Following the ambush of the Magicians' troops some time passed without incident. Gander had continued with his production of arms and, occasionally, caring for the few villagers who were still recuperating from either illness or wounds. Since they had expressed considerable interest in learning what he might be able to teach them of his healing arts either Xena or, more often, Gabrielle were with him when he made his rounds.

     Xena, still heavily involved in the training of the able-bodied villagers, now concentrated her efforts on devising drills and exercises of increasingly greater difficulty and complexity as they progressed in their knowledge and skill in the use of arms.

     It was something of a surprise when, one day, a runner from the outpost came into the village and announced Maadrik, lately Captain of the deceased lord's household guard, and a number of his men were being brought in through the village's defences. At first this caused Gander, Xena, and Gabrielle some concern. But Akress had said Maadrik and anyone he might bring with him could be trusted.

     Gander could only hope so. Sorcerers were not without ways and means of turning even the most decent of people. If he was right about the identity of this Sorcerer's mentor, this Kuhlamann had learned whatever he knew from a true Master of corruption.

     When Maadrik and ten of his men arrived they could see Akress had not exaggerated in the least in his description of him. He was obviously in his mid fifties but he was a massive figure of a man. Well over four cubits his large, helmeted, head rested solidly on a massive neck. Barrel chested, square shouldered, his arms were like large tree limbs and his legs seemed twice that size.

     Maadrik and his men had the look, and the smell, of warriors who had been in the field for a long time surviving as best they could under adverse conditions. Yet he seemed quite self-confident. On seeing and being welcomed by the villagers, many of whom he'd known since they were young, there was a jolly twinkle in his eyes and a good natured grin which mitigated what would have otherwise been a fierce visage.

     As was her habit Xena watched the big man closely taking special note of how he carried himself and the manner in which he moved. In no time she concluded Maadrik's enormous size concealed an ability to move with terrific speed, strength, and agility, like a huge cat.

     As Akress lead Maadrik over to where Xena, Gabrielle, and Gander were standing Xena sensed he too was making an appraisal; of her. The good natured grin was still there but the twinkle in his eyes had been replaced by a flint-like hardness. Oh yes. She had seen that look before; in the eyes of warriors who were judging her either as an ally or a potential foe.

     After Akress had made the introductions all around Maadrik addressed himself first to Xena.

     "I've heard a great deal about you, over the years, Xena. Not all of it good. Nor was it all bad. I doubt the bad part was exaggerated but having seen and heard from my friends, what you've accomplished here, I can see the good part was not exaggerated either."

     Gander had been watching the two of them closely and had caught the momentary flash in Xena's eyes. He doubted Maadrik had spoken with deliberate malice but his reference to Xena's past had obviously hurt her. This was not an auspicious beginning for what necessarily had to be a close working relationship.

     Turning to Gabrielle the flinty quality of his eyes was replaced by a gentle light which was surprising. Even his manner and the quality of his voice changed. It was with great gentleness he addressed her.

     "I've heard a very great deal about you as well." Maadrik said. "All of it very good. I want to thank you for the kindness you have shown these people and especially the wonderful way in which you have worked with the children. What you have done and the way in which you have gone about doing it has made a world of difference in how they have come through this ordeal. I know I speak for all when I say we will forever be in your debt."

     Then he turned to Gander.

     "My old friend, Akress, told me of the nature of your very first meeting with our people. He was also careful to tell me you could have killed them all. He told me how you used your powers only to disable them temporarily and how you have fed and helped them ever since. Again we are forever in your debt."

     "Actually," Gander said, "I really haven't done all that much Maadrik. As to any mercy I may have shown; I knew from the first instant the animosity they held for us had to be the result of a gross misunderstanding. While I had to bring their attack to a quick end there was never a single moment when I entertained any notion of using deadly force against them.

     "So far as my feeding and helping them is concerned: I would do the same for anyone who has suffered as much as they have. There is, however, something I'd like to discuss with you in private. Would you take a walk with me?"

     As soon as they had moved out of ear shot of the others Gander turned to face the warrior.

     "There is one thing in which I believe you have erred," Gander said, looking him square in the eye. "By saying some of the things you said to Xena, bringing up her past, I believe you have wronged her and I know you have hurt her."

     Maadrik was more than a little shocked by what the Wizard said but Gander continued before he could reply.

     "I too have heard many terrible things of her over the years. But, unlike you Maadrik, I made the effort to learn all I could about these stories before pretending to sit in judgment of her.

     "The cause which drove her to become what she became was, at the outset, quite just and honorable. Unfortunately, as often happens to a just cause, it became confused and then perverted. As a result Xena made a number of terrible mistakes. Eventually, though, she saw the truth of what had become of her and her cause and she changed; turning again to a righteous path.

     "As for what I refer to as her mistakes: I doubt a day has passed since her awakening to the brutal truth that she has not had to carry the full weight of the guilt she knows to be hers. Nor, I dare say, has a day passed that she has not tried to make up in some way for the wrongs she has done."

     Maadrik slowly shook his head.

     "I don't know about all that," he said. "I've actually known a few men who served under her banner. Men I trust to tell the truth. From what they have said it seems to me her sword has been soaked in an awful lot of innocent blood."

     "Now that's interesting," Gander said. "These men who say Xena's sword is soaked in innocent blood: By their own admission they served her cause and soldiered under her banner. Were they involved in battles under her leadership?"

     "Yes," Maadrik admitted reluctantly.

     "Maadrik," said Gander, "it has always been my belief, based on considerable observation, that there never has been and there never will be a warrior who does not occasionally, even if inadvertently, take the life or shed the blood of the decent, the honorable, and the innocent.

     "Once arms are resorted to the time for talking is over with. Once the perceived enemy is joined in a fight to the death, once the wolf rises in the breast, a great many die. In the heat of battle no warrior takes time to look into an enemy soldier's eyes to try to

discern some goodness in him.

     "Once war is resorted to its cause becomes virtually irrelevant to those who must do the actual fighting. In battle the only question having any weight is who is to live and who is to die and this question is answered, as often as not, with the slashing of a sword or the thrust of a spear.

     "Thus a man who, under other circumstances, might have made an admirable friend is cut down. So as far as I'm concerned, my friend, no one engaging in warfare can claim his blade is free of innocent blood"

     "So what would you have me do?" Maadrik asked.

     "Let me put it this way." Gander said. "You are destined to play an important part in the leadership of your people in their fight to reclaim what has been so brutally taken from them. But it should be obvious to you that Xena also has an important part to play; both preparing these people and leading them in the fighting we know must come."

     "I agree." said Maadrik. "She has accomplished a great deal in a surprisingly short time. From even the little I've seen it is obvious she is as capable in teaching the arts of war as she is in their practice."

     "Good.'' said Gander. "If that is how you truly feel than making peace with her should pose no problem for you. And need I add the sooner the better?"

     "I'd like to but the question is how to go about it. After all she is a warrior herself. Even before I said a word I felt as though sparks were being thrown. Like steel striking flint."

     "Haha!" Gander let out a whoop of laughter. "Friend Maadrik I can think of a number of excellent reasons for you to have had such a feeling and her being a warrior is, I

suspect, one of the least of them."

     Maadrik's face took on an interesting shade of pink but then Gander's expression became serious.

     "Make peace with Xena, Maadrik. It is absolutely essential. You are very experienced in the realities of war. I shouldn't have to tell you what you must already know. No army, regardless of its size or the justness of its cause, has ever won a battle, much less a war, when there was descent or divisiveness between its leaders.

     "If the two of you work closely together this army of wronged men and women, though small, will be irresistible and this black hearted Sorcerer and those who serve him won't have a chance. Fail to work together .... " He left the remainder of his thought unspoken.

     "Very well." Maadrik said. "I'll do all I can. But I must say I would sooner face a horde of barbarians. As unpleasant as that might be at least I'd be better prepared and know what to do."

     Grinning broadly Gander gave the warrior a good natured slap on the back. "There is one little suggestion I can give you." he said.

     "Anything Wizard. What is it?"

     So great was his desire to laugh out loud it was almost more than Gander could do to control himself.

     "If you really have difficulties in dealing with this ... problem ... consult Gabrielle. When it comes to soothing ruffled fur and feathers she's really quite good at it."

     As it turned out Gabrielle's intercession was not necessary. While Gander and Maadrik had been talking Xena had returned to supervising a group of young men involved in practicing with spears. Most of them were getting the hang of it but there were still a few who's lunges and thrusts were weak; the Headman's son, Aldhoc, among them.

     Xena called him over to her.

     "Aldhoc," she said, "you seem to be getting the idea, sort of; that is if you're trying to tickle your opponent to death. But that could take a long time and while he's laughing he'll be free to cut you in two. Here," she said, reaching for the spear in the young man's hands, "let me show you again."

     Handing the weapon to Xena Aldhoc stepped back to watch.

     With the spear held firmly in both hands Xena set herself solidly. Then extending the weapon forward she simultaneously lifted her left foot and pushed off with her right ending up with most her weight coming down on her left leg which was now bent at the knee while her right leg was fully extended behind her. This offensive move had been executed with great speed, tremendous power, and a fluidity of movement which Aldhoc still wasn't sure he'd ever be able to copy.

     After going through the movements several more times she handed the spear back to Aldhoc. Showing him again where and how to hold the spear's shaft and how to place his feet she led the youth through the lunging thrusts time and again until she could see he was beginning to understand better how to do it. Then she walked him over to one of the other young men who had gotten it down cold and asked him to continue working with Aldhoc until he could show he really had the hang of it.

     She was still standing there watching the two youths practice when Maadrik came up behind her.

     "I too was once all thumbs with two left feet," he said.

     Xena turned to face him. He was smiling, albeit a bit sheepishly.

     "In fact that's pretty much how I feel right now."

     "Oh? How come?" Xena asked.

     "I think," he said, "I put one of my two left feet squarely in my mouth when we were introduced a little while ago; when I mentioned your past. Sometimes, Xena, my mouth gets ahead of my mind and I end up saying things which don't come out the way I intended. Anyway, if I said anything that hurt you, I really am sorry."

     Xena had a sense of what it had cost the huge, grizzled, old warrior to apologize as he had.

     "Its OK Maadrik," she said. "If I were to apologize for every ill conceived remark I've ever made I wouldn't have time for anything else."

     Saying this she extended her hand which he quickly enveloped in his own.

     "Can we talk for a bit?" he asked.

     First turning back to watch the young men who were still hard at it with their spears Xena said, "Sure."

     The two of them slowly walked away from the drill field.

     "I'd be surprised if you haven't been wondering why it took us so long to join up with the villagers, here." Maadrik said, thoughtfully.

     Turning her head she looked at him.

     "I must admit," she said, "that thought has crossed my mind."

     Maadrik was silent for a moment.

     "When everything broke lose," he said, "I, and those with me, were on the opposite side of the realm. The first idea we had that something was up was when we saw the smoke, from a great distance, as it rose over the village. It took us the best part of the day to get back to the village.

     "When we got there we found it had been reduced to little more than smoldering rubble with bodies laying everywhere. Even then those black uniformed soldiers, who had supplanted me and my men, were going from body to body, mangling and mutilating the corpses; making certain none were alive.

     "We had no way of knowing either how this nightmare had started or what had become of any survivors. Indeed, for a while, we didn't even know there were survivors. About the only thing we could do was to keep an eye on the doings at the fortress and try to protect the people in the outlaying districts as much as possible.

     "The first suspicion we had there was something of interest happening here in the mountains was when we saw one of their patrols head in this direction and then fail to return. We would have come to investigate sooner but we were still engaged in rounding up the rest of the old guard, gathering as many of the people as we could find, and providing for their welfare and defense.

     "All of this took a long time to accomplish. Almost two months. It wasn't until a few of days ago we were finally able to spare enough guardsmen to make up a patrol. Then we followed the track until we were challenged at your first outpost. The rest you know."

     Having listened patiently to Maadrik's account Xena began to question him.      

     "Besides the men you brought with you how many more do you have in your force?" she asked.

     "Besides the ten who came with me there are forty more who are taking care of those people we were able to round up."

     "And how many would that be?" Xena asked.

     "The last count I had," Maadrik said, "was about three hundred and eighty men,

women, and children."

     This was beginning to sound better and better to Xena.

     "Of those three hundred and eighty how many, do you think, are in any shape to bear arms?" she wanted to know.

     "Perhaps two hundred," Maadrik replied. "Maybe a few more."

     Xena was silent for several moments, thinking, before putting her next question to Maadrik.

     "Were we able to provide arms for all of them would you be able to get the arms back to your people and train them in their use?"

     His answer was both instantaneous and emphatic."Yes!"

     "I can only suppose," Xena said, "there is much you can tell us about the lay of the land in the vicinity of the village and about the fortress as well." This was more a statement than a question.

     "As a matter of fact there is," Maadrik said, "including the location of the entrance to a secret tunnel which leads into the fortress keep proper."

     This was just the sort of thing Xena had been quietly hoping for. Given this kind of sound, detailed, information they could now begin, in earnest, to formulate a sensible plan of battle.

     Xena told Maadrik this was just the kind of information they had been lacking but it would probably be best for him to hold off saying more until they could get together with the others including Akress and Gander.

     Realizing Maadrik had been on the move for quite some time Xena suggested he use the next several hours to take care of such personal needs as a meal, a bath, and some rest.

     "Your right of course," Maadrik said with a grin. "I could do with something to eat. And, come to it, I likely am more noticeable than I like, down-wind."

     When they parted Xena went in search of Akress, Gander, Gabrielle and the others. She was about to convene their first, real, council of war.