Noble froze, the blood rushing to her cheeks.
Rain averted her gaze, suddenly becoming fascinated with the biscuit on her plate.
'Does she know Rainy is mine? I didn't say anything! How could she possibly know?'
"The real reason I came?" Noble haplessly repeated what she had heard Mara say.
'Think!'
"You said you had a missive. I assume if you came to the Weeping Goddess, then it is for the person in charge. In my husband's absence, that would be me." Mara smiled politely.
"Of course!" Noble breathed a sigh of relief. "I got caught up in the moment. Thank you for the reminder."
Bowing, Child of Promise called on her storage Memory and pulled out the communication that Fort had quickly drawn up the day before.
She passed the document over to Mara for her perusal. The lady skimmed it and then read it a second time more carefully.
"I am sorry that they troubled you to come all this way, Master Noble."
"What do you mean?" Noble had read the document but didn't understand why the lady would apologize.
"I have already gotten an almost identical request and have been tardy in my response." Mara set down the page on the table.
"Ah," Noble remembered that Fort had copied the request from something already sent out. To Mara, it would seem like the government was frantic. "Do not trouble yourself too much. I am sure you had a good reason."
The lady of the house frowned, looking more like her stoic husband and daughter than herself. "I want to help. The supply lines are vital to making sure our settlement and others get the things they need. But this is asking for reinforcements to help keep them safe. The problem is, I don't have anyone to spare. We are stretched very thin with so many of our greatest warriors away right now."
Noble could guess what the other woman meant by away. Most of her Awakened were with Saint Sorrow. Anyone who was left would be vital to the functioning of the citadel, like the beautiful Master Mara.
"I will relay your answer presently. Do not be too hard on yourself. We are all doing our best." Noble sent a bit of comfort to Mara.
The slender woman took a deep breath. "Tell them I will do my best to send escorts to any ships that I know are coming in advance. I think I can manage that much, even if I have to do it myself."
Noble dipped her head. "Thank you. I will tell them."
Mara curtsied formally. "May your journey be swift."
Tamar stood and bowed as well. "It has been good to see you, Master Noble."
"The pleasure has been all mine." Noble bent deeply at the waist.
Mara wrapped her arm around Tamar. "I doubt that very much. You kept my daughter safe when I couldn't. That brings me happiness I cannot describe."
Noble took Mara's offered hand and squeezed it. In an unexpected turn, the slender woman pulled her into a hug.
Mara whispered into her ear. "Thank you. I don't know what I would do without her."
Noble smiled. "I know just what you mean."
She shot a glance at Rain, who had finally risen from the table with a shy grin.
"I won't trouble you for a hug, Tamar. But I do hope you and Rani will continue to look out for each other." Noble shook the young woman's hand as she spoke. "I have learned the value of someone having your back." Tamar nodded.
"You have many who do." Noble reminded her. "If I see Ray and Fleur, I will let them know where you are as well."
The legacy smiled. "Thank you."
Noble regarded the final person in the room. She balled her fist to hide the sparks forming in her hand.
"I am afraid I will not spare you when it comes to a hug. I've known you since you were little, after all, dearest Rani." Noble opened her arms.
The dark-haired woman didn't hesitate, wrapping her mother in a hug without a thought of what the other two women might think.
"I'm glad you found me." Rain's words were soft and full of emotion.
"I'm glad you found your way here safely. Your family will be very glad to hear that you are alive and well." Noble responded while blinking back the tears threatening to form in her eyes. "I'm glad too."
Rain inhaled deeply, regaining some of her composure. "Give them my love when you see them."
"I will." Noble pulled away and gripped Rain's hands. "Take care of yourself. I already know how well you care for others."
"Safe journey, Master Noble." Rain's words would have stung if they hadn't been sent with all the affection that their connection allowed.
Noble waved to the room. "I will see myself out the way I came in. Goodbye!"
Child of Promise floated out onto the balcony before taking to the air.
Her hair whipped behind her as she raced toward the cliff face.
Her hand rose to her ear and tucked something small behind it. She waited patiently for a moment as she soared.
'Alright, they've gone.' A voice rang in her ear. 'Thanks for staying for breakfast…and not blowing my cover, Mom.'
'What? Did you think I would make a scene, expose your secret, and cart you home?' Noble smiled slightly. It wasn't the worst idea.
'If I had thought that, I wouldn't have asked you to stay.' Noble pictured Rain shaking her head as she spoke. After a moment, Rain seemed to sigh. 'I needed that. I needed to see you.'
'It did my heart good too, Rainy. I missed you. And it looks like I'll have to keep missing you for the time being.' Noble landed near the top of the falls.
'I'm sorry about that.' The young woman was genuinely aggrieved.
Her mother shrugged. 'Life isn't fair. I'll just have to be patient and hope you come home again when you can.'
'I will. I promise.'
'Good. I love you, Rainy.'
'I love you, too, Mom."
Those were the words the women had wanted to speak but had been unable to in front of an audience. Now that they had been expressed, the pair could part ways in good spirits.
'I guess this is goodbye for now,' Noble prepared to leave. While she could use the citadel's gateway, it was much easier and less cumbersome to return to the waking world by pulling on her tether. 'I'll see you on the other side, Rainy. Stay safe.'
'You too, Mom…Uh, Mom? Before you go. You said you had one last thing before we were interrupted. What was it?'
Rain was unable to see the smile form on Noble's face. 'What? Oh, don't worry about it. It wasn't for you anyway. It was for your shadow.'
'My shadow?'
Noble mentally clicked her tongue. 'Or at least the man in it. Tell him that he better follow through on his promise, or there is no place in two worlds I won't find him.'
Noble dismissed the Memory and blinked out of existence in the Dream Realm, leaving Rain's response unheard.
"How did you…what promise?!"