Noble had felt the woman's emotional signature before she saw the elder Saint.
'At least she doesn't seem upset.'
Noble was glad she had already disengaged from Flint and dismissed The Other's Voice. She was likely to have many thoughts about whatever was about to occur.
Plastering on her most pleasant expression, Noble rounded the corner.
"Lady Mae? What are you doing here? Is your sister alright?"
Mae looked up, her grey eyes reflecting the moonlight.
"She is fine. It is you I was wanting to see."
"Oh? What can I do for you?" Noble had wanted to speak to the Saint as well, but she had planned to do so in the morning. It seed their conversation would co sooner than expected.
Noble braced herself.
"I wanted to apologize. Ceecee said I was not as welcoming as I should have been. I was so focused on her that I didn't really consider how that might affect others." Mae dipped her chin.
Noble was taken aback.
She hadn't expected the other woman to take the bla before the discussion had even begun.
"There is no reason to feel bad. You were just reunited. Any normal person would want to have ti with their loved one." Noble's smile turned genuine. "You care about your sister a lot. I will not fault you for that."
"Thank you," Mae smiled and held out her hand. "I hope we can be friends."
"Of course." The floating Master took the other woman's fingertips and squeezed them lightly as she dipped a small curtsy. "I'd like that."
Releasing it, the two ladies stared at each other, glad to have cleared the misunderstanding between them.
It had all gone very smoothly, and Noble wondered for a mont if she had fallen asleep on her way to the wagon and dreamt the whole interaction.
But she was too worn out to already be sleeping, and Mae's emotions were sincere. There was nothing left to say.
Noble coughed lightly. "Well, if there is nothing else…"
She sidestepped to go around the Saint only to have her path blocked.
"Where are you going? We shouldn't disturb my sister." Mae furrowed her brow.
'She can probably hear what we are saying already. We aren't exactly being quiet…'
Noble tilted her head in confusion.
"I wasn't planning to disturb her. I have been using the extra space in her wagon to sleep."
"Oh," Mae bit her lip. "I didn't realize. I thought you were spending the night in the palace to verify that it was habitable."
"Did Lady Syrce say that?" Noble rembered them deciding not to do it the night before, but they had not decided anything beyond that.
Mae held up her hands. "I must have misunderstood what my sister said. Don't worry. I will find my own lodging for tonight."
Noble felt the other woman's sadness, and it tugged at her heart. She was tired, but she wasn't willing to risk ssing up the connection that she had just made with the long-lost sister.
"No, you don't have to go looking elsewhere. You should be with your Syrce. I'll see if anyone else wants to go up to the palace with . More sets of eyes will an we can be absolutely sure it is safe." Noble nodded slowly.
It was on the list of things that needed to get done anyway. If she brought a few mbers of the cohort with her, they could keep watch and take turns getting rest.
"Ceecee was right, you are amazing." Mae leaned forward and gave Noble an unexpected hug.
"Don't, uh, ntion it. I'll just be on my way." The floating Master pulled away gently. "Rest well. I'll see you in the morning."
"See you in the morning!" Mae answered brightly. Turning on her heels, the lady hurried into the wagon and shut the door.
'Did I just get played?' Noble wasn't sure. Mae's emotions had been sincere. 'Yet, I can't shake the feeling that sothing about the whole thing was wrong.'
There was little use in replaying the scene in her mind. Noble only had two choices. She could either find another tent to sleep in and consult with Syrce and the others in the morning. Or she could see if her cohort was still awake and ask them to go up with her to the palace for the night.
After contemplating for a mont, Noble sighed.
'They can always tell no.'
Noble went to find Helie first. If the other female on her team wasn't willing to co, then Noble decided she wouldn't bother any others.
"I am not letting you go up there alone," Helie gathered her bedding after Noble explained the situation. "There may not be a dragon up there, but I have heard so odd rumors about the palace in the present day."
Noble raised one eyebrow. "I didn't take you for a gossip."
Helie frowned. "I am not. But in this case, I find so credibility in the source. And this is the ho of Mirage—or at least a copy of it. The full moon helped give us access to this place. We would be wise to be careful now that it is shining again."
Noble's jovial expression beca more serious. "I understand, and you make a good point. Places in the Dream Realm are never truly safe. Just because people live there now doesn't an it wasn't dangerous when they arrived." Noble had been inside Ravenheart, albeit only once and briefly.
But even in that visit, Noble had seen a prison that could hold most monsters in stasis. If the false Bastion had any secrets like that which they might have sohow missed, it would be nice to have another person to help her out.
That's why people traveled in cohorts in the first place. They were better together.
Helie nodded. "I guess I get to find out if the ghost stories are true. Shall we go get the boys?"
The ladies found Roan, Aether, and Flint gathered around one of the small campfires.
Flint was leaning back, imparting his words of wisdom.
"Don't worry, Star Boy. She'll be relieved. I doubt she wants to marry you either. You see, won want a strong man who will—"
"We can discuss this so other ti." Seeing the won, Roan tried to spare Aether from any additional embarrassnt.
But the young man still blushed heavily like he had been caught committing an egregious sin.
He coughed. "Lady Bel and Lady Helie. We did not expect you. Is sothing wrong?"
"Nothing much. We are just going to camp in the palace tonight and thought you might tag along." Noble held out her hand.
Aether jumped from the ground. "Yes, please!"
Flint narrowed his gaze. "Wait, did the conniving sister con you out of your bed?"
"No one conned anything," Noble pursed her lips. "I offered my place."
"Sure. Whatever you say." Flint chuckled. "I wouldn't want to admit when I had been duped either."
"You are uninvited on our excursion." Noble motioned for Roan and Aether to follow.
"Oh no, you don't," Flint stood, "I am not missing a chance to tell spooky stories in that place!"
...He didn't need to.
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