“c1″> 

For
five long heartbeats, the Queen was speechless. "Gabrielle is
really good with a staff; she must have had some renegade Amazon
teaching her, but being an Amazon has to be earned. Anyway, I doubt
she willingly would be part of a Nation responsible for your
death."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"It will be a hard time for her. That’s for
sure. After the court sessions, she at least will understand your
need for justice, and eventually will learn to like her new family.
And you don’t have to adopt her into the Nation; she already
is an Amazon, by birth. She is marked with the branding of an
Amazon princess on her right thigh. I showed it to Anara to make
sure someone else knows before we immobilised her in the bed. For
Gabrielle it’s just a birthmark, she doesn’t know what
it really signifies. At the moment, there’s no more
information about how she came to live with simple farmers. –
Could we now address the 'details',
please?"

“c1″> 

Melosa
still couldn’t understand what prompted Xena to engage in
such a self-destructive behaviour but considering the body language
of the taller warrior, she also knew that for now there would be no
further explanation.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"The trial will be held as soon as Anara gives the
permission to proceed, depending upon Gabrielle’s physical
condition. Only then the jury will be prompted consisting of the
elders of every craft, the leaders of the regular army and the
royal guard, the weapons’ master, three randomly chosen
representatives of the apprentices, and, of course, the Queen.
There also will be delegates from the neighbouring villages to bear
witness of the trial. As soon as the official announcement of time
and date of the trial is made, the charges against you can be
filed. They will serve to establish a thorough preferral of
charges. According to Anara Gabrielle will at least need one and a
half moon to be able to attend a daylong court session. – The
council also agreed to your request being a slave." Queen
Melosa continued.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"The traditional proceedings with slaves held by
guilt are to serve the whole village. In the past, every adult
member of the tribe would have the right to order you around or
even to issue a punishment term. This proved highly inefficient
because there was no real chain of command and it was too good an
opportunity to act out on personal grudges. You will serve the
nation under my command as my personal slave. Tomorrow morning,
past sunrise, there will be a meeting of the whole village to let
them know about this decision and to bear witness of your
acceptance of your slavery. I will pose a slave collar around your
neck, and you will receive five strokes with a single tail leather
whip. The strokes will be harsh, they will hurt, and they will mark
your back but our weapons’ master promised not to break your
skin."