'I…I'm what?' Noble missed a floating step.
"Are you well, Bel?" Roan asked. "I just dismissed my echo, but perhaps you need a ride after all the essence exertion of carrying people around all day."
"I'm fine. Thank you, though," Noble answered politely.
'I'm not jealous.'
'That is what a jealous person who was trying to hide it would say,' Flint puffed out his chest.
'It's also what an innocent person would say.' Child of Promise countered. 'What makes you think I'm jealous?'
'Someone arrives and you immediately suspect them. That is something I would do every day of the week, but you, a trusting soul like you? Very abnormal. The logical conclusion is that you are jealous. Syrce has a new favorite, and you feel displaced.'
'That is…not it,' Noble shook her head. 'I never sought out Syrce's attention, and she is allowed to favor anyone she likes. If anything, I was the usurper because Maelys existed first.'
'Yes, yes. Keep telling yourself that. It will make it easier when Syrce continues to ignore you.' Flint smiled.
'She isn't ignoring me,' the floating Master pursed her lips.
'Has she spoken to you since we left the gate?' Flint glanced at the sisters, who were discussing the merits of Bastion with wide eyes.
'She's been busy…' Noble folded her hands.
'Yeah, busy ignoring you…' Flint's smirk widened.
'I AM NOT JEALOUS!' Noble screamed into his head.
'I think the lady doth complain too much.' Flint crossed his arms.
Taking a deep breath, Noble forced a neutral smile. 'It's protest…'
'What?' The surly Master tilted his head.
'The saying is The lady doth protest too much, methinks.'
Noble felt the man's emotions spike.
'Aha! So you admit it!'
Blowing out her cheeks, the floating Master rubbed her forehead.
'I'm not jealous, because there is nothing to be jealous of. Being close with someone doesn't mean you have to ignore everyone else. Here, I'll prove it.'
Lifting her nose in the air, Noble left behind Roan and Flint.
The leader of the cohort shot the other man an inquisitive glance, but Flint simply shrugged innocently. Without any clue or reason to follow after Noble, Roan retreated to Helie and Aether, who were walking together a few steps behind him.
With no one to distract him, Flint focused on the three ladies in the front. If only he had some popcorn!
Ignoring Flint's hunger for drama, Noble strode up beside Syrce. The commander was moving her hands enthusiastically through the air.
"We explored the palace this morning. There is more than enough space for all the noble families that remain. There are buildings that can be very comfortable barracks for our army, and everyone else can make homes out of the many servants' quarters or spare rooms. In the future, we can build new homes as the need arises."
"It sounds like you have it all figured out. Lyra will be happy to have that planning off her shoulders," Maelys smiled.
"She will be much happier to see you! I cannot wait to see her face. Did you know that she thinks…" Syrce trailed off as she noticed Noble. "Oh, hello, Bel! I am glad you came to join us!"
Noble stood a little taller at the words.
See? She hadn't been ignored! If that were the case, then Syrce would not have been so delighted by her presence.
Noble smiled smugly. 'See? No reason for jealousy.'
'Mhmm, that's only because you think you have the upper hand for the moment.' Flint responded casually.
Pushing the man out of her mind, Noble refused to let his words take root. He was just trying to mess with her. Well, she would show him! She would come to know and like both sisters, eliminating any need for competition.
Noble flashed her most sincere smile.
"Sorry for interrupting! I just wanted to express how happy I am that you are reunited."
"Not as happy as I am," Maelys hooked her arm into Syrce's.
"I can imagine," the floating Master was not deterred. "Family reunions after a long absence are always very sweet. I hope your journey here was not too difficult."
Maelys gave her a strange look.
Syrce laughed lightly. "Why, it was the smoothest trip of any that has ever been made. It was nearly instantaneous."
"I don't understand." Noble's pleasant smile faltered.
"I told you the mirror would solve our problems and bring my dear Mae home," the commander reminded her. "Now that it is whole, it can bring people across great distances. So while you were gone this afternoon, I brought home the people across the sea." Syrce's grey eyes sparkled.
Noble's eyes opened wide. She looked down at the hand mirror, which was swinging on a cord at her friend's waist.
"Lady Mae and her soldiers…came through that?!"
"Amazing, right?" Syrce reached out and squeezed Noble's hand.
"It sounds impossible! How did you fit?" The floating Master reached for the mirror only to have Maelys reach it first.
"You'd be amazed at how much space there is in there. It's a whole other world!" Mae smiled at herself in the glass. "We passed through without a problem, thanks to Ceecee."
Again, Syrce cringed at the nickname but said nothing. It seemed neither sister wanted to upset the other.
"Lady Syrce is pretty spectacular," Noble decided not to delve into their complicated family dynamic.
Maelys winked at her sister. "She is adora-Bel, just like you said."
Noble smiled at the pun and dipped her head. She had no time for a witty reply. She was far more curious about the strange mirror and its capabilities. It was a transport system. Noble remembered being pulled from true Bastion into the copy where they were now. Could the mirror drag people through it from any distance?
It seemed so. It was no wonder that Mirage did not want it to fall into the wrong hands. Thankfully, Syrce's intentions were honorable.
"Will you bring Lyra and the rest of your people through in the same way?" Noble looked up at the palace.
Would all of its inhabitants be here by evening?
Maelys raised one eyebrow at the question. "There are many more people with Lyra than there were with me. Syrce had to summon us individually. That's why she was resting when the call for help came. What you are suggesting might drain her entirely!"
"Oh, I didn't realize," Noble lowered her head.
"You don't need to worry about me," Syrce assured both of the others. "The bigger issues are that I don't know all of the people who are with Lyra, and even if I did, I cannot bring all of their things through."
"Quite right," Maelys nodded. "It is much better if they travel across the expanse to get here."
"I see. Thank you for clarifying." Noble could see the logic in their words.
"Of course, Bel. Anything for you!" Syrce's kind words warmed Noble's heart and encouraged her to continue.
"So then, if that is the plan, perhaps tomorrow I can—"
Maelys clicked her tongue. "Don't you remember that our dear commander is tired from all her hard work this afternoon. Surely planning can wait until tomorrow."
"I suppose, but don't you think…" Noble stopped as Syrce waved her hand.
"Mae is right, I do feel suddenly very tired. We can discuss this later. I will see you soon?"
"Yes, of course. We can talk then." Child of Promise tried not to sound disappointed.
Clinging to her sister's arm, Maelys quickened her pace toward the caravan. "There, there. I am here now. We will have you fit and ready for action in no time!"
Noble felt her chest tighten. How dare Maelys dismiss her like that! Didn't she see that Noble was only trying to help? The coral-haired Saint had been back barely a half day and already she was acting like she was Syrce's only friend and ally.
Well, it was Noble who had been supporting Syrce for the past weeks. Maelys might have been Syrce's sister, but Noble was her dearest friend and anchor.
That had to count for something!
'Oh…oh no!' Noble's face paled as she recognized the feeling welling up in her. 'I am jealous!'
'Told you!' Flint sang in her head.
Noble wasn't sure which was worse: the situation or the fact that Flint had been right.
'Both,' she decided…
Both.