Warlord Daze

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.

Xex Alert: Oh Boy Is There. .This is a Prurient Piece with a Bit of Kink (If you hear the crack of the whip then you'll be in the neighborhood) Proceed at your own risk. :)

The knife throw started without much preamble, but with a lot of hollering. Vivian turned in Xena's direction and bowed before even starting. Xena had nodded regally. The Warlord's fingers stroked the flush skin of Gabrielle's belly. The bard's face was hidden at the crook of Xena's long neck and her shoulder. She'd snuggled in with a helpless moan. The dark woman had permitted this because it meant Gabrielle's naked body was pressed against her. She was ripe for the taking and it was SO HARD to resist the urge to take the woman there and then, but it would have defeated Xena's purpose. So she continued her finger's teasing, but had backed off a bit now that they had Hercules' attention.

The big guy's man bothered with the protocol when he saw Vivian act in that way, lest Hercules find fault, but afterwards he immediately set about throwing his knife at the large, round target that had been placed in the middle of the floor. He folded leathered and stud armored arms and smirked when his knife hit dead center. He lost that smirk, however, when Vivian's knife slid besides his and was also marked as dead center.

A new wine cask was opened in the back kitchen. Cups were poured. He took a gulp. She took a gulp. The target was switched for something smaller, but still round. Knives flew. Thunk Thunk! Xena observed without smiling, though she was very pleased at the outcome.

Hercules was still contemplating the notion of "fun." Ideas were running rampant in his mind. The warrior princess decided to guide him along. With the groundwork laid, Xena upped the ante by getting him to offer a wager upon the contestants. They discussed the quality of the players, with Xena offering a few assessments and concluding. "They seem evenly matched," the Warrior Princess said. He grunted an affirmative, though he really wasn't watching the contestants. Her smile was toothy, "Yours is good, but Mine will win."

His eyes flickered with sudden interest. He heard the challenge. He grinned back. "Is that so?" He pushed the slattern away from him, sending her into a surprised Iolaus' arms. The small blonde man escorted her safely away before returning to his spot besides the big man. He looked at the people who'd accompanied Xena and tried to place them. Something niggled in the back of his brain. He knew. ..that slave. .the redhead. .from somewhere.

Xena raised her eyebrows, let her hand slide seductively to Gabrielle's navel. Xena swirled a nail lightly against the bard's skin, causing the slave to inhale. It looked like a flinch. Gabrielle's lips found the curve of Xena's neck and pressed. There was a barely discernible whimper. Xena's gaze lowered from Hercules, giving him a false sense of power. She nodded, almost shyly, then lifted her eyes to meet his. Her expression softened, "Well," she said, pausing as if unsure, then strengthening her voice, "yes, I think so." She licked her lower lip before dropping her gaze and then turning her attention back to the players.

Hercules was distracted. "Would you bet on it?" He fingered his beard and leered. He was sitting up and there was a wicked twinkle in his eye.

"Bet?" she said. Gabrielle's hand slid along the supple surface of Xena's leathers just below her breastplate. Her fingers were so sensitized to the leathers feel that there was a small shiver of a mini orgasm. Xena recognized it and her expression seemed to harden. There was a soft nip at her neck. The warrior princess squeezed the bard's waist almost brutally. Her fingers scraped against Gabrielle's lower back. The slave's face lifted and she gasped. Xena flashed her a narrow look, easily interpreted as anger. Or, if you were her lover, lust.

Thunk Thunk! The target was wheeled out amidst shouts and laughter. Gold was exchanged. The tie remained. Hercules' man was looking a bit red in the face. Vivian maintained her calm Amazonian exterior. When she returned to her table Esther kissed her passionately before handing the woman her knife. Vivian grabbed Aedal's hair, lifted him up and kissed him fiercely before letting him go and grinning evilly. Solari served her a drink and nodded. She was surprised by a kiss of equal intensity, and a whisper. The faithful Amazon stepped away from the table, blushing. The wine bottle in her hand shook, but the signal was passed to Eponin.

Xena's was not the only lap that was occupied. Wine flowed freely among the warriors. The food was hot and the music was good. The jokes, the talk were ribald and raucous.

"What kind of Bet?" Xena purred, just loud enough for the son of a God to hear. She pulled Gabrielle against her again and shifted comfortably in her seat. Subtle signals were sent between her people, those known to Hercules and those who were not. There were some there that even Iolaus didn't know about. They were sending totally different signals.

The target was changed. The youngster stood nervously, holding the wooden mug of ale out, as far away from his body as he could get it. The mug wobbled in his hand.

Hercules grinned and made his proposal.