So that was what Hunter had been telling Noble when she approached, and also why Steel had so quickly silenced him!
Noble balled her fists and tucked the dagger that had formed behind her into the back of her waistband.
She then raised her empty palms in the air.
"Holding a card up your sleeve? That doesn't sound like the Valor I know."
Steel's smile became fierce. "You mistake me, madam. I played the hand I was dealt."
"Let her go." Noble felt anger welling up inside her.
Of all the students Valor could have gotten their hands on, Lumi was the most universally beloved. Noble would have fought fiercely for any captive, but things suddenly felt very personal.
"I don't think you understand how this negotiation works, Madam Provost. Hand over the other princesses and no one will get hurt."
The small princess spat out her gag. "I'm sorry, Master Noble! I was too curious when the earth shook. I wanted to take a look at the city! I should have listened to Mei…"
Noble ignored Steel for a moment to address the young lady in his arms. "Are you hurt, Lumi?"
The girl's expression became sour. "It will take more than these ruffians to hurt me!"
Her arms and neck might have been restrained, but now her voice and legs were free to do as she pleased. She bent her right knee and slammed the back of her shoe against Steel's armored shin.
The Saint of Valor sneered. "As you can see, she is perfectly fine. I have no desire for violence. In fact, I can promise that all the ladies will remain unharmed in my custody as long as they and you cooperate."
'Even if he means it, he is not the one in control of those girls' fates. If I let them go, they are as good as dead or worse as soon as they are out of my sight.'
Oddly enough, Noble got the impression that Steel believed his vow about the princesses' safety. Knights were nothing without their honor. However, what they deemed honorable was often twisted by blind loyalty and a singular focus on their goal.
There was one thing that Noble found encouraging. Steel hadn't retaliated for the young woman's kick. If anything, he seemed to understand her frustration. He wouldn't hurt her out of malice, only out of necessity.
For now, at least Lumi wasn't in immediate mortal peril.
That did not mean they were in the clear. Noble needed to think fast. Rushing forward would not do much good. Noble was pretty sure that the barrier protecting the scions of Valor had a tangible component. If she tried to breach it haphazardly, then she would be on the losing end of that exchange.
'Just like they were when they tried to come into the Academy.'
Noble couldn't feel smug that her preventative measures had worked. There would be time for that when this was all over. Right now, she was angry.
Angry that Lumi was in the grasp of her enemy. Angry that she had been put in the situation at all. With each passing moment, her indignation about innocent people being harmed because two Sovereigns could not get along continued to grow...
Child of Promise barked a laugh. "Cooperate? Is that how you view this abduction? A cooperation? No." Noble motioned around her. "This Academy is a cooperation. People from all walks of life who survive the Spell's first trial can come here and receive equal treatment for the betterment of humanity. Do you know who was inspired to help found this most auspicious place?"
Steel gritted his teeth, but it was the man beside him who spoke first.
"You keep Lord Warden out of this! If you malign him, I shall surely cut out your..."
"Calm yourself, Sir Bruese. Did I not just say I would like to avoid violence? You do not want to make a liar out of me." Steel's ire was momentarily directed at his companion, encouraging Noble to continue her impassioned plea.
"Warden wanted peace. He envisioned a safe place for everyone. Abducting young women who are trying to complete their studies is not something he would have wanted."
"That may have been true once." Steel shook his head. "But times are different now than they were then. He is gone. And we preserve his legacy through his son, not through this institution."
'Well, that didn't work.' Noble had known that appealing to the sensibility of their forefathers was a long shot, but she had hoped that there was some value to tradition left in the great clan.
It seemed not. Like her, they held anger, but toward a single Sovereign, not both.
The woman beside Steel took a step forward.
"You are an idealist and a fool. Can't you see that Ki Song has used you as her shield?"
"I cannot speak for the Queen's intentions—" Noble began.
"She would do the same and come for Lord Anvil's children if they were here!" The female Master insisted.
"You LIAR! Mother would never—" Lumi jerked her head toward the lady and narrowly missed getting her neck cut by Steel's blade.
He gained control of her quickly, returning the gag to her mouth.
It took everything in Noble not to react to the rough treatment. If they knew how much she cared, they would certainly press that advantage.
"We may not have children of the King of Swords, but there are many from his Domain here. They are also under my protection. Should anyone from the Song Domain come for them, they will receive the same answer as you. Your brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews…"
Noble paused, an idea forming in your head.
"… and your children. Your son wants to grow up to be Awakened, does he not, Saint Steel?"
The man eyed her carefully. "How would you know that?"
"That's what legacies strive for, isn't it?" Noble watched the Masters on either side of Steel sneak furtive glances.
The Saint of Valor gritted his teeth and shook his head.
"That's not what I meant. Who told you I have a son?"
Noble realized that her intel did sound suspicious. She had already known his name. Keeping mostly to the more clandestine activities of things in Bastion, Steel wasn't exactly a well-known Saint outside of Valor, especially here in the NQSC.
It would be easy for Steel to assume she or someone else had been spying on him. She needed to set the record straight before he got the wrong idea and did something drastic.
Noble pictured the man transforming into an enormous snake and flattening the Academy with his giant tail until he found the underground chambers that held the students. Once he transformed, she would be forced to do the same to protect herself and others.
That would not do.
Instead of making up an excuse as to how she was privy to the man's private life, Noble answered him plainly.
"How do I know about your son? That's simple. Your brother told me."
Steel hesitated before he tightened his grip on Lumi and his gaze hardened. "Liar."
Seeing his reaction, Noble realized one thing.
She had found his Flaw.