Lion Head Mesa the empty palace.

It was Jawahir who stood at the door, welcoming them with a once-over of narrowed eyes, those which lingered upon the warrior a beat, and then the elder woman. Barely did they look upon Nazli except to do the bare minimum: a welcome, a touch, then withdrawal. It was not the welcome Nazli had expected at all.

The palace was quiet.

It held the bare-minimum of bodies; nobody she recognized, and her heart fluttered.

Jawahir showed the pair of healers to a room, although the warrior was resistant to leave the girl until Nazli passed them a look, and a nod, as if she held some kind of power. They were away, and Nazli was left alone for the first time in many weeks.

First, she went to the throne room. Her steps were quick and it felt as if she had never left Akashingo in the first place; she knew the way. Partway up the grand hallway she remembered: Makono had been gone the last time she'd been here. There was no sign of her return; and none of Toula, now that she was mindful enough to look.

Someone was in the room, but it was only a fellahin; they were dusting, tidying, and hurried away as soon as Nazli came to the doorway. Empty. A deep worry sprung up then, malignant, coiling around her heart.