Under Helie's loving care, Cyrus followed the five Masters to a bend in the river a short distance from the camp. It was shallow enough that Noble hoped none of the creatures from the lake could reach it.
After scanning the area for danger and using their collective mories for silence, the group finally let down their guard.
"You didn't ntion on our trip back that you had been in the royal court," Noble raised an eyebrow at the other woman.
Helie laughed. "It wasn't like I had much of a chance! Flint was telling his crazy version of what had happened in the Nightmare..."
"Crazy?! It was all true. You didn't seem to have any trouble believing it, at least." The surly Legacy pouted.
"I had seen the gates for myself on my journey to you. I even approached one, as foolish as it sounds. There is no call. I thought about touching one, but I decided against it." The brunette shrugged.
"I can assure you that would not have ended well..." Noble winced.
"Anyway, by the ti Flint was done trying to confuse and Bel finished correcting his version, I figured I would just let things play out when we got here. I wasn't sure if Lady Syrce would recognize as Aurelia or not, so having your genuine reactions of surprise was helpful."
There was so sense in Helie's words, and Noble could not fault her for Flint being overly talkative. Child of Promise had allowed him to run his mouth because it ant he was back to his usual self, but it had co at the cost of getting useful information sooner.
"Well, we are all here now, so you only have to tell the story once. What happened?" Roan leaned against a tree to make himself comfortable.
The others followed suit, except Helie, who continued to attend Cyrus so he would remain calm. From beside the oversized bird, she began her tale.
"When I dropped into the Nightmare, I found myself in a city by the sea. Not only that, I was in a fine house with many servants where my opinion was highly regarded. I served a woman called Lady Lyra as an advisor, friend, and lady-in-waiting. While there are many others at court, I–or Aurelia–was most trusted by her."
The speaker paused long enough for Aether to raise his hand. Confused, Helie pointed at him.
"What is Lady Lyra like? I have been very curious to know."
Noble was interested as well. Syrce had only said kind things about her sister, but family was often biased. Helie was unlikely to be so generous.
"Lyra is everything you would expect of a leader. Stalwart and unyielding in the day-to-day trials. She is calculating in her decisions and bears heavy burdens without complaint. While serious in court, she can be quite a fan of wordplay in private. From what I have seen, she is not like Syrce, but I can see the resemblance nonetheless."
Child of Promise could almost picture the reluctant leader in her mind's eye. Even though she had not t her, Lyra grew in Noble's estimation.
'But why did that description sound familiar?'
There was little ti to mull over who Lyra reminded her of.
Helie was already continuing her story.
"At first, I wanted to leave straight away and head to Bastion. But there were two problems with my plan–three actually. I had no idea where I was. The sweet water isn't like anything in the Dream Realm. More than that, no one around seed to have any idea of what I was talking about. They kept reminding that everything was in ruins and that all but those with Lady Syrce were in the seaside city. Then there was Lyra herself. She was kind, and I didn't want to just abandon her without a place to go. It felt wrong when she was doing all that she could to keep the world together. So, I stayed and waited."
"That is how you got our ssage, then?" Noble began to fill in the blanks.
"Yes, when Shieldbearer Orrin returned with the information, I was beside her as he told all that had happened. When he finished, he asked if he could send a herald to make an announcent and post a ssage around town. I was shocked to see that the ssage was ant for !"
Helie went on to describe the debate of who to send with the relic. Another mber of the court, who seed keen on gaining Lyra's favor for reasons Helie found dubious, was the first choice after Orrin.
The Shieldbearer would have gone, but it was decided both by him and the court that he needed a respite. That is what gave Helie the opening to volunteer.
After a fierce political battle that Noble did not envy, Helie had put herself on the line to get her point across.
"I told the court that if I were unsuccessful in my mission, then Lyra herself could strip of my position and publicly execute for my failure. I am here now because the other candidate was not willing to make the sa pledge."
"That man's a coward," Flint scoffed. "All or nothing, that's what I say."
"I didn't see you volunteer to take care of Cyrus when your commander asked." Helie raised one eyebrow in challenge. "How would you be able to ride him if you aren't willing to go near him?"
"First off, I was busy double-checking the ropes on the wagon that I was totally not hiding behind. And second, I wouldn't need Cyrus. I can fly on my own."
Noble coughed loudly.
"On your own?"
"I suppose you help a little." The man smirked.
"I noticed you two are attached again," Roan pointed to the belt.
"I was about to comnt on that as well," Aether nodded. "Did sothing happen?"
Flint tucked his fingers in his belt.
"We just figured out how to use it, that's all!" He announced proudly. Fling tugged at the buckle, and his smile faded."That's not funny, Blondie. Let loose!"
Noble frowned. "You haven't sent the request. Perhaps you aren't angry enough."
"I'm plenty angry, I assure you." The frustrated Legacy pulled at the leather.
"I can feel your emotions, but they aren't directed at ." Child of Promise sent so of her own emotion to the man, but it did no good.
"I can't think of the an things you did… because then I think about the nice things you did... and it sses with my judgnt. Remind what a terrible person you are so I can focus properly."
"Bel is always the last one at dinner because she cleans up the plates instead of leaving them for the servants," Aether offered.
"That's a nice thing she does," Flint scowled.
"But you hate people being nice and selfless," the young man defended himself.
"He speaks the truth." Roan nodded. "What about when Bel dragged you along to go after Drusus? You nearly lost your life."
"But I got an echo." Flint shook his head. "And I wanted those things dead almost as much as she did. Really, there is nothing you can say that will work."
Noble furrowed her brow. "Oh? How about this? I'm the one who told Cook you had a crush on her. That love note she had? I am the one who put it under her pillow."
Flint's eyes opened wide.
"You what?!"
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