rose from a cliff edge, white and magnificent and looking out towards both ocean and city. And Zethlehan too was unexpected when seen from the air, for there was an eclectic mix of gleaming modern buildings that melded in with the old.
She had read up on the country’s history and the royal family’s lineage that went as far back as when the country had first been named.
It was progressive in many ways—a firstborn daughter could—and had—ruled this stunning land. The desert princess’s husband and children had taken the al-Lehan name. And while there were some mentions of children borne from the harem, the rulings were clear—they were not considered part of the al-Lehan dynasty.
Children like Lucia and James were simply sidelined. They were shadow families, hidden away and never formally recorded or mentioned. Lucia deserved better. So did Gabi.
And she must never lose sight of that, Gabi thought as the wheels hit the runway.
She had arrived in Zethlehan, where the time, she was informed, was five p.m.
Remembering Violetta’s instructions, Gabi put a scarf she had brought over her head and shoulders but it didn’t fall as nicely, or as effortlessly, as the other women’s, who made it look so easy.
She opened her tablet and the first thing she saw was a message from her mother with the most gorgeous picture of Lucia attached.
She was lying on her stomach and lifting her head up and smiling widely. Oh, it was surely Gabi’s favourite photo and she touched the screen and traced her daughter’s beautiful smile.
Gabi was wearing heels, on Bernadetta’s instructions, and felt a head above all the delicate beauties as she disembarked. A wall of heat hit her as soon as she stepped off the plane. The wind was hot on her cheeks and the air burned as she breathed it in, but soon she was in the cool of the airport and she made a quick call home.
‘Lucia is fine,’ Carmel told her. ‘Did you get the picture that I sent?’
‘I did.’ Gabi smiled.
‘The reception is terrible,’ Carmel said. ‘I can hardly hear you.’
‘I’ll call again tomorrow,’ Gabi told her mother. ‘Give Lucia a kiss for me.’
Customs was straightforward as she had a letter of introduction from the palace and, given she had travelled only with hand luggage, in no time she was walking through to the arrivals lounge.
‘Gabi!’
She recognised Violetta immediately and though they had only worked together briefly it was nice to see a familiar friendly face.
‘How was your journey?’ Violetta asked.
‘It was wonderful,’ Gabi said. ‘I slept most of the way.’
‘Good.’ Violetta nodded. ‘It is good that you are well rested. We are heading this way,’ she explained. ‘We are taking a helicopter.’
‘A helicopter?’ Gabi checked.
‘Of course.’
Violetta said it so casually and Gabi assumed that when you worked with royalty then taking a helicopter must be to Violetta the equivalent of taking a taxi.
The chopper was waiting and Gabi climbed in and fastened her seat belt and put on the headphones that Violetta handed to her.
‘It’s very windy,’ she warned Gabi. ‘We might be in for a bit of a bumpy ride.’
Gabi felt her stomach curl as she was lifted high into the sky.
The airport was a little way out from the city and Gabi looked again at the amazing skyline that she had so recently seen from the plane.
The view was even more stunning than before. The sun was starting to set and the sky was such a blush pink that even the white palace in the distance seemed to have been painted rose. There was a haze over the city but then the helicopter banked to the right and she lost sight of it. Gabi craned her neck for a glimpse of the ocean to orientate herself but the view had disappeared from her window and so she turned her head to look for it on the other side.
It was way in the distance and Gabi felt her nostrils tighten as the palace faded from view.
Gabi looked over at Violetta, who was herself looking out of the window seemingly without concern.
Except even the city skyline had now faded and looking below there was only the occasional old building. ‘Where are we going?’ she asked Violetta.
There was no response.
Perhaps there were two cities, two palaces, Gabi told herself, while knowing that could not be right. Or maybe the pilot was diverting because of the wind?
Gabi had felt on high alert from the moment that she had agreed to come to Zethlehan but now she had her first taste of pure fear.
‘Violetta,’ Gabi said, more loudly this time.
Perhaps her microphone wasn’t working, because Violetta did not respond to Gabi calling her name.
Now, as she looked out, there was nothing but desert. The sun was low in a burning sky and the endless sand looked like molten gold.
The ride seemed to take for ever, but finally coming into view she could see the billowing white of a desert abode.
* * *
And still Gabi fought for calm as she and Violetta disembarked.
What the hell had Bernadetta been thinking, making her wear heels? Gabi thought as she took off her shoes and then ran beneath the rotors.
‘Is the service to be held in the desert?’ Gabi asked, still fighting for an ordered reason, still hoping there was a sensible reason to explain why she had been brought here, but her voice was drowned by the rotors. ‘Violetta?’ she asked, and turned to see that Violetta was not by her side. She had run back under the rotors and was getting back into the chopper.
‘Wait...’ Gabi shouted.
Violetta did not.
The helicopter lifted into the blazing sky. The sand was a stinging blizzard of tiny, sharp pellets, and Gabi held her arms over her face to shield her eyes, eventually using her jacket to cover her nose and mouth. The soles of her feet were burning.
She had never felt more scared or alone, or more foolish for believing that she had been brought here for work.
And finally, when the helicopter was out of sight and the sands had somewhat settled she stood, windswept and scared but not alone.
There was Alim.
Only it was an Alim that Gabi had never seen.
Always he had been clean shaven, but not now.
Instead of the more familiar suits she was used to seeing him in, Alim wore a black robe and on his head was a keffiyeh; he stood utterly still, imposing
