Noble had expected to see many people in the large meeting room, but there were only two.
At the far end of the long table, Noble couldn't even hear them. And she realized why a moment later. Saint Kai pressed a button, and the Memory on the table deactivated.
The two men looked at her, their faces very grave.
"Bee?" Fort furrowed his brow. "What's going on? Shouldn't you be at the awards ceremony?"
The professor was stunned for a moment. Barging in on a room full of people would have been more manageable. She could have asked for her husband to be excused and explained in private.
The conversation she had walked in on was already private, and Noble felt the intrusion keenly.
There were only a few things that Noble could guess would garner this kind of secrecy, and the fact that the meeting was not well guarded meant that they did not want to arouse any suspicion from Clan Song that they were convening for anything worthwhile.
So, what were they doing?
Noble blinked, realizing she had been asked a question. She had barged in here without a word of explanation so far, so it was understandable that both men were disturbed by her presence.
"I just got back. I had to leave early. Lady Song of the Fallen was with me and she…"
Kai stood from his seat, "Cassie? Is she here?"
The informal use of the blind Saint's name gave Noble pause.
'That's right. They know each other.'
The professor shook her head. "I was with her at the annual awards in the waking world."
Kai's concern was valid. Having a Saint from Valor inside of Ravenheart would have been very noteworthy indeed, and more than a good enough reason to interrupt this clandestine interaction.
Nightingale relaxed. "Ah, I had forgotten that was today. That makes sense."
There was a bit of regret in Kai's words, as if he had wanted to go but was bound by other obligations.
"What happened with Song of the Fallen?" Fort pushed back his chair and moved across the room to his wife's side.
Kai followed closely behind him, unwilling to miss the news.
"She had a vision, or at least I think it was a vision. She told me I needed to go home right away. I thought you might be in trouble." Noble could see now that he was not and felt a little silly for wasting his time.
Fort, however, did not see it that way. "The kids?"
"I've been to the boys' school. They are fine. Rain is out hunting." Noble made sure to use the present tense for Fort.
His relieved look and emotional shift told her that he got the message.
"Lady Cassia does not give a warning like that for no reason. Perhaps she meant your physical abode?" Kai suggested, his beautiful voice making the suggestion more inviting.
"That is my next stop," Noble confirmed, "I am sorry to have bothered you. I was so worried that I immediately went looking for Fort without thinking."
The professor scratched her head, hoping she was not in too much trouble. She hadn't seen anything or overheard their conversation. They had been very careful to keep it from her.
Kai smiled. "Do not worry, Master Noble. If I had received a concerning prophecy, I would have done the same. I do hope your home is perfectly fine and that Lady Cassia's concern was unfounded."
The red-haired Saint paused as his gaze shifted. His handsome smile turned into a frown.
"Perhaps you had better check sooner rather than later. I believe the exit out of the back of the building is closer to your home if I'm not mistaken."
Fort's emotions spiked. "Indeed, you are right," he lied. "Come on, Bee, let me show you out…"
The ambassador quickly grabbed the pages on the table and took his wife's hand.
But before he could make it to the door, there was already a commotion outside.
"I will speak with him immediately, or I can crush you and then go and find him." The masculine voice was firm and commanding.
'Poor Phil!' Noble felt pity for the government agent on the other side of the door. Not only had she just barreled past him, but now he was being threatened. Teddy would have a thousand ways to distract or detain the newcomer, but Phil was at a loss.
"If you give me a moment, I'll let them know you are…"
"We don't have time for this. If he is sneaking out a back way, we will find out." A familiar female voice broke off Phil's sentence.
Fort turned and tossed the dossier back to Kai, who held onto it with both hands.
"I'll handle this." The ambassador pushed Noble back a step and straightened his back. "Everything will be fine," he assured her with a less than convincing smile.
She nodded at him, and Fort opened the door with bravado, shutting it just as firmly.
"What is going on out here?"
Phil was hanging by his collar in the fist of a muscular man while a mildly annoyed woman watched the scene.
"I'm sorry, Ambassador. I was trying to explain!" Phil gulped as his collar tightened.
"Please put Phil down," Fort asked calmly. "Good help is very hard to find."
The woman nodded, and Phil was half-dropped, half-tossed to the floor.
Fort held the woman's gaze. "Now that that has been settled. What can I do for you, Lady Seishan?"
"Ambassador, perfect timing." The grey-skinned Saint smiled at him. "I am here on urgent business, but it is not so urgent that it needs to happen here. Let's get comfortable in your conference room."
The princess moved toward Fort and placed her hand against the handle. The ambassador's only choice was to let her barrel him over, which she would do without a second thought, or step aside.
Fort felt sympathy for Phil, who had been in this same position only a moment before. It was no use. The ambassador let them pass.
The two unwanted guests filed into the conference room with Fort closely behind. Inside they found a pair of individuals sitting at the long table, with a dossier sitting casually between them, partially open.
"Ah, fancy meeting you here, Nightingale." The Song Sister dipped her head.
Kai stood and bowed to the princess. "Lady Seishan."
The princess's eyes swept to the other guest. "You are with Master Noble? How curious…"
"Lady Seishan," The floating Saint quickly rose from her seat. "I am always impressed that you remember my name."
"How can I forget when it keeps coming before me to notice?" The grey-skinned woman raised an eyebrow at her.
Kai coughed lightly. "Forgive me, Lady Seishan. I thought my appointment with you was at the palace later today. Have I made a mistake?"
"Please be seated. No, there was no mistake about that meeting. However, I have just received some urgent news from Saint Peta," Seishan motioned to the man with her. "And it needed to be addressed as soon as possible."
Kai tilted his head. "And what might this news be?"
Nightingale closed his fist, careful not to disturb his work as he straightened in his seat.
The princess's lips curved slightly. "Why are you so nervous?"
Every muscle in Kai's body wanted to scoop up the papers as Seishan drew near. She leaned over and lifted the top sheet of the pages on the table.
"Hm, are you worried I will redirect food supplies?"
"That has been happening a lot lately," Nightingale glanced at Fort. "The ambassador and I are concerned that we will end up with a shortage if things are not corrected soon."
The princess dropped the page back where she found it.
"Numbers and figures bore me. I'm here to talk about something far more treacherous." Seishan's gaze narrowed. "And one way or another, I will find out the truth."