Storyboards: Xalenci

Staying in Riva | Xalenci's Reunion | Xalenci's return

Staying in Riva
Xalenci shivered slightly as she stood at the top of the rock cliffs at Riva watching her husband Zhuntah sail away in his search for the Sword of Belar. For the months that she had been staying with Zhuntah in the Adventurer's Clan Hall she had felt lonely and unwanted. He was always training and she didn't have much to do. The clan hall felt ... cold and forbidding. And worst! That tart Aiviey was always giving leering looks at Zhuntah and giving her cold looks. She had been happy to accompany Zhuntah to Riva. She knew that Riva couldn't be such a horrible place if Ce'Nedra, Queen of Riva, could reside there. She had never met Ce'Nedra though. Perhaps she might have the chance while she was here.
She shivered again. She didn't realize it would be so cold and windy here. Still, she refused to return to the woods behind Riva until Zhuntah was truly out of her sight. She thought again. Was it correct of her to leave Zhuntah. The Fraternity here in Riva actually wanted her to stay here and she felt she had a purpose. I’ll stay for a bit and when Zhuntah returns we'll see how it goes. She sighed as the ship disappeared in the horizon and turned back to walk to her clan hall. Would she be happy here? she thought as she glanced at the greyness of the town. She shrugged and hardened herself for her trials. This was what she got for leaving the Dryad Forest in the first place.

top

Xalenci's Reunion
Xalenci skipped to the forest behind the palace. Time spent daily with her cousin had made her more content with life in Riva and happier with a married life. Xalenci paused briefly at a lone oak tree near the coast. Everyday, she stood at this tree looking out into the ocean for at least a half hour, peering in to the horizon for a boat, or ship, for her husband to return. She sunk down on the grass below and started picking at the flowers.
'He loves me... He loves me not ... He loves me ... He loves me not' she recited as she plucked one petal off at a time.
'Have you developed a crush for another while I've been gone? I wasn't aware that I was gone for that long? '
Xalenci twirled around quickly. There standing before her was Zhuntah, standing there with a wry grin.
'Did you miss me?' as he opened his arms in welcome. Xalenci hopped up and hugged Zhuntah tightly. She cried in relief.
'I thought you wouldn't come back. I regretted leaving you... every moment that we've been apart.' she sobbed lightly in his arms. 'How long will you be here for?'
'Well, I've been chosen as a Palace Guard.'
'You did?! And you didn't tell me?!' Xalenci started beating Zhuntah ineffectually as she was significantly smaller.
She sniffed and pouted and stalked off to another tree.
'So we're staying?'
'Yes. We'll be together... here.' Xalenci smiled and spent the rest of the afternoon pointing out her favorite trees.

top

Xalenci's return
Xalenci slowly woke up and rubbed her eyes. She felt as if she had been hit by a giant sack.
Panic! Where am I?
She looked around the room. She was on an elegant bed in a small room, a room of rocks with a tiny slit of a window at one end. Tapestries were hung along the walls showing men in armor fighting battles.
What's going on? Where's Zhuntah? This can't be Riva. Where's my tree house?

-insert bright silver light that signifies flashback-

*Knock Knock*
Zhuntah! Xalenci cried happily as she jumped up to pull open the door. Instead of her husband, two menacing Cherek stood at the door. Xalenci instinctively shrunk back.
A monster, married to one of our brother Rivans, in an Alorn fraternity! We must "fix" this situation. They drew their axes and Xalenci was no match for the two large warriors and crumbled under their axes.

-insert bright silver light to show end of flashback-

Xalenci held her pounding head in her heads.
That's not possible. I'm dead? How am I here then? Where is here?
She quickly stood up and fell on the ground. Xalenci picked at the heavy dress she was wearing, an archaic medieval outfit.
How silly. Who wears such silly outfits.
She managed to stand up and stroll slowly to the window. She gasped slightly as she saw many men decked out in armor going at each other. Mimbrates, she managed to say before she fainted.

top