"THE PRINCESS & THE QUEEN" series -SCROLL III: MUTINY IN THE MONARCHY

pt.12

FAUNA
Anything yet?

IRIS
No. Still no sign of any of them.

Fauna and Iris stood by the mess hall where everyone in the search party had agreed to meet up.

EPHINY
I'm guessing you guys haven't found them yet either.

FAUNA
Unfortunately no.

Not long after Ephiny arrived Amarice, Clover and Skyla showed up. None of which had any success in locating their missing friends. And the group was beginning to become worried.

SKYLA
Could they have left the village?

CLOVER
No I checked at the entrance and the guards said that no one's left except a few hunters who came back already. And that none of the four were in the group.

AMARICE
I asked around and all I got was someone who said that they saw Gabrielle go off with Valassca. But that was hours ago.

EPHINY
Odd.

SKYLA
Why's that odd?

EPHINY
Because while most people might not notice, Valassca doesn't really like Gabrielle.

SKYLA
Does Gabrielle know?

EPHINY
I don't think so.

FAUNA
That does seem a little suspicious. But it doesn't explain Xena and Kai going missing as well.

AMARICE
Could Valassca have known what happened to Xena and came to get Gabrielle?

EPHINY
It's possible. But doesn't explain Kai being gone.

CLOVER
I don't think standing here going over hypotheticals is gonna get us anywhere.

FAUNA
True.

SKYLA
So what do we do now?

EPHINY
We spread out again and keep looking. There has to be some kind of clue that we're overlooking that could help us find them.

The rest of the group agreed as they split up again and returned to their search. Meanwhile as they searched Xena had decided that she was done speaking to Kai who still held her captive. Instead she put her focus on escaping and getting to Gabrielle before Valassca could do anything. She just hoped that she wasn't already too late.

KAI
What's wrong Xena, nothing to say?

Xena simply ignored her.

KAI
Fine with me. I'm just here to wait for the news of Gabrielle's death and watch you fall apart afterwards.

Kai sat down on a rock as she looked up at the sky for a moment to gage the time.

KAI
Probably won't be too much longer. Though I'm sure Valassca probably wants to make Gabrielle suffer a bit first.

Kai chuckled a sickening laugh.

KAI
Boy I thought I hated you, but the level of animosity that woman has for Gabrielle is down right terrifying. I honesrly can't believe that she managed to keep it hidden all this time.

Xena growled to herself.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) I can't believe I never saw it. I knew that Valassca didn't really
like Gabrielle. But I never thought that she'd do something like this. I should've paid closer attention. Especially after the attacks started. Damn it! I have to get out of here and find them.

Kai saw the scowl on Xena's face as she lowered her head and just sat there.

KAI
(Mocking tone) Oh no it looks like Xena's finally given up.