“c1″> 

"I
hope it didn’t interfere with your traditions, Queen Melosa.
If it did I’m ready to face the consequences. The men went
into this battle of their own accord, I asked them to do it but it
wasn’t an order, and when Palemon asked me to sing I
couldn’t refuse. It’s been years since I last sang for
my men. I long ago lost the purity of the heart necessary to do it
the right way; I hope Ephiny will preserve
hers."

“c1″> 

“c1″>Xena’s face told Melosa that she wasn’t
ready to really open up and tell her more but she still
couldn’t hold her tongue. "No, it didn’t
interfere, Xena, it completed the ceremony. This song, that’s
how it all began, isn’t it? You were trying to protect your
family."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"That’s how it all began but the end
doesn’t justify the means, Queen Melosa. I’ll better go
and check on Gabrielle, she really was pissed off at not being
allowed to attend to the funeral. I’ll be in your hut as soon
as possible. I know that a personal slave has to spend the nights
near her mistress. And I guess you didn’t change this part of
the law."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"No, I didn’t but I also didn’t count
on having a personal slave at all. I don’t even have a
servant. There’s a servant’s room next to my bedchamber
I used to store things in. It will be yours as soon as all is
ready. But as long as Gabrielle needs you, you’ll spend the
nights in the healer’s hut, and you won’t leave it
without my permission."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Yes, mistress. It’s a good temporary
substitute for the night restraints."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"How did you get to know so many details about our
laws and traditions, Xena?"

“c1″> 

A sad
smile adorned Xena’s features. "About ten years ago I
lived as a guest of the Northern Amazons and I learned a great
deal. Queen Cyane asked me to stay and become one of them. In
return I killed their leaders one by one, Queen Melosa. – If
you don’t mind I’d like to return to the
village."

“c1″> 

Melosa
was utterly unable to do more than to give a brief nod. She was
baffled and speechless. She knew ten years ago the Northern Amazons
were destroyed by Xena’s army but the children and elders who
over the years found their way to other tribes and villages
apparently didn’t know any details or were reluctant to share
them. One more reason to speak to Akyra.

“c1″> 

When
Melosa was on her way back to her hut, she saw Xena leaving
Artemis’ temple.

“c1″> 

END OF
FLASHBACK

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

x x x x
x x x x x x

“c7″> 

“c1″> 

The Conqueror
was said to be Ares’ “c1″>Chosen, so why did she
spend time in Artemis’ temple? One of the many questions
Melosa still was unable to answer about her slave. She went there
every evening, stayed for about a quarter of a candlemark, and then
returned to the village. But she found herself reluctant to
question Xena about it.

“c1″> 

During
the last ten days she had learned a lot about her; first of all,
that she still had some difficulty seeing her as
slave.

“c1″> 

Xena
was a rather self-confident woman who never shied away from a task
and attended to every single one of them as if it was the most
important thing of the world. But there were also moments when the
former Conqueror of Greece and Rome – and to her surprise
Melosa also didn’t see her in this role any longer –
was sad and almost self-despising, notably when compelled to speak
about her past.

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″>-x-x-x-x-

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c10″> 

“c10″>