Best Friends, Better Enemies, Chapters 10 & 11

Although battered beyond anything she had experienced, Xena steadily rode towards Ephyre. Her muscles screamed their agony over the additional torture, and many times she had to slow Argo to a trot to keep from falling off.

The few times she did stop, she would try using pressure points on herself to numb the pain. But that only worked for specific areas at one time.

No one point on the body controlled the multiple areas of pain. And Xena knew that even the technique would become useless after a while since the human body needs rest in order to recover fully. So she numbed only the spots that hurt the most, allowing her to continue on with her journey.

But as she rode, more than just her body's complaints tortured her. Memories poured back into her conscious mind. Why would Gabrielle become like this? She's too good to do what I saw, what I experienced. Maybe the gods are playing a trick on us.

No, that can't be. Xena had heard, only this morning while passing through a small village, that Gabrielle had raised an army. They were attacking everything in sight. Even temples. The gods certainly wouldn't allow that if this was a game for them.

Xena continued her mental debate the rest of the day, trying without success to justify her best friend's desertion. As darkness descended over the land, Xena did not stop to rest for the night, although her body needed it badly.

I need answers more than sleep, she thought determinedly. And if I stop, I just may not be able to get back up. Her pain had intensified as the sky turned dark, until her whole being seemed to pulse in rhythm to the twitches of her flesh.

The pressure points became useless against the pain, so Xena wrapped Argo's reins tightly around her hands and wrists, to keep herself from falling off. But as the moon rose high over head, Xena's pain took control over her weakened body.

Her last conscious thought as she slumped forward on Argo's back was to reach the seer. Must see the seer. The world turned fuzzy as her eyes blurred, then everything went black.

Xena never felt herself slipping off Argo's back, the shock of hitting the rocky ground, nor the bite of the reins into her hands as Argo unknowingly dragged her across the brambly ground. Argo finally stopped when the weight of her rider pulled her neck back and there she stood, silent sentinel over her motionless rider. She waited for her companion to awaken and continue on, guarding her until that happened.

Chapter 11

When Xena awoke, she was surrounded by the confining stone walls of a castle. Their moisture slick surface reflected eerily in the candle lit darkness.

No windows, she noted with unease. The only furnishings were a small chest of drawers next to the small bed she was laying in. After taking stock of the surroundings, Xena turned her attention to herself.

All of her clothes were gone. She was dressed in a sheer white gown, diaphanously covering her entire body. Somebody had bathed her and painstakingly brushed her hair until every tangle was gone and it gleamed like black silk.

She sat up quickly, determined to find her own clothes, thank her benefactor, and continue on her journey to the seer. She opened the drawers, certain her own garments would be inside, but all she found was more of the same thing she was wearing. Carefully sliding the drawers closed, she turned around to re-survey the room, hoping to discover anything she had missed.

And she did. A wizened old man in a long, brown robe stood in front of the closed door. Xena hadn't heard him come in, which was a rarity in itself. Upon further examination, Xena decided the man must be of some rank, for girdled around his waist was a golden link chain, encrusted with dark, shimmering rubies. Across the top of his bald head was a fine leather scull cap, studded around it's border with more jewels. Long white hair cascaded out from behind, flowing like a soft white cloud down the old mans back.

But his face and hands told the true story. Looking into his eyes, Xena could see the elder was blind, but an amazing show of life flashed behind the brown irises. His face was deeply tanned and wrinkled, with jagged grooves shooting out from his eyes. Laughter lines, Xena knew. She would find no danger in the form of this man.

Xena began to thank the man for his kindness, and ask the return of her property, but the mans voice cut her plans short.

"You slept well, I hope?"

Xena clasped her hands patiently behind her back and replied, "Yes, very well."

It was when she gripped her own hands that she remembered the cutting pain of Argo's reins as they slipped. Then memory of her other injuries returned. One by one, she checked off the healed areas as she moved slightly one way, then another, discovering that every bruise, cut and broken bone was healed.

Wondering, she turned to stare at the strange old man.

"I take it Apollo did an excellent job healing you. But of course, he always does."

The old man smiled serenely.

"Such a nice boy. He found you in the forest, not far from here. He decided to take pity on your weakened form and healed you as soon as you arrived. And it's a good thing, too. You'll need all your strength, Xena, for the days ahead."

The amazement of Apollo healing her faded as soon as the man spoke her name. Whatever connections the man had to the gods was inconsequential at the moment.

"How do you know my name? Where am I?"

Her suspicion tinged her voice and made the old man chuckle.

"Oh dear. I'm afraid I've startled you. Well, to answer your questions, warrior princess, I am Polyidus, the seer. I know your name from the amazingly strong visions I've had lately. You are, of course, in the fortress of Ephyre. My home."

Xena was visibly stunned, but she recovered quickly and started to ask, "Can you tell me..." but Polyidus cut her off.

"My dear, you need to rest. I'll return later. Sleep well."

And just as he finished speaking, he disappeared, leaving Xena very anxious and very confused.