In the Temple school, she met her best friend,
Aradia, daughter of a magistrate of a neighbouring province. The
two grew close and finally took the Oath of Spirit Sisters, an oath
which connected their spirits in a bond stronger than blood ties.
The two priestesses shared an empathy not only with each other, but
with all and both completed their healer training. Aradia was
compelled by responsibility to return to her homeland, but
Jaièl remained in the Temple until she had learned all they
could teach her, rising to the rank of magic-wielder. Aradia
returned as often as she could and soon had also attained that most
coveted rank. Together, the sisters made a formidable team. It had
been Jaièl's idea, however to go on this mission, to find
her lost sister. Aradia had agreed to accompany her, mainly to keep
her sister out of trouble, but also because of the deep affection
she, too felt for Neptunis and a desire to restore one of their own
to her people. The princess suppressed another sigh, knowing the
warrior's sharp hearing would pick it up and Xena would grow
annoyed. She hoped Xena would stop soon, but she respected the
warrior's ability to discern which stand of trees or clumps of
brush afforded the best shelter from the wind and cold. Jaièl
knew that when Xena found a likely spot, she would call a halt and
then they could build a fire.

Gabrielle, sensing Jaièl's discomfort, rode
up alongside the princess and whispered – knowing her partner would
hear and get the hint. "I'm freezing! Sure hope we stop
pretty soon. How are you doing, Your Highness?" asked the
Bard.

"Oh, I'm fine," said Jaièl,
brightly, feigning energy she didn't really have. "And
please, Gabrielle, you don't have to call me that.
Okay?"

"Sure," said the Bard, grinning. It had
been Gabrielle who had volunteered Xena and herself as an escort to
these two. Xena had agreed, partly to indulge the Bard and partly
because she was intrigued. She had heard of the Princess Nadi's
kidnapping and had been amazed that no trace of the child had ever
been found, given the extent of the search. Now, so many years
later, Jaièl claimed to have located her – using her
"magic". Xena wasn't impressed by magic – too often,
she had seen that "magic" was nothing more than trickery
and sleight of hand – or godly interference. True magic, like that
these women claimed to possess, was rare, if it existed at all,
outside of Olympus – which Xena very much doubted. Yet there was
something here…some sense…a feeling, of sorts, which she picked
up from both Aradia and Jaièl – much like Xena experienced
when a god was nearby, only deeper below the surface of her
consciousness. Something she could only just perceive, but not
quite capture. It intrigued her, to say the least.