Daggers of Meggido

Part Three

The forge loomed over the silent streets of Meggido, a silhouette against the sunrise. Damien pushed open the heavy doors, the crossbar snapping easily. Barely giving his eyes time to adjust to the dark, he crossed to a narrow doorway in the back wall.

Mulciber�s quarters was a single room. Although they were on opposite walls, Mulciber could have eaten at the table while sitting on his bed. It took Damien less than an hour to complete his search. He pocketed the few dinars he found; Mulciber wouldn�t be needing them.

Stepping back into the forge, Damien examined Neff�s finds. Arranged with military precision, all the simple weapons had been competently made. Neff acknowledged Damien with a glance, but didn�t pause in his methodical search. �I�m beginning to think our people made a mistake.�

�Our people wouldn�t have manipulated time and space unless they were certain.� But Damien remembered his own doubts about Mulciber�s craftsmanship, back in Caesarea. What Neff had found bore out his suspicions. �There must be another Mulciber.�

Something caught Damien�s eye. A small shrine, dusty from neglect. (Damien picks something up) �Hephaestus. Of course.� He grabbed Neff�s bicep, pulling him away from the search, and into the early morning sun.

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Her first thoughts were fuzzy as she opened her eyes and tried to adjust her vision. The sun was already well into the morning sky, yet Xena barely remembered going to sleep. She glanced down at her still sleeping companion, then looked for Bugenhagen. Neither he nor his gear was anywhere to be found.

�Son of a bacchae,� Xena instantly realized what had happened. She saw the remnants of the stew still sitting beside the fire. Whatever he had but into that stew had done the trick. She and Gabrielle had passed out long enough for Bugenhagen to continue his quest, alone.

The sound of a twig snapping alerted her to the presence of someone nearby. Her fingers curled around the chakram, while her eyes darted around their camp. At least five men were steadily advancing...possibly more behind them.

�Gabrielle,� she said, her tone low enough that only her friend would hear her.

�Huh?� Sleepy eyes refused to open when Gabrielle turned toward the sound of her name. �Is it morning already?�

�Yeah. Bugenhagen drugged us last night--but we got bigger problems right now.�

�What problems?� Gabrielle asked--just as Xena deflected a dagger with her chakram. The dagger had been aimed at Gabrielle�s head. �Oh. Problems.� She was on her feet, sais ready without another word.

Two men moved in on Xena, each one easily cut down by a long swipe of her sword. A third started in behind her, catching a swift kick to his chin, effectively knocking him out. Xena made her way toward where Gabrielle had just knocked out two opponents. �Nice work.�

�Thanks.� Gabrielle stood back to back with Xena. �Why�d he drug us?�

�To complete his quest alone.� Xena flung the chakram toward the treeline, watching it take out three men, ricochet off two trees, before it returned to her hand. �He�s going to get himself killed.�

�Then we�d better go after him.� Gabrielle commented, delivering a straight kick to a new opponent, sending that one to the ground. Another man was behind him and got in a right hook before Gabrielle made sure he stayed unconscious by slamming the hilt of her sai into his forehead. �Who are these guys?�

Xena shrugged, twirling her sword in her right hand before bringing it down upon two more men. Once stroke cut both men nearly in half. She hesitated, listening to the woods around them, before sheathing her weapon. �I have a feeling they were sent by whoever was watching us last night.�

�Good guess.�

Both women turned, weapons at the ready, toward the man who had just appeared in their camp. �Michlen.�

�Yes, Xena.� Michlen grinned, drawing his sword. �I should hope you wouldn�t forget me so soon. I�ve heard a lot about you.�

�I just bet you have.� She drew her sword, walking toward him. �What�s this,� she pointed to the fallen men around them, �all about anyway? What do you want?�

�That should be obvious by now.� Michlen swung his sword at her a few times, showing off his skill. �I want the daggers.�

Xena brought her sword down, expecting the block that he gave her. �It�s good to want things.� She pulled back slightly, then came at him again.

Again, Michlen blocked her attack. �Clever.� He shoved her back so he could regroup.

Xena continued her advance, swinging her weapon down upon his. The clashing of the swords sent echoes through the woods, sparks flying each time the metal hit. Michlen was good, but never saw her next move until it was too late. Her sword twisted around his, pulling the weapon from his hands and sending it flying across the camp. The tip of Xena�s sword against his throat was quite a surprise.

�Hades, woman. The legends do you an injustice. You�re a lot better than I ever expected.�

�Can�t believe everything you read.� Xena motioned for Gabrielle to pick up his sword. �Now, who sent you?�

�You can�t possibly believe that I�ll tell you that.� Michlen was grinning right up to the moment when she jabbed her fingers into the sides of his neck.

�Okay, I�ve just shut off the blood to what little brain you have. You�ve got thirty seconds to tell me who sent you, or you�ll die.�

Michlen release a strangled sound, fighting for breath. �Never.� He glared at her, then disappeared.

�Xena!� Gabrielle rushed to the spot where Michlen had been. �Where�d he go?�

Her friend shrugged, picked up her sword and re-sheathed it. �Wherever he disappeared to is going to be the place of his death--unless whoever sent him is more powerful than Bugenhagen thought.�

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The forge of Mulciber lay nestled in the foothills of the mountains just south of Megiddo. Damien paused at the entrance, signaling Neff to stop. �He�s here.�

�I�ll take care of him.� Neff was halfway into the cave before Damien stopped him again.

�No. I�ll deal with him. I want --,�

�Help--me,� the strangled cry came from directly behind them.

Damien looked upon the stranger, sensing a link to his Father. �What do you want?�

The man held out his hand toward Damien and pleaded, �Help me, brother.�

�The Beast has no brother.� Damien said, watching with mild interest as the man fell forward, eyes wide open. A second later his breathing stopped.

�Who�s that?� Neff asked.

Damien shrugged. �Get rid of him, then join me inside.�

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The forge smelled of metallic dust and was as dark as night. Damien lit the torches along the wall with a glance as he passed them. He could sense the little man was in the work area, hiding behind an old wooden table. With a smirk on his face, Damien allowed the man to jump out of his place of concealment and attack from behind.

The first dagger struck his shoulder when Damien turned to face Bugenhagen. He hadn�t quite been prepared for the little man to be so fast, but easily compensated, knocking the other daggers from his grasp. Damien pulled the dagger out of his shoulder, watching the wound heal itself.

�You can�t kill me, Bugenhagen.�

�How did you know my name?�

Damien grabbed him by the shirt, pulling the man close to him. �I�m the Beast. I know everything.� He plunged the dagger into Bugenhagen�s stomach, then shoved the man to the ground, watching as his blood stained the dusty floor.

Neff came in just in time to see Damien retrieve the Daggers of Megiddo. �You have them all?�

�In a neat little bundle.� Damien tied the cloth around the daggers. �We have four days until our departure at sunset, Sgt. Neff. Why don�t we enjoy it?�

Neff started to argue, but was quieted by the look Damien gave him. He then stared in awe as Damien walked through the stone wall of the forge. A few seconds later, Damien reached out of the stone and pulled Neff along with him.

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�I have a bad feeling about this,� Gabrielle commented at the entrance to the forge.

�So do I.� Xena had already spotted the trace of blood on the ground. �C�mon.� She entered the forge, not surprised to find all the torches already lit. Her heightened senses told her the one known as the Beast had been through here already.

The forge looked much like the one she had seen in Greece, except that no weapons had been left behind. Bugenhagen had been right--all the metal of Hephaestus was gone. Footprints in the center of the room told her that at least three men had been there, but two sets of those prints seemed to disappear--into the wall? How was that possible?

�Xena!� Gabrielle�s call brought her to where Bugenhagen lay in a crumpled heap. �He�s lost a lot of blood.�

Xena knelt beside him, already knowing that the man would die. The wound in his belly was bad enough, but he�d lost too much blood for her to help him now. �Easy there,� she said when he tried to sit up. �Just relax.�

�You--you don�t have much--time.� Bugenhagen coughed, spitting out dark blood. �He has the daggers--you must--must stop him.�

�We will.� Gabrielle grasped his outstretched hand and holding it tightly.

�Four days--he will be sent--,� more coughing, �back to his time at--at sunset. Find daggers--give them to my--my son in Acre.�

Bugenhagen drew one last shaking breath and died. Xena gently closed his eyes, then stood up. She followed the tracks she had found, confirming that they ended at the wall. As she examined them closer, she realized they had gone through the wall. �This Beast--he must be part god.�

Gabrielle had joined her, taking note of the tracks. �What are we gonna do? How do we follow those?�

�We don�t.� Xena met her concerned gaze. �Gabrielle, he may be part god, but I can track him. We�ll go to the other side of the mountain. If they did walk through that wall, that�s where they would come out.�

�Makes sense. But first, we need to take care of Bugenhagen. We owe him that much.�

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Damien rinsed Bugenhagen�s blood from the Dagger, examining the weapon carefully as he did. �Excellent workmanship. It�s even better than I expected.�

�I can�t believe you let him get close enough to draw blood.� Neff had taken on the old drill-sergeant tone. �What were you thinking?�

Damien shrugged, flicking water from the blade. �I underestimated him. Live and learn.�

�Or die trying.�

Damien wrapped the Daggers in their pouch. �We�re going into town. A celebration is in order.�

�We aren�t finished with our mission.�

Damien paused only a moment before turning on Neff. �We have the Daggers. Our mission is complete, Sergeant Neff, until the portal re-opens. I intend to enjoy the rest of our stay.�

�Those women --�

�Can�t walk through stone, even if they find the forge.� He tossed the leather bundle to Neff. �You stay here, then, and protect the daggers from Wonder Woman and Supergirl. I might be back by dawn.�

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�Their camp is on the other side of the creek.� Xena drew her sword and glanced at Gabrielle. �Ready?�

Gabrielle flexed her arm to show her shoulder was healed enough. �After two days of tracking? Yeah, I�m ready.�

�C�mon.�

They were across the creek and on the edge of Neff�s camp before he knew what was happening. He was on his feet the instant he saw them, regretting the fact that the daggers were on the ground beside the fire ring.

�I really don�t wanna fight you,� Xena moved in closer, her senses stretching out to confirm that the Beast was nowhere near.

�Funny. I don�t see that as an option.� Neff drew his sword, taking a step toward the leather-clad warrior.

�Suit yourself.� She shrugged, let out her famous war cry, leaping over Neff�s head to stand behind him.

�Damn it! How the hell do you do that?� Neff wheeled around to see the warrior pick up the daggers. He was about to advance when her blonde friend blocked him. �You again?�

�Yeah.� Gabrielle twirled her sais so that the sharp ends were pointed toward Neff.

Neff rolled his eyes. �Don�t get cocky,� he muttered just before bringing his sword down upon her head.

Gabrielle easily deflected the blade, shoving it to the side. She went after him with a series of punches, most of which Neff was able to avoid or counter. A spin kick to his midriff caused him to stumble back, but Neff remained on his feet.

The daggers tucked under her arm, Xena turned to watch her companion. �Gabrielle, is this gonna take much longer?�

Gabrielle shook her head, waiting for Neff to get to his feet. �No, Xena, not much longer.�

�Good, because his friend could be back any minute--I don�t think we want to wait around for that.�

�Why not?� Neff asked. �I�m sure Damien would love to get to meet Wonder Woman and Supergirl in person.� He laughed at his own joke, then used Gabrielle�s momentary confusion to get in a spin kick of his own. It sent the small woman to the ground. To her credit, she was on her feet just as quick.

Gabrielle shook off the affects of the kick, then ran at Neff, jumping at the last second and landing a straight kick directly on his chest. It knocked him down to the ground, stunned. Gabrielle landed on her feet, then came down on him again with the sai in her right hand, landing a blow to his temple that finally knocked him cold.

She stood up, placing her weapons in her boots. �Now, we can go.�

Xena nodded her approval of Gabrielle�s handiwork, then led the way out of the woods.

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Neff struggled to consciousness, at first only vaguely aware of the boot prodding the small of his back. With a groan, he rolled over to face Damien. �How did you know?�

Gentle laughter belied the angry set of Damien�s features. �A little birdie told me.�

�All things considered, you�re in an awfully good mood.� Neff accepted Damien�s hand, pulling himself to his feet.

�Just waiting for you to say you told me so.�

�Blame it on the arrogance of youth.� Neff and Damien found the women�s trail. Neff gingerly fingered the knot on his temple as they set out after them.

�Did they have baseball bats?� Damien didn�t expect an answer. Somehow, he was enjoying this. �Sergeant Daniel Neff, getting his ass kicked by a pair of women. I wish I could tell the cadets at Davidson about this.�

�These are not ordinary women.�

�The cadet�s won�t know that.� Damien chuckled even as he wondered what sort of women they were. Either Neff was slipping or--no. If Neff had been slipping, Damien would have left him at Davidson Military Academy. �I believe a small army should be able to catch them.�

As if on cue, a small army of about thirty men crested the hill. Neff raised an eyebrow. �Very impressive.�

Damien shrugged. �I have connections.�

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�C�mon Gabrielle. Not too much further now.� Xena continued climbing the steep rock wall, catching herself when her boots slipped on the loose rock.

�Yeah, you said that a while ago.� Gabrielle glanced down, seeing at least ten more soldiers starting to climb up it. �How many more can he possibly send?�

�Just a little bit--,� Xena grasped the edge of the rock face, pulling herself up and over the edge. She immediately turned around, braced herself, and stretched her hand toward Gabrielle.

Gabrielle accepted her help gladly, finally reaching the top and lying there in an exhausted heap. �How close are they?�

�About half-way up.� Xena looked around, spotting a boulder. �Give me a hand.�

Seeing what her friend was up to, Gabrielle got to her feet and found a thick tree branch to use as leverage. Together, they were able to loosen the boulder enough that with both of them shoving against it, the rock went over the edge. It created a rockslide that took out all the soldiers that had been following them. The soldiers that had decided against climbing the rock wall, stood at the bottom in disbelief. After a few moments of chaos, they regrouped and started back up the wall.

�Well, at least we slowed them down a little.�

�Yeah,� Xena moved away from the ledge, taking a moment to assess their situation. �They�ve been following since we got the daggers. It�s almost as if they know where we�re going.�

�But how?�

Xena shook her head. �We�ll have to figure that out later. Let�s go.� She started running for the woods, her tired companion right on her heels.

Neither woman heard the raucous cry of the raven as it left its perch and flew in the opposite direction.