Xena recrudesced at the king’s chamber for the fifth time. As usual, she met a guard at the entrance, but this time around she met Evans with the other guard that had been preventing her from going into the king’s chamber.
“Good evening, your High….”
“Where have you been to, that you keep this thing here?, telling me gibberish since” Xena cuts in angrily before Evans could finish with his greetings.
Still, she didn’t allow Evans to reply. Rather, she continued on her track, wanting to push her way into the king’s chamber, but a long barricade settled before she could place her hand on the door.
“How dare you block my way again?” Xena raised her hand and struck the other guard’s cheeks. She winced in pain as her hand landed on the guard’s face, she felt like she hit an iron.
She raised her head and peeked at the guard, wondering if his body was made of iron, she hissed and blew air on her palm, softening the hit ensuing from her hand palms.
“Are you made of iron?” She snapped at the man, seeing that his eyes didn’t blink even after slapping his face.
“I’m sorry your highness” The man lowered his head expressionlessly, his face holding no emotion.
“You are too cold, I will make sure the king moves you away from here…. Evans tells him to let me in” Xena said in an authoritative tone, updating Evans that she means business.
“I’m sorry concubine Xena, the king is sleeping already, and he instructed not to let anyone in” Evans uttered humbly.
“What did you mean? Is the king with another woman? I want to know the woman. I know the king isn’t inside, he might have gone out with that strange girl again, ” Xena screamed, not minding she’s with the guard. She was fuming with jealousy and anger, she couldn’t wait to place her hand on the strange girl taking her king love away.
“The king is inside Concubine Xena” Evans continued, repeating the same sentences.
“Let me in, if you are sure the king is inside,” Xena said. She wanted to push her way inside again, but the guard grabbed her roughly, pushing her away.
“Your Highness respects the king’s wish, he’s sleeping” The guard said as he manhandled her and as earlier she slapped him again even though, even though her slap didn’t affect the man.
“I will make sure I report this insult to the king tomorrow morning, I will make sure you pay for insulting the king’s favorite woman” she muttered angrily as she strode back to her chamber,
She was suspicious of the queen’s sentences during her meeting with the other woman earlier, likewise she was curious, want to know why the king summoned the translator into the palace. She was restless as she walked back into her chamber, hoping for the morning to come quickly.
****
“You might think that I don’t recognize your face, isn’t?” Nneka uttered proudly as she walked around Shastina, whose ankle was on the ground, she lowered her head listening to everything Nneka was uttering to her ears.
Her stomach churning in anger, her eyes held much rage, and she felt like taking life away from Nneka. She didn’t know that Nneka was aware of who she was.
“What did you want from me?” Shastina snapped.
“Wha…t I want? What did I want” She stretched her words as a smirk expressed freely on her face?
“Okay, I know that you know the masked girl, even though you have refused to tell me who she was. I will allow you five days to bring her to me, or else you might regret staying here… For now, that’s what I want”.
“And if I refuse to tell you, what will you do” Princess Nneka, the third princess that denied her sister “Shastinan cuts in
“You will lose your family, you know my father is looking for you “Nneka lowered her head and whispered to her ears, before she could raise her herd, Shastina held her chin, his cold eyes penetrating into hers.
Nneka struggles to remove her hands, but she didn’t allow her. Her eyes kept firing bomb into hers.
“You don’t dare to threaten me with my family. Your father promises to keep my family safe, and I have worked for that protection” She thundered, scaring Nneka a bit. Still, Nneka didn’t allow her emotions to fail her, she struggled with Shastina until she loosened her grip on her chain.
And just as she wanted to slap her, Shastina held her hand, just then a realization struck her brain and she released her hand.
Without asking, Nneka understands the expression on her face, she knows she is aware of what she is capable of doing.
“Just a word from me and my father will waste your entire Family, how long did you think you can hide yourself away from my father. Give me the girl and I promise you, your freedom. I will make sure my father doesn’t hurt you and your family, instead he will compensate you for your hard work. I will make sure of that” Nneka said, and a brief silence fell into the room just after.
Shastina’s head jerks downward, thinking about the offer, she knows the palace isn’t safe for her because her cover can blow off anytime, moreover this is the opportunity for her to go back to her hometown.
She thought of informing Nneka, but she couldn’t bring herself to betray Aurora. Sporadically she saw herself in the Princess, even though their status is different.
“Five days, l will bring you the report” she broke the silence and walked towards the door, wanting to step out. But the Queen halted her.
“I won’t forgive you, if this happens again” Nneka said, her eyes moved to her chin, wanting her to understand what she was conversing.
“And I want you to keep it in mind that I’m an assassin, not a maid. I don’t fucking care the status of my enemy, my mission is to kill whenever I have a target… I’m not your sister Aurora, don’t make me your enemy, I am a weapon your father created” she fearlessly.
“I apologize for the maid’s rudeness, it won’t happen again” Shastina uttered and exited the room instantly.
Her reaction baffled Nneka, she had never met someone as pompous as her.
“My father has created a problem, I guess it’s my job to delete the problems.
“Anyone there” She called, and instantly the door busted open.
“My queen” Daphne entered and her head lowered.
“Go and confirm the informant information, I want to know if there is some truth to it. Make sure to cover your track.
“Okay my queen,” She said and walked away.