“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>In no time with the help of an older village woman named
Mara and her teenage son they had cleaned, sewed and bandaged the
two soldiers and had everyone else resting comfortably. As she
finished the last bandage, she noticed the older woman watching her
with an odd look on her face.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>When the woman realized that Xena was aware of her stare
she blushed, "I'm sorry. It just amazes me that warriors
so fierce can have the gentle touch of a healer."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>"Warriors?"

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>The woman nodded, "Yes. The Captain has been
tending to our wounded personally. To watch her with the wounded
and see her with the children, you would never suspect that she can
be as fierce as Aries when there's trouble."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>"Killing is easy," Xena responded, "To
save and preserve life, that's the hard job."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Mara grabbed a water flask and stood up her bones
creaking in protest, "Bethany said almost the same
thing." And she moved off to offer water to the wounded.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Xena scanned the activity around her. The soldiers moved
quickly and efficiently. With the help of some of the villagers
they had already cleared the bodies of the slavers and were almost
done setting up camp.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>A large fire was built in the center of camp and the
smell of stew was beginning to float on the evening air. Two of the
village women and one soldier worked at fixing the meal, cutting
vegetables and slicing bread. She spotted the soldiers in the
dimming light guarding the perimeter of the camp about thirty yards
out.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>On the far side of the camp were the children, and where
she found Bethany. The children ranged in age from infants to just
shy of teen age. A middle-aged woman and one of the younger woman
cared for the infants and toddlers changing diapers and feeding
them.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Bethany kneeled in the dirt surrounded by six children
playing a game that involved drawing in the dirt. One of the little
girls had her leg in splints that kept getting in her way, but
Bethany took her time with them allowing the girl to keep up with
the rest of the children. Earlier the children had been quiet and
sedate. Many of them now orphans had seen their parents and
siblings murdered for no reason.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Bethany sat with them, talking to them instead of at
them. Played their games and lost convincingly and when a tear
appeared she comforted them like a parent. Watching her with the
children and the adults of the village helped Xena understand why
Bethany had fought so fearlessly even in the face of defeat.