"I barely made it here with my life, My Lady." The young man explained. "If not for my speed, I would have been overtaken by them before arriving."
"That is concerning." Syrce tapped her chin. "And you are sure the herd is heading this way?"
"I couldn't let them get to the city, and I could not defeat them all by myself. So I lured them this way. There is a chance they might get lost in the wilderness."
The Saint chewed her lip. "And if they don't? How much time do you think we have?"
"Two days...maybe three. They were not the fastest enemy, but they were certainly fearsome." The soldier bowed.
Seeing the pair, Syrce waved her friend and her third-in-command forward. "Titus, Lady Bel. You need to hear this. Callum is one of our scouts. He and Aether were stationed here together before he ran the routine message to the seaside."
Noble glanced at Callum, but he didn't react to the wrong name being used for his companion. Either he wasn't willing to contradict the Saint, or he assumed that Aether was his companion's proper name. At least he did not seem like he would be a problem.
He had merely brought one to their doorstep.
"It is nice to meet you, Lady Bel. Sir." Callum bowed to the two Masters.
Noble dipped her head. "What seems to be the problem?"
"The Darkness tore an unusually large hole in the world between here and the rest of our people. I was nearly caught up in it as it opened. I've spent the last few days drawing them away from the city. But I am just one man, and I could not take on so many. I came back to warn my fellow scout and also hoped to try to use the Remnant against them. I had no idea that all of you were here."
Callum was particularly upset about the last part. He had left the seaside before Orrin's arrival and had not had the luxury of flying like Helie. His long journey had been harrowing, and the shock of seeing the army had almost sent him over the edge.
He had intended to lead the creatures away from one of the Stewards and had inadvertently led them straight to her sister instead.
"And they will be here in a couple of days?" Flint glanced at the woods behind them.
"That is my best guess. I can try to intercept them to lead them elsewhere." Callum lowered his head, ready to make the sacrifice.
"No. You can only run so long. And there is no guarantee you will find them anyway." Syrce began to pace. Already, the energy was building back up inside her.
"What are you thinking?" Noble could almost see the ideas pass through the other woman's head. "Do you want to try to intercept them?"
"No, if we had Orrin, we might be able to track them quickly enough to get back in time, but it is not the best use of our manpower." The Saint paused long enough to look up at the ruins on the hill.
"So we just sit here like nothing is wrong and hope they get lost?!" Flint saw by the scout's reaction that he had spoken to harshly. He coughed. "I mean, it isn't exactly a plan, My Lady."
"I know," Syrce fiddled with one of the cuts in her peach sleeve. "But we cannot leave. Not when we are so close. I don't think they will get here in time to ruin our plans, but we can have a contingency if they do. Callum, tell Aether everything about the monsters. Both of you jot down every detail. We will keep one here to make a plan, and you will take the other copy to Orrin to warn him. We may not know where the monsters are, but my Shieldbearer and his reinforcement should be easy enough to find."
"What makes you so sure that he will already be on his way?" Noble marveled at the sudden assertion.
"If he isn't on his way now, he will be tomorrow. I have known that man my whole life, and he has never sat still. Who knows, Lyra may even be with him. You will see how right I am when he arrives."
Syrce was right that Orrin was not one to relax. His emotional signature was more restless than most, though not quite as chaotic as his commander's.
Noble understood the decision, and she agreed. As long as the herd of Nightmare Creatures didn't reach them, they were in no danger. Her cohort was here, and she had no intention of separating from them.
"I will do the task immediately and leave as soon as I am able." Callum placed his hand on his heart.
"You will rest and leave in the morning. Cyrus will take you where you need to go." Syrce smiled at the Violet One.
Looking at the large, fearsome bird, Callum gulped. "Yes, My Lady. Thank you, My Lady."
The scout backed away, eyeing the bird with wariness. He had just spent days evading a herd of Nightmare Creatures, yet it was the Violet One that was causing him the most emotional turmoil. Noble silently sent him some comfort.
He had been brave, and although Child of Promise hated the news he brought, she was glad he was alive to bring it.
Syrce clicked her tongue, pulling Noble from her thoughts.
"There is never a dull moment with you around, is there, dear Bel?"
Noble looked at the sky and hummed softly. "I think you had plenty of adventures before I arrived. The shattered moon that will be up in a few hours is proof of that."
The floating Master winced. She had meant the words in jest, forgetting that the memory was still fresh in her companion's mind.
Syrce nodded slowly. "Whatever the cause, I am ready for a few dull moments. I don't suppose you have one or two lying around that I might borrow?"
Glancing around at the soldiers, Noble noted that they were all busy at work. She, however, had no assigned task.
"How about right now? We can plan and relax at the same time, perhaps?"
Beside her, Flint rolled his eyes. "You are one of those people who believe in a working vacation, aren't you, Blondie?"
Noble arched her brow. "There was a great philosopher who once said that every job has an element of fun. Find the fun, and a job becomes a game."
The surly Master laughed decisively.
"You are making that up!"
"I am not!" Noble insisted.
"That's the stupidest advice I've ever heard. Work is work and play is play."
Syrce stepped between them. "Perhaps we should give the old adage a try and see. A round of 'how to hide from a Remnant' sounds like a fun and useful little exercise, doesn't it?"
"It does!" Noble resisted the urge to stick out her tongue at her counterpart. "I'll get the rest of the group to play right away!"
It turned out that work and pleasure could mix after all.
By the time the full moon loomed overhead, the five Masters and their Commander had made a plan to reach Bastion.
Or, more accurately, reach under it.