In the break in the trees, a modest camp held a couple of tents with a cookfire in between them. The small stone circle was currently empty, and by the lack of wood around the ring, Noble doubted it had been used recently.
The floating Master shifted her attention to the two men sitting around it, chatting. They stood as the newcomers approached.
"Gentlemen!" Roan clapped his hands and smiled warmly.
"We were beginning to worry." The creases in the younger man's face lessened as he shook Roan's hand.
The second man rolled his eyes. "I told him you wouldn't abandon us. You have many obnoxious traits, Roan, but you aren't the type to leave people behind."
"Thank you for that glowing endorsement." Roan motioned to the woman beside him. "This is Master Bel."
Noble felt a little silly. The pseudonym was very close to her real name, but it was too late now. At least the charming Master had said it without a hint of irony. She had trusted him with keeping her identity quiet, and he was making good on his promise.
"Bel," the blue-eyed Master continued, "This is Master Aether of the House of Night."
The young man bowed eloquently. "A pleasure to meet you."
'Aether?' Noble had heard Naeve mention the man's name on their voyage to the Sword Domain.
Saint Naeve had described his clansman as a promising talent for the House of Night. With how highly he was regarded, it was no wonder that the young Master had set his sights on Transcendence.
"And this is Master Flint."
The second gentleman was within a few years of Roan's age and quite a few centimeters taller than Noble. His eyes were piercing, and his dark hair was offset with a bright orange stripe down either side of his head. He would have been handsome except for his sour expression.
"Pleased to meet you both." Noble regarded the men with a dip of her head.
"Enough pleasantries," Flint clicked his tongue. "What took you so long, Roan?"
The Master in the blue scarf coughed lightly. "There was a small change of plans. Telle came to Bastion with me."
"Your daughter?" Aether's gaze sharpened.
Roan nodded. "I had to send her off at the last moment and then confirm that she did not follow."
"Tyris had Telle spy on you to make sure you didn't do anything foolish, did she? I'm surprised your old lady didn't follow you herself!" Flint rolled his eyes.
"Be careful what you call my wife," Roan's expression darkened. He took a deep breath. "Lord Anvil called her away, or she would have surely come. Then we would have to push back our plans."
"Then it is good that she had other plans," Aether answered stiffly.
Noble could feel the young man's discomfort. Was he afraid of Tyris? Anyone who was about to get on her bad side probably should be.
"Did you call in a favor to make that happen?" Flint shot his companion a curious glance. "Perhaps you asked your future father-in-law to send young Ty on a mission to get her out of our way?"
"Future Father-in-law?" Aether was genuinely confused.
"Rumors say you are shortly to be engaged." Flint inspected his fingernails, but Noble could sense his keen interest.
Aether's frown deepened. "I did not take you for a gossip, Master Flint."
The young man's formal tone only seemed to encourage his dark-eyed counterpart. "That isn't a denial."
"If I were to be engaged soon, then you would do well to mind your tongue." The man with starlight in his eyes began to lose his composure.
Roan stepped between the men and clapped them both on one shoulder.
"Yes, well, we would all do well to be on our best behavior. Isn't that right, Flint?"
"I already was…" The surly Master shrugged away and brushed his shoulder.
"I am sure Master Flint was just checking if I had any motives that might hinder us in the upcoming Nightmare. I assure you, I am a man of integrity," Aether regained his formal tone. "I commend my counterpart for looking out for the well-being of the group."
"Since you brought it up, what are your motives?" Noble winced, realizing how accusatory it had sounded. "What I mean to say, Master Aether, is that you are well known among your clan. I am curious what has brought you here to conquer a Nightmare? Were there no suitable seeds in the Stormsea?"
Noble knew very little about the region beyond the shoreline. The area had no Sovereign, but surely other Masters were willing to join him in his quest for power.
"Please call me Aether," the young man smiled softly. "Yes, there were Seeds." His smile faded. "What I was lacking were suitable people."
"What do you mean?" Noble felt his emotions spike.
Aether hesitated. After looking at the curious faces around him, he sighed. "Something has been happening among the ranks of my clansmen. I cannot explain it. Only I feel a subtle undercurrent that troubles me. By becoming a Saint, I hope to help my Clan with whatever problems may come."
Flint clapped slowly. "How noble..."
Noble flinched before realizing he wasn't calling her name. She would have to be careful with that word from now on.
"It is, isn't it?" She agreed.
"Almost as sickeningly wholesome as Roan wanting to Transcend for the sake of his wife." Flint pretended to gag. "Don't get him started, or he will sing her virtues all day long."
"What is sickening about that? I am here for my family as well. Are you not?" Noble shot a questioning glance at Roan.
"We can't all be like Roan-ie and his sickeningly perfect wife. I am pragmatic. I am here because Transcending is the only way to get a citadel. And the only way to get a Sovereign to notice you is to have a citadel. So I will Transcend." Flint tapped his temple.
'He isn't lying.'
The man had meant every word. Noble felt a small knot form in her stomach. If Flint wanted to serve Anvil, then Noble was helping to create another enemy to invade Ravenheart.
If only Sarai hadn't declined! Or Nickel hadn't disappeared without a trace. Then she would have a built-in ally and feel more secure in her place. Was she doing more harm than good by being here?
'These people would go in the Seed with or without me,' Noble reminded herself.
"I cannot argue with your logic, but I don't like the way you speak about the leaders of the White Feather Clan. Roan is the head of our cohort. Shouldn't he earn more respect?"
"I don't give respect. It's earned." Flint crossed his arms.
Roan shook his head. "You'll have to excuse him. Flint and Tyris were schoolmates. He has always felt a bit competitive when it comes to my wife's accomplishments."
The dark-eyed Master scoffed. "I should have gone with her into the third Nightmare, but I was prevented. So I will have to settle for you instead. Beggars can't be choosers. Or so they say."
"You are just a ray of sunshine, aren't you?" Noble tried not to take offense at the man's words. At least she never had to worry where they stood. Flint spoke his mind a little too easily.
"See? At least someone notices!" Flint tilted up his chin.
Resisting the urge to rub her forehead, the floating Master looked off into the woods instead. Another person had entered her emotional field. Noble hummed softly.
"I believe the next member of our cohort will be arriving soon."
"This one better be your ringer, Roan. So far, I am not impressed." Flint waved his hand dismissively.
Roan ignored his friend, his body tense. "Someone is out there? Do you recognize them?"
Noble focused before shaking her head. "No. I don't know their emotional signature. Is something wrong?"
The leader's lips formed a thin line. "This is everyone in the cohort. I don't know who that is, but they aren't with us."