2. Chariots of War

Xena leaves Gabrielle at a tavern while she checks whether they can cross a nearby river. Along the way she interrupts a raid on a farming settlement and saves a boy from a collapsing barn. The raiders' leader, Sphaerus, shoots her with an arrow before withdrawing. The boy's father, Darius, takes Xena home and nurses her while she recovers.

Darius is a widower raising three children. Xena's growing affection for the family offers a glimpse of a quieter life, although she worries that her violent past will bring trouble to their door. Meanwhile Gabrielle meets Sphaerus without knowing he is the man who wounded Xena and reveals the warrior's identity.

Sphaerus serves his father, the warlord Cycnus, who orders him to arrange a supposed peace meeting and slaughter the settlers. Xena accompanies Darius to the meeting wearing a dress that belonged to his late wife. She notices the concealed attackers and breaks up the ambush. Sphaerus begins questioning the cruelty of his father's orders and allows the villagers to escape.

Darius initially wants to abandon his home rather than fight. Xena prepares to face the raiders herself and is reunited with Gabrielle before Cycnus launches another chariot attack. Gabrielle helps distract the enemy while Xena takes control of a chariot. Darius returns to help, and Sphaerus finally turns against his father to stop the killing. Cycnus tries to kill his own son, forcing Xena to kill the warlord.

Sphaerus promises to leave the settlers in peace. Darius asks Xena to consider a future with a family, but she leaves with Gabrielle. Their parting is affectionate rather than a rejection of the life he offered. On the road, Gabrielle admits that traveling with Xena makes her miss home less, then jokes that the day's adventure has taught her to hate chariots.