Xena growled to herself as she forced herself to steadily her hand from launching her chakrum right then and there. She hadn't even considered the possibility of this being Aurora's kidnapper. Which while it answered a couple questions, it also brought up several others. And Xena fully planned on getting those answers. One way or another. Meanwhile Gabrielle just shook her head in disbelief as she felt a multitude of emotions. Shock, anger, confusion all aimed at the reveal of the true identity of Aurora's kidnapper. Finally after the initial shock wore off Gabrielle started demanding answers from the person standing across from her.

GABRIELLE

Kai? How? Why? You're supposed to be exiled from entering any Amazonian lands.

KAI

Oh don't worry I wouldn't dare step foot back in that village after the way my so called sisters and friends i've spent my whole life around just turned their backs on me. And chose to side with you who at the time they've only known for a number of months.

Gabrielle scowled.

GABRIELLE

You sided with someone who tried to kill their queen and friend because you wanted revenge on Xena for her past against the Amazon's that didn't even directly effect you.

KAI

(Angry tone) Because of you and Xena I lost the only home and family I've ever known.

GABRIELLE

You chose your own actions Kai. And sentencing you to exile was extremely lenient considering you were part of an assassination plot on an Amazonian queen. You know full well that by law you should've been executed.

KAI

That's your fault for not finishing the job. Huh I guess Valassca was really right after all. You're terrible at being a ruler. Anyone who was actually smart would've gotten rid of me then and there to stop the risk of any future retaliation.

Xena couldn't believe that Kai was the one who had kidnapped Aurora. She silently chastised herself for not even considering the possibility that it could've been her. But then again she was exiled from the village. And Aurora was taken in broad daylight. Which caused Xena to wonder just how Kai had managed to pull it off without having anyone having seen her. She shouldn't have even been able to enter the village. Or get near it without the scouts or guards noticing. Which made Xena come to the conclusion that Kai must've had help. And likely from someone within the village. But who?

GABRIELLE

How did you even know about Aurora anyway?

KAI

The same way I was able to get her in the first place?

GABRIELLE

Which is?

KAI

I've had someone watching you from within the village. So I know all about what's been happening since I left. The new Amazon's who are living in the village. Xena's pregnancy. The fact that you and that bitch Xena have a child together now thanks to Artemis. All of it.

Gabrielle couldn't believe it. Someone else in the village, another one of her friends had been lying this whole time. As much as Gabrielle didn't want it to be true, there wasn't any other way to explain how Kai could've known everything she did. Or have been able to take Aurora. But who could it have been and why? And just what else was Kai planning?

GABRIELLE

Why do this Kai? You could've just moved on.

KAI

(Angry tone) Moved on? I'm an exiled Amazon with no tribe to call home. Because of you and Xena I lost everything that mattered to me. I wandered alone for a long time. I tried setting in a couple village's and towns but once I revealed myself to be an Amazon I always ended up getting far too much unwanted attention from the men around. Which I certainly did not want. But unfortunately alot of those men had wives who accused me of trying to steal their husband's. So to avoid further problems i'd leave and try to find somewhere else I could live. But it was always the same.

GABRIELLE

Couldn't you have just kept your Amazonian identity hidden?

KAI

(Angry tone) I am a proud, Amazonian woman and I will not pretend to be anything else. You my have taken my home and my tribe from me. But I refuse to allow you, Xena or anyone else take away who I am.

Xena rolled her eyes at Kai's story. Even if everything she said was true. Xena felt that ka had only brought it on herself. She had tried to kill Gabrielle after all.

GABRIELLE

Okay. But that still doesn't explain how you managed to do any of this.

KAI

Well one day as I continued to wonder I was attacked by a group of rampaging harpies. Apparently I had stumbled into their hunting grounds and they had chosen me as their next meal. I tried to fight them off, but there was just too many. I ended up getting severely injured and thought it was the end for me.

XENA

(Thinking angerly to herself) Oh give me a break with this ridiculous sob story. I really hope Gabrielle isn't buying this crap.

KAI

That is until group of other Amazon's showed up. They had been hunting in the area and noticed the harpies attacking me. Once they chased the creatures away they brought me back to their village and treated my wounds. I tried to tell one of them that I was exiled and couldn't enter Amazonian territory. But she said that my injuries were serious and I needed to be treated or i'd die. So she insisted that we keep my exile statues between just the two of us. At least until I was well enough to leave.

GABRIELLE

I know you probably don't believe me but for what it's worth i'm sorry you went through that.

KAI

Ha you're apology is worth less to me than a pile of horse crap.

Kai's response had severely diminished any feelings of sympathy Gabrielle had for the exiled Amazon's struggle.

GABRIELLE

(Angry tone) Fine then maybe you can tell me how you went from being injured by harpies to kidnapping my daughter.

KAI

Well all while I was recovering all I could think of was how you and Xena had put me in that position. And though I didn't know how yet, I swore that I would make you both pay. It was around that time that I had befriended one of the hunters that had saved me. Over the months we learned a lot about one another. Apparently not long before I was brought to the village, the young woman had learned that her mother had died. Though she hadn't seen her in a while it was still hard on her. So I decided to take her under my wing. After all she had been so kind to me. I felt this strange kinship between us. Almost as if was were supposed to have met.

CELINE

That's quite the story.

KAI

Isn't it?

Gabrielle looked at Celine.

GABRIELLE

What do you think Celine? Because I don't think i'm completely buying this. It doesn't explain how Kai got to Aurora.

KAI

Oh but it does. Especially once the young woman learned the truth about how her mother died.

GABRIELLE

But what does that have to do with any of this?

KAI

Because I knew the girls mother and what happened to her. And believe me once she learned the truth she was not happy. So I told her that since she had saved my life I could help her get revenge on those responsible for her mother's death.

GABRIELLE

And let me guess you told her it was Xena and myself.

(Angry tone) You lied to that poor girl just so you could get your revenge.

KAI

But I didn't lie. Xena did kill her mother. And you were to blame. I should know. I mean I was there if you remember.

Once Xena heard those words she got a very terrible feeling as she figured out who the girls mother must've been. It was at that same time that Gabrielle had the very same epiphany.

GABRIELLE

Valassca.

TO BE CONTINUED…