By the time the cohort arrived for the evening meal, things were beginning to look less like a caravan and more like an inhabited city.
Noble could picture the streets soon being filled with children and merchants, looking much like the Bastion she had left behind before entering the Nightmare.
But Noble did not have time to focus on that. Under her relaxed facade, she was on high alert. Like the rest of her group, she moved with a measured pace.
Behind their pleasant smiles, the other cohort members were also assessing their surroundings for signs of danger.
Only Flint seemed to have a little trouble maintaining his polite grin. He hadn't had a lot of practice, to say the least.
Most of the people regarded them with reverence or a dip of the head when they passed, but Noble could feel some of Maelys's soldiers watching their movements more closely than just idle curiosity.
"It seems our popularity has grown," Noble noted.
"Does that change anything?" Aether kept his eyes forward.
"It does not." Roan forced his shoulders to relax even as his fingers flexed for the sword at his side.
Outside the main keep, a kitchen had been set up in a spacious courtyard. Eventually, food preparation would be moved indoors and divided to serve smaller groups until people were self-sufficient; however, for now, the military would continue to supply communal meals.
That was both good and bad. There was safety in numbers, but only if those numbers were not out to get you.
Right now, Noble felt like there were enough friendly or neutral parties that this was not the case.
'Surely Maelys wouldn't try anything with so many witnesses…'
The elder sister seemed intent on keeping her younger sister happy, and a public murder did not fit in that category. For now, she would have to resort to more covert means.
And when Noble spotted the head table, which had been dragged into the square from the palace, she could see that Maelys was already at work. She had filled it with her people and left no space for anyone else to sit.
The soldiers who had been with Syrce during her journey did not seem to mind. They were just as excited to have their long-lost brethren return as their commander was.
Maelys saw the cohort, standing up and waving to them like old friends.
"Lady Bel. Over here!"
'As if I wouldn't see the only real table in the whole area.' Noble kept her smile in place. While other surfaces had been constructed from things left in the city or leftovers from the rafts, the extra-long banquet table stood out among the crowd.
Flint grunted, seeming to echo Noble's sarcastic thought.
"Bel! Greetings to all of you!" Syrce, in contrast, was genuinely elated to see the small company of Masters. She got up from her seat and ran to meet them. "I was beginning to worry! I thought I might have to go and search for you myself after that horrible incident earlier."
"Sorry if we are late. We had to find Titus, and that task was easier said than done." Noble dipped her head to greet the commander.
"Are you afraid of me now, Titus?" The Saint glanced at her third-in-command.
"I would never be delusional enough to think I could hide from someone as magnificent as yourself, My Lady." Flint's voice was silky smooth.
'I guess polite Flint is back...' Noble did not mind as much this time. At least he was being polite to the right person.
"Quite right, and don't you forget it. When I set my sights on a target, I find it. If I didn't, none of us would be here, would we?" Syrce raised her hands and her voice at the end, making those closest to her toast her from their seats.
"You have accomplished a considerable amount," Roan agreed. "May your leadership continue to guide your people into a bright future."
"Come and eat. We were able to cut the meat Maelys harvested into small strips and roast it. Not the most tender thing you've ever eaten, but it is fresh. As I've already told Mae, I miss Cook's recipes very much. I've wished more than once that we hadn't lost her in the fog." Syrce led them back to the table before realizing it was full. "Oh."
Maelys stood, pushing back her chair but leaving her precious plate and cup in place.
"Bel can have my seat!"
Both Noble and Syrce immediately held up their hands.
"I could never!" Noble responded politely. "After earlier, this is far too kind a gesture."
'Poison!' Her mind was screaming. One or all the things could have been poisoned by the Saint, even the seat. Noble had no idea what Maelys's powers were other than her transformation. What if one of them was killing off people who took her seat?!
"Nonsense, Mae. I would never make you move." Syrce ushered her sister back into the seat.
Maelys sat without argument.
'Maybe I got it wrong. Maybe this was the same false offer that Maelys made the night before. Acting generous but knowing it would be refused…'
Noble's smile faltered.
"You five. You are done eating. Move along and let my guests recline at the table." Syrce ordered five of Maelys's men.
They looked at Mae.
"But Cee—Syrce, I know they would like seconds. Surely you would not begrudge them a chance to fill their bellies when they helped with the hunt and harvest." Maelys made her eyes big and round.
The ploy might have worked any other time, but Syrce's mind was already made up.
"There are plenty of other places they can go." She smiled at the soldiers who had come across the sea. "You may take all you like with you. Thank you for your hard work."
Reluctantly, the men rose from their chairs and backed away from the table. Noble was very careful not to show the smug feeling she had inside.
"You are very generous, gentlemen. Thank you too, Syrce." Noble took the vacated seat on the Saint's left while the rest of her cohort made themselves comfortable beside her.
New plates and cups were brought, and Noble checked to make sure the servants bringing them were people she recognized. None of them had any ill will toward her, which was comforting.
The food was laid down the center of the table for anyone to take. Syrce heaped a generous portion onto Noble's plate.
"Dig in!"
Maelys's pout was enough to convince Noble that the food was safe, and she nodded covertly to her companions.
"Thank you," Noble tore off a piece from a strip of meat.
Syrce was right. It wasn't tender, but the flavor was fine. Noble could see the mundane soldiers were struggling with the preparation, but none of them were going to complain.
Clearing her throat, Noble swallowed and felt the dryness in her throat.
Like Syrce and Flint, she really missed Cook's food. She looked at the wine on the table with a frown. Summoning a Memory, she took a large draught of water instead.
Syrce watched her friend carefully.
"Need more?"
"No, I'm not terribly hungry." Noble waved away the offer. "I am in the mood for conversation."
Syrce brightened. "Oh! What would you like to talk about, dear Bel?"
Noble looked down the table at the elder sister. "Perhaps Lady Mae would like to introduce me to her companions. There is one in particular I am interested in meeting. In fact, Syrce promised to introduce me just this afternoon."
Maelys tilted her head. "Oh? Who is that?"
Noble smiled politely. "Who else? Your advisor."