While travelling through heavy swamp land to find her horse Argo, Xena (Lucy Lawless) becomes infested with lice and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) develops a case of skin fungus. As they break camp, Xena sees Argo in a distant clearing. She whistles for her horse, but Argo turns and runs away. Xena is surprised, but assumes that her horse is upset because she abandoned her while looking for Gabrielle. Suddenly, Joxer (Ted Raimi) emerges from behind some trees and tells Xena and Gabrielle that a neighboring village has hired him to protect them from a band of marauders. Xena and Gabrielle leave with him to help him defend the village, hoping that Argo will soon follow. As they walk, Joxer shows Xena a knife he found, and by looking at the distinctive markings, Xena realizes that they are up against the Scythians. Meanwhile, Acestus (Timothy Lee), the Scythian General, notices Argo standing on a ridge and sends his men to capture her. Back in the woods, Xena starts a rockslide to block the one road that leads into the village. She returns to camp to find Gabrielle throwing up the stew Joxer had made for them. Joxer insists that it cannot be his cooking, for Xena would also be affected. Suddenly, Xena runs for the bushes and she too becomes sick. Regardless of their physical ailments, Xena continues on to the village since she knows that the rockslide will delay the Scythians for long.
By the time they arrive at the village, Xena's hair is thoroughly infested and Gabrielle's body is covered from head to toe with fungus. The innkeeper (Andrew Kovacevich) directs them to the town's natural mineral baths and the two use natural remedies to begin curing their ailments. Xena deduces that the Scythians are after the town's supply of Greek Fire, springs filled with bubbling black oil, when Joxer enters with medicine for their stomachs. He tells Xena how the villagers have been having stomach problems lately as well. That night at the inn, Xena figures out that the innkeeper is working with the Scythians. Later, Euryalus (Campbell Cooley), Acestus' brother, sneaks into the inn and tries to kill Xena. Anticipating an assassin's arrival, Xena puts the pinch on Euryalus and throws him in the town's jail, where he tells her of his brother's plans to attack the village. While Xena tries to plan their next move, the Scythians attack. As they free Euryalus, Acestus gallops in on Argo. Xena whistles at Argo, but the horse turns away and runs off with Acestus, who announces that they will return. Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer infiltrate the Scythian camp and Xena replaces the cook with Joxer. By now, Xena realizes that Joxer is the one carrying the virus that is making everybody sick. While she sends Joxer into the camp, Xena finds Argo resting in her own tent. She tries to coax her horse into leaving, but Argo is reluctant and starts to make sounds. When Xena finally gets Argo outside and gingerly mounts her, she immediately throws her off. Acestus and Euryalus rush up and Xena takes off running, telling Argo that she will be back. Acestus orders Euryalus to take the troops and strike the village. The General goes after Xena on Argo as his brother goes to rally the troops. When he arrives, he finds that the entire army is incapacitated by Joxer's virus. Furious, Euryalus rides off to find his brother. Meanwhile, Xena races across an open field with Acestus close behind. She knows that she will never be able to outrun Argo, so she stops and draws her sword. As Argo charges, Xena makes direct eye contact with the horse, drops her sword and whistles a command. Finally reconnecting with Xena, Argo suddenly stops and sends Acestus flying. Suddenly, Euryalus rides in, but Gabrielle dismounts him with her staff. Acestus mounts his brother's horse while Xena rides Argo. A fierce battle ensues, but it leaves Acestus knocked to the ground beneath a triumphant Xena and Argo.
Guest Starring: Ted Raimi (Joxer), Campbell Cooley (Euraylus), Timothy Lee (Acestus), Andrew Kovacevich (Inn Keeper), Allen O'Halloran (Scythian Soldier), Albert Sword (Villager)
Starring: Lucy Lawless as Xena, Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
Written by Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster
Directed by Josh Becker