…but the energy exchanged between the dramatis and audience was not there.

Aleka, Lily and Agnes had cornered Menigines after the performance.

"If you're going to post guards outside our doors, make sure they've at least been seasoned and off any type of drug." Lily informed Menigines, whom she had cornered between a bench and the exit. Agnes was standing next to her looking every bit angry at the first expression of innocence Menigines tried to show at the order.

"They're just in training! I'm sure you all can teach them the finer qualities of…" Menigines' wheedling voice stopped when a pair of bright blue eyes fixed on his turned to hard cold steel.

"I've never heard of guests being asked to train members of their hosts staff." Aleka drawled in a low voice. "We're here because you told Sappho you would gladly give us shelter if we performed our dramas for your people…That is all. If you can't treat us as guests, we will leave and let Sappho know that we moved on...and why."

There was silence for a few moments, as Menigines seemed to need to get his wits together. "I'll speak to Captain Dunties about the guard assignment and…their...condition to stand guard." Menigines waved to the skinny official that was hovering nervously near Katy.

Aleka worried that what gave him the incentive to agree with her came from her threat to leave not because he got the message that they didn't want to be hustled by little boys too young to have been in a war and too young to know what love and obligation meant. He doesn't want us to leave, yet.

When the women returned back to their rooms they were tired enough not to want to spend too much time talking amongst themselves.

"I can't believe something this firm could be so comfortable." Erica commented, as she was the first to slide under the covers of the bed.

"It's gotta be that firm for what it's set up for. I mean," Eleanor started to laugh as she was lying on her back next to Erica and looking up at the ceiling. "will ya look at that! They've really thought of a lot of things here."

"What?" Curious Iaia rose from the pallet where she could feel the warmth of her bed partner and padded over to the bed to see what the women were giggling about. Eleanor made room for her as she lay down and looked up into the bed's canopy. Catherine who was first on guard duty just leaned her head against the warm wall she standing next to and raised her eyes toward the ceiling in exaggerated disbelief.

Aleka knew very well what they were looking at and didn't need any help in figuring out what it was used for. On their return to the room she found that she couldn't get herself to sleep on the floor so she knew she was going to have to keep a firm hand on her feelings sleeping next to Iaia.

Iaia's eyes opened wide and for a moment she caught her breath. This adventure is a real tough one, she thought. She frowned again as she thought about the rules to this quest. Just how much unlike the first journey was what she was concerned about. Her body wasn't burning to be touched as it had been while they were in the pool earlier and her thoughts weren't as focused on erotic visions of Aleka, but the desire was still there. It was a steady throb.

"I told ya, these rooms are set up for Bacchus type fun and games." Erica turned her face to look at Eleanor who was lying next to her. Iaia did not miss the heated look that passed between the two.

Aleka shook her head amused as she watched Iaia try to twist her head to see the ceiling harness better. Aleka knew Gabrielle had studied scrolls on love making in Sappho's library and in the Amazon's library when she thought Xena wasn't looking, but she hadn't actually seen the real thing. Or, Aleka didn't think she had. Suddenly her own thoughts started to entertain fantasies. She turned over on her side quickly to break her line of thought. It was going to be a long night, she thought, and it was too late to move to the floor. She suspected her bed partner was going to have some vivid dreams that would be keeping her awake.

"Oh, yeeessss. This is certainly a game room." Eleanor started to laugh after glancing at Iaia's face. "I've only seen two such rooms…"

Aleka turned over and made a quick gesture at Eleanor. Aleka didn't trust the walls. Eleanor hesitated, "let's see, one was in Sappho's room and the other in one of the guest rooms."

Iaia's eyes opened wide. She was sure she hadn't been to Sappho's room but she did hear stories about her romantic interests. It would explain some of the drawings she had seen in scrolls on lovemaking. She sighed. She wished she could remember who she was in this life. She knew in name, that she was Gabrielle the Bard, but she really didn't know who that person was. Did she write stories that needed her to do research on the subject? She rose from the bed and made her way back to the shared pallet. Agnes had suggested she not read the scrolls tucked in her saddlebags so she wouldn't become confused and unfocused, and surprisingly enough, Iaia was not curious about what was in the scrolls. Agnes kept her busy with their dramas that needed slight changing to fit the village or town they were performing in. Using the village's speech patterns and descriptions added more depth to the dramas.

Iaia resettled herself on their pallet facing the fire with her back to Aleka. The fire had been rekindled with a large log. The room had a chill to it in the corners but the heat from Aleka's back and the warmth from the fire she was facing promised to keep her warm until morning. The wind outside rattled the shutters over the loopholes. Soft voices from Erica and Eleanor ceased replaced by their soft breathing of sleep.

Iaia kept her mind busy with the sounds around her and the steady breathing of the body next to hers. She took comfort in the warmth that radiated from Aleka and the fact that she didn't change her sleeping accommodations. For some reason she feared she would. She wanted to talk to her alone and find out if she had someone waiting for her or maybe it was just that she remembered what had happened on the first journey. It was strange that their roles had been changed, or had they? Iaia pushed the guilt that was threatening to intrude in the form of the dark haired warrior, back down. Maybe some things hadn't changed.

Aleka found Iaia's presence close to her was surprisingly comforting. The familiar breathing and restless movements before Iaia finally settled down into sleep calmed Aleka's own restlessness.

Soft mutterings from Iaia wakened Aleka before she was to rise for her night skulking with Lily and Alala. From her movements Aleka knew she was working her way into a nightmare. She wondered what it was about. Leaning over the muttering body she stroked the damp forehead and leaned close to her ear whispering comforting words. She continued to stroke her forehead, resting her free hand alongside the damp cheek until Iaia's breath deepened back to a restful sleep. Aleka pulled her close and heard a sigh as Iaia burrowed her face into her cotton covered shoulder.

Eleanor was on guard duty and had started over to their pallet until she saw Aleka holding her. It was the pattern they had developed when Gabrielle first joined them. When she started her nightmares, Aleka would hold her. If she began to physically struggle and fight Aleka, one of the healers would have a hot tea for calming the spirit ready.

For the next candlemark Aleka listened to Iaia's breathing as it changed with her dreams. The soft groans and sighs told her that she had moved into more pleasurable dreams. Suddenly, Iaia stiffened against her and wrapped her body tighter around hers, pressing her wetness against a surprised Aleka's thigh.

Oh Goddess! This is not going to be easy, Xena groaned to herself. Never mind that Aleka's thoughts were stilled.

Iaia ground herself against Aleka's muscled thigh, emitting soft sighs and groans. Sighing, Aleka moved her leg so that Iaia had a better angle to it. Aleka's hand was buried in the red hair not guiding but keeping contact. Silent lips burned a path across Aleka's exposed neck to her ear, sending shivers down her spine and fire into her loins that made her own mound slick. She was torn between responding in kind or just letting the obviously sleeping woman, work off the energy.

No more henbane for you, love! She was use to Gabrielle's talking in her sleep and sometimes her caresses that would wake them both, but this was different. She doesn't know she's Gabrielle and she is under the influence of henbane and who knows what else was in what she ate.

Resolutely and gently, Aleka's trembling voice whispered in Iaia's ear trying to talk her into another mood. It didn't work as she felt soft lips move back to her neck and like a Bacchae fastened her teeth into the soft skin above her pulse point. Aleka clamped her teeth down and strangled the groan that nearly escaped her mouth as a fire at her apex threatened to consume her.

Xena was struggling with Aleka's pent up desire for Iaia and Iaia's desire for – she didn't really know whom this passionate body that was rubbing up against her dreamed she was making love to. That was reason enough for Xena to stop her. This is not the time to have scruples! Aleka's mind screamed at her in frustration. Xena didn't want to carry on a mental argument, though it may take her mind off the small shudders of pleasure from Iaia as she released her hold on Aleka's neck and sighed into a relaxed position still sprawled across Aleka's quivering form. Great! Just great!

Iaia drew her own muscled thigh between Aleka's legs, against a slippery center. The sleeping woman groaned at the contact. Aleka nearly shot up from the white explosion that hit her between her eyes. She held onto Iaia for a moment, until her own body stopped shaking.

This is not going to work! With all the control she could muster she slowly moved Iaia's leg away from her still throbbing center then started disentangling their bodies. Whispering softly in her ear she coaxed Iaia to a deeper sleep, resisting the desire to follow the creases of ear with her tongue. She then gingerly withdrew her body from the pallet. The water in the pool had not been drained so she took a quick dunk relishing the coldness against her heated skin. It would have worked too, if the heat wasn't from a deeper inner desire. Disgusted, she dressed. She decided to wake the other two women and start their skulking early. Maybe they would catch some unlucky peeper about.

"Are you going to be okay, Aleka?" Eleanor whispered resting a hand on her shoulder.

"This journey is going to be ending quicker if this goes on much longer." Aleka grumbled to her as she was pulling her boots on.

She could hear Eleanor chuckling. "Ohhh, yea." She paused before asking, "Why don't you just give in?"

Aleka stilled for a moment. Well? "She doesn't remember herself as Gabrielle...but I do."

"She remembers herself as Iaia and you as Aleka. You liked her as Iaia..." Eleanor pointed out.

"Yea. And don't tell me that things are different because there is no husband. As Gabrielle she is clear on what is right…loyalty, love and things like that. She's not…may Bacchus spend a moon's cycle with Hades!" Aleka breathed in frustration. "I just can't give in to the influence of drugs and a past life that is just that. It's past! What chances Aleka and Iaia had are past. I have a loyalty to another's memory in this life and I intend on staying loyal…as much as I can." She muttered.

"Aphrodite's charms enhance what is already there, Aleka." Eleanor told her quietly. You are both your past and present, just as Iaia and Gabrielle are the same." Eleanor smiled wickedly in the low light. "I think this is a control thing."

"Whaaaat?" Aleka turned toward her unbelievingly her ears.

"You heard me. Your hearing is legendary." Eleanor tapped her knee. "It must drive you crazy to have two life times worth of passion running through a system that is used to being in control.'

"Eleanor!" Aleka lowered her voice.

"Ooooh, yes." She smiled affectionately at the dark head that was shadowed from the low burning fire. "I may look young, but I have a lot of experience of life from listening to people and their problems. It's actually one of the things that contributes to our inspiration to be dramatists." She leaned forward to whisper in Aleka's ear. "I think you fight too hard!"

"I gotta go." Aleka decided not to pursue the conversation…not now anyway.

Aleka found Alala and Lily awake impatiently waiting for their appointed hour to investigate their temporary shelter. She didn't bother asking them what kept them awake. The energy in the castle was unmistakable to her.

****

In two candlemarks the three had explored and found what they needed to know. Panels that opened to private rooms and passageways for private viewing ran behind every room they had visited. They found small lamps resting in nooks along the walls. The ones still warm gave a clue at which rooms were most recently viewed. It didn't sit well with the women. The small space between the outside wall and the inside wall ran around the entire castle and had various exits into halls. The loopholes were high enough for even a tall person to pass under them without too much discomfort. They spent little time on the side of the castle Menigines deemed too dangerous for them to visit. He was right. Most of the party revelers were passed out in poses that were telling and sickening. Some had made it back to their rooms. A few were still at what Menigines had hinted at keeping the winter cold away.

Aleka memorized the tunnels in her mind so that she could draw a map if she had to for Lily and the others if they would need a quick exit. There was only one tunnel that led directly to the outside and it was well guarded. It went down under the castle's foundations and to outside the walls. Aleka had a feeling that these guards were not just there for their visit. Was Menigines trying to keep someone in or out? Or was it both? If Menigines and his neighbor, the merchant Labducus, were so competitive then Labducus probably knew the insides of this castle like the back of his hand, as Menigines knew his. Then there were the two sisters. Twins in some towns were not welcomed because of their uncanny connection. Were the wives true to each other or their husbands? Me thinks, they have their own interests at heart. She touched the sides of the tunnel to remember how much space was between the walls. What's a castle without hidden rooms, closets and other secrets, Aleka smirked to herself.

So what were they going to do about the peek holes that someone was using to check up on them? Send a message, she thought. No harm in that, or should they use it to their advantage? Surely Menigines would realize they knew there would be tunnels behind the rooms. Everyone who's ever lived in a castle knew that.

Before settling back into their beds, the three women plugged the peepholes and wedged the doors that led to the tunnels behind their rooms closed. No more unwanted guests or private viewing.

Aleka couldn't settle down after she returned to her pallet. She could hear Iaia's breath deepen into sleep. It had changed when she returned to the room. Iaia hadn't wakened but by the sound of her breathing, her sleep was lighter when she got back.

Aleka listened and identified each breath, including Catherine's, who was now on watch. She moved now and then to keep awake in the chill. Aleka finally got up with the intent to pace but found even that didn't help. It only got a wagging finger from Catherine, and a finger pointing to her pouch which Aleka kept her herbs that would help her relax. Catherine laid another log on the embers and warmed her hands over the raise in heat. Then moved to another part of the room.

It's probably the side effects from all that stuff in the air, she thought disgustedly.

She could hear Iaia move on the pallet, with the distinct creaking of wood on one side when weight was shifted on top of it.

"Aleka?" A soft and familiar voice called to her.

Sighing Aleka returned to the pallet and sat on the edge looking down into the glittering eyes that picked up the soft light from the fireplace. Aleka shook her head to clear the thoughts that readily came to her. The light from the fire gave Iaia's face interesting shadows. It was no longer the familiar Gabrielle's face she saw but the thinner, longer face of Iaia. Her throat tightened as different feelings threatened to distract her.

"What is it Iaia?" She finally got out.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" She asked. She gently tugged at Aleka's arm and pulling the covers back indicated the warm space beside her. Aleka could smell their arousal from earlier under the covers. Without hesitation Aleka slid in and after Iaia wrapped herself around her, they both fell asleep..

Aleka woke to someone shaking her awake. Aleka opened her eyes instantly alert. It was still dark outside. Rain could be heard hitting the shutters that were tightly closed. The wind occasionally howled past the hollow the loophole created. It was weather best experienced in a nice warm place with good company. For Xena this type of weather reminded her of a time where she spent in a nice warm cave with one other person for company. Aleka sat up letting the warm covers fall from her shoulders. Iaia's stomach was making a lot of noise as she leaned over her.

"Hungry?" Aleka asked raising an eyebrow.

"Starving!" She returned. "I could use a body guard, experienced and trustworthy." Iaia smiled as she studied the familiar deep blue eyes that had opened wide awake and alert.

They shared a moment together, gazing into each other's eyes with nothing said. Aleka was hoping they made it to Mecsa…soon. She let the desire the bright green eyes showed pour into her while a sensible part of herself suggested she should break eye contact.

Iaia's dreams were still clear in her mind and she was thinking of having to keep her hands off the Named until she talked to Eleanor. There was her own conscious she had to appease but somehow she suspected her connection with this women was more than an attraction Iaia had for Aleka. Staring deep in the bluest eyes she thought she had ever seen was like getting lost in -- a wonderful, warm, contented, safe…She took a deep breath and broke eye contact. Get a grip, Bard! Startled she felt a giddy giggle threaten to break out. Ohhh, goddess. I gotta get a very firm grip here. She sighed audibly as she reminded herself again that she needed to talk to Eleanor before she approached Aleka. She didn't want to sabotage this journey.

Aleka rose and moved to the bowl where a linen and cold water was waiting. She quickly changed from her nightshirt to her warmer travel wear she pulled out of her pack. They would have to do some cleaning today, she reminded herself.

"Erica," Aleka gently prodded the woman on the knee under the warm covers.

"Hmmm. Go away. I wanna finish this dream. Hmm."

"Erica." Aleka lowered her voice and put more authority behind it.

Erica's eyes popped open and her arms started to work their way out of the tangle of covers.

Aleka put her hand on her raising shoulder laughing. "Hey," she said softly. "I just wanted you to know, we're going to get some breakfast."

"Hmmph. Yea, right." Erica looked around with sleepy eyes. "Okay…Goddess, I was just settling down to a good dream." She mumbled irritatedly. "It's not even light out!"

"It's being winter out there. It's not going to be light." Iaia told her laughing.

Aleka found the guard outside their door sagging against the wall. Iaia gave him a pleasant good morning as she headed in the direction she thought the kitchen was in. Aleka put a hand on her shoulder as Iaia continued her conversation and steered her into another direction as the hallway branched off into four different directions. This getting up early was not a Gabrielle thing.

"What? Oh, this way. I was never good at mazes, ya know?" She laughed looking into the blue eyes and trying not to get lost in them. She kept reminding herself that she needed to keep her mind on Aleka as the manager of their road show not a person she desired and that desired her. Sometimes seeing people's feelings had its advantages, she thought with a silent chuckle.

"So what do you think of that story?" She asked her companion as the smell of food cooking got stronger. "Hmm. Now that smells good on a cold morning." She stepped before Aleka as the doorway to the kitchen appeared before them. People were moving around tables and around barrels that were open in the middle of the floor.

"Good morning. Can we get something to eat?" Iaia happily asked as she eyed the large chunks of cheese and fresh loaves of bread cooling off.

The thinner of the women came over and looked her up and down. "Now what do you do in the troupe." She demanded.

"She writes." Aleka put in quietly before Iaia could get a word out.

"Ahh. Well, if ya did the writing of last nights work, it was well done." She nodded to the others.

"Husband liked it too." She smirked and giggled. "It weren't as bad as some of the stuff his Lordship puts on."

The others laughed.

"So then, what d'woud ya like? It saves us some carryin'."

Both women loaded up on food for five women, taking in consideration Iaia's ability to out eat anyone.

"Ya sure ya won't be needin' help now, huh?" The thin woman, Telly asked skeptically.

"We're fine thanks."

At that moment Lily, Alala, Camila and Agnes found their way to the kitchen.

"Hey, you going to eat all that Iaia?" Agnes laughed.

"Well, I was going to share but you know, if I have to carry this by myself back up, I may work up a real big appetite." Iaia joked back.

"Then let us help you." Lily and Agnes helped themselves to more food. While Aleka, Alala and Camila held the trenchers, the other three loaded up on the food.

"Why don't we set up in our room. Peepholes and secret doors still covered." Aleka suggested softly.

"Peep holes?" Iaia looked from one woman to the other.

"What castle doesn't have secret rooms, hidden doorways and all that stuff that goes with peekin' and sneakin'?" Aleka asked sardonically with an up raised eyebrow at her question.

Aleka walked in front of the women with Lily tailing behind as if prearranged. They entered through the first room to gather up anyone that was hungry but no one was there, as was the case in the second room.

In the third room they found everyone in various relaxed poses and by the sounds coming from behind the curtains of the pool that were discretely pulled, some were taking advantage of a morning dip.

The two women missing were Erica and Eleanor, whom Aleka guessed, were the ones in the pool.

"Anyone hungry?" Lily asked as she set her trencher on the table. The other trays were fit wherever there was available space.

"Hmm. Where does he get fresh fruit at this time of year?" Grace asked as she bit into a soft peach. The juice ran down her chin and was stopped by Brona's tongue that followed it up to the corner of her lips.

"Hmm. Love it." She whispered in a husky voice.

Aleka's eyebrows rose. So far anything going on between the women had been discrete but obviously the open sensuality in the castle was affecting everyone. She knew if the energy of the group shifted to these erotic feelings it would take away from the group energy of the quest.

She studied Iaia's preoccupied face as she chewed her own peach catching the juice that escaped her captivating lips and dribbled down her chin with a finger. Her eyes tracked to Aleka's as she suggestively sucked the juice from her finger.

Aleka's blue eyes opened wide and she could feel the heat that started in her center and flare out to all parts of her body. She knew she was in trouble unless she got herself distracted. The weather was not suited to ride Argo, and she couldn't do any sword drills without alerting Menigines' spies. No running around to work off this energy. She needed some private time.

Lily's body mercifully blocked her view of Iaia's enticing play. "So, what's for today?"

Aleka closed her eyes for a moment and refocused. "Well." She took a few more breaths then forced herself to concentrate on what she had worked out the night before. "We'll get ready for the four plays we have for today. Erica and Eleanor," she said this loud enough for the two still in the pool to hear, "will go with Iaia to the library to study scrolls. I'm sure between the three of them they can come up with a story line that Menigines and Katy will like."

In a lower tone she added, "I don't trust Menigines. He's too competitive to not try to fulfill all the requirements of the bet. We need to find out what the fourth one is. Maybe Alala and Camila can get that information from the stable crew. Meanwhile I don't want anyone wandering this palace without being a three-some or more. I'd much rather it a foursome."

The others nodded. The noise in the tub had quieted. Aleka could hear what was still going on and by the red blush that was creeping up Iaia's face she could too. Aleka tried to not look in her eyes. She needed to talk to Lily and Agnes so that she could clear her thoughts on this. If she were just Xena, it would be easy…or would it? She wasn't sure she was going to be able to stay away from Iaia at this rate.

****

The two women from the tub finally came out when the others left for their stage area to rehearse and change the scenery. Both had a look of contentment and no guilty looks about them. Iaia shook her head as she chewed on some cheese bread. And they were teasing me about the henbane? Right!

"You two are lucky we brought a lot of food back." She studied the women. "Are you two going to be alright reading all those scrolls with me and making them less…suggestive?"

Both started to laugh. "No problem."

For a moment something came to mind but it was quick and left her without her getting a clear indication what the warning was about.

The two women grabbed something to eat and followed Iaia out of the room giving a nod to the soldier that was guarding their room. Iaia looked back at him as he followed them. He was older and looked seasoned.

She attempted the raised eyebrow at him when she stopped to regard his presence behind them.

"Sorry. But it's Menigines orders. He's got some mercenaries and some people from the trading caravan here and doesn't trust them in obeying his orders to respect your wishes to be left alone."

Was it being around her dark haired companion so much that she caught something in the man's eyes that told her it wasn't the whole truth, or was it the colors whirling around his head that told her he was lying? For now she didn't have a return answer and she would let the others worry about it. Meanwhile she had a job to do and a suspicious thought that kept eluding her that she was hoping that by not dogging it, it would come to her. It had something to do with her dream, the nightmare she didn't finish. Or did she finish it? This brought back memories of her erotic dream that seemed so real. The flush that heated up her face made her walk faster.

While the three women studied old and recent scrolls on the subject Menigines wanted a satire wrote on, the others had their jobs cut out for them as Menigines and Katy watched their practice performances and took great pleasure on giving free advice. Aleka had finally threatened Menigines with removal from his own hall if he did not stop interfering.

The next four performances, one midmorning, one in the afternoon and two after dinnertime were well received. The connection between the actors and audience was faint but it was there.

The women freely moved between their three rooms visiting and listening to Iaia recount some of the less sexual stories she had read while in the library. She had become too frustrated reading one sexual satire after another and decided to explore other scrolls on other subjects. Those were what she was telling the others about.

Iaia and Aleka both looked toward the door at the same time. There was activity in the hall and the sound of someone in a rush was heading toward their door.

Aleka was up and pulling the door opened as Menigines was about to knock on it.

"Aleka, we have to change everything." Here was a man very upset. Aleka was still dressed so she stood outside the door with it ajar so the others could hear.

"Clorinda is on her way. If she doesn't stop at the inn she'll be arriving here later tonight."

"Who is Clorinda?" Aleka asked.

Menigines sighed heavily. "My predecessor's number one wife and consultant about everything."

"What is she to you?"

Menigines looked like he wanted to squirm like a small boy caught doing something he wasn't suppose to be doing. He gestured to the guard outside of the room. "Take a break." When the guard had moved off to talk with one of the other guards standing in front of one of the other rooms he turned back to Aleka.

"She could cause trouble with the villagers. My predecessor was a man of ---harsh living habits." He grinned when he said this. "He didn't believe life should be enjoyed and he ran his kingdom that way. When I defeated his army I thought they were a push over. I think they were looking for a change from his sorrow filled rule. Anyway, he had himself quite a collection of wives. I certainly didn't want that much. I would have nightmares of one of their brats slitting my throat for the throne." Lord Menigines paused for a moment. "Katy was one of his wives. I think I liked her the first moment I saw her." He shook his head. "Anyway, to avoid any hard feelings I sent most of them away with enough funds for them to start their own business. The treasury could handle it. Clorinda didn't want to go. She had it great here. She ran the show, so-to-speak. So I made her an offer of living in one of the villages nearby without having to worry about anything and an invitation for her to visit whenever she wanted to. Well, she has sent a message that she wants to spend winter here."

He shuddered at the thought.

Aleka was guessing that Clorinda would put a damper on his winter games. She restrained herself from clapping in childish glee.

"Why can't you just go about your business?"

"Because, there are some people that are still loyal to King Jordra's beliefs of life is to be suffered through until death, that is for everyone but themselves. Enough to cause trouble."

"So you think she's not going to like the satires we've been staging?

"Nope." He sighed heavily. "I don't think there were ever any dramas or bard tales told during King Jordra's reign. It's going to be a long winter." He moaned dramatically.

"Just what kind of dramas would you suggest?" Iaia asked as she joined Aleka.

"Boring and dull." He reported mournfully. "Gods! What have I done wrong?" He waved at the two women dejectedly then retreated back down the hall to return to his own chambers.

Aleka and Iaia looked at each other. "Satire." They both said in unison.

Aleka gave Iaia a broad smile. Holding the door she let Iaia enter before her. They weren't going to change their program.

"Well, it looks like things are going to get even more interesting."

"We heard. There are plenty of Sappho's works that are not sexual satires, thank the goddess. This place doesn't need any more on the subject of sex. This place is reeking of it." Agnes stated flatly. "If I hadn't been told that Dionysus and Aphrodite were honored here I would have thought this was the beginning of a Bacchus revival."

"You're right. But," Erica leaned over and blew air in Eleanor's ear, "I don't want to knock all that's happening here." Erica wiggled her brows suggestively toward Eleanor.

She sighed. "But we don't need it to this intensity. I would rather not be…over stimulated to do something that I was…thinking about anyway." Her voice lowered as she finished. "There is no celebration or honoring the joining, it's just a mad urge to join."

Erica tweaked her knee in an affectionate gesture. "You're right. But…I'm not regretting it a bit."

They exchanged affectionate glances.

"Iaia had told us one story that could be turned into a nice drama and chorus. It's really funny." Eleanor suggested.

"Well, dream on it. It's going to be a long day tomorrow, especially for you –Iaia." Aleka told her.

Iaia was sitting with her legs drawn up under her on their pallet. The story she was suggesting was what Iaia had been thinking about. It was a child's tale that she wanted to have the others put on. Before Clorinda's arrival she was thinking of how difficult it would be to get it staged because of Menigines' influence, but – there just might be a better chance now. Noontime would be a good time for the children to have a play for their pleasure, provided the weather wouldn't be too bad.

Iaia's dreams were on writing the child's play she wished the others to act. Candra and Grace were young enough to play the parts of the two children, left alone in a forest by parents who no longer could feed them, much less themselves. She was thinking of having them meet up with a slaver, a warlord and a worthless god or two and have them survive those encounters with a child's blunt wit and humor.

****

Aleka slept as she always did, alert to anything that wasn't familiar. She felt the arrival of Clorinda before she heard the movement of many in the hall. She lay for a moment trying to pinpoint the new feeling…no…a presence. There was a new presence in the castle. Moments later footsteps could be heard passing their closed door.

Now, I wonder why Menigines is placing her on this side of the castle. It's like he's placing all his eggs in one basket. The question is…why? Warlords or exwarlords don't make that type of move without a plan. Maybe he doesn't want her to see the types of people he's entertaining. Could be. Yea.

Aleka rose and cracked their door, peering in the direction she heard a door close. The hall was surprisingly empty of guards…and the smell of hemp. Clorinda's influence, Aleka thought, puts a rather interesting twist to Menigines control over Adris. Another piece to a puzzle.

Aleka studied the two closed doors that were down the hall from the troupes. Clorinda would probably be occupying both. One of the rooms had two loopholes that overlooked a courtyard where the kitchen help and others that worked in the castle took their breaks. There was a door to a stairwell that led directly down to the first floor, right across from the kitchen area but it was locked and barred. That was why the women had to go to the other end of the corridor, down a dark staircase and along a more well lit hallway leading to the kitchen. Lady Clorinda had a much more interesting view than the one they had, which looked out into the forest that rose behind the castle. Aleka watched through the door crack as one of the kitchen maids left the room hurriedly with an empty trencher. She did not pass their door but used the stairwell that had been barred for their use. Now that's interesting. I wonder if we'll be able to use it tomorrow.

"Well?" The soft voice of Erica whispered.

Aleka carefully closed the door. "Looks like Clorinda and party have arrived." Aleka whispered back.

Satisfied, Aleka returned to her bed. As she laid down her eyes caught a glint of green from Iaia who was lying on her side facing her. They both watched each other for a bit then Iaia's eyes closed.

Was she awake? No. She was dreaming. Listen to her breathing.

Aleka lay on her back and closed her eyes, letting sleep overtake her. Her dreams were of being chased by a very large woman with a broom. She was dressed in strange cloths she didn't recognize and her hair was too short. Was that her? Maybe not. When the figure turned back to face her she was surprised to see that it wasn't her, it was Lily. Aleka's night was filled with dreams and they were all of her being chased by different people. With all her running around in her dreams she was going to be tired in the morning. She wistfully thought of taking an early morning run with the silver wolf whose presence she missed in the castle.

The next morning Aleka was up before everyone else. She worked out in the vacant room she had found and when finished, decided to visit the library to make sure it was safe and had no secret doorways. She had dreamt that Iaia disappeared while in the library and she was chasing after her abductors in the shape of the gray wolf. As she looked around she idly selected a scroll from a corner slot that her taller frame found to be at eye level. It was well-worn yet almost hidden out of sight. Unrolling it she quickly read over it. She was rolling it back up when she heard the door to the library open. Quickly she tucked the scroll in the long sleeves of her warm cloak and turned toward the door. Not many places to hide and why should she? Before her stood a large framed woman with another standing behind her.

"And what are you doing here?" The arrogant voice demanded surprised.

"I'm studying the scrolls." Aleka returned calmly. This must be Clorinda, she thought.

"I don't recall giving anyone permission to visit my library."

"Your library? I understood from Lord Menigines it was his."

Aleka could see a discrete touch from the woman behind Clorinda. A reminder that this was no longer her castle?

Clorinda, the former ruler of the castle paused a moment. "You are correct. This is –Menigines' castle."

Aleka could feel animosity. It probably was not easy being the deposed owner of a castle and only being able to visit as a visitor, and unwelcomed at that.

"I can see you would like privacy so I will leave you to your morning reading." If what Eleanor and Erica had said was true, most of the scrolls were erotica. So why would a woman Lord Menigines believed did not read such things, want in the library? The scroll she had tucked in her sleeve came to mind.

The well-worn scroll she had read and tucked safely away in her sleeve was about a treasure long ago lost by a group of pilgrims. It traced the many owners of the treasure and what calamities had befallen them during their possession, when the object was separated from its two part pairing. From the author's slant, the Sacred Flower had a curse on it that when the bud was separated from its leaves, the separate owners would suffer some sort of catastrophe, causing the parts to either be reunited or drawn to another village to be reunited. The power symbol was the ancient yoni of Gaia. The drawing showed the outer lips carved in detail, like succulent leaves, with the labia as a separate part from the clitoris, which when separated it looked a flower bud.

Berik and Kynthia! Yessss! I had forgotten that part of the journey. They were the carriers of the Sacred Jewel on our journey! When Kynthia had lost the part she was entrusted to carry, the bud, to a thief from Cad's group, things started to go bad for the group. Aleka could feel the cold glare of Clorinda at her back as she left.

I think a visit from Iaia would do Clorinda a world of good, Aleka thought mischievously. Why would you want to do that to her? She loves a good story, besides there's more to that woman than meets the eye and Gabrielle knows how to pry stories out of the most sullen. Hmmm. I hope you're not going to put Iaia in any danger. Of course not! But I don't intend to over protect her either. Living in my head should have told you by now that she's not one to be safely tucked away until danger passes. She doesn't remember herself as Gabrielle. But she is Gabrielle. You keep pointing that out to me. When she handles her staff she remembers her skills as a master at the staff. She remembers she can write. And she has eyes and heart for us, Aleka mischievously interjected. Don't remind me.

Aleka stopped in the kitchen to be met by Lily and Agnes who were arranging breakfast with Iaia, Eleanor, Brona and Grace.

"There you are. Iaia was worried about you. You've been gone for a while." Eleanor remarked teasing Iaia as she added another sweet roll to sit precariously on the trencher Eleanor was balancing.

"I was in the library." Aleka took the trencher from Eleanor and watched Iaia with amusement, add more sweets to the tray. Iaia glanced up at her but not for long. Aleka could see a red blush cover her face. Well, I can make a good guess at what her dreams were about. As if…Aleka returned good-naturedly. Aleka noted she was a bit smug with that observation.

"What did you find?" Iaia asked casually.

"An interesting story and I had a visitor."

"Who?"

Did Aleka detect a bit of jealously in the tone?

"Clorinda. I seemed to have been trespassing in her library."

"Her lady? Visiting the library? Now that is a bit o news." One of the women who was helping Iaia select sweets and fruits for their trenchers laughed. "The old woman had never put a foot in there when she was running the castle. Now she's visitin in the wee hours of the morning, for her anyway." Lettie laughed to the others.

"She never visited it, huh? Aleka asked Lettie.

"She can't read." Lettie whispered in a loud voice. "Just like the rest of us, she is."

"But she's a Hades of a cook!" An old man standing in the doorway from the outside declared. Camila and Alala were standing behind him with grins on their faces.

"Aleka, Lily, Agnes, this is Eryalios, the stable master."

"Eryalios, this is Aleka, Iaia, Agnes, Eleanor, Grace, Brona and the other tall one, Lily." Alala nodded her head to the women she was introducing. "Eryalios would like to trade for one of our horses."

Aleka felt a sudden apprehension. "Which horse is that?"

"The one we picked up about a week ago, the big brown stallion. No one can ride him, so Eryalios said he would like to trade some travel feed for him and some other supplies we could use."

Aleka didn't change the expression on her face. She had been the only one that was able to ride the big horse and Argo was jealous about it. It was bad enough that she was riding Itali but another horse as well was pushing Argo's temperament.

"Sounds like a fair trade. We'll let you two handle the rest of the deal." Aleka looked toward the other women for confirmation. They all nodded. One less unplanned hungry mouth to feed.

Alala nodded to the others. Aleka was thinking she fit in well with their group, so why was she feeling uncomfortable? Energy. Vibration. A lot of warrior energy attracts that type of action. Yea. Maybe that's what it is. It has changed the vibration of the group. Aleka insisted. So, what does that mean? There was no response.

The women loaded up on food and made their way back to one of the rooms where they would all meet for a morning snack before they went about their tasks for the day. There was equipment to repair, lines to rewrite, parts to rehearse and clothing to clean, fix or purchase for when they left the next morning.

Today they were only doing three dramas so they could take care of their chores. The first play mid morning was a satire on love that Sappho had written for a couple on their seventh anniversary. The crowd they were drawing already knew that they were not going to perform lewd dramas so the age mixture was pleasing to Agnes. Many brought their children who showed rapt attention at the masked figures that were larger than life and showing fears that children knew so well. She was pleased the next drama was for children. The priestesses were fast studies, as this was what they all were skilled in and were able to adapt masks from other dramas for some of the characters.

Agnes had made a point of approaching Clorinda and asking her what she would like to see.

The women met for an afternoon dinner in the first room that Agnes and Lily shared. "I'm serious. It's not because she thinks we have good taste, it's because she doesn't know anything about plays."

"Let me talk to Eryalios. He has a thing for her. He won't hear any unkind things to be said about her when he's around." Camila suggested.

"Good. So, Iaia I hear you finished tonight's drama." Aleka mentioned.

"It's finished and we'll be using masks from other dramas. Costumes are simple. There won't be any words so those hard of seeing will have to be seated close."

Aleka nodded. "Lily, did you manage to get that guard that keeps following you around to leave you long enough to let Menigines know that this afternoon we will have a production for the kids?"

"Hera's tits!" Lily replied in disgust. "He followed me to the garderobe! I couldn't decide which smelled worse, the pits, his prose or his hygiene! Ya. He left long enough to deliver a message…to another guard."

"The best time to use them is in the morning after the boys have cleaned them." Candra pointed out.

"Is he part of Menigines regular staff?" Aleka suddenly asked.

"He wears Menigines' colors." Erica responded.

"That won't mean anything in the spring." Lily returned with a smirk thinking she knew where Aleka was going with the questioning. The winter cold made all sorts of bed partners, just for the shared warmth and protection.

"You think he may be an inside spy for someone?" Grace asked leaning forward to get another slice of bread.

"His hygiene alone discounts him for a spy." Berik pointed out.

"That's what would make him a good spy." Iaia spoke as she carefully piled some meat on a slice of bread.

"Then, there's his hands, his walk, the way he wears his hair and the tattoo on the back of his neck." Aleka pointed out. "So, why do you think he doesn't fit in with the rest of the guards in this castle?" She asked in a form of exercise of observation for the others.

"Hands. They aren't callused like a soldiers. He had a callus on his finger…just like…a writer." Iaia informed the others as she seriously contemplated where to place her first bite in her creation.

"Well, if he's a writer he must do it alone." Sniffed Gari. "Erica doesn't even smell that bad after a work out."

"Hey! You're not much of a flower yourself after a candlemark of Aleka's drills." Erica returned quickly.

"Oh! Now its my drills." Aleka laughed, diffusing the bantering. Sighing she looked toward the shuttered loophole whose covering occasionally rattled from gusts of the winter wind.

"So, where do you think he's from? I can't see him from a mercenary camp." Iaia shook her head. She couldn't remember exactly the last time she had been in a mercenary camp, but the guard they were discussing was not the soldier type.

"Lily, and the rest of you, travel in groups or four or more. I'm getting a bad feeling about this place and until we know for sure what the fourth bet is I don't want anyone without at least two Amazons in that group." Aleka cautioned. "Did either of you get a clue on what the fourth bet was?" She inquired from Camila and Alala.

"Something to do with writing." Camlia nodded between chews of the bread she was snacking on. "The stable hands only knew of three of the bets. Eryalios told us it had to do with writing. He was a bit evasive and nervous in talking to us about it.

Aleka frowned. The thought of kidnapping a writer would fit in with the two men's disregard for others on this competitive thing they had.

"Let's get ready for our performance. Oh, Agnes. Do you think you can work the Amazons in some of the performances in the future?" Aleka asked thinking of how to balance the groups energy. Too much warrior energy. She wasn't going to sacrifice their welfare by toning down on their defenses, but she could balance both warrior and creative energy by having the women trained in both skills.

Agnes nodded. "We could add them to the chorus."

****

During the evening meal Iaia was silent and appeared to be in deep thought. Agnes and Lily let her alone thinking her thoughts were on the extension of their stay due to the snowstorm that was raging outside.

The usual discussion and review of their drama work followed their leisure dinner, as was their habit. Each participant as well as the listeners drew a more in depth understanding of was transpired in the unfolding of the drama. What the actor felt or didn't feel from the crowd and how they could improve the crowd's understanding without taking away from the sacredness of the subtlety of the story was important. The discussions also helped settle their meal before they spent a candlemark working out with Aleka.

Since the women were staying until the weather cleared, the Amazons were getting ready to also participate in the sacred drama as was Aleka's request. Under other circumstances it would never have been allowed. This night was serious for the sacred drama was to be acted out by the uninitiated, the Amazons, and it was very important for all the participants to get into resonance with the message and character they were to play. Two of the Amazons would be wearing the sacred masks of the chorus and they had to be initiated into the sacred trust of the spirit of the masks they were to wear.

Aleka was sitting near the fireplace watching with unseeing eyes as the priestesses explained and taught the others about the spirit of the Muses. Aleka's memories were on her own experiences with them and of how favored Gabrielle was to them. With veiled eyes she watched Iaia as she absorbed what Catherine was imparting in a singsong voice about the mysteries of the drama. Iaia lived in a time before the Muses came to be but she was sure that Gaia must have had a place in her heart for the young painter who had abandoned her art because her freedom of expression was taken from her.

Aleka closed her eyes and remembered the dance of the dark one and her multitude of weaving arms that spoke of death and destruction so that one could be reborn in a more purified state. Aleka opened her eyes to find the worried eyes of Iaia looking at her.

Why did that vision come to her?

The sacred circle of study was broken, and the conversation of the group moved to more mundane subjects like to that of Eryalios, master of the stables. He most certainly was in a bother that Clorinda was in the castle. They all decided that he was in love with her and to occupy their time they thought up ways to get the two together.

Aleka sighed as she remembered her anger at Menigines trying to strong-arm her into having mid dinner and late dinner with them. She was feeling a danger to Iaia all day and was getting more anxious to leave Menigines and his wife with some excuse. The excuse she used surprised her.

"I will have to take leave of your company Lord Menigines. I need to prepare for the dramas as my troupe does."

"Aleka, you are the manager. You have only to…"

"Lord Menigines," Aleka anger at his apparent design to keep her from the group allowed Xena's ire to surface. "we all honor the Muses and pay our respects to them before and after our performances. For all the troupes you say you host, you should know that there is this period that must be spent to honor them."

Lord Menigines tried to bluster past the blue eyes that were pinning him to his chair with their cold points. "We honor Dionysus and Aphrodite here…."

"Hmm. Your overuse of Aphrodite's charms and," she nodded to a lewd statue in the corner of a satyr struggling with a young girl with its hands in places that didn't speak of affection, "and Bacchus type of displays of interaction tell me otherwise. Aleka told him bluntly.

Lord Menigines looked at the statue behind him. "That was a gift from Labducus. It's nothing but a statue of a satyr looking for some fun." He discounted.

"Looks one sided to me." Aleka cocked an eye at him. "That's not what Dionysus and Aphrodite are about. And another thing, Lord Menigines", Aleka told him softly, "Sappho gives the gods their due, belittles none, but she honors above even her beloved Athena and Aphrodite, the Muses." She leaned closer to Menigines. "It is to in their honor and joint protection that we travel."

Lord Menigines was not able to take his eyes from the blue, cold and frightening orbs Sappho's Troupes manager had him locked into. For that moment he weakened and forgot his wager with his neighbor and determination to win at all costs

Katy was frightened at what was happening to her husband but was determined to keep it under some sort of control. The tall manager frightened her. She had realized that the first day they met that she was more than the leader of the group. Her foolish husband only saw with warrior's eyes and believed the Amazon, Lily, was whom he should worry about. So, his plans were primarily on how to remove Lily and the other Amazon's out of the picture. He was obsessed with owning the young playwright and having her write what he wanted. It had gone beyond the wager Labducus had presented to him. She didn't like Labducus nor did she like to visit his castle or most importantly, her sister, her twin…his wife. She had changed too. She no longer liked to connect with her in their unique fashion that only twins shared.

It was Labducus who had introduced them to Dionysus and Aphrodite's cult. Thinking back on it she realized how clever he had been, just like the clever trader who is selling something to the public they have no need of. Now, it seemed to only be a darker side of the energy for life and love that they only experienced these days. Menigines was using only drugs now to heighten his sexual activities. There was no more tender moments or spontaneous words of love spoken from him. There was only lust. She shivered when she pictured Bacchus, the dark one, of taking possession of others.

She turned her eyes toward her husband who was appearing older each day. The young warlord that had captivated her heart when he had seized the castle and all its contents was hard to see these days. She had thought she had tamed his warlord blood lust only to have it replaced by something she was totally unfamiliar with. It was a lust for gambling with other people's lives.

****

Aleka had finally taken her leave of their host and hostess, just before midafternoon when the second performance that was for the children was to be performed.

The performance was well received and Aleka could feel the power of the energy in the room from everyone. Agnes was right…it was powerful when everyone shared the same feeling. The room took on a different atmosphere and she could almost swear that the dark energy she had felt when they first entered the castle was absent from this room.

The women were quiet when they returned to their rooms as they were thinking about the next performance. The last one to be performed as part of Menigine's bet. It was a silent drama with no chorus to guide the collective minds of their audience. Each woman, prepared her mask and robe while once more going over her part, feeling the spirit of her character and letting the energy sink into her being.

The performance was after evening meal. It only heightened the clean energy in the hall, sending shivers down Aleka's spine as she marveled at how noticeable it was. The crowd was larger than it usually was, since that was to be their last. Aleka was proud of Gabrielle's tale and the crowd that was silent for many heartbeats after the end broke into a loud mixture of cheers and hoots. Perhaps they too recognized some of the people the characters were representing.

As they made their way back to their rooms, the thought of soaking in a hot bath was tempting to Aleka as she thought of Clorinda's glares at Katy and Menigines throughout the last drama. Their exchange of energy when everyone was leaving didn't sit well with her stomach. A thought occurred to Xena. If you are so sensitive to what people are feeling, why didn't you pick up on Cad's feelings? I did. That's why I kept a distance from Iaia. It is Iaia who sat next to me and flirted. She was beautiful! Her hands were beautiful. Right. Right. Xena didn't want her to go on. It was why I asked them to leave in the morning. His hate was making my stomach upset. Did Iaia feel anything toward you? Yes. But it was buried too deep for her at the time to know. She was focused on her pilgrimage to the Mountain. Her thoughts of dying were foremost. I also should have been focused on my duties. I let myself get sidetracked. It happens.

Aleka returned to their rooms after spending a period of time more than what she wanted with their hosts who were delighted to report that there was a snowstorm outside, giving their entertainers an extended stay. Entering the room, the aroma of lavender reached her first, letting her know that there was hot water in the pool. Glancing around she could see everyone was deep in conversation of their performance that night.

She took her place near the fireplace and half listened while she went over what their next move was going to be.

As everyone finally moved off to their beds Aleka stretched and went to rinse off what felt like an oil slick on her skin from standing next to Meningines.

As she was preparing to lie down on their pallet she turned to look at Iaia. She suspected she was awake still. Iaia's eyes were closed but her breathing told her that she wasn't asleep. Aleka sighed inwardly and pulled Iaia over to her.

"You wrote a very good drama." She whispered into the golden hair that her lips brushed.

"Aleka?" The soft voice called from her shoulder where the golden head rested on.

Aleka's stomach turned over at the all too familiar voice.

"Yes, Iaia?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"Of course." Her heart was thumping loudly in her ears and she was sure Iaia could feel it since her head was lying right over it.

"Let's go where we won't wake the others."

Aleka shuddered at the images that were passing through her minds eyes were in vivid color. They were very tempting to pursue.

"Where do you propose." She laughed softly, careful to eliminate the seductive timbre out of her voice.

"The bathing room."

Aleka watched as Iaia settled on some cushions that were in the corner of the bathing room. Iaia looked up at her waiting for her to join her.

Don't think of anything! She told herself.

When Aleka was settled comfortably Iaia started her story.

"I read a story in one of the scrolls that," Iaia paused and shifted her weight, "well…I've been having these dreams and the scroll I read was like my dream." She finished awkwardly.

Aleka pursed her lips. Reading Menigines scrolls on sex, sex and sex was not a good idea given that…I hope she's not remembering last night…she was asleep. Why? "What kind of dream?" She asked quietly quelling her nervousness.

"Kind of dream? You mean what was the dream about?" Iaia corrected her. "It had to do with this jewel." She raised her hands to show the size and shape.

Part of Aleka sighed in relief. The question of what was she going to do if the subject was on erotic dreams with her as a key player was put off for another time.

"I read it too." Aleka thought about what she remembered of Berik's secret pilgrimage to deliver a Jewel to the Mountain for safekeeping. Mia carried the other part of the jewel. Ahh. The Sacred Yoni! Yes. It was also called the Sacred Flower. To insure its safe delivery the bud was separated from the leaves…so-to-speak, an amused Aleka supplied. Aleka almost slapped her hand to her forehead at the remembrance. After the group of friends had perished, as a shaman, she was privy to what each was to accomplish on that quest.

Aleka's breath caught as she remembered Calae's anger at herself as she realized she could have prevented the slaughter. Lia, she was there for other reasons too! Lia knew about the Jewel and was there to steal it for her village. That warning was prickling the back of Xena's head about Alala again. Was she remembering anything about her former life as Lia? So far, Lily's emotional fluctuations of working with her and then challenging her decisions had lessened, but Xena was Xena. She trusted no one, except Gabrielle, whom she knew consistently made decisions from the kindness of her heart. But Iaia was not the Gabrielle that Xena had entrusted her life to. Aleka made an audible sigh.

"Are you listening?" Iaia asked putting a hand on her leg to get her attention.

"I was just remembering something. When did your dreams start?"

"Last night, the same day I read the scroll."

"Maybe that's what our next challenge is. To find it."

Iaia nodded. "Right! My thoughts too! But, I can't find the scroll. I went back to reread it and it was gone!"

"Ahh. I got it." Aleka admitted embarrassed.

"You do? Where?"

"I put it in with your scrolls. I thought it was a safe place. I meant to talk to Agnes about the story. It seemed familiar and now I know why. The next question is…why now instead of at the beginning of this journey?"

"Hey!" Catherine whispered. She had been heard the word Jewel and gravitated toward them. "This Jewel you're talking about…I overheard what you were saying about it." She whispered. "I overheard Berik and Kynthia talking about a Jewel this morning. It's the Sacred Yoni, right?"

"I think so, right." Aleka told her carefully. "What do you remember about it?"

"Well, nothing real clear. The conversation only caught my attention because the night before I was dreaming of it. Really odd, huh?"

"Now this is getting more interesting." Aleka was suspicious that Clorinda's arrival triggered something.

"How about the others?"

"I don't know. I was going to talk to Agnes but we got kinda busy. Now that we're stuck here until the storms end we'll probably have lots of time to talk about it."

"Why haven't they said anything?" Aleka asked exasperated referring to Berik and Kynthia. She knew she was upset because in the first journey they had also kept their sacred delivery secret. If she had known, she felt she would have handled Calaie differently. As Xena, it would never have gotten to a challenge of her leadership.

"In the morning we'll all get together and discuss this…openly. No secrets this trip." Aleka mumbled distracted with the differences of the two characters within her.

Turning to Iaia she rose and offered her hand. "Let's get some rest. I don't like this place and the longer we stay here the more my nerves get worked." She growled.

The moment Aleka was settled back on her pallet she went to sleep. The first few dreams she wouldn't remember. However, toward the third candlemark after the moon reached its zenith, she began an elaborate dream that had her standing in a small gray room. It had a small desk, a pallet in the corner and two buckets against the wall. It seemed to be a cell of some sort. She watched as the gray wolf walked through the loophole above the desk and sat in front of a small figure sitting in dejection on the corner of the pallet. This dream is important. What am I supposed to be seeing? She looked around the room again, much slower. The dejected figure looked up and Aleka held her breath. It was Gabrielle.

Just before dawn, Aleka was up, as was her habit. The women were still sleeping. Erica yawned and waved a sleepy hand at her from her guard post near the adjoining door.

Aleka turned around at a noise that was behind her.

"Morning." Eleanor whispered. "Whatcha doing up so early?"

Aleka smiled sheepishly. "I'm hungry."

"Hmm. Well, I only got up to relieve myself. This is way too early for me."

Aleka nodded. It was frustrating for her to wake up this early and not use this time to do sword drills or other things Xena usually did before the start of her day. Aleka's morning rituals were of meditation and shaman type lessons. Not Xena's style. She dressed and decided to visit a place she knew would be empty. She would take the back passages to it. She borrowed Iaia's staff. She would compromise and do a little of both, physical exercise and meditation, only Xena's style.

By the time Aleka returned everyone was gathered in their room eating and exchanging ideas on the Jewel.

"Hey, where've ya been?" Lily asked eyeing the staff.

"Relaxing. I take it you all have been brought up to date on the scroll?"

"What are we going to do about this Jewel?" Alala asked her.

"Locate it." Aleka answered as she leaned the staff against the wall and helped herself to some bread and fruit.

"Right!" Berik agreed excited.

"Then what?" Alala prompted.

"Return it to the Mountain." Berik told her.

"Is there someone there who is going to know what to do with it after all this time?" She asked.

"That's not our problem. Our challenge is to deliver it to where it belongs." Kynthia added

"How do we know it belongs there? Where did it come from? Perhaps it was stolen in the first place."

"I didn't steal it!" Berik responded quickly with heat. She was on her feet standing across from Alala's reclining figure.

"Hold it!" Aleka told the women. "This is getting back to the past. Leave it!"

"We need to refocus on our present journey." Agnes soothed. She looked at Alala when she had said that. "You are new to this circle so you don't have the same intensity of focus as we, so let me explain again to you. We all have something to complete, a pilgrimage or a quest, as we call it. Our destination is not our primary determination but how we conduct ourselves."

"I heard you the first time." Alala returned briefly. "What I haven't heard is where you feel I fit in this – journey."

The change in Alala's demeanor was strikingly different than what everyone was accustomed to.

"Do you remember what your original purpose was when you joined us?" Aleka asked hoping that her purpose in this life wasn't the same as it was then.

"If I believed all of this quest thing you mean? I'm not interested in your quest and what you think you need to do. My life is with Athena and I follow no other. I'm going along because we all happen to be going in the same direction and it bodes well to travel with others."

The hairs on the back of Aleka's neck were rising. It was as if she were listening to this for the second time.

She said that to Calae. Calae choose to not do anything about the danger she posed. And you knew? Only after we had all lifted in spirit. Will the others remember this too? No. I was the leader so it is my burden to know where my failings were so that I -- we, do not make the mistake again. Right. Right.

Aleka looked toward Lily to see how she was reacting to words she had once been privy to. Lily's expression was unreadable but her face looked paler than usual. So, she does remember. This is part of her recompense. She either denies it or accepts her responsibility. Is that all this is about, that we accept our part in the demise of the group? We all have done that! No. You know that is not true. Everyone remembers only what she wishes to remember.

Iaia has a false sense of her part. Calae still blames us. Brona knew the truth yet said nothing and feels guilty for this. They all had a part that they must make recompense for. Just what is that to be? Being in the same situation, with foreknowledge of what happened the last time. That doesn't sound difficult. You are forgetting our own battles as an ex-warlord. Do we not struggle sometimes nonstop to overcome our urge to kill, merely because it is a quicker way to take care of a problem? We are over compensating for Aleka's weakness in defending those she was put in charge of. We have reached a balance …but it's tenuous without Gabrielle. If it makes us feel better to give all credit to Iaia or Gabrielle then so be it. But, do not depend on that belief entirely. It was in us to be able to overcome the darkness in our soul. It is with Gabrielle assistance that we stay on the lighter path. Without love returned, even a good soul with the best of intentions can be swayed to darkness. This is due to the emptiness and the inability to shine from the love of another or others. But the darkness is not the enemy. It is merely a condition that passes.

"Alala, you are welcome to join us. If this is how you choose to travel with us, then do so. But know this – we choose to finish our quest to the Mountain." Lily told her firmly.

Is that a warning, or what? Words. I'll take the wait and see attitude. Aren't we a little cynical? We all have our moments.

"I think I'll go look in on my friends." Alala took her leave with a surprised Camila watching her hastily exit.

"It looks like she was surprised at what she said." Iaia said in a low voice.

"Yes, it did." Agnes turned to the others. "We are almost at the end of our journey. By the looks of things, we may be experiencing a lot of past issues we still have not dealt with. Like Alala, we shall find ourselves dangling between two realities, confused at what we feel."

"Great. Now, let's get back to an important element of this journey." Aleka remarked. "The Sacred Jewel Berik and Kynthia were to deliver to the Mountain for safe keeping. Iaia did you tell them the story in the scroll?"

"No. I was going to wait for you to return." She shook her head.

"We talked about Kynthia and Berik's remembered obligation to take the parts to the Mountain for safekeeping. Each not knowing about the other, only that the other part was nearby." Agnes explained.

Iaia looked up at the standing figure that was now leaning casually against the mantle of the fireplace. A warm smile was given as encouragement for her to begin her tale. "Why don't you give us a quick version. No need to go into detail." The tall woman nodded.

"We found a parchment that tells a story of the Jewel." She paused a moment. "The story starts with it being transported from a village to a new resting place. The Sacred Jewel was separated in two parts to ensure that if it were stolen bad luck will overtake the thief until the two parts are reunited."

"Just how do you part The Yoni?" Brona asked disbelieving. Actually the thought of the Yoni in halves sounded…painful.

"According to the story, the Sacred Yoni is described as a flower, the Sacred Flower. The outer lips are shaped like thick leaves and the sacred bud looks like a long stemmed rose bud. When the two are more than two furloughs from each other the curse begins to gather energy. It draws danger and death to those that are around the two separated pieces."

Aleka pushed herself off from the wall and walked around behind Iaia as she took up the story. "We believe that Clorinda brought the Sacred Yoni here in pieces with her. I don't believe she has fitted the pieces together…yet."

"Why would she bring it here and why hasn't she put the parts together? Berik asked anxiously.

"The legal holder of the Sacred Yoni brings prosperity on all levels to the village the holder resides in. That is probably why Clorinda brought it here. She may want to reestablish her legal claim here." Aleka was silent for a moment. "Why she hasn't brought the pieces together is a good question. What is she waiting for?"

"We need to find it." Berik told the others with sincerity.

"Why, Berik?" Aleka asked her seriously.

"Because it's ours!"

"NO." Aleka stated firmly. She looked around the table making eye contact with each woman. "It is Clorinda's. She is the legal holder. If we interfere with her guardianship without knowing why it has been entrusted to her, we will be incurring the wrath of a power I don't want to become familiar with."

"The Spirit of the Yoni," Iaia continued, "always protects the Sacred Blossom." She quoted. "The scroll said that the Sacred Spirit draws it into wholeness and brings it to wherever it is meant to be. It is an unfolding story, as it creates prosperity to wherever it comes to reside. It never rests for long in one place, but moves on to other places."

"What you're saying is that it is responsible for Clorinda bringing it here?" Brona asked puzzled.

"The Yoni has been to many different places, according to the scroll. Even when the parts get separated and ill winds befall the thieves the parts somehow are brought together again in another place where prosperity comes to the that village or town." Iaia recounted.

"What happens when it leaves?" Grace asked suspiciously.

"Nothing. Look at Athens, Pylus, Sichyon, Doris, Malis and Aegae. Those were some of the areas it had resided in that the scroll mentioned. They are all still here, though in various stages of decay and growth, but just like any other city over time." Iaia pointed out.

"So just what are we supposed to do?" Berik asked still angry.

"Wait. Our part will be revealed to us in the Sprit's time." Iaia advised.

"We would not be here at this time without a reason." Lily spoke everyone's mind.

"Exactly." Aleka nodded. "Locating it is important…but do nothing. This does not mean we are to relax our guard. Menigines still has a four-part bet with Labducus, which I have no doubt Menigines is not going to lose without some sort of move. Labducus' has people here in the castle, which also means they are here to either make sure Menigines goes by the rules or they will try to prevent it. We would have been back on the road by now if the snow storm hadn't lengthened our stay which may have caused Menigines to make other plans."

"He wouldn't want anything to happen to us in his castle." Lily nodded. "I don't think he would want to have Sappho after him. She has an amazing long arm in the form of a goddess or two."

"Great." Gari looked at Agnes disgustedly. "It means we are surrounded by the enemy and we still have to stick around to find out if we're needed."

"Let's wait for the weather to clear enough to travel." Aleka counseled. "Meanwhile, I want everyone to be prepared to leave at a moments notice. That means only have out what we are using. Keep it bare but not noticeable."

"We've arranged a performance midmorning but its more of a recitation of Morts Decent into the Mountain and it requires no masks. I had already arranged to have the chests moved to the cart. "Agnes informed Aleka.

"Good. Keep close to each other for the rest of our stay. Be ready for anything that will try to separate you. Travel in four or more. Make sure at least two Amazons are with you. That's going to be stretching our group but I would rather no one go anywhere except to the hall and back here. And most importantly…dress warm. I don't want anyone caught out in the cold without some protection. This place is cold anyway, so it shouldn't look to strange dressing warmly."

Aleka turned to Camilia. "Go and find Alala. She will need a friend now. Brona and Grace go along with her. Check the horses and equipment. Have the cart ready to move out at a moment's notice. They expect us to be leaving anyway when the weather clears so it won't be too suspicious."

Aleka suddenly straightened up. The energy in the room had suddenly changed. It was an unpleasant feeling like something running up and down her arms. She turned to look at Iaia whose face was pale. She looked down into green malachite eyes whose dark centers were like pinpoints. Odd for someone near a light. The sound of marching feet could be heard echoing in the hall had her turn toward the door in anticipation. A solid rap on the door had everyone standing.

Erica nearest to the door opened it. "Yes?"

Two soldiers that Erica was not familiar with were standing behind a slight man whom Erica had noticed sat beside Menigines during their performances.

"Lord Menigines is requesting Aleka's presence. Now." He stated carefully.

Aleka looked at the other women. It had started. There was a shifting in the room as if they all were preparing themselves for something though they didn't know what.

Aleka stepped through the door noticing that each of the soldiers carried short swords in plain sight. "Does it have to be now? We're in the middle of preparing for our next stop."

"Lord Menigines said it was important. It has to do with a sensitive subject that he believes you can help him with."

Ya right. "Lily, why don't you finish up the plans and I'll review them when I get back."

Aleka went along believing that whatever happened she could get out of it. It was a very strong Xena belief in her own drive to survive.

Lily could feel cold chills run up and down her arms. She felt that the Named was in danger and she couldn't figure out what to do. She was an Ambassador, a wizard with words and with handling delicate situations and she couldn't think of a thing to do without jeopardizing the group. Yet the Named had given her the responsibility for the protection of the group until she returned. Wasn't that what she had wanted on their first journey?

"Sure." She told her trying to cover her own unease.

The three women left for the stables shortly after Aleka was escorted down the hall. They left through the secret passage way behind their room. They would be able to get as far as the kitchen without being seen provided there was no one in the passageways behind the rooms.

Iaia's face was white as all sorts of thoughts crossed her mind. Restlessly she picked through the scrolls looking for the one that Aleka had removed from Menigines library. She kept her mind busy with rereading the story of the Jewel.

Chapter 3

Breaking Up

"All right everyone. Let's get going to the hall for our performance." Lily announced to the women. Everyone remained in the last room not wanting to be alone least they disappear.

Menigines was not present at the performance though Katy was. Clorinda was also absent, which Agnes and Eleanor found worrisome.

After the performance Lily left Berik, Kynthia and Gari to pack up the equipment in the last two trunks and she escorted the others back to their rooms.

The three had finished their careful packing of costumes and masks and were tiredly on their way back. The atmosphere in the castle had suddenly became oppressive to the women.

"Oh, Heavenly Muses!" Kynthia slapped her thigh in disgust. She held up the ornament to one of the costumes in her other hand. "We got to go back. I forgot this."

"You can't just carry it with you? You'd look kinda cute wearing it." Gari teased as she touched the gaudy glassed eye that the oracle in one of the previous performances finds in her seer's dish.

They turned back and followed Kynthia as she shook her head. "I must have picked it up when we were rearranging the masks in the trunk."

The women silently entered the area where the trunk was waiting for Menigines staff to carry down to the stables for them.

Berik put a hand up quickly to keep the others silent and gestured toward the place where the trunks were. They were still in the shadows of the room since the torches were extinguished when they had left. The only light was from the pale gray daylight that was seeping through the high loopholes that allowed air to move around the room. It was a cold draft but it aired out the room that had been packed, as usual, with a lot of bodies…some belonged to those that didn't wash often.

The women waited until they heard the faint drop of trunk lid and the soft movement of cloth as someone moved away.

The women moved cautiously toward the only two trunks left. Berik opened one of the chests and tried to make out what was disturbed. Kynthia opened the other.

Berik had a quick intake of breath. Her hand pulled out the dull green stone of the outer lips of the Sacred Yoni.

Kynthia put her hand over her mouth to prevent her from saying anything.

"Goddess!" Gari breathed. "Some ones coming!"

Berik quickly put the Yon back into the trunk but she made sure it was buried deep.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" A gruff voice asked the women.

Kynthia turned around and stifled a scream. The man was a huge muscle bound shape coming out of the flickering light of a torch held by someone behind him. The smaller shadow behind him was another muscled man with the same scowl on his face.

"We, ahhh, forgot to put something in the trunk." Gari got out.

Kynthia obligingly held up the eye for the two suspicious men to see.

"They are our trunks." Berik returned defensively.

"Well, put it in and move out of our way. We've got work to do." The tall man swept his arm out as if to move them away.

Kynthia quickly lifted the lid of one of the trunks and tossed the glass eye in. She then locked the trunk, which normally they didn't do and stepped back.

"We're done. Let's go." She told the others. She had no intention on leaving them to carry out the Sacred Yon without knowing exactly where it was going. She didn't have to ask what Berik was going to do for the set look in her eyes was plain enough.

"Well Gari?" Kynthia asked as they slowly walked back up the hall to give the carriers a chance to start down the passageway.

Gari looked at the two women and the determined look in their eyes. "Well, the Named did say we have to travel in three or more, and to locate the Jewel, so…what da'ya have planned?"

"Follow the trunk." Berik whispered.

The other two women nodded.

****

Lily was pacing the floor by mid afternoon. Berik, Kynthia and Gari had not returned and there was no word from Aleka. The weather had cleared outside though looking a typical winter day, gloomy.

Lily looked in the direction of Iaia. She looked pale since Aleka had left and now she wasn't even reading to take her mind off her worries.

Restlessly she paced to the boarded loophole and unlatched it to see what the weather was like outside. The view looked out over the wall of the castle, up the snow covered slope that led to the forest that rose behind the castle wall. Lily took a deep breath of the cold air trying to relieve some of the stress that was weighting her down. The first breath froze in her lungs and for a moment she felt her lungs stop breathing. When the muscle began to move again she took another deep breath relishing the clean cold outdoor smell. She could feel the warmth from the room on either side of her leaving for the colder cleaner air outside. The heavy atmosphere in the room seemed to leave as well. Wistfully she imagined Aleka's calming presence, giving direction to the group to pack up quickly and depart. Lily sighed at the wistful thought.

Idly she let her eyes follow a thin thread that led into the forest. Peering closer she could see three figures moving along the broken path in the snow. What was familiar about them?

"By Artemis' bow!" She grabbed the corners of the loophole frame in dismay.

"What?" Agnes who was on the other side of the room talking to Erica and Eleanor turned quickly toward her friend.

A noise from one of the adjoining rooms, loud enough for everyone to hear, distracted Lily and the others. Quickly Lily moved toward the door which swung back with men holding very sharp swords pouring through in single file and at the same time their front door of the room came open with more men and their pointed swords filing in. They all had their swords drawn and pointing at the women who had risen and stood together, herded into a small circle.

Dunties with another who was dressed in dark clothing, giving the women a shuddered reminder of their last meeting with darkly dressed people, stepped through the ring of soldiers.

"Where is your playwright?" The dark cloaked figure demanded.

Everyone remained silent. The figure stepped forward and quickly slapped Agnes across the face. The impact, both unexpected and powerful, sent Agnes staggering back into a surprised Candra's arms, who stumbled into the steadying arms of Lily.

"I will ask again…where is the one who calls herself Iaia?" He asked loudly and harshly.

The others didn't dare look around but Catherine at the back of the women who were encircled noticed that Eleanor and Erica were also missing.

"Then be brave for now..it won't last too long. Take them to their new rooms, with the usual amenities given to Menigines' special guests." He sneered.

Dunties nodded to his soldiers.

Lily was roughly grabbed and separated from the three priestesses that had been trapped in the room with her. She was hoping the other three had ducked out through the secret passage behind the wall.

****

Iaia's senses had picked up the sound of unusual activity around her. She could hear a lot of feet moving outside of their room and swords being drawn out of their scabbards. Eleanor and Erica were near her when she started to shake with anticipation of something she could not see. Agnes had moved to ask what was wrong when everything seemed to happen at once. Erica's quick reflexes and thinking instead of reacting to Lily, pushed Iaia behind the curtain that separated the bathing room from the sitting room. With Eleanor close by the three escaped behind the panel that would take them out of the room. Eleanor had Iaia's elbow as she pushed her behind Erica feeling the trembling arm her hand was wrapped around.

Iaia was nearly hyperventilating with fear as Erica led and Eleanor pulled her along frantically looking for a way out of the castle. Iaia suddenly grabbed Eleanor's hand pulling at it.

"I hear people up ahead." She whispered hoarsely.

"Hades!" Erica whispered under her breath. She carefully felt along a wall looking for the lever that would let them in the room they were behind.

"Where does this lead to?" Eleanor asked as she also felt around also.

"I have no idea." The wall suddenly opened and dumped the three unceremoniously into Clorinda's bath area.

Iaia looked up into Clorinda and her maids surprised faces. The bathing room was empty except for the two women. Calmly Clorinda pulled the towel to cover herself and gestured to her maid. The maid hurriedly moved to the three women who were getting slowly to their feet.

"You must hurry and hide." She pushed the wall back into place and pulled Iaia, the closest one to her, after her. She opened a panel that was behind the bedpost and showed them the small space behind it. "You must squeeze in there. Hurry!"

Squeeze was right.

*****

The room Aleka was led to was darkened. She felt the air all around her alive and knew she would not be able to protect herself if she should try to defend herself. She let the dart that entered her space find its mark.

She didn't know how much time had passed when an awareness of a pounding in her head started to waken her. She was in a tiny room and it was cold. The rough wooden floor…wooden?

Aleka didn't move as she let her consciousness make more progress toward alertness. It was slow in coming due to the pain in her head and behind her eyes.

She was in a covered wagon. It wasn't moving…yet. She tried to move her limbs to work out the knots of…being tied into a very uncomfortable position. Relaxed limbs could be pulled into positions that would be uncomfortable when not relaxed. Aleka was tightly bound hand and foot with a gag over her mouth and not much room to move around in if she should want to. She could hear horses stomping their feet to keep warm and impatient to get moving.

"Alright. We've been cleared. Let's get going." A voice spoke softly. "Marcus, make sure we don't have anyone we don't know in this caravan."

Aleka didn't hear a reply. With her hearing it was hard to determine how far away the person who was giving the orders was.

"What are we going to do with her?" A voice asked.

"Are you afraid of a goddess, Agie?"

"You're a freakin' fool, Dunnar. You don't go around messing with the Fates and you don't go messin' with Athena. She takes things real personal like that brother of hers."

"They all take it personal. We'll let the gods fight amongst themselves for territory while we pick up the spoils. Bacchus wanted us to stir things up and we did. Just like a hornets nest!"

There was silence for a moment. "If things get too hot, we'll dump her in the river. Nobody will know and its over. Keep her drugged. I don't want her knowing who's responsible so she can't complain to Hades. Never know when he's going to listen to people that pass over to him, and she's an eye catcher."

"Hmm. How bout some time with her before we dump her?"

"You not getting enough in Labdu, Agie, that you gotta have your way with someone unconscious and tied up? Because that's the only way you are going to have her."

"Hey. I don't see why you have to keep her tied up. She's drugged real good and she ain't an Amazon. Which is too bad cause I sure would like to have another one of those." The voice sounded wistful.

"Bacchus said she was to stay drugged and tied. Now let's get outta here."

Aleka was storing what she was overhearing for future use. Bacchus. Her last encounter was memorable especially when she thought of Gabrielle's ….Gaia's wrath, woman! And you're complaining about me…Shut up! Xena moaned at Aleka's jibe. She had a terrible headache and it wasn't going to be taken care of anytime soon. She couldn't even apply pressure points to herself.

Labducus and Bacchus. The slave trader and the enslaver. What a pair.

****

Camila found Alala brushing, of all horses, Argo. By the looks of the others, she had been going down the line of stalls. She wasn't surprised. It was how Alala settled her mind, taking comfort in the horses or her winged friends.

Brona entered after Grace looking around and taking in the cart which was partially packed with their trunks and the horse's feed that they had traded for the big dark stallion.

While Camila went to talk with Alala, Brona motioned Grace to go with her on an inspection tour. Brona wanted to familiarize herself with who was in the stable, just as Aleka had trained them. They were in hostile territory and until Menigines declared open war against them, they could gather as much information as they could.

After inspecting the area and insuring they were alone, Brona and Grace sat near one of the vacant stalls that looked out into the open courtyard that had a view of the kitchen and the rooms above. Some of the windows had been unshuttered, which looked to be the rooms they were occupying. They aired the rooms regularly to get the stale hemp smell out and closed in winter smell out when they were not in them.

The two were in conversation with Brona periodically looking around as a guard would. She grabbed Grace's arm when she saw a small troop of armed soldiers mustering in the courtyard then quickly move into the castle. Both watched expecting the worse.

They heard the soft alarm whistle the Amazons used when on the road coming from inside the stables. Brona moved further back into the stables to where they left Alala and Camila, listening for any disturbance. The usual stable residents, horses, dogs and cats undisturbed. In some of the stalls their horses were kept, were empty. Both women hurried faster toward the far side of the stable where they could see Alala carrying the horses tack into one of the stalls. With the assistance of the stable master, Camila and Alala were saddling their horses and moving them into a secured area where mounted soldiers would usually gather out of the weather and view of the castle.

"Get the horses ready!" Alala directed to the two as she tightened a cinch on Argo who was snorting and tossing her head. "Argo, hold still!" She admonished the mare as she moved to put a warmed bit in her mouth.

"Let me, she knows me." Camila suggested, as she moved behind the red head laying a comforting hand on Alala back.

Brona and Grace tackled the cart together. Grace pulled the horse already dressed in her harness into place. Brona made sure the supplies were secured. She noticed additional stuff was added.

"Clorinda's. She'll be coming with us. Quickly now. Ain't got much time." The stable master told them as he moved by with the big brown stallion he had traded them for.

No one talked least unwanted attention was brought their way or a conversation be overheard for the unintended ear.

****

Irritated soldiers converged on the well-muscled twosome as they carried the two trunks stacked on each other.

"Whadaya got there?" One of the soldiers demanded.

"What da'ya think it is? Trunks. Now get the outofthe frekin way." The larger man grunted as he continued moving forward.

"The blasted trunks ere 'eavy." The smaller one added.

"I said hold it and open em up!" One of the soldiers demanded.

Berik and the other two women were trailing the two men and were behind one of the turns to the hallway. They were close enough to hear the exchange. Berik was wondering why the two groups of men were testing each other out. And why were their trunks being challenged by the soldiers. They were well marked with signs and symbols showing they were filled with drama supplies. And why were the two servers not just telling the soldiers off?"

Gari tapped her arm. She pointed in the air two times and made a sign for outsiders. Ahhh. They were feeling each other out because neither group knew if the other was a legitimate resident of the castle! It didn't matter, whomever took the trunks would be who they followed.

"Why?" The deeper voice of the two carriers challenged. "I don't see any orders from Captain Dunties telling us to. You intend on stealing from Menigines' guests?"

"Maybe he saw something in one of the women's trunks that he likes to wear himself." The lighter voice sassed back.

"You smart mouthin me, porter?" The offended soldier spat. His comrades moved from one foot to another. Berik could almost feel them looking around.

During the exchange the two sides must have realized neither group belonged legitimately to the castle as residents.

"Well, well…" The deeper voiced porter grinned. He let the trunks slide slowly to the ground. "Mercenaries? Soldiers of Labdu? What are ya, hmmm?" Relieved of his burden the tall muscled porter flexed his impressive set of shoulder muscles. His companion followed suit smiling at the sudden shift of action.

"Well, cousin," the smaller one murmured with amusement, "looks like we get to have some real fun after all."

The women could hear swords coming out of scabbards but halted when the echo of hurried footsteps was heard over their arming themselves. The sudden change in intention and movement had the three women pressing against the dark wall hoping they could not be seen. Luckily the mercenaries hurried down another hallway away from their intended prey.

"Looks like they ain't suppose to be wandering these halls, hey cousin?"

"Hmm. Seems like it."

Another voice added to the two mens. "Where the Hades have you two been?"

"We were having a meetin with some interestin vermin from outside of the castle." The deeper voice informed their new member.

"Well if that don't beat the Python." The voice returned. "Labducus has a lot of his people here. I recognized a few in the kitchen, at guard duty and dressed as soldiers. They're either part of that traders group or some mercenaries Labducus talked Menigines into hiring to patrol his borders."

"Mount Olympus! What's going on?"

"Lady Clorinda thinks Labducus is trying to take over Menigines lands without having to go to battle. He's got some type of hold on him."

"With all the Bacchus type of behavior around here, I can make a good guess!" The larger man grumbled.

The smaller man mumbled. "Come on let's get these trunks to their destination. They're heavy."

"Well, that explains why we're moving these out of the castle." The deeper voice returned softly.

The three women crept after the trio catching little of what they said. Their conversation turned to less serious content as they entered the busier area of the castle. The three women trailing them had to duck into what they were hoping were empty rooms when they heard anyone approaching them. Gari finally pointed to the wall to indicate using the supposed secret passageways behind the wall instead of the well-traveled passageway, where they could be easily recognized.

The women hoped their quarry were headed toward the stable compound and moved quickly through the dark weaving though skinny passageways not meant for fast travel. The women managed to find themselves near the exit just across from the kitchen before the porters arrived.

There was a woman from the kitchen who appeared to be keeping her eyes on the back way. When the porter and the owner of the third voice arrived, a woman dressed in travel wear, she dusted her hands on her apron quickly and approached them.

Whatever she had to say to the three, they quickly turned from the exit and hurried down another passageway that took them back into the castle. The woman returned to her duties in the kitchen.

"Where the Hades are they going now?" Berik whispered.

"It looks like to the backside of the castle. That's where that passage leads." Gari informed the two women softly.

"Let's get back in the secret passages. I feel exposed out here." Kynthia told the other two.

"Gari, didn't you and Lily take a trip the other day back here?" Berik asked as she pulled out one of the small oil lamps in a wall niche. This time they were going to use some light. The flint and a cache of lamps were in the wall niche telling them that it was a busy entrance to the rest of the backways behind closed rooms.

"Yea. We have to move fast though. There is a place where they could either go outside of the castle or remain in the castle."

The women missed the three at the end of the hall but not by much. By Gari's guess they were headed outside of the castle walls.

Gari led them quickly through the thin passageway trying to protect the flame of the lamp and see far enough ahead of her not to run into the dead end she was anticipating.

"Slow down." She whispered to those behind her, then slackened her own pace. She didn't want them running into her. What a comedy of errors that would be, she thought.

Gari came to a stop where she uncovered the flame and it flickered a reflection off the wall that was before them. Dropping to her knees, Gari waved the pale lamp light into a dark hole in the ground. The weak light showed stairs leading down into the darkness.

"This will take us out of the castle." She whispered. "It goes pretty far down. It uses a natural underground tunnel that ends up on the other side of the castle walls. They only post guards at night here." She paused. "You know, we're not dressed for the great outdoors." Then she ducked her head and started down the stairs, knowing the two women behind her were not going to turn back regardless of dress. They had warm clothing on like Aleka had suggested, since castles tended to be drafty and cold, but not fur coats that would be needed for the cold weather outside.

The women waited impatiently in the cold behind a natural outcropping of snow covered boulders that had once rolled down an active streambed. By the looks of the tunnel they had been in, there had been an underground water table that the castle was partially resting on. It would explain why Dunties said they had an uninterrupted water supply and were able to tap into the mineral pool, that they hadn't visited. Remembering Lily's description of what their first night's visit had revealed that went on in the pool made them all grateful they weren't invited to take a dip.

The women kept their hands over their nose and mouth to prevent their vapored breath from being too noticeable by anyone looking. They resisted the impulse to talk over what they were experiencing for fear that it would be noticed either in their breaths or by the sound of their voices that someone may pick up.

They had spotted two men standing not too far away with a pair of horses, each harnessed to a sled that was made for hauling supplies over snow. They also noticed that the two figures were warmly dressed.

Gari kept her hands securely tucked under her arms for warmth.

The three people they had been trailing finally appeared. The trunks were quickly secured on their respective sleds and the drivers started immediately up the slope. The women were able to get a good view of the horses that were pulling the sleds. They were big and had wide chests enabling them easily to clear a path in the snow that was up to their fetlocks. Gari shook her head, those horses would dwarf even Aleka.

Why both trunks, the three collectively worried in silence? Did they hide the other piece of the Yoni in the other trunk?

The three they had originally been trailing had disappeared back into the castle. The three women waited until the horses and their drivers disappeared into the cover of the forest.

"Well, when we catch up with them, we can draw for their coats, or if that's too much trouble, use some of the costumes in the trunks. But…"

Kynthia grabbed Berik's arm hushing her.

A group of five fur covered figures left the cover of the castle wall and hurried after the pair of sleds, stepping in the conveniently cleared trail.

The women looked at each other. Berik let a big grin crease her face as she and Gari shared the same thoughts. Five against two or three. Good odds if the smaller number is made up of Amazons. And with the incentive of warm clothing, it was something they couldn't pass up. They waited a few moments until they also disappeared into the forest cover and they were sure no one else was going to be following.

"We'll use their trail until we get into the cover of the trees." Berik told Kynthia. Then you're in our territory! She thought grimly about the two groups they were following.

The women moved quickly to ward off the cold and to get closer to their reward…warm coats. Berik decided that anyone that was stealing their trunks deserved to loose the coat off their backs.

******

After the guards had searched Clorinda's room for the fifth time within a candlemark she told the soldiers she was leaving. She had her maid and various servants prepare her things while she sat on her bed studying a scroll.

Iaia who could see over Clorinda's shoulder through a crack in the wooden bedframe they were crowded in could see it was upside down. She hissed a warning to Clorinda who casually turned it right side up as a soldier approached her requesting her to get up so he could check her bed.

"Does it look like I have a lumpy bed for hiding something?" She asked testy. "If you gave me a hint at what you think I am hiding in here I may be able to direct you to it."

The soldier looked a bit sheepish. "Ahhh, I'm sorry Lady Clorinda, but its Sharker's orders."

"That buzzard? Since when does he give orders and when did Menigines let him back in?"

The young soldier sighed. No one liked Sharker. When Clorinda and Jordra ruled the city he had been warned that if he continued to cheat customers in the villages he sold wares in, he would be arrested. Now he was back but as an Ambassador from Labducus' city. Menigines wouldn't listen to castle gossip that he was trouble and let him have a room in the castle.

"I don't know Lady Clorinda. It's like we woke up this morning and all of a sudden he's giving Dunties orders saying they're from Menigines. And no one can get a hold of Menigines. The Captain is tight lipped and says to follow the orders."

"Okay." She sighed heavily and made to get off her bed.

"It's alright Lady Clorinda." He held up his hand and glanced around to see if anyone was going to notice and tell on him. But the others were in the bathing room inspecting its contents, no doubt. Like they had never seen a woman's bathing area, he thought disgustedly.

"Say, I see you're reading. That's really great." He lowered his voice looking the shy kid he was. "My girlfriend's mother is teaching me. Linda doesn't have the patience but her mother, well, she's the one that's got the smarts."

"Corporal Landis, that is good. It's the one thing Jordra was adamant about, not educating everyone. He thought it would subvert his rule." She sighed. Jordra was easy to manipulate but not on subjects he felt were a threat to his rule. He shouldn't have had so many wives and offspring. She couldn't give him children so he had used that as an excuse for the first addition of a wife. By the tenth wife, he had stopped giving her excuses. Strange that he kept returning to her when she was not pretty or especially gifted in the wedding bed. However, she was good at listening and making suggestions that seemed like they were his ideas. That helped keep her in as number one wife on the throne though not in the bedroom, which was fine with her. He was a lousy lover. She then thought of Menigines Stable Master whom she had met the day she was leaving the castle. His gentleness with her horses, her favorites, and his respect for her…she sighed again and didn't move until the door to her chamber closed with a firm bang.

"Linette."

"Yes, Lady Clorinda?" She moved to her side.

"How are our preparations going?"

"We are waiting for Lew to get back."

"We need to move the women. Sharker knows about the space behind the bed."

"Hmm. We can move them to the stables but it will have to be from outside of the castle. Let me get some of their winter wear. They'll casually look like one some of the soldiers."

"Good. Quickly."

The women heard the panel that was keeping their hiding space closed release. The soft light from the one torch and fresh air was a relief to the cramped women.

"Come on out. Get your limbs stretched. The next visit won't be a pleasant one and you mustn't be here for it. Sharker will be in a lather."

One by one the three wiggled out then slowly worked the stiffness out of their limbs and get circulation back into them. A soft tap in a prearranged pattern sounded on the door.

"Enter." Clorinda's soft voice called.

Two huge men dressed in warm clothing came in with Linette.

"We got things ready. Here are some warm cloths. We need to leave now. Labducus' troops have started to make their own search of the rooms. No one knows where Menigines is."

The three women dressed in the coats that were big for them. Iaia looked like a child in her parent's coat. It would be to their advantage. The troops were looking for grown-women.

"Take them. I'll wait for Shaker. I want to see what that pathetic excuse for a human being is up to. No Linette, you go too. Have you packed all my things? Good. Now leave. I will meet you at the stables. Don't worry about me. I helped design this place. Menigines thinks it's his castle but it was our design he used. Good thing he values a good design when he sees one." She chuckled more to herself. "Go, go." She chided her servants kindly. She knew exactly how to handle Shaker. She knew his fear.

Continue on to Road Show: Part Three - 2