CRYSTAL LAND

THE PRINCE’S DOUBT

Afternoon

The palace was unusually quiet.

From the window of his chamber, the prince watched Xena from a distance. She moved through the courtyard, carrying out her duties as usual, but something about her seemed different.

Behind him, Gideon sat at a large table, studying an old map spread beneath his hands.

“She’s been avoiding me,” the prince said.

Gideon looked up. “Avoiding you?”

“She’s been acting strange these past few days.”

Gideon narrowed his eyes. “Is there a reason for her to do that?” He paused. “Is there something going on between you two already?”

“No,” the prince replied immediately.

He turned back toward the window.

“There’s something off about her. I can’t seem to place it.” His voice lowered. “It feels like… a force is working through her.”

Gideon slowly rose from the table.

“What makes you say that?”

The prince remained silent for a moment, remembering the night of the feast.

“Something happened that night.”

Gideon moved closer.

“In the garden,” the prince continued. “I saw a hand.”

“A hand?”

“Coming from deep within the garden. It reached for Xena.” He swallowed. “It was trying to pull her into the walls.”

Gideon’s expression changed.

He stepped beside the prince and looked through the window at Xena.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

“If that’s true,” Gideon finally said, “we need to look into it.”

The prince nodded, his eyes never leaving Xena.

Because whatever had reached for her that night…

might not have let go.