The Tour: Chapter 11

He found her sitting alone. Her friends were currently involved in learning what they could about the tribe ways. Melosa couldn't believe there were children here. Perdicus hadn't left Marcus' side since waking. Izzy was still in the bath, perhaps tending her wounds, but no one knew. She'd refused anyone's help, telling them it would heal soon enough.

Stubborn woman.

Her long dark hair was combed back, braided. She'd traded in her bloodied leathers for black leather trousers and a vibrant blue tunic. The leathers were being cleaned by Imani. She was expert at those things, or so Imani said.

"Hello Xena," he said. His greeting was warm, friendly.

The blue eyed woman looked up at him, appearing unstartled, "Hello Borias." She deliberately relaxed, though her hand subtly shifted to where she'd placed her Chakram.

He nodded, "I saw you here and thought we should talk." He indicated the space beside her, "May I?"

Oh, so he was going for charming. Fine then. She nodded and let her body go soft. Borias sat down and took one of her hands in his. She deliberately chose not to yank it away, but to see where this was leading. She looked into his eyes and felt that old blaze of attraction. Gods. What was he doing here?

He smiled, "We have a son." He said it with pride. "You honored me by carrying him. I thank you." He smiled serenely at her stare, "You honored me more, by giving him a good parent." He squeezed her hands gently in his. Xena nodded, not quite able to place in words what she felt. "I thank you again."

He lifted her hand, opened his vest and placed it over his heart. Her fingers reflexively felt the scars on his chest and she looked at him with a suddenly painful understanding. He looked intently at her, "Not everything is as it seems Xena." He let go of her hand, but it remained there for a moment longer. Now she knew why she recognized the accent. She took a breath.

"I have a story to tell you Xena. Do you wish to hear it?" The ex warlord slowly withdrew her hand and nodded carefully. He began.

"There was a woman, a long time ago, who made it to the plains. Ours is not the only tribe, but she entered near our territory. She was young, naive. She ran when she saw us, as well she should. Of course, we captured her. I had her for dinner. She was back the next day, though at a later time. It was the same thing. She was back the next day. Earlier. So she was lunch. It was like this. . I don't know how long. Every day. Every day she came back, earlier and earlier. She got sneaky. She learned, somewhere, how to use a sword. She would make it farther and farther into the plains before we discovered her. She would fight sometimes and she got better and better, but she never won. There were too many of us.

It got to where, when she would see us, she wouldn't run anymore. Then, she started greeting us by name." Xena stared at him, "One day, I don't know which of us decided it, we let her live a little longer and ride with us." He looked at his hands and stared out, past the warrior. Her expression had become stone, "The next day it was longer, and the next, until she was living among us, learning our ways. She wouldn't eat the meat." He laughed, "She said, she'd been on both ends and didn't find it fulfilling." The warrior felt a cold shiver go up her spine. She closed her eyes briefly. "So she started trying other things. You should have seen some of the scars she got. I told her, since she wasn't going to be our lunch, I was going to have her a different way." Xena's breathing stilled. Her vision turned dark, but she tried to hold back. She needed the full story. Kill later. Maim later.

He sighed, "I never got around to it." Xena shuddered out the breath she was holding. "She left one night, during the time of the howling. I didn't see her again for a long time, until one day she was walking the plain again. She said she'd been caught out on second level. We had a nice talk. She'd come by every now and then, to tell me where she'd been. I didn't see her cherub face or golden red hair after fifth level." He looked up at Xena and patted her leg. She looked at him with deep blue eyes, "I tell you this, so you know."

He continued. "I asked her once, why she did this. What drove her on. She said it was a great love and that she'd promised to meet that love at the portal of the Elysian Fields. I told her we all make that promise, but sometimes it can't be kept." He blinked, "She said, 'I know, but I have to try.' Then she disappeared and I never saw her again." He set his shoulders forward, rested his forearms on his thighs and let his fingers twine together.

"I met Izzy not too long after. That's not really her name. It's Izacon. And it wasn't really a meeting. It was a battle." He smiled grimly, "She was wild. More wild than many I've seen. She tore out my heart. Three times. The first time we battled she said it was for her. The second time she said it was for her heart. The third time she said it was for her heart's heart."

He looked firmly at Xena. "I am not bragging when I say that I am hard to beat. I have been here a long time. I made it to sixth level. Izzy made it to ninth. That is why I have the scars. It is said, that ninth level, if they surpass the madness, they can kill forever, a truly final sleep.

When she came for me the fourth time, I thought it was over. I expected to exist no more." He breathed out a sigh, "But this time, instead of taking my heart, she gave it back." He looked at Xena. "I have a wife now." Xena nodded, expecting to hear. . ."Her name is Jilith." The warrior's eyes flipped open. "She has brought great peace to my life. When Izzy introduced us, I couldn't believe my good fortune. I have wanted to provide the same for her. That's why I teased her and called you her woman."

"She needs someone who would appreciate the good in her and her wildness. I know you. I've watched you change. You are like a coin. Similar in content, but different on the sides. It would be good for her to have someone like you." He grinned lopsidedly. "All she does is wander this world. . . .I don't think she's ever. . ."

Xena interrupted, "But I saw. . "

"That was sex. Nothing of the heart. It happens to us sometimes, when we get too involved in the battle. We can't really help it."

"Borias?"

"Yes."

A warm hand descended to his lap, then grabbed and yanked. He winced and tried to move with the pull, "You hurt her like that" A vision of those deep angry wounds filled her mind with its bloody image and she came oh so near to doing the deed right then, "You fuck her like that again," she deserved better, "and I will tear this out by the root. Every day. You understand?"

She felt the change more than saw it. He glared down at her. His voice was feral. "You forget what I am Xena."

She yanked harder and he gasped, surprised by the pain and the strength of her arm. She stared up at him with roiling cold blue eyes. "You forget what *I* am, Borias. .Or were you lying when you said you'd been paying attention to my life?"

He shuddered first and nodded finally. She forced her fingers to unclench and moved her hand away. He sat back up and tried manfully not to favor that bit of flesh (couldn't help the wincing though). "Xena?"

"Yes."

He gave her a long assessing glance, "It won't be easy. She says she, 'doesn't do humans.' She means it. I would take the long way around, if I were you. Though," he grinned wickedly at her, "If anyone can break her defenses. . ." He smiled in reminiscence. "You always were a great seductress."

Xena pursed her lips and folded her arms. Her expression was thoughtful. "Borias, can I ask you a question?"

"Yes, Xena."

"You changed your shape, can . . ."

"There is a difference between can and will Xena."

The warrior nodded her understanding. She stood up quickly. Her mind was already making plans. First things first, "Thank you Borias."

"You're welcome."

"Get out," she said. Her voice was mild, but her back had stiffened as soon as dark warrior entered the the tent. Tok tilted her daggite head, looking back and forth between them.

"No." she said. Xena's voice was just as mild. There was the sound of something thumping on a table, and the tinkle of a ceramics. Izzy could smell the herbs. She could smell Xena. The daggite whuffled once, then put her head between her paws. No threat.

She turned around in the tub. This was the second bath. The first had been ruddy with her stain. She didn't grimace with the turning, though she wanted to. "I told you I didn't need help."

Xena picked up a fresh towel and strode to the tub. "Who says I'm helping *you.*" Izzy looked at her in confusion. The warrior continued. "There are three men and two women out there who depend on you being your best." She let the towel unfold into her open arms, "One of them has already lost a token. Will you be your best if you don't see to those wounds?"

Xena watched impassively as Izzy worked that thought process out in her brain. Xena was relying on the demoness' altruism. It was the only trait that she absolutely knew was still there. The horned one pursed her lips and looked at the warrior. Then she nodded. The water drizzled down almost crimson skin when she stood up. Xena pretended not to notice and willed her heart to keep its even beat.

"Fine," Izzy said.