Shortly after Gander's rather dramatic presentation of armor and the new, magical, staff to Gabrielle Maadrik and his men began their long march home. Akress detailed an additional fifteen of the younger villagers, heavily armed, to follow Maadrik as a rear guard as far as the bottom of the track; where the ground leveled out and became quite hard.
Their orders were to drag leafy limbs behind them, on their way back, erasing every trace of cart wheels and foot prints. The idea being to deny the Sorcerer, as much as possible, any sort of intelligence concerning their comings, goings, and activity. All hoped to keep the existence of Maadrik's group secret until the last possible moment.
Shortly after sunrise, the next day, there came a second test of arms for the people of Al Fahd. An observation post had been established to keep an eye out for anyone approaching the summit of the mountain pass. A runner had been sent from this post to warn the people of a force of fifty mounted troops, all wearing the Sorcerer's black uniforms, who were quickly moving up the pass toward the summit.
This was truly alarming news. While he didn't know how it was being done Gander was certain Kuhlamann was communicating with the outside world and this formation of cavalry were reinforcements he'd called for. Xena's reaction to these unpleasant tidings was, characteristically, quite simple and direct.
"They shall not pass."
Gander had agreed with Xena; in principal. But, as was his way, he wanted to derive some sort of benefit from the situation if it were at all possible.
Quickly he formulated a plan, explained it to Xena and Gabrielle and asked, specifically, for Gabrielle's assistance. Again, as Gander expected, Xena was less than enthusiastic about his little brain-storm but Gabrielle was game. After quickly explaining what he had in mind to Akress a force of sixty men and women, armed with their powerful bows, moved as quickly as possible into a previously prepared ambush position near the summit of the pass.
They didn't have long to wait as the column of black uniformed cavalry were moving very fast. As the head of the column crested the summit they found their way blocked by a most extraordinary person.
Wearing her full set of new armor, the polished staff held imperiously in her right hand, its base resting on the ground, her left hand on her hip, the mask of the Queen of the Amazons down and covering her face, Gabrielle cut quite an impressive figure.
The sun reflecting off her armor was blinding and her overall appearance had the desired effect. The column of horsemen rained to a halt.
One of the two men in the lead detached himself from the rest and slowly walked his mount several steps forward. Gabrielle could see the man's eyes. Black as two lumps of charcoal they none-the-less glittered with murderous intent. When he spoke the tone of his voice was extremely low with a deep, hoarse, growling, quality.
"By all the Gods! Just who do you think you are to stand thus and block our passage? You must have a death wish!"
Gabrielle was glad for having the mask. Otherwise her lack of confidence would have been plain to see. Swallowing hard she replied in an arrogant tone which was far more cocky than she really felt.
"You ask who I am? I should think the symbols on my armor would make such a question unnecessary! I am Gabrielle! Queen of the Amazons! And ... if you press your luck much further ... your worst nightmare incarnate! What is more ... if anyone can be said to have a death wish ... it is you if you fail to do as I bid you!"
"And what ... pray ... would you have me do?" the black uniformed warrior said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and contempt. "Kill you quickly or very, very, slowly? Besides, .. oh great queen, ... this is not the land of the Amazons. What business have you here which causes you to think you can speak to me as you have?"
"The land of the Amazons," she replied in a surprisingly firm voice, "is any land I stand upon; if I choose to call it such and my business is exactly that! My business! As for what I would have you do ... turn yourself and your men around! Leave this place and never return!
"And, out of curiosity, ... just how do you think you would be able to kill the Queen of the Amazons; either quickly or slowly? Either way you would have to be a warrior possessed of considerable courage, strength, and skill. All I see in you is a black masked coward who requires forty-nine other black masked cowards behind him in order to make idle threats on my life!"
The eyes of the Sorcerer's minion reflected a terrible, cold, rage.
"From the moment I laid eyes on you your fate was sealed," he growled. "There was never a question of when you would die. Only how. Now even that choice is denied you."
"Hold!" Gabrielle shouted. "I'll meet you in single combat if you have the stomach for it and if you can kill me so be it. But, if I defeat you, whether you be left alive or dead, your men will leave this place; never to return. Do you have the courage to agree to this?" "Yes," he growled. "Now prepare to meet Hades."
Dismounting he drew his sword and slowly advanced on Gabrielle who brought her staff up to the ready. Moving to her left he began a circling movement forcing her, in turn, to continuously move and shift her position.
With her heart in her throat Xena watched from the cover of the forest as the man maneuvered for an advantageous position. She had seen such tactics before. This man, this devil, was a skilled warrior.
She wanted desperately to go and engage him herself and the Wizard knew it for he gripped her shoulder strongly, almost painfully, to restrain her.
He had promised no harm would come to Gabrielle. The whole thrust of his plan was to turn back the Sorcerer's reinforcements without having to fight a pitched battle. Such a fight would almost certainly cost their people a number of casualties and Gander wanted to avoid this if he could.
As they watched from their place of hiding Gabrielle continued to match her opponent's every move. She was much lighter on her feet and far more graceful. As she waited for her foe to launch his attack she suddenly realized she was actually relaxing. She no longer felt the gut freezing fear of only a few moments before. Her confidence began to return. Then a thought came to her.
"I thought you wanted to fight," she said in her most sarcastic, taunting, tone of voice. "Have you changed your mind? Is it dancing lessons you want now?"
His attack came in a blinding flash of speed. As he slashed downward Gabrielle brought her staff up to meet the blow. She couldn't have been more surprised when, on impact, the warrior's sword bounced high off the staff. Every bit of the shock of the blow traveling back down the blade; reverberated so painfully through the hilt the warrior dropped his weapon. Stooping and reaching out for his sword with his right arm he almost had it in his grasp when Gabrielle brought her staff down on his extended arm; just above the elbow. She had delivered the blow with great strength and her efforts were rewarded with the sound of snapping bone.
A normal man would have been out of the fight then and there. But this soldier in black belonged to the Sorcerer. With his right arm now hanging uselessly at his side he lunged for his sword and grabbed it with his left hand. But he was now down on the ground and in an awkward position.
Raising his sword he attempted a clumsy slash at Gabrielle's legs. Taking a page from Xena's book of tricks she leapt well above the arc of the blades travel. At the same time, still in the air, she brought her staff down once again; this time breaking her assailants left arm.
Surely this would end the fight, she thought almost desperately, but to her consternation the man rose once again to his feet. She'd been present when Gander warned them all these soldiers of the Sorcerer's would not cease fighting until they were completely crippled or dead. Now she saw the reality of the Wizard's warning. She was barely able to dodge the warrior as he leapt high in the air attempting to deliver a crippling kick to her left arm and shoulder; but dodge she did and more.
With the man still in mid air, his leg stiffly extend, she was able to pivot in time to strike once again with her staff. This time her blow broke his leg. Though she was unable to see the damage she'd wrought, the break was so severe, a piece of the shattered bone jutted up and out through the skin.
Once again her would-be killer lay on the ground. This time, though, he was unable to get up. He was winded and a good thing too for she heard him trying to form the words,
"Kill her."
Hearing this she brought the heavy, brass capped, end of her staff straight down on his belly; forcing the air from his lungs and preventing him from speaking again. He appeared to become unconscious and stepping away from him she resumed the same arrogant stance she had taken when the horsemen arrived.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" she shouted. "You heard your leaders agreement! If I defeated him you were to leave here and never come back! So go! Now! While you're still able!"
Suddenly the defeated warrior's partner made an obscene sound in his throat and drew his sword. But even before he could put his mount in motion the shaft of an arrow sprouted from his chest and he tumbled, backwards, from his horse.
"Did you think me a fool?!" Gabrielle shouted. "Did you actually think I would stand here before you, on this path, blocking your way, alone?! So far you have lost two of your number. Would you really like to try for an even fifty?! I mean if you don't mind I certainly won't object! Amazons usually kill all who come against them anyway. That way we never need to worry about such idiots again! So either go now or die now! The decision is still yours but you won't have the choice for long!"
It had been a desperate gamble but, miraculously, it paid off. As one man the mounted soldiers silently wheeled their horses and moved off at a trot in the direction they had come from. Gander remained under cover but as soon as the horsemen in black were out of sight Xena walked out onto the road.
The soldier Gabrielle had defeated was still very much alive and Xena knew it. Standing where she could not be readily seen by him she motioned for Gabrielle to come to her. When she did Xena whispered in her ear for her to leave the area. Gabrielle looked questioningly at her for a moment. Then, with a little shrug of her shoulders, she walked away into the forest.
Drawing her sword Xena walked slowly over to where the badly injured warrior lay.
"Do you have a name?" she asked, looking down on him.
His eyes came open. They were black and showed not the least trace of emotion.
"Ahh. ... What have we here?" he said slowly. "Another Amazon?... No, ... I think not. But then it really doesn't matter who you are. You are a stunning looking woman though."
He paused for a few moments as though trying to regain his strength.
"You asked if I have a name." he said, his voice still a low growl.
"Yes," Xena said, her voice as cold as the blade of her drawn sword.
"Very well," he said. "I am Kuhlamann and while it is a terrible waste you, ... warrior woman, ... are going to die."
As he uttered this last word a terrible red glow appeared in the man's eyes.
She didn't even think about it. Her reaction was instinctive and instantaneous. Describing a wide arc the blade of her sword sliced through the man's neck like a hot iron through butter; separating his head from the rest of his body. Then delivering a second, vicious, slashing, blow she sliced the hood draped face of the decapitated head asunder.
She stood there, looking down at the ghastly remains, for several long seconds. Then, slowly kneeling down beside the beheaded corpse, she cut and ripped a section of cloth from the dead man's uniform. Using this she carefully wiped and cleaned the blood and gore from the blade of her sword.
When she was satisfied with the blade's cleanliness she dropped the blood stained scrap of cloth on the corpse's chest. Returning her weapon to its sheath she turned away from the sickening scene and slowly walked back to where Gander waited in the woods.
When she came up to Gander he gently placed his hands on both her shoulders.
"He saw you. Saw you and spoke to you. Didn't he?" Gander said.
Xena's mind was far away for a moment.
"Who?" was her only response.
"The Sorcerer. Kuhlamann," the Wizard said softly but firmly. He was looking deeply into her eyes and she could see both concern and understanding reflected in his.
"Now," said Gander, "I think you are beginning to truly perceive the real nature of our enemy and the scope of his power."
"Yes," was all she said for a moment.
"You know, Gander," she said, looking down at the ground, "I haven't really felt fear ... on a personal level ... for a very ˙long time. Not since I was a girl ... in my early teens."
"But you feel personal fear now. Don't you?" said Gander.
"Yes," she replied, "and I'm not sure I know what to do about it though I know I must deal with it ... and quickly."
They stood there, without speaking, for several moments. Then Gander broke the silence.
"Actually, Xena," he said, "I think you do know what you need to do. You know but the process involved is so painful you can't bear to think about it. And frankly I can hardly blame you."
What Gander had just said caused Xena to look at him closely; a puzzled expression on her face.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You may not know now," he said, "but I'm pretty sure the answer, though unpleasant, will come to you; and fairly soon if I don't miss my guess. In the mean-time I suggest you go back to camp, lay down, relax and try to rest. I'll be back in a while. Then if you want to carry on with this conversation I'll be at your disposal for as long as it takes to help you resolve this problem of yours."
At first Xena wanted to protest. She wanted the Wizard to speak plainly. But suddenly she felt terribly tired.
"Maybe I will try to get some rest," she said.
Turning away she began walking back in the direction of their camp.
Ever since they had decided to stay and help the people of Al Fahd Gander had replaced the lean-tos with more comfortable tents; one large one for Xena and Gabrielle and a smaller one for himself. Within their tent the ground was covered with carpets and the sleeping pads on the ground had been replaced by two simple but comfortable cots.
Once back at their camp Xena looked for Gabrielle but she was nowhere to be seen. Then she remembered, before the coming of the Sorcerer's horsemen, Gabrielle had mentioned promising the children she would show them the wonderful things Gander had given her and tell them a few stories.
Feeling even more weary than before Xena entered the tent. Yawning deeply she sat on the edge of the cot and then stretched out. Her last thought before drifting off was, ... So Gabrielle is going to tell them stories. Oh what a story she has to tell them today.
Was it a dream?... A nightmare?... Or was it an apparition of some sort? There was no telling. But out of the deep, dark, fog of sleep she saw a figure approaching. At first the specter-like form was too far off and too much in shadow to be recognized. But as it slowly came closer Xena was able to see it was a woman. With every slow, graceful, cat-like, step this woman took she seemed more and more familiar. As this sense of familiarity grew Xena felt an increasing dread of the mysterious shade.
When the woman finally stood before her she was suddenly illuminated by soft light. The woman with a mocking grin and piercing, cold, cruel, blue eyes ... was her; the infamous, blood drenched, real, Warrior Princes of old. The one she'd tried to keep locked away in the darkest recesses of her mind for so many years.
Guilt, shame, horror, revulsion, and yes, fear, washed over her like a wall of fire; the flames consuming her. At first she suffered an unbearable emotional and spiritual agony. But, surprisingly, with the passage of every moment, the tormenting tumult began to recede. Then the mocking lips parted and the infamous image, created through her own mind's betrayal, began to speak.
"Was it very painful?" asked the shade of her former self. "It wouldn't surprise me at all. Whatever were you thinking of anyway? Did you really believe you could keep me confined in that ridiculous, little, black, space forever? I mean you were, once, such a realist.
The specter of her former self paused for a moment, a smirk on her face, then continued.
"You should have known you would have to face me sooner or later. After all I'm a part of you and, like it or not, I will always be with you; to the end of your days. ... Maybe longer.
"You may not believe this but I really am sorry you had to experience as much pain as you did. But you really have only yourself to blame. The longer it took you to face and come to terms with me the more pain you stored up for yourself.
"But here we are at last. How long has it been anyway? Ten, eleven, twelve years? Its hard to keep track of time when one is imprisoned in a small black box. But I forgive you.
It seemed as though the specter's intense, blue, eyes were boring a hole straight through Xena.
"Yes! I forgive you! I'm the one who was wronged! How?... I tell you what. Let's play a little game. The name of this game is 'Remember When'.
"Remember when the warlord's raiders made their little call on your village? When they were finished, when many of those you loved were dead and all you held dear lay in smoldering ruins around you, that was the exact moment of my creation; the moment I sprang fully formed into existence. And, oh, how grateful you were for my existence.
"Do you remember the white hot hatred: The glorious desire to hack, maim, mangle, and slaughter all those who took part in turning your life into a pile of ashes? I remember. And, because our volcanic hatred was absolutely righteous, what you did with it was truly glorious. Only the treacherous Romans have conquered more lands and achieved greater eminence throughout the world than you had at the peak of your power.
"Do I feel any remorse at all for the havoc, death, and destruction we wrought? Perhaps. ... A little. But certainly not to the same extent you do.
"Granted things may have gone a little too far and, probably, we came to enjoy the stimulation of our blood-lust a little too much. But our cause, at least in the beginning, was just.
"With my help, you succeeded in putting an end to any and all who posed the slightest threat to your homeland and people; succeeded beyond your wildest dreams. And you know what? There was nothing wrong with that: Nothing at all.
"But then came Hercules whose efforts planted the seeds of doubt and then change in your mind. Your conscience, once all but nonexistent, began to develop. It was your oh so delicate conscience which forced me into that little, black, cubical and slammed the door in my face.
"But over the years I have changed. Oh yes! I have undergone changes. Not as much as your conscience might like but more than you might have expected. The fact is I am no longer quite the same. More than ten years in a little box certainly gives one plenty of time for contemplation.
"In fact it might surprise you to know the event which had the greatest effect on me. It was the same one which mellowed you out so much: The coming of Gabrielle.
"You had already made up your mind to end what you had come to think of as your wicked ways. But the banked fires of your warrior spirit left little room for anything else. You were unsure of how to go about achieving your new goal. In fact you weren't even sure of what this new goal of yours was and I certainly couldn't help you. You had me too deeply buried.
"When Gabrielle began insinuating herself into your life you didn't think much of her one way or the other; did you? But as she spent time with you ... well she does grow on one doesn't she.
"It wasn't too long before you saw there was something special about her. She could be irritating sometimes but the special qualities she possesses outweigh this by far and, a little at a time, your feelings toward her changed.
"At first you merely condoned her presence. But she began showing you affection. Being something of an innocent and really knowing nothing of your past she gave you something quite rare in your life: Continuous and unconditional love.
"Because of her you learned how to love in return. After so much hate and so much bloodshed over so many years ... she changed you. In fact she changed the both of us ... though she's had a far greater effect on you than me.
"I wouldn't want you to misunderstand me. While I've mellowed out a bit and I'm able to admit to certain mistakes, I'll never apologize for my part in everything we did. As I've already admitted some of the things we did in the past probably were wrong. But you've done an awful lot of good since then.
"You may not have been aware of it but I've been with you every step of the way. I've tried to give you all the assistance I could, though there was very little you would accept, and you refused to acknowledge it came from me. Which leads us to your current problem.
"And what, precisely, is the nature of this problem? Well it certainly isn't just Kuhlamann; not entirely. Oh no. Your problem is your emotions.
"In the beginning, when you took your first steps toward becoming a warrior, you allowed anger to effect you. But it wasn't long before you learned such emotions could lead you into costly blunders. So you set your anger and your pitiful remnants of love aside. You considered your every move in a cold, calculating, manner and for the longest time this method of proceeding rewarded you with success.
"Then you made an exception to this rule. Julius Caesar. On this one occasion you let your heart over-ride your cold, calculating, common sense. This single mistake cost you your ship, the lives of your crew, your treasure, being crucified, which included having both of your legs broken and in the process, the death of one of the few people you really cared about.
"This was the most costly and painful lesson you ever learned. But, from then on, you gave neither love or hate any weight in your considerations and as a result ... success again followed your banner.
"However, when you changed your life, when you developed a conscience, when your path crossed that of Gabrielle's, you picked up all kinds of emotional baggage. Now you are going to have to face our vile little Sorcerer who is a real work of art; Black Art that is.
"He feeds, he grows, and he thrives on the very emotions you are now experiencing ... emotions you no longer seem able to dismiss from your mind. On the other hand, though I have changed, I still posses total control.
"Fear? I remain, every bit, the warrior. If I fear anything it is not dying well. Anger? Hatred? These have had little effect on me for a very long time.
"You may despise me for it but I still rejoice in the challenge of combat. I'm still thrilled by engaging in the ultimate contest. However you no longer possess the same enthusiasm for war you once had and it is this which is likely to cost everyone their lives. Or, perhaps, cause many, including Gabrielle to suffer a fate far worse than death.
"What is the answer to this little problem of yours? I do have a suggestion. While you may not like me I hope you realize you are going to need me, and what you have come to scorn as my ruthlessness, as you never have before.
"For my part I'm quite content to stay quietly out of your way, until the time comes when you need me. But when it does, when battle is joined with Kuhlamann or his forces, you must allow me to take control.
"You know me and what I'm like in battle. You know I function, pretty much, as a killing machine. You know I feel only exultation in butchering an enemy before he can butcher me.
"You also know I have no need to think about my every move. I just act and react. If you permit me to do what I do best this waking nightmare will be survivable for you. In turn your survival may mean a better chance for all the others to live through this: Including Gabrielle.
"While there's no need for you to decide now I suggest you think everything I've said over very carefully. You know what's at stake and I'm sure you can guess what will happen if victory goes to Kuhlamann. So ... just think it over ... think it over ... think it over ... it over ... it over ..."
Unknown to Xena Gander had followed her at a distance as she made her way back to their camp. Studying her every movement and the manner in which she carried herself. He had become extremely concerned over Xena's obviously worsening emotional state. Though his plan had succeeded in achieving its primary objective the incident, back at the ambush site, had been a very closely run thing; far more so than he had, at first, realized.
Gabrielle had actually come through the whole affair in much better shape than even he had expected. But Xena had not faired so well. Gabrielle, petit in stature, but wearing her full suite of armor with the Amazon Queen's mask concealing her face and eyes, had managed, with a little help, to intrigue and then confuse the Sorcerer in equal measure.
His withdrawal of his cavalry was an indication Kuhlamann still lacked confidence in one or more elements of his power and Gabrielle's victory over Kuhlamann's minion must have shaken the Sorcerer's confidence still further.
But Xena had worn no mask. There had been nothing to conceal her face and eyes. Until the last moment she had not been aware of Kuhlamann's use of his vassal's body and faculties. Indeed this had come as something of a shock to Gander as well.
What little the Sorcerer had said to Xena had certainly had an adverse effect and his attempt to project his power through his fallen lackey's eyes had shaken Xena rather badly. As for killing the man ... there had never been a possibility of allowing him to live but the brutal way in which Xena had been compelled to dispatch him had been ... disgusting.
Physically the man had been helpless and butchering him in such a manner had obviously filled her with revulsion. It was plain to Gander that Xena was troubled and he strongly suspected the root of her trouble was to be found in her past. The Wizard also knew she was going to have to find a resolution for the turmoil which was beginning to plague her. Otherwise her chances of surviving a real confrontation with Kuhlamann were nil.
While there were means at Gander's disposal which might help her they were not without an element of risk. He could bring about a confrontation within Xena's mind and this could result in her facing and coming to an accommodation with those things in her past which were having a debilitating effect on her in the present. But sometimes the wrong side, so to speak, came out on top with devastating effects. It was a terrible gamble but the alternative, doing nothing, would almost certainly lead to her complete destruction at the hands of Kuhlamann. So he had, very quietly, done what he had to do.
Once Xena had entered the tent and he was sure she was asleep Gander took a seat, by the fire ring, close to the tent. The process had already begun within Xena's mind. The only thing he could do now was wait; wait and hope for the best.
He was deep in thought, intently watching the tiny tongues of flame licking upward around the coals, when Gabrielle returned.
"Hi Gander," she said cheerfully. "Where's Xena?"
Among their many talents Wizards tend to be superb actors.
"Xena's inside taking a nap." Gander said, flashing a smile he was far from actually feeling.
Gabrielle's cheerful expression disappeared.
"A nap? She never takes naps. Is there anything wrong with her?"
As she made to go past him Gander gently but firmly took hold of her arm.
"She will be all right Gabriel." Gander said quietly, with a confidence which sounded false to his own ears.
"There's no reason for you to worry yourself. It's just that something rather shocking happened on the path, shortly after you left, and frankly it shook both of us up."
"What happened?" she demanded.
"Sit down and relax," Gander said, "and I'll tell all."
Reluctantly Gabrielle took a seat facing him and he explained what had transpired. When he was through Gabrielle was stunned.
"You mean that man was completely under the control of the Sorcerer? ... I was actually facing down Kuhlamann? ... The terrible things he said to me were really being said by ... ? And I insulted him? ... Scorned him? ... Fought him? ... And defeated him ...?"
To each question the Wizard merely nodded his head, slowly and solemnly, in the affirmative.
"Oh boy! Oh boy, oh boy. If I'd known then what I know now ..."
Gander saw her trembling slightly as the realization of what she had succeeded in doing began to settle in.
"Gabrielle," Gander said softly, "if you had known it is likely things would have turned out far differently. But you didn't know. Nor, for that matter, did we. Not until it was more or less over; and you, my dear, were .. magnificent!
"Had they been here to witness the manner in which you stood your ground and dealt with the foe ... the Amazons would have been tremendously proud of their Queen."
As she began to come around Xena couldn't tell whether it had been only a moment or an hour since the nightmare, or whatever it had been, had ended but her recollection of it remained vividly clear. While the experience had been unpleasant, for some reason, she felt relieved and far more relaxed than she had for some time. As the last vestiges of sleep evaporated she heard Gabrielle and Gander talking quietly just outside and getting to her feet she went out and joined them.
"Well there you are, sleepy-head." said Gander.
"Are you feeling any better?" Gabrielle asked. "Gander told me what happened. I still can't believe I actually faced and defeated him," Gabrielle said with a little shiver.
With the first really warm smile Gander had seen on her face for quite a while Xena put a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.
"You were wonderful Gabrielle." she said. "I can't remember the last time I felt as proud of you as I did today."
Gabrielle's smile stretched from ear to ear as she beamed with delight and pride; forgetting for the moment the dreadful shock she had felt, only minutes before, on learning who her opponent had really been.