The Tour: Chapter 20

Salmoneus' grin was infectious. He was a changed man. The headache (among other things) was gone gone gone and he felt a kind of euphoria throughout his whole body. It made him talkative again, bubbly. Marcus and Perdicus, when they thought Penho wasn't listening pressed for details, but Salmoneus was a gentleman and refused to say much, except that it was better than he ever imagined and Gods, did he feel great.

Penho half listened to their hushed conversation (they sat at another table) with an amused expression on her face. It *had* been nice. The purr was still in her voice, though not as deep as it had been. Salmoneus, despite his urgent need, was a delightfully attentive lover. She liked it when they were like that.

Melosa ate quietly on the opposite side of her table. They had it worked out, or at least, Izzy had, just as Penho had expected, managed to explain the reality of things to Melosa. The Amazon Queen had been gracious and now she looked thoughtful. Penho didn't bother to offer her services. The Queen would ask if she had a mind to.

Oriena sat besides her mate, with one arm draped along the back of Melosa's chair. She looked much less distressed than earlier. After hearing Izzy's explanation of the fate of persons in Salmoneus' condition she had been thoroughly understanding, if a little queasy. It was an ugly way to die, and as Izzy said, a true waste of tokens (since it was so easy to remedy). She did point out however, for someone who'd supposedly been told he wouldn't have to deal with pain, Sal was suffering a lot.

Izzy didn't know what to say to that, but it was an accurate, if frightening, observation. It made her wonder just how good Hades' promises were in Tartarus. That added another chunk of worry to her already weighted shoulders. Then again, maybe all he meant was that Salmoneus would feel the pain of a mortal wound. IF that was the case, anything else would be fair game. Gods. She was hating this tour idea more and more.

It was her scent that alerted Izzy to Xena's presence. The lovely red Tartaran was so hooked to the way the warrior smelled that she would have known her lover in the middle of a herd of stinkrats. The demoness looked up. Her expression was as even and unrevealing as Xena's.

It would have been easier if she could separate her heart from this, Izzy thought. She sighed to herself as she watched Xena regally descend the stairs. Any one else, it would have just been sex. She could have been as distant as she wanted to be, needed to be. The warrior moved as naturally as ever, seemingly unaffected by the taxing acts of love they'd performed. Izzy had tried to be gentle, had mostly been gentle. Their hearts and bodies had taken them other places though.

No doubt, if Izzy pretended it was nothing more than a nice interlude, Xena would operate around that. Her face would become a stoic mask and Izzy would ignore the subtle wound in her blue blue gaze. Even with the marking, she could go to a Shaman, have it removed. But, that would mean losing the heart that she'd given away. The Tartaran, however, could not do that. Even at her worst, she never could. . .she never could. . . surrender what she felt for Xena. She loved her, despite the distances between them.

Izzy stood up and waited. If Xena had arrived under her own capacity, she would certainly not want the embarrassment of a solicitous lover at the stairs. The warrior carried herself well and strode with the confidence of one deserving respect. Penho's good humored gaze changed, altering subtly from amazement at Xena's composure (usually the humans were in a state more like Salmoneus') to one of stunned, awed realization.

Xena had the composure of a long term mate. It wasn't that the long termers. .the true mates. . were immune to the euphoria, it was just it became part of them. There was a sense of potency within their walk. It was beyond sexual, but inclusive of that power. It was *their* mark. No doubt, the color of her eyes had deepened. There would be other signs. Penho could have smacked her forehead. Duh! Endurance would be one of those signs. There might even be. . .

The warrior arrived and Izzy moved from the table. There was an electric moment as they gazed at each other. Neither of them were quite sure what would happen next. They greeted each other carefully.

"Xena." Izzy's voice was gentle. Her gaze softened receptively. She made a motion inviting her lover to the table.

"Izacon." Izzy barely managed to hide her shock at the use of her full name. She made a mental note to ask when Xena found that one out. She hadn't been trying to hide it, but she was fairly sure she'd not mentioned it.

Well.

At least Xena had not said her first name in public, as they had agreed. It hadn't been a hard win, but it was gratifying to see that her lover understood. The first name was for private moments only. Or.. .and Izzy grimaced in memory at her stutter. . .if she should choose to take on the first form. It had been hard for her to even say it. It had been even harder to tell the warrior that she never intended to take that form again, but she didn't want the notion to hang between them, or a false hope.

She'd expected Xena to ask her why, at least, but she hadn't. The warrior had simply gazed at the demoness, and spread the sweaty fire colored bangs along the Izzy's forehead. Then she'd kissed the Tartaran until Izzy forgot what they were talking about.

Xena nodded to her fellow adventurers and to Penho, then sat herself down across from Oriena. Izzy summoned the waiter. The green eyed Tartaran watched as Oriena subtly (though really not so subtly) pushed a half full mug over to Xena's side. The demoness smirked, and took the hint. She sat down by her lover. Then she felt a warm hand slide onto her thigh and squeeze. She looked over Xena, then at Melosa and let her hand drop lightly down to cover the warrior's.

Penho grinned. Things would work out. Then she spoke up. "So, Melosa. Izzy tells me you've got no plans." The Amazon Queen raised her eyebrows, and glanced at Izzy. The red demoness shrugged in disclaimer. Penho just said things like that sometimes. The proud Amazon smiled lightly and sat back to listen as the blue Tartaran continued, "How would you feel about visiting my village?" The demoness grinned, "I promise we won't eat you." Then her grinned changed, "Well," she paused for effect, "Not that way at least."

Izzy grinned and shook her head at her friend, picked up the mug in her free hand, and let the other one curl into her lover's firm grip. "Now this," she thought, "was going to get interesting."