TIES THAT BIND

Ares is out to replace an eager warlord with Xena's presence. Then, a fighter comes to the rescue of the warlord's slavegirls and Xena pops in to help the man. The man (Atrius) also claims to be Xena's father! The slaves are freed. We learn that one of them (Rhea) volunteered to be captured to help her sister. Soon, it's Xena's turn to save Atrius. An assassin is then sent to kill Xena. He is killed by Atrius. The point? Over and over again, in other areas besides parentage, Atrius proves himself NOT to be a liar. Gabrielle leaves so that he can spend some time with his daughter. A fight! Another fight! The gang gets split up and Xena winds up taking command of the warlord's army -whom she has just defeated. But once she sees that the villagers have strung her father "up for the vultures," a bit of evil Xena returns and she orders an attack. Gabrielle snaps her out of it. Then her father speaks. But it isn't her father! It's ARES! He's smooth-talking her into vengeance! "Join me or die," says Ares once he is revealed. Xena would rather die. But Ares can't bring himself to do it. He still has hope she'll turn. Xena tells Gabrielle that their friendship binds them "closer than blood ever could."