The Tour: Chapter 12

Izzy held the striger's reigns firmly in her grip, probably a little more tightly than necessary. Mylek, standing unnecessarily close to a certain tall, dark, and blue eyed warrior, was explaining the training methodology used for the strigers (which had a kind of pack mentality) and the use of the horn which he was handing to her. The demoness turned her attention away from the way he seemed to brush against Xena. The warrior didn't seem to mind, but of course she wouldn't. He was Tartaran. Izzy forced herself to unclench her hand and looked balefully at the striped grass colored creature that was to be her mount.

It wasn't that she didn't like strigers. They were reliable steeds, capable of traveling tremendous distances speedily, for long lengths of time. Their tough hide made excellent boots and other wear. It was simply that she trusted her own feet more.

Still, riding the strigers, they would make better time, and the sooner they got underway, the sooner they were finished. For this, she would sacrifice her prejudice. She sighed and patted the animal's side. Gods, let this be over soon.

Tok stalked around the strigers' legs, checking on everyone within the group. It gave Salmoneus a rush when it blew at his feet, but the stout man had somehow managed not to faint. Melosa was already on her steed. The daggite, lifted itself up on its hind legs, placed its forepaws on the tough striger skin and huffed at the Amazon. Her pale yellow and tan spotted striger, usually a stoic creature, turned its eyes fearfully at the daggite and danced nervously to the side, but Tok didn't lose its place. Melosa reigned the striger in sharply, making that clicking noise she'd been taught to get the gigantic creature to settle down.

Melosa, who'd noticed that the Tartarans kept well away from the daggite, leaned down a bit and carefully, oh so carefully, touched its snout. Gods, for all she knew, it would bite her hand off. But it was worth the risk to show those Tartarans a thing or two. She felt the rush of warm air from its nostrils and gazed steadily into its foreign eyes. The daggite huffed once more at her, accepting her dominance. The pitch of its "voice" was different. She sat up proudly and let the reigns settle comfortably in her hands. Tok dropped down, satisfied, and continued its rounds.

Oriena let out the breath she was holding and shook her head grimly at her love. Sometimes that woman took the scariest risks. Melosa smiled very lightly. She noticed Izzy's attention and inclined her head. The demoness nodded slightly in acknowledgement and leapt skillfully to her mount. Her expression was solemn. She didn't even blink at the way the fine stitches pulled. It didn't feel that bad.

Some of the gathered Tartarans murmured in astonishment at the bravery of the Amazon. Of course, the Amazon Queen's actions only confirmed what they had heard about the tribes, but still it had been an amazing bravery. Most Tartarans stayed a long way away from daggites because they were so notoriously dangerous. It would be something the plainsmen of Mylek's tribe remembered for a long time.

Marcus, who seemed to be fully recovered from his death, sat comfortably astride his steed. He held the reign to Xena's mount. Perdicus, still trying to grasp what happened to him, gazed at the small crowd of plainsmen with watchful eyes. He would have a lot to think about this trip.

Izzy examined the golden marker in her steed's ear. It was a loop, with an engraved image of a daggite dangling at the bottom. All of her groups steeds had such a marker. It identified the strigers as belonging to her "tribe." Even though Izzy had argued that these were Elysians, not Tartarans, Mylek had been insistent. If they flew the banner as they rode, which combined his tribes colors and a new set for hers, which would demonstrate that they were allied, it would act as a deterrent to any other tribes seeking to make a killing.

Izzy had finally given in, but not without making sure that the control of the "tribe" was out of her hand. She was the tour guide. She didn't do groups and wasn't interested in leadership. She left the decision of who should be in charge up to the humans. She would take them where ever they wanted to go, warn them of things that might endanger them, but they would function on their own. Mylek had rolled his eyes.

Stubborn stubborn woman. During his final visit with Xena he wished the warrior luck.

They could not believe the size of the town. It was huge. The ruddy stone walls that surrounded the town were massive. Powerfully built Tartarans guarded the perimeter, walking above them along the walls length without fear of falling. Xena thought they width was at least a good ten feet across. That is if the entrance tunnel was any indication. Izzy paid their way in, since they had yet to trade in the tawny colored Firzin they'd hunted.

That had been a sight, to watch the giant deer like creatures leap right over their heads in an effort to "escape" the daggite. . .who'd just been teasing. Oriena, upon Izzy's suggestion, had taken one down with a single shot to the head. They ended up with three, one each strapped to a striger's back.

The buildings were huge, varied and there were a multitude of colors ranging from a deep rusty purple to a earthy green color. The streets were wide and paved with deep brown brick. Tok, now collared and leashed, padded besides Izzy. For some reason the crowds gave them a lot of space. The strigers, who were still in good shape for the amount of travel they'd done, had been stabled. The "tribe" was now on foot. They wore the colors that Mylek had provided.

In an effort to bring about group cohesiveness (or so Salmoneus described it) he said they ought to call themselves something. Something memorable. No one had been able to come up with a suitable name though (mostly because everyone else thought it was a silly notion) and Izzy had been more than a little surly that morning. She rode ahead or walked ahead of them most of the time, ignoring the humans as best she could.

The demon had been right. The colors had acted as a deterrent, for the most part. A group of plainsmen (not his tribe) had joined and accompanied them a ways, trying to get a feel for the newly formed group. Izzy had ridden close then, and Tok hand paced protectively among the adventurers, nipping at the plainsmen's strigers when they got too close. When the plainsmen had tried to talk to Izzy as if she were the leader, she deferred to Melosa. Xena, like Izzy, had refused to be the one "in charge." The plainsmen had been surprised to meet a real Amazon. It got the group invited to stay the night, but Melosa had explained, very graciously to the horned blue woman that they had someone important they were searching for and she described Gabrielle.

That had resulted in a spate of good information about a certain blonde woman who "used to travel the lands." Apparently Gabrielle got around a lot. Or she did. It had been a very long time since the blue one's tribe had seen the wise one. Because of her, they'd only rarely had a time of howling. If they found her, would they bring her back to visit?

Melosa said they would try. The other tribe left on good terms and the adventurers had a lot to think about. Izzy had glowered and moved back up front. .way up front.