No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters in this story and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story can not be used or sold for profit in any way. This story has been written solely for the reading enjoyment of Xena: Warrior Princess fans of the internet.

Setting: This story is meant to take place after the fifth season episode "Animal Attraction".

GabbysHOPE@ aol.com

Prologue:

In the distance beyond the open field of low lying weeds, Xena could see a large temple of simple decoration surrounded by several crates and boxes. A few tools and rope were set on the boxes and along the ground around the area the remnants of packages could be seen. Xena narrowed her eyes further and glanced to the double oak doors that stood supportively in the front. Everything seemed so peaceful and quiet, so ordinary. That made Xena all the more cautious.

Gabrielle leaned to the side slightly. As she spoke to Xena she continued to keep her shoulders hidden behind the chest-high weeds that hid their location. "Are you certain this is the place?"

Xena nodded her head slightly that she was certain. She pointed to the left and then drew her finger back to the temple. Gabrielle's eyes followed her friend's direction and she quickly noticed that dirt path that stretched out from the temple to the nearby forest. There were deep grooves in the road.

"They've probably taken most of what was there already." Xena's dark blue eyes glanced up to the evening sky for any signs of a storm. "No rain clouds in sight. Those Carts must have been weighed down with valuables."

"Strange." Gabrielle's face seemed to show the concern she was feeling. "Why not a village? Or travellers?"

Xena agreed with the comment. Theft from a temple of all places seemed to combine the worst of all elements in a plan. There were certainly more promising locations to choose than a small, unmentionable temple out in this untravelled valley. She doubted there was anything of wealth or personal interest in there. There was always the risk of discovery as well. The patron gods of this temple or any other for that matter would not be pleased with the taking of items from their places of worship.

"Thieves always have a purpose Gabrielle, it's just a matter of figuring it out." Xena responded, noting a mild sound of agreement from her. Xena reached out in front of her and brushed some more of the weeds to the side to get a better view.

The temple was for the Olympian goddess of harvest Demeter. As was customary for each god's temple, the temple itself and the surrounding lands complimented the powers associated with the owner. This entire valley was a bountiful source of crops and good harvest for the few villages that were scattered throughout the area. Wheat and rice fields could be seen on all sides of the temple. They were spread out as far as the eye could see and in fact extended out to where Xena and Gabrielle stood as well. Xena was greatful that they had been allowed to grow higher than normal, possibly from neglect, so that the two of them could remain unseen.

Xena was about to stand and suggest that they walk ahead when she felt the light restraining touch on her shoulder. Gabrielle had reached out to draw her attention to the temple once more. Xena looked to the front of the building and then to the sides, finally seeing what she came for. Evidence of theft was no longer a doubt in her mind as a single man came around the back corner of the temple.

The man seemed harmless enough. He was clearly dressed in simple, unassuming clothing. There was nothing to suggest that he was a soldier or warrior. Xena's focused gaze could see no weapon at his side or scabbard used to carry one. Still, here he was, going about his profession of theft without a care in the world. It was as though he expected no opposition to his actions.

Xena made a quick signal to Gabrielle, motioning for the two of them to move forward. Despite her pregnant condition, Xena still felt compelled to do what she could for others even if it meant putting herself in harms way now and then. She reached back and quietly drew out her sword, holding it up and directly before her. There was no need to use it to brush the wheat aside. She could do that simply enough with her hands.

Gabrielle followed along behind her. She had already drawn one of her sais and held it in her right hand. Argo and Majestic remained behind. She smiled at the name chosen for her new horse. Xena had questioned her about the reasoning for the name but Gabrielle had decided to keep her thoughts on that to herself. It was just one of those small things she had decided upon.

They slowly and carefully worked their way closer to the front of the temple. That was the area thankfully enough where the wheat continued to stand at its highest mark. The man had walked back and forth a few times from the boxes near the temple to a few small items which were near the entrance. As they continued to get closer, Xena could now see that the items were things which had been taken from the temple. Small items which would still be missed such as books and candle holders and window lock pins. Xena wondered what possible use some of these items could be to the man.

The man's back was turned from the field where they were and Xena decided to use that bit of luck to her advantage. She led herself and Gabrielle further to the right side of the entrance so they might exit the field near the opposite front corner. That at least gave them the ability to see on two sides of the temple and the entrance should any others suddenly appear. Pushing the remaining strands of wheat to the side, Xena was now clear to move out of the wheat field. She looked back quickly to make sure Gabrielle was behind her before doing so.

The two of them quickly ran over to the opposite front corner of the temple. They were careful to keep thier heads down and to proceed at a comfortable but fast pace. Niether of them wanted to fall out of line with their movements, not that that was a concern for them. They had travelled with each other long enough that they could almost anticipate the other's moves. It was a subtle skill that Xena was noticing more and more from her friend.

A box was hoisted up on the man's shoulder and he held it in place with both hands. He turned fully away from them and walked the short distance over to the other collection of boxes. With a short hard sound, he allowed the small box to fall onto the much larger ones.

Xena reasoned there must not be any breakables in either box for him to do so. She signaled for Gabrielle to follow closely behind her but to give her some distance. She might need it if they were to find themselves in the middle of a fight. Gabrielle nodded her head in understanding and reached down to draw her other sai. She held both of them up at her sides.

The man continued to face away from them and was instead looking to the box he had just set down. He let out a slight groan as he inspected the box. There was a small break in the wood from the impact. He turned around to reach for the hammer and one or two nails to fix the problem but instead saw two women before him, each with their weapons drawn and ready for use.

"Um, uh hello." The man backed away a few steps. He was clearly surprised to see the two of them.

Xena gave him a warm open smile. She still held her sword in front of her though. "Hello." She looked to him and then casually over to the few boxes near him. "Moving to a new location?"

The man stood there for a few seconds without saying anything. No doubt he was looking for the right words to say, not that Xena would be satisfied with them whatever they were. For his part though, she had to admit he didn't appear too nervous. He seemed more blank-minded, as though caught without an expected answer which he was trying to remember.

"Well, you see...its alright what I'm doing." He seemed hesitant to respond.

"I understand." Xena nodded her head with a patronizing smile. "Nobody home, so you just thought to move in. Just have to pack up a few last things and get them out of the way."

The man didn't move much. He looked from Xena to Gabrielle and back a few times but that was all. After about a minute of thought he finally spoke with surprising confidence. "Well, as I said it's alright. I mean, hey, you can't take from someone who's not even there."

Xena returned his polite, open smile with a cold, blank stare. He quickly lost his interest in smiling.

"You know though." Xena walked forward and tapped the end of her sword on one of the large boxes. "The funny thing is I know a little about Demeter and I don't think she would be too pleased with your taking her things."

Xena smiled once more. "But that's just my guess anyway."

The man was careful to keep his hand out and up in front of him. He didn't appear to want any misunderstandings held between them. He continued to look to the both of them, noting how the blonde woman kept her eyes on the front temple entrance and the side as well.

"If you don't trust me, you can always ask my father." The man suggested.

"That's a good idea." Xena reponded. "Why don't we just ask your father."

"Um, I'll uh I'll just call him?" He saw what he thought was a look of permission on Xena's face. He turned to look toward the back of the temple and called out the man's name. In a few minutes, an elderly man dressed in simple clothing came forward. His hands were full with small boxes. Judgeing by the effort the elderly man was exerting, Xena knew several of them to be full.

"What is it now Parthen? Can't you see that I'm...." The old man's voice faultered as soon as he saw Xena's sword grazing against the side of a large box. He greeted both of the women before continuing.

"I suppose you're wondering what we're doing here." The elderly man offered.

"I suppose so." Xena replied slightly amused. Neither of them seemed much of a threat and they had clearly been caught in the act of theft as the local villagers had suggested.

"The gods don't need these things anymore, so there's no sense in them going to waste." Surprisingly enough the elderly man walked up to Xena and past her to unload the heavy boxes he was carrying. As soon as he placed them down he took a deep breath as he had used quite alot of energy to finish his chore.

"What do you mean the gods don't need these things anymore?" Gabrielle asked.

The elderly man turned to notice the other young woman for the first time. He saw both of her sais drawn but held effortlessly at her sides. He turned to face her and spoke to her as though explaining something of common knowledge. "Haven't you heard the news already?"

Gabrielle glanced over to Xena for some sign of what the man might be talking about. Xena raised her eyebrows slightly to show she had no idea what he was talking about.

"I thought most had heard by now my dear." The elderly man smiled to the young woman. "The gods are gone. They've disappeared for good and won't be needing any of this."

With that said, the elderly man began to walk back to where he had come from. Xena and Gabrielle looked to each other with surprise.

Chapter 1:

"Hold on a minute." Xena walked alongside the elderly man, easily keeping pace with him. Gabrielle remained where she had been so she could keep the other man in her sight. "What you said back there about the gods being gone. What did you mean by that?"

The elderly man looked to her for a second with a brief show of amusement in his eyes. "What part didn't you understand dear? The part about the gods or the part about their being gone?"

Xena decided to ignore his light laughter and continued to walk beside him. "Oh I understood the words alright, but not the full meaning." She studied him carefully. "How do you know the gods are gone?"

The two of them finally made it to the back of the temple. Xena saw that there were no others in the area and directed her attention back to the elderly man. He had already made his way to a pile of boxes and was picking up two medium sized ones. Xena thought to reach out and help him but she remembered that the situation was still somewhat vague and uncertain. She watched him make his way back to the front of the temple and kept pace with him.

"Clearly what I meant was that the gods aren't here to kick us around anymore. At least that is what Ahrmuro keeps telling me." The man made a strained sound and the boxes he was carrying started to slip. This time Xena gave into her better nature and reached forward to help him with his load.

"Thank you." He balanced himself once more and then continued along. As they reached the place where Gabrielle and the other man stood, the elderly man spoke to his son. "Parthen, explain it to her."

Xena stopped by Parthen and waited for an explaination, all the while keeping a close eye on the other man. Gabrielle mentioned that she was going to take a quick look in the temple. Xena cautioned her to be careful. She watched Gabrielle walk around to the front entrance and then inside before turning back to the two men.

"Ahrmuro is a historian." Parthen explained. "A retired oracle some say. Anyway, he predicted the fall of the gods."

"Fall of the gods?" Xena thought about that for a few seconds. "How did he come to that conclusion?"

Parthen mentioned that he didn't know for sure. Xena stepped back and watched as the elderly man directed his son to follow him to the back side of the temple. There were plenty more boxes and he was determined that his son would do most of the lifting. Parthen sighed slightly and excused himself to his inevitable task. Xena continued to stand there by the boxes up front. She was thinking about what had been said when she noticed Gabrielle walk up to her side.

"No one else is here." Gabrielle explained. "Just the two of them and they don't appear to be a problem. At least not a threat."

"They don't, do they?" Xena frowned slightly in thought. "Something about this isn't right. There's been no news of any kind about wars or problems from anywhere that I know of."

Gabrielle shrugged. "We can't always be the first to know."

Xena smiled slightly at that comment. It reminded her that she was feeling mildly offended by the possibilities. She felt more comfortable when she was aware of what was going on around them. Gabrielle was right of course. Not everything revolved around their daily activities. Despite their encounters with warlords and gods, the truth was that most of their days were spent uneventfully journeying to and from different locations.

Xena turned to face Parthen. "I think we'll be joining you. I'd like to hear more of what thisAhrmuro has to say."

"We'd welcome the company of course." Parthen straightened some of the boxes that were on the pile.

Within the hour, Parthen and his father had all of the important contents of the temple boxed up and set near the front of the temple. Xena and Gabrielle were speaking to each other when the sound of an ox driven cart caught their attention. A farmer and his wife were making their way up to the temple. Once they reached the field near the temple, Parthen walked the distance between them and shook the other man's hand. The man with the cart seemed to ask about the two women with him. Parthen shrugged and explained the situation to him.

The two men quickly loaded everything up on the cart, each taking a respective attitude to the elderly man who was instructing them how to properly load the goods. When they were finally finished, everyone checked around the area and then Parthen announced it was time to be going. Xena walked near Parthen. She thanked Gabrielle for offering to go get thier horses.

"Where is this place anyway?" Xena asked as she watched Gabrielle walk out to where they had left Argo.

"You mean the encampment." Parthen responded. "Ahrmuro has a small place set out for his people not far from here. A few hours travel is all."

"And he just sends his people out like this?" Xena looked to him with curiosity. "To go out and take anything they can find?"

"It's not like that really." Parthen explained. Xena noted how he seemed calm and understanding of Ahrmuro's ways. "As he's said before, the gods don't need these things and it would be a shame to just see them sit out here and go to waste." Parthen look to his left to see Gabrielle returning with the horses. "I guess you would have to meet the man to understand him."

"Oh I'm sure I would." Xena tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, but she wasn't sure if she had succeeded. Oracle or not, she didn't care too much for a man that sent others out to do his questionable bidding. Xena turned and noticed Gabrielle as well. She took Argo's reigns as Gabrielle offered them to her.

"Was she being good?" Xena looked to Argo with a smile.

Argo shook her head up and down. "She was. Just standing there looking out this way." Gabrielle said.

"And what about Majestic?" Xena asked.

Gabrielle brushed her hand across the side of her new found friend. "They were both behaving themselves well actually. Maybe they deserve a treat."

Both horses made slight sounds of approval to that suggestion. Xena smiled. She could see that Argo was beginning to have a definite influence with her new friend. She would have to get to know Majestic better in the near future. She could easily imagine the two of them leaving the camp unannounced at Argo's suggestion so they might go and look for some apples.

"I remember long ago, in my days as a barrelwright, when a soul couldn't expect anything less than seven days a week of pure work from sun-up to sun-down." The elerly man continued with his story. "Now young ones get one day a week off and they even stop work during the hottest part of the day and when the sun still shines."

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged an amused look to one another. Xena could see by the quickly covered expression on Parthen's face that he was resigned to listening to another long story of how his generation didn't know the true meaning of work. True to her expectations, the elderly man spent some time at great length making his case for that. She was thinking of her own interests at the time until the elderly man's conversation took on an interesting topic.

"And I thought to myself, they sure do drink a lot of wine." The elderly man continued. "Mind you, what Bacchus does in his own time is none of my business, especially if it helps to pay my way. I'm just saying its not easy making barrels sealed for wine like dry product. It takes more effort."

"Excuse me." Xena spoke up, gaining the elderly man's attention. "Did you say you worked for Bacchus?"

"Well, no. Not for him but for a nice young lady who bought some barrels for wine I think it was." The elderly man looked up as though trying to remember something. "It was some time ago. Several years in fact. But anyway..."

Xena nodded her head politely and allowed him to continue along with his stories. She was just curious. She didn't think the story was very current as the man seemed to old to work with barrels and she knew for a fact that Bacchus and his followers were no longer a concern. She and Gabrielle had seen to that, though they had been fortunate things turned out for the better.

Gabrielle slowed her walking pace to keep up with Xena who had chosen to stay back from the other's slightly. "Do you think what they are saying is true?"

"I don't know Gabrielle." Xena's attention was divided between the others around her and the idea of no more gods in the world. "They seem to think so and there's someone out there who's trying to convince them. That should be looked into."

Xena continued along the trail for some time without saying much. Some birds flying in the air drew her attention. She could tell by their gliding sweeps above the ground that they were vultures. That fact caused her to frown slightly. Scavenger birds only encircled an area when an animal had died.

As the others continue to walk ahead of them, Xena quietly pointed up to direct Gabrielle's attention to the birds. She saw Gabrielle look up and then look to her as if asking about the situation. Xena's responsed by increasing her pace and walking up to where Parthen and his father were.

Parthen looked over to Xena. "We'll be in the camp soon. I'm sure Ahrmuro would welcome the two of you to stay if you wanted."

Xena's smile was faint. She appreciated his compliment but she was thinking of more interesting issues. "I'd like that as well, but I think this is where we part. For now at least."

"Why is that?" Parthen asked.

Xena pointed up to the vultures off to their left. "I want to check on that. Don't worry. We won't be long."

Parthen nodded his head. "Well, the offer still stands." He pointed forward and to the right. "We're no further than a few more miles that way. You can't miss us once you reach the other side of the hills."

Xena walked back to where Gabrielle was. "Ready to go?"

"Sure." Gabrielle smiled. "What about them?"

"They'll be alright." Xena explained. "Parthen said the camp is just a few miles further." Xena walked off to the left side of trail with Gabrielle closely behind her. They both held their hands up and in front of them as they passed through an area of shoulder-high weeds. Most of the land had been this way since they first approached the temple earlier. Weeds and wheat fields were of unusual height, a clear indication that the farmers were busy with other things. That was apparently a small price of this Ahrmuro's teachings.

Xena and Gabrielle reached the end of the field and entered a small forested area. The trees were thick and many which suggested a consistent rainfall. Xena noticed the light scent of pine. She smiled slightly to herself. A childhood memory briefly returned to her, one of her and her brother camping in the area not far from their home. There had been several pine trees and the smell after a rainfall made the pine trees seem stronger somehow. She had been glad to agree to her brother's suggestion of an overnight campout.

Up ahead the sunlight grew brighter. The end of the treeline could be seen and the two of them quickly walked out into another field. This one was lower than the others they had seen and Xena immediatly knew why. She looked to the weeds which had been pressed down as though pushed by some great force. Then she looked over to see a couple of cows and horses lying on their sides. Beside them were the remains of a wagon and at least one person.

Gabrielle ran up to the person and checked on them while Xena drew her sword and looked around. She was determined that they would not be attacked or surprised in any way. When she felt assured that all was well, Xena slowly put her sword back in its place before walking over to Gabrielle's side.

Gabrielle looked up to her and shook her head. Xena could see that the middle-aged man was dead. He was dressed in simple farmer's clothing and looked to be in general good health before his untimely death. Xena could see no weapon by his side or nearby. That told her he hadn't been expecting any trouble. So who was it that had given it to him?

Xena thought about that as Gabrielle stood up and made her way over to the back of the wagon. "Nothing here Xena. Just some supplies. Grain and food from the market."

"Another life cut short." Xena leaned down by the man and looked to him with mild regret.

"It's so senseless. I mean he was probably just returning from the market to be with is family and loved ones and now this." Gabrielle raised her hands in a sad gesture before bringing them back down.

"It wouldn't be the first time I've seen this happen." Xena said regretfully, she quickly added."But your right. Any needless loss of life is a shame."

"Shouldn't we give him a burial or take him back?" Gabrielle asked.

"It would be easier if we had Argo with us." Xena and Gabrielle had left Argo on the far side of the forested area between them and the path. She looked up and noticed Gabrielle's concerned look. "Don't worry Gabrielle. We won't leave him here."

Gabrielle smiled. She knew Xena well enough to know that something would be done for the man. Xena asked her to get some things that would be needed to carry him. She was going to look in the immediate area for any signs of who did this or where they might have gone. Gabrielle nodded and walked to the back of the wagon once again.

The man's supplies had been thrown onto the ground in a sudden, unorganized manner. Gabrielle reached through his belongings and felt a slight bit of curiosity as to who the man had been. Did he have a family and kids? Was he a respected member of his village or a lonely farmer? So many questions about what kind of life he had lived and now they could never be answered.

She found a short coil of rope that was partially hidden under the side of the wagon. With a slight tug, the rope pulled out from where it was set easily enough. It was only about six feet in length but that was all Gabrielle needed. She had spotted a large, thick blanket in the front. All she would have to do is cut two holes in the corners and then lead the rope through them. The man could be laid across the blanket and dragged through the forest and back to Argo.

By the time Xena returned, Gabrielle was already cutting holes in the corner of the blankets with one of her sais. Xena complimented her on her resourcefulness. She informed Gabrielle that there was no clear sign on which direction the attackers had gone or how many there had been. That in itself spoke of some threat, as whoever had done this was experienced enough not to leave a clear trail.

Gabrielle said that her cot was finished. She and Xena walked over to the man and took hold of both his shoulders. They managed to drag him over to the blanket. Xena pushed him on his sides as Gabrielle drew the blanket beneath him. When he was laid on the center of the blanket, Xena noticed three other holes. Two were on either side near his waist and the other was down toward his feet. Gabrielle guided a smaller piece of the rope between the three holes and pulled the rope end tightly together. Now the man was securely held in the blanket and would not fall out as they dragged him through the forest and back to Argo.

As they slowly returned through the forest, each of them pulling a corner of the blanket, Gabrielle continued to voice her interest in the man. Xena liked that about her friend. Gabrielle had never met the man and knew nothing of him, but here she was considering his life and what it had probably meant to him. Her reverance for life was a noble quality that Xena envied in her. She knew Gabrielle had learned much since they had first met, and was becoming more accustomed with the need to defend herself if it were needed. Still, it was nice to hear her talk as she did now.

They eventually walked out of the forested area and Argo trotted over to them. Xena reached out and brushed her hand across Argo's side, thanking her for meeting them as close as she could. With some effort, Gabrielle and Xena managed to lift the man up and place him on Argo's back. Argo shifted her stance slightly to regain her balance and then nodded her head to say that she was ready. Xena reached forward and took her reigns and began to lead her back down the trail. Gabrielle followed along with Majestic by her side.

"I would imagine the others are about an hour or two ahead of us they've probably reached their camp by now." Xena explained.

Gabrielle pushed the corner of the blanket under itself slightly. "What do you think we will find when we get there?"

"Hard to tell." Xena thought about that for a few seconds. "You know, if the crowd is big enough, there is always the chance we might find something we don't like."

"What do you mean?" Gabrielle looked to her curiously.

"Whoever did that back there might have been travelling in the same direction." Xena explained. "If so, we won't be able to easily spot them. Keep a sharp eye out when we get there if you would. See if you can read any looks on their faces. That might tell us something."

Gabrielle said that she would. It bothered her slightly to think that a murderer or thief might casually rest in among the others, but she understood the wisdom in Xena's request. She guessed there might be several reasons for a murderer to hide in the crowd. They wouldn't be seen as any different from the others. They could sell off anything they might have stolen. More importantly, and it was that thought that bothered Gabrielle, they might be looking for their next target.

Parthen had been right when he described the place. As Xena and Gabrielle continued on the trail, they could see a few hills ahead. The path began to turn to the right as Parthen had suggested. Xena could also begin to hear sounds in the distance. The sounds were those of several people within a camp. After a time, they could clearly hear the sound of horses and of wagons being moved by others.

In a small unclaimed stretch of the valley, the camp became visible to them. Xena's eyes widened slightly as she took in her surroundings. To her surprise there were not just a few people gathered here but many. Xena could easily guess that more than fifty people were here. Some of them looked to be well dressed and others wore clothes similar to the man that they were bringing with them.

A couple of men approached Xena and welcomed her to the camp. They noticed the man on Argo's back and asked about him. Xena told them about the unfortunate circumstances involved and the men offered to take the man for a proper burial. As they did that, Gabrielle walked up to Xena's side. She said that she was going to look around the camp and meet some of the people. Xena agreed with her idea and watched as the two men took the dead man to a side field.

Xena kept hold of Argo's reigns and led brought her up by her side. She could see that most of the people here were simply attending to their assorted chores. There were a couple of women washing clothing off to the side. Some children were playing and chasing one another not far from that. Men were speaking to one another. One man stopped from placing a saddle on his own horse to take the time to great Xena. She responded with a slight nod of her head.

As her eyes passed over the crowd, Xena noticed a familiar sight. Parthen's wagon was not far from where she was. It looked like most of the supplies he had been carrying were already unloaded. She led Argo toward the wagon.

Several men were looking down to the ground on the opposite side of the wagon. Xena let Argo go and walked over to join them. She frowned as she realized why their attention had been on the ground. Lying before them was the elderly man. Parthen's father had been injured and was now resting as best he could. The front of the elderly man's shirt was red with blood.

"What now?" One of the men around the wagon asked.

A tall, elderly man stood up and turned around to face Xena. Xena looked down to him and saw that he held a sword in his hand. A sword that had blood on it. He frowned at Xena slightly and stood facing her with a challenging look. He raised the sword up pointing to her. "Now we get some answers."

Chapter 2:

Xena took a small step back. Her attention was drawn to the man with little distraction. The handle of her sword was just inches away from her right hand. Xena was confident she could reach for it quick enough should the need arise. But something about the look in the man's eyes told her she might not have to.

One of the other men thought to slowly circle around Xena just in case the man with the sword made a sudden move. Xena shifted her eyes over to him and gave him a cold glare that made him reconsider his actions. The man looked to her uncertainly and then backed away. None of the other men seemed so reckless so she turned her attention back to the man with the sword.

"Name's Serad." The man in front of her shifted to the side slightly as he introduced himself. He seemed confident enough. Xena could tell by his controlled, relaxed grip on the sword that he had probably seen his fair share of battle. His fingers squeezed the handle slightly in anticipation for any sudden moves on her part.

"Xena." She replied simply. "I just arrived."

Serad seemed to consider that fact for a few seconds as he stood there without saying anything. A few seconds later he responded, pointing to the elderly man on the ground. "The old man here says he was attacked a while back. Said you were travelling with him and then left. That's when all of this suddenly happened."

"He said a lot for an injured man." Xena replied dryly.

Serad strong shoulders shrugged slightly as he looked back down to the frail old man. The elderly man, Parthen's father, appeared calmly rested with a few others attending to his wounds. He was speaking to a woman who was reapplying a bandgage as Xena and Serad spoke to one another.

"I'll take that this wasn't because of you." The man's sword began to slowly lower itself.

"That'd be a good guess." Xena replied.

She was careful to keep her voice plain enough to not sound insulting but not too easy to please as well. She reminded herself that she knew nothing of the man that stood before her or his friends. For all she knew, he could have been the one who harmed Parthen's father and the others could have been helping him. It didn't seem likely in daylight hours with so many others within eyesight, but there were few guarantees in anything.

Xena relaxed her sword hand and took the first step of controlling the situation by walking forward past Serad and one of his men. She made her way to the elderly man's side and was relieved to see his weak smile upon noticing her. A motion from his hand encouraged her to lean down by his side.

"So glad... you made it... without trouble." The elderly man responded. His voice was weak but the sound of his voice showed his sincerity.

Xena reached down and brushed her hand lightly across his forehead just to the side of a large cut which was healing. She smiled slightly and brushed the collar of his shirt to the side before responding. "The important thing is that you get better."

The elderly man nodded his head. He started to raise up but the woman who was seeing to his wounds reached forward to hold him back. He relented and laid down to rest again. "Just one man... didn't see much..."

Xena considered that for a few quiet seconds. "I'll see what I can find out."

She stood and turned around to see Sared leaned up against a wagon where he had been listening. She glanced over to him and looked to the side before walking away. Sared followed her. Once they were well away from the wagon she spoke to him again. "What did he say?"

Serad raised the sword up halfway and took out a white cloth. He cleaned the red blood stains from the blade as he spoke. "Didn't say much actually. Only that he was attacked not long ago. His son left him in our care and quickly ran off to the man tent up the trail. I saw you and figured..."

"And figured I did it." She finished his sentence. Her frown showed that she wasn't too pleased with his lack of observation skills. "He said a man attacked him, so why all the concern over me?"

"Well, man or woman, either way he's old." Sared explained. "Whose to say in his condition that he could remember everything so perfectly. All I know is you're definitely a warrior of some kind and that's uncommon for the people here. Just being careful."

"I suppose that makes sense." Xena had to admit he had a small point in that. Since she and Gabrielle had arrived here it was only too evident that there were not many fighters here. Farmers, shopowners and workers perhaps, but few of the people in this gathering looked like they could handle a sword very well.

"I'm going to find my friend." She told him. "If he needs anything from me, let me know."

Sared nodded his head and watched as she turned around and walked away. As she made her way to the barely noticeable path ahead, Xena glanced to those who were around her. In the immediate area, she judge there to easily be over one-hundred people in the area, possibly two-hundred but she wasn't sure. There were enough people her for a couple of small villages and that impressed her somewhat. This Oracle must have considerable talents to draw so many people.

Further up the path she could see Gabrielle returning from the other direction followed by Parthen. He looked tired and worn out, most likely from the battle which had taken place. Xena noticed no obvious wounds or injuries in the way that he carried himself. He must have been in good form to make it through the fight that well.

Gabrielle was the first to speak as the other two reached Xena. "He didn't make it."

"Who didn't make it Gabrielle?" Xena looked to her with interest.

"My friend, Jareth. That's who." Parthen responded quietly. The sadness in his voice was unmistakable.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Xena tried to sound sympathetic toward him. She remembered Jareth as one of the others who had been on the trail with them. She imagined he must have been a close friend to Parthen for him to react as he did. "Parthen. I need to know how this happened."

Parthen looked up to her with the appearance of a man lost in memories. His eyes blinked a couple of times as his mind slowly came to focus. "Of course. Um well we were heading down the trail after you left and not much later, maybe twenty or thirty minutes, we were attacked by a crazed man of some kind. Almost looked like a barbarian by the way he carried himself."

"A barbarian..." Xena whispered the word to herself thoughtfully as he continued.

"He approached from Jareth's side of the path so Jareth confronted him first. I motioned for my father and his wife to come over to the other side of the wagon." Parthen paused briefly. "That's when he struck out at Jareth with a club or something. I think it was a plank of wood."

"From the wagon most likely." Gabrielle suggested, reminding Xena of the dead man they had found.

Parthen continued. "He knocked Jareth down and was going to strike out at him again when I drew his attention and his attack." He rubbed his upper left arm gently as though it had been hurt. "Jareth got back up and tried to approach him from behind and that was when my father got the idea to pick up a rod from the wagon and hit the man with it."

"Father had the right idea but his days as a wrestler are long behind him." Parthen shook his head in disapproval. "The man took the rod from him and hit him with it knocking him to the ground and then he did the same to me. When I came to, Jareth's wife was kneeling over me with tears in her eyes. She said the man had killed Jareth and then had run off into the trees again."

Xena could tell by the pain in the man's voice and in the look of his face that he blamed himself for the tragedy in some way despite Gabrielle's attempts to comfort him. "It wasn't your fault." Gabrielle said.

He shook her hand gently away from his shoulder before walking off toward his wagon and his injured father. Gabrielle frowned as much to the circumstances as to her seeming inability to make him feel any better. She looked to Xena for some sense in all this. "What do you think?"

"Well, at least we know who is responsible for the death of that man in the forest." Xena said as she watched Parthen leave. "The way he described it, their attacked didn't seem to have any real goal in mind. Hmm... maybe he was a barbarian of some kind. Doesn't make much sense."

"You still think he might be here somewhere?" Gabrielle asked as she looked around them. All manner of people were setting up small campfires for their immediate families and friends. The evening hours were fast approaching and it would not be long until night time. Gabrielle hated to think that there might be some deranged man among all of these peaceful people.

"I'm sure he is. Somewhere." Xena noticed the worried expression on her friend's face and tried to make ease her concerns. "Wherever he is, as long as everyone stays together, I doubt he'll be able to do much. Even farmers can be a formidable group to deal with when they're in numbers."

That seemed to make Gabrielle feel slightly better. Xena looked back to the direction Parthen was headed. She turned and motioned for Gabrielle to follower her. "Let's see how the others are doing."

Xena and Gabrielle returned to Parthen's wagon. Along the way, Gabrielle thankfully accepted a small cup of cider tea from an elderly woman passing by. She smiled and made mention of the friendliness in the camp. Xena just nodded her head slightly as they continued. She had noticed that too and she was sure than the attacker from earlier would probably see that as a vulnerable weakness to exploit if he got the chance.

Parthen and the elderly woman who had attended to his father were still there by the wagon overlooking the elderly man who was still resting on the ground. Serad was there also, most likely keeping a light watch over the area just in case there might be any return of trouble though Xena imagined it was for the families sense of comfort and security. She made a small promise to herself for thanking him for that later.

Gabrielle was the first to reach the elderly man's side. She knelt down and spoke to the woman taking care of him as Xena approached Parthen. Serad was by his side as she spoke to him. "Parthen. What about Jareth's wife? Where is she in all of this?"

Jareth looked up to her from where he was sitting. "We left her up at the main tent where Ahrmuro is staying. She was too upset to return with your friend Gabrielle and I so we thought it best to let her stay. Ahrmuro has a comforting way about him after all."

Xena nodded her head slightly, not taking to much into account of a man she hadn't yet met. "I assume he must be, to bring about such a devotion in his followers."

"I suppose." Sared replied slightly under his breath.

Xena looked up to the man with some curiosity, noting the half-interest in his voice. "At any rate, I think I would like to meet this man. And to get Jareth's wife's version of events. Every bit of information could help."

"Of course." Parthen responded. "I just-- eh well I mean."

"Its all right Parthen." Xena responded. "I can find my own way. I have a talent for doing that you might say." She smiled to him lightly. She could sense that the man probably needed to spend some time with his father for now.

"I could show you the way if you really wanted." Sared offered.

Something in the way he had said that sounded slightly off to her, but she nodded her head and decided to take him up on the offer. "Gabrielle. Stay here if you would. I want to meet this Ahrmuro."

"Sure Xena." Gabrielle reached over and took a couple of clean cloths from a small pile near the elderly woman who was attending to Parthen's father. She continued to speak with the woman as the two of them made sure the elderly man was well taken care of.

Sared led the way back to the path with Xena closely behind him. The evening hours were showing their wear on his attention. She noticed a growing relaxed manner in his stride as though he had come to accept her compared to before. She had to admit, despite a certain feeling for the man she could not quite explain, she was beginning to accept him as well.

"Not much for religions?" She chanced a guess toward him as they continued.

Sared looked over to her with mild surprise. "Oh... I suppose I believe in the gods well enough. I just prefer my own brand of activity that's all. It never hurts to listen to others though."

Xena nodded in greeting to a family that past by them heading back to their own wagon before responding. "I just thought by your response back there that this Ahrmuro wasn't exactly your first choice."

Sared turned more to face her as he walked. "I learned a long time ago that everyone has their own interests. Even peace-talkers."

She noted a slight sound of dislike for that idea in his voice even if he hadn't meant to imply such. This Sared was a more complex man than he was letting on. In time she promised herself that she would learn more on that. She had also picked up on something else of interest. The man was sizing her up as well. She wasn't the only one who was noticing the person near here and that was of added interest.

Her attention to that fact was cut short at the sight of the large tents up ahead. Three or four tents with a few smaller ones surround the area could be seen at the end of the path. Torches lit on large polls stood on either side of the entrance with a light breeze causing the small flames to shift in the air. The area was unassuming enough, certainly not as well decorated as some of the command tents she had visited from previous days. That said something of this Ahrmuro's humility. He seemed to be a man more given to function than formality, a trait most farmers would probably have noticed as well.

Sared held back and allowed Xena to enter the tent first. She could see down the length of an adjoining tent where several crates and small barrels were lined up in a row to serve as chairs. Seated on one of the far barrels looking down and to the side, Xena could see a young woman who was most likely the surviving wife of Jareth. She walked up to her quietly, mindful of the woman's likelihood to want solitude.

"I wanted to see if you were all right for the evening." Xena offered.

The woman's troubled eyes met with Xena's and showed a great deal of grief for just a few seconds of contact. The woman thanked her for her concern though her voice sounded in a numb daze. "I appreciate that. Everyone here has been very kind to me. It puts great faith in what Jareth had said of this place."

Xena stood there for a few more uncomfortable seconds. She noticed Sared was not enjoying his stay in the tent. He excused himself and moved to the front part of the tent so the two women could be alone. Xena sat across from the woman looking to her hand which were tightly pressed together in accepting grief.

"If... there was anything you might have noticed of the situation. Anything at all which might help to identify the man." Xena searched for the right words. "It would help."

The woman sat motionless for some time. Xena wasn't sure if she was thinking of what had been said or if she was lost in her own thoughts but after some time she was given a response. "Shoes."

Xena looked to her blankly, not sure what exactly was meant by that. "I'm sorry. Shoes?"

The woman nodded her head slowly. "Shoes.... he had no shoes."

That seemed surprising to Xena. She hadn't thought of anyone noticing something like that nor of anyone travelling the land like that either. "That's unusual."

The woman didn't give a response to that. She only looked up once again and asked of Parthen's father. Xena assured her that he would be allright and was being taken care of. She stood up and left a parting suggestion that Parthen and his father would probably appreciate a visit from her if she felt like it. Seeing the woman agree to that at a later time, Xena excused herself and returned to the main entry where Serad was still standing.

"I assume she's feeling better." He stated.

"As good as can be expected I guess." Xena thought about the comment she had made. "Shoes."

"What?" Sared looked to her for an explanation.

"She said the man who attacked them didn't have any shoes on." Xena explained. "That's strange to say the least."

A passing smile could be seen on Sared's face. "Well, it makes sense I suppose. Wild men and barbarians would be more likely to act that way than anyone else. Still... apparently he could handle a sword well enough."

Xena frowned at his comment. "I suppose so."

Sared noticed her disapproving gaze and thought to change the subject when someone moved up behind him. He spun around with a fierceness in his eyes that surprised even Xena. She looked to him before looking to the unassuming man that had just entered the tent. "Greetings. My name is Ahrmuro."

Xena blinked at the unlikelihood of meeting the man so quickly upon their arrival but was thankful none the less. "Hello. My name is Xena. This is Serad."

"Is it now." Ahrmuro's eyes seemed to linger on Serad before returning to look to her. "Xena... Yes, I believe I have heard that name once or twice in the past. I hope those rumors were exagerated."

She watched as he calmly walked past them to a small table with some parchments and ink. Xena was considering a great deal of Ahrmuro and Serad's personalities in the room's silence. Serad had held the brief anger of a lax warrior shown unexpectedly surprised. There was warfare in his past to some extent.

Ahrmuro on the other hand was a disturbing mix of assurance and mystery. There was something to this middle-aged, tall man that she couldn't put her finger on and as with Serad that bothered her. She liked to size up a situation as soon as she saw it and this man was not fitting into that mold.

"Those are days long gone." She responded while taking in the few decorations of the room.

"That is good to hear, for we are not of warlike minds. Such was never the teachings of the Devi." He said.

Xena's surprise at the mention of the word must have shown through clearly as Ahrmuro smiled while looking to her. "You know about Eli?"

"Know him? Why yes I travelled with him on a few occassions, learning of his extraordinary teachings."Ahrmuro offered the two of them something to drink, but they both declined. "He was a remarkable man. His passing was indeed a loss."

"I had not long since left my esteemed postion as Oracle of Athens when I met him on a path to the coastline." Amuro poured his own drink of warm cider and set the decanter down. He reached for the cup and took a short drink. "It was a quick conversion. The gods had taken their toll on me and my work."

Serad leaned against the wall listening intently to the man's story.

"I had no idea news of his passing had reached out so quickly." Xena commented. "But yes, his teachings continue to inspire us all."

Serad looked to her with mild amusement. "Well some of us anyway."

Xena looked over to Serad and frowed. He made a slight appealing face as though apologizing for his quick comment and both of them looked back to Ahrmuro who was now seated on a small chair. The man was dressed as any farmer would be, hardly noticable for a leader among men. Xena quickly reminded herself that that was how Eli would have likely preferred him to be, with more emphesis on the message and less on the messenger.

If Ahrmuro had taken any notice to Serad's comment he was not openly acknowledging it. "At any rate, we are pleased to have new visitors to the encampment. Especially those such as yourself."

"Oh? And why is that?" Xena asked.

Ahrmuro looked to her curiously as though he might in fact be the one being tested on some level. He spoke finally with a question. "Do you mean to say that you do not know?"

"Know... of?" Xena was waiting for a further explanation of some kind from him.

Ahrmuro stood from where he was seated and walked over to her slowly. Serad thought to say something as the man slowly reached out to touch Xena's stomach. "The child shall come soon enough and be very healthy in fact."

Serad and Xena glanced over to each other with mild surprise. "And with her birth shall be your ascension as well." He smiled and removed his hand, walking back over where he had been seated.

"Ascension?" Serad asked not really putting much faith in the sound of his voice. "What are you talking about?"

Ahrmuro looked to him with thoughtful reservation and then he looked over to Xena. "I would not expect him to understand or to attempt such but in time you will certainly know." He leaned forward in his chair and spoke to her with a slight whisper. "For you shall be the mother goddess of the True One."

Xena blinked and exchanged an uncertain look with Serad before looking to Ahrmuro's pleased expression. she looked down to her stomach and was found herself at a complete loss of words.

Chapter 3:

I don't know how to thank you Gabrielle. For all that you have done." Parthen reached over to his wagon to reload a few items taken out during the day as he complimented her.

"Actually, I think you already have." Gabrielle smiled, knowing full well what he was referring to. She had spent the better part of the day attending to his father's wounds so that the elderly woman who had been helping her could return to her own family. Parthen had offered to pay the elderly woman for her assistance but she had refused, claiming the spirit of the gathering here was enough.

"I suppose a few more days here are in order. For father's sake at least." Parthen tossed a blanket up and over to the bed of the wagon. It landed on some packaged goods. "He was the one who wanted me to come here in fact. He said it was something I would appreciate."

Gabrielle looked up from the resting elderly man. "And do you appreciate it? What is being done here?"

Parthen appeared thoughtful for a few seconds before responding. "It certainly does seem to be a meeting of peaceful minds. Something I have thought long in the making." He sat back down on the ground near the wagon wheel and looked back to her.

The sun was beginning to set behind Gabrielle and the shades of dark red and orange which filled the evening sky seemed to give her a certain angelic glow as she brushed some dirt off of her warrior clothing. Parthen caught his attention and continued. "When I was young, father would notice my drawings and try to encourage me toward other things. We lived in a small farm village afterall, well away from larger towns or schools. He said my talents were impressive but misplaced. I believe he held wishes for me to follow in his lead as a barrelwright or carpenter."

"Both of those choices are good professions." Gabrielle tried to sound supportive as she watched an elderly couple walk by. They were laughing to one another and enjoying the quiet evening. She smiled and looked back to Parthen. "But you wanted more?"

"I thought that my talents with the paper and pen were a gift given to me. Whether or not they led to any great fame or fortune, they were pleasing to me. That seemed its own reward." He replied.

"I understand." She commented with a light memory from the past. "I used to spend a great deal of time righting stories of Xena's heroics and our trips together. I still do on occassion but not as often."

He nodded his head slightly, reaching his hands back behind his head as he rested against the wheel of the wagon. "My love was always in drawings." His eyes blinked slightly at his own choice of words. A slight flush passed over his face as he noticed a slight reaction and smile from Gabrielle as well.

"I mean in an artistic sense of course. The drawings of form and structure." He smiled politely, though with a more focused understanding of why he felt at ease speaking with her. "I had often thought of taking some schooling in the larger cities. Learning of the ways that temples and great marketplaces are built. Adding that to my drawings as time allowed."

"I'm sure you would have done well." Gabrielle corrected herself. "Will do well. There's still time for that afterall."

"Yes. I suppose there is." Parthen's comment sounded barely about a whisper. It was enough for Gabrielle to sense that he was not fully convinced of his own words. She imagined the daily chores of caring for his father and whatever land they had took much of his time. Still, he had his dreams. She always felt that was important.

The approaching footsteps of someone off to the side caused Gabrielle to turn and see Xena. Serad was right behind her along with Ahrmuro. Gabrielle could see that Ahrmuro was an imposing man by his build alone. He seemed to demand someone's attention in a crowd much in the same way that Xena did.

"I see you two are hitting it off well." Xena commented as she stopped and looked down to the elderly man still resting.

Gabrielle glanced over to Parthen whose face still seemed a little flush and found herself surprised by her own slight interest. "We were discussing writings." She quickly changed the subject. "How about you?"

"Today's been full of surprises." Xena leaned down to make sure the elderly man was well, looking him over. She ignored Gabrielle's questioning glance for the moment and stood back up. "Anything happening around here?"

"No." Gabrielle shrugged. "Everything is fine here. We've just been talking. A few people come by now and then but that's all.

Xena appeared to take that into consideration before turning to Ahrmuro. "You said there would be a gathering this evening?"

Ahrmuro smiled patiently to her, looking over to Gabrielle as well. "Yes, a speaking which we have every night. Something to end the day on a proper note. You are all invited of course."

Serad shifted to the side slightly looking out over the fields as he listened.

"I think tonight will be an especially interesting night. All things considered." Ahrmuro looked to Xena as he spoke.

"Yeah, well, lets not make too much of a big deal about it."Xena replied. She and Ahrmuro had spoken at some length about what had been said in the tent earlier. As expected, Serad hadn't been overly impressed and she held her own doubts as well, but in truth she had been considering his words since they had been said.

"Of course." Ahrmuro reassured her. He motioned for a couple of men not far away and they approached him. They appeared to be young farmers. Ahrmuro instructed them to care for Parthen's father in their abscense. Parthen started to object to the idea of strangers watching over his father but decided if the Oracle suggested it then it must be alright. Gabrielle took him by the hand and told him it would be alright.

Xena smiled as Gabrielle appeared quick to take his hand, but she said nothing. She turned to see Ahrmuro point back toward the tents and the direction they had just come from. They followed his lead and headed back up the path.

By now the evening sun was nearly finished setting. A light cloudless blue was slowly turning darker and within an hour it would be nightfall. As they continued to walk along the path, Xena could see the many small campfires that families and groups of friends had started. Some were preparing for their evening meals while others sat around and talked. Some were even putting out fires they had already started so they could join the others in hearing Ahrmuro speak.

For all his apparent leadership skills, Ahrmuro seemed to hold a quiet serenity to his nature. Others would occassionally pass by and pay their respects to the man and he would thank them. He never sounded too approving of their praise which was a good thing she imagined. If there was anything unjust to his claims and gatherings it was hard for Xena to see it.

A couple of men approached from the right to join them. They walked next to Parthen and Gabrielle and introduced themselves. One was a taller dark-haired man who appeared financially successful. The other was of a shorter, more sturdier build, but he also seemed to be well educated by the way he held himself.

"It's good to see you again." Parthen greeted them openly with a handshake. "Gabrielle. I'd like you to meet a couple of good friends of mine from the city I mentioned before. This is Callicrates, a noted builder in the Athens area." Callicrates shrugged as if the high praise were undeserved. "And this man over here is a drawer in his own right. Ictinus."

"Nice to meet you." Gabrielle smiled and shook both of their hands.

"You know Parthen, Ictinus and I met with an interesting man we can't wait for you to meet. He has some interesting ideas on that project we were talking about. Phidias is his name." Ictinus mentioned.

"I look forward to that." Parthen nodded thoughtfully. He noticed Gabrielle's curiosity and explained their project. "Its an idea we all had for the city of Athens. Something in tribute to the goddess Athena. Actually I surprised I was invited to take part in it at all."

"Don't be so modest Parthen." Callicrates teased him slightly. "Your drawings were very good. I think most of them should stand as they are in fact. We may want to change a few columns here and there but the general design is good."

"Sounds as though your drawings are coming to life afterall." Gabrielle whispered the comment to him. They both smiled at that.

"The rest of us are going to sit up toward the front." Xena looked over to Gabrielle. "If you want to join with your friends, I understand."

"That would be great." Parthen answered, looking over to his friends. "Gabrielle is a writer."

"Well, an aspiring writer anyway." Gabrielle blushed slightly at the modest praise Parthen gave her. "I've written a few plays and stories in my time."

Xena smiled to herself as she watched Parthen lead Gabrielle and his two friends toward the other end of the clearing up ahead. From this distance she could see several fallen trees which had been cleaned and rested in rows to serve as seeting before the tents. She imagined that was where the followers would be seated as Ahrmuro spoke. Ahrmuro excused himself from Xena and Serad's company as he had to prepare for the evening's speech. Both of them nodded their heads and watched him walk away.

"Shall we?" Serad gestured his hand toward the now filling row of seats. Xena nodded her head and followed him. They sat at the end of the row to the left of the clearing. Severa people were entering the clearing area and taking their chosen seats for the evening gathering.

"You placing much faith in what this man has to say?" Serad looked over to her.

She considered her response. "His message has a certain interest to it I suppose. It all depends on whether or not you place any faith in his vision compared to the gods' vision."

That seemed to draw his interest. "Oh? How's that?"

"The gods have been in power for some time now have an established order. I might not always agree with them, but I know how they think." Xena looked up toward the side and behind her at the increasing number of people of all ages were finding seats in the audience.

"I'm not sure of this man just yet." Xena studied his eyes as she continued. She noticed a slightly amused look in his facial expression. "These people want to believe and that could leave them vulnerable in the wrong hands."

"My thoughts exactly." Serad responded.

Before she could ask him what he meant by that, Xena noticed a sudden hush in the sound of the crowd and she looked forward to see Ahrmuro approaching. Instead of the simple clothing he had been wearing, Ahrmuro was now dressed in a flowing silver and light blue gown common for Oracles to wear. She recognized the design as being from Athena's temples. Apparently, Ahrmuro didn't seem willing to totally abandon the gods afterall.

Chapter 4:

"When you finish with that, let me see it." One of the two young men said. He was looking over the evening campfire he had just made to his friend's hunting blade. The two of them were eating their evening meal and the other man had held the knife longer than had been his fair share.

"Alright. Alright." Pocco tossed the blade over to his friend. Pocco's friend jumped to the side slightly as the blade dug into the fallen log near where he had been seated. Pocco laughed and raised his hand up to say he was sorry when his friend glared at him.

The two of them had been dutifully watching over the old man who still slept soundly on the ground by the wagon wheel. It was the easiest dinars Pocco's friend had earned in a long time and he had been only too willing to look after the old-timer.

The evening was young and the moon was just now starting to show. There was a cool autumn breeze that passed over the fields which drew up a faint smell of hay and pine that Pocco's friend remembered from childhood. The man smiled in a content way as he picked up the knife and used it to cut the meat clean from their early evening catch for the day. Rabbit was always a treat.

Off to the side, a movement in the dim lit shadowy night caught Pocco's attention and then his friend as well. To both of their surprise, the elderly man who had been sleeping sat up and began to look around.

"Well alright." Pocco's friend smiled and chuckled to himself. "Good to see you up and at it old-timer. We were beginning to worry."

"Yeah." Pocco joined in. "Much longer and we were going to head back to the encampment and let them know our concern. It's not good for a person to sleep too long you know."

The elderly man nodded his head as if to brush off the drowsiness of sleep. "The encampment you say?"

"Yeah." Pocco replied. "Ahrmuro has another speech going on. Has everybody gathered like the nights before. We were gonna go but thought it more important to watch over you instead."

"I see. It was fortunate for me that you two were so generous." the elderly man replied.

"Well, dinars sure helped with it." Pocco's friend laughed lightly and so did Pocco and eventually the elderly man. It had been a light-hearted joke with no offense intended. The elderly man could sense that these two men were well-meaning enough.

With an unexpected start, the elderly man stood up quickly and looked around. The night was difficult to see through but he notice the distant glow of several large campfires in the distance. "I assume its that way."

Pocco sat his meal down and looked over to the old man. "You sure you ought to be doing that. I mean you was lying near death not long ago."

Pocco's friend sat his meal down as well and stood up to walk over to the elderly man. He placed a gentle hand on the elderly man's shoulder. "You should stay here for now old-timer. At least get something to eat."

The elderly man threw off the younger man's hand from his shoulder and passed by him. "I'd love to stay and chat, but business lies ahead."

Pocco and his friend looked to each other mildly confused at the elderly man's new found energy. Pocco imagined a day's worth of sleep must do a person good, though with his chores he rarely got to see that. "All the same, you should sit down."

Pocco no sooner got up and walked over to direct the elderly man to have a seat than he found himself lying on the ground. His eyes blinked and he continued to sit there in surprise as his friend approached him and helped him up.

"Ok now old-timer, enough of that fuss, time to sit down already." Pocco's friend reached out to take the elderly man by the shoulder, but a blue spark of light flashed out at him and he was thrown to the ground.

The elderly man held out his right hand and blue sparkling light flashed over both of the young men knocking them unconscious and dropping their meals to the ground. The elderly man laughed to himself with a young sounding voice and disappeared in a blast of blue light.

Chapter 5:

"You've all come a long way and I am greatful for that. I am also greatful for the confidence and hope that you have placed in my message. It is my sincere desire to live up to that trust with my message to you." Ahrmuro looked out over the crowd as he spoke to them.

"The gods have held this world in their control for some time. Some would even say before the time of man itself. And in that time, what have we seen?" He paused looking over the faces before him. I shall tell you what we have seen."

"We have served the gods well and in exchange for that they have blessed us with inconsistant favors at best." Everyone remained silent listening to his words. "At worst... we suffer the wrath of their moods which change as unpredictably as the weather each day."

Xena glanced around at those around her. She could see some of the heads nod in silent agreement with Ahrmuro's message.

"I am here to tell you of a better way." Ahrmuro continued. "A new order given direction by those who have dedicated and sometimes have sacrificed their lives for their prophetic teachings."

Xena leaned back uncomfortably as Ahrmuro's eyes met hers. She was sure he was referring to Eli in some small way. She had noticed a simular dislike from Serad. He was a warrior and the talk of peace was having the same effects on him as it was on her.

"Years ago I served as an Oracle to the gods. I served the goddess of justice Athena." Ahrmuro explained, pointing to his clothing. "These are her temple robes. But in all that time I found justice lacking. The gods favored justice that served their own cause and often times were too severe with the slightest crimes."

"Was it not the very near village of Ambrenos which suffered the wrath of the god Apollo just two harvests ago." Again several people nodded their heads silently to Ahrmuro's words. "All because a worship to both himself and Poseidon had been performed in the improper order. Instead of sunlight and rain for their crops, the great sun god appeared in the skies and burned their crops to the ground. What they had to resort to to survive the harsh winters... well that is best left unsaid."

"But I know of another power." Ahrmuro smiled to those in the center area as he gradually looked back. "A power which, while it doesn't neccessarily promise wealth as we know it in a financial way, still gives us security from famine and warfare. The very basics to what is needed."

As Ahrmuro began to explain that way, a sound could be heard in the back of the crowd. It was loud enough to gain attention from the audience and cause the Oracle to pause with his message. Xena turned to see several people moving away from what appeared to be a fight. Then a woman screamed.

Xena and Serad were both on their feet looking to the back. Their vision was blocked by the many followers who were now standing and trying to distance themselves from the problem any way that they could. People were rushing up toward the front any way that they could.

Xena jumped over a few of the fallen tree trucks serving as benches and pushed her way past those who were moving in the opposite direction. She had seen Serad take a more indirect approach by running around the outer edge of the clearing altogether. He appeared to be farther along than she was. By the time she made her way to the back of the clearing, Xena could see two men lying on the ground. Several others were looking out into the forest night for something or someone who had attacked them.

Xena glanced around to see Serad but he was gone. She frowed at that as it probably meant he had gone after the attacker on his own. That wasn't a smart thing to do in the dark of night, especially in a forest. She made her way over to one of the two men who had been attacked and saw that his neck had been twisted. It had been quick and clean at least.

Without any word to those around her, Xena quickly drew her sword and rushed out of the clearing and into the thick line of trees before her. The sounds of the people in the clearing and the campire light cast an unwelcome reminder that her position in the quiet forest could be easily seen by anyone in front of her.

She kept her sword up and ready to her side, using it sometimes to gently brush hanging branches out of her way as she made her own path. Up ahead she could see what appeared to be a smaller clearing naturally made. For some reason she couldn't quite understand she felt drawn to it. She made her way further toward the clearing mindful of any sudden movements around her. What she saw there surprised her.

Xena entered the forest clearing and saw a motionless body lying face down on the ground. She walked forward, sweeping her eyes across the trees around her and nudged the body over to its side using the tip of her boot. The person lying on the ground was Serad. She could guess by the lack of a sword wound that his neck had probably been broken like the others in the audience.

Her senses were sharp and focused as a mild sense of dread began to fall over her. She looked around her position carefully but she counldn't sense anyone near. All she could feel was a mild tingling in her neck, as though something were watching her from a distance. Gradually, the sensation began to feel focused in one particular direction.

Xena raised her sword up slightly in front of her and turned to her left. She stood there quietly for several minutes and was eventually rewarded with the sound of something brushing across the leaves nearby. Something was moving out there. She could hear and sense it clearly now.

"Are you coming out, or am I coming in?" Xena voice was low and focused with challenge.

An elderly voice laughed mildly and the sound grew stronger. Xena looked directly toward the sound and was surprised to see an elderly man appear. It was Parthen's injured father standing before her with a new-found strength. Xena seemed very surprised by his being there and was even more surprised by the lingering smile the elderly man was giving her.

"Xena, Xena, Xena." Parthen's father raised his arm up above his head and leaned it against the tree. "You never cease to amaze me. A bit slow on this though, but then I suppose all that talk of peace can dull the senses."

Although the sound of the voice and the appearance of the man before her was profoundly different than what she was used to, Xena could tell, by the attitude and the feeling she was getting, just who this person was before. She lowered her sword just slightly, still guarded considering recent events, and let out a slow disapproving frown. "Ares."

Chapter 6:

"I never can fool you." The elderly man continued to smile at her as a bright flash of blue light covered him. In the frail man's place stood the god of war, strong and confident, wearing leather as dark as the amused expression on his face.

"Well, what can I say." Xena frowned at him. "There was a certain smell in the air."

Ares pouted briefly as though her words had hurt him but the expression only lasted for a brief second. "Ouch! I miss you too."

"Are you here for a reason Ares or just to test my patience?" Xena was looking around the area. Despite his untimely arrival she still had an attacker to find. Of course, there was always the possibility that Ares knew something about this.

"Normally I would just drop by to chat." Ares looked around as well, his appearance suggesting amusement at whatever it could be that was distracting Xena from his presence. "But I thought you might want to see me on this one."

Xena nodded her head in a slightly exausted manner. "Yeah...that was my first choice." She rolled her eyes slightly and looked through the forested area.

Ares shrugged at the mild insult as though it wasn't worth acknowledging. He stood straight near the tree with his left hand characteristically resting over the hilt of his sword. "Out for a moonlight stroll?"

"Not exactly." Xena glanced back down to the motionless body of Serad and then back up to him. "Someone got to Serad before I could get to them. They're out here somewhere."

Ares looked down at the fallen man and took a few slow steps toward him as though sizing up a possible opponent. He gently raised one of his boots and nudged the man over to his side. Serad's arm swung down and to the side as he slipped over onto his back. "Sure is a deep sleeper."

Xena shook her head at his disrespect for the dead, not that she really expected any different from him. "Try to show a little concern would you. He was trying to defend these people."

"Ah yes. The peace seekers." Ares held a sour tone to his voice. "That's how I'd like to go. Defending those who are too weak to try and defend themselves."

"They aren't weak Ares." She argued with him. "They choose a peaceful way of living on purpose. To make their lives better."

Ares appeared to consider that for a few seconds before looking back down to Serad. "Didn't seem to work for him."

Xena started to walk past him, back toward the clearing when he reached out to catch her arm. She gave him a look that would have made most people let go immediately. He did let go, but slowly in his own good time.

"Forget it Ares. I've dealt with criminals before." She looked directly at him. "Not interested."

"Oh. I see. So this is just a common criminal then? Your average psychopath?" Something in the tone of his voice seemed to suggest something different.

Xena turned to face him. "Are you saying its something more?"

"Could be. But then what do I know, I'm just the god of war." He was starting to smile agian.

"Come on Ares. What is it? Who is out there?" Xena watched as he slowly walked to her side and then behind her. He always had a tendancy to circle around those he spoke to, a means to set them off balance she imagined. It never fully worked with her but it was annoying all the same.

"Me?" He had walked almost completely around her before stopping. "I mean afterall I am a god right and these people don't believe in such things you know."

"Ares..." Her patience was growing thin. "You came here for a reason. Can we just get to it?"

"I love it when you ask nicely." Before she could respond in a negative way he continued. "I just want to make sure that my favorite warrior princess is safe from harm."

"Those days are long over Ares." Xena cautioned him. She recognized when his speeches of bringing her back into his fold were about to begin.

"Maybe so, but Serad seems to have taken a liking to you." He looked into her eyes. "A seasoned warrior like that must have seen something of the old spirit in you to side with you so quickly."

"Did I say his name was Serad?" Xena's eyes narrowed slightly in concentration. "No I don't think I did. How'd you know his name Ares?"

"Oh yeah. I must have forgot to mention. Serad works for me." Ares looked down to the fallen man and looked back up. "Until now. He was a rather promising Lieutenant actually."

"Why am I not surprised?" Xena shook her head. "What's the matter Ares, too worried to send someone of higher value?"

Ares circles around her and stopped in front of her. "You know all my generals by name."

"And I've gotten rid of a few of them too." Xena smiled slightly feeling proud of that.

Ares raised his finger up and pointed in her general direction. "That's true."

"So what's the problem here Ares? Why all the mystery? Why not just deal with this problem and be done with it?" Her dark blue eyes focused intently on him.

"Normally I would of course, but this time its a little more complicated." He noticed some curiosity in her look. "That and I like to keep in practice."

"Uh huh." She replied dryly. "Are you so desperate to play games that you would kill an elderly man, a father, just to sneak around."

"He was going to die soon enough anyway, at least according to the Fates." Ares continued before she could interupt. "But the farmer with the cart. That was Antillicus' doing."

Xena's eyes narrowed slightly in concentration. "Antillicus. Can't say I've ever heard that name before."

"And with good reason." Ares responded. "He and a select few have made to Zeus special list. Let me tell you for an often out-of-focus god, dad can still be mean when he wants to."

Xena's wasn't particularly impressed with Ares' lack of respect for family. She knew that he held some resentment towards Zeus due to Hercules. His half-mortal brother was rumored to be a favorite to Zeus and on more than one occassion in the past when she was still a warlord Xena had heard Ares mention Hercules' name with disgust.

"So what did this guy do anyway?" Xena glanced around once more. She was loosing valuable tracking time while staying her. She was sure that Ares was well aware of that somehow.

"Antilleus wasn't one of the more intelligent barbarians of the day. He thought he could steal a sacred chalice from the temple of Zeus." Ares explained. "Of course dad punished him. He must have been feeling rather creative at the time."

"For one of the highest of crimes, he was made to suffer the lowest of punishments." Ares smiled slightly with a brief moment of respect for his father's actions. "He was turned into an ant."

"He was what?" Xena blinked her eyes in surprise. Why was she waiting for this story again?

Ares only smiled at her growing confusion. "An ant. Zeus cursed him to live and die endlessly as a little insignificant ant for the scope of his crimes." He leaned forward slightly. "I don't know if you ever keep count on insect wars, but they can get rather vicsious."

"Your point in all this is..." Xena frowned at his enthusiasm.

"My point is... that Antilleus was only given one means to escape his rather cruel and unusual punishment. If someone filled with hatred and revenge were to strike him down, then he would trade places with them." Ares took a few steps back and let her think about that for awhile.

"Problem is, he's grown rather smart lately. Somehow he's managed to become mortal again if you want to call him that. I don't suppose suffering through hundreds of lifetimes being torn apart in insect battles can do much for a person's sanity." He looked down to the ground and just for effect stepped on something that might as well have been a small insect.

"So he wants revenge." Xena was quick to note the guarded expression on Ares' face. That was it. She could tell by how he tried to conceal the truth. "He's a threat to the gods and you want a mortal to deal with him. Me."

"Not necessarily Xena, but if you're offering to do that." Ares raised his hands and smiled. "That's fine by me."

"Nothing doing." Xena refused his request as soon as he finished speaking. "You got yourself into this mess. You can get yourself out."

"I only wish it were that simple." He looked down slowly as though he was the bearer of further bad news. "You see I still have a certain interest in you even though you have yet to take up my generous offers.You could defeat him easily enough but there's always that risk that too much darkness in you might fullfill the curse. Like me in a way."

Xena thought about that for a few moments. "If you don't want me to deal with him then why bother with telling me at all. . . . Gabrielle!" Her eyes widened with the thought.

"You have to admit, she has become quite the little warrior thanks to you." Ares could see the anger in her eyes. "And since she's always talking about peace...."

"You think she can control her anger and not fall victim to the curse." Xena was looking around quickly hoping that she could see Antilleus nearby. Several thoughts were racing through her mind of what to do even as Ares continued to speak.

"Consider it my message of peace." Ares stepped forward quickly and took her chakram before she could do anything about it. "I'll need that for...motivation. She did say peace is worth fighting for." With that said, the god of war disappeared in a bright flash of blue light.

Xena looked down to where her weapon had been and realized his intentions. He was laying some kind of trap for her. Xena gripped her sword tighter and ran as fast as she could back to the encampment.

Chapter 7:

"Are you sure you're all right Parthen?" Gabrielle's concerns showed itself easily enough in the sound of her voice as much as the way she held Parthen's hand. The young architect was taking the news rather well considering the serious nature of the loss. Farmers who had passed by his wagon just a few minutes earlier told Parthen that the two men he paid to watch over his father were dead. His father was nowhere to be found.

"I'll manage somehow Gabrielle." Parthen responded unsure of himself. "It's all any of us can do I suppose."

"If you need anything. Anything at all, I'm here." She tried her best to sound encouraging to him. The sad smile that greeted her and his slight holding of her hand made her think that he was at least in some control over his grief. He was trying to make the best of appearances which at least showed he wanted things to be better than they were.

Gabrielle excused herself and walked past the wagon, past the three men who were also there. Two of them were carrying one of the fallen men closer to the wagon while a third approached Parthen with some questions. It was so sad for her to see the young man go through the pain he must be feeling. He had lost a friend earlier in the day when she and Xena had first met him. Now his father was missing and the men who were watching him had been murdered.

Ahrmuro's speech had been interrupted by the outbreak of violence in the far back of the crowd. Gabrielle had watched as Xena and Serad went to find answers. She had started to follow them, but Parthen and his friends had cautioned her against that. After some reasoning with them, she decided that it was perhaps best to stay there afterall. She might have been some use in safeguarding the people there in case the attacker had returned.

The gathering had quickly dispersed after that with many unresolved questions leaving an unsettled murmur in the crowd. Ahrmuro's concerns had been evident in the way he had quickly returned to his tent. She imagined that his movement might suffer from such a sudden outbreak of violence, right at a time when he had been dismissing the gods as nonexistent. More than one member of the crowd had suggested that the sudden act had been a direct response from them. Gabrielle had her doubts.

As she stood there alone in reflection, a sudden sound out in the waist-high weeds caught her attention. She turned toward the sudden jerking motion of a man who came running out into the clearing. He had a wild frenzied look to him that immediately caused alarm in her. Gabrielle reached for her sais and looked back to the wagon. Thankfully, the men there had also noticed this man's sudden appearance and they were backing away slightly.

"Gotta go! Gotta find!" The man glared at her for a second and then the others. He had a tattered loosely clinging leather jacket over his shoulders which was torn. His pants and boots were equally unkept. And on his waist.... on his waist was a weapon that made a chill go down Gabrielle's spine.

"Gotta kill!!!" The man raced past them all back toward the clearing where Ahrmuro had been speaking. The men near the wagon exchanged uncertain, worried glances with each other as the man ran off into the darkness.

Gabrielle took hold of both her sais and followed after him. Her boots seemed to pick up unexpected speed as she ran over the uneven dirt road. She could hear the labored breathing of a couple of men behind her and she thanked the gods that her light build allowed for greater speed. She could barely make out the man's appearance up ahead as he approached the well lit area where the tents were standing.

"Ahrmuro!" Gabrielle called out between carefully timed strides. "Watch out! Ahrmuro!"

To her dismay the calling of his name only seemed to draw the retired Oracle out into the open. He walked out of one of his tents with an assistant. Both of them looked around past the clearing and into the darkness. They were greeted with the battle yell of an enraged psychopath.

"Yeaaaaaaahhhhh!!!" Antilleus rushed out into the open and right up to Ahrmuro and his assistant before either of the two men knew what to do. The assistant quickly tried to push Ahrmuro to the side and raised his hands up in a defensive manner. He was rewarded with a quick and deep sword cut to the chest.

Ahrmuro stumbled back in numbness and fell to the ground. As he tried to scramble away from the madman, Antilleus drew his sword up and charged toward the fallen Oracle. He started to swing his sword down at the defenseless man with a sai flew through the air and hit the sword, knocking it out of his grip.

"Stop!" Gabrielle reached back to throw the other sai as the man reached for his sword. He brought it up again and with almost inhuman speed sent the blade into Ahrmuro's chest. The fallen Oracle cried out in pain. His head fell lifelessly to the ground.

"Aiyeyeyeyeeee!" The sudden battle cry surprised Gabrielle and the madman before her. Xena flipped through the air and landed near him. She could see that Gabrielle was already drawing up her sai to throw and by the look in her eyes, Xena could tell that her friend was filled with rage. "Gabrielle, no!"

Antilleus caught Xena unprepared and backhanded her. She flew back a few feet and landed in a roll to the side. In a matter of seconds she was back on her feet, but she could already hear Gabrielle rushing past her with the intent on striking out at the man. Antilleus brought his sword down quickly to deflect the sai.

Time moved painfully slow. Xena glanced at the fight, watching an impossibly large sword being deflected by the thin dagger-like sai that Gabrielle held. Xena seemed drawn by Gabrielle's careful movements as she deflected two quick attacks. She continued to watch as a flash of blue light appeared next to her. Without having to look, Xena knew who had just arrived.

Antilleus drew his sword down the short length of the sai and attempted a twisting motion meant to pull the weapon from Gabrielle's grasp. The action failed as she recognized the move at the last second and pulled back. The small sai dug in deeply into his wrist, forcing the much larger man to release the sword. Without his weapon, Antilleus backed away.

He backed away a bit too slowly for Xena's liking. She could see it in his eyes. His breath slowed by a short pace and he drew his hand back to far. His eyes blinked calmly and his stance was growing relaxed. He was leaving himself open for an attack.

"Gabrielle!" Xena called out to her friend even as the shadowy form of a triumphant Ares began to step forward. Gabrielle let out a short yell and her hand lunged forward. The sai blade leapt out toward the now defenseless madman. At the last second, the blade and handle switched places. The sai twirled around in Gabrielle's hand so that the butt of the handle faced forward. She brought the sai upward and struck the barbarian in the side of the head with all the anger of a person who had just seen a good friend killed.

But she did not deliver a death blow.

Antilleus stumbled to the side slightly. His boots caught over one another and sent the towering giant of a man to the ground. Xena and Ares reached the two of them at the same time. Xena's face showed suprise and relief while Ares faced tried unsuccessfully to hide a disappointed scowl.

"This was not supposed to happen!" Ares growled in response to a final act denied to him.

"Gabrielle are you all right?" Xena looked to her friend and could still see the anger there in her eyes.

"All you had to do was kill him. Was that so difficult?! " Ares continued to complain.

"I wanted him to suffer Xena." Gabrielle dropped the weapon to the ground. "Ahrmuro." She realized the fallen man was dead and rushed over to him to hold him up and check for any signs of life.

"This is very disappointing." Ares looked over to where Gabrielle was leaning over Ahrmuro.

"Give it a rest Ares." Xena stepped over in between Gabrielle and Ares and faced him. "You tried and failed. Take your mistake and leave."

Ares frowned at her and looked back to the still breathing but unconscious Antilleus. "This isn't over Xena. Even with the curse he's protected. The best Athena can do is return him to how he was." He looked past Xena's shoulder to the men who were entering the clearing. Then he looked back to Xena. "At least Athena got what she wanted. Justice against Ahrmuro."

"Get out of here Ares." Xena held her sword in her hand and was willing to use it if he continued.

With an uncharacteristic show of concern, Ares glanced over to Parthen and then to Xena. "Tell him to build his precious monument. It'll serve him well in the long run."

Before Xena could comment about how little Ares probably cared for Parthen's family considering the recent loss of his friend and father, the god of war disappeared from the clearing in a blast of blue light. She turned back to see Gabrielle still near Ahrmuro's body. She could see the bewildered look in her friend's eye all too clearly.

"Why Xena? Why does it always have to be the one's wanting peace? Gabrielle asked.

Xena just stood there without the proper words to respond.

Conclusion:

Gabrielle and Parthen stood to the side by themselves while Xena and the others watched from a distance. "I'm sorry to see you have to give up your home, but if it is what you want, maybe its for the better."

"It is Gabrielle. My friends wife is a widow now and his family wasn't very well off." Parthen appeared thoughtful as he looked over to the woman who had lost her husband yesterday. "I've agreed to leave the farm and the land to her for safekeeping. It should leave her well off."

"What about you?" Gabrielle asked.

"I'll be fine. I've been thinking about going with my friends for the past few night actually to build the temple they were planning." He smiled weakly to make her feel better. "They suggested naming it after me considering my loss. I think it should stay dedicated to Athena. She would want that."

Parthen reached over and kissed Gabrielle on the cheek "Thank you for your concern."

Xena approached her friend. She watched as Parthen returned to his friends and they waved farewell to the two of them. Gabrielle raised her hand slowly and smiled slightly as the young architect joined with his friends on their trip to Athens.

"You ok?" Xena looked to her with some concern.

"I'll be alright." Gabrielle nodded her head and started to walk forward. Xena followed along by her side. "Ahrmuro's death will be a loss for his message, and a gain in a way."

"I'm sorry I didn't have more faith in his efforts." Xena found herself apologizing for a subtle concern she had not really intended to mention.

Gabrielle walked along quietly for a few moments. "I suppose the road to peace is never as easy as we would like to think."

"I don't suppose." Xena nodded her head in agreement, sensing that nothing more needed to be said. Still, she couldn't help but smile slightly at the thought of her friend turning the sai around at the last second. Even turned toward a warrior's path, Xena regarded her peaceful friend with newfound respect.

Meanwhile, a small black ant stared up menacingly with alien insectoid eyes and glared at the huge people that passed by him. He would curse the two of them if he had the ability to speak. As it was, he was far too busy climbing up a fallen branch to escape a patrol of red ants not far behind. Some day he promised in a hurried frenzy as the two women left the area. Someday.

Parthenon: Beauty in Ruins

Probably the only structure that has been blown up and yet remains one of the world's most beautiful buildings is the Parthenon on Acropolis hill overlooking Athens.

The rectangular structure -- built in 447-432 BC of white marble from Mt. Pentelicus, 11 miles from Athens -- is 237 feet long by 110 feet wide by 60 feet high. In the middle of the building was once a two-room enclosure. One room housed an ivory and gold statue of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, and the other was the treasury. The building was designed by Ictinus and Callicrates, Greek architects, and was embellished with sculpture by Phidias.