The nearest source of help, it turned out, had been Sheikh Ansar’s palace. Professor Van Rees had told the Sheikh everything and he’d sent out a rescue party at once. Ramin and Vanessa were airlifted to the hospital where the professor’s injuries were already being treated.

“I can’t wait to get back down there, honestly,” Vanessa said as they lay in hospital beds near one another, both being treated for smoke inhalation and Ramin on concussion watch. “I hope the fire didn’t damage too much. I hate to think how much information we might have lost from the burial chapel.”

“Honestly, I feel the same,” Ramin said, smiling as he thought about the tomb. “All those sealed chambers—who knows what’s in them?”

“Really, I would think after an experience like that you would never want to set foot on a dig site again!”

They looked up as Sheikh Ansar entered the hospital room. Ramin smiled brightly at the sight of his uncle.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Ramin laughed, interrupting himself with a hacking cough. “I’m better than ever!”

“Save it for your father.” Ansar chuckled. “He and your mother and sisters are on their way here, now.”

Ramin groaned, and Vanessa laughed.

“I haven’t even told my parents I left the country,” she admitted with a wince. “They’re going to get a shock…”

“Oh, did you see to the crew?” Ramin asked Ansar. “They saved our lives, not to mention the professor.”

“They have been quite heavily rewarded,” Ansar assured him. “None of them will ever have to work again if they don’t care to.”

“I’d like to thank them personally when we get out of here,” Vanessa said. “I owe them more than I can say.”

“Any news about Peterson?” Ramin asked. “Have they found him yet?”

“Not yet,” Ansar admitted. “The maze is making things difficult. It’s enormous. They think it may stretch for miles under the sand. If so, it will be the largest labyrinth ever built. A wonder of the ancient world. And the newspapers are already reporting you two as having discovered it. They interviewed Professor Van Rees earlier tonight. He gave you sole credit for the discovery, Miss Hawkins, and made the significance of Amanirenas’s tomb clear. Peterson would have to emerge from the maze riding Noah’s ark to change things now.”

Vanessa fell back into her pillows, glowing with happiness. She’d found Amanirenas. That was enough. But the rest was certainly icing on the cake.

“I think there will be a lot of job offers waiting for you when you go back to America,” Ansar said with a fond chuckle.

“She has one more obligation before she goes back,” Ramin said, reaching out to her across the space between their beds. Vanessa took his hand with a smile. “She’s promised to go to dinner with me.”

“Oh, the reporters are going to love that,” Ansar snorted. “They’re clamoring for a chance to speak to you both. Not just the Ksatta-Galan news either. The size of the tomb, not to mention the drama of the crown prince’s daring escape, has made this international news.”

Vanessa grimaced.

“Oh, well,” she said. “I suppose more exposure for Amanirenas is a good thing?”

“Tell me if you still believe that in a week,” Ansar replied, standing and putting on his hat. “Speaking of, I had better get back out there. I’m doing my best to hold them off. I just wanted to let you know that your family is on the way.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” Ramin said fondly. “I owe you more than I can say.”

“We’re family,” Ansar replied lightly, heading for the door. “It’s my responsibility to take care of you.”

He paused suddenly in the doorway, looking back at them.

“That reminds me,” he said. “If you intend to continue running around, endangering your life, you had best see to your own family responsibility. Providing an heir, that is?”

He glanced at Vanessa meaningfully and raised an eyebrow. Vanessa went bright red and covered her face as, laughing, the old Sheikh turned and left.

* * *

Vanessa was there on the dig site two days later when the rescue teams finally found Peterson and what remained of his team. Renée Dubois led the surviving men out, though she was injured and weakened from days of hunger and thirst. The rescue team carried out anyone who couldn’t walk.

Vanessa and Ramin had been overseeing plans for the continued excavation (and lending expert help to the rescue team who were still having some difficulties with the traps), but hurried to where the rescue team was emerging when they heard the lost people had been found.

Renée, ragged, covered in dust, teeth set in a permanent snarl that seemed directed at life itself, marched straight towards Vanessa. Ramin stepped between them, concerned by the steely look in Renée’s eyes. Renée stopped in front of him, squaring up, until Vanessa pushed him aside.

“Renée,” Vanessa said hesitantly. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

Renée stared her dead in the eye, having clearly been through hell. Vanessa wasn’t sure what to expect. Renée stuck out her hand suddenly and, when Vanessa took it cautiously, shook it briskly.

“I wanted to tell you that you were right about that pissant,” Renée said in her thick accent. “He panicked as soon as we encountered the first trap and ran off into the maze. He was an idiot and a coward.”

“I’m sorry you got dragged into all this,” Vanessa said sincerely. “I’ve seen your work. You deserved better.”

“I was foolish,” she said. “I imagined he was a crusader just because his quest involved the holy. He never believed his own speeches. He only knew he could exploit the weaknesses of people like me.”

“It wasn’t your fault—” Vanessa started to say.

“Of course it wasn’t,” Renée said fiercely. “Even after he ran away, that imbecile would have gone on leading us into disaster. We survived only because he was lucky enough to have chosen me to join the team.”

At that moment, the rescuers were bringing Peterson up out of the maze on a stretcher, his eyes open but his stare blank and unresponsive.

“He hasn’t spoken all day,” Renée said, turning to watch him. “I think he is preparing an insanity defense for when he is tried for your attempted murders.”

She spat in his direction, then swayed on her feet. Vanessa reached out to steady her, but Renée waved her off.

“The doctors are waiting for you,” Vanessa said. “They’re going to airlift you to the hospital. You should go.”

“I will,” Renée said. “I just wanted to talk to you first. To apologize. For working with that twit. I should have said something when he put you in that vent. The professor was braver than me. And also, I apologize for what I said about your dress. You looked beautiful, that night at the party.”

Vanessa smiled, a little flustered.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“If you ever require another linguist to help with your research,” Renée continued. “I am at your service. I’m fairly certain now that I have ripped crossbow bolts out of my own leg, I am qualified for any degree of field work.”

She nodded to Vanessa and then Ramin, then limped off towards the medical chopper. Vanessa noticed the deference with which all the surviving mercenaries treated her.

“That woman is a little terrifying,” Ramin said, and Vanessa nodded.

“I think I like her,” she grinned.