Cortese's raiders in order to get close enough to kill the evil leader, Xena joins forces with him to devise a plan. Toris hauls Xena into Cortese's camp, bound as a prisoner, and demands to see Cortese, but Malik decides to present the warrior princess to his commander himself. Xena quickly overpowers her captor and explores the camp before returning to Gabrielle and Toris. When she informs them that Malik is using carrier doves which bear the royal crest to send and receive messages, Toris agrees that Malik must have a spy inside the king's household. Xena and Toris manage to get into the castle only to discover, to
