Charles found the Gold Saucer to be every bit as plush and magnificent as he had hoped. The marble floors were carpeted in red, the wood paneled walls set off the gold statues and exotic indoor plant life, and there were activities and games to challenge the most hardened adventurer. Charles watched a chocobo race, examined the prize booth, talked to a dozen people, and found his way to the Triple Triad wing. There he purchased a deck of cards with better numbers, and gave himself up to the game for several hours.

By degrees, Charles found himself chatting with the other players between games. It was common to swap stories of what brought them to Ul'Dah. When Charles mentioned that he was helping liberate a mine for the Chief Foreman, he received reactions of surprise and dismay.

"Don't you know that mine is a total loss?" said a young Miqo'te man who looked tough enough to beat up Bayan. "One of Fyrgeiss's investors sold it to the beastmen as a power play to kick Fyrgeiss off the Syndicate. Everybody knows that."

"You're better off dumping the job," said a tiny Lalafel woman wearing glasses. "That Elezen fellow will cut your throat before he gives up a shot at so much power."

"Oh, you've met Asturmaux," said an older Hyur gentleman in a suit. "Piece of work, isn't he? You'll never find evidence to convict him, but there may be other ways. Dishonesty will out. Never forget the gangster who went to prison for not paying his taxes."

All this left Charles in an unsettled state, nervous and looking over his shoulders. Even Triple Triad lost its charm.

By midnight, Charles was tired and the card numbers began to blur. He left the casino and took the next airship back to Ul'Dah, wanting nothing more than his quiet room, bed, and a thick door between him and the night.

As he walked through the darkened street from the airship landing to the inn, the hairs on his neck prickled. Someone was watching him. Charles looked around, but could see no one. The many arches and doorways along the avenue could conceal any number of thieves and assassins. Ul'Dah was not a safe city at night. The warnings about Asturmaux echoed in his mind.

As he hesitated, magic slid across his senses like the slimy touch of a snail. He shivered and slipped into the shadows beneath a gate. That had been a location spell. Someone was using magic to track him through the darkness. It was such a small spell, a normal person wouldn't have noticed, but Charles's magic sensitivity levels approached that of an allergy. He pressed himself behind one of the gate's lintel pillars and waited.

Footsteps scuffed on stone. They took two or three steps, then faltered and came to a halt. For a time there was silence. Charles felt his heart beating a tattoo against his rib cage. He mentally drew upon his white magic and cast a warding spell on himself. His clothes and skin began to shimmer a little in the darkness. Then, deciding to risk it, he stepped into the open. "Hello?"

A knife whizzed out of the darkness and smacked into his stomach. It would have sank straight in, but the warding spell repelled it. Charles had a stone spell half-conjured, and sent a barrage of rocks in the direction of his assailant. Footsteps clattered and a man's voice swore.

Charles conjured more stone and walked toward the stranger, who he could barely see as a deeper shadow in the darkness. "What do you want?" he said. "Come and get it." When the dark figure straightened, Charles pelted him with more rocks.

"Enough of this," snarled the man. A ball of purple energy flared to life in the darkness, illuminating an arm in the sleeve of a robe. The stranger hurled it at Charles.

The energy impacted on Charles's warding and shattered it. His muscles seized up and he dropped to the ground with shivering, electrical pain gripping him.

"You talk big," said the stranger, pacing forward, "but in the end, you're only a pathetic conjurer."

Charles felt the spell's effects fade, but he knew that the stranger meant to kill him with another. So he lay in the street, hugging himself and moaning, but in reality, gathering aether for a single, powerful white magic spell. As the stranger whispered a spell to conjure a fireball, Charles drew upon the sacred power of the crystal goddess herself.

Light exploded outward from him in a shockwave that made stone tremble and wood crack. His attacker took the brunt of the energy, scorching away the front of his robe and the tunic beneath. But the worst damage was to his eyes. This particular spell could blind in broad daylight. At night, it scorched the retinas. The enemy mage fell backward, clutching his face and screaming.

Charles leaped up and ran for the Quicksand Inn. He burst in the doors, crossed the common room in a few strides, and arrived at the night innkeeper's desk. "I was just assaulted by a black mage," he panted. "What do I do?"

"Stay here," said the Elezen woman, her gaze hardening. "Come behind the counter and sit on the floor, out of sight. I'll summon the guards."

Charles sat on the stone floor and hugged himself, listening to the tramp of boots and the jingle of armor. He had time to notice how sick he felt, and how his muscles still trembled from the magical energy attack. Blast this magical sensitivity! He'd never known he had it before, and now it was a huge liability. Saved from a knife, and felled by one lousy lightning ball spell.

Why had he been attacked? A plot of Asturmaux's? A thief wishing to steal his gil? An assassin sent to end his mission? Were customers of the Gold Saucer considered easy marks? He didn't know.

The front of his vest had a great burned spot where the spell had struck him, the cloth stiff and withered. He gingerly pulled it off and found the flesh blistered and red beneath. He cast Cure on himself several times, easing his own pain, drawing aether from the desert around him. It came like a hot wind, tasting of sand and brush, the pungent sweetness of cactus fruit, and the toughness of desert life.

The night innkeeper returned, flanked by an official of the City guard. "I'm sorry about that, sir," she said. "The guard would like your testimony of the event."

Charles emerged from hiding, carrying his ruined vest, embarrassed at having to speak to an official with no shirt on. He apologized, but the official dismissed it with a shrug. "I can see where the spell struck and how it injured you. We apprehended a suspect. He was stumbling around, blind, with half his clothes burned off. He says you attacked him."

Charles recounted the events, starting with the knife and ending with his blast of Holy magic. The official wrote everything down in a tiny notebook.

"Thank you, sir," said the official once Charles finished. "Get some rest. We'll be in touch."

Charles crept up to his room, where he nervously checked all the corners and cabinets before crawling into bed. Then he laid there and worried. Was Bayan all right? How had he fared in his own detective-work? Surely he was safe in his room, too? The dark part of his mind whispered that Asturmaux had put a bounty on both of them, and that they weren't safe as long as they remained in Ul'Dah. But that was sheer conjecture with no proof.

When he finally dozed off, it was to restless dreams about playing Triple Triad with weak cards against perpetually stronger opponents. But when he looked at his cards, they had Bayan's face, or Zana's, or Koharu's. He watched as his opponent played card after card with Asturmaux on them, conquering his own cards and flipping them.

"You should have died at the mine," said the Elezen from the winning cards. "Now I have to kill you, and it's so much more expensive."

Charles awoke long before dawn, sweating and feeling the after-effect of the lightning spell all over again.

Bayan had spent the evening at the Coliseum, chatting up the gladiators and their guild. When he informed them that he was a fellow student of the blade, they welcomed him as one of their own. He even demonstrated some of his own moves with a practice sword. Since Bayan used a greatsword, and gladiators fought with short swords and shields, the technique was quite different. But he had to stop when his shoulder and neck pained him.

The other fighters inquired how he had been injured, and the story came out. Bayan found himself seated at a battered table in the back of the guild hall, surrounded by eager people in training armor, pressing food and drink upon him in exchange for his story. Bayan told it slowly, building to taking an arrow to protect his healer.

The gladiators shouted their approval of this move. They all knew how valuable healers were, as most of them worked as sellswords on the side. Then they fell to discussing Fyrgeiss and his investor troubles.

"It's that pirate from the coast," said one of the trainers, a muscular woman with short blond hair. "He's been through here a few times, hiring my gladiators as bodyguards. They told me how he goes out and chats up the Amaljaa, takes them gifts."

"He's got his eye on that Syndicate seat," said a Roegadyn in enough armor to crush a smaller man. "Power-hungry, that one is. Plans to take over the whole Mining Concern."

"As if the Monitarists weren't bad enough," said another, and the crowd growled their agreement. Half of them were refugees from Ala Mhigo, trying to win better lives for themselves on the blood sands. None of them liked Ul'Dah's policy of profit first.

"Point is, he knows you, now," said another fighter, a great bronzed Hyur with his hair in braids. "Watch your back. You wouldn't be the first man to turn up dead in an alley."

The gladiators were so worried about Bayan that several of them escorted him back to the inn that night. "You can't defend yourself with a bum shoulder," they pointed out. "It'd be just like Asturmaux to take advantage of that."

Bayan slept the night through. He awoke worrying about Charles. But when he crept to his friend's door and laid a horn against it, Charles was snoring away inside. Smiling, Bayan went downstairs to grab a bite, then went to visit Koharu.

It was so early that the streets were chilly, a welcome change from the fierce heat of the day. The air held the bite of the changing seasons, and Bayan was glad. He strode along, thinking of what he'd learned of his enemy. Koharu might have some fresh insight. The girl had a sharp mind, and even though he'd only known her a few days, he wanted her opinion. He wanted to talk to her about anything, really-any excuse to hear her voice and see those brown-gold eyes.

But when he knocked at the door, Koharu opened it with her head down and her eyes red from weeping.

"Koharu!" Bayan exclaimed. "What's wrong?"

"Oh Bayan," she cried, flinging her arms around him. "He's bringing a dowry for me today. A bigger one than yours. He and mother hashed it out last night."

Bayan embraced Koharu, but her words were a blade to his heart. "Who?" he demanded. "Who would dare take my Nhaama from me?"

She looked up at him, the delicate white scales on her cheeks glistening with tears. "Stephennot Asturmaux," she whispered.

Bayan stood frozen. His heart seemed to stop and his whole body turned to stone. "Asturmaux," he whispered. His thoughts flew to that meeting in Fyrgeiss's office, when Asturmaux had kept studying Koharu, as if her veil fascinated him.

"What do we do?" Koharu whispered, clutching his arms.

"Walk with me," said Bayan, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

They strolled down the mostly-empty street, close together, the tall Auri man and the short, dainty Auri woman. Once they reached the end of the block, Bayan said, "Tell me everything. When did he arrive?"

"Just before supper," said Koharu. "He introduced himself to Mother and gave her a smoked ham as a gift. That pleased Mother, of course. She had seen in her cards that prosperity was coming to her, and she had been awaiting it all day. I thought it would be you. Seeing that Elezen at the door was a horrible shock. Then he smiled at me and said that he had come to ask for my hand in marriage. I told him I was betrothed to another. He laughed and said that such arrangements were flexible. Then he and Mother fell to haggling over my dowry. He offered her double what you did, as well as a position as his personal fortune teller on the Syndicate. Mother has always wanted power like that. She'll deliver me to Asturmaux in a cage if he asks."

Bayan felt as if he'd taken a blow to the head. His steps faltered, and his arm tightened around Koharu's shoulders. "This must be vengeance," he whispered, pulling her into an embrace and bowing his head over hers. "Our visit to Fyrgeiss must have revealed Asturmaux's duplicity about stealing the Mining Concern. So he strikes at me, not with a sword, which I could defend against. He strikes at my heart. Oh, my Nhaama." The words were a moan. "What can I do? Shall I steal you away? Kidnap you and fly far from here?"

"Oh yes, please do," Koharu begged, burrowing her face into his tunic. "Don't let that pirate take me away. There is such cruelty in his eyes."

"That is all I can think of," said Bayan. "Can you use the Aetheryte to travel?"

"Yes," said Koharu. "Mother and I use it to visit the seaside in La Noscea."

"I did not think I would be able to attune to it, but I did," said Bayan. "We will flee to Gridania, and thence north, back to my homeland. They will never find us there."

"Anywhere, as long as I'm with you," Koharu said.

"Then we must gather our belongings," said Bayan, gazing down at her. "I must settle my business with Fyrgeiss and … explain to Charles." A new note of pain trickled into his voice. He lifted his head and gazed down the street, toward the inn, thinking of Charles's reaction to being abandoned. He shook his head a little, trying to clear the thought away. "Meet me at the Aetheryte at noon. When is Asturmaux supposed to return?"

"I'm not sure," Koharu said. "He said later today. I hope that means the afternoon."

"Better make it an hour before noon, then," said Bayan. "Oh, my Nhaama." He stooped and kissed her fiercely. "This evil man is not taking you from me. And your mother seems willing to sell you to anyone who pays enough."

"I'm not her flesh and blood," said Koharu sadly. "She's told me that for years."

"Well, you will become mine," said Bayan. "Come, I'll escort you home. Pack for a journey. I must have time to settle affairs, and I must do it swiftly."

He walked with her back to her house, his heart beating a desperate rhythm. He could not have come this far, and sacrificed so much, only to find his perfect girl snatched away from him. Unbidden, the abyss beckoned within him, dark with hate, and rage, and sorrow. He pushed it away. Not now.

But after he bade her goodbye and saw the door close behind her, he ran all the way back to the inn with the abyss fueling his muscles. He entered the common room breathing heavily, and with a faint swirl of red aether dancing around him.

"Phew," said Charles from a nearby table. He was settled in with a cup of tea and a bowl of rolls and butter. "What's eating you? Your aura is blazing black."

Bayan slid into a chair, leaned his elbows on the table, and told Charles in a rapid undertone what had transpired. Charles sat up straight and set his tea aside, his kind brown eyes growing hard and angry.

"And so I'll be releasing you from my service," Bayan concluded. "I can't ask you to follow me into exile, all the way back to the Azim Steppes. Your home is here, in Eorzea."

"Stop," said Charles, lifting both hands. "Listen. Asturmaux tried to have me killed last night."

Bayan straightened. "What?"

Charles told the story of the black mage who had followed and attacked him. "I'm not one hundred percent sure that Asturmaux hired him, but it's close. The guards have him in custody, and he's not talking. Somebody paid him well."

Bayan dug his fingers into his hair and dragged it into tufts. "He tries to have you killed. He steals my Nhaama. All that remains is a knife thrust to my heart. Why does he hate me so?"

"You exposed him to Fyrgeiss," said Charles. "Look at the way he's trying to destroy all three of us."

"Then you must fly, as well," said Bayan, turning to Charles with his expression hardening. "If not to Othard, then to your family in La Noscea. Anywhere but here."

"I'm coming with you," Charles said, his jaw clenched. "I'm not going to let you be murdered on the way. The Azim Steppes will need healers as much as the Twelveswood. I can find work anywhere."

"Well then." Bayan rose to his feet. "Pack your things. We leave in three hours. I must meet with Fyrgeiss to inform him of developments."

Charles leaped to his feet, stuffing rolls in his pockets. "Hold on, I'll go with you. I packed this morning, after that assault last night. I hoped we'd be moving on."

"Excellent," said Bayan. "Let's go."

Koharu packed her clothes in a large knapsack, and let her mother think she was preparing for Asturmaux's return. Her heart pounded as she folded clothing and tucked away small personal items. She must escape with Bayan … she must! If Asturmaux caught her, it would all be over. She didn't even want to think about the horrible pit of misery her life would become if she was chained to a man like him.

Now, Bayan Avagnar … her thoughts turned to him in sweet bliss. Quite apart from the way their souls were fated for each other, she simply liked him so much. In their short time together, she had glimpsed the man beneath the plate armor, the wild blue eyes, and black scales. He was a lonely, sad young man who had never belonged anywhere, even in his own tribe. He sought a wife in the simple hope that he would belong to her, and at last assuage the loneliness that gnawed at his heart and fueled the abyss. To Koharu, he was the most fascinating man in the world. She loved the way he spoke, the thoughtful way he unspooled his logic, the way he looked at things. His mind worked so differently than her own, and it was refreshing. Imagine, being a Dark Knight as well as a culinarian! He treated food with the same seriousness he gave to the abyss.

She had to have him in her life. She would run away from her sheltered life and take her chances in the wide world. But as long as she was with her dark warrior, she would face it without fear.

A knock rang at the door. Koharu froze. Bayan again? Surely it wouldn't be Asturmaux. It was so early, barely nine o'clock. She sat on her tiny bed and turned her head, catching sound with her hollow horns.

Lilira opened the door. "Oh yes! She's been packing all morning. Excited about the marriage, I daresay!"

Asturmaux's low, silken voice said, "I'm so glad to hear it, ma'am. Here is the dowry." Coins jingled in a bag-a lot of coins. "Please escort her to my carriage once she is ready."

Koharu's whole body turned to ice. Her hopes for happiness with Bayan died. Asturmaux had come to make sure of her, paying off Lilira as soon as possible. Koharu bowed her head and stared at her knapsack. Could she run away? Slip out a window? But the windows in this house were too small for her to fit. Could she tear herself free of Asturmaux and escape?

Or … her cunning kicked in. She could play along. Be the submissive little Auri girl, pretend that she was overjoyed to be chosen by such a rich man. When Asturmaux was lulled into complacency, she could slip out of his home and flee to Bayan.

Still, she had to sit there and draw deep breaths in order to calm her racing heart. She must appear as a blushing bride, not a trapped bird, blind in its panicked attempts to escape. She closed her eyes and sought calm, and peace. As she did, the thought came to her that Bayan would track her down. All she must do would be to avoid being wed until Bayan came for her. And she knew how to cast a spell to make herself unnoticeable.

She looked in her tiny mirror and smiled at herself until it looked natural. Then she hoisted her knapsack and went to the front door, smiling as if going to meet her beloved.

Lilira fussed over her a little, straightening her collar and fixing a lock of hair that had become caught on her horns. Then she hugged her, and escorted her outside.

A grand carriage awaited Koharu outside, pulled by two chocobos and lightened by a vast balloon. A footman opened the carriage door, and Koharu climbed in to sit across from Stephennot Asturmaux.

The Elezen was dressed in a fine suit and cravat. His pale hair was pulled back in a ponytail, showing off his pointed ears. He studied Koharu for a moment, unsmiling, as one might an animal one was buying. Finally he shrugged and smiled. "Welcome aboard, my lovely bride. We've scarcely met, so I feel that I must introduce myself. I am Stephennot Asturmaux, master merchant, and prime shareholder of the Mining Concern. As my wife, you will be well cared for, and enjoy every luxury money can buy." He smiled, leaning into his Elezen good looks to charm her.

Koharu gazed into that charm without blinking. Her face hurt from smiling. "Thank you, sir," she said in her meekest tones. "I will do my best to make you happy."

The chocobos set off, and the carriage rattled over the pavement. Koharu settled herself a little more comfortably on the seat. At least she didn't have to sit beside Asturmaux. She didn't want to touch him.

Once they had left her home behind, Asturmaux leaned back and studied her. "Tell me," he said, "do you have feelings for Bayan Avagnar?"

"I'm afraid so, my lord," said Koharu, looking down. Gods, why had he asked that? Her composure slipped, and her heart began to race again. This was going to end badly.

"But why?" said Asturmaux. "You've known him less than a week."

Had it only been that long? Koharu had watched Bayan for months through her visions. She felt like she had known him far longer than a few days.

"Do you want the truth?" she said softly.

Asturmaux raised an eyebrow. "The truth is generally preferable to lies."

Koharu drew a deep breath. "The gods of the Au Ra are Azim and Nhaama, the sun and moon. Once, they were at war. But they fell in love instead, yet could never be together, one always at day, and one at night. So they created their children, men of the sun, women of the moon, and sent them into the world. Every Au Ra man must find his Nhaama. And I am Bayan's."

Asturmaux frowned. "I thought that was a fairytale. Yet you assert it as true?"

"Yes, lord," said Koharu, keeping her tone meek and soft. "When we looked into one another's eyes, we saw the reflection of the gods within."

Asturmaux said nothing for a long moment, but his eyes flashed with anger. "So, no matter if you spend the rest of your life with me, you will always pine for him?"

Koharu nodded. "It's not ideal for you or me, my lord. I'm sorry." And for a moment, she did feel genuinely sorry for him. As he turned to stare out the window, she saw the anger and disappointment on his face. But slowly it was replaced by a scheming smile. She no longer pitied him.

Quietly she moved her fingers in circles and cast her single spell on herself. The familiar coolness of a don't-notice spell settled over her. When Asturmaux turned back to her, his gaze wandered across the carriage before it settled on her, with an effort. "Don't be frightened, my dear," he said. "I shall speak to this Bayan Avagnar about you. Perhaps we can reach an agreement." He turned away again and paid her no further attention.

It grew very warm in the carriage. The chocobos pulled them through the city, stopping often for traffic. Koharu grew sleepy as an after-effect of her terror and the heat. She dozed a little.

When she next opened her eyes, a creature sat on the seat beside Asturmaux.

Not sure if she was awake or dreaming, Koharu stared at it. She had seen pictures of Moogles before, so she knew what it was, but she had never seen a real one. It resembled a fat, furry cat with tiny bat wings, and a single antenna with a ball on the end. It sat gazing at her with twinkling black eyes nearly hidden in white fur.

"Don't worry, he can't see me," said the Moogle, jerking a thumb at Asturmaux. "It was hard to make you see me. You can see me, kupo?"

Koharu nodded.

"Good," said the Moogle. "I am Moghan, Moogle of love, kupo! I happened to see you climb into this carriage and I had to see what was happening." He leaned toward her and clasped his tiny paws on his fluffy chest. "Are you not in love with this Elezen? Tell me everything! I see the love in you."

Koharu pointed at her mouth and nodded at Asturmaux.

Moghan flicked a paw. "There, he can't hear us. Now, all the juicy details, kupo!"

"I'm in love with another man," said Koharu despairingly.

The moogle's tiny eyes widened.

Koharu told him the whole story, casting fearful glances at Asturmaux. But between the Don't-Notice spell and the silence spell, Asturmaux seemed unaware that there was anyone else in the carriage. He chewed his lower lip in a way that bespoke of nerves and malice, and Koharu feared to take her gaze off him.

When Koharu finished, the Moogle floated into the air, fluttering its tiny wings. "You poor thing! Love is not a commodity to be bought and sold, kupo! Did you not tell him you love another?"

"Yes," said Koharu. "I think he's only marrying me to take me away from Bayan."

The Moogle turned and glared at Asturmaux, who didn't notice.

"Well then, kupo!" Moghan exclaimed, turning to Koharu. "I must tell your true love what is happening. Keep that lovely Don't-Notice spell up. This Elezen isn't that interested in you to begin with. Only strong interest and determination can notice what does not wish to be noticed, kupo!" He flew forward and patted her head with a tiny paw. "Don't worry, poor girl. Moghan will help you."

The Moogle zipped out the carriage window and out of sight. Koharu refreshed her spell and wondered what would happen next. If only she dared converse with Asturmaux about his plans-but she wanted to occupy as few of his thoughts as possible.

She clasped her hands in her lap and waited for the ride to end.