The marriage of Princess Jana of Boeotia and Prince Agranon of Colonus will end a long feud between their nations. When Jana is kidnapped, Agranon asks Xena and Gabrielle for help, suspecting Mezentius, an arms dealer who will profit by selling weapons to both sides. Xena agrees, although it means returning to Trachis and her former compatriots, including Marcus her former lover. She offers Mezentius her "army" in exchange for weapons and half his profit, and convinces him that Jana is worth more as a hostage. Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Agranon go to Jana's father to avert the war, but are taken hostage by angry Boeotians. Xena hides the princess in an empty weapons box, part of a shipment going to Boeotia. As she finishes nailing down the lid, Marcus confronts her. Xena pleads with him to give up his old life, but he refuses and alerts the other mercenaries. Mezentius draws on Jana, but Marcus leaps in front of her and takes the arrow meant for the princess. He dies in Xena's arms, a hero at last.
