“I knew the aliens were a part of this,” Nyx said. “Fuck.” She considered Safiyah’s words. As Safiyah had spoken things began to click into place, things she hadn’t been able to fucking put together because she was so caught up in smashing into Rhys again. “I’d be in Amtullah,” Nyx said. “I’d make alliances with somebody who had some power. I’d get her on my side. Then we’d open up shop in Amtullah, and wait the Queen out.”

Safiyah raised her brows. “Would you really?”

It was like some map unrolling in her brain. “That’s why Fatima moved everyone to Amtullah,” Nyx said. “She could keep an eye on the Queen, and build up her following there. Strike when the moment was right. Seize power. Make nice with our old alien friends.”

“I don’t get it,” Ahmed said. “If Fatima was in on this, why did she try and protect Raine?”

“She didn’t,” Safiyah said. “She bet your friend here would murder him. And do it as a bel dame. Then the bel dames get blamed for the death, the broederbond in an uproar, etcetera, etcetera. Someone has to fill that vacuum. Alharazad has not been a bel dame in some time. In fact, she’s well known for speaking out against the current council. You colonials really are terrible at thinking through politics. I’m surprised you didn’t pick all this up weeks ago.”

“What, we’re just going to walk up to Fatima and ask her where Alharazad is so we can kill her?” Ahmed said.

“No,” Nyx said. “I think Alharazad will come to us.”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell her we have Raine,” Nyx said.

“You should contact your little diplomatic liaison,” Safiyah said.

“You did your homework,” Nyx said. “How’d you know about Mercia?”

“I wasn’t wandering around in the desert with you for pleasure,” Safiyah said, “though I admit I had a rather enjoyable time.”

“She’ll want to know what her people are doing with Nasheenians out here,” Nyx said. “Unless she’s already in on it.”

“A possibility. But worth the risk,” Safiyah said.

“So you intend to just walk into Amtullah without any explosives or weapons or… and what? Just… talk to her?” Ahmed said. “Is this the plan? Please tell me this isn’t the plan.”

“There’s more to it,” Nyx said, “but I need to figure it out first.”

“Fucking mad,” Ahmed said.

“One condition in all this,” Nyx said to Safiyah. “You can have Alharazad, but I do what I want with Fatima. Understood?”

Safiyah shrugged. “I never developed much of a taste for politicians. The bloodletters were always far tastier.”