"EVER ETERNAL" series TWIN SOUL SCROLLS I: AN ANCIENT AFFAIR

pt.25

XENA

Rise and shine. Raise and shine. Blah, blah, blah.

The door to the stable opened, and Joxer was nearly run over as Xena rushed outside. Having already awoken earlier, she left the man to stare in the direction she had gone.

JOXER

Oka-a-ay?

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Later that day, as Xena found a little while to rest, the warrior stood in the city with Gabrielle and Joxer to explain things yet again, hoping that, like everything else happening that day, she'd be doing that for the last time, too.

GABRIELLE

We've repeated the day that many times?

XENA

Yes.

GABRIELLE

But-

Knowing everything that was about to be asked, the warrior decided to speed the process up by answering every question before they could even be spoken.

XENA

No, no, yes, no. I tried that. Yes, both ways. No, I don't know. No, again. Are there any more questions?

Gabrielle and Joxer gave the woman a look of pure confusion as they sat there, not knowing what to say, and Xena continued before walking away.

XENA

Good. Moving on.

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Moving quickly, Xena made it to the pair of feuding men and their supporters and got to work on stopping the fight before it could truly begin.

XENA

Put your swords down! It is time to talk peace.

The men scowled at the warrior for a moment as they told her to mind her own business, and then began to go after each other, before being grabbed and shoved apart once again, as Xena tried a more diplomatic approach to solve this particular problem.

XENA

They say that the man who kills his own flesh and blood is cursed forever.

The warrior looked at one of the men as she continued.

XENA

Is that what you want? To kill your own brother?

Both men first looked at Xena, then at each other in shock before the woman got them to agree to put aside their differences at least for the time being, and to try to settle their dispute peacefully. But even with one problem solved, there would be no easy solution to fixing the deep hatred between the others involved in the feud. A fact made clear when another man stepped forward with an accusation of his father nearly being run down by a cart, whom Xena had saved that day already and explained as such, along with the fact that the old man was almost run down due to him being hard of hearing, and not because of any ill will from the cart driver.

XENA

And Lycost...

Next, the warrior turned her focus to the two leaders of the warring houses.

XENA

Didn't you nearly lose your wife and son in childbirth?

LORD LYCOST

The midwife was sure they'd both die. But thank the gods she ended up being wrong.

XENA

Actually, it's not the gods you should be thanking here. It's your enemy. Or more specifically his wife. While you were away at war, it was Lady Menos that came to your house and ended up saving your wife and son. She hated this feud more than anyone.