Chapter Two

Priestess

"My Lord, the next one is waiting for an audience with you. Shall I send her in?"

"Yes, and inform the others that they will have to come back tomorrow. I grow tired."

"Yes, My Lord." And the guard backed away to fetch the woman.

Belos looked over to Gabrielle, and to Xena, who stood behind the Queen's right shoulder.

"I know these things tire you out," he said to her. "But as king and queen we have a duty to the citizens to hear their complaints and grievances."

Gabrielle smiled at him, but was too tired to answer.

Just then the guard escorted the woman into the room. She kept her head bowed until she was a short distance away, then slowly looked up to the king and ueen. For a dozen heartbeats no one spoke. Then the woman said in a strangely familiar voice, "I am at your service."

Gabrielle's right hand went back to grasp Xena's, then in a loud whisper, said, "By the gods, Xena, she looks exactly like you!"

When Xena didn't answer, Gabrielle shook Xena's hand, eyes still riveted on the familiar face worn by the stranger.

"Do you see?" Gabrielle asked, louder now.

"I see her." Xena replied in a calm, neutral voice.

If Gabrielle had been able to tear her eyes away from the woman to look at Xena, she would have seen nothing unusual on Xena's face. But deep inside of her, down in the pit of Xena's gut there was a very disturbing, unfamiliar, and almost forgotten feeling. A feeling of HATE.

For the first time in more years than she could remember, Xena felt hatred. Unreasoning, inexplicable loathing. Only her tremendous power of self control kept Xena from drawing her sword and killing the woman where she stood.

Smiling slightly, the woman said, "I am the High Priestess Lorelei."

"What — what can we do for you?" King Belos finally managed to say.

"It is not what you can do for me, but, rather, what I can do for you," she replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I have been reading the signs, and they tell me there is a great evil coming to this peaceful land."