The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
Seragi stood in the center of a great circle. He was surrounded by Amazons. Their masked faces peered at him coldly and gave him chills. Their obvious armored presence gave him pause. His hands and feet were heavily shackled. There were two women who wore no masks; The dark one who'd nearly taken his life earlier and one he had grown up with, played with, crushed on, and forgot. Jacosta. Her expression held no mercy.
An Amazon spoke justice to the unshaven, unkempt quivering male in chains. She spoke honor. She told him he was a spy (he was). She told him he'd endangered the Amazon nation (he did). She told him that the penalty was death (it was). Then Eudora, wearing the judge's fierce beaked mask, described the sentence.
He'd have a choice. Death by combat or Death by beheading. If he managed to survive combat, they would set him free on the opposite side of Amazon borders. He would be banished from Amazon lands forever and any Amazon who saw him, anywhere close to Amazon land could take his life, at any time. She didn't define what *she* meant by close. Then the judge asked if there was anyone to speak for him.
No one came forward and no one came forward and no one came forward. The judge lifted her hand, "Make your . . ."
"Wait!" Jacosta surprised herself by moving forward. It wasn't what she expected to do.
Eudora's voice was filled with amazement that translated past the mask, "*You* would speak for *Him!*"
The lanky woman stammered, "I. .I. ." She wasn't sure why she'd stepped forward. One minute she was watching the preceding, and agreeing with the verdict and the next she found herself . .pushed. .forward. "I. ." She closed her eyes and took a breath and was shaking her head to clear it. She lifted her head and saw the bright red of sunlight penetrating her eyelids. Then everything went white. When she opened her eyes, she was a different person.
Oh, she remained cognizant of herself. She knew she was Jacosta, but she felt as if a part of her awakened. A strong, commanding, knowing part of her. Even her voice was different, losing the tremor that seemed to always be behind everything she said in life. There was no hint of doubt in her manner.
"I am Jacosta, priestess to the Gods of Amazon. I have been called for this time." She pointed forcefully at Seragi and he stepped back, stumbling. "His life is forfeit to the Amazons, but there is another path to be taken. His life is to be given to the Gods. His seed, to us. His feet are never to leave the temples where the Gods have set his abiding. *He* is never to leave Amazon lands. When his seed is finally given to those chosen, *He* will be no more a he. Give him to me, and I will teach him his Path."
Eudora was flabbergasted. "What?!!!!" This was so NOT in the scrolls. But then, when had anything regarding the seven been in the rule books?
Iovene, wearing her owl's mask stepped forward. She was ever the interpreter, "What our sister is saying, fair judge, is that the gods have uses for him; to *our* benefit." She looked at Jacosta's face, which seemed to glimmer with light.
Eudora looked at the dowser, then at the priestess. Then she turned to the Queen, "I must abide by the law. My Queen, *you* are the law. What say you?"
Gabrielle, who sat upon the dais, considered. Things were very quiet, save for the rustling of feathers, and leather as people shifted on their feet. She looked from Eudora to Iovene to Jacosta, then at Xena, who stood by her side. The Queen sat up and stepped down from the dais. She walked to Eudora and spoke into her ear. The judge nodded. The man looked confused.
He stared at a woman he knew but hardly recognized. Jacosta returned the look from eyes that glowed and he felt a drop in his belly. It could have been fear, but it felt more like a recognition. It was as if, for a moment he could see paths before him. Two ways led to death. The other, to a new unfamiliar life where he ceased to be. It was a crossroad, and it scared him.
Eudora's voice was clear as a bell. "The Queen has spoken in her wisdom. Death by combat, Death by beheading, or Life given to the Amazons. Are there any objections?" There was a resounding silence except for a shift in the wind. Again her voice carried, "So let it be."
The Judge's mask turned to him again. "Now man, make your choice."
Another man would have fought. Seragi knew this, but he was never much of a fighter. That was why he'd chosen to spy. It was a sit down job. Another man would have chosen beheading. Seragi knew this, but he was afraid to die. Pain he could endure, but death...was forever. Temple life was something that was familiar to him. His father, after all, was a priest. He wondered if the Amazons worshiped the same gods, but Even if the Amazon way was different, surely there would be . . .similarities. And there would be Jacosta. Who'd just saved his life. His own heart glimmered with a seed of gratitude and awakened childhood memories.
The shackles shook noisily as he gripped the chains in his hands and made the choice. He looked at the priestess, and spoke his vow, "I choose life among the Amazons." His life was changed forever.
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These pages were last updated: May 23, 1998
İMay 1998