"I'm leaving again, and this time I am reaching the capital," Marie-Fey announced, throwing open the doors to the dining hall.

The various ladies seated around the low tables froze mid-chatter, food and glasses halfway to their mouths as they stared at her.

They hadn't seen her two days, and she had been asleep almost that entire time, her maids coming in only to bring food and fill up her drinks – Gharam checking in once a day to give her updates about Maanah and Azeeza's conditions.

Zaydan had left his own personal guard posted outside her rooms, suspicious of everyone outside of his core unit now. The men had informed her that he was causing waves in the main palace. Seeing as all the men – bar Zufar and another young soldier – had come from his brother's forces, he wanted to know exactly how traitors could go unnoticed and who had recommended them to Marie-Fey's men, resulting in the loss of not only one of his men, but all of hers.

No one had come forward with information yet and a lot of necks were on the line now, it was raising the tension like nothing else.

"Really? You honestly think that's a good idea?" Zaafira asked from her table, frowning at Marie-Fey.

Marie-Fey swept over and took her seat – which had previously been the seat of one of Zaafira's ladies.

"I'm getting there, one way or another," Marie-Fey replied, folding her arms on the table. "In the meantime, I'm going to look for that tower. Did you unlock every door when you were tying those ribbons?"

"We did," Zaafira said, resting her cheek on her knuckles.

"You used all the keys?"

"Every one. They all matched a door that received a ribbon."

"Alright," Marie-Fey muttered, thinking for a moment. "I'll focus my search on the observatory. I'll investigate tonight."

"Tonight? Not during the day?"

"I have a lot to do today and I am well refreshed for a late night."

"In the dark?"

"As the night suggests."

Zaafira glared at her. "Your guards will be displeased, being dragged around the palace."

"I'm dismissing them today, they can return to Zaydan, I don't mind exploring alone."

Zaafira eyed her for a moment, then folded her arms on the table, straightening her back and tilting her head slightly. "How are your two maids?"

"Gharam is still caring for Maanah, I don't like her straying from Maanah's side."

"So, they're not with you these days?"

"Not for the present."

"And the servants you have in their place?"

"I don't keep them with me regularly. I send them back to this palace once they've helped me change. Tonight, I'll just dismiss them early. I'm capable of changing myself depending on the dress."

Zaafira smirked. "Travelling those dark hallways alone, goodness Marie-Fey, aren't you afraid of ghosts?"

Marie-Fey smirked in return. "I'm not afraid of ghosts," she replied.

"Can you imagine that, Janaan, our lady traipsing around her empty palace, in the dark with no one to even keep her company for conversation," Zaafira said, making one of the girls on a neighbouring table jump then look at them, her eyes wide.

Of course, everyone who could hear was listening – and both Marie-Fey and Zaafira were speaking loud enough for many in the hall to hear – but to be caught eavesdropping was another matter.

Janaan turned her huge eyes on Marie-Fey and Marie-Fey just glanced at her then away again.

"It's... certainly interesting behaviour," Janaan said, picking her words carefully. She had never been in direct trouble with Marie-Fey. She was a good student, stayed out of her way and, although she had spread the rumour about Marie-Fey's collision with a whip which had led to that ridiculous competition between her and Zaafira, since she had read it in a letter and couldn't stop from gossiping even if her mouth were stitched, Marie-Fey didn't hold her responsible.

It didn't mean she'd say anything to annoy Marie-Fey directly.

"Just another day in the life of the lady of this madhouse," Marie-Fey said with a sigh before getting to her feet.

Zaafira neatly rose to her feet as well, her ladies hurrying to follow, pausing only when Zaafira indicated that the one who had been moved out of her seat could quickly collect some bits to eat, seeing as Marie-Fey had shooed her away from her breakfast.

Without waiting for them to catch up, Zaafira fell into step beside Marie-Fey as they glided from the hall.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Zaafira muttered under her breath.

"To think, I didn't even need to prompt you," Marie-Fey said with a false laugh.

"Your ideas can be as hair-brained at Zaydan's. I swear, you deserve each other," Zaafira sighed.

"I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear," Marie-Fey replied.

Zaafira sighed. "You're determined to kill yourself, I swear."

"I have no desire to kill myself, it's everyone else that seems hellbent on the issue," Marie-Fey replied.

"Uh-huh," was the dispassionate reply, before they parted ways.

Later that day, when Marie-Fey was talking to Natheer – who had come over from the main palace to discuss the replacement of her guard – she passed an alcove, overhearing some of the girls inside.

"Marie-Fey is acting even stranger since her return."

"That's possible? How so?"

"Well, first she's announced she's returning to the capital – or, once again trying to get there, I suppose – but also, I heard a rumour that she's taken to walking around her palace at night, alone."

Natheer opened his mouth to reprimand the girls but Marie-Fey held up a hand and they moved on to keep discussing protentional candidates.

That night, she was changed into something easier to change out of herself for later, then dismissed her maids and dined alone in her rooms. She was feeling the lack of Maanah and Gharam that night; whether they were attending to jobs, talking to each other or talking to her, they filled the air.

Regardless though, Marie-Fey didn't dwell on it and finished her meal, setting it aside to be collected in the morning before reading for a few hours out in the fading light.

Finally, she put her book away, listened to the muted quiet around her, then made her way into the darkness of her palace.

Most of the lamps had been dowsed and the firelight struggled for supremacy against the shadows.

As she had stated at breakfast, she made her way towards the observatory.

The lights had all gone out on the corridors leading to it and she paused at the end of the hall that ended with the steps that led up to the trap door.

The silence around her was absolute, but the atmosphere was heightened.

"Well," she breathed, and her voice bounced around the hall, much louder than it should have been.

She smiled at the ripple through the air.

"Where are you?" she sang out, the notes eerie and ghostly in their echo. "I know you're there. I can sense you."

A brush of fabric sounded from one of the tiny alcoves and she grinned.

"I can hear you," she continued, "Come on out. If you're going to kill me, I would at least like to know why. Don't be afraid, it's just you... and me."

She felt the hesitation through the air, then a shadow detached itself from an alcove and a hooded figure stepped into the hall ahead of her. The faded gleam of a dagger caught the threads of moonlight that filtered from behind Marie-Fey and she neatly folded her hands in front of her.

"Well?" she said, "It's only polite that you lower your hood."

The woman – it was undoubtedly a woman considering the way she moved and stood – was still for a time, and Marie-Fey spread her hands, revealing the empty palms.

"You have the weapon, not me," she pointed out calmly.

The lady refused to move for a moment longer, then threw her hood back.

Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I certainly didn't guess it would be you, but then that's the mark of a good mastermind, even if your minions were rather useless. Isn't that a shame?" she said and Nabeela, Mistress of the Baths; orderly, competent, responsible and respectable, glared at her.