After returning Noble to her usual clothing, the couple headed out of the office, making sure to pick up their Song spies as they went.
"Isn't it still too cold for this time of year?' Noble leaned on her husband's arm, bringing him closer.
"Don't look at me. It's always cold to me, dear." Fort glanced at her meaningfully.
"Ah, I suppose that's true." The woman shook her head. He was mundane, and even with the thermal heating from the volcano, the area wasn't exactly a beach paradise.
"I don't mind. It gives me an excuse to keep you warm," Fort wrapped his arm around his wife.
Noble blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear. A small metal piece of jewelry shimmered in the sunlight that matched the one her husband wore.
The verbal conversation was for the benefit of those around them. The real one was occurring where only they could hear.
By the time they reached the house, another detail of Song agents was already stationed nearby. Noble could feel them but gave no indication that she knew of their presence.
The couple entered their house.
"Boys, we're home!"
Blaze and Brock were on the couch with books scattered around them. They looked up from their studies and smiled at their parents.
"Mom! How was the ceremony?!" Blaze popped up from his seat to welcome her.
"What? Oh!" In the excitement, Noble had nearly forgotten how her morning had started. "It was fine, mostly uneventful. Song of the Fallen—Cassie—was very nice to share the credit with me. She even mentioned you in her speech."
"Lady Cassia said my name?" Brock's mouth dropped open. "Wait until I tell my friends!"
"I can't wait to hear all about it!" Blaze began cleaning up their work. "Give me a minute, and I'll get dinner started. Brock was making so much progress that I didn't want to stop."
"Don't worry about it. We can figure it out in a moment." Noble lifted the papers and books into neat stacks and set them aside.
"We need to have a family meeting first. There is something we need to discuss." Fort's tone made both boys stop in their tracks.
"I would say it wasn't me, but I genuinely haven't done anything worth that kind of discussion…" Brock rubbed the back of his neck.
"We should sit." Noble motioned for the twins to take their seats once more.
"What's the problem?" Blaze tried to remember if there was any ongoing discussion, but came up empty.
"Where to begin…I don't suppose either of you received a visit from Clan Song today?" Fort watched both boys shake their heads.
"Clan Song? This sounds serious…Shouldn't we wait for Rain?" Blaze glanced toward the door but caught his parents' furtive looks instead.
"Well…It's about Rain." The father confirmed.
"What's wrong with Rain?!" Brock leaned from the edge of the cushion. If his sister were in trouble, he would be out the door in a moment.
Blaze, too, seemed ready to defend his sister against the unknown peril. It was touching. Noble really had the best family in the world.
"Rain is fine." The mother hesitated. "She just ran into a…situation."
"What kind of a situation?" Blaze frowned.
"She's gotten into a bit of trouble while out on her hunt today. Now Song is investigating," Noble explained.
"That can't be right. Big sis isn't usually the troublemaker. Why would Song care what Rain did?" Brock was used to being on the questionable side of authority at times, but his sister never was.
"There was an accident, and now three important Awakened are dead. Rain was spotted at the scene." Fort chose his words carefully.
"Song can't seriously think that Rain was involved in something like that!"
"Rain wouldn't kill anyone!"
The twins' voices overlapped.
Fort shook his head. "Of course, Rain wouldn't do anything. She did nothing wrong. Her name will be cleared."
"But it is possible that it will take some time," Noble added.
"What does that mean?" Brock furrowed his brow.
"It means if you see Rain, you need to let us know immediately so we can get her connected with the authorities and clear up this messy business." Noble's voice was somehow louder than it needed to be.
"Your mother is right. We need to cooperate however we can…" Fort added.
"Mom? What are …"
Noble held her finger to her lips to stop Blaze's question.
As she and Fort had been speaking,
A paper lifted from the pile, and a writing utensil scribbled on it. The boys glanced at the page.
Rain is in hiding. We will explain everything later when Song isn't watching, but your sister is innocent.
Noble had thought about using the Other's Voice just now, but she and Fort had been using it to coordinate. They would share about the Skinwalker when there was a better chance, but the main thing the twins needed to know was that Rain was safe and not guilty of wrongdoing.
The boys nodded.
"When I see big sis, you'll be the first to know, Mom." Blaze crossed his heart.
"You can count on us." Brock agreed.
If there was one thing boys liked as much as feats of strength or displays of special skills, it was being in on a conspiracy. While there was a little worry mixed in with their emotions—their sister was in trouble, after all—they enjoyed the idea of knowing a deep secret that no one else did.
'I wonder if they will believe us when we tell them…' Noble's thought reached her husband.
'I am not sure I believe it.' Fort was half joking. He was still processing and would be for a long time.
'I feel like we could say that about most of the events in our lives.' His wife countered.
Fort gave a small smile. 'Fair point. Are you still planning to visit our mutual acquaintance tomorrow?'
'I'll have to find a way to get him to my office in the waking world, but I have a plan.'
'I wish I could go with you.' Fort sighed.
'I know. I wish you could, too.'
With their conversation concluded, Noble clapped her hands.
"How about some dinner? I'm sure I have something I can heat up from the icebox outside."
The boys jumped up to fetch the requested foodstuffs, and Noble watched them head outside.
She had expected more fear and anxiety, but then again, they knew how resilient their sister was. If anyone could overcome a run-in with the Song Clan as a mundane, it was her.
The boys' calm settled some of the uneasiness in Noble's soul. At dinner, the family spoke about anything and everything.
When it was time for bed, Noble used her Memory to explain just enough for the boys to understand, but not so much that it might put them crossways with Queen Ki Song. They would be given more information once things died down.
For the sake of their sister, the twins understood.
That only left one task to do. Sunny had told Noble to do nothing, but she was not great at following directions.
The next day, Noble waited anxiously in her classroom for a special someone to arrive.