"I'll be back." Noble raced out of her home. If she had stayed a moment longer, she would have heard her boys' desire to join her.
Not that they could have, Noble was far too fast for them when she was in a hurry. And Noble was certainly in a hurry now. Rather than navigate her way to the Ministry of Transport, Noble tugged on her connection to her husband and flew directly over the buildings. He was almost to the structure by the wall when Noble caught up with him.
"Fort!"
The man slowed his rapid pace and turned. "Bee, I assumed you would stop by the house first..."
"Is that why you tugged like you needed me at home and then tried to control your emotions ever since?"
Noble had felt his emotional game but had refused to believe it. Looking at his face and feeling his emotions, she knew that his actions had indeed been intentional. She sighed. While she couldn't really blame him, she was still frustrated.
"I already went by the house, and the boys spilled the beans. Were you really going to see Virt without me?"
"Yes. Sorry, I didn't want to worry you until I knew more." Fort shook his head.
"Don't you think it would be a little weird for you to answer a note clearly meant for me?" Noble lowered her voice. "Virt doesn't know who Rani is to us..."
The ambassador's shoulders slumped. "I had planned to say you were out and that I thought I would stop by and get the message for you, but now that I think about it, that would have sounded rather odd. It was sent to our house so he would know how far I came."
Fort rubbed his forehead. And Noble pressed his shoulder lightly.
"I know your heart was in the right place. Let's get the news together."
"Before we get there, I have to know." The ambassador looked at her. "Is Ra--Rani alright? I mean, is she alive?"
Noble nodded. "I felt for her quite a few times on my way here. The connection is weak, but it is there. She must be very far away. All I can feel is her exhaustion."
"Is she in pain?" Fort furrowed his brow.
"Probably, but I cannot get that from her at this distance. That or she is just too tired to care." Noble wasn't sure which to hope for.
Her mind went many places as she wondered what Virt would tell them. There was no use speculating when they could ask the source.
Outside the Ministry of Transport, Virt was pushing a broken wagon away from the entrance when he spotted Noble and Fort. Seeing them draw near, he walked toward them with a solemn expression.
"Master Noble, I am glad you could make it. And Ambassador Fort, I did not expect to see you. But I am glad you are here."
"We came as soon as we got your message." Noble pressed her lips together.
"And I reached out as soon as the survivors arrived. I figured you would want to know. I didn't get the official paperwork that Rani had been assigned to this survey team until after she had already left the main camp. For your sake, I never would have approved it. I am so sorry."
Around the entrance of the building, a couple of tattered wagons and their meager supplies leaned against the wall. Beside them, a large dog-like echo waited silently with its ears back and tail still. Fort watched the creature warily as he tried to remain calm.
"What happened?"
Virt glanced at the wolf with a pitiable expression.
"He won't hurt you. If anything, he's the one who's hurting." The man sighed. "You want to know what happened? I'll let you hear it from the source. They mentioned Rani almost as soon as they arrived, or I wouldn't have realized it was her crew so quickly."
Virt waved them forward into the building.
Inside the lobby, a grim scene was waiting for them. People were sitting on stretchers or in chairs, waiting with exhaustion in their eyes. The ones closest to death were being tended to by healers, while those suffering from frostbite or exposure to the elements were being given blankets and warm drinks.
The foyer looked more like a hospital and an office complex, but Noble understood that it was easier to bring the healers to the wounded than continue to cart the weary workers through the crowded streets. While a few would still need to be taken for more serious medical care, the worst for the crew was finally over.
Noble's gaze was immediately drawn to a young woman who was helping one of the mundane members of the survey crew with the pain in his body. While she couldn't reverse the damage done, she was easing the fatigue he had, so more of his body's resources could be used for healing.
Beside her, a young man was touching her shoulder lightly and urging her to take a sip of water.
"You can't take care of others until you have cared for yourself." He reminded her.
Although Noble could not feel his emotion, she could see the concern written all over his face.
"I'm almost done!" The girl assured him, the dirt still caked on her face.
"You have to take a sip! You are dehydrated!"
"Fleur! Ray!" Noble interrupted the pair, startling them.
"Professor Noble?" Fluer took her hand off her patient and turned. Ray seized the opportunity to force a cup into the young woman's palm.
"What are you doing here?" Ray was elbowed by Fleur as she took a sip. "I mean, we weren't expecting to see you, ma'am."
"Ah, you know each other?" Virt shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised. You know everyone, Master Noble." He turned to Fleur and Ray. "If you are up for it, could you tell Noble and Ambassador Fort what happened?"
Ray furrowed his brow. "I thought you took our statement already. Do we have to make another?"
Virt held up his hand. "Oh, no. This isn't a formal visit, but a personal one. This couple knows one of the members of your crew." He addressed Noble. "Awakened Fleur and Awakened Ray were on the survey team with Rani."
"Rani?!" Fleur's voice cracked. She looked at Ray
"You want to know what happened?" The young man touched his brow. "We were attacked from a gorge by something with far too many hands. Tamar jumped to attack, and we tried to help her. Rani should have run. She's only mundane, and that thing, it was just too powerful. But she stayed and fought. Everything happened so fast. It went sideways, and before we knew it, everything was being dragged into the canyon, including Tamar and Rani."
Ray paused, his expression grim. He rubbed the back of his neck as he continued.
"I don't know how to tell you this, but I don't see how she could have survived that fall. It was so high, and the creature fell with her. If it died, then she certainly did too. If it survived and didn't follow us, then it must have found something else worth its attention. Either way, Rani is gone. I'm so sorry."