From: daviderl31@yahoo.com   
      
                       Safe and Sound  Back Home in Greece   
      
                                       Chapter Five   
      
                                   Messina, and Home   
      
      
   The day passed uneventful but still everyone was uneasy, they all were   
   scanning the horizon looking for the tell-tale red-sailed ships of the Roman   
   navy.   
      
   But no ships were sighted until just before dusk, explained by the relieved   
   Captain Santilla that they had been off the main trading routes. Luckily,   
   the ship was not a Roman warship, but a Roman trading ship Santilla   
   recognized as one that regularly travelled between Napoli and Messina.   
      
   The next morning more ships were sighted: some Greek, some Roman, and some   
   from Egypt, returning home after delivering wheat needed to help feed the   
   teeming Roman citizenry. All were funneling into the Strait of Messina,   
   loaded down with goods to be traded in their home ports. But they all   
   stopped at Messina for whatever reason – to restock before travelling on; to   
   trade; to provide relief and respite for the crew; or to renew alliances   
   with traders from other countries.   
      
   And there were the Roman warships, there to keep the peace and to ferret out   
   "pirates and spies." But the Poseidon was able to pass through the strait   
   and make its way to the docks of Messina unhindered.   
      
   "How long are we staying?" a nervous Gabrielle asked.   
      
   "Not long," Santilla replied. "A day, maybe two. I need to find sailors to   
   fill out the crew. It's been too hard on them, as I'm sure you know."   
      
   "But what about being stopped, and boarded, and arrested as pirates?"   
      
   "The farther we get from Italia, the less we need to worry about.  Plus   
   there will be other ships, so the odds are with us."   
      
   She still wasn't convinced there was nothing to worry about, and she only   
   left the ship twice to eat a hot meal at a tavern, then returned to the   
   Poseidon to stay below and out of sight.   
      
   By the morning of the second day Santilla had hired six sailors to replace   
   the ones who had abandoned him in Napoli. There was not much of a tide in   
   the strait, so leaving port was only a matter of waiting until the wind was   
   right to travel north or south. At noon they cast off and the Poseidon was   
   heading south into the Ionian Sea, and in two days they were able to turn   
   almost due east, then slightly north, on course to Prevaza.   
      
   "Seven or eight more days," Santilla said. "and we'll be back home again."   
      
   "And not too soon to suit me," Gabrielle answered. "We seem to be making   
   good time."   
      
   "That we are. The new men I hired pray to Poseidon at dusk and dawn. I   
   believe he is listening to them, and is pleased."   
      
   Gabrielle shot a knowing look at Xena, suppressing a smile, but said, "You   
   could be right."   
      
   x….x   
      
   Midafternoon of the seventh day the harbor of Prevaza came into view. And   
   just before dark, the Poseidon was tied to one of the many docks and the   
   crew was offloading the bales of wool and amphorae of wine and olive oil.   
      
   "Thank you," Xena told Captain Santilla as they left the ship.   
      
   "No, thank you. If it hadn't been for you and your weapon, we would be in a   
   Roman prison somewhere, or worse."   
      
   "But you will still return to Italia."   
      
   "Aye. The profit is just too good," he replied with a grin. "You two take   
   care, and who knows, maybe one day we'll be traveling together again."   
      
   "Not if I have anything to say about it," Gabrielle said.   
      
   With a final farewell, both Xena and Gabrielle walked from the waterfront to   
   find a room for the night. And after spending the rest of their money on   
   supper and the room, they enjoyed each other's company throughout the night.   
   The next morning they headed northeast, in the direction of Amphipolis.   
      
   "The air even smells better," Gabrielle was remarking as she continued her   
   nonstop comparisons of the evils of Italia versus the delights of Greece.   
      
   "No argument from me," Xena agreed. Then she stopped and pulled her sword,   
   as Gabrielle took the sias from their loops, ready to do battle. Then Xena   
   seemed to relax slightly.   
      
   "Alright, show yourself," she said as she slowly turned in a circle. "I know   
   you're there."   
      
   And with a silent, reddish flash of light, Ares appeared.   
      
   "Well, I see you're back," he said. "So, when you escaped, how many guards   
   did you kill? Ten? Twenty?"   
      
   "What?" Xena asked.   
      
   "No matter. I have the PERFECT army for you."   
      
   "What are you talking about?"   
      
   "Now that I've re-whetted your appetite for death and destruction, I know   
   you can't wait to get started."   
      
   "Wait!" Xena interrupted. "Are you telling me you had something to do with   
   us being slaves?"   
      
   "I must say you were magnificent. I knew you would have no trouble with the   
   first two gladiators. But I really thought Gaulus would give you more of a   
   challenge. He was my creation, you know. I guess I should have given him a   
   bit more intelligence, just to make it more - entertaining. But really, how   
   many guards did you kill? I know all about you and Caesar, and I knew when   
   you thought you were going to Rome you would do anything not to go."   
      
   "If you must know, Domina freed us rather than have her husband allied with   
   Caesar."   
      
   "YOU?" Gabrielle exclaimed. "YOU were the one responsible for us being   
   captured into slavery?"   
      
   "So, what do you say, ready to lead your army?" Ares continued, ignoring   
   Gabrielle.   
      
   And with both hands, Gabrielle threw her sais at Ares, who, with a wave of   
   his hand, dropped them to the ground.   
      
   "Whoa, ho!" he said with a smarmy laugh, "It looks like someone has an anger   
   problem."   
      
   In response, Xena drew her sword and with both hands and threw it dead   
   center at Ares' chest. But he caught it by the blade and tossed it aside.   
   She then unclipped her Chakram, ready to throw it.   
      
   "You get out of here – NOW!" she demanded, teeth clinched. "I know this   
   won't kill you, but I have a feeling it can hurt you more than anything   
   you've felt in a long time! And just so you know – I will NEVER lead an army   
   of yours!"   
      
   "Okay, I'll go. But I'll be back."   
      
   Xena looked over at Gabrielle, but was unable to read her. She saw rage,   
   more rage than even at Gurkhan. But there was more, something undefinable.   
   Her breathing was coming in gasps.   
      
   "Gabrielle," she said as she took her into her arms, trying to calm and   
   console her. And as she did, Xena saw a subtle flash of light.   
      
   "Hey, you two."   
      
   "Aphrodite," Xena said. "This really isn't a good time."   
      
   "I know," she replied.  She then took Gabrielle from Xena's arms and held   
   her close, and Gabrielle's arms went around her waist.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)