"Master Noble!" Tamar hobbled into the room, causing the three other ladies to rise.
"Tamar!" Mara rushed to her daughter's side. "I sent the healer to you before you went to sleep. Why are you still limping?"
Tamar straightened her back at the reproach. "It has almost healed on its own, so I decided to let it finish naturally. The healer said there was no harm in waiting a little longer. I am fine, Mother."
Reluctantly, she accepted Mara's help and made it to the table.
The younger legacy dipped her head politely toward her guests.
"You'll have to forgive my mother. She is prone to worry more than necessary."
Mara pursed her lips. "I worry exactly the right amount, Tamar. And parents can never worry too much about their children anyway."
"Lady Mara is right. I am always worried about my kids." Noble nodded.
Mara's soft smile grew.
"How many children do you have?"
Child of Promise did not hesitate. "I have a daughter and twin sons."
"Does your daughter give you fits like my Tamar does for me?" Mara's candid question made Tamar's eyes widen.
"Mom!"
Noble grinned. "My daughter has her moments. But I'm sure both our young ladies mean well."
"Indeed." Mara smiled. "Rani, do you cause your mother to worry?"
"She has told me as much," Rain shot her mother a glance. "But it's never my intention."
The Lady of the House sighed. "I am convinced that it is the daughter's job to live her life and the mother's to worry. It's a story almost as old as time itself."
"Then you should be happy that I do my job so well, Mother," Tamar answered, a hint of a smile forming on her face.
Mara blinked. "Was...was that a joke?"
"I believe it was!" Rain nodded, amusement dancing in her dark eyes.
"Now I have seen everything." Lady Mara shook her head in amazement.
"Why does everyone act so surprised when I make them?" Tamar scowled, but there was no malice in her emotions. She seemed at ease here in her home, very unlike the woman who had attended the Academy months before. She was still solemn and a little awkward, but even that appeared more natural within the palace walls.
Tamar shook her head at her mother's laughter, then turned her attention to their guest.
"It is good to see you, Professor Noble. I could hardly believe it when the servant told me you were here. What are you doing here…in Rani's room?"
The strangeness of the situation suddenly hit Tamar.
Noble felt Rain's emotions spike, but she remained calm.
"It must seem very odd. I came carrying a missive, but I felt Rani was here and I could not resist a chance to drop in. In hindsight, the front door would have been a better way to make myself known on both counts."
"Master Noble can sense emotions, so she is better than a seer when it comes to tracking down people she knows," Rain explained. "It was a pleasant surprise to wake up to. It's been too long."
Noble felt Rain's affection, and it warmed her heart.
"That's quite a talent, Master Noble. I don't suppose it works on objects also?" Mara's question was met with a shake of Noble's head.
"Not unless it has an emotional signature, sorry."
"I guess I will have to keep searching for my dear Sorrow's slippers until he returns." Mara chuckled. "Though if that is the most I have to deal with while I'm in charge, I suppose I am doing pretty well."
Noble noted the ease with which Master Mara guided the conversation. As far as Noble knew, the lady was a legacy like her husband, and she took the role of hostess quite seriously.
"You seem to have things well in hand here." Child of Promise could see why Saint Sorrow had left his wife to run things while he was away.
Though it did make Noble wonder—why hadn't the legacy Master gathered with the other awakened in Ravenheart?
'Either she does not have a combat aspect, or she is more useful here.'
While Noble mused, Mara continued with her pleasantries. "You are very kind, Master Noble. I am still quite surprised you know young Rani. What are the odds?"
Noble furrowed her brow. "I don't understand."
"Mother means it is quite the coincidence that the two women who have saved my life not only know each other but are here right now." Tamar nodded.
"She saved your life?!" Noble and Rain's voices overlapped.
Mara glanced between them with an unreadable expression. "Seems like rescuing my daughter is not the only thing you have in common."
"You never told me…I mean, how did Master Noble save your life, Tamar?" Rain shifted her accusatory statement from her mother to her friend.
"When we were at the Academy, another Sleeper wanted to kill me in my sleep, but the Professor thwarted his plan."
"And that is why you wanted to honor her!" Rain nodded, the earlier conversations finally making sense.
"And what about Rani? What daring deed did she complete?" Noble smiled around a bite of sweet bread.
"We looked out for each other!" Rain spoke quickly, waving away the idea of heroism.
"Things went sideways while we were on a survey expedition, and we got too close to the line with Godgrave. So close, in fact, that Rani fell asleep and had to conquer her First Nightmare. That is how she Awakened." Tamar lied. "Then when I was too injured to fight, she took out a Tyrant all on her own. It never saw her coming."
Rain nearly choked on her food, though Noble wasn't certain why. What the mother did understand was that Tamar had already provided a cover story for her friend, one that would be very hard to go back on later.
The young legacy had put a lot on the line to protect Rain, even shielding the truth from Lady Mara. That was comforting.
"That sounds like quite an ordeal." Noble looked suitably concerned.
"I am glad you are both back safe and sound." Mara offered both girls a platter of warm meats. "They just arrived last night. We were both surprised and relieved to see them."
"I can imagine." Noble wished she could pat Rain's hand. Instead, she sent the girl a dose of love and comfort, both of which were greedily received.
"Your father will be interested to know of your adventure," Mara said as much to herself as to her daughter. "I will have to send someone to the waking world and leave a message with…"
"I can go!" Tamar sat up straighter in her seat. If anyone was going to tell her father about her misadventure, it was going to be her.
"You most certainly will not!" Mara's tone brooked no argument. "You want to heal naturally, then that is what you will do. You and Rani will both spend at least a couple of days here recuperating before you even think about setting foot near that gateway."
Tamar's jaw clenched.
"It's not just about Father. The rest of my crew! They may still be out in the wilderness…"
"Write down all you can, and I will send someone to notify the government about that as well." Mara's words caused Tamar's emotions to spike.
Noble felt the heat of the incoming argument press against her consciousness. She coughed, and both women paused to face her.
"I…might be able to help. You see, I haven't been completely honest with you."