Noble could tell by the Counsel's emotions that the conversation he had in mind would not be a happy one. Still, she kept a pleasant smile.
"I would be honored. Aunt?" Noble tilted her head at Sara apologetically.
"Do not worry. I will wait for a servant to come for these books. I need to retrieve my bracelet when they are done anyway." Sarai touched her naked wrist.
"We will send someone along shortly. Kosi, will you stay with Her Grace?" Noble could tell the golden creature was still wary after the last little quake, so she felt a little bad about asking him to remain.
Kosi purred softly.
"He says he will guard the Her Grace with his life," Counsel furrowed his brow. He pressed his lips together, keeping back whatever thought was aching to leap forth from his mouth.
"Thank you, dear one." Noble would have petted the Symncus goodbye except that her hands were full. She was forced to settle for a gracious smile.
Counsel allowed Noble to walk up the stairs in front of her. Like a gentleman, he planned to catch her and the pile of books if she fell.
'Except I am floating, so falling isn't usually an option...'
"There seems to be a lot of ground movement today..." Noble tried to make small talk as they rose.
"There was a rumbling from the far-off mountains before the last one. So it might not have been related to what I might or might not have caused," Counsel glanced over his shoulder to make sure Emira was not following them.
"A rumbling from the mountains? Does that happen often?" Being almost exclusively in the palace, Noble hadn't been paying much attention to the ashy peaks in the distance.
"Only sometimes," her companion answered vaguely. "Other times it comes from deep in the earth. Some myths say a creature lurks down there in wait…"
Before she could ask a follow-up question, they reached ground level and turned down a narrow hall. The man's neutral face shifted as he whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
"So...what are you going to do?"
"I don't understand." Noble lifted one hand to covertly scratch her nose. She was levitating the books anyway, and the dust was so irritating!
"You have kept your enemy close as you planned, and now you have caught her." the man urged. "What will you do now that you have uncovered her lie?"
"Her lie? What lie? And Whose?" The Queen felt like she had begun in the middle of a conversation. It was disorienting.
"Your Aunt. She hid the books. Who else could do that? It was just her bad luck that she accidentally opened it in front of you, or you never would have known they were down there. I wouldn't be surprised if she hides or burns the others before they make it to the room. Though that would seal her fate."
"Slow down." Noble felt her head spin. "I am going to start with that last part. What do you mean by seal her fate?"
"If it comes out that she betrayed you even as she was confirming you as Queen, what is left of her support will dissolve into nothing. She will be forced to live under the law and be tried as a traitor, or have to flee into the wilderness and take her chances with the Tyrant." The triumph in Counsel's voice was unmistakable.
Noble saw a lot of flaws in the man's logic, not the least of which was that the real Emira was powerful enough to char both of them to a crisp if she had decided to do an encore performance of what had melted the great hall.
"What if I do not want to brand my aunt as a traitor?" Noble decided to make it a question instead of a statement.
"Ah, it is wise to leave your hands clean. You could allow me to spread the news of Her Grace's wrongdoing with the Old Guard and disseminate it to the appropriate parties. The problem will take care of itself in no time." Counsel seemed satisfied.
'Please tell me he isn't talking about another assassination attempt. Nickel can only thwart so many...'
"I do not want any harm to come to my aunt," Noble told her protector firmly. "I left Kosi to protect her for a reason."
Counsel seemed to miss a step before quickening his pace to walk beside her. Confusion was written all over his face.
"Are you serious? But...the books...you are willing to forgive her?"
"I do not believe the woman downstairs hid these books. You were not there. She was far too surprised by the discovery." Noble took a deep breath.
While the original Emira was in fact guilty of treachery, Sarai was innocent of all wrongdoing. It was a strange situation.
And not one that was easily explained. If it could be explained at all to someone that was a construct of the Nightmare.
"Even after all your aunt has done to thwart you, you would still give her the benefit of the doubt. Why must you trust someone so unworthy?" Counsel huffed along in silence for a bit.
"Is there anything I can do to convince you of my aunt's innocence and goodwill?" Noble tried at last.
When her companion spoke again, his words were slow and measured. "How can I instantly forgive her years of oppression and hatred towards me? People like that don't change overnight. You are acting like she is a whole new person."
"She is..." Noble said, earning an incredulous glare.
"And I am just supposed to forget the past and start fresh?" He scoffed.
"That would be nice, yes." The Queen nodded slowly.
"It is something I cannot do. At least not at a moment's notice..." Counsel sighed. "When did this all become so complicated?"
'A few months ago, give or take...' Noble pressed her lips together.
"If time is what you need, I can give it to you. Perhaps you can take a break and come back refreshed?"
If Counsel couldn't get on the same team, then maybe he needed to be removed from the situation until tension lessened.
"Are you releasing me as your Counsel?" The man furrowed his brow.
"Only if you want that," Noble answered. "There is no longer a threat on your life. You should be able to live it however you please. I want you to have the freedom you crave and live a happy life. And when it comes to a happy life, I know someone who is very fond of you..."
"If you mean Pen..." Counsel lowered his voice as they neared the royal suite. Unless the two attendants were in their rooms across the hall, they would be inside tidying the rooms.
"I do mean her," Noble confirmed. "She is lovely, but if you don't fancy her..."
"What if I want to remain here and not take a break?" Counsel cut off the Queen, startling her.
Noble thought for a moment. "Then you will have to find a way to get along with my aunt."
The blond protector stood in the doorway, considering his options for a long time. "I have a different solution."
'If he says to kill Sarai, I swear I am going to–'
Counsel nodded in determination. "If I cannot make you see the light about your Aunt, then I will work even harder to make myself indispensable to you instead. Then, when the time finally comes, I will be the one you choose."
Pleased with his choice, Counsel found a way to open the door. He bowed with his stack of books in hand.
"After you, Your Majesty."