At least half her mind was still lost in imaginings of the day to come when Amara heard the voices.  For a long moment, she couldn't even bring herself to care what they might be arguing about this time.  Perhaps they'd thought of a more grisly way to kill her, or at least a quicker way, after having witnessed Xavian's suffering.  Not everyone had seemed pleased with how long it had taken him to die, so perhaps she might benefit from that and die quickly.  Another tear escaped as she realized that now, somehow, a mere quick death had come to seem like a gift.<br/><br/>But there was a different voice, strange and yet familiar, and something about it sent a shiver of faint hope down her spine, even though she'd thought herself beyond feeling anything other than the sharp tang of her fear.  She forgot to listen to the words being said, only belatedly scrambling to catch up as the door was suddenly thrown open.  That was a sight she'd not expected to see until the fair was in full swing, until everyone was gathered to bear witness, hurl their insults, and have their fun.  But that voice...<br/><br/>Even with the light playing tricks on her eyes, Amara knew that silhouette.  It wasn't possible, of course; that was only her mind playing tricks just as the flickering torches did.  This was a face a few years older than the one she recalled, and those years were ones that brought great change -- the time that turned awkward teenagers into adults.  And then the voice sounded, to her ears, less deep, less self-assured; the outline of the face became softer, less battered by life, and she realized, hardly daring to believe, that this was not some cruel mistake.<br/><br/>"Marius," she said, and though her tone questioned, she no longer doubted.  She shook her head, the only answer she could at first give to his question.  One slim hand reached out towards his, hesitating at the last moment as though afraid he would yet prove to be an illusion.  But that moment passed, and she stepped closer, this time letting her fingertips touch the heavy gauntlet.  "I thought..."  Then she shook her head again, and a faint smile touched her lips.  "How did you find me?"