In this episode, Gabrielle is kidnapped by warrior wannabee Palaemon who is trying to goad Xena to fight him. When they fight, Xena gets some oil with sumac in her eyes and is blinded. Xena manages to chain herself to Palaemon who will have to be her eyes while rescuing Gabrielle. Meanwhile Gabrielle was sold and is being groomed to marry some old king. Apex, the king's advisor, wants the king married so when the king dies, the kingdom falls to him. He has to hurry because the king is already dead.

After rescuing Gabrielle from a fiery death, Xena has to find a cure for her blindness which will become permanent. The plant she needs is available in Athens. It so happens Vidalus grows the plant for a skin cream. Palaemon sees that he's a pretender and sets off on a new path. Vidalus, who is now unemployed, scurries after as new sidekick.

Lucy Lawless / Xena, Reneé O'Connor / Gabrielle, Chris Bailey / Apex, Sydney Jackson / Vidalus, Graham Lauder / Lagos and Ajay Vasisht / Vendor