Eva closed her eyes, focusing on the words that Arius had recited. “She did say something about being held in a court.” Her eyes remained shut as she tried to conjure the rest of the fortune.

“That very well could be Solas.” Zin rubbed his chin in thought. “You have certainly been held here.”

A flash flickered through Eva’s brain. “Wait! There was something about a sibling setting me on my way. . . . Maybe that’s you!”

Zin turned to Eva. “Maybe. What way do you seek, Eva Nine?”

Eva thought of the WondLa. It was a small, brittle insignificant scrap compared to all the objects housed here in the Royal Museum. Still, it was her scrap—she’d found it. Someone had left it for her to find.

“I want to know where all the humans are. My people.” Eva felt a renewed vigor. “I saw all the stuff in the exhibit. Where did it come from?”

“There exists a remote location—quite a considerable distance from here. I am told one has to cross a vast and dangerous desert to locate this cursed place. The few relics we have were obtained with tremendous effort. Many explorers venture out to this wasteland, but few return. However, those who do, describe the awe-inspiring remains of an ancient civilization, buried in the sand,” Zin said, inspecting a corroded fork.

Eva’s mind flashed again.

Sand.

She recited, “‘In the sands of time, the nymph will find the answer to the question that has plagued thy very soul.’”

Eva stared at Zin for a moment, processing.

“I have to go to this ancient city,” Eva said, her mind putting pieces in place.

“And, according to Arius, I am to aid you,” Zin replied.

“There I will find my people!” Eva felt giddy.

“I would be careful with your assumptions, Eva Nine.” Zin floated up to one of the top drawers and pulled it open. “I would surmise that your ‘people,’ as you say, were there at some point. However, based on the items we’ve unearthed, it was likely in the distant past.”

“But they could just be living underground, like I was.” Eva scooped up the Omnipod, and her other things, and slipped them into her pockets.

“It is in ruins, Eva. I have seen it many times before. Civilizations simply cannot prosper for long before they destroy themselves,” said Zin as he rummaged through the drawer.

“But I have to go,” Eva said, hopping off the table. “I need to know for sure.”

Zin glided back down to her. In one hand he held a crystal, roughly hewn in the shape of a cube, while another hand wrapped colored threads around it, making a binding. As Zin finished, he tied the threads off in a long loop, creating a necklace. He placed it over Eva’s neck. “This will reveal to you where it is you long to go. Simply shine light into it,” he instructed.