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======== ======== Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories Subject: repost: 
Xena - Pt 1 of 3 From: antonior@ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu (Reynaldo J. 
Antonio) Date: 14 Apr 1996 08:08:48 GMT 


Xena:  Warrior Princess Part 1 of 3 

This is an X-rated story based on "Xena:  Warrior Princess".   It 
takes place between her appearance on "Hercules" and her own 
series.  Please note that this does not have anything to do with 
plot of either show except for her character.  There are 
creatures and places that are borrowed from other fantasy 
settings, historical periods, and myths too numerous to name, but 
some readers may recognize them, so the author hopes that they're 
described appealingly. 

Once more, this is and X-rated fantasy story, not to be viewed by 
or distributed to minors.  If  sexual material offends you or you 
are sensitive to the subjects of sadism, non-consensual sex (e.g. 
rape, coercion), humiliation, bondage, or slavery 

OR 

graphic violence (this IS a warrior's story) 

then please discard this article now. 


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	Xena could hardly believe her luck when she saw pond.  She had 

been traveling for four days through the foothills, trying to 
reach the Camroot  River.  Now she had found one of its 
tributaries.  Best of all, the stream widened into a stone basin 
that was sheltered by two large shade trees.  The warrior 
princess set her pack down on a low boulder and trotted to the 
inviting pool of cool, clear water.  She knelt down eagerly and 
dipped her hands into the water, unable to remember a time when 
it felt or tasted so good as she drank it down. 

	When her thirst was slaked, she filled her waterskin and looked 
around.  A grin crept to her face as she spotted a cony running 
back into the reeds.  Later, she stretched out on the bank of the 
grotto as the sweet smell of the cooking meat wafted into the 
air.  Xena went over her travel plans for tomorrow as she started 
her meal. 

	The merchant's guild in Willow River had paid her in gold to 
escort an emissary back from Dunwich, a city-state on the 
Berlandic coast. The merchants were opening trade negotiations 
for the first time since Dunwich had declared war with a rival 
nation across the Blood Sea.  Talks had been stalled when the 
last two diplomats had failed to reach Willow River. 

	Xena had doffed her weapons harness, although she kept them 
within arm's reach.  She toyed with the buckles of her armor as 
she stared longingly at the pool.  It had been a week since she 
had left the inns of the valley, and the grime from the trail 
felt detestable.  This was a very nice place to stop and relax, 
but she knew that any other traveler,  human or not, would reach 
the same conclusion.  She assuaged her doubts by placing a blade 
by the water's edge as she undid the final clasp, then plunged 
into the water. 

	She came up gasping, her nipples painfully erect from the pool's 
chill embrace.  She submerged again and dove to the deeper part 
of the basin, skimming above the glittering sand  on the bottom.  
She swam to the shallow end and reclined on the gentle slope that 
jutted out over a twin pool downstream.  Refreshed and fully 
content,  she sighed lazily and stretched her lithe form out to 
bask in the summer sun. 


	Xena was right about the pond's attraction to weary, thirsty 
eyes.  She probably wasn't aware of how her naked, sensuous body 
added to the 

appeal.  The scout, a man younger than Xena by better than five 
years, 

carefully eased the branches back into place as he circled closer 
to the edge of the water.  Apparently, the strange beauty was so 
intent on pool that she forgot to check his side of stream when 
she arrived.  He had been getting ready to move on to the next 
outpost along the border when he caught the scent of a cooking 
fire, followed by the splashing of a bather. Mindful of an 
ambush, he had made his way back to the stream. 

	He had gasped aloud when he saw the flash of skin and swirl of 

long hair beneath the surface of the pool.  He ducked back into 
the woods, recalling stories of wood nymphs, maidens of the 
forest who would cause blindness in mortal men who were so brash 
as to gaze upon their flawless, naked bodies.  But he had seen a 
pack and leather boots by the fire, and recalled that all the 
eternally young beauties in the stories were robed in gossamer 
gowns and fine jewelry.  Curiosity had gotten  the better of him 
as he ventured a peek.  

The girl broke the surface of the water like a graceful dolphin, 
her head thrown back and dark hair streaming down her spine.  He 
gasped again,  this time with subdued admiration as she rose 
fully out of the water. The woman's face was the beauty of the 
sea under a full moon.  Her eyes were the same soft blue as the 
open sky above.  Her skin was nut brown from her 

journeys, just as his was.  He noticed with astonishment that she 
bore 

several scars over her body, and the flex of powerful muscles and 
the feline grace of her movements betrayed her as a warrior.  But 
still, even though her hands were not soft, he could see that her 
touch was as she 

brushed her hair back, and her full, firm breasts and long, 
tapered legs would have made Princess Esmerelda herself furious 
with bitter envy. 

	The thought of the princess snapped him away from the girl's 
tantalizing image.  He had no clue what this strange - and very 
exciting - woman was doing here.  She could be the escort 
dispatched from Willow River, or she could be the one behind the 
sinister disappearances that had been plaguing  Dunwich.  With 
that grim thought, he drew his sword and strode toward the pool. 

	The maiden was gone. 

	He whirled around in a panic.  She was nowhere on the opposite 

bank.  He approached he pool, scanning the bottom as he made his 
way downstream.  The other pond!  He ran to the edge of the small 
waterfall and peered into the reeds lining the bank. 

	He felt a powerful wrench and found himself tumbling over the 
edge.  He caught a glimpse of the girl, standing in the hollow of 
the falls, just before he splashed into the pond.  His momentum 
drove him straight to the bottom, but  before he could gain his 
balance he was hauled clear of the water, and gazed into blue 
eyes that were slitted with anger.   

 	Xena cursed herself for being three different kinds of fool as 
she pinned the young soldier down against the rocks.   She cocked 
her arm back, ready to deliver a killing strike.  Before she 
could follow through, she noticed that the fight had gone out of 
him. 

	"Mistress!  I am a ranger of  the Dunwich militia!" 

	She gathered two handfuls of the youth's tunic and  pushed him 

flat.  She straddled his legs and kept his gaze locked with the 
menacing fire that danced in her eyes. 

	"The castello advised us that an escort would be arriving from 

Willow River." 

	Xena's guard relaxed, though she wasn't satisfied with the 
youth's intentions.  The boy visibly wilted with relief and from 
the exertion of the brief but violent encounter.  Xena noticed 
that the scout was several years younger than she was.  And even 
though he was as covered with the road as she might have been, he 
was still very handsome. It seemed strange to her that he was 
still flushed and short of breath, then she realized with a start 
that she didn't have stitch of  clothing on.  She also noticed 
something long and firm pressing between her spread legs.  She 
didn't have to look down to know it was his cock straining 
against his trousers, which was all that kept him from sliding 
into her.  His cock  throbbed hotly, as if it had a mind of its 
own and had figured as much. 

	Xena climbed off of him with a furious shove.  Not out of 
embarrassment, since she was no stranger to men, and not out of 
modesty, since he must have been watching her for some time and 
there was nothing left to hide.  It was because feeling him there 
-- so hard, so eager, and, as she surmised with a stolen glance 
at his powerful physique, so capable of giving her a sound, 
almost brutal, and very satisfying  fuck  -- had awakened a 
hunger in her that gripped at her insides and started a wet, 
tingling heat in her own loins. 

	"Where are the others?"  Xena realized that she hadn't introduced 
herself or asked the troop for his name, but she was still trying 
to stop the butterflies in her stomach. 

	"I came alone." 

	"A single troop patrolling outside Dunwich's borders during a 
time of war?  They told me to expect a party of ten, and report 
to the commander." 

	"I'm . . . I'm not supposed to be here, mistress." 

	Xena looked at him with puzzlement 

	"I am traveling to Calimport.  I was assigned to the northern 
unit when I received news that Princess Esmerelda and her 
entourage had been captured while sailing south to the Sea 
Princes.  I 'm supposed to report to the keep at Dunwich 
tomorrow." 

	"Why Calimport?  There's no detachment there anymore.  It's been 
an open city for the past three years." 

	"Yeah, exactly.  I was going there to charter a vessel.  A 
mercenary vessel." 

	"This princess means that much to you?" 

	"I'm a member of the house guard.  I should have been there." 

	"But why mercenaries?  Even with the war, Dunwich could dispatch 
ships to the rescue." 

	"They want to wait for a ransom demand.  But I have a feeling 
that they've been captured by slavers.  They aren't too big on 
ransoms, not when they can find a more worthwhile use for 
captives, if you know what I mean." 

	Xena did, and hated knowing. 

	"It's not only for her.  My cousin Justin was Princess 
Esmerelda's personal guard.  He had a crush on her and would have 
done anything to be at her side."  The ranger shut his eyes when 
he thought of what price may have finally been exacted on his 
enamored kinsman. 

	"It should have been me out there on the sea.  Justin was in 
love.  Esmerelda wanted him, too.  But both of them knew that it 
could never be.  Her father reminded them of that, and so did 
Justin's commanding officer.   They found a way around it, 
though.  Since he had distinguished himself as her tutor, he 
earned a rank in the house guard.   Since I had accomplished so 
much overseas for the war effort,  I could choose my own duties.  
I chose the northern defense protectorate, naming Justin as my 
replacement.  Now they could spend time together away from the 
city -- and her father.  I was along on one of their missions to 
the Minros Archipelago.   I don't think they got a wink of sleep, 
even though they never left the sleeping quarters." 

	He smiled slyly at her and she crossed her arms, trying to hide 
her swollen nipples.  She had drifted into a daydream at the 
mention of Minros.  She had heard all kinds of stories of the 
tropical paradise with lush greenery and beaches that had sand as 
white as sugar.  Her mercenary officers, during a drunken feast 
after pillaging a rich town, swapped fantasies of banquet halls 
with endless fountains of  wine and ale, steaming platters of 
food, and hundreds of small, half-naked, brown-skinned girls who 
had only grown faint wisps of pubic hair and would do any sexual 
act for the price of asking. 

	There was a new swordsman who had joined her army back then.  He 
had stolen a few glances at her before he had launched into his 
particular fantasy of the Golden Islands.  His comrades roared at 
his dream of having two women pour fruit juice over him and 
giving him a tongue bath.  The 

laughter cut short when he described one of the women.  He 
rattled off all of Xena's obvious charms in language that was 
lewd and plain. 

	To everyone's surprise, especially Xena's, whose first reaction 
normally would have been to make a cut with her sword that would 
render his fantasy pointless (no pun intended), she returned a 
smile that was 

equally lewd and simply said, "Dream on." 

	Xena never admitted to anyone that she would share that dream. 

	She wanted to question this ranger further, but could tell his 
desire had shifted from her to the other half of the rabbit on 
the spit.  

	"You're welcome to share my meal," she said.  He was reaching for 
the meat even before she finished.  "But bathe first.  I'm not in 
the mood to share it with someone who smells like a mule.  Don't 
feel insulted. That pool's the first one I've seen in miles.  The 
water feels great." 

	He started towards the privacy of the reeds. 

	"Stay where I can see you." 

	The young man glanced at her warily. 
	
	"I know what a naked boy looks like," she said, totally aloof. 
"And I want you where I can be sure you won't sneak up on me in 
the bushes again." 

	The ranger flushed with embarrassment, then set his jaw calmly as 
he stripped. 

	Xena allowed a smirk as he turned away, the hot fingers of her 
gaze lingering on his ass.  Rank did have its privileges. 

	"What's your name, ranger?" she called out. 

	"Milan.  And yours." 

	"Xena." 

	Milan's eyes widened with recognition, then he flushed as he felt 
his heart quicken and his penis swell when he realized who had 
been pressed naked against him. 

	Xena wanted to laugh, but something touched her about how he kept 
his gaze even with hers, even though so many emotions were 
running through his body and mind.  One thing for sure, this guy 
could keep his cool. 

	"Have something to eat, Milan.  We have to get moving." 


	The ship with the bright yellow sails docked smoothly, barely 
making a sound as it came against the pier where the sheik stood.  
The sheik was a man in white robes piped with golden thread.  A 
single, huge diamond rested in a silver pendant that adorned his 
turban.  The passenger of the schooner was a an obese middle aged 
man clad in a dark caftan.  His own turban was as plane as his 
other garb, but on his hip rode an ornately 

jeweled dagger. 
	
	"Greetings, Tahir Arrani , Master of the Bandar  Guild of 
Assassins." 

	"Well met,   Hafez Makhi, Lord of Corsairs," the aging hit man 

returned the elaborate bow. 

	"You're just in time, dear friend.  Raiding has gone well this 

season." 
	
	Makhi's pirates roamed the waters of the Blood Sea.  Pickings had 
been slim, with more merchants turning to Dunwich's navy and the 
marines of  the Sea Princes' fleet for protection as the war 
dragged into its second year.  That was until Makhi's bold plan 
unfolded.  They stood atop his 

solution to their problem now.  The dock was not on firm land, 
but perched  on the edge of a giant carapace.  The cunning pirate 
had captured one of the zaraten, a race of gigantic seagoing 
creatures that were the size of an island and roamed the warm 
waters to the south.  Makhi had established a fortress on the 
back of the mammoth turtle and docked his pirate fleet in the 
hollows of its shell.  Arrani was one of the few people who ever 
knew the whereabouts of the floating citadel.  Even if anyone 
could find it, they would have to sail through barrages from the 
catapults and ballistae that ringed the stronghold and  the face 
the five hundred buccaneers that manned them.  Makhi planned to 
take Calimport, the city guarding the mouth of the Camroot River, 
then sail his raiders up the river and deep into the mainland. 

	"So, I hope it is good news, you bring my friend." 

	Arrani smiled grandly.  "Yes.  The guild will pay you with new 

weapons.  The blockades are much easier to run these days.  And 
the khans to the east have a weakness for your fair-haired 
wenches that lets me set my prices ridiculously high." 

	Tahir Arrani was the sheik's link to the slave markets of Bandar.  
Makhi had been raiding the coastline not only for treasure and 
provisions to sell to mercenaries of the Blood Sea War, but had 
been earning huge sums with the sale of captured youths.  The 
harems and brothels of the shady port cities were never full 
enough to please their greedy proprietors. 

	"Come, let us dine and celebrate good business." 

	They went back to his palace.  The marble floors and columns were 
a welcome replica of the guild house where the two had started.  
There was a banquet of fresh fruits, meats, and warm bread spread 
out before them. As they were seated, Makhi nodded to his eunuch 
guard, who ushered in the 

latest spoils of the raid on the coastal cities. 

	Seven women, with hair like spun gold and  alabaster skin, stood 
in a line before the two.  They were completely nude, as was the 
custom for the host to display his wives and concubines for his 
guests.  In Makhi's case though, it was his sales pitch to his 
best customer.  Arrani  was transfixed by the voluptuous young 
slaves, who were drugged with the resin of a bitter herb that 
robbed them of their will and replaced it with animal passion.  
They wore the collars of apprentice slave girls, with their hair 
pulled back by silk barrettes so that the buyer could examine 
their faces closely for 

blemishes or signs of misuse.  Makhi's personal concubines had 
prepared each one, oiling and milking their skins, shaving and 
perfuming their womanly charms for the act of love.  

	Arrani looked to his host for approval, who smiled and nodded his 
assent.  He held his platter up for the slave boy.  Instead of 
placing his dish there, he spit his unswallowed  mouthful of food 
into the teen's hand and staggered to the girl in the middle of 
the display.  He reached out with a greasy, trembling hand and 
hefted one of her large breasts.  The areolas  of her tits were 
huge and shell pink.  He reached between her strong thighs with 
the other hand, running a ringed finger between the cleft of her 
plump labia.  He only became aware of Makhi's voice when the 
eunuch guard pressed a scimitar under his chin. 

	"I said,"  Makhi intoned with renewed patience, now that he had 
the assassin's attention once more, "that that one is for final 
sale only. She is the daughter of a noble, so her hands and feet 
are not toughened from labor." 

	"I'll buy her right now!" the trembling guild master said as he 
reached for his pouch. 
	
	"Afraid not, old friend," Makhi said benevolently.  "The padishah 
has made an offer already." 

	"I'll offer double whatever he did." 

	"The weapons shipment?" 

	Arrani balked at the thought  He had bought entire barges full of 
slave women for half that price.  But his eyes rested on the 
maiden, who had slid down to the furs that were conveniently 
placed in the center of the audience hall.  Her eyes were almond 
shaped, like the elves of the Freehold  woodlands, her lips full 
and parted moistly as she wrapped her arms round his knees.  He 
had no chance to resist. 

	"Done." 

	Makhi cackled delightedly and beckoned to three of the women for 
himself. 

	
	Princess Esmerelda was only faintly aware of the man's hands on 
her breasts as he sucked each one of her nipples.  As if in 
betrayal to her own body, they hardened underneath the bearded 
mouth.  She seemed to view her own rape as if she were watching 
it from her bedroom window in Dunwich Keep.  The voice that 
whispered into the old man's ear, telling how good his lips felt, 
was that of a waterfront whore trying to please a wealthy 
customer.  The tongue that trailed down the side of his neck, 
tasting his salty sweat and the heat of his desire, belonged to a 
woman who had been deprived of a man's pleasure for long years.  
She watched the fat, hairy man press his engorged penis against 
her smooth thigh, the heat of it was urgent and barely containing 
his seed.   The strange woman captured his head between her 
hands, began to suck on his outstretched tongue like it was a 
ripe plum, tasting the flavor of the morsel he had just eaten. 


	Arrani rolled his eyes with lust as the harem girl softly kneaded 
his scrotum and blew a sweet puff of breath into his open mouth.  
She swung her long, powerful legs over him and swallowed his 
drooling cock.  He licked at the glistening, quivering folds of  
her pussy, mouthing the tender insides of her thighs and slipping 
the tip of his tongue experimentally into the pink pucker of her 
ass.  Esmerelda moaned and stroked his cock firmly as he snaked 
his tongue farther in.  She crawled forward on all fours, her 
legs spread wide as she looked over her shoulder at him. 

	The master assassin stroked his cock with anticipation as he 
stared at the dripping pussy.  He glanced up at the other girls, 
who were rubbing their crotches as they watched their companion 
work on their  guest. He motioned to one, a youngster who had 
just crossed into womanhood, to kneel in front of him.  She knelt 
and wrapped her arms around his waist, looking at Esmerelda and 
licking her lips with longing.  Arrani commanded Esmerelda to 
play with herself, then pulled the teenager's head to his waiting 
shaft. 

	Esmerelda leaned against a pillowed  couch, the fingers of both 
her hands plunged into her pussy and anus as she watched the girl 
fellate the leering man.  A drop of saliva drooled out the side 
of his mouth as he huffed with the girl's exquisite rhythm, and 
the young harem wench stretched her tongue out to catch it before 
she returned to her oral labors. 

	Arrani pulled her head away and motioned for her to lay with her 
head between Esmerelda's knees.  He put a hand around Esmerelda's 
waist, his belly pressed against her smooth back.  The slave girl 
stroked his cock as she flicked her tongue across Esmerelda's 
clit.   She gave Arrani's cock an appreciative suck before she 
guided it into Esmerelda's wet vagina. 

	Arrani let out a hooting groan as he sank his cock  into her. 

Esmerelda looked into his eyes, ran her tongue across her teeth 
with unrepentant lust as she wriggled her hips and met his 
thrusts.  The old man couldn't keep the pace long, and after a 
dozen thrusts he bucked twice as he sprayed his semen inside of 
her.  As he pulled out, the slave girl licked the seed from 
Esmerelda's shaven pussy lips.  Eager to feel the master's 
thrusts for herself, she wiped the spent juices from inside 
Esmerelda's  pussy and smeared it between the cheeks of her own 
ass, slipping two fingers inside her rectum, then knelt prostrate 
before her master.  The assassin found himself gripped with lust 
greater than anything he felt before as he eyed the small girl's 
waiting pucker.  He spit on his cock to lubricate himself 

and pressed the head of his shaft into her waiting ass.  He was 
probably too big and she was not loose enough, but the harem 
girl's lust would not be denied.  She pressed back with the 
strength of her supple body and he penetrated her sphincter with 
a lunge that caused him to bite down on his lip.  The girl 
screamed and rubbed her clit furiously as she pumped on his fat 
cock.  Esmerelda was kissing the assassin deeply, her hand at 
work between her legs, too.  Arrani shouted out with release as 
his seed spurted into the girls bowels.  The three of them 
collapsed back onto the furs and lay panting from their carnal 
exertions. The other harem girls soothed them with gentle 
massages and cool washcloths as they waited for their turn with 
the master. 

	
	Xena and Milan had reached border by nightfall the next day. He 
had hidden his uniform beneath a set of flat black garments.  
They were on the oceanside cliffs, with Calimport one day away.  
From there they could enlist a mercenary crew and start hunting 
the marauders.  Xena looked from the edge of the cliff to the 
lights of  Calimport.  She was delaying her mission greatly, but 
she had an especially bitter hatred of the slave traders in the 
east.  If Dunwich lost its arms deal with the Willow River 
merchants, she knew where to buy more, and she'd have the money 
to get them herself! 
	
	Milan stretched out on the blanket.  They wouldn't risk a fire, 
but with the full moon they wouldn't need any light.  Xena came 
down from the promontory, taking off her cloak and sitting next 
to him.  He could feel  her warmth and heard her sigh as she lay 
back against the tree.  He got up 

promptly. 

	 Xena walked over to where he stood.  She touched him softly on 
the shoulder, felt him tense up. 

	"Was it something  I said?"  she said with more of a sarcastic 
edge than she intended. 

	"You're a woman." 

	"Congratulations,  professor,  you've figured that one out. What 
do you mean , 'You're a woman?'" 

	"The hair, the breasts, the soft  skin, that's what I mean!" 

	Xena was speechless.  She had been expecting some sort of 
confession of male ego, like the ones  she had heard from so many 
men who fretted at having a woman at their side in combat.  Not 
this time. 

	"Ever since I could walk, I've done it with sword or lance in my 
hand.  Justin was right when he teased me about being slave to a 
mistress called war.   I was once a favorite of the princess, you 
know?  I staved off her advances politely but officiously, 
talking about duty and the king's trust, and all that.  The truth 
was I was scared - scared of her charm and scared of how helpless 
I was starting to feel.  At least Justin had the courage to try." 

	"A lot of men I've met would rather charge a phalanx of angry 
knights than admit their feelings for a woman," she said amiably. 
"Sad, but there's no shame there.  And, yes there is more to a 
warrior's life than battle.  There are some thrills that don't 
sing with the clashing of steel. There are some passions that 
aren't borne of fury, some lusts that aren't for blood.  And now 
you want to know them." 

	"I know what I'm missing,"  he said, flustered, mistaking  the 

meaning of her padded words.  "That's what makes it so painful." 

	Xena stood before him, resting her hands on his shoulders and 
looking up, deeply into his eyes. 

	"Among the Sujel tribes there's a custom.  They never marry, but 
before they go off to war, they hold a ceremony where they each 
choose a mate.  They make love, and ride to battle with the next 
day.  The Sujel are warrior tribes, both men and women, and not 
many reach old age.  But those that survive are always carrying 
life forward off the battlefield.." She bit her lower lip and 
hoped that he liked what he had seen enough to take her offer. 

	"Are you uncomfortable with me?" Xena wanted to know. 

	"No," he answered. 

	"Are you uncomfortable that I'm more experienced?" 

	"Not at all." 

	"Good.  I want to share with you everything I know." 
	
	Milan looked at her.  He kissed her softly.  It was a sweet kiss, 
a kiss to dream on.  The next kiss was a little more than a sweet 
one, and the next was something else. He heard faint pings as she 
undid the straps of his armor, and he worked to free her of hers. 

	They stood before each other naked now.  She wrapped her arms 
around his neck and her body fit perfectly against his, as if she 
had lived just for this moment, had been waiting and hungering 
for him all her life. His touch roamed over the silky skin of her 
back, her ass, and her supple thighs.  He felt her lips part 
slightly, and the tip of her tongue brushed across his lips.  He 
did the same and probed farther to meet hers in her mouth. Her 
tongue was a playful thing, slipping and wrestling with his.  The 
soft strokes of hers seemed to promise what was to come. 

	She smiled warmly at him as they eased down to the blanket. They 
knelt opposite each other, content to stare with silent but 
unabashed admiration.  Milan thought as he looked at her that 
even though she was older and was a warrior, her face was that of 
a child now - soft, full of wonder, radiant.  Xena eased him onto 
his back.  She knelt between his legs, with her hands resting at 
the tops of his feet.  She slowly ran her hands up and down, up 
and down his legs.  She took his cock in one hand and very gently 
cupped his balls in the other. 

She gave his shaft a gentle squeeze and caressed it  lightly with 
the tips of her fingers.  Milan shut his eyes and let waves of 
pleasure roll over him.  She kissed him softly, and kissed his 
chest his stomach, dipping her tongue into his navel.  She felt 
him begin to arch, recognized the language of his body.   She 
stopped and squeezed his cock firmly.  "No, no, not yet," she 
cooed, "There's more.  There's so much more." 

	Milan let out a soft cry as her tongue ran along the underside of 
his cock.   Her lips closed over the head and she sucked softly.  
She looked up at him as she slid it deeper into her mouth.  She 
pulled her upper lip down over the top of it and flattened her 
tongue along the bottom.   She bobbed her head up and down, 
adding wet, wilting suction as she ran her hand over his chest 
and stomach.  Milan felt his hands and feet, then his arms and 
legs start to go numb, all sense abandoning him except for the 
soft, moist grip of Xena's mouth and the licks of her tongue.  
Xena watched his face and felt the grip of his hand, until she 
found his rhythm and kept at it.  She decided not to tease him.  
She wanted to give him a climax that he would remember for the 
rest of his life, and knew that taking the edge off his lust 
would help him last longer when she finally gripped his cock in 
her pussy, which was already swollen and hot with anticipation. 

	She thrilled inwardly as she felt him flex and snap like puppet 
with its strings cut.  His sperm squirted into her mouth in a 
long, thick, scalding streams, coating the roof of her mouth.  It 
was so thick it was almost like paste, and she couldn't swallow 
much.  She could see the lust in his eyes when he saw his seed 
trickling out the side of her mouth, so she shamelessly let it 
flow between her lips and down her chin.  She gathered his cum 
with her fingertips then licked them clean, then licked up the 
semen that remained on his cock, all the while keeping her smoky, 
passionate gaze locked with his. 

	He pulled her up and kissed her deeply.  He rolled her on her 
back and gripped her knees, pulling them up and open.  He left a 
trail of wet kisses from her ankles, to her knees, and inside her 
thighs,  stopping shy of her flushed, puffy lips.  Milan ran the 
tips of his fingers gently between them, pleasure of his own 
filling him as her moans and sighs drifted to him.  He slid his 
middle finger deep inside her, rubbing her clitoris lightly with 
this thumb.  Her breath came in excited gasps, her head rolled 
back and forth as he sucked one of her large, pink nipples as he 
worked his hand faster. 

	Xena grinned with triumph, her eyes squeezed shut with ecstasy as 
Milan  ran his tongue between the lips of her pussy.    He took 
long licks that started at the bottom of her pussy and ended at 
her navel.  He pulled the fleshy outer lips between his, sucking 
and licking with the wettest of 

intimate kisses.  

	"What  kind of novice are you, young Milan?  I've -- ohhhhhh -- 
never experienced a man  who was as good with his mouth as he was 
when 

he had talked me into bed!" 

	"Justin and I traded notes.  I told him how to make the house 
guard and win the princess's favor, and he told me how to please 
women.  I used to dream of this at night as I slept alone." 

	"Mmmmm.   Even Hercules, as strong yet gentle as he was, couldn't 
make me feel like this.  Ahhhhh!  Right there, Milan.  Ohhhhh 
yesssss!" 

	Milan felt a flush of pride to be compared so with Hercules. He 
rolled his tongue and cradled her engorged clitoris with it.   It 
was Xena's turn to thrash helplessly as he sucked gently.  He 
squeezed her breasts, stroking her nipples between his fingers.  
Her teeth clenched and head 

arched back as a string of explosions ripped through her brain 
and burned her loins. 

	Milan climbed up and kissed her deeply, letting the warrior 
princess taste her own dark, hot juices.  Xena grabbed his ass 
and stroked the young stud's cock with satisfaction.  It slid 
powerfully through her fingers as he groaned his eagerness to 
her.  He was ready, and she knew he would feel well rewarded when 
he felt, with his cock,  how hot and swollen her pussy was from 
his attention. 
   
	She pulled him between her legs and scissored them into the small 
of his back.  They kissed deeply, teasing each other with twists 
of their hips and squeezing  each other's ass possessively.  Soon 
they couldn't stand it any longer and worked their loins 
together.  Milan felt the goose-egg head of his cock nudge the 
wet lips of her pussy open.  He pushed his hips forward 

firmly.  Xena's pussy seemed tighter than he thought it should, 
and he was afraid of hurting her.  Xena drew a sharp breath as 
her pussy stretched around him.  She looked up into his eyes when 
she felt him pause.  She gave him a strange, weak smile and 
nodded.  She stifled a moan as he finished his stroke, which 
caused a burning, stabbing sensation deep within her as he 
reached her limit and couldn't fit in any farther.   Her eyes 
flew open and her face filled with animal hunger as he pulled out 
and thrust into her again. 

	Milan had never felt anything like this in his life.  It was like 
he was part of  her, at her very core, and the daggers of 
pleasure that shot through him as the lips of her pussy slid down 
to the base of his cock were lancing into her as well.   Inside 
she was very warm, and the walls of her vagina were so slippery 
but at the same time clinging to the skin of his cock 
wonderfully.   He saw the muscles of her stomach dance and  
flinched slightly as her nails raked his back.  He thrust faster 
and her hands locked on his hips as powerful jolts racked her 
body.   She seemed to go weak for few moments, then she wrestled 
him onto his back and squatted astride him.. 

	"Was this what you were dreaming of when we met?"  she purred, 

sliding  lazily along him.   She crushed herself against him and 
clamped her mouth over his,  her tongue invading his mouth  
ravenously.   As their sweat-slicked bodies slid over each other, 
Milan could feel Xena's hard, hot 

nipples poking into his chest as if they wanted to penetrate him. 
Their gasps and moans mixed together as they  felt an immense 
wave of lust and pleasure build inside.  They locked together and 
felt the world go into a spin as his cum surged into her womb.  
They writhed as if they were impaled on the 

same spear of intense pleasure.  Their breaths were like blast 
furnaces against each other's skin as they shared a few more 
strokes, wincing with the unbearably delicious friction. 
  
	"Sleep, my warrior," she whispered as she felt the warm, soft 
blanket of slumber wrap around them.  "The battle awaits us." 
	


======== Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories Subject: repost: Xena - Pt 2 
of 3 From: antonior@ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu (Reynaldo J. Antonio) 
Date: 14 Apr 1996 08:09:51 GMT 


Xena:  Warrior Princess Part 2 of 3 

This is an X-rated story based on "Xena:  Warrior Princess".   It 
takes place between her appearance on "Hercules" and her own 
series.  Please note that this does not have anything to do with 
plot of either show except for her character.  There are 
creatures and places that are borrowed from other fantasy 
settings, historical periods, and myths too numerous to name, but 
some readers may recognize them, so the author hopes that they're 
described appealingly. 

Once more, this is and X-rated fantasy story, not to be viewed by 
or distributed to minors.  If  sexual material offends you or you 
are sensitive to the subjects of sadism, non-consensual sex (e.g. 
rape, coercion), humiliation, bondage, or slavery 

OR 

graphic violence (this IS a warrior's story) 

then please discard this article now. 


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 	The mercenary ship docked just after dawn in the bustling 
seaport of Bandar.  Though the city itself was just waking and 
opening another 

business day, activity on the dock went on at all hours.  The 
vessel docked across from two heavily laden cargo ships hauling 
textiles from the far east.  Long trains of dock workers grunted 
under the heavy bundles as foremen 

cursed about schedules and lost wages.  The two warriors were 
barely visible in the crush of humans and demi-humans that were 
scrambling frantically between the docked vessels and the rows of 
warehouses that separated the shore from the market area. 

	"By the gods, I've never been in a place so confusing!  And the 
smell!"  Milan urged Xena to get them far away from a 
fishmonger's cart that had collided with one carrying pickled 
animal parts.  The shouts were coming loud and furious in two 
different languages. 
 
        Xena ignored Milan's queasy voice as she scanned the 
piers. She found the yellow sails that marked the slave ships, 
which were docked at the southernmost pier.  As they neared the 
end of the pier, the crown thinned out.  Xena dragged Milan into 
a side alley that doubled as an open sewer. 

	"The ones in the red turbans and black pants are the harbor 
patrol.  Avoid them at all costs.  Most of them are drawing pay 
from the Assassin's Guild.  Also stay clear of the ones wearing 
bright yellow, those are the slavers." 

        They picked their way to the adjacent street, which was 
crowded with spice vendors.  The curving route led them to the 
market yard. It was several acres wide and jammed with stalls and 
carts bearing goods from all corners of the world.  The air was 
thick with smoke from cooking fires and smoking dens as well as 
flies attracted by food and animal droppings. 

        "There," Xena nodded to a row of  long buildings with 
high windows.  "Those are the slave pens.  We have to enter near 
the far side to be close to the slave girls' market." 

        The auction yard was a covered area several hundred feet 
wide. The area in front of the pen for women awaiting auction was 
crowded with shouting and whistling men.  Xena abandoned any 
thought of getting close right now.  They could wait until the 
first round of bidding ended. By then the first wave of girls 
bound for the brothels would be leaving, with a surge of eager 
customers behind it. 

        Xena did stroll past the opposite end of the auction 
stand, where   last-minute inspections and subsequent haggling 
was taking place.  New 

owners were vigorously wiping off makeup used to conceal scars 
and blemishes or probing and sniffing genitals for disease, while 
the wholesalers dutifully feigned surprise.  Milan gaped as he 
stared at  a roped off area where a masked stud was 
systematically deflowering a line of women, since, by law, 
virgins could not be sold for prostitution.  Here and there, a 
bidder whispered to a guard and passed a handful of coins while a 
cohort discretely escorted a girl out of line. 

        "Why buy when you can just borrow, sweetmeat?"  Milan 
turned to his side to see a woman in dark robes.  She pulled 
aside the hem to reveal one of her long legs and her dusky bush.   
She opened her robe farther and revealed bare breasts the size of 
melons.   "Only a day's wage, and you don't have to take care of 
me afterwards." 

        She pressed her case by running her hands up his legs as 
she grinned lasciviously.  She gave him a playful squeeze and 
whispered an offer in his ear.  Xena's hand shot between them and 
drew the working prostitute into a swift backhand slap.  The 
harlot fell heavily on her ass, dropping Milan's coin pouch on 
impact.  She glared at Xena, then bolted off. 

        "If I remember correctly, you told me the princess was a 
blonde." 

        "Just admiring the scenery, mistress." Milan protested. 

        "Give me a break, ranger.  She had a harelip." 

        Xena's lying, Milan thought.  Even she wasn't looking at 
her face. 

        "The princess and her handmaidens are nowhere around 
here.  Small wonder.  What do we do next?"  Milan asked. 

        "It looks like I get to visit some old acquaintances," 
she said.  The expression on her face told that the experience 
would be less than 

pleasant. 

        "Welcome back, Warrior Princess," greeted the man in 
rich, midnight blue robes.  He wore his dark hair long and had a 
short goatee.  A ring of gold adorned his nose and an elaborate 
pendant fastened his cloak.  "How long has it been, one month, 
two . . .?" 

        "Four years, Senguro," Xena scowled at two bodyguards 
that towered over her.  They smiled warmly and fingered the hilts 
of their scimitars. 

        "That long, eh?  Where does the time go?  I hope you've 
come back to take me up on my dinner invitation." 

        "Not this time, Soft-Hand,"  Xena softened her face and 
smiled, but her hand was casually resting on her hip now, near 
the stiletto.  "I came to ask about the slavers who are selling 
western women." 

        "Such information is hard to come by, mistress,"  Senguro 
was loosing interest already.  "What makes you think I know 
anything about it?" 

        "A gold ring with an bloodstone lozenge set in it.  The 
mark of a prime charter master for the Assassin's Guild." 

        Senguro dropped all cordiality and his thugs promptly 
gripped the hilts of their weapons.  "Who do not brook invasions 
of their affairs! I could kill you now, Xena, and no one would 
say a word about it!" 

        "No, you couldn't, Senguro, because you're the last 
person who 

can afford to call the attention of the Guild Master upon 
himself. How much have you been holding back this year, Soft-
Hand?  Three percent? Ten percent?" 

        "I would never cross the Guild!  No one who's smart ever 
does!" 

        "And I'm the padishah's daughter!"  Xena grinned 
mockingly. 

        Senguro waved his guards to stand easy.  "You're going to 
be the end of me, Xena.  All this, for a few lousy moments in 
North Haven." 

        "Most men would kill for that chance, Soft-Hand.  Some 
have," 

Xena huffed, but they both knew it wasn't an idle boast. 

        "I know,"  Senguro said pleasantly.  "So what is it you 
require?  The name attached to a poisoned blade?  A head to ease 
a grieving widow's heart?" 

        "A girl, Senguro.  A Dunwich maiden with hair like gold 
and elfish eyes.  She probably was here within the last few 
days." 

        "The Guild Master left two days ago for the open sea.  He 
sails back here through the Spindrift Isles, then departs for the 
east at the new moon." 

        "You're sure of this?" 

        "Have I ever told you wrong?  I didn't think so.  I 
accept your apology, milady, and  you can join me for that dinner 
to express your gratitude." 

        "Looks like we part on bad terms again, Senguro.  You'll 
have to stick to whatever nobleman's daughter you're sleeping 
with these days." 

        "Not the same, I'm afraid," he grinned as he faded into 
the shadow. 

        "Don't tell me that he. . ." Milan said with a trifle of 
jealousy. 

        "You believe everything you hear, Milan.  That's your 
problem." 

        "Can we trust him?" 

        "No, but he hates the Guild more than anything else.  It 
was his worst mistake, and there's no way out once you've stepped 
in.  He never could think ahead very far." 


        The mercenary vessel, the Nightshade, made good time 
through the Straits of  Colchos and headed for the open sea. They 
could make Spindrift  Sound by nightfall of the following day, 
just in time to catch the Guild slaver as she navigated the reefs 
around the islands.  The assassins would have to hug the outward 
side of the reef since the beasts prowling the open water were 
too dangerous and the Duke of Karmanka had a fleet guarding 

the shoreline. 

        They had just sighted the islands when the sun seemed to 
fade from the sky.  Everyone was struck with horror by the 
sinister pall of fog that was rolling across the islands, and 
soon its tendrils floated towards the ship. 

        "Avast!" bellowed Captain Morgantheau, a veteran of seven 
wars 

on the Blood Sea and retainer to the Dunwich navy.  "Lookouts on 
the bow!  Watch for reefs!"  A lot of good that would do.   By 
the time shallow water was spotted, they'd be on top of the reef. 

        "What kind of fog is this, Captain?"  Milan's teeth 
chattered as the mist closed around the ship.  The temperature 
had dropped severely. 

        "Devil's fog, boy," he spat into the steam rising off the 
water.  "These parts never see mist during the day." 

        "Sorcery,"  Xena agreed.  She shrugged her cloak aside, 
heedless of the fog, her blades standing ready.  They all noticed 
the island at the same time.  At first, they thought they had 
been caught by some land-bound current, but a glance convinced 
them that they were holding their course.  The island was bearing 
down on them, pushing a wall of water several yards high.  The 
crew cried out in dismay as a huge boulder crested near them, 
which split open to reveal a cavernous maw that carried the reek 
of centuries from all the oceans of the world.  The Nightshade 
was broken in half, pieces of her hull swirling in the monstrous 
wave.  Xena looked on in horror as Milan was tossed into the air 
by the heaving deck and plowed under the 

waves.    

        "Get to the forecastle, mistress!"  Captain Morgantheau 
shoved 

Xena up the ladder to the front of the ship.  She had just 
grabbed the rail for support when the deck collapsed under 
Morgantheau's feet.  He soon joined the rest of the hapless crew 
in the monstrous hydraulics that sucked the broken ship down. 

        Xena found a handhold on the lip of the zaraten's 
barnacle encrusted jaws, her feet skidding along the water that 
surged past her.  She felt a rough, cold hand seize her around 
the wrist and haul her clear. She was carried to the top of the 
crag and cast down at the feet of a band of buccaneers. 

        "Behold - Xena: Warrior Princess," scoffed Hafez Makhi.  
His grin was the last thing she saw before the butt of a spear 
put the lights out. 


        Xena was bound at the wrists and elbows with her legs in 
hobbles.  The guards took either elbow and ushered her up the 
trail and into the gates of the citadel.  The little procession 
drew the attention of dozens of pirates manning the trebuchets 
and battlements.  

        "Hey, look!  It's feared warlord woman herself!" 

        "Looks more like fresh fish to me!" 

        "Hey, I want that bitch in my bunk tonight!" 

        "You can have her!  Crazy slut will probably bust you in 
half!" 

        "She won't be so tough with three or four of us pinning 
her down!" 

        "I don't want her after YOU, Drago!" 

        "Hey, show us a little more skin, sweet cheeks!" 
 
        The rogues crowded around the trail, wiggling tongues and 
grabbing crotches suggestively.  The guards shouldered through 
them to the doors of the Guild House.  They climbed a set of 
stairs that opened into the audience hall.  Makhi was waiting 
there with Tahir Arrani.  Several scantily clad blonde women sat 
among a pile of furs in the middle of the room. One of them 
matched Milan's description of his princess. 

        "Take her to the harem and treat her with the potion.  
She'll be the new centerpiece of my collection." 

        Xena went wild with outrage.  Her lunge at the grinning 
pirate was aborted by the guards holding her chains. 

        "On second thought," said Makhi, "Entertain her in the 
lower chambers for a while.  Do whatever you want, as long as you 
leave no scars.  But I want her tamed." 

        Xena shouted with feral intensity, then the lights went 
out again as the guards subdued her. 


        Xena woke up with the feeling of something suffocating  
her. She had a panic filled moment before she realized that she 
could still breathe through her nostrils.  Gagged, she thought, 
and blindfolded too.  Her forearms and calves were bound in tight 
sleeves and a belt circled her waist.  They were chained so she 
was spread eagle and hanging in the harness. She could tell by 
the draught on her skin that she was otherwise nude. 

        "Looks like she's coming around."  The voice and the 
footsteps 

came closer.  A hand carefully pulled her blindfold up to rest on 
her forehead.  It belonged to a Nordic man in his early forties, 
body lean and hardened from combat.  His grin, full of sharpened, 
silver teeth, identified him as Rostov, Hafez Makhi's prime 
assassin. 
  
        "This is called the Spider, Xena.  Our interrogator uses 
this as the pedestal of his art.  You probably remember that his 
art is something that most of us do not have the stomach to 
witness."  Rostov picked up a thick, wickedly curved hook from 
the table, letting Xena watch the light from a brazier full of 
glowing coals glint off it.  He snorted and returned it to its 
stand. "No, we've got other ideas.  A lot more fun, although 
someone's got to serve as the entertainment.  Of course, we've 
picked you." 

        Five pirates barged through the entryway, cursing and 
snickering, tankards of ale spilling carelessly.  They cheered 
when they saw the naked woman hanging in the middle of the 
torture chamber. 

        "Hold up, boys, let's make her comfortable now, " Rostov 
released a lever and pulled a set of pulleys, tilting the 
cruciform that held the harness forward.  Xena watched the six 
men as they stripped down. Their hairy legs came into view, then 
they stepped close enough so she could see them hefting and 
stroking their penes into hardness,  like weapons being 
brandished before the onslaught.  Rostov was the first to touch 
her. He slicked a finger with his saliva, then rubbed it lightly 
on Xena's nipples, which hardened with the sudden chill.  The men 
grunted and whistled approvingly.   

         Rostov rubbed his cock on her face.  He grabbed a 
handful of her dark hair, pulling her head back forcefully as he 
pressed his cock against her breasts.  He grinned with 
satisfaction at the loathing and terror in her bright blue eyes.  
The others stepped forward and replaced him now, running their 
coarse hands over the soft skin of her body.  One was below her 
with his face buried in her tits, sucking and chewing on her 
nipples.  Two of them were fondling her ass while they pumped 
their inflamed rods up against her thighs, while one was lapping 
at her cunt as he jerked himself off. 

         The huge black corsair with scars across his face was 
the one with first bid at Xena's pussy.  One of the others handed 
him a tray holding a cake of grease.  He smeared it along the 
length of his huge tool, eyeing the patch between Xena's legs 
licentiously  and licking his lips.  He smeared another handful  
of the lubricant over the lips of her pussy, working two of his 
fingers inside her.  He kept the lips parted with his fingers as 
he steered the dark purple head of his cock into her. 

         He groaned as he shoved his hips forward.  His face was 
knotted with pleasure as he twirled and rocked his hips, 
wrenching his cock around inside her.  One of the others had 
greased her chest up and was fucking his cock between her 
breasts.  The black man came first, roaring at the top of his 
lungs as he emptied his testicles.  The other squeezed her tits 
together tightly as he shot his load there.  The next one moved 
eagerly between her legs, ramming his cock in and pumping her 
with short, dog-like strokes. They took turns at her pussy until 
their cum had trickled from her lips and made a puddle on the 
stone floor.  Rostov stood back and watched the five thugs use 
her lavish body, his eyes wide with glee as he worked his inches.  
He only came forward when he was ready to pop.  He grabbed her 
hair and held her head still as he rubbed the head of his cock on 
her cheeks and around her lips.  He snorted with satisfaction and 
growled as he squirted his cum on her face and in her hair.  The 
prime assassin gauged the time, decided to give the men another 
half hour before he would call in the concubines to clean up and 
drug her for the master. 
  

        The floating citadel made its way east.  The zaraten's 
massive limbs propelled it along at thirty knots, closing the 
distance inexorably with Calimport.  When it stopped, the pirate 
crew set to a group of giant cogwheels.  Groaning and swearing 
mightily, they turned the wheels until the piers were deployed 
from the recesses in the zaraten's shell. They went to work 
arming the frigates that would ravage the city and the coastline 
for miles.  It was easy among the hustle and confusion for Milan 
to emerge from his hiding place and start climbing. 

        The ranger had been sucked into the giant turtle's wake 
when he hit the water.  Realizing he had only seconds to escape 
watery death, he caught hold on the timbers of the folded pier 
and lashed himself to it with his pack harness.  He rode along 
for the last four hours, until the creature slowed and the 
pirates' frenzied activity made his ascent possible.  He ducked 
through the jungle and made his way to the guild house.  The 
servants loading fresh supplies had left the side gates open and 
he rushed into the house in a swirl of black robes. 

        He was overcome with rage when he found the cell holding 
Xena. 

The heroine was stripped naked and lashed to a bizarre device.  
He overheard the groans and crude cheers of the five brutes who 
were standing around the weird rack, groping at her while she 
hung in a leather harness and one fucked her.  Xena's brow was 
covered with sweat, her eyes squeezed 

shut.  Her face was flushed as she tried to breathe around the 
leather gag in her mouth. 

        He pulled back into the shadows, taking two heavy 
throwing spikes from beneath his robes.  He pushed the door open 
and confirmed that there were six targets in the room.  They had 
not noticed him, too caught up in their lust as they waited 
another turn inside the woman's silky womb. 

        He struck the ones waiting at the sides first.  The 
spikes entered their throats, driving them to their knees as they 
fought for air. The man between her legs was next.  The deadly 
ranger pulled two leaf-bladed daggers from their sheaths and 
plunged them up under the man's ribs. The corsair vomited blood 
as the blades pierced his diaphragm and tore his lungs open.  The 
other two, still exhausted from their penetrations, died before 
they could gain their feet when Milan cast the two daggers at 
them. One was killed instantly as it pierced his eye and lodged 
in his brain.  The other clawed weakly at the cruel knife lodged 
in his neck as his lifeblood spurted from a torn carotid artery.  

        Milan used the body of the rapist as a shield when Rostov 
fired a small crossbow at him.  He cast the body aside and leapt 
at the assassin.  He bowled the older man over and grappled with 
him fiercely.  Milan was a bit bigger, but Rostov was a veteran 
of hundreds of hand to hand battles. He broke Milan's chokehold 
when he shoved a palm under his chin, forcing his head back.  The 
assassin had worked a dirk free from his robes and stabbed, but 
Milan easily caught and held his arm.  He shoved Rostov's hand 
into the smoldering brazier.  The assassin screamed as smoke and 
the smell of roasting pork filled the air.  Milan finally sent 
him down with a fist to the back of the neck. 

        He retrieved his spikes and daggers, then released the 
bindings around Xena's arms and legs.  She collapsed into his 
arms and he pulled the gag out of her mouth.  Xena gasped 
gratefully and clung to his shoulder for support. 
  
        "Milan," she whispered as he put his arms around her.  He 
took 

water from a pitcher on the table and washed her face.  Looking 
around, he found a cloth to dry her off with, as well as her 
clothes and armor. She pressed her face into his shoulder and 
clung to him.  Milan held her gently and reassuringly as her 
horror passed.  With a deep breath, she composed herself and took 
the armor.  They noticed Rostov stirring in the shadows. 

        "He's still alive," Milan said, slightly surprised. 

        "Not for long,"  Xena said, the steel back in her.  She 
hefted a fallen scimitar menacingly and stalked toward the 
wounded assassin. 

        "Wait," Rostov croaked, "Don't kill me. . ." 

        "Tell me what Makhi has planned." 

        "Spare me and I'll tell you," he gasped as he clutched 
his seared hand in pain. 

        "Start talking, you bastard." 

        "He planned to have you drugged and taken into his harem.  
He was going to put on a show tonight to show you off as his 
latest conquest and acquisition to other masters of the Assassins 
Guild."  The assassin spit out three of his silver teeth and 
continued.  "They're celebrating before they overrun Calimport.  
I'm supposed to pick a lieutenant to put on a show with you after 
their feast.  Please, let me go now!" 

        Xena's expression hardened as her grip tightened on the 
scimitar. 

        "No!  You promised!" 

        "I did not," she said calmly as she rammed the blade 
through his heart, closing the shifty eyes forever. 

        "Help me hide these carcasses," she said as she tossed 
Milan the black pirate's uniform.  "Then put this on." 

        "What for?" 

        "We have a dinner date to get ready for." 


        Xena duplicated the drowsy stare that she had seen on the 
faces of the harem girls.  Milan held her by the elbow as they 
walked into the bath house used by the concubines.  Three of them 
were waiting there, stripped to the waist as they prepared a bath 
for the two new arrivals. 

        "Rostov said to come here to get ready," Milan said, 
trying to act officious to cover his arousal by the three 
exquisitely beautiful and voluptuous concubines.  One who 
appeared to be the leader nodded and they removed their skirts 
and jewelry.  Two of them took Milan's hands while the leader 
took Xena's.  They led them to the marble steps of the bathing 
pool and proceeded to strip them. 

        They sat the couple side by side and one poured a pitcher 
of warm water over their heads.  Xena was grateful as the water 
rinsed away the crawling sensations of the brutes' hands and 
their abominable seed. The girls lathered their bodies with soft 
sponges and massaged perfumed suds into their scalps.  The leader 
was busy at work with a small razor as she denuded Xena's loins. 

        "The master likes to observe the small details," she 
offered in explanation.  Xena nodded, then cast a dark glance at 
the girl who was 

grooming Milan and taking the privilege of caressing and licking 
his fully erect cock.  The ranger, shrugged, as if to say, "Hey, 
this was your idea" and lay back as the girl started to scrape 
his pubic hair away. 

        They were rinsed off and led to a pair of padded  tables.  
The girls poured a sweetly spiced oil onto their backs, then 
rubbed handfuls of it into their own skins.  They climbed onto 
the large tables, next to their guests.  The leader straddled 
Xena's back and rubbed her shoulders.  Across from them, one used 
her ample breasts to rub the oil into Milan's back.  He had to 
admit, even though they were facing a battle where they were 
hopelessly outnumbered, he was having a great time.  And even 
though Makhi was a pig, he sure could pick the most delectable 
women. 

        They turned them over and finished the rubdown, then led 
them to the harem room where a dozen other concubines lounged and 
slept as they waited for the couple. 

        "The master wants us to warm you up for your performance. 
But, it seems that the pleasure is ours, for once,"  The girls 
smiled appreciatively and with enthusiasm as the two hard-bodied 
warriors were led into the middle of a sea of  pillows and 
scented bodies. 

        Delicate hands with painted nails reached out and 
stroked, caressed, teased them.  They were joined by soft, warm 
tongues.  Two of them had Milan on his back and took turns 
licking and sucking his cock as a third offered her pussy to his 
mouth.  A girl with short, raven-black was  kneeling between 
Xena's legs, brushing the insides of her thighs and her labia 
with a long feather.  Two blondes massaged her breasts while 
another kissed her tenderly.  The other girls caressed  the 
engaged partners or paired off themselves until they could trade 
places. 

        Milan  couldn't see Esmerelda around the chamber, but was 
sure 

she would be there tonight.  He started to formulate plans but 
his concentration was broken when a wench with a long mane of red 
hair kissed him lightly. 

        "If you think you'll  have enough strength for tonight," 
she asked demurely, "I was hoping that you would let me please 
you for a while." 

        Milan nodded, feeling quite overwhelmed.  The girl kissed 
him thankfully and straddled him, taking him inside of her with a 
practiced thrust of her hips.  Her vagina seemed to grab him 
greedily, then gave his cock an affectionate squeeze.  She cooed 
and whispered to him.  "The master likes this with me more than 
the others.  This is my specialty. Lay back and let me do the 
work.  I swear you won't be disappointed." 

        Xena had been similarly distracted when the brunette 
rubbed the tip of her nose and tongue over her clit.   Xena 
decided to abandon the strategy for now and kissed the blonde 
back hungrily.  The harem wench whispered into Xena's ear and got 
a nod of agreement.  They arranged themselves on their sides, 
their faces to each other's crotch.  The blonde began, kissing 
and licking Xena's slick pussy as she squeezed her ass.  Xena 
plunged two fingers in and out of the girl's cunt, teasing her 
clit with her tongue.  She paused to look over at Milan, who was 
hanging onto the table precariously as the red-headed girl rode 
him through wave after wave of orgasms. Xena winked at him and 
worked on her own girl. 

        When the harem girls had sated themselves, Milan and Xena 
crawled to a far corner of the bed and nestled down in a mound of 
pillows.  The concubines took it as a gesture that the lieutenant 
wanted time with Xena for himself, so they left them alone. 

        "I think I've found a way to spoil their party tonight," 
Xena whispered.  "The guards will be light since most of the 
pirates will be preparing for the raid on Calimport." 

        "Yes.  We should be able to escape with the princess 
quite easily if we can prevent an alarm from sounding." 

        "I intend to do more than that," Xena said ominously.  
"Are you ready, young ranger?" 

        "As I'll ever be.   Traveling with you, a man has to be 
ready for anything, it seems." 

        "You can't say it's been boring," she said.  Despite the 
grim circumstances,  she felt the flame of desire flare in her 
and she squeezed his cock playfully.  She felt a rush of pride as 
his drained organ writhed and hardened in response.  They 
embraced and kissed passionately, observing the Sujel custom once 
more as the harem girls watched them dreamily. 
  

======== Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories Subject: repost: Xena - Pt 3 
of 3 From: antonior@ccshp1.ccs.csus.edu (Reynaldo J. Antonio) 
Date: 14 Apr 1996 08:10:56 GMT 

Xena:  Warrior Princess Part 3 of 3 

This is an X-rated story based on "Xena:  Warrior Princess".   It 
takes place between her appearance on "Hercules" and her own 
series.  Please note that this does not have anything to do with 
plot of either show except for her character.  There are 
creatures and places that are borrowed from other fantasy 
settings, historical periods, and myths too numerous to name, but 
some readers may recognize them, so the author hopes that they're 
described appealingly. 

Once more, this is an X-rated fantasy story, not to be viewed by 
or distributed to minors.  If  sexual material offends you or you 
are sensitive to the subjects of sadism, non-consensual sex (e.g. 
rape, coercion), humiliation, bondage, or slavery 

OR 

graphic violence (this IS a warrior's story) 

then please discard this article now. 


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	Tahir Arrani took his place at the banquet, his prime assassin by 
his side and Princess Esmerelda lounging at his feet.  Eight 
other sheiks from various cartels in Calimport and neighboring 
countries were in attendance.   Each of the dignitaries had two 
slave girls chosen from the pens.  Seated on his throne at the 
middle of the banquet table, Hafez Makhi watched his guests as 
they drank from gold goblets and feasted on the mounds of rich 
food.  His normally stern face was broken by the smuggest of 
grins as the chosen moment approached. Using the edge of his 
dinner knife, he struck a small bell that produced a high, clear 
tone. 

	"My friends," he gestured to the assembled sheiks, "today we 
begin a venture greater than any other in the history of the 
Guild.  We have proved what this citadel can do on the open sea.  
No merchant vessel can get by us.  No fleet can stand up to us.  
In three days time, Calimport will belong to us! We shall claim 
the city and control  the entire coastline.  The merchants will 
have to deal with us, and Bandar will become the economic capital 
of the three continents! The agents of our guild are in place and 
have made preparations for our landing.  Once Calimport is 
occupied, we shall sail our barges up the Camroot River, deep 
into the Berlandic plains, taking what the rich farmlands and 
mining towns have to offer.  We shall take anything, ANYTHING, 
that we desire. . ." 

	On this verbal cue, the curtains to a vestibule parted and out 
stepped Milan, leading Xena.  He was naked except for a leather 
loincloth, his bulging muscles glowing from the oil rubbed into 
his skin.  In his hand, he held a silk cord that was clasped to 
the gem-studded slave collar around Xena's neck.  She wore the 
diaphanous veils of a concubine and gold bracelets around her 
upper arm and a slim chain around one of her ankles.  The eyes of 
the assembled crime bosses and harem girls crawled avidly over 
the bodies of the two performers.  There were whispers as the 
rumors of Makhi's latest accomplishment were now confirmed. 

	Makhi clapped his hands twice, nodding to Milan.   The costumed 
ranger undid the clasp at Xena's collar and seated himself on the 
couch in the middle of fur-lined floor.  The musicians began a 
tune, then Xena started to sway her hips to the hypnotic rhythm.  
Her shoulders joined in, moving in counterpoint as she shifted 
from one leg to the other in the classical form of a harem girl's 
belly dance.  

	Milan, like the others, found himself absorbed by the undulations 
of her sleek abs.  She moved her legs farther apart and snaked 
from side to side, the sinuous motion of her torso causing the 
men, and a lot of the women, to wet their lips.  She danced 
around the edge of the floor with spins and leaps that allowed 
the slits in her veils to show long flashes of warm skin.  

She stopped in front of one party.  It was made of a man in his 
twenties, who was the youngest sheik, and a pair of dark-skinned 
women.  She stepped in between his legs.  He looked up at her as 
she twisted sensuously, barely an inch away from his face.  She 
gave him the end of her skirt and spun on her toes away from him, 
unwrapping the skirt and freeing it with a quick snap of her 
hands as she reached the middle of the floor.  She pranced 
forward as she shed her sheer harem blouse and came up to a man 
across from them.  This time she dropped to her knees, her legs 
spread and her hands cupping her breasts for the man and the 
breathless women.  

The man swallowed hard as she put her hands on his shoulders.  
She arched forward three times, pushing her chest out, her 
nipples grazing against him.  She whipped her head forward, her 
hair floating around his face so that they could only see each 
other.  He closed his eyes as she moved forward, her lips parted 
for a kiss, but then she turned and kissed the slave girl 
instead.  She held the teen's face between her hands and offered 
him the girl's lips, which were still moist from the kiss. 

Xena leaned back onto the floor, twisting over to her belly with 
a turn of her long legs.  She crawled forward on her hands and 
knees like a sleek jungle cat to the next sheik. As she rose, she 
gathered her hair up and let it cascade back down to her 
shoulders, a motion that threw her breasts up and out. She placed 
a foot on his chest, then shoved him playfully onto his back.  
She stepped forward and placed her feet at the sides of his head, 
then squatted down as she spread her lips for him.  His eyes were 
locked on the teasing strokes of her hands as she slid a finger 
inside her cunt, playing with herself to coax the moisture onto 
her lips.  She ran her fingers around her clit, pulling the top 
of her pussy upward so her pink bud peeked out at him.  The man 
stretched out his tongue towards the welcoming folds of her cunt.  
Xena let him lick there a few times, then moved on. 

She plucked the berry that Esmerelda was going to feed Tahir 
Arrani out of her fingers.  She slid the tip in and out between 
her lips a few times as she looked into the assassin's glassy 
eyes, then  nibbled on the end of it to release the juice from 
it.  She rubbed the berry around her lips, on her chin, down her 
neck, around her nipples.  She held the berry out for him to 
finally take into his mouth. 

        Xena resumed her dance around the room.  Arrani placed a 
hand on Esmerelda's shoulder and spread his legs apart.  She 
reached into his caftan and pulled his cock out, pumping it 
soothingly as they watched the dancer. It was a scene that was 
being repeated around the room as the crowd anticipated what was 
coming next.  

        She returned to Milan, passing her hands over the warmest 
curves of her body as if they were extensions of his imagination 
while she continued her serpentine dance.  She spun around and 
dropped into his lap.  When his arms went around her in reflex, 
she latched onto them, guiding his strong hands to her breasts 
and thighs as she writhed on top of him.  She slid two of his 
fingers into her pussy, then waved them under his nose before she 
let him suck on them. 

        She turned over, her arms around him and her tits smashed 
against his hard chest.  Some of the slave women watched with 
envy as she squirmed on his lap and ran her hands over the 
symmetric muscles of his back.  Xena got up and lay on her back, 
her knees pressing his ankles until his legs were spread.  She 
held one tit up to her tongue while she spread the lips of her 
pussy open for him.  She ground into the plush fur as she 
fingered herself, letting the throes of her pleasure enchant the 
crowd.  She turned over, her ass up in the air and pumping at 
Milan, giving him a good look at the way her fingers slid in and 
out.  She spun over again and put her legs up at the sides of his 
neck and arched into the air, her body undulating.  Milan kissed 
the smooth skin of her legs, which only seemed to inflame her 
more.  She rolled back to the floor and held his knees as she 
pulled herself up, her tits brushing the insides of his legs and 
her smooth belly coming to rest against his cock as they kissed. 

        She hooked her fingers into the top of his loincloth, 
pulling it off and freeing his cock.  As she took his thick shaft 
in her hand, the audience closed in to watch.  A couple got down 
on the floor behind her, staring at her exposed vagina.  Others 
watched as she ran the tip of her tongue over his cock, tracing 
the outline of the large vein that trailed on the side.  She 
sucked noisily and let plenty of saliva run down his cock, 
performing for their benefit. Milan did likewise, panting and 
groaning whenever Xena did something exceptional with her mouth. 
  
        Their torrid display was having the desired effect.  One 
of the sheiks lay on the furs with a harem girl who mimicked 
Xena's fellatio as they watched. Milan got up with Xena's legs 
wrapped around him, her weight feathers to the knotted cords of 
his arms.  Xena ground her crotch over his as they kissed and 
eased down to the fur.  Some of the people were bold enough to 
reach out and stroke their bodies as they coupled, squeezing 
buttocks, tits and hard muscles.  Xena climbed off, stroking 
Milan's cock to keep him warm and titillated as she scanned the 
audience.  She picked out a petite, slim, brown-haired girl with 
innocent eyes.  Xena grabbed the girl by the shoulders, licking 
the side of her neck and kissing her as she pulled her over to 
Milan, who was stoking his cock and breathing harder as he looked 
the wench up and down.  The girl gasped as she forced herself 
down on Milan's cock.  Xena picked out the young sheik and pulled 
him down to the furs.  He kissed her wetly as he grabbed her hips 
and entered her. 

        Milan looked over at Xena, who gave him a subtle gesture 
to wait.  She caressed and licked at the young man until he 
tensed up, growling behind bared teeth as he locked his hips 
forward.  She put her arms around his neck, moaning as she felt 
him cum inside her.  The girl riding Milan dug her nails into his 
shoulders as she came, whimpering as Milan pushed her on her back 
and drove hard into her slit.  He locked his mouth over hers as 
he filled her with sperm.  When he pulled out of her, his cock 
made a small, soft pop, like the cork out of a bottle.  Xena 
moved Milan out of  the way and moved over the girl into a 69.  
The harem girl opened her mouth to catch the jism as it dripped 
from Xena's pussy lips, while Xena probed with her tongue to lap 
up Milan's cum. The young sheik was back, still hard as a rock 
and wanting to penetrate her again.  Xena smiled and lay back 
with her knees drawn up and wide for him. 

        Milan saw her give a get-ready signal, and noticed that 
the guards were eyeing Xena as she screwed the horny pirate and 
the two women that were licking the wetness from his own cock.   
The others had moved away in sticky pairs and were oblivious to 
the surroundings.  Xena's partner came again, collapsing into her 
arms, and this time she seized his chin and wrenched his head 
brutally, snapping his neck with a subdued crunch.  Milan sprang 
forward and flung two of the thick furs at the guards.   They 
were entangled by the heavy skins long enough for Milan to latch 
onto one's neck and lever himself up to plant a heel explosively 
in the other's windpipe.   Xena heaved the deadweight from her 
and the crowd scattered in sudden panic.  The slave girls milled 
about in a daze as their masters abandoned them. 

	Milan caught a hold of Esmerelda and held up the pendant that he 
had hidden, an ivory likeness of Thetis, goddess of the oceans.  
Esmerelda suddenly choked and heaved.  Milan steadied her as a 
trickle of dark fluid dripped from her mouth, the herb's toxins 
expelled from her body by Thetis's grace. 

	"Milan?" The princess's voice was faint and the recognition in 
her eyes was faltering.  Milan grasped her hands as if she were 
hanging from them over a cliff. 

	"Yes, my princess!  We must flee, all of us.  Can you walk?" 

	"As long as it's away from this horrid place." 

	"I'll gather the rest of our women.  Xena will free the ones in 
the being held in the pens.  We need to find a ship to get away." 

	"Milan!  More guards!" 

	He rushed to help Xena stop the squads that had arrived.  He 
relieved the corpses of the bodyguards of  two heavy, fearsome 
scimitars, found another and flipped it to Xena.  With a fierce 
war cry, he waded into the first wave of corsairs.  His cry was 
joined by the shrieks of the dying as the pirates fell before the 
whirling blades of the ranger.  Xena met her own opponents with 
unbridled fury, scattering them like chaff before the wind.  The 
pirates' escape was thwarted by the fluttering roar and 
thunderous impacts of missiles launched by vessels of the Dunwich 
navy.  The rogues scattered about the guild house, knowing that 
they faced certain death outside as the catapults flattened the 
fortifications as well as inside as the two warriors slew their 
fellow pirates until the floor of the audience hall was slick 
with blood. They decided that they stood a better chance against 
the bombardment and fled toward the frigates that had not been 
sunk yet. 

	When the last of the remaining guards fell dead, the two warriors 
led the kidnapped women out.  Milan checked a girl who had 
fallen, then looked over at Xena. 

        "Are you hurt?"   He could not tell from the arterial 
explosions of their victims if any of the blood was hers. 

        "Makhi will hurt worse."  She said as she dropped the 
scimitar and reclaimed her weapons from a guard who had taken 
them for his own. 

        "The Lord of Corsairs will answer for many crimes after I 
drag him back in chains.  Justice will be swift to claim that 
monster." 

        "It had better.  If I find him first, you can stop 
looking." 

        "Good hunting, mistress," he said, crossing his weapon 
with hers in parting.  He gathered his charges to leave for the 
docks as Xena ran through the gloomy passageways to the slave 
pens. 


        "Quickly, loyal ones!  We must flee to the docks!"  
Esmerelda hurried the last of the slave girls to follow Milan and 
pried a broadsword from a dead pirate's grasp.  She blocked the 
doorway as three buccaneers moved to intercept them.  

        The thugs laughed at the naked girl with the sword, but 
Esmerelda was no novice to combat.  She remembered when Justin 
ordered her to fight nude one session.  At first she was amused, 
thinking that he had finally worked up enough nerve to attempt 
seduction, but ceased laughing when she  noticed the stern 
expression on her tutor's face. 

        "There are some moves that you cannot make while fettered 
by armor," he had told her as he executed a spin and leap that 
seemed to belong in a ballet, except for the wicked jabs and cuts 
of the blade that would kill a man horribly.  He taught her how 
to use her smaller size, speed, and acrobatic talent against 
larger, slower, armored foes.  She was now grateful for the 
lesson. 

        The first pirate sheathed his sword and pulled a coiled 
whip from his belt.  He was intent on taking a prize along on his 
escape.  A whip was no match for a broadsword, but the scorned 
princess offered no quarter.  The pirate saw the flash of steel 
and heard a sound that he was accustomed to hearing around the 
cook's butcher block, but by the time he realized his arm was 
missing the princess had already run through one of his comrades.  
The third was quicker to react, but not quick enough.  He sliced 
through empty air as the princess hacked through the flesh 
between his neck and shoulder. 

        Esmerelda had just delivered the coup de grace to her 
first opponent when she heard mocking laughter behind her.  She 
turned and saw Arrani 

waiting, licking the blade of his jeweled dagger as he sneered. 

        "So, my pet,  you prove that the most beautiful things 
are always the most deadly."  His leer changed to malicious 
snarl.  "Time for play is over.  Now I will carve more openings 
in your flesh for a different sense of pleasure." 

        "That kind of talk may cow a slave girl," she said, her 
eyes flashing as she raised her weapon, "but now you face a 
daughter of the Royal House.  My retribution is at hand." 

        She lunged and dove between his blubbery legs, as if 
ducking into a small tunnel, except for the hand wielding the 
sword.  With one smooth stroke, she emasculated Tahir Arrani, 
almost splitting him to his navel.  The assassin, in shock from 
the speed of the attack and the pain of the awful wound, doubled 
over and tried to face her.  She turned and delivered the final 
blow, just as in her lessons.  It was silent in the chamber 
except for the whistle of the blade, followed by the sound of the 
head of the assassin landing at the princess's feet. 

        "For you, beloved," she choked.  Dropping the gruesome 
weapon, she walked out of the guild house, into the light. 


	Xena found the slave pens and saw, to her relief, that the women 
were not drugged.  With no time to find the keys, she smashed the 
locks off the doors and helped the women out.  A dozen guards 
appeared at the entrance of the cell block, baring their weapons.  
Xena flew at them with her sword poised and a curse yelled at the 
top of her lungs, not caring that she was practically naked 
against the wall of thugs and ranks of archers who were leveling 
crossbows at her.  Athena, Blessed Goddess,  she prayed, protect 
me as a strike my enemies.  At least let me fight them long 
enough for the innocents to escape. 

	To her surprise, the archers pulled up their weapons, and the 
guards faltered in their advance.  There was a deafening cry as 
the women of Dunwich rushed to their rescuer's aid.  The guards, 
still stupidly thinking of the profits they would loose by 
killing the captives, held their fire and set in a position in 
front of the doorway.  But the women, fighting for their freedom 
and filled with the fierce mettle of their city-state, joined the 
Warrior Princess in the fray.  They fought with tooth, nail, 
broken furniture and bricks that had  been loosened in the 
bombardment, screeching and striking until no marauder was left 
standing.  When it was done, seven of their sisters lay dead, and 
several others with serious wounds, but all the guards had been 
slain, pulled out of their armor and torn to pieces by the 
enraged women. 

        Xena organized them to carry the wounded out and sent 
them on their way, then stalked back into the main hall in search 
of Makhi. She did not have to search very hard. 

        "Come, Xena," he said as he drew his sword.   "Show me 
what the mainlanders feared in you so much." 

        Unlike Arrani, who lived soft in his palace, Makhi was 
still one of the deadliest swordsmen on the Blood Sea.  He met 
Xena's attack with ringing steel, sweeping her blades wide and 
pressing in for a quick kill.  She brought a knee into his 
midsection, foiling his attack, but it left her flank open to the 
reverse of his swing.  She barely dodged the lethal cut, feeling 
the bite of steel as the tip of the blade grazed her.   The two 
opponents disengaged and circled, now conceding greater respect 
for each other. 

        The two battled without anything but near misses and 
glancing blows telling, but the aging pirate could not hold out 
for long against Xena's acrobatic defenses and the hammering of 
her twin swords.  He faltered, overextending when he tried one 
last ferocious attack.  She waded in behind a wild swing and 
thrust with one weapon, jabbing him in the shoulder, then the 
other knocked his blade out of his hands.  She gripped the hair 
of his head, the tip of her sword leveled against his spine for 
the fatal thrust. 

        "If you have a god to pray to, corsair, pray that he's 
listening. In the name of all whose lives you destroyed and the 
scars that will never heal, die!" 

        Athena forgive her, she felt glorious. 


        Milan was relieved when Xena appeared at the dock.  He 
had loaded the last of the women aboard a naval vessel and had 
sent them on their way back to the mainland.  

        "Where's our princess?" 

        "She's not with you?" 

        "She never left the guild house." 

        They backtracked and found her on the edge of the dock's 
watch post. Milan was struck with horror as the princess stepped 
out on the ledge. Her intentions were made clear by the anguish 
on her face. 

        "Let me die, Milan," she wailed desperately. 

        "No, my princess.  I will not let the vile slavers claim 
final 

victory over us with your death." 

        "I'm broken.  They've taken my virtue, my dignity.  
They've taken Justin!  Everything that mattered is gone." 

        "Everything but hope, and Justin's love for you.  It 
takes more courage to live than to die, Esmerelda.  Justin loved 
you, he would want you to go on, to live for him.  He knew that 
if he should fall, his love would live on long after him, that it 
would comfort you when you were lost, would sustain you when you 
suffered." 

        Esmerelda's grief receded, the grotesque horror of the 
citadel faded with her memory of Justin's kind face.  Wise, 
cheerful, smiling and saying that it was a good day for a ride 
out in the countryside.  Her grief was no longer for her fallen 
champion, but for herself, for having to continue without him by 
her side.  She stepped away from the ledge and fell to her knees 
as she let the sobs finally come.  Milan took her in his arms and 
carried her back to the ships. 
   
        Xena remained a respectful distance away to leave their 
grief private.  So he has held and comforted me like that, not 
long ago. The princess has done no wrong, but how many women have 
suffered at the hands of my men while I laughed about it?  
Hercules, my friend, my love, when you held me in you arms, I 
felt so secure, so supported, that I had a dream of stripping off 
my armor and weapons and burying them as symbols of  the part of 
me that hated, that lusted for dominion and the blood of those 
who stood in my way.  But then I realized that I must bear my 
arms still, this time to defend.  I will defend those who cannot 
defend themselves.  I will defend those who would suffer at the 
hands of people who are like what I once was.  

        "Milan, we must go," she called. 

        "Where, mistress?" 

        "We must finish this place.  Listen,  this beast we ride, 
it does not normally roam about the waters like this.  Someone is 
keeping it active. It takes strong magic to do so.  We must stop 
them and release this beast from its enchantment, or the citadel 
will be occupied again.  Follow me!" 

        They paused to do battle with small knots of brigands 
along the way.  Dunwich ships had docked and marines were routing 
the pirates stranded on the floating citadel.  The ships cast off 
and chased down the frigates that were escaping.  Milan ordered 
the marines to fall back as Xena led him towards the massive head 
of the zaraten.  They were stalled by archers who were holed up 
in the heavy bunker until marine grenadiers threw flasks of 
burning oil through the arrow slits.  The two warriors led the 
charge into the complex. 
	
        "Kill the one with magi's robes," Xena said as she cut 
down a brigand who had survived the flames. 

        "I see him," Milan said as he picked a harpoon from a 
rack on the wall. The magician was too busy trying to steady the 
wounded zaraten to cast another spell. The ranger heaved the 
missile and it smashed through the body of a man in black and 
gold robes, almost passing completely through him.  With the 

enchantment dispelled, the zaraten acted in its own defense and 
started to dive. The heroes headed for the edge of the shell 
where a Dunwich ship had came alongside.  Princess Esmerelda 
waved for her soldiers to hurry as the living island sank.  A 
wave of panicked slavers swarmed to board the ship, but were 
repelled and cast back into the foaming sea. 

        "Looks like we've won," said Milan, "We've destroyed the 
black heart of the beast, now its tentacles will die off." 

        "I'm afraid not," Xena said grimly, "The limbs will grow 
new beasts.  The factions within the guild will now vie for 
power, and when they reform, they'll be back for vengeance. 

        "It will be their last mistake," Esmerelda said as they 
watched the burning ships slip beneath the  waves.  The water was 
thick with the flotsam of the ruined fortress and the bodies of 
the marauders.  "When we get back, the first thing I will ask of 
my father is the curettage of  the port cities. The guild and the 
slavers will be no more." 

        "Bandar's government is rife with corruption,"  the 
captain of 

the naval ship interjected.  "The city will go to war to protect 
the guild." 

        "Then let there BE war!  These wretches kill our 
neighbors and sell our children.  They will not be able to hide 
behind the throne of a spineless noble anymore.  It won't matter 
if we keep our mining  colony across the Blood Sea when our own 
city is not safe." 


        Princess Esmerelda went to Willow River as emissary, with 
Milan and Xena as her escorts.  They completed the task, and the 
objective of Dunwich's military shifted from holding the mithril 
mines to patrolling the borders and sea lanes.  Xena was right 
about the slavers. Though the might of the guild had suffered 
from the defeat at Calimport, and even more so in the weeks that 
followed as the bid for power was on, the markets had already 
appeared in other cities.  As long as Esmerelda and Milan lived, 
though, they vowed that the women of Dunwich would not be among 
the unfortunate females sold there. 


	Xena accepted the princess's offer to stay in the keep.  She was 
happy to be close to Milan, who had elected for garrison duty.  
But as the days passed into the cool winds of fall, she had begun 
to think more of  the hills of her homeland, of the songs of the 
women during the harvest season.  The pleasant citizens of 
Dunwich, all of a sudden, seemed indifferent.  Their easy charm 
seemed to pale as her need to return home deepened.  Milan sensed 
the change in her and tried to get her to talk about it, but she 
could never bring herself to say what was going on inside of her.  
She didn't know how to tell him why she must leave or, more 
importantly, how to convince him that she needed to go on alone.  
Esmerelda had noticed Xena's plight.  She asked her about it one 
night. 

	"You have been a very gracious host, Princess," Xena reassured 
her,   "and I've felt very welcome here.  Everyone has been kind, 
but I must leave you now.  I must return to my homeland." 

	"I wish you well, Xena.  You'll be welcome in our city if you 
ever come this way again."  Esmerelda worried her lip and shook 
her head, saying softly, "I wish we had more warriors like you.  
And it looks like I loose my personal guard once again." 

        "What do you mean?  With Justin gone, Milan is even more 
committed to ensuring your safety." 

        "Not likely," she said.  "I've seen the way he looks at 
you, how his heart opens every time he hears your voice." 

        "He can't come with me.  I've too far to go to reach my 
home." She shut her eyes, remembering her last words with her 
mother, remembering the words of defiance and bloody ambition.  
"It may not be my home anymore." 

        "He loves you, Xena." 

        "He may love me, but he needs you.  That's more important 
to his own happiness than being at the side of his first lover." 

        "Will you tell him?" 

        "When I can find the heart to.   If I ever can find the 
heart to." 

        "You can.  You must.  Your feelings are strong, but they 
have a price." 

        "It's too great!" 

        "Yes, Xena.  But even though it hurts, there's comfort in 
such 

pain." 

        "I don't understand." 

        "Poor woman.  I guess you don't.  And there's nothing 
that can be done to change how things are or to lessen what you 
feel.  Alas for you, Warrior Princess.  And alas for the man dear 
to us both." 


        Milan was writing at his desk.  It was his fourth draft, 
finally one he was willing to sign, and he did so carefully.  He 
spread a pinch of sand to dry the ink and rubbed his eyes.  
Tomorrow he would promote his lieutenant and they would both be 
there when he presented his resignation to the castello. He had 
turned the problem over many times in his mind, but he always 
came to the same thing.  Something was bothering Xena, something 
that she wouldn't talk about.  And if there was a solution to her 
troubles, she wasn't finding it in the city.  He was determined 
that she wouldn't have to search for it alone.  This time, he 
would not let his career defeat his feelings for a woman.  There 
was a soft knock at his door. 

        "If that's you, squire, you're dismissed for the night." 

        He gawked as Xena entered the room.  She was clad in a 
silken gown.  A pale blue, see-through garment that. . .  

        It was the first time he had seen Xena like this.  When 
she was in her armor, weapons in hand, she had always projected 
power , but this was a different kind of power.  Different, but 
by no means weaker. 

        Esmerelda was right, Xena thought. There was something 
precious in the pain itself.  A lump formed in her throat and she 
looked shyly at the floor as she tried to remember the speech she 
had rehearsed all afternoon in her suite.  The words evaded her 
as Milan rose and opened his arms for her.  You never showed me 
this side, Hercules.  When we parted, I knew it was for the best.  
But now I want to stay!  I want to ride with him through the 
meadows in the spring.  I want to share my dreams with him, as he 
has with me.  I want to not have to wonder where I can spend the 
night safely or when I'll be eating again.   I want to be able to 
greet people without worrying if my weapons are within easy 
reach.  I want to hold his power when we are in bed, to feel his 
heartbeat against my breast and hear how sweetly my name sounds 
in his whispers while we make love.  But it cannot be so.  I have 
a dark road to follow, and he cannot be part of it.  This part of 
me cannot live right now, not with the wraiths of unforgiven sins 
grasping for me in my sleep. 

        "Why are you crying, mistress?" 

        She looked at him, the desperation almost wrecking her. 
"Don't call me that, Milan.  We are more than warriors." 

        "Aye, dear one,"  he said as ran his hands through her 
dark hair, brushed his lips against the delicate skin of her 
neck, the soft spot behind her ears. 

        On the brink of tears, she was robbed of any chance to 
tell him.  The comfort of his arms was something that tore away 
her resolve.  She had faced sword and arrow and fist, most of the 
time without so much as a flinch, but she fell to his gentle 
touch,  cowered at the aspect of losing him to the cold, empty 
future she faced. 

        She stepped away from him as she slipped the straps of 
the filmy gown off her shoulders.  The sadness gave way to 
something else, something that was much more urgent and replaced 
the ache in her heart with fire. The gossamer fabric floated down 
to her feet, and she stepped out of it as she took Milan's hands, 
tugging him onto the bed with her. 

	Xena's body was feverish, insistent as she arched against him. 
Her strong thighs squeezed him as they kissed.  Her fingers 
locked in the lengths of his hair as he kissed her chin, her 
throat, the hollows of her clavicles.  He could feel the throb of 
her pulse beneath her skin as his lips caressed the curve of her 
neck.  His hips rocked powerfully with a slow rhythm.  She rubbed 
her calves along the back of his legs, squeezed his ass and felt 
the muscles there flex as he continued his wonderful strokes, but 
he wouldn't come yet.  Her hands clenched the sheets of the bed 
into sweaty bunches.  Milan took her hands in his, raveling his 
fingers with hers, pulled them over her head as he sped up.  Xena 
screamed out as their flesh pounded together.  In a few minutes, 
they were interrupted by banging at the door.   Milan poked his 
head out the door and whispered a lame, embarrassed excuse to the 
alarmed servants while Xena giggled.  She'd rarely done that, 
especially not around a man, but she could not deny the feeling 
as they grinned at each other sheepishly and laughed together 
once the servants' footsteps receded. 

        He climbed back into bed with her, rolling and tangling 
in the 

sheets while they rained soft kisses over each other.  This time 
their embraces were relaxed, more tender, as the flames of lust 
softened into the warmth of affection. 

        Afterwards, she got up and looked out the balcony at the 
city that was still asleep.  The evening air was crisp and her 
joy was tempered as she realized she still didn't know what to 
say to him.  She realized that she was hurting them both, but she 
didn't know what to do.  Milan was sitting on the edge of the 
bed, reaching out to her. 

        "Come back to bed, Xena, there's still some night left." 

        "Hold me, Milan," she said, grateful for the darkness 
that hid the suffering in her eyes.  She knew that this would 
have to last her a long time. 


        The morning sun streamed through the window and warmed 
Milan's 

face.  He shifted in the pleasant feeling of drowsiness, reached 
out to put his arm around Xena.  He felt only the rumpled sheets 
were she had been, already cool.  The room was silent and empty 
when he sat up and  looked around.  He pulled on a robe and 
started to go to her quarters, but he stopped before he even 
reached the door.  He already knew what he would find.  And even 
though he was bitterly disappointed, he wasn't too surprised.  He 
looked from his window at the world that was waking.  It was a 
clear day that was indifferent to his sorrow as the woman of his 
heart rode out of his life. 

        The lands where she was riding were sunlit, the sky was 
the same soft blue as her eyes.  He watched it all through his 
tears.