“c72″> 

“c72″>"What the Hades do you think you’re doing?
This is not only stupid and foolish, it’s outright suicidal,
and it won’t work."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"It’s the only way to buy our warriors the time
they’ll need. There’s no doubt Darphus will try to kill
the hostages, and there’s no doubt he will attack the
Amazons. He obviously knew about the festival but he didn’t
know that it had been cut short because of the trial. If it
hadn’t he really would have got to us. I’m sure he
counts on using the Amazon’s territory as vantage point to
conquer his own part of “c72″>Greece, now that
I’m out of the picture, so to say.

“c72″> 

“c72″>"He knows of my abdication, knows that I’m
all but dead. I’m sure, that he ordered the soldiers in the
frontier fort killed, and the ones we fought off some time ago
certainly were part of his army. He always was shrewd. He wanted me
to take the blame for the Amazon’s death. But I hope that his
hatred for me is still stronger than his ambition and hopefully
stronger than his rational self. The knowledge that I’m close
by and the chance to get his hands on me once again without a fight
certainly has speeded up his plan.

“c72″> 

“c72″>"I need the best scouts of the royal guard to
follow me out there. To fight them we’ll have to get the
civilians out of the way, that’s what they will have to do.
The grass is high enough to offer a decent cover. As soon as I hear
the signal of your warriors I’ll try to get Darphus away from
the hostages and give the signal to attack."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"Sounds like a plan though I don’t like it.
May the goddess protect you."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"Thank you, Queen Melosa." When Xena
reappeared at the tree line, she wore nothing but her leathers,
boots, and a light cloak draped around her broad shoulders. She
knelt on one knee in front of the boy. "It’s time to go
back, sprout. Whatever happens, I want you to stay away from
Darphus. I know, you’re afraid for your dad. I will do
everything I can to protect him, but there’s one thing, you
always have to remember: to him, your life is far more important
than his own. So you better take care of
yourself."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"I’m so afraid. Boys are never afraid,
I’m a coward."

“c72″>