“c1″> 

“c1″>"Xena, we all know that you’re probably the
best fighter we ever will have living among us. What we are talking
about now was ten years ago; I can’t believe that you were
already this good way back then. Would you please
elaborate!"

“c1″> 

A sad
half-smile flickered over Xena’s face. She wasn’t ready
to answer this question and began to regret her insistence on a
public trial. She waited for the sting of the whip on her body but
it didn’t come. Instead, the older woman was directly behind
her and whispered in her ear.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Follow the voice of your heart, little one, and
you will get what you really crave."

“c1″> 

Xena
swallowed hard, her eyes found Ephiny’s and she answered.
"Technically speaking I wasn’t as good a fighter as I am
now. But at the same time, I was better. I was convinced that being
a good warrior was dependent on the number of adversaries killed.
Killing was all I lived for. The fear in my opponent’s eyes a
heartbeat before I sent them to the river class=”c1″>Styx sent surges of
energy through my body and kept me from feeling exhaustion and
pain."

“c1″> 

She now
turned her head to the jury. "The battle haze most of you saw
me in some days ago is only a weak reminder of how I fought then.
There were simply no holds bared. Nonetheless I still
wouldn’t have had the slightest chance to win but for two
things. The council members never made an attempt at a joint
attack. I easily could have been overpowered but there were only
one on one or one on two combats. I still don’t know if they
acted out of a sense of honour or if they
foll…"

“c1″> 

Xena
fell silent. She heard the crack of the whip and this time she
cried out in pain. Gasping she slowly continued. "The healing
arts were something I always was interested in. I knew a lot about
herbs and roots and how to use them. At the time I was convinced
that one can’t be a warrior and a healer all in one, so I
didn't use my skills as I should have.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"In the east, in Chin I experienced the mind
altering power of certain plants. I wanted to use them to control
my own men as well as my enemies…. Anyway, before searching
the confrontation with Queen Cyane I took a combination of herbs
that sharpened my senses, sped up my reflexes and at the same time
slowed down the flow of my blood. Together with my innate
ruthlessness, this gave me the edge I needed to stand a chance. I
didn’t commit murder but the way I killed them wasn’t
much better."