Flint's cool touch ran through her body, nding her bones and repairing her bruises.
Yet her ears burned like they were on fire.
Had she heard correctly?
Surely the pun was accidental!
'I am missing Fort and his puns. I put too much aning into an accidental stutter.'
"I am glad you appreciated my thods," Noble managed. "I was trying sothing new."
"How beenevolent of you to take such a risk when you knew what was on the line," Flint nodded.
'Yeah, he knows...' Noble struggled to keep her pleasant mask in place.
Roan heard the comnt too. He coughed loudly. "I am so thirsty, but I left my water back at camp. I think I will head back unless you need us to stay and watch you heal."
Child of Promise shook her head. "I heal quicker when it is peaceful and quiet. Don't let stop your well-earned celebration! Titus and I will join you soon."
'Thank you,' she mouthed at Roan as he placed his hands on Aether and Helie to lead them away.
Syrce hesitated. "Are you that badly hurt? I know I didn't go easy on you at the end."
Noble forced a smile. "I will be fine. I just need a little ti to process all that has happened."
'Both with you and Flint...'
"I understand." The Saint nodded slowly. "Take good care of her, Titus."
"Blondie is in good hands, I promise," Flint vowed a little too solemnly.
With a final glance at the wounded warrior, Syrce walked away.
When she was far enough, Flint summoned and activated his shield of silence.
"So, Roan knows, too? I saw how quick he was to usher the others away. I shouldn't be surprised since he recruited you, I guess." Flint moved to Noble's shoulder and began moving the essence there.
"What do you an?" Noble's attempt was t with a derogatory scoff.
"I don't recomnd you play dumb. I have been known to go to great, very public lengths to prove I am right."
Swallowing the denial on the tip of her tongue, Noble sighed.
"How did you figure it out?"
"Your hair threw off the scent very well, I will give you that. And your mannerisms. You aren't at all like when Queen Bee is in the Dreamscape. But when you let your instincts take over, the Queen cos out in full force. Your body changes its posture, your stance becos more determined, and your eyes, well…there was no hiding those crazy color changers." Flint smirked.
"My eyes!" Noble covered her face with her hand.
In the heat of the match, Noble had given over to her duelist instincts. And what was her signature when in the Dreamscape? Her polychromatic eyes.
Of course, they would start changing as soon as she let loose. How had she not seen that coming?
'How embarrassing!'
Seeing Noble's anguish, Flint chuckled.
"Don't beat yourself up too much, Blondie. I would have put the pieces together even without that little tidbit. That was just the nail in the coffin."
"Did Helie and Aether notice?" Noble peeked through her hands, letting the violet shine brightly.
"If they did, they didn't say anything. Those two aren't as bright as I am, and they would have had to know what they were looking for through that visor."
That was a relief. The more people who found out, the bigger the problem she would have on her hands.
"You can't tell them!" Noble said sharply. "Please," she added in a softer tone.
"Your secret is safe with ." The man added, "But I don't know why you are hiding who you are. As soon as you get back to the real world, people will start cluing in that you are a Saint. Those two are slow, but even they will be able to connect those dots."
"You let worry about that," Noble shifted as Flint finished with her shoulder. "I have a plan."
The surly man stopped his work to look at her. "Don't tell that you are going to try and hide that you are a Saint?!"
Child of Promise lifted her chin defiantly, "And what if I am?"
"I knew you were crazy, but that would be sothing else. Tell , why would you want to go and do a thing like that?" Flint's question was genuine.
Did he know about the looming war and its threat to humanity? She wasn't sure, and if she were honest with herself, she didn't want to find out.
If he didn't know, Noble would pity him for his ignorance inside the ranks of Valor, and if he did know, she might find herself resenting him for contributing to the problem.
"My reasons are my own," she answered at last. "And I have my ways of making it happen."
Flint studied her for a mont. "Fine, Blondie. As I said, your secret is safe."
He ant the words, much to Noble's relief.
"Thank you." The floating Master furrowed her brow. "I am not complaining, but I thought you might put up more of a fuss now that you know I am Queen Bee."
"You know what they say: Never et your heroes. I still haven't. You're just Blondie. And when a signed Queen Bee bobblehead arrives in the mail for my Nephew, I will forever wonder how that ca to bee..." Flint winked.
"For your nephew?" Noble raised one eyebrow at him.
The surly Master grunted. "You have your secrets, I have mine."
"Fair enough." Child of Promise smiled at him.
She hated those bobbleheads, but it was a small price to pay for his keeping quiet about her Sainthood. If it made him happy, she would send him a dozen of the abominations!
'And not just because I want them as far away from as possible.'
Crossing his arms, Flint gave a decisive nod. "That just about does it. I have fixed all that I can."
Noble rolled her shoulders and flexed her arm. It wasn't perfect, but it was significantly better. As for her soul, it would have to take ti to nd. It had been a brief brush with the ground, so she would have plenty of ti to heal before they ventured into Bastion.
"It feels much better," Noble dipped her head. "I know you don't like saying this, but thank you. For everything."
Flint flinched. "Just this once, I will let it slide. I did do quite a lot for you. I deserve all the appreciation."
After lowering the shield, Flint led them back to the main camp.
Word was already spreading about the upcoming mission with Syrce and the Masters. The soldiers had seen the light of the mirror, and already they were full of speculation about what the commander's plan might be.
Noble only knew the broad strokes, and it seed that the soldiers were even more in the dark than she was.
'I really should get more information.'
Noble found Syrce feeding Cyrus near her wagon. The Violet One seed to have a bottomless appetite. As the Saint rubbed his silky feathers, her face was pinched in contemplation.
The scout beside her had returned from the seaside with news.
They had another problem.
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