Onwards, to Thessalya

"Excellent!" applauded Amartius, "I see your friend is as eager as you are, my warrior ****!"
"I told you." replied Xena, her eyes fixed on the broken body of her friend. Amartius stroked her fine black hair.
"That you did." he said, then turned to the assembled soldiers, "Men, rest yourselves tonight, for tomorrow we march to Thessalya.". The soldiers began to disperse back to their tents.
"Naioc, a fine performance. I knew you were the one to break the little ones spirit."
The nubian smiled and glanced back at Gabrielle.
"I hereby gift her to you as your personal ****. May her talents inspire you to greater deeds on the battlefield!". The warlords implication was not lost on him.
"I live to serve you, my Lord!" he replied, turning back to the little Bard and scooping her off the table and into his arms. As Naioc carried her back to his tent Xena was already pulling Amartius into his.
"Come my Lord," she drawled, "Let me show you more of my talented tongue!"

Hercules slipped off then, knowing he could pick up Amartius and his army at their next target four days march to the south. He needed to know more about this golden phallus, and maybe find out a way to defeat it.

Less than a week later Amartius's army was once again encamped, this time near the small town of Thessalya. A trading hub by nature it was filled with exotic goods from every corner of the ancient world; a prime target.

The sun was shining early on the fifth day when farmers in the outlying field witnessed the passing of Amartius' envoy. They muttered to eachother about the insecurity of the lands these days, but otherwise did nothing to impede them; to do so would no doubt mean a painful ****. Eventually the group arrived at the towns gate.
"Hail, in the name of Amartius." shouted the foremost warrior.
"We know of whom you are. What is it you want?" replied a man from inside.
"Amartius, the benevolent, wishes to offer protection to this town, and its inhabitants!"
"Oh yeah? And what will this 'protection' cost us?"
"Amartius has deemed a fair price to be half of your food stores, and a selection of your finest wares, for inclusion in his realm."
"Yeah? Well, we don't need or want his kind of protection. And we're certainly not going to submit to him, or anyone else for that matter! So, be off with you."
"A shame friend," said the speaker, "But I am instructed to give you one hour to reconsider."
With that the warrior returned back to the group and they rode away.

An hour passed and once again a group approached the town gates. This time Amartius himself was at its head and he personally approached the gate accompanied by a selection of his troops.
"Why are you back? I told you, were not interested!" yelled the man on the wall.
"Really? In these times don't you think you need protection?" asked the warlord smiling, "Your town could be attacked at any time."
"Dont try to threaten us, we're not frightened of you!" came the reply.
There was a faint creak of wood, and then a sudden 'ptchoo' as an arrow was fired at the warlord. Almost blindingly fast a hooded figure behind Amartius flicked out an arm. There was a whir in the air as a circular ring clipped the arrow mid air, rebounded off a rock, sliced the bow it had been fired from in two and then returned to the outstretched hand! Gasps issued from the assembled towns folk. The hooded figure stepped forwards, slipping its cloak to the floor.
"It.. it's Xena!" cried one of them. Indeed Xena now stood proudly beside the warlord, clad only in the flimsiest silken garment which barely covered her ample breasts and nethers.
"Townsfolk of Thessalya, surrender to my Lord and master Amartius, or suffer the consequences!" she cried. At this cries went up around the town as groups of warriors were spotted approaching from almost every direction. Realising they were surrounded, and with little choice, men were sent forwards and opened the gate.

Amartius made himself comfortable on the portico of the town elders villa while his men ransacked the town and amassed the protection 'fee' . Whilst fine fabrics and other valuables were paraded before him for his inspection his eye wandered to the other comodity he sought.
"Assemble the towns folk, " he commanded, "Men this side, women that side!"
His men complied and ordered and sorted the inhabitants into two groups in the town square.
Once they were ready the warlord rose from his seat. The men he ignored; the women, however, he looked over and soon had separated two dozen of them, all between eighteen and twenty five summers of age.
"Please dont take our daughters!" cried an older woman, but her plea went unanswered.
Soon the army departed, wagons carrying the supplies and the captives bound at the wrist.

That evening, to the sounds of Gabrielles moans of rampant lust eminating from Naiocs tent, the girls were treated to a first hand encounter with the Golden Phallus!