Marie-Fey dragged her pathetic party back to the city by what felt like willpower alone. Maanah did regain some form of consciousness, which was a relief, but it was delirious and fragmented, she never knew where she was or who was around her. She barely even got out definable words. Zufar became sicker and sicker as his leg and the battering he'd taken being dragged around by Barnaby took its toll on his body.

Camping during the day was unbearable. They could only travel during the night because Marie-Fey didn't trust herself to lead them in the correct direction without the stars but the ridiculous creation that served as a tent for them was... well, calling it a tent was an insult. But, at the very least, she did know how to cook them basic food and there was water, the 'tent' offering shade against the excruciating heat of the noonday sun.

"How do you know how to cook?" Zufar asked during their dinner at the end of the first day before they got ready to start travelling again.

Marie-Fey glanced at him as she debated on whether to have a drink now or later in the night. "I was born into extreme wealth," she said as she put the waterskin away. "However around... seven years ago... I think, we suffered a catastrophic loss of money and were forced into hideous poverty. In reality, it was my brother who did most of the cooking, but we all learnt something of the skill. And it's a skill that didn't leave me."

The young solider gaped at her like a fish.

"You're... wait, you're poor?" he asked, and she glowered at him.

"I come from one of the wealthiest families in the world, no I am not poor anymore. It was a stumble that we recovered from. It was a few months of horror and then we went back to the way things should have been. But it's not something I talk about, so I'll have you keep quiet about it."

"Does Lord Zaydan know?"

"If he doesn't know, it's not your right to tell him," she said simply and snapped her parasol into place as a gust of wind dislodged in. One day, this would all be incredibly funny and she would able to laugh hysterically with Constantine and Sophia about how she trekked across the desert for too many days and nights with two dying companions, two camels, a handful of weapons, a ration of food and two parasols to keep the sun off her skin.

Zufar eyed her for a moment until she snapped at him to either ask his question or mind his own business.

"You don't need me here, do you?" he asked.

"What?"

"If I hadn't come back and helped you, what would you have done?"

She frowned at him. "I would have dragged myself and Maanah back on my own," she said bluntly, "All I need is the camel, food and water. I'll make my own from there. You're just an extra mouth to feed and some muscle that came in handy for preparation. Of course, you're still a liability since you may turn around and kill me, but until then, see that you remain useful."

She didn't wait for him to agree and they'd prepared to leave in silence, waiting until the stars for strong enough to see, then headed out again.

When the lights of the city bloomed out of the darkness in the far distance, she dreaded she'd suffer a panic attack for fear that what she was seeing wasn't real. But Zufar looked like he was about to cry so she took it to mean they were seeing the same thing.

It was well into the day by the time they reached the outer limits and getting into the city was, admittedly, a problem. She had absolutely no way to prove who she was to the guards who stopped them from entering the city. They would only speak to Zufar and eyed all three with such suspicion and confusion, Marie-Fey wanted to shoot the lot.

Seeing as that wouldn't help matters however, she held her tongue and waited.

Finally, Zufar managed to convince one of the men to at least enquire of the noble family about what should be done with them and have a physician called in the meantime.

Then there was the issue about how the treatment would all be paid for and Marie-Fey almost lost her mind when a carriage arrived from her former hosts. To their credit, they had sent several maids down with the carriage rather than just guards to shoo the hoodlums away. The maids took one look at Marie-Fey's filthy face and shrieked in horror, scrambling towards her, helping her down from Barnaby's back, screaming at the guards to help and why they hadn't brought the wife of one of the most important men in the country to the house instantly and how they were going to all be held to account if her husband learned of this.

Marie-Fey herself was too tired to hand out death threats at that exact moment so she just left that to the maids and stepped into the carriage. Zufar was ushered in with her, though only after he'd looked at her for permission, and Maanah was taken separately, rushed on ahead to have her wounds tended.

She was taken back the house she had left only days before, both the lord and lady meeting her, horror in their eyes. Zufar was led away to be tended and Marie-Fey was set up in the room she'd had previously, the family's personal doctor coming to examine her. Despite the preceding events, she was well. Dehydrated, certainly. Bruised and scratched up, of course. But that was the most of it.

She had something small to eat and drink, then bathed and changed into new clothes that had been bought within the hour. She instantly missed her flowing, foreign gowns but the clothes she was given would do. After she was dressed, a larger meal was brought to her and she finally took a seat out of the balcony, looking out over the world with her tea as she watched what appeared to be a small army marching on the road that led to the city.

Setting her elbow on the balcony wall, she rested her cheek in her palm and lifted the cup to her lips.

"Hmm," she mused, watching the men draw closer and closer. By now, sunset was beginning to fall as the army loomed like a monster.

The air stirred around her and people started leaning out of windows, pointing and talking, fear and concern buzzing through the air as the street below began to clear.

The maids who had been looking after Marie-Fey appeared at the balcony, staring, their skin pale.

"Who... who do you think it is?" one asked, her voice thin.

"I couldn't say," Marie-Fey said dismissively, taking another sip of tea.

"Do you think they're here to attack us? Are they here for you?"

Marie-Fey glanced at them, then finished her tea and set it down before she rose to her feet and folded her arms down on the wall instead. "Well, if they are, I'll be interested to hear what they have to say."

Her maids looked at her and she shot them a cold grin.

"And if they're here to finish me off, well, death hasn't checked me off his list just yet, I'd almost say he's on my side."

Her maids stared at her before they all turned to watch the army enter the city and approach, drawing closer and closer until she could make out individual faces.

She set her cheek in her palm again and smiled when she spied Zaydan riding at the front, his expression like thunder. Straightening up, she turned back to her rooms.

"I wouldn't worry ladies, I don't think this lovely city is going to fall today," she said, walking into her rooms and out the doors to greet Zaydan.

The maids scrambled to follow her and she arrived at the grand hall as her hosts arrived, looking rattled – she could pity them, it was certainly a rattling few hours.

The doors to the hall blew open as their second unexpected guest of the day arrived surrounded by his men and Marie-Fey was reminded of the first day she had met him, when he'd arrived with this arrogant smile and confident stride.

Today he looked drawn and furious. One could think him sick if he hadn't moved with so much purpose and power. Quite unlike the usual gentleness he displayed around her.

And then he spotted her stood slightly back from her hosts, hands folded neatly in front of her, clean and conscious – battered but alive – and fear visibly drained out of him, his obsidian eyes blazing back into life as he stared at her, taking in every bruise and cut.

He wasn't the only one. His men appeared to be trying not to gape at her.

"Lord Zaydan," Marie-Fey's host said, stepping forwards.

Zaydan blinked and snapped his attention away to the host and hostess. "You'll have to forgive my unannounced arrival in your city," he said, "I admit, I hadn't expected to find my sister-in-law here before me. I had planned for a search."

"No need for something as time consuming as that, Lord Zaydan," Marie-Fey said, gliding forwards, "I'm far too organised for such things."

Zaydan almost grinned as he strode up the short set of steps separating them, stopping the step below her so they were closer to eye level. "I would have been here sooner, but it took us a little time to figure out your message, I should pay more attention to the stars."

"I frankly didn't really expect you to turn up, if I'm honest."

"But fortunes guide us for a reason?"

"Exactly."

Zaydan eyed her for a moment, then the light faded from his eyes. "What happened?" he asked.

Marie-Fey titled her head, thinking. "Can we just go home?" she asked instead and Zaydan straightened.

"Of course," he said, "I have a carriage with me, who else made it back?"

"Maanah, though I'm not sure she'll survive. There are also two camels, and a guard called Zufar al-Saleh."

"al-Saleh survived?"

"My aim was slightly off," Maire-Fey said and he stared at her. She watched as, from that small statement, he put together what happened and looked at her in horror.

"Wait," he started but she held up a hand.

"I would like to go home," she muttered, his voice softer than she wanted.

He studied her for a moment, then reached up and squeezed her hand before turning to the host and hostess who were just looking lost and confused.

It took time, between collecting the camels, making sure Maanah was fit for travel and preparing a medical wagon for her. Zaydan had brought a doctor with him, who stayed in the wagon with Maanah.

Zufar appeared looking pale but prepared. He and Zaydan looked at each other for a long, long moment, then Zaydan turned away, ordering his men to bring Zufar along with them.

He and Marie-Fey both politely and properly saying their farewells to their poor hosts who took it all in their stride, Zaydan promising to relay their kindness to his brother before he helped Marie-Fey into the carriage and followed her in.

They barely spoke after that the entire way home.

Marie-Fey knew she was exhausted, but she couldn't sleep. Even when they camped for the night and a proper tent was set up for her, with comfortable bedding and soft lighting and closed walls. She sat in the middle of her bed, staring at the entrance to her tent, listening to the sounds of the camp moving around her, the soft voices of the guards posted around her, the distant laughter of men who had no intention of turning on those they promised to protect. Zaydan hadn't questioned her when she'd asked him for a bow and set of arrows before she retired for the evening. He'd just had them delivered and only requested that she be checked over by the doctor one last time. He left them with her when they moved out the next day and she kept them close all the way home.

When she finally saw her own city sprawling in the distance, a blaze of colours again the endless gold of sand, she had to take a deep breath to control the sudden rush of emotion, her hand flying to her throat as something clogged it. Almost there. Almost back. Almost all over.

Zaydan, who had sat beside her the entire journey, glanced her way, then returned his gaze to the passing landscape, while tentatively reaching over and slipping his fingers through hers, squeezing gently.

Her hand tightened around his in return, tightening more than she'd intended, but she couldn't force her fingers to release until they'd made their way through the city streets, all the way back to the compound, the gates to the ladies' palace opening to the grand courtyards.

"My Lady!"

She heard Gharam's scream before the carriage even stopped around the front of her personal palace. People moved around the carriage to get the doors but there was a crash, several startled voices and Marie-Fey's door was almost wrenched off its hinges as Gharam hung off it, staring wide-eyed and disbelieving.

Marie-Fey stared back at her, then looked at the door. "Such passions," she said, holding out a hand. Gharam took it to help her down, then flung her arms around Marie-Fey, almost knocking her back into the carriage.

Marie-Fey was rendered speechless, gaping at the outrageous display of emotion, especially from a maid to her mistress but, after a moment, she sighed and returned the embrace.

"I'm alright," she said, her voice soft.

"I thought... I thought... when Aya appeared with the card... when Lord Zaydan didn't recognise the constellation..."

Gharam was crying so hard her tears were literally soaking Marie-Fey's shoulder.

Marie-Fey grimaced. "But he found me in the end so..."

"He spent hours in your observatory," Gharam said, struggling to compose herself as she pulled back, rubbing at her eyes, "He pulled it apart, and then he dragged his men together and left without another word. I didn't think he... how did he..."

"Well, I marched back across the desert until I reached a city, and we happened to arrive within hours of each other," Marie-Fey said.

Gharam stared at her. "He didn't find you in the desert?"

"No, I handled that bit myself."

Gharam continued to stare at her, then opened her mouth and Marie-Fey waved her off.

"You need to see to Maanah," she said, "She's alive, but I'm still not convinced she'll survive."

Gharam's skin turned white, a hollow, harrowed look bleeding into her eyes. "She... she's..."

"You're relieved of your duties of caring for me for now. I need you to care for her around the clock until we know she's stable."

Gharam was still for a moment, then nodded. She curtsied and hurried away to locate Maanah. Without waiting for anyone else, Marie-Fey let out a breath and started making her way towards the gardens of her palace.

"You really do have a devil's luck."

Marie-Fey looked to her left as Zaafira fell into step with her.

"I really do. Disappointed?" Marie-Fey asked.

"Only if I'd wanted you dead."

"And did you?"

"Not this time," Zaafira replied as they stepped into the small courtyard of her palace. Marie-Fey stopped, looking up at the building where white ribbons fluttered from every window.

"I see you've been busy," she said.

"We were," Zaafira said, tapping her shoulder and indicating she follow. "And yet, we discovered an oddity."

Marie-Fey followed Zaafira around the building until they stopped under the window, in the tower at the top of the palace.

"Well, would you look at that," Marie-Fey said, settling her hands on her hips.

"We searched every inch of that damn palace, never found the entrance," Zaafira said, folding her arms, looking up at the only window in the entire building that didn't have a ribbon fluttering from its window. "You have a hidden room in your palace."

"I wonder what's in it."

"I dread to think."

Marie-Fey glanced at Zaafira out of the corner of her eye. "You think it's more than dust and cobwebs?"

Zaafira returned with a smirk. "Who hides a room for dust and cobwebs?"

"True," Marie-Fey conceded.

"What do you think is in it?"

"Secret documents?"

"Hidden treasure?"

"Dead bodies?"

"An entrance to another world?"

The answer actually made both Marie-Fey and Zaafira laugh and it was so out of the ordinary for them that when the laughter faded, they didn't comment on it, or even acknowledge it.

"Not that I much care, but are you alright?" Zaafira asked, eyes still up.

"Depends what alright means," Marie-Fey replied. Zaafira looked at her and she turned, giving a vague wave over her shoulder as she walked away.

She would deal with the mystery door later.

Maybe tomorrow.

Or next week.

Or when she returned from the capital city. She still had every intention of getting there, fates be damned.

But that was for later. For now, she walked into the palace, snapping her fingers at two ladies to follow her to her rooms where she threw open the doors to her dressing room. She unearthed a white and blue gown, her undergarments, corset and small heeled shoes. It wouldn't be long until she had to change for bed – but she wanted, needed, to be in her own clothes at that moment.

She was changed, then she dismissed her maids. They asked if she wanted a tea, or anything to eat but she just waved them off.

They rushed out, closing the doors and instantly Marie-Fey was surrounded by silence, like the desert, her eyes on the distant horizon through the balcony doors. The dunes looking deceptively steady and safe from afar.

She must have stood in the middle of her room, staring out the doors, silent and still for most of an hour.

And then the trembling hit without warning.

Like that day seven years ago. She took a violent intake of breath as fear rocked her like an aftershock.

Her legs buckled under her and she collapsed to the ground in a pool of fabrics, her eyes painfully wide as she tried to drag air into her lungs, stare determinedly fixed on the horizon like she would stare it down.

Her eyes burned as her teeth clenched tight, breath shuddering as her lungs throbbed, fists twisted so tight in her skirts she almost tore the fabric as she fought the wave of pain and terror that was clawing through her.

And then strong, reassuring hands settled on her shoulders from behind.

"Fey," Zaydan said gently, pressing his lips to the top of her head. She wanted to scream at him to get out, but her emotions betrayed her and, for the first time in far too many years, she started to cry.