Chapter Text
Raiders struck that night. A rare enough occurrence, especially within three day’s ride of the Conquerer’s current camp. She was known to be hard on raiders who didn’t carry her shield, and few people were desperate enough to want to join the rows of crucified bodies, even without risking the wrath of the alliance between the centaurs and the Telaquire Amazons.
Desperate or not, strike they did.
Ephiny whistled a warning to her sisters, then fell into battle by their side. Runners left for the centaurs, and Ephiny fought, in chaos and confusion.
The darkness obscured the fight, yet it was not enough to account for Ephiny’s confusion. Her instincts screamed to her that something was wrong. The raiders were unusually well-equipped and trained, but there were few, and they seemed strangely adverse to risking their own lives. They melted back into the forest like ghosts, almost as if—
Ephiny knocked a man down with fists and shoulders, and raced to Gabrielle’s tent. The bard was unconscious, and being hauled by two men, with no thought for her legs. Ephiny had no thought but to save her.
After she had tossed them out of the tent, she stood in guard, over Gabrielle. As she had thought, the fighting died away once the centaurs arrived and it would have become clear that Gabrielle wasn’t going to be kidnapped any time soon. There were two more attempts to breach the tent, but the power of anger steadied and strengthened her arm.
Once it was peaceful, she called for a torch, and shone in on the girl’s face. Grey as dust, her lips blue. Ephiny suspected Gabrielle had passed out from the pain from her poor crushed legs. She cursed them in every way she knew how. She was tempted to call for the healers, but they would be busy enough after the battle. Gabrielle was unconscious, not immediately suffering.
Ephiny crouched in the corner and kept watch, until the bard’s eyes fluttered.
“Water?” She filled a cup and brought it to Gabrielle’s lips. When Gabrielle had taken a few sips, Ephiny found sour wine and mixed it with the water.
“Thank you.” Gabrielle closed her eyes, and Ephiny thought she had fainted again, until she spoke. “They came for me.”
“You’re all right,” Ephiny said curtly.
“No. I mean, that’s why they came to the camp. For me. I put you all in danger—“
Ephiny didn’t bother to argue. “You’re our guest. It’s our job to keep you safe.”
“They were Xena’s men.”
“I guessed that. Guess she did’t have the guts to attack us directly.” It felt wrong, even as she said it, but the evidence was clear. Xena did not want to attack the twin camps directly.
Gabrielle shuddered. “I need to leave. As long as I’m here, I’ll draw her wrath on you.”
It was the same argument Ephiny had given Queen Melosa. She should have agreed. Instead, she said: “You’re safer with us. We’ll protect you.”
“I don’t want Amazons to die for me! I’m a stranger—“
“Melees said you have the heart of an Amazon.”
“Really?” Gabrielle’s eyes widened. “Well, I was thought pretty brave back in Potedia, and I use dot look great in a short skirt.” She giggled a little, then pursed her lips. “Not any more. I can’t even defend myself.”
Ephiny stared at her, assessing. “You have no strength in your lower legs and no movement, too. We could make up with that with reach, a little. Of course, you won’t have your lower body, but the lever effect of a staff… I’ll talk to Eponine about your training tomorrow. You could do with some exercise, in any case. You have arms like a starving waif.”
There was no way Gabrielle could actually defend herself against a full attack, and they both knew it. Nevertheless, Gabrielle bent her red-gold head.
“Thank you.” They both knew it was for more than the offer of staff training.
* * *
“She’s safe enough during the day, out in the camp, but alone in her tent at night, is different.
“I agree that it is unsafe to continue to let her sleep alone,” Melosa said. She smiled. “Thank you for the offer, Ephiny.”
“The offer? But—“
“I understand that you’ve undertaken to take on her training. It would make sense for you to sleep by her as well.” The smile sweetened. “Beside, it is not good to sleep alone too much.”
“I have Xenan!”
“He will be good company for Gabrielle, also.” The Queen’s smile was firm now, not sweer at all.
Ephiny turned to leave.
“Wait, sister. Have you learned from Gabrielle yet?”
“I think so. But I don’t know what.”
“Perhaps that is the next lesson.”
Melosa laughed, and Ephiny went back to prepare for Gabrielle's presence in the tent.