"What?!" Helie tumbled over the back of the log before gaining her footing.
"No one has seen us with her. Orum will just assume she got lost in the woods and died." Flint continued with a dangerous glint in his eye.
Helie stood her ground, but Noble could feel her trepidation within. There was no way she could survive if they all ganged up on her.
"No one is killing anyone," Aether assured the auburn-haired woman. He gazed daggers at his elder companion.
"Flint was joking…sort of." Noble's smile became strained.
She had felt the fluctuations in Flint's emotions as he spoke. While the man was upset about being duped, the surly Master was not displaying the emotions Noble would expect of someone seriously considering murder.
"Aether is right, Flint," Roan crossed his arms. "If we go around killing human allies just because they want to join us, then we are no better than Nightmare Creatures ourselves." Roan regarded the newcomer and dipped his head. "I assure you that no one will lay a hand on you, Helie. The worst that will happen is we will say no and send you home with a note for Orum to be less manipulative in the future."
Roan's reassuring tone allowed Helie to relax, but it only stirred up Flint's indignation.
"A slap on the wrist for what he did to me? You have to be kidding!"
"Aren't you the one who got drunk and spilled our secrets?" Noble tapped her chin lightly.
"That—that's beside the point." Flint sputtered. "I'm not the one on trial. Helie is!"
"Then the trial needs a verdict. Assuming that everything Helie has said so far is true…" Roan tilted his head at Noble.
She realized immediately what he wanted.
'He has heard me called the emotional lie detector. He wants to make sure Helie isn't deceiving us before moving forward.'
Helie's eyebrows shot upwards.
"I promise you that I told you all I know about this. I wouldn't have come all this way if I weren't serious about this choice!"
Noble nodded at Roan. At least from the brunette's perspective, she had been honest with the other Masters.
"I believe you." The cohort leader dipped his chin. "Which is why I think a vote is our best option. We should all have an equal say in whether you can join us."
Roan motioned for everyone to retake their seats.
Flint balled his fists and sat reluctantly.
"If you want a vote, mine is no. The rest of you would do well to follow my example."
"Noted. Aether?" Roan moved around the circle.
The gallant young man sat up straight. "Like me, Helie seems limited in her options for becoming a Saint. I would like for her to have the opportunity."
Helie let out a light sigh and smiled graciously at the charming Master.
Roan hummed.
"One for and one against. Bel?"
All eyes turned to the floating Master.
"Why?" She asked the dark-haired woman.
Helie furrowed her brow, confused. "Why what?"
"You left your home and took off into the wilderness to meet up with strangers and put yourself in a life-or-death situation all at the bidding of your uncle. Why would you do that?"
Noble needed to know the young woman's motivation. If she were only doing it for her uncle, then turning her away would be doing her a favor. Even with someone as skilled and methodical as Roan as a leader, death was still a very likely possibility.
And if Helie was at all reluctant to go, the chances of success for her and the group could only dwindle.
Instead, Noble felt only determination coming from the elegant lady.
"You want my motives? I want to be a Saint. My clan needs a matriarch, and humanity deserves the best. I think I can fill both of those roles. Yes, I want to help Uncle, but not because he asked me. Maybe it's selfish, but I want to be a hero."
The sincerity of the words, though filled with naivety, touched Noble's heart. A Master was already a hero in the eyes of humanity, but those who had attained that goal had found it was not enough. Like Noble, Helie desired more.
"I understand." Noble nodded slowly. "Well then, I vote in favor of letting her join. Having another person dedicated to conquering the Nightmare can only be good news for us, right?"
"Helie neglected to mention a crucial detail. She didn't tell you that she is a liability," Flint broke in before Noble could finish her assessment. "I saw how you reacted when the Terror attacked. You were more frozen than my fingertips. It's your flaw, isn't it? It makes you useless in a serious confrontation."
Helie narrowed her gaze. The man had hit a nerve.
"My flaw is related to my emotions, yes, but that is what makes yours the perfect cohort. When I was frightened, Bel helped me calm down and regain control, didn't you, Bel?"
Noble had not planned on revealing her emotional manipulation unless it was necessary. She didn't regularly use it in battle—messing with people's emotions usually made them less predictable.
However, the way Helie had worded her statement, it could have simply referred to emotional support and not a specific Ability. Perhaps even Helie wasn't fully aware of what had happened. All she knew was that Noble was a calming influence.
"I did what I could," the floating Master patted the other woman's hand. "I vote yes. And before you ask, Flint, no, it is not just because I want another woman on this trip..."
"As if I would say such a thing..." Flint grumbled. "Roan, Bel is trying to paint me as unreasonable, but nothing could be further from the truth. Surely you see that! If you had wanted her on this team, you would have recruited her, not the other way around!"
"I've heard enough." Roan held up his hand.
The others went silent, leaning forward slightly to hear the leader's decision. The choice had always ultimately been in his hands, but now it was even more evident. If he voted against letting Helie join, then the tie would go in favor of Roan and Flint. If he accepted the extra member, then the majority would rule.
Noble held her breath impatiently. 'This man is holding out on purpose. Does he like the drama of making us wait?'
Flint looked ready to explode. "Tell us, blast it!"
"While it's true that I did not recruit Helie, it was because I was told Orum and his family would not go against Tyris. Aren't you afraid of the repercussions of joining me?" Roan raised one eyebrow.
"I have gotten myself out of a scrape or two over the years. I assume none of you are admitting to having gone on this adventure with Roan?" Helie paused.
"No promises. I wanna see Tyris's face when she sees I helped her husband." Flint smirked.
"We will cross that bridge later," Roan rolled his eyes. "But I do not plan to reveal any of you to my wife without your permission."
"Then I am not concerned about a confrontation with her." Helie shrugged.
"You have been lauded for your battle prowess, and your family is in good standing with Valor." Roan studied her for a moment before nodding firmly. "It's settled then. Helie is a valuable asset, and I am unwilling to pass up on the opportunity of having her join us due to selfish pride." The man held out his hand. "Master Helie, welcome to the team."