A moment later, a handsome man strode into the room, arresting the attention of everyone in the spacious lobby. His presence was so overwhelming that it seemed more like he was entering his own citadel than a government office.
The mundane road workers found themselves bowing their heads, and even Fort, who was used to speaking to Saints, found himself holding his breath at the man's approach.
When Noble had seen him before, the man was dressed in a smartly tailored suit. Seeing him now in enchanted armor, Noble couldn't help but think that he looked much more in his element. The man scanned the faces in the room, and not finding the one he wanted, his eyes fell on the two Awakened who refused to meet his eye.
"Fleur, Ray. Where is she?"
"Saint Sorrow." Ray stepped forward, bowing deeply.
He didn't dare ask what the Transcendent was doing in Ravenheart.
"I heard the news on the bridge that a survey team had been attacked. Tamar's echo is outside. Where is she?" Saint Sorrow had come in a great rush when he heard the news.
Either someone had told him which survey team had come, or he knew in his gut that it must be Tamar's band. How relieved he must have been to see Tamar's echo outside. That only made the news he was about to receive harder.
Ray looked like he would fade out of existence, and Fleur was visibly trembling. They had failed to accompany Tamar into the canyon.
What would her father, a powerful Saint, do to them for their failure?
Seeing the tension, Virt took a small step forward.
"Saint Sorrow, you are Tamar's father, correct? If you would step into my office, we can have a word in private..."
"Is my daughter in your office?" The Saint's stoic expression did not change.
"No…" Under the Saint's scrutiny, Virt was suddenly sorry that he had intervened.
The Saint turned back to the teens. "Where is my daughter, Fleur? Ray?"
"I, uh, sir…" Fleur stumbled along, trying to find words.
"Saint Sorrow," Noble pulled the man's intense gaze from the young people.
Part of her knew she shouldn't get involved. Virt had already demonstrated that intervention was unwelcome. However, when the Saint of Clan Sorrow went to level his gaze against her, a flicker of recognition flashed across his eyes.
"Master Noble?"
"I am glad you remember me. It has been a while." The woman dipped her head gently.
"I would not soon forget the person who saved my daughter's life." The stoic man frowned slightly. "Everyone seems reluctant to tell me where my daughter is. Will you tell me directly? How badly is she injured?"
Noble glanced at Fleur and Ray then shook her head and sighed.
"None of us here knows. When the survey team was attacked, your daughter and a girl called Rani fell into a canyon while trying to defend the rest of the crew. They haven't been seen since."
"We are so sorry!" Fleur looked like she might cry for the second time in a few minutes. "We would have gone after her, but we couldn't. Not with so many other people relying on us! And the echo, he wouldn't let us stay where we were either…"
Saint Sorrow held up his hand, stopping Fleur's explanation. "Did you fight the monster to the best of your ability?"
"We did," Fleur confirmed.
"Is it dead?"
The girl winced. "It fell into the canyon with Lady Tamar and Rani."
"Then Tamar must have killed it, since she is still alive. As her retainers, you should not have abandoned her." Saint Sorrow looked around at the bedraggled crew, a small amount of softness playing around the corners of his eyes. "But I can see you did what you had to do. How long ago was this?"
"Three days ago, sir." Ray finally seemed to find his voice. "Sir...will you go after Lady Tamar?"
Noble felt the turmoil inside the other saint. He might not show his emotions, but like his daughter, he certainly felt them. He wanted to go.
But Saint Sorrow shook his head. "I will not. It is too wide an area, and the trail would have gone cold days ago. Tamar will have to find her own way to a citadel."
Ray and Fleur wanted to argue with him. He could reach his entire clan with a message through the waking world and then mobilize his best warriors to conduct a search.
But Noble realized the truth. Saint Sorrow's desire to go after his child was just as strong as Noble's. What held him back was not his faith in a shadowy Saint, nor was it his pride.
'He can't go,' Noble realized. The Saint was not in Ravenheart of his own volition.
The city was filled with warriors to brimming for one simple reason.
Ki Song had summoned them.
Leaving now would mean going directly against a sovereign's orders.
While the Saint of Sorrow might be able to spare a couple of his warriors from his citadel, he would then be leaving his people completely unprotected. That was not something he could do in good conscience. His hands were tied.
"Tamar will find her way to a citadel, and Rani will be with her. I'm certain of that." Noble nodded, sending comfort to all of those listening.
Surprisingly, it was the other Saint who drank in the emotion most.
'Still waters run deep.'
Saint Sorrow nodded. "Since my daughter is not here, I will not burden you further."
"We will walk you out. Unless there is something else you need, Virt?" Noble watched the government officer shake his head.
"Have a good evening." Virt bowed deeply. "If I hear anything, I will be sure to contact all of you first."
"Thank you," Fort shook the man's hand.
With Saint Sorrow in the lead, the five people exited the building.
Sorrow slowed his pace as he came into the open air. A small whine captured his attention.
He stopped to pat the echo's bowed head. "I know, boy. I don't suppose you will go find her now that your duty is done?"
The echo gave another high-pitched cry, prompting the Saint to sigh.
"Tamar will be fine, I am sure of it," Noble assured him. "Tamar was very brave to part with her echo when she was in need. You can be very proud of her."
"I am. Always." Sorrow's comment was more to himself than to the other Saint. He pulled his eyes from the echo to look at Noble. "The Rani you mentioned. She's yours?" When Noble didn't immediately answer, he nodded slowly. "If it's within her power, Tamar will not let anything happen to her. As you said, they will both return."
"They will." The floating woman smiled.
"Good evening, Master Noble." Sorrow nodded to Fort as well. He turned to his daughters' retainers. "Do you have lodging for the night?"
"Yes, sir," Ray answered quickly.
"Good. I don't know that we have room in our place as it is." Saint Sorrow was relieved not to have two more beds to find. He rubbed the Echo's shoulder. "Sorry, boy, you'll have to stay here too for now."
The doglike creature whimpered softly.
Sorrow's stoic expression fell for a fraction of a second. He allowed the smallest of smiles.
"Come then. I'll see if I can find you a spot in the palace's stables."
The Echo's tail wagged as he stood and followed after the Saint. Noble was glad the father would have proof that his daughter was not dead. He had enough to worry about.
With Ki Song gathering her troops, they all did.
But first, more immediate needs would be met. Noble motioned to Fluer and Ray. "Come on, dinner will be waiting for us." She paused. "How do you feel about flying?"