Marie-Fey knew she was dreaming because she didn't instantly start screaming bloody murder or hurl her teacup at the intruder.

She just sat up and stared at him.

And he stared back at her.

He was dressed in clothes more suited for travelling across the desert, fabric around his head and over his mouth and nose, only revealing his eyes, black and empty, lined with age and exhaustion.

He turned towards her, the shift in his movement making the moonlight catch off something at his side.

Marie-Fey's eyes flashed towards it.

A dagger.

It was secured to his hip, his hand resting on the hilt.

Her eyes flicked up again, meeting the eyes of the silent man and someone started screaming.

She jumped, looking wildly around in the darkness until she spotted a woman out on the balcony, dressed in a gown similar to one she would wear back in her own country.

She had her hands to her face, screaming and shrieking, nails digging into her hair, eyes clenched shut.

Her form wavered, she wasn't quite there, a ghostly blue rippling off her.

"WAKE UP!"

Her screaming merged into words as she howled in rage and agony.

"WAKE UP!"

The man looked towards the woman as she continued to screech.

His hand curled around the dagger handle as he turned towards her, stepping towards the balcony.

"YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP! NOW!"

Marie-Fey's eyes snapped open.

She blinked.

Then heaved herself over the edge of the bed, sweeping her hair out of her face and threw up.

Now she knew she was awake.

She started screaming for Maanah before another wave of vomit hit her and she almost choked, tears streaming from her eyes as pain wracked her body, her stomach twisting and grinding, like it was being torn out of her.

"MAANAH!" she wailed.

In the distance, she could hear the commotion of people arriving in her room.

She heard Maanah's voice, felt Gharam's hands on her. She heard guards and commands for a doctor, but it was all drowned out as another wave of sickness hit her and she twisted her face away to avoid throwing up on Gharam.

Graham held her close, stroking her hair as her body shook in shock and pain, her vision blurred and nearly black as she tried to make out the shapes of her room.

Maanah's arms came around her and she held both her and Gharam close, muttering assurances and promises.

Gharam was crying.

Why was she crying?

Why was she sick?

She had been fine that evening. She had been fine going to bed.

Why did it hurt so much?!

Where was her family doctor? He would fix things.

Lorelie. She needed Lorelie. She would know what was wrong.

Why weren't they coming to help her?!

~~~~~

"You were poisoned."

Marie-Fey's eyes snapped opened and she looked at the doctor who sat at the edge of her bed, putting his equipment away.

"I was what?" she growled.

"You were poisoned," he repeated calmly, "At some point in the evening you ingested a poison. Possibly just before you slept."

Marie-Fey stared at him for a moment, then her ferocious glare swung to Gharam who was looking like death had walked into the room to claim her, her skin grey and horror in her eyes.

Maanah reached for her, wrapping an arm around her, putting herself between Marie-Fey and Gharam, her eyes wide and panicked.

Marie-Fey turned her fury back toward her doctor.

"I see," she growled, "A warning of some sort?"

"No, frankly I'm not sure how you're alive. You should be dead," he said bluntly.

"Aren't I the lucky one?" Marie-Fey said, her voice spitting venom.

"A food-tester must be brought here for you," the doctor said, pushing to his feet, "You are too valuable to our Lord for such crimes to be committed."

"Uh-huh," Marie-Fey muttered, watching him, eyes narrowed.

"Do you have any immediate enemies you could name?" he asked and Marie-Fey shot him such a pointed look he grimaced, belatedly noting the foolishness of the question. "You must keep to your bed for now, to rest and recover. All your foods must be tested by a taster and/or your maids."

"Indeed?" Marie-Fey said, glancing at her maids again.

"I shall return each day to see how you recover but if you feel ill at any time, however small, call for me. Better to be cautious."

"Of course, thank you."

"Until tomorrow, My Lady," he said, bowing low to her before striding out, female servants trailing after him to see him out.

Marie-Fey waited for the doors to close behind them, followed by the echo of her outer chamber doors being closed before she rounded on her maids.

"My Lady, I swear I didn't do it!" Gharam shrieked, tears bursting from her eyes as she fell to her knees, pressing her head to the stone of the bedroom floor. "Please! I beg you! Please believe—"

"Who handed you the tea?" Marie-Fey snarled, cutting her off.

Gharam looked up, startled and confused.

"What?" she gasped.

"Who handed you the tea?" Marie-Fey snapped, throwing off the covers.

"My Lady!" Maanah cried, running to her, "You can't! you must stay in bed!"

"Once I have dealt with the halfwit who tried to take my life!" Marie-Fey spat, grabbing her robe of silk, throwing it over her shoulders and shoving to her feet.

The world span and she grimaced as Maanah caught her. Gharam scrambling to her feet to hold her other side.

"I'm sorry," she was sobbing, "I'm so sorry!"

"Why? Did you put a poison in my drink?" Marie-Fey snapped.

"No!" Gharam cried.

"Did you give it to me knowing I could be killed?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why are you apologising?"

"Because... because..."

"Inform the keepers of the departments," Marie-Fey shot towards Maanah, "If someone wants me dead, that is no surprise. But if someone wants me dead and is willing to do something about it, that is not acceptable. Everyone will be investigated. Call the guards. Every single person, every room, every tiny gem box shall be investigated. Who has been asking about poison? Who has ordered some in, any time in the last two years since I arrived. Who has access to it?"

"But what if you don't find out who did it?" Maanah asked.

"I don't care about finding out who did it. I'm sure I won't. I care about scaring them," Marie-Fey said, shoving away from them, stumbling out onto the balcony she had seen the ghostly woman in her dreams, screaming for her to wake up.

Dreams certainly were the subconscious reaching out.

"I want to frighten every stupid little girl in this palace," Marie-Fey growled, gripping the stone balcony, relishing the feel of the icy night breeze on her burning skin. "I want them to know that if they try again, I'll know. I want to scare the men and warn them that I am not some little lady from a distant shore who sits meekly and out of the way when someone brings war to her very doorstep."

She turned, fixed icy blue eyes on the pair.

"I am placing my faith and thus my life to you two," she said, "I am trusting that you had nothing to do with this so do not let me down."

Gharam looked like she could start crying again.

Maanah looked stoic and calm as usual, but her eyes were black with an unleashed anger. Her bow was short and sharp, and she gave Marie-Fey a look of such determination, Marie-Fey felt some of the ice of fear in her stomach thaw a little.

"Return to bed, My Lady, we'll find them," she assured her, gesturing to Gharam to follow her.

They walked to the doors, pulling them open and looking back at her.

"We'll start with Zaafira," she said.

Marie-Fey smiled slightly at that then gestured for them to go, turning away as they closed the doors behind them.