The trio found a table in a walled courtyard and settled in to enjoy their meal. Kosi, who no longer seemed hungry after gorging himself in the kitchen, stretched out on the grass and fell asleep.
The palace garden had a beautiful view of both Noble's tower suite and stained glass window which adorned the front of the castle. While the former was the source of her isolation, Noble found comfort in the latter.
If only she could live in the painted glass instead!
As she stared, the pink and yellow flowers seemed to come alive, melding with foliage around her.
"Something is troubling you," Counsel said as he spread out the meal between them. "I knew I was taking too long, but I didn't want to take the chance that your food would be tainted."
There was a hint of guilt in his words as he spoke. Noble pulled her eyes away from the palace to her companion.
"I do not think you have to worry about my food and drink anymore," Noble said absentmindedly. "I am almost sure the poison was meant for the Queen and not for me."
"That does make sense since the cup was originally meant for her. So I guess you no longer suspect her of trying to murder you then?" Counsel sent a furtive glance toward the palace as he whispered.
"She seems quite intent on keeping me alive, actually," Noble noted how the Queen could have killed her twice, once on the battlefield and also by sentencing Counsel to death while he was still bonded to her.
As much as Emira seemed to dislike her niece, at least some filial piety existed between them.
Her Majesty wished to control Brenna but seemed reluctant to end her life.
At least for now.
That was something.
"I will let my aunt know about the poison." Noble had thought about this as they walked to the garden.
When she had suspected the Queen, it had made sense to keep her knowledge secret, but now that reasoning no longer applied.
Counsel quietly considered her words. "If you are sure, that does seem like the best course of action. Maybe our combined efforts will find the culprit."
He seemed nervous about the prospect. Noble could understand why.
"I will mention you discovered it and that you are conducting an investigation. That way she can approach you if she wants more information but does not have to." Noble felt the man relax.
"I appreciate your concern for your humble servant." Counsel waited for her to begin before digging into his meal.
While she ate, Noble recalled all the things she had read that morning. Based on what she found, the heart actually existed.
Whether it was actually part of the Tyrant's heart or some other origin of power varied from source to source, but all of them alluded to something buried beneath the city.
Beyond that, Emira's words stuck with her. She had said something had better stayed buried.
'That cannot be a coincidence.'
There was the other matter of Her Majesty's odd behavior. What book had she tucked in her sleeve and removed from the library without even mentioning it?
At the time Noble had been too confused by the situation to ask. Even if she had, it was doubtful that Emira would have answered.
"Did you happen to see a ragged book with a yellow cover while we were looking through everything?" Noble knew that it was in the pile of unread tomes, so she was pretty sure of his answer.
Counsel stroked his chin. "Was it a small book with a page or two torn out of it?"
"Maybe!" Noble wasn't positive on the last part, but the book had been smaller than any of the others. "Did you read it?"
The man shook his head as he swallowed his bite of food. "The only reason I know about it is that I knocked it off the table. Picking it up, I noticed the pages were not all there. Was there something in there that was interesting?"
"The Queen seems to think so. She visited me while you were gone. Burned one book right in front of my eyes and took the yellow one without a word." Noble pressed her lips together. "I wonder if the missing pages are still in the library? If they are, perhaps we can get an idea of what Her Majesty is hiding."
'Hiding. The Queen is certainly hiding something, but why?'
"Tomorrow I will ask Drune if he found any loose pages." She decided.
In the professor's experience, concealing the truth was used to either protect or harm.
The government had held off on announcing the coming gates in Antarctica to give themselves time to prepare. Their ultimate goal was to protect the public.
Knowledge was power, and when wielded properly, it could create or destroy.
So what truth was the Queen guarding, and why? Would the information help Noble in her mission?
If it was not, she was content to let the Queen have her secrets.
But something inside her said that whatever Emira knew was vital to Noble's mission.
And ultimately her survival.
'If she will not give it to us, we will find it another way.'
"There are a few other pieces of information that might be of interest to me regarding that Tyrant. If the Lord has a weakness, I want to find it."
"Is there a reason you are suddenly so focused on the Lord of the Mountain? This is beginning to feel like more than just a treasure hunt to pass the time." Counsel tried to act disinterested, but Noble could feel his genuine concern.
"Seeing that Tyrant up close was eye-opening." Noble chose her words carefully. "How long has it been trying to destroy the kingdom?"
"For as long as Her Majesty has been in power." Counsel's expression darkened.
"My aunt says it is much, much longer. That Raven-feathered Lord comes and goes from the ash-filled mountains whenever he pleases and terrorizes our land. He threatens the life of our people. I do not think we should continue to live in fear of his shadow. He must be stopped." Noble stared evenly, unsure of what response she wanted from her counsel.
"I see. I do hope you are not planning another expedition into the mountains. As the only survivor of that cohort, I will tell you that the terrain is treacherous and impassible. There is a reason we have not had trade with the North for as long as anyone can remember. I doubt any humans still live up there. Even without the corrupted creatures, it's a death trap."
Aside from the geography lesson, Noble felt that his message was clear. Going to the Tyrant was a bad idea.
What was the other option?
Waiting until he attacks and hoping for the best?
Or maybe...
"What if we lure it to us instead? Have it meet us on our terms. We will learn everything we can about it and set a trap." Noble liked the idea very much, but Counsel frowned.
"You sound like your father. He was convinced we could be rid of our enemy as well."
Noble remembered her real father. Lance wouldn't have backed down from a fight either. A sad smile came to her face.
"A Tyrant can be killed. We just have to be strong enough to do it."
Counsel looked away. "I wasn't strong enough last time."
There was meaning behind his words. He felt that he had been a coward.
Noble balled her fist determinedly. "Then we will train and get stronger. Both of us!"
For the first time since the conversation began, the man smiled. "I like it when you include me in your plans, my lady. Very well. If you want to study and train to take down the Lord of the Mountain, I will as well. I only hope you have thought this through."
'Me too,' Noble took a deep breath. Killing the Tyrant was the right path. It was the key to ending the Nightmare.
Until then, Noble just had to survive and hone her skills.
Counsel lifted his cup in a toast. "To getting stronger."
"To ending a war," Noble lifted her own.
They drank deeply, each internalizing their vow.
They had a lot to do.