A teacup being set down by her elbow when she hadn't ordered for one had Marie-Fey's eyes flick up from her book where she was lounging out on her balcony.

Gharam straightened up, lowering the tray she carried.

Marie-Fey waited for Gharam to say something and the silence stretched.

"Get out," Marie-Fey said bluntly and returned her attention back to her book.

"Azeeza is asleep. I put away her things and she is exhausted. Hopefully she will sleep the rest of the day and through the night," Gharam reported.

"Who is she sleeping with? Are they liable to torment her?" Marie-Fey asked without looking up.

"Maira, Salwa and Warda."

Marie-Fey hummed at that. "The triplets aren't awful," she said simply and flipped a page.

"Maanah told me about what happened in the garden."

"Maanah should be ashamed of herself when she is so rarely prone to gossip."

"Are you alright?"

Marie-Fey was quiet for a moment, then snapped her book closed and rested her temple against her knuckles as she looked at her servant.

"What do you want?"

"To know that you're alright and if you are not alright, to know how to make it right," Gharam said.

"You cannot make right the past," Marie-Fey said bluntly, "The past has been and gone and died in the dust. All that is left are the memories and they are not tangible thus cannot be made right."

She flipped her book back open and returned her focus to it.

"One cannot make right memories, one must simply learn to live and move on."

She felt rather than saw Gharam's pained expression and the next moment her servant revealed the most backbone she had had since Marie-Fey first met her.

She stepped forwards and sat on the edge of the chaise lounge and Marie-Fey moved her feet aside as a glare settled across the eye.

"Are you asking me to throw you off this balcony?" she asked slowly, "Because I thought I ordered you away."

"I am worried," Gharam said, easing closer, like one would a wild animal.

"Your worry is neither well founded nor welcome."

"You are not the type to fly into a rage," Gharam said and Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow at her. "Your anger is always cold and calculated and you favour words over violence. What set your off?"

Marie-Fey just looked at her for a long, long moment.

Then drove her small, sharp heel into Gharam's hip.

It wasn't enough to do more than bruise, but it got the desired affect and had Gharam out of her seat in an instant.

"I am more than well acquainted with violence and your analysis offends me," Marie-Fey said simply, "If you want to do something useless for me, go see that my emerald gown is ready to wear for tomorrow. I am not looking for a counsellor or a friend to mourn my bad temper with. I am perfectly fine and you risk making me less than fine with your prying. Now leave me be unless I change my mind and allow rumours about you and poison to flourish."

Gharam had the good sense to leave and Marie-Fey noted the lack of upset on her face. Marie-Fey's words hadn't scared or distressed her, she took them in her stride and moved on.

When has she grown a spine?

Marie-Fey turned her attention back to her book and was left to her own devices again.

She heard Maanah arrive and her ladies' soft voices as they moved through the apartments. She heard them take their meal then continue on with chores until Marie-Fey's meal was brought to her rooms.

"Would you like to eat out here or inside, My Lady?" Maanah asked, looking out.

"Out here," Marie-Fey said, sitting up.

Maanah came out to set the meal and was fixing a fresh drink when they heard the main doors to the apartment close and Gharam hurrying across the rooms.

"My Lady, you have received a new gift," she said, her voice excited, the earlier disruption forgotten.

"I don't want gifts!" Marie-Fey snarled but Gharam appeared anyway, holding the gift and Marie-Fey paused, her anger wilting in surprise.

Gharam was holding a bow and a set of arrows.

Marie-Fey stared at them.

"What is this?" she demanded, "Why did my husband send these?"

"He didn't."

Marie-Fey's fist closed around her fan as she turned wintery eyes to the doorway behind Gharam as Zaydan appeared and looked out at her. His expression was sombre and serious for once as he watched her, eyeing her guarded gaze that glowed violet in the sunset.

"I did."

Marie-Fey narrowed her eyes at him. "Explain."

"You might try quelling that attitude for at least five minutes in my presence when you know it is not acceptable and I have already let you get away with more than any other man my status would," Zaydan said coldly.

Marie-Fey just looked at him with unblinking eyes until the tension in the open-air space was suffocating.

Zaydan's shoulders suddenly relaxed.

"I supposed I'd be more unnerved if you suddenly played nice," he muttered.

"Explain," Marie-Fey just repeated.

"Not all those gifts in there are from your husband," Zaydan said, folding his arms and leaning against the doorframe.

Marie-Fey just quirked an eyebrow at him.

He jerked his head back to indicate the mountain of gifts in her rooms. "Some are from me."

"Why?" she snapped.

"Because I wanted to make acquaintance with my sister-in-law," he said, exasperated, "But you never acknowledged them, I of course understand why now. My intention was to offer you an ally, even though we were unlikely to meet or talk. You clearly never read any of my letters wrapped up in those gifts. I had hoped to discuss it when you opened them with me but you stopped at one and I lost my chance. This time I figured I would give it to your directly."

Marie-Fey flicked her eyes to the bow and arrows then back. "Why that?"

"Because you mentioned that you were an archer back home."

Marie-Fey eyed him for a moment, then narrowed her eyes. "I mentioned that once in one of my earliest letters. Why do you remember."

He shrugged. "I remember almost everything I read, it is just the way I am. I thought I might bring these as a peace offering."

"I am not at war with you," Marie-Fey said bluntly, "Your fleeting presence is not worth the effort a war would take."

"Then I am offering it because I want you to like me," he said, annoyed.

"You cannot buy my favour."

"Well I am out of luck then, aren't I?" he snapped and Marie-Fey smirked.

She waved him away. "I have no need for such pointless toys when I have nowhere to practice."

"I am having an archery range equipped as we speak. I wanted to challenge you."

He finally had her attention and she turned to him with a cold smile.

"You want to be in my presence while I am in possession of a deadly weapon?" she asked, sweetly.

"I'll shoot you just as fast before I go down. If I fall, we'll fall together."

"Not if I shoot you in the back."

"You wouldn't shoot me in the back."

"What makes you so sure?"

"You strike me as someone who likes to see the defeat in someone's eyes as they go down. How can you see that when looking at their spine?"

Marie-Fey was quiet for a moment, then threw her head back and laughed. "Fine," she sneered, "I will accept your gift and even your challenge. But I warn you, I am out of practice but that will not slow me for long. I trained with the best and your pride had better hold up against defeat."

"Let me worry about my pride. You're not the only talent around here."

"When will the range be ready?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"I will be there after breakfast."

And with that, she turned away to her dinner and Zaydan left without a word, the sound of the doors slamming behind him fading into silence.