Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Breath of Change

Chapter 7

The sun was casting it’s final rays when Xena and the Amazons caught up with Gabrielle and her group. They took shelter in a grove of fruit trees just outside a small village.

Gabrielle was relieved to see Xena ride in without a single scratch. Although she knew that Xena could take care of herself, she worried none the less. “How did it go?” she asked as Xena dismounted.

“We fought eleven of them not too far from where we split up. We also found out they have a leader with them. His name is Charaxus, and he claims to be the prophet of Eli.”

“What?!!!” Gabrielle asked incredulously.

“It’s true.” Valica verified. “He said the prophet had been sent visions from Eli directly, telling him how the path of the original followers was a false one. And that it was his destiny to correct the errors of their way.”

Heartsick at such deception, Gabrielle sad down amidst the children. It suddenly seemed to her that struggling against evil was a hopeless battle. For surely anyone who could twist the love Eli had for everyone into this cruel manifestation was well beyond redemption.

Xena watched the emotions cross her dearest friends’ face as she unsaddled Argo. She’s endured so much, so fast, Xena thought. Xena was going to walk over and offer comfort when someone else beat her to it.

Gabrielle’s bowed head was aching with the pressure and suppressed tears, when she felt a blissfully small hand rest against her cheek. Looking up, Gabrielle found little Elicia standing silently in front of her. Her little eyes were sparkling, her strawberry red hair caught the final ray of light in it’s fuzzy mass. Looking at the child, Gabrielle felt hope fill her again, and knew that Eli was responsible.

“Don’t cy, my keen. Pees?” The sweet little voice made Gabrielle smile as she pulled the child into her arms.

“No, I won’t cry anymore. Come here and keep me company.”

The child went gratefully, and snuggled into Gabrielle’s warm embrace. Xena smiled as she watched the child charm her friend out of her melancholy. Looking away, she focused on the lights coming from the village, and remembered she needed to send a message to Eve. Tired of riding all day, Xena decided to walk the short distance. She slipped away from the group with only a murmured comment to Mellina of where she was going.

*******************************************

Xena never reached the village. The man she had seen earlier now intercepted her path, standing as a lone road block before her. Xena was startled, but unconcerned. A lone man usually represented little trouble, or at least nothing she couldn’t handle.

“What do you want, Charaxus?”

The man sneered as he looked down on Xena. “You woman, should not speak until you have been spoken to.”

“Oh? I’ll have to work on that along with my curtsey.” Xena sarcastically replied. “And speaking of manners, it’s rude to begin a conversation by criticizing a person you’ve never met. Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?” The face of the tow-headed man turned a furious shade of red, but he leashed his anger long enough to demand, “Leave the Amazons at once. You have no business butting into affairs that don’t concern you.”

“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. Any time one man takes it upon himself to slaughter a whole village, I make it my affair.”

“If you do not leave, you shall suffer the consequences, just like anyone else that stands in my way.”

“Am I supposed to be scared now?” Xena’s lip curled. “Now you listen to me, you sick bastard. You’re not going to lay a finger on any of those Amazons ever again. Whether you think you’re right or wrong doesn’t make a damn bit of difference to me. I’ll stop you if it takes my last breath.”

“And so it shall!” The black caped man screamed as he came at a full charge at Xena.