Kilan Denny swung around the corner to stop in the doorway, his dark hair flaring around his head as his eyes shone, his smile blazing as Marie-Fey shot to her feet.

"I can't believe it," she gasped, stunned as she dashed towards him, throwing her arms around him as he grinned and squeezed her tightly.

"How are you?" he asked into her hair.

"I've been better," she muttered, and she felt his tiny nod before they drew apart and turned back to the crowd who were watching them.

Kilan bowed low to The King and Queen, then bowed to Zaydan before following Marie-Fey and taking a seat on her other side to Zaydan, who watched Kilan with a confused look.

"I had no idea you would be visiting the capital, I would have stayed in the palace to greet you," Kilan said as he was poured a drink.

"I took everyone by surprise with my arrival. I had no idea you were even in the country or I would have insisted on meeting you," Marie-Fey said, before looking towards the doors he'd walked through then back to him. "Briar isn't with you?"

Kilan gave her a bright smile that didn't hide his sad eyes if one knew him well enough. "We're not travelling together," he said, "She's with Carlos now, I haven't seen her in six months."

Marie-Fey gave him a sympathetic smile and squeezed his hand. "That's such a long time."

"But I'll be meeting up with her soon enough, we're travelling home to visit the others shortly," Kilan said with renewed brightness, right before Zaydan gently coughed.

Marie-Fey looked at him and he gave her a questioning look, glancing at Kilan.

"Sorry," she said, smiling at him then pointing at Kilan. "This is Kilan Denny. He's a Storyteller and... how to describe him? He's basically another brother."

"Another one?" Zaydan said, mock horror in his voice and Kilan snorted.

"You've met the rest?" he asked.

"We've met," Zaydan replied.

"Zaydan joined me back at the family home over winter," Marie-Fey explained, "He met Val, Con, Bel, Luka and Braydon then. He didn't meet Grey but—"

"That's not a bad thing," Kilan said and they snorted with laughter. "Grey is from Braydon and Luka's side of the family and he's... boisterous," he explained at Zaydan's look. "It's a bit like meeting a whirlwind. How did you find the rest of the family?"

"It was an experience."

"Then Grey would have doubled that."

"Zaydan and Beldon spent most of the visit infuriating each other and it was fantastic seeing that little blond monster getting riled up," Marie-Fey said and Kilan started cackling at the idea.

"Anything to shake his unshakeable feathers," Kilan grinned.

"But forget them for now," Marie-Fey said, "Why are you here? Why didn't you let me know you were in the country?"

"I did," Kilan said with a laugh, momentarily effortlessly switching back and forth between languages, "But that message won't be arriving for another few days so we would have completely missed each other if His Majesty hadn't been good enough to send word to me of you being here." He bowed his head to The Sultan as he spoke before looking back to Marie-Fey. "I've been doing what I always do, collecting stories."

Marie-Fey nodded, then glanced to the bag he'd carried in with him, set carefully aside on the grass. Inside would be his storybook, two ink pots and three quills – like always.

"Can we talk later?" Marie-Fey asked, lowering her voice even if the others could still hear. "I want to discuss something with you. I don't know if it involves curses or magic or what exactly, but I would like your opinion."

"Of course," Kilan said, instantly.

"Fey, this doesn't concern him," Zaydan muttered but Marie-Fey waved him off.

"It doesn't but it could," she replied and Zaydan frowned, glancing at Kilan again, who just gave him a reassuring smile. He then turned his attention to The King and Queen, asking something about a dinner they'd all attended the week before but Marie-Fey just watched Zaydan.

He just looked concerned, worried, as he looked at his glass.

Absently, she reached out and touched the back of his hand.

His dark eyes flicked to her and she raised an eyebrow at him.

He eyed her for a moment, then turned his hand over to take hers, squeezing before releasing and getting to his feet, the others looking at him.

"I'm sorry, I need to excuse myself for now," he said, bowing to the royals.

"Now? Why?" The Queen asked.

Zaydan smiled. "I was ordered to catch up on the affairs of the kingdom by tomorrow's court session," he said, and The Sultana shot her husband a glare. "I need to see my brother."

The Sultana just sighed dramatically and waved him away. "Fine, fine. Go. I demand you join me for dinner however."

"Of course," Zaydan said, then smiled, bowed again and strode out.

The Queen watched him go, then pursed her lips and turned on Marie-Fey. "How has he seemed to you over the last few months?"

"How has he seemed?" Marie-Fey copied, confused.

"Happy? Sad? Depressed? Dazed?"

"Um... highs and lows. He's generally bright spirited but no one can maintain that all the time."

The Sultana considered that for a moment, then turned to The Sultan. "Your Majesty—" she started but he interrupted.

"Dear, I know all you want to do is protect him, but he has asked you many times to not interfere. It's not your place to dismiss his request – it's all he's ever asked of you."

She pursed her lips again then let out a breath. "I am returning to my rooms for tea," she announced, and The King nodded and simply rose to his feet. He smoothed out his clothes, then bent down and The Queen carefully pulled her knees up until they were slightly bent, her feet flat on the ground preventing them from sliding forwards again. Once she was sure she was ready, she withdrew her hands from the backs of her thighs and lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck and he carefully lifted her up, adjusting his grip to tuck her in against his chest.

"You may remain here or return to the rest of the palace," The Queen said, looking at Marie-Fey and Kilan as they rose to their feet. "If you need anything, the servants will attend you."

"Thank you, Your Majesties," they replied in unison, bowing and curtsying low.

The Sultan nodded to them, then swept out, The Sultana's servants following in their wake, collecting the seat and rolling away the wheelchair as they went.

They waited until they were out of sight, then rose and Marie-Fey let out a breath.

"That was odd," she said, accepting Kilan's hand when he held it out to help her sit down on the cushions again.

"Her Majesty and Lord Zaydan have been close for years. They aren't siblings but they could be mistaken for them. She shares no love for your husband, however. Apparently, she was vehemently against his marriage to you and wanted The King to forbid it. His Majesty was unwilling to go against your mother-in-law however and merely sent his congratulations. I'm not sure The Sultana has quite forgiven him, if I'm honest."

Marie-Fey stared at him. "How in the world do you know all that? And why did you never tell me any of this?"

He grinned at her. "I'm a Storyteller, it's my job to know things. But also, I learnt of this after your marriage and by then it didn't seem appropriate to discuss it. Lord Zaydan was nothing but a name to you, I couldn't see how dragging you into that family drama would help."

Marie-Fey narrowed her eyes at him and he offered a sweet cake. She scoffed but took one.

"So, how are you?" Kilan asked and she closed her eyes.

"Kai, how can one day be so miserable and normal and then the next day, the world is upside down?" she sighed.

Kilan smiled, leaning back on his cushions, folding his hands on his stomach. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

"You cannot tell the rest of the family," she ordered, turning on him, "I haven't even told Constantine everything that's been happening. If you go tell Beldon and he goes and tells the rest of the family, I will never hear the end of it. And don't even think of telling Briar, because she will, without doubt, tell Luka and Braydon, who will then tell Beldon and Rosalia. And the result will be the same. I won't have my family start a trade war with this kingdom because you couldn't keep a story to yourself."

"Alright, alright," Kilan said, holding up his hands and laughing. "I promise. Not a word. Not even to Briar. I won't see her for another month, at least, anyway. I'll have forgotten all about it by then."

"You're a terrible liar for such a good storyteller."

Kilan smiled, his eyes softening, and he gently tugged on her skirt. "Is it really that bad?"

Maire-Fey drew his a breath, then sat back against her cushions and started from the beginning, explaining everything that had happened since her wedding day, including the poisoning, the girls who vanished, the deaths, the attack in the desert, the secret room, the magic circling Zaydan and the women, the hall of the dead and the key.

And Kilan's face slowly grew paler and paler as her story went on until he looked almost faint by the end.

"Marie," he started once she'd finished, reaching for her. His fingers – usually so elegant and sure when he penned and recited stories – were trembling and she gently took them, squeezing before releasing them. "W... why would you not tell the family?" he asked, staring at her, "Why would you tell me before Constantine?"

"I think this is more your area of expertise over his," Marie-Fey said.

"Maybe Con but not Beldon. He breathes this stuff."

"Yes, but I didn't really know about the enchantment when I saw him. And he's still expanding his knowledge on enchantment and his skillset revolves around enchantment of our kingdom and neighbouring ones. He himself would tell you that he's still learning about magic of other lands. You're expose to these all the time and travel the world."

Kilan let out a distressed breath, turning away, his hand to his mouth as he thought, head tilted back, eyes on the sky. Then he scrubbed at his face with both hands and let out a breath, as if settling himself before nodding.

"Alright," he muttered. "Alright. Let's look at this one step at a time. Lord Zaydan's curse, glowing marks of chains around his neck?"

"Yes."

"That sounds like a rather brutal servitude spell."

"Servitude?"

"If you're saying Lord Zahir put that spell on Lord Zaydan, then it's to control him. I couldn't say why, I can't tell how strong Lord Zaydan's powers are, but I suppose if he's under a spell, that's suppressing them so it's no wonder."

Marie-Fey was quiet for a moment, then blinked. "I'm sorry, his what?"

Kilan glanced at her. "His powers. There's some sort of enchantment floating around those two brothers. It's stronger around Lord Zahir. Lord Zaydan is more like Beldon and Briar. As in, they've been exposed to so much magic, it's rubbed off on them."

"How would you undo that spell?" Marie-Fey asked.

"You don't. At least, I've never heard of one being successfully undone. I suppose the original caster could undo it? But if you cast that kind of spell, you're not looking to free the slave. It can be transferred to a new master. Or the slave dies, that's common."

Marie-Fey stared at him and he quickly held up his hands. "I'm speculating, this is just what it sounds like. I would have to see in detail. Let's move on. You said Lord Zahir can see through Lord Zaydan's eyes?"

"So it seems, though he doesn't watch all the time."

Kilan considered that for a moment, then grimaced. "We'll put that to one side as well."

"Why?" Marie-Fey pressed but he just shook his head.

"I don't want to speculate on that one openly. My first thought is upsetting. Let's move to the underground chamber. Women have been dying, but the bodies and ghosts you saw were from different time periods?"

"Yes, I believe so, they're clothes would suggest so."

"Hmmm..." Kilan considered that for a long time, watching the clouds drift overhead. "That's incredibly vague, there are a lot of things that could be – not to mention just the actions of a deranged mind without any magic involved... but the different eras..." His brow furrowed as he drew in a slow breath and released it again. "Could it be a Blue Beard curse? Or a Robber Bridegroom? Fitcher's Bird? ...Hmmm, The Tiger's Bride? No... Zerendac and Abu Freywar?"

"Yes, any time you feel like explaining these titles to me, that would be wonderful," Marie-Fey said.

"They're all collected fairytales with similar themes, brides married to monstrous husband who would see them killed."

"Well, before you arrived, The Sultana said that there were two brides before me who died. Zaydan said he couldn't tell me about it and the women in the palace have forgotten them so couldn't tell me either."

Kilan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, then looked at the sky again. "I really think you should be returning back to the family, not trying to figure out this curse, or whatever it is," he muttered.

"I know," she said gently.

"Then why? I'm not staying in the capital for long and I can't leave here in good faith knowing you're returning to... that."

Marie-Fey looked up at the sky, absently taking a sip of her drink. "As I said, it's not just his wives that are dying. All those women are in danger, they're just... waiting to die. And they know that that's their fate, even if they don't openly talk about it. Like you, I can't, in good faith, leave them to that fate when I know. I can't just do nothing."

Kilan clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You Leigh Siblings, you're as bad as the Rose Siblings when it comes to getting embroiled in curses and enchantment. Lords know how you manage it so efficiently."

"I guess it's because we're part of the Leigh Legends," Marie-Fey said with a grin and Kilan stilled, then looked at her.

"Now where did you hear a title like that?" he asked.

"We attended a circus when I was last home. The ringmaster referred to us as that."

"The ringmaster? Who was the troop?"

"The Midnight Troop."

Kilan snorted, looking away. "That damn rabbit," he muttered and Marie-Fey looked at him. "He's going to cause some real trouble one day."

"You know him."

"I know of him; I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him and I don't want to. He's dangerous."

"Yes I... got that impression."

Kilan chewed on his lower lip for a moment. "He might have a point though," he muttered.

"Oh?"

"The Leigh Siblings... curse meddlers."

Marie-Fey narrowed her eyes at him. "Meddlers. That's rich coming from the greatest meddler of us all. Who was it who has the rule 'don't get involved'?"

"No idea what you're referring to," Kilan said innocently and Marie-Fey snorted. She opened her mouth to retort and Kilan suddenly sat up, his mind elsewhere. "You say there was a key that opened the underground hall?"

Marie-Fey reached into her pocket and pulled out the key, handing it over.

Kilan blinked, as if surprised to have instant access to it, then reached over and took it, examining it. Narrowing his eyes, he held the key close, studying the tiny grooves along the shaft.

"What?" Marie-Fey asked and Kilan held the key away and pointed.

"There's... rust? Paint? Dried blood, maybe, in the grooves," he said.

"Dried blood?" Marie-Fey copied, disgusted.

"You have long nails, dig out a layer of it, here," Kilan said, handing it back.

"What a horrid request," Marie-Fey said, glaring.

"Prettiest please?" Kilan asked, batting his unfairly long lashes.

Marie-Fey huffed at him and snatched the key back, studying the groove, then digging in a nail and scraping the dirt out, the miniscule dried flakes so light they were instantly blow away in the tiniest breeze that drifted past. Once done, she held the key out and Kilan held up a hand to indicate to wait, watching the key with rapt attention. Maire-Fey looked as well and, after a moment, the red stain started to grow back.

Marie-Fey's eyes widened, staring, before she dug her nail in again and scraped it away again, rubbing it on her skirts, cleaning the entire key, scrubbing until it shone.

They watched it in silence and again, after a moment, the red bled back into place.

Marie-Fey shoved the key back into Kilan's hand, pointing at it.

"What does that mean?" she demanded.

Kilan took the key, studying it, turning it over and over in his hands, then nodded. "It means a Blue Beard Curse."