Numaine was growing weary of those young upstarts, the mystic knights. And since Mider had left her, things were getting rough.
"I call on all my powers!" Numaine said, looking up at the ceiling of her castle. A glowing field of gold energy appeared in the center of her throne-room, and there formed within it the image of a young woman, golden haired, athletic, tall...beautiful. Numaine smiled as the energy field drained away, and the woman within it shook out her long hair, stepping forward into the moonlight. This was a fine looking girl, perfect for distracting the male knights from their duties.
"You are my slave," Numaine told the girl. She looked up, her eyes filled with dementia...Numaine gasped as she finally realized what she had just done. There would be no controlling this woman; this was no slave, but someone who might become Numaine's master.
"Who says?" Asked the young woman.
Numaine chose another tactic.
"I mean...I have a task for you. Something...quite simplefor a woman of your vast talents."
"What?"
"I want you to go to Kells Castle. Kidnap Rohan, and use him as bait, to bring his sister Xena to his aid."
The girl studied Numaine.
"Why would I want to do that? I don't know these people. They're no enemy to me..."
"But they are to me!" Numaine exploded. The castle echoed with her cry, and the girl rolled her eyes; she may have been grateful for her birth, but she was not going to be insulted...or used...Numaine smiled sarcastically. "I brought the princess Xena here...it was quite easy, pretending to be a priestess, someone she might trust...who would have known that she was really the missing part of Draganta; but no matter. You must find Rohan, and bring him to me. Do not harm him, or I will harm you..."
"You dare to threaten me?" Asked the girl. "With all the powers you've given me, I have the strength of a goddess. What could you possibly do to me worse than I to you?"
"I gave you life! And I can take it away again. Cross me, and I will."
The young woman pointed her fingers at Numaine, flinging her against a wall and holding her there.
"You 've challenged me, Numaine! Should I destroy you now, or would you rather I waited, prolonged the experience for you, so that you can suffer before I let you die?"
"Destroy me," Numaine said softly, forcefully, "and you will never know the full extent of your powers."
The girl raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.
"Good point," she said, dropping Numaine to the floor. The sorceress picked herself up gingerly as the girl wound her hair around her fingers. "So, do you have a name for me, or should I choose one myself?"
"Callisto. That is your name."
"Callisto. I like it. It's not...common."
"Now go. Bring the mystic knight Rohan to me. Then issue a challenge to Xena. Fight her one on one, you against her. Defeat her...and I'll let you keep Rohan. As a sort of...bonus...for your hard work."
"What of the others? Shall I destroy them as well?"
Numaine tipped her head down a bit, smiling at her creation...her 'daughter'.
"Oh...if you wish. Do with the others what you like...kill them, if you wish. But Rohan must not be harmed."
Callisto nodded, and slowly the two of them built up such an evil cackle that had never been heard in Eire...
"Ha ha! That's four for me and none for you!" Cried Gabrielle in jubilation as she broke the plate in mid-air with a bolt from Garrett's timber-axe. Xena shook her head, a smile on her face.
"That's only because I'm letting you win," she said. She turned and motioned to Rohan to toss another plate. "Give me five plates, Rohan," she said. "Let me put this kid in her place."
"Five at once?" Rohan asked. "Even I'm not that good."
Xena winked.
"Trust me."
With a shrug, Rohan tossed the five plates up. Xena aimed with her sword, moving the weapon in a quick side-swipe, blasting every plate to kingdom come. Gabrielle's mouth fell open in awe, as did those of the four remaining knights who watched.
"That was great!" Garrett said, putting his arm over Gabrielle's shoulders as he eyed Xena. "How did you do that?"
"I'm known among the Amazons for never giving up until I get what I want. I wanted to be good with my sword, and when I found out that it had such powers, I practiced them in secret." A sadness came over her face then, and she looked off into the distance. "I only ever used them against one man; the worst of the worst; he's the only enemy I fear to fight again."
"And you the best of the best," Ivar said, clapping Rohan on the back as he gazed at the warrior woman. "You must be proud, Rohan, to have such a woman be your sister."
"I am. I couldn't be more proud. Except..."
"What?" Xena asked softly, sheathing her sword. "Except what?"
"I wish Bridie were here to see her sister."
Xena placed her hand on her brother's arm.
"Angus will find her and bring her home, Rohan. All is not lost as long as your friend is willing to go to the ends of the earth for her...and for their love."
Angus stepped inside the roadside inn, glancing around, wondering how much gold he'd have to pay for a tall glass of...whatever they served around here...
"Angus?"
The thief turned at the sound of an all too familiar female voice.
"Kora?" He asked, gazing into those wide blue eyes. The innkeeper nodded fiercely and jumped into his arms. The two of them hugged warmly while a few patrons of the inn looked on.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, then her smile disappeared as she remembered... "You came to get Bridie. Herc said you would come as soon as you heard about it; and considering he told Xena, and then she left for Ireland...we figured you might be on your way."
"How can I get to the Underworld?" Angus asked, sitting down and placing his mace beside him. Kora sat down across from him.
"Usually you have to be dead," she told him seriously. "But I think you can get there by beseeching Hades; he knows you're coming too; and he'll be glad of it. Apparently Bridie has told Hades so much about you that he feels as if he knows you. That's what Hercules said, and Hades is his uncle, so...I believe it."
Angus stood, squeezing Kora's hand and kissing her cheek.
"Thanks. I'll be back as soon as I've saved her," he promised and disappeared out the door. Kora sighed as she watched him go.
"I hope so," she said softly, then returned to the kitchens.
"The first order of business involves Numaine," said King Conchobar as he addressed his knights, Maeve and Nepthumae, Xena, and Gabrielle. "Now that Draganta is complete, perhaps we can weaken her suffieciently to defeat her. But my spies have informed me that she has created a...woman...a woman whose powers are as great as those of a goddess."
Xena's eyes grew large when she heard the name of the sorceress they were to battle.
"Numaine?" She asked softly. Rohan turned to her, placing his hand on her arm.
"What's wrong?" He said. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I suppose in a sense I have," she replied. "Numaine was the name of the priestess who told me of my destiny." She shook her head, her face scrunching up into something almost like agony. "I should've known it was all a trick."
"But it wasn't," Rohan said. "She did know your destiny, Xena. Somehow she knew you were my sister; possibly she was even the one who stole you away so many years ago. It's not your fault for believing her; you had no way of knowing..."
Xena nodded slowly, and Maeve studied her. She couldn't believe how much Xena looked like herself at that age; the age she had borne Lugad...
The sixteen year old girl smiled softly, quickly, before letting her features harden once more.
"What is the name of this woman Numaine has created?" She asked.
"Torq, the head of my spying forces, tells me that her name is Callisto. She's tall, blond, beautiful. According to Aideen she is also meant to distract, possibly even seduce Rohan. So you must be on your guard," he added, and Rohan nodded. Conchobar smiled at the young man he saw as his son, and tapped his hand on the table. "Now; I would like very much for the rest of this day to be enjoyed. Rohan;" he said, motioning for the young warrior to join him in the semi-privacy of his throne. "Rohan, I would like for you and Deirdre to go on a picnic. My daughter has been looking slightly...down...lately, and I think you're just the man to cheer her up."
Rohan smiled gently, glancing happily at the princess. "I would like that, your majesty," he replied, and strolled over to Deirdre, offering her an arm up. "Would you care to join me on a picnic, my lady?" He asked, and she nodded, smiling, as they left the room.
"Garrett, if you would like to show your sister around the castle...?" Conchobar asked. The young prince nodded, and he disappeared down a corridor with Gabrielle. Ivar stood, his helmet tucked under his arm.
"If you will excuse me, my king," he said, "I will show my mother and Queen Maeve to their rooms, and then I must go speak to Commanders Uaan and Torq."
The king nodded.
"An excellent idea. Umm, Xena..." he said as the warrior princess stood to make her exit. "Princess Xena, I would like very much if you stayed. I would like...like to talk to you. Alone."
Xena bowed slowly, seeing the hunger in his eyes and not liking it one bit.
"As you wish, your majesty."
Angus touched the small ruby set into the crown on the statue of Hades, lord of the dead. As he did, he felt a familiar sensation running through his body, and was suddenly sucked down into the depths of the Underworld.
"You must be the thief Angus," said an imposing figure in a throne. Angus tried to see past all of the shadows that surrounded the figure, but it was impossible to tell what the man looked like.
"Yeah," he said softly. "You must be Hades."
"I am. Bridie awaits you. In there," the god said, pointing toward a portal, which opened. It looked like the swirling vortex that opened when Fin Varra touched his staff to the reflecting pool, only it was possible to see to the other side. Angus watched as an open meadow appeared; and there, sitting on a stone in the midst of the meadow, was Bridie. She held in her hands a needle and thread and a sampler; Angus' mouth dropped open as he realized she was stitching it for their wedding one day, and his heart swelled to bursting with love for her. As though she felt his eyes on her, Bridie looked up, reaching up to rub the stiffness from the back of her neck. Her brown eyes roved the sky, searching for the portal that she knew was there somewhere.
"How can I get to her?" Angus asked. Hades smiled, waving his hand.
"You already have," he replied, "by coming here, looking upon her with such love in your eyes. I don't need to test you as I did my nephew. I wasn't entirely sure of his feelings for Euydice; you, though, I can be certain of. You love her. Deeply. And I return her to you with all the blessings a god can give two mortals."
Suddenly there was a flash of light, and Bridie was alive again, alive and well and back in Angus' arms, and their laughter of joy filled the caves of the underworld.
"Let's go home," Angus said. "You've missed a lot."
Bridie nodded, and the two of them walked arm in arm and hand in hand from the depths of death into the light of life.
"They know, Numaine," Callisto said, stalking back into the throne-room. "They have spies everywhere now that Maeve's forces have allied themselves with those of Conchobar. How am I to do what I came for?"
"You will challenge Xena, as planned. After she's been defeated, I will destory the knights; and you cn still have Rohan."
Callisto nodded; sounded like a plan to her.
"Rohan! Princess Deirdre!" Called the male voice from below the hill. Rohan stood, ceasing his kissing of Deirdre to remove his sword and stand.
"I know that voice," he said softly, approaching the edge of the hill and looking down. "Hercules! What are you doing back here? I thought you went back to your academy..."
"I did." Herc replied, pausing at the top of the hill to catch his breath. He waved at Deirdre. "Hey."
Deirdre raised her eyebrows and waved back. "Hello, Hercules."
Just then the other cadets arrived at the top of the hill beside Herc, and he motioned to them.
"These are some of the friends I told you about. King Jason of Corinth; Lilith, formerly of the Telequire Nation; Theseus, a soldier who came to the academy about a year ago; and Iolaus...a former thief. He's my best friend."
Rohan nodded at them all. "My name's Rohan. This is Deirdre...well, Princess Deirdre of Kells."
"Don't forget, Rohan," Deirdre said, glancing at Jason and liking what she saw, "you're a prince now. So I'll make your introduction. Everyone, this is Prince Rohan of Temra. My friend."
Hercules finally stood fully, bracing a hand against his back.
"We came in search of a friend of ours. Xena..."
"You're looking for my sister?" Rohan said, and Hercules raised an eyebrow.
"Xena's your sister?" He said in shock. Then he nodded once and ran his hand over his face. "Is that why she ran off in such a hurry?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean some...fog or something came over her, and then she said she had to leave. We found a note about a week ago, addressed to Cheiron, that said she was coming here. So we came after here, just in case she needed us."
"We just might need your help," Deirdre said, coming to stand beside Rohan, hooking her arm around his. "A powerful sorceress named Numaine has brought a woman into the world who is as powerful as any god; she means to destroy the knights and Xena; if you could stay, to help us defeat her...we would greatly appreciate it."
Hercules glanced back at his friends, all of whom nodded.
"We'll stay. We should help you; after all, you are our friends."
Rohan smiled and nodded, taking Hercules' arm, making it a pact. Hercules tapped Rohan's shoulder as they returned to the castle.
"Hey; is Angus still around?"
Rohan grinned widely.
"He has gone to Rome; to bring Bridie back. Hopefully he'll be returning to us soon."
"Can't wait," Iolaus said. "From what I've heard of him, we'll get along great."
Rohan and Hercules both sighed and shook their heads, laughing a little at the thought of Angus and Iolaus together; Rohan laughed even harder at the thought of the two thieves and Cullaine. There was an idea to put fear in your heart...
"A dragon." Bridie said, looking at Terran with uncertainty on her face. Angus nodded.
"Yep. MY dragon. Terran's his name; don't worry, Bridie; he's as gentle as a lamb."
"He's right, you know," Terran said. He lowered his face to look into hers more closely. He nodded in satisfaction. "You're every bit as beautiful as we dragons imagined, from all Angus has told me of you."
Bridie smiled ruefully as she crawled up on the dragon's back in front of Angus.
"So you talk to your dragon about me," she said. "I suppose I should be flattered. Now, what is this about how much I've missed...?..."
"Well, for starters, Ivar met this girl, Nadia...now they have a son, Xander...and by Dagda, is he ever an odd one, that...and Garrett and Aideen...well, I'll explain on the way home."
"What about that one," Callisto suggested as they watched the new arrivals through the viewing portal. "The dark haired one in black. He's handsome and strong; the perfect choice for ruining Deirdre. And if we distract her, Rohan will be distracted. And everyone knows that when the great Draganta is distracted, the entire island is distracted..."
"Yes," Numaine said. "Angus will be returning shortly with his dragon and the princess of Temra, Bridie; that in itself will add to the uproar in Kells. And with so many more coming to the land; and the king infatuated with Xena herself;" with that Numaine waved her hand, and the view changed to the throne-room of Kells Castle.
"See how he fawns over her, Callisto? Soon he will promise her everything; if only she will marry him. Foolish is a king's love; a man's love. She will say no, and he will feel as he felt when Fiona turned out to be my sister. Broken hearted and more willing to die than live with the knowledge that Xena found him an unacceptable mate."
Callisto smiled wickedly, her white teeth flashing against her tan skin.
"I do so love playing with mortal's hearts!" She exclaimed.
"Soon, my dear," Numaine said. "Soon we shall crush those mystic knights and the kingdoms of Kells and Temra once and for all!"
