Noble met with her two protectors with a huge smile on her face.
Kosi wagged his tail, bending his back legs to pounce on the unsuspecting woman.
"Down boy," Counsel ordered. The massive Symncus sat and then stood again, unable to contain his energy.
Noble scratched under his chin. "Aren't you adorable!"
"You are in a good mood," Counsel quirked an eyebrow. "You were gone for so long, I was beginning to worry that…"
His voice trailed off as they began their walk through the alabaster halls.
Noble shook her head. "No, nothing like that. It was a very good evening."
"Oh?" Counsel seemed more troubled than pleased by his companion's words.
Noble continued to pat Kosi as they walked. "Yes. Her Majesty was telling me all about her memories of my parents."
"You mean how they always fought and disagreed." The man looked more confused than ever.
"She did mention that, yes. But there were happy times too…" Noble remembered a story that Emira had let slip about how she and Byzas had snuck sweets from the kitchen as children and then tried to bake new ones to cover their tracks.
"If you say so…" Counsel pursed his lips.
Noble turned to him with a sad smile. "I know you two don't get along, but dinners with her have been…not terrible. Nice even."
"Not a word I have heard to describe Queen Emira before," Counsel mused.
"Well, maybe we should not think so poorly of her. She is even going with me tomorrow to help me pick out my dress for the hundred-year confirmation."
"What?!" The protector lost his stride.
His question echoed through the halls. Noble immediately shushed him.
"I had no idea you felt so strongly about fashion," she teased.
"You have spent months carefully crafting that gown!" Counsel looked livid. "Did the Queen order you to change your dress?"
"I offered..." Noble furrowed her brow. "It is just a dress after all. I do not see the big deal. It made my aunt happy."
"I bet it did." Counsel mumbled.
Without warning, he took Noble's hand and pulled her quickly up the final set of stairs to her room. He banged on the door until Pen opened it and then he rushed Noble inside.
Once in the sitting room, the protector grabbed the floating Awakened by the shoulders and stared deep into her eyes.
Noble felt deeply unsettled. She shrugged her arms free but he persisted.
"What are you doing?" she asked, looking toward Kosi.
If the man tried anything, Noble hoped that the fluffy Demon would come to her aid. If not, she was more than willing to fight him off herself.
"Blow in my face," Counsel ignored the question.
"What?" The woman was even more confused than before.
"Maybe she put something in your food. Blow in my face!" Counsel's blond hair fell in front of his wild eyes as he spoke with intensity.
Noble blew at the man, careful to keep her face far from him in case this was some strange trick. But as soon as he got a whiff of her breath, he let her go.
"No obvious potions," he grumbled. Counsel looked at Pen and Lenore. "Has anything changed in her bathing routine?"
"That's a personal question!" Noble objected loudly. She pushed at Counsel's chest and he finally let her go.
Lenore looked between Noble and Counsel, unsure what to do. Pen answered the crazed man. "We have not changed out her soaps and no other servants have touched them."
"If must be a mind hex of some sort..." Counsel began to pace. It was the second time he had done that in her quarters that day.
It dawned on Noble what he believed. "You think I am speaking well of Her Majesty because she has placed some spell over me? That I am somehow under her control?"
"It's the only thing that makes sense, My Lady." Counsel glanced at the two female servants. "The Queen has convinced Lady Brenna to willingly change her gown."
"Will it not be green?" Lenore clutched her hands to her chest.
"I was thinking of going with blue. I do like the azure of the sky." Noble barked a laugh. "You think I am crazy because I won't be wearing a certain color?"
"Green is the color of royalty. By wearing something else, you are sending the signal that you will not be her successor!"
"I am her niece, not her daughter." Noble paused. Emira was old. Maybe she couldn't have children or didn't want to. "That would be my Aunt's honor to bestow, not mine to take."
"You see?" Counsel looked at Pen, exasperated. "Something is wrong."
"I promise you I am in my right mind." Noble pursed her lips. 'At least I think so.'
Would she know if she were under someone else's control? Her opinion of the Queen was still one of caution, but it was the affection for Byzas that Noble sensed that had changed her opinion.
That was not something Emira would have known to fake.
"Trust me. My aunt has some redeeming qualities. I know that if I can have a few more positive interactions with Her Majesty before our big meeting with her, then I can get her on our side to take down the Lord of the Mountain when he comes." Noble was assaulted with the man's outrage.
"Are you even hearing yourself? Stop and think for a moment! Who has forced you out of your home and kept you locked in the palace like a prisoner? Who has prevented you from entering the inner sanctum of the library? You and I both know that is where the answers are. Her Majesty is just playing along so that you will comply with her wishes until you confirm her at the ceremony."
Counsel rubbed his forehead. His face was pale from trying to keep his voice from shouting.
Noble thought about his words.
"Her Majesty wants to keep me by her side. I think in some convoluted way that she is trying to protect me."
"She is trying to control you!" Counsel blurted.
Noble chewed the inside of her cheek. She looked at Pen and Lenore, who had been slowly slinking toward their own room.
"Do you agree with him?" Noble asked.
The women averted their gaze, giving Noble more of an answer than any words could have. "I see…"
"We want what is best for you, My Lady. What is best for the kingdom." Counsel's voice softened.
Noble straightened her back, her words filled with conviction. "What is best for the kingdom is that Her Majesty fights alongside us, and together we take down a Tyrant. She will pardon you when we succeed. You will see."
"You cannot be this blind. Her Majesty will never agree to.." Counsel took a step toward Noble when Kosi let out a low growl.
The Demon stepped in front of the lady as his eyes bore into the blond man.
Running his hands through his hair, Counsel blew out his cheeks. "Kosi is right. We will get nowhere tonight."
Relieved, Noble dipped her head as she nodded.
"Agreed. Goodnight, Counsel. I will speak to My Aunt tomorrow."
"I am sure you will." Counsel bowed deeply.
When the door shut Noble let out an exhasperated sigh.
Tomorrow she would have one goal.
To prove Counsel wrong.