“c1″> 

"I
was joking, Ep. But knowing Xena, she by now certainly has prepared
a report about this little session. She always tries to hide the
gentle and selfless things that seem to come so natural to her but
she is more than severe regarding her occasional shortcomings or
transgressions. I don’t have to do it on a regular basis but
when I really have to met out a punishment, it’s always
amazing to watch."

“c1″> 

"I
remember. At the ceremony, when she refused to be tied up, I
thought she was arrogantly overestimating her willpower. I was
wrong. Her whole body seemed to relax just before the impact of the
stroke; she didn’t even flinch though it certainly aggravated
the throbbing of her cracked rib. Her pain barrier must be
extremely high."

“c1″> 

"I
never saw a back that scarred. She must have been through a lot. I
asked her how she got them after the collaring ceremony but she
didn’t answer."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"The day we were fishing, I asked her about them,
when the others were gone and she was catching fish with these
fluid movements of hers, one can see the muscles moving underneath
her skin. I asked her what she did to deserve such a punishment.
She said that every time she misjudged someone she’d paid for
it with her blood. I didn’t understand, so she told me that
about five years ago her second in command had decided that he
would be better suited to run her army and most of the men agreed.
They made her run the gauntlet, Melosa."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"She survived a gauntlet? That’s more than
astonishing but I shouldn’t be surprised. Sometimes I think
that if she really wanted to there’d be nothing that she
couldn’t accomplish. She’s hard to read; I really
don’t know what fuels her actions now. Four years ago when we
met to sign the peace treaty at the Centaur village there was a
relentless energy surrounding her, a jumpiness. It was as if she
were always on the edge, always on the run. This Xena is different.
It may sound crazy but I think the slave collar makes her feeling
free and contend. There still is a great deal of dark energy ready
to come to life every moment. It was almost tangible when she told
me about this whole mess with Najara."

“c1″> 

A
sudden wave of white-hot fury washed through Eponin’s body
hearing this name but it quickly subsided when the Queen
protectively put her hands on top of her tightly closed
fists.