Some men were not meant to drink, Iolaus thought with a sour feeling building in his stomach, and his current companion was one of those men. He drank slowly but greedily from a wineskin a deer-faced Amazon had thrown to him. He slurped the wine as if it were a lifeline. This sickened Iolaus but, to a small degree, he understood. After six months in this Tartarus Gusaus was doing everything he could to forget where his quest had ended.

Iolaus had gazed upward at the mask who threw the wine-skin, briefly wondering about her true appearance.

She looked down at him, "New meat." she had said, her voice deep and acerbic. "Be a good little slave, blondie - tell us all we want to know and do all we demand - and we'll reward you for services rendered too." She then laughed bawdily and turned away from the pen.

Hours passed slowly and Iolaus tried everything. He could not break the chain, thus freeing he and a pleasantly soused Gusaus.

'I'm just not Hercules.' Iolaus thought bitterly and not for the first time. The hunter now wished he had told his best friend about what he planned to do. But, at the time, going alone just seemed the smart (and heroic) thing to do. Besides, if Hercules knew what Iolaus intended, he might have talked him out of it. He probably would have attempted to reason with his best buddy and Iolaus always hated when he did that ... because he was seldom wrong. Iolaus always ended up giving in to what Hercules advised because the demigod was wise and that god-part of him gave Hercules an uncanny perception.

But this time ... this time it was different. Hercules couldn't know what Iolaus intended because it was private, a deeply personal matter. Iolaus didn't leave his soul-friend in the dark about much but this time it was just necessary.

Gusaus and Iolaus had spoken only a hand full of words to one another for such a long period of time that the hunter was nearly stricken when the man called over to him. "I know what you're thinking. You're wondering why a guy like me, who doesn't look like he'd be half bad on the battle field, has allowed himself to be beaten down like this, hunh?"

Iolaus didn't say anything. It was the wine talking. He just looked at Gusaus as he swirled his chain about like a jump rope. Truth was, Iolaus did wonder about it.

"Well, I tried!" he nearly spat, "And once I almost succeeded in getting away. I was being dragged to the Queen's chamber when I made a break for it ... But these women! They attack in groups. They're so strong! I never had a chance!" Gusaus then furiously threw down the wineskin and lifted the front of his tunic. "They did this!"

Long intersecting scars marked his hard abdomen. They were red and deep and could have been made by a whip, hot poker or a dagger. Perhaps all three, and if the Amazons were really inventive ...

Again, Iolaus felt sickened.

"They told me if I tried again they'd kill me ... but there would be torture first. I have to stay alive, Iolaus." Then his tone grew softer and he looked away from the staring hunter, "I want to find my daughter."

"We will find your daughter." Iolaus assured, gently.

Gusaus looked again at the blond warrior and was about to comment, perhaps ridicule his optimism or thank him for his sanguinity, when his focus directed above Iolaus' head.

Seeing the hardly disguised fear, Iolaus twisted around as far as he could. He saw three tall, shapely Amazons approaching their prisoners. All were masked, of course, and all held lethal looking spears.

"The Queen wants to see you." A warrior woman with the face of a black panther slid a key into the lock that fastened Iolaus to the wooden post, "Be prepared to answer ALL questions asked of you, man. Don't hesitate or you'll regret it."

"And what if I'm not able to answer these questions?" Iolaus queried, boldly.

Iolaus saw the two masked Amazons beside Panther looking at one another. He couldn't be certain but he thought they may have been smirking

Panther's reply was very simple: "Be prepared to die."

*****

In her quarters, Gabrielle stretched her toned body and looked about for a few moments. This was her world from now on. This was home.

She exchanged her traveling outfit, the short red-leather skirt and form fitting but functional bodice, for something slightly more befitting an Amazon Queen. Gabrielle had pulled the light brown tunic, decorated with polished stones, over her shoulders and was content. It felt smooth and practical. Her new skirt, layered and studiously stitched, hung gently over the curve of her hips, unintentionally showing the warrior bard's flat-toned abdomen to its best advantage.

Gabrielle sighed deeply and gazed at herself in a rough, badly polished full length looking glass. "Amazon Queen." she whispered but it had a hollow sound. "Should have known it wouldn't be easy." She was nervous but resolute, ready to meet the challenge. In retrospect it was probably what she needed right now. A purpose. She had wallowed in gloom for far too long.

Xena's passing and all those nights that followed, the weeping and not knowing what she should do next, took its toll. "Be brave." Even now Gabrielle could hear Xena whispering those words, so typical of her, in her ear whilst laying a gentle hand on her friend's right shoulder. Yet, she was now passed it. On the mend. Gabrielle was striking out on her own and doing what she felt needed to be done. Xena would have wanted it that way.

However, to Gabrielle's profound puzzlement, she now grieved for another reason, something her Amazon sisters would never truly understand.

She was thinking of a *man*.

Even now, as she looked into the mirror before her, Gabrielle did not see her own reflection looking back at her but he who was most treasured. She could see his sparkling blue eyes and tousled blond hair. She could hear that giggle and feel the warmth of his smile. A not so peculiar longing came to Gabrielle. As hard as she tried to ignore her feelings, pretend nothing profound happened between the two of them, the more she found him in her thoughts.

Ah, Bodega ... Land of mystery, enchantment and love.

If Xena had lived it wouldn't be an issue. Gabrielle, with her best friend and all the adventures they might have shared, would probably have gotten him out of her system in time ... eventually. "Out of sight, out of mind." Xena would have said in that dry, comical-flip manner of hers. But now, in the midst of this new life and crisis, Gabrielle found he was all she could think about.

"Why didn't you just go to him?" came Xena's disembodied voice.

"It's not that simple. Maybe I would have a few years ago when I didn't know better ... but now?" Gabrielle whispered, "How could I ask him to give up everything he has just for me?"

"You don't value yourself enough, Gabrielle."

"It's not that." the bard felt a flush of warmth come to her face, "It just, well, I value he and all he's worked for. I respect him and I understand what Iolaus has with Hercules because I had something like it with you ...."

Gabrielle turned, hearing a sound, half expecting Xena to be standing there, giving her *the look*. But Xena wasn't there. She would never be there again, except in Gabrielle's heart.

*And you're afraid.*

"Iolaus," Gabrielle whispered once again, "come and take me away from all this ..." and, for a moment, she could not believe it was she who said it aloud. No, she wasn't a woman who needed rescuing. It was she who saved men and women from evil and senseless tragedy. She was a competent warrior, some might even call her a hero, but no longer a child needing protection.

Of course, she hadn't felt like a child for a long, long time ... And he certainly didn't treat her that way. Oh, to feel his warm touch just once again!

"Queen Gabrielle," The young, dark girl Gabrielle learned was named Trista knocked on her quarters door, "The assemble is awaiting you in the war hut."

"I'll be right there." she called back, jolted from her train of thought. She looked at herself once again in the mirror. 'Stay focused, Gabrielle.'

Time to be an Amazon.

*****

"Aggression for aggression." Tamara stated, leaving no doubt to how she felt about the enemy tribe. "We just go in and out fight them. We kill every last foul tribe member then graciously accept the accolades of the other Amazon tribes who were also attacked by those bitches."

Ephiny, standing slightly hunched over a wooden table, shook her head. "We know only what you've told us, Tamara. That information was brought to us six months ago. For all we know their numbers have doubled in size since then." Her hands thoughtfully smoothed the cloth map of Amazons lands in front of her, "We'll be hopelessly out numbered if we commence with an uninformed attack."

"We're not totally in the dark. Our spies bring back information on a regular basis." Bria, Melosa tribe's best hunter commented from beside Tamara.

"Yeah, all that wonderful information we're getting." Solari commented bitterly, "Do you realize we don't even know what these women look like? Not one tracker or spy has come back with a description. All we get is "masked" and "dressed like beasts". I'm with Ephiny. We need to know more."

"So what do we do?" Tamara exclaimed, "Keep studying maps until we go blind? Wait until the enemy grows triple our size?"

Gabrielle visibly winced as she observed the obvious antagonism between Ephiny and Tamara. "This is a strategy meeting. We're here to discuss options, not beat each other into submission." she reminded.

On their way to the war hut Trista filled Gabrielle in on a few particulars. This included how Tamara had come to the Melosan tribe as the only survivor of a raid that either killed or maimed her sisters of the Junjecus tribe. She was a bitter young woman and thought of practically nothing but revenge. Some of the more aggressive Melosans sided in with Tamara but the respect the entire tribe had for Ephiny forestalled any rash actions.

"We need to band together with other Amazon tribes and fight them, Tamara. I'll agree with that." Ephiny conceded, "But it may also be important to know why they're doing what they're doing."

"Power." Tamara exclaimed as if speaking with an idiot child, "They want it all. And they'll destroy every last tribe that doesn't join with them to get it. They want ALL the Amazon lands, not just the little section they've carved out for themselves."

That much was clear and many of the Amazons nodded their agreement.

Gabrielle began to realize why Ephiny was glad to see her. Her warriors could not held on a leash much longer. And, in rushing in without a plan, they would all ended up like the Junjecus tribe. "Do we know who their leader is?"

Solari said, "We know her second in command is an Amazon masked as a Tiger. She seems to take all orders from another Amazon they call "The High Priestess". But no one has ever seen her. She stays in her hut and if she does come out we can't tell which one she is because they all wear those damn masks. There's nothing to differentiate her from her followers."

"Queen Gabrielle," An Amazon security officer, attired in dyed green leathers and heavy boots, slammed open the hut's sturdy door and made her way in with little preamble, "We've had a report from one of our scouting teams."

"We're in a meeting here," Tamara bristled, "couldn't this wait?"

"Normally yes," She sounded only slightly apologetic, "but one of our own has been taken by our enemy."

"Who?" questioned Ephiny.

"Mieka, our best tracker." the guard reported, "She put up a fight but was overwhelmed. We don't think she's dead. Not yet."

"If they know she's a Melosan they're probably questioning her about you, Gabrielle." Ephiny offered and gritted her teeth, "They are a very thorough tribe and have spies of their own."

"They've gone too far." Tamara growled.

Gabrielle nodded her understand and paused to think what it was they should do next. Rescuing their tribe member was important but if done the wrong way it could bring on devastating consequences. What worth-while item, if any, could the Melosan's give their rivals in trade?

"Something more, my Queen." the guard continued, "A man was traveling through the forest this morning. He was taken as well."

"What would a man be doing in Amazon territory?" Trista wondered, "He'd have to be crazy."

"Our trackers couldn't hear much but before the enemy knocked him out Lydia heard him say he was searching for someone, an Amazon. She said he also knew of our tribe. He mentioned Ephiny by name."

"Describe this man." Gabrielle said, her heart beginning to beat rapidly.

"Just a man." The guard reported with an arrogant air then continued when Gabrielle and Ephiny stared at her, "Not real tall but well muscled. Blond, tanned and he was adept with his sword," Then she admitted, "He was good, could have been a warrior. Lydia said she thought she could see a dark medal hanging from around his neck."

"Was ..." Gabrielle hesitated then, " ... was he wearing a purple vest?"

All of the Amazons looked curiously at their queen.

"Well, yes." the guard replied, also puzzled. "But how did you know?"

"Iolaus?" Ephiny looked at Gabrielle and sighed at her confirming nod. Before Gabrielle could answer their Amazon sisters Ephiny continued, "This changes matters. We have one of our sisters and a male friend of the Amazons now in the clutches of those who oppress us. We need to get them out. I say a small band of us infiltrate and attack just before morning and ..."

"No." Gabrielle spoke firmly, quickly coming out of her stupor at hearing Iolaus name; her amazement that he had traveled so far just to see her. "That will get a lot of us killed."

"So we do nothing?" Tamara suddenly appeared furious, her fists balled at her sides.

"We'll do something." Gabrielle's face was passive but her tone was firm, "We'll give them what they want in exchange for Mieka and Iolaus."

"What they want?" Ephiny stared steadily at their queen now, troubled.

"What are you saying?" Trista, for the first time, appeared alarmed.

"We'll give them ... *me*."

********

Chapter Five (Coming Soon)
"Powwow"