Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Blue Eyes, White Horse, and a Chakram

===[x]

Chapter 196: Advantages

"Mom?" Solan groaned as his eyes finally opened. "Ugh! My head," he added as he immediately closed them.

"Hey, honey. It's me, Gabrielle," Gabrielle said. "Glad to see you're awake. I have some tea for you, for the headache."

Solan grimaced. The tea he knew, would be bitter. "Did we make it? Where am I? What day is it?"

"We did, thanks to you. You're amazing," Gabrielle again answered as she helped him shift and lift his head enough to take a sip of the tea. "You're in the med tent. It's been two days since we arrived."

Solan nodded and slowly lowered himself back down onto the pillow. "Where's my mom?"

"With Ares."

Solan again opened his eyes. "Ares? I don't understand…"

"We don't either. He's here, and he's mortal… sort of."

"What does that mean?"

"It's complicated."

"It's always complicated."

Gabrielle smiled. "That it is. Let me get a healer and then I'll call for Xena. She'll want to see you."

"She knows I'm awake, but thanks. She's on her way. She can fix this too," Solan answered confidently, pointing to his head."
"She is? How do you know that?"

"Kaitlyn," Solan gave a small smile before wincing again. "She told her."

"Of course she did," Gabrielle shook her head. Before she could say anything else though, someone let out a shriek. The yell was quickly followed by a lot of noise, and more voices. It didn't sound like someone was in trouble, though, but rather of surprise and a bit of panic.

Gabrielle jumped to her feet, only to duck as a dark blur flew into the room. It squawked an annoyed protest as it landed on the table next to Solan's bed. "Ari!" Solan scolded as the dragon fluttered about and knocked the cup of water, papers, and a small bowl all over the floor. "You shouldn't be in here."

Ari didn't seem too disturbed with the scold, for he only gave Solan a squawk of his own protest, stopping it's fluttering as it found its footing. The little dragon cocked its head one way and then the other as three healers all pushed their way into the room.

"What is that thing?" One asked

"It's okay, it's just Ari. Solan's dragon," Gabrielle explained. "He won't hurt anyone."

"Not unless I tell him too," Solan amended. "What's taking Mom so long?"

"I don't know. Oh, go on, he's awake, but Xena's on her way. She'll tend to her son," Gabrielle waved the now stunned healers away.

"He really should be checked," another healer protested.

"Is that really a dragon?" the first again spoke up.

"It is, move," Xena ordered, coming up behind the three. As Gabrielle already said, I'll tend to my son, and it wouldn't do anyone any good to annoy the dragon."

"Mother," Solan smiled.

"Son," Xena nodded, giving the healers a good glare and watching with amusement as they scattered.

"You should be nice. They were only trying to help," Gabrielle scolded.

"I was only thinking of the dragon," Xena shrugged before she fully entered the room and sat down on the edge of Solan's bed. How ya feeling?"

"Headache, and like a I've been run over by a herd of wild horses."

"The usual then," Xena nodded as she eyes crossed slightly in concentration. Solan knew she was using her Gift to look at him, or through him, as it were. He could physically feel the power as it flowed over and into his body."

"Fix it, please?"

Xena sighed. "You should stick with the tea."

"We don't have time. What if we are attacked?" Solan protested.

"We've been here for two days and the only thing that has attacked is the foul language from the formal God of War."

"I think he's still the God of War, until someone replaces him," Gabrielle mused.

"You can't be a god if you're mortal," Xena argued.

"What's going on?" Solan interrupted. "Mother, please? At least until the tea settles in? It hurts to even keep my eyes open."

"We can't make a habit of this," Xena scolded as she leaned forward and put her fingers behind Solan's neck. Solan winced again as she manipulated a pressure point and then let go. "Better."

"Gods, yes," Solan smiled, rolling his neck from one shoulder to the other. "So much. Thank you."

"You still need to drink the tea. The pinch is only temporary, but it'll give you some time for the tea to kick in."

"I know," Solan nodded. "What's all this about Ares though, and him being moral? I don't see why he's here."

"According to Callie," Gabrielle spoke up. "Ares was the black dot."

"Ohhh," Solan's eyes became wide. "So, he's working with Alti?"

"He claims he was," Xena clarified, "But he also claims that she stole his powers, hence the mortalness, and he left, escaped. He was pretty badly beaten. I don't trust him, but his story seems sound."

"He's always been a good liar," Gabrielle said.

"He doesn't lie, but is very good way of manipulating the truth."

"She's using him," Solan concluded. "It doesn't matter if he's telling the truth or not."

"I agree," Xena said. "But this can wait for later. You need some tea, and something to eat."

Gabrielle handed a cup to Xena with tea already in it. "I'll find some food and make sure Ari didn't ruffle too many feathers."

As Gabrielle left, Solan looked up at his mother. "I can prove she is using him. I just need to …"

"I know you can," Xena interrupted. "I'm not questioning that. What we need to do is to figure out how to use that to our advantage."

"You have an idea?"

"Perhaps," Xena hesitated, handing the cup to Solan and waiting for him to take a sip. "But it will require knowing what kind of spell she's put on him…"

"And how to reverse it," Solan smiled. "I'll get right on it."

"I want you to rest. We have time."

"We don't know that, Mother."

"You can't help until you've recovered your strength. Remember the pinch is only masking the pain."

"Solan frowned and sipped the tea again. "I know, but that doesn't mean I can't start thinking about it."

"Of course not. You are my son, after all."

Solan beamed. "If I give you a list, can you gather some supplies?"

"Anything you need."

"Right," Solan nodded. "Got something I can make a list with?"

===[x]

"Callie, slow down!" Rylie called out to her little sister. She should have known that the walk would be trouble, but when they'd bumped into Jewels and she offered to escort them to a nearby waterfall, it seemed like a good way to spend the afternoon.

Rylie looked up, meeting eyes with Jewels. Getting a small smile, Rylie felt that strange fluttering in the pit of her stomach she'd come to associate with her gift. It always made her feel a little uneasy, a little nauseous, and a little off center. This time, however, it was different. It happened again and again, every time she was around the young Herald trainee.

Jewels was a couple of years older than her, but they had quite a bit in common; one of those being that they shared the same Gift. Because of that reason, and that there was no other Herald present, she'd been working quite a bit with Jewels and she had to admit that she enjoyed spending time with her.

"Jewels! Jewels, look!" Callie called out breaking Rylie's concentration. Rylie couldn't help but look as well. She both hated and loved her little sister's enthusiasm, but it often got old. This time, Callie had someone coaxed a small songbird out of a nearby tree and had the creature balanced on a finger.

"Whoa," Jewels smiled. "I think you made a new friend."

Callie beamed before turning her attention back to the bird. The grin became a more serious as she seemed to be talking to the animal. "Yes. Yes," she nodded. "You'll spread the word? Thank you. I can't guarantee it, but I'll ask. I know they were good. Alright," she nodded once again before the bird took off in flight.

"What was that about?" Rylie asked, knowing Callie almost always up to something.

"The birds are watching for us."

"Watching?" Jewels asked, wrinkling her nose.

"All of them?" Rylie's eyebrows shot up.

"I don't get it, who's watching who?" Jewels asked.

"The birds," Callie explained.

"Callie asked the birds to patrol the area for trouble."

"No I didn't," Callie clarified. "They are watching, everywhere, or they will be. I mean, I suppose it'll take some time to spread the word, but eventually. We're going to need a lot of cookies, though."

"Cookies?" Jewels and Rylie asked at the same time.

"They like the ones with the raisins. Think we have enough raisins? Maybe Mom could make some," Callie reasoned.

"What does your mom have to do with raisins?"

"She can use her Fire-Starting Gift to dry stuff out. You know she has many skills," Callie responded seriously.

"But you need grapes to make raisins, and I don't think there are any vineyards nearby," Rylie argued.

"Solan can get them."

"Solan is still asleep."

"No, he's not. He woke up a few candlemarks ago."

"When did you find that out?"

Callie pointed in the direction that the bird had flown off. "They really are good watchers."

Rylie rubbed her forehead. "I think I'm getting a headache."

"Mom can fix that too."

"I know, maybe we should go find them. See how Solan is doing?"

"He's fine," Callie brushed her off. "I think we should head to the mess tent."

"Why?"
"I'm hungry, and we can tell the cooks we are going to need more cookies."

Rylie groaned as Jewels looked perplexed. "Does she always do this?"

"Pretty much, but I've learned to just go with it. She usually has a reason and Mom and Mama G have gotten better about not taking things too seriously. I still don't believe they didn't kill us about that whole Ares thing."

"I still don't get why that was such a big deal…." Jewels trailed off.

"Have you ever tangoed with a God?" Rylie asked.

"Well, no."

"Mom has, and Ares dances a little too well."

Jewels knit her brow.

"Trust me. Stay away from him, he's trouble."

"I thought he was mortal…"

"He's still trouble. Come on. If Callie says we are going to need cookies, we better warn the cooks."

===[x]

"They have arrived," a dark robbed priest informed his leader.

The Son of the Sun, turned to regard him. She raised a dark eyebrow in interest. "You're sure?"

"I have seen it myself. The x-god is a perfect lens."

"Xena will try to trick us, we must be careful how we proceed. I knew the War God would attract her, but she won't trust him. We need to use that to our advantage."

The priest nodded and bowed his head. "Perhaps we shouldn't wait to attack. We can still catch them off guard."

Alti stood and stepped down from her throne. Xena made her angry. Every time she'd tried to destroy her, the warrior princess found a way around. It was either her, her lover, or one of her brats that somehow managed to counter her every move. What she needed was something new, something different, something even the great Xena wouldn't see coming. It had to be subtle, yet devastating at the same time. What she needed was something more basic, something that didn't use magic, or animals, or even soldiers.

"I will think on it. Return to your duties, and let me know if anything changes," Alti finally decided.

"Yes, Mistress," the priest bowed again and took his leave.

As he left, Alti began to pace. She went back and forth a few times before she paused at the fire bowl that decorated the corner of her throne room. "Father, is it time yet?" she asked the smoothing coals.

At first nothing happened, but slowly the coals began to grow brighter and the flames returned. "Almost, Daughter. We are close."

"How will I know?"

"Do you feel it? The shift is getting stronger."

Alti nodded. "I am more powerful than I've ever been. I have the blood of a god in my veins."

"You do, but is that enough? You are still mortal."

"You're not," Alti stated. "How do I become like you?"

"Join with me."

"You will consume me."

"I already have."

Alti was about to retort, when she realized what her father said was true. They were not one being, but the closest thing to it. The only way that she could truly beat Xena was to become stronger than her father and the only way to do that was to conquer him.

"You're right," Alti said, as the flames danced about the sides of their bowl in anticipation. "The time is growing near, but it's not here yet. Soon, Father, soon. Soon the time will be right."

"Yes, soon," the flames lapped, slowly settling down deeper into the coals.

Alti watched for a moment before turning and leaving her throne room. If she was going to counter her father, she needed to speak with the best and only person to ever do that. Uthro wasn't available, but the next best thing was. His brightest and greatest apprentice was not only accessible, but weak. The priest was right; this was the best time to attack. Xena wouldn't be expecting an attack in this form. It was brilliant, and it was exactly the opportunity she'd been waiting for.

Stopping at a window, she didn't hesitate as she transformed into a dark-feathered raven. She had a long flight ahead of her, and although magic would be easier, it would also be detected. It was best to keep things simple, she decided before hopping out the window and catching the wind on wings.