"You both know why you're here?"
Xena spoke with a deep grited voice.
"We have champions."
The judge nodded and brought fourth Ephiny and Bryer. Before the judge could speak Bryer spoke.
"We accept any challange put fourth."
Within a blink of an eye they stood in a collasium. Xena and Gabrielle were seated at one end with Caldonna standing beside them. Ephiny and Bryer stood in the middle of the ring. Before them a double line of men.
Xena fixed her vision and saw that she reconized them. They were warriors she had sent to death. Each one a criminal that surly didn't deserve to live. Still she felt a pain of guilt. Gabrielle reached for her and took her hand and gave Xena a reasurring squeeze.
Ephiny and Bryer looked at the line and then each other. They knew they both had to run the Guantlet.
Ephiny braced herself and took off. She never faultered until half way through. She began to feel each hit, each kick. She hit the ground more then once.
Both Xena and Gabrielle stood and instintively tried to go to Ephiny. Caldonna stood in the way. They both sank back to their seats.
Ehphiny hit the ground with each strike but she got to her feet and readied herself for the next blow. As she approached the last warrior Ephiny held her head high and turned to the warrior. It was not just any warrior.
Calisto stood there. She had a wicked grin on her face.
"You really think they will go back? Not if I have anything to do with it."
Ehpiny stood tall and took the hits from Calisto. Calisto pull a sword from mid air.
"Hmmm.....I wonder...."
She lunged forward but was stopped in her tracks. The judge stood before her.
"No. No weapons."
Calisto screamed at the top of her lungs and hit Ephiny with everything she had. It wasn't long before Ephiny slumped to the ground. She was alive. Barely.
Bryer ran to her and easily picked her up in her arms. She carried Ephiny over to a stretcher as two healers tended to her wounds.
Bryer walked back to the line and began her run. She suffered as much as Ephiny did and the last warrior she faced was Valaska.
Valaska tried as Calsito to kill Bryer. Again the judge stepped in. Ehpiny and Bryer lay recovering in a chamber.
Xena, Gabrielle and Caldonna were allowed to visit them.
"You've made it through the first part of the challange. Make it through the next and Xena and Gabrielle will go back. I just can't understand why the judge stepped in. Both of you should be dead."
Xena looked back to Caldonna. Night began to set in. Caldonna sighed heavily.
"It's time."
