“c1″> 

She turned
around, lowered herself on her left knee and addressed the Queen.
"Queen Melosa, I apologise for the breaking of the peace
treaty. It happened without my knowing and consent but nevertheless
it was my responsibility. I, Xena, hereby resign my rule of
Greece class=”c1″>and Rome
and surrender to the Amazon Nation.
You may regard me as your prisoner but there’s one condition:
Help me to save the life of those of my men that still can be
saved, and let them go unharmed when they are well enough to
travel." Her eyes moved towards the motionless woman.
"Help me save her life, and then I will do whatever you
fancy."

“c1″> 

"I
demand your weapons and your armour as signs of the honesty of your
intentions, Conqueror. Then my healer and her apprentice will tend
to the wounds of your men as they do to my warriors. But I’m
afraid; there’s little we can do for the young woman at your
side. You will need a new body slave some time
soon."

“c1″> 

A cloud
of anger darkened the features of the tall warrior and her face
changed into an unreadable mask, suddenly she was towering over the
Queen, her voice was quiet but cold.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Her name is Gabrielle; she is as free as any of
your women, Queen Melosa. It probably will take moons to heal all
of her injuries but she will survive. At the moment, there’s
nothing I can do for her. There seems to be no internal bleeding.
Once her bones are realigned, she can’t be transported safely
for the following weeks and if I were to remove the spear now she
would die for loss of blood. The only real danger is the poison; I
gave her something to countermand the effect. I’m not sure it
will work, so her condition has to be
monitored."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"You speak with the assurance of a healer,
Conqueror. As long as any of your men is in danger I grant you the
freedom to move unrestrained in the
village."

“c1″> 

Xena
simply nodded. She took a middle-sized sack out of the saddlebag of
her golden horse and went to kneel next to one of the Amazons. A
young warrior with a dislocated shoulder. Two of her fingers
quickly hit a spot between collarbone and shoulder blade, she
pulled and twisted the upper arm at the same time making the girl
scream, and then she made a makeshift sling out of the
woman’s belt and once again hit the same
spot.