The Dream Gate loomed overhead. It looked bigger than what Noble had witnessed before when entering the Song Domain, but then she remembered the first time Lord Anvil opened the gate in Antarctica. That time it had seemed larger than life too.
Was Anvil's gate always this big, or could the Sovereigns change the size?
If Noble had to guess, she would say it was the latter.
However, Noble wasn't in a guessing mood. In front of the gate stood dozens of retainers, each with weapons drawn and aimed at the survivors of Mordret's treacherous assault.
"More are coming!" An Awakened of Valor called from the gate.
"How many are with you?!" A guard demanded.
"This is all that came with us." Naeve shook his head. "I don't know who is coming."
The Awakened at the gate squinted, looking through the enchanted stone.
"They are protected by a man with white hair, and the rest are riding on the back of a giant crab."
"Uncle!" Naeve cried.
"So you do know them." The guard in charge raised his sword slightly.
"Let them in." Naeve folded his hands. "Please!"
The guard raised his eyebrows slightly, and the Awakened at the gate activated the mechanism to allow entry a second time.
Those with Naeve backed away as a crab the size of a house scraped against the walls of the gate and pressed through the entry.
Behind them, a broad-shouldered man with ebony skin followed with daggers in hand. Hints of indigo dwelt in the depths of his eyes as he sank one of the blades deep into his pursuer before retreating. The gates shut as his hand finished crossing the threshold.
In a frenzy, the enemy beat against the gate, but could not breach its imposing walls.
'Those attackers weren't Mordret…'
"That was close," Noble whispered.
Hearing her, the guard shook his head slowly. "The gates only allow those we permit to enter…or exit."
Noble was aware of the inherent threat in those words, but just now she had no intention of leaving the compound of Clan Valor.
"Uncle!" Naeve beckoned his uncle. "It is good to see you. We were worried when you did not meet us."
"We were prevented by Joyse and Kindr. They have sided with the fallen prince. I tried to convince them of their folly, but they attacked instead." Bloodwave's voice was grave.
"You knew about Mordret, then?" Naeve sighed.
The eldest Saint waited for the people to climb off of his echo's back before dismissing it.
"I was coming to tell you after I gathered the last of our group. Obviously things went wrong…for both of us." Bloodwave embraced his nephew. "It is good to see you are here. Did you lose any who were with you?"
"Master Neris was Mordret, Saint Vorn, and his son as well. We barely escaped." Naeve explained quickly, very relieved to see how many were with his relative.
Bloodwave nodded. "We've been pinned down since this morning with our communications blocked. Saint Typhaon withdrew only a short time ago, and we made a break for it here."
'Withdrew? Isn't that what Saint Vorn did as well?'
Although Noble was glad that more people from the House of Night were safe, she was concerned by the timing of the departing vessels of Mordret.
Of course, there was a more pressing issue to be dealt with first.
The remnant of the House of Night had been allowed to enter the compound containing Valor's manor and the Dream Gate, but that didn't mean they were welcome.
In fact, Noble was quite certain they weren't. The soldiers and retainers of Valor surrounding them were wary; every muscle in their bodies was tense.
"I am Master Rhys." The Scion of Valor kept his sword raised. "State your business here."
"Are you serious? Did you not see the madman chasing us?" Dawn puffed out her cheeks, ready to argue, until Naeve rested his hand gently on her arm.
"Your sister is grieving. I'll handle this."
Dawn turned to view Ralia, whose somber mask barely hid the brokenness inside. She held Rhode's hand, swaying lightly as if she might pass out under the emotional strain.
"Neris…she did love him after all." Dawn sighed.
Naeve smiled sadly as his wife turned away to tend to her sister. Then, after exchanging glances with Aether and Bloodwave, he stepped forward to take the lead.
"We from the House of Night seek asylum with Clan Valor and the Sword Domain."
"For what reason should our king grant this safety?" Rhys's question seemed cold, but the curiosity behind it was genuine.
As far as he knew, the House of Night had pledged neutrality in the conflict.
"The one who has chased us here was none other than Mordret, Prince of Nothing. He has chosen to make us his enemy by replacing our Saints and killing our people. He must be stopped. I believe our goal aligns with the King of Swords." Naeve's stilted language had the desired effect.
"D-did you say Mordret?" Rhys had not been there when the Night Temple was devastated, but the tales of it had spread like a ghost story among his clan.
"The Saint who you saw chasing us was his vessel. Master Noble can confirm this to be true." Naeve pointed to the startled provost.
If Noble had hoped to keep a low profile in these proceedings, that notion flew out the window as all eyes fell on her.
"Master Noble?" Rhys raised an eyebrow at her.
She coughed. "Ah, yes, I can sense the unique emotions of people. So although the man looked different, he was certainly Mordret."
"We need someone to verify." Rhys glanced at the Dream Gate. "Inform Lord Anvil of this development."
"Sir?" The woman he had ordered lowered her sword slightly.
"You heard me," Rhys answered with confidence he did not feel.
"And if he is unavailable?" She winced.
"Get Saint Jest or Lady Morgan. Or Lady Neph if she is off the battlefield! Now, go!" Rhys's order spurred his subordinate into action.
She disappeared through the Dream Gate, leaving the rest of the group to wait for her return.
Tense moments passed, but eventually, when no one attacked or was attacked, the members of the House of Night accepted their status as both captives and guests.
It was better than being outside with that madman, at least for now.
In the moments of quiet, Noble wondered if her time to leave had come. Master Rhys said that people couldn't leave without permission, but Noble wasn't sure if that applied to traveling between Realms.
Spelltech could do many things, perhaps even prevent the transfer of her body and soul into another world.
'What have I got to lose? It will either work or it won't, right?'
Unless they had figured out a way to hurt her soul if she tried without authorization.
There was another thing to consider. Her sudden departure might cause Valor to become suspicious about her intentions and, by extension, those with her. She didn't want to sabotage their chances of getting help.
'I'll notify Master Rhys that I am leaving first. That would clear up any misunderstandings.' Noble decided.
She opened her mouth to excuse herself when someone else interrupted her thoughts.
"Master Noble, may I have a word?" Aether asked with hesitation.
"Oh, of course." Noble waited for him to speak, but he seemed reluctant. Was he hoping for privacy? There was none to be had here.
"Well..." Aether looked away, and Noble assumed he was collecting his thoughts.
But then his emotions spiked.
She followed his gaze and felt the emotional signature a heartbeat later.
Beside the Dream Gate, the representative of Valor had arrived.