The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

When it was time to continue on their journey, Flint was no closer to removing the belt. As a result, he and Orrin were forced to switch places.

Flint could have been grateful that he was riding instead of walking, but gratitude was not at the forefront of his mind. His obnoxious comments could be heard at regular intervals.

Fortunately, even his sour attitude could not affect the beauty of the woods. They were pristine, looking like what the Waking World would have long ago. Unlike there, war had not ravaged this forest. Depending on how close she was to Bastion, much of this area would be cut and burned away to defeat the Tyrant in the future.

For now, it was peaceful. And the ride, overall, was quite pleasant.

Sitting next to Noble, Syrce was earnest in her desire to know her blonde companion. Her words and actions, though odd at times, were sincere.

Child of Promise found the Saint disarming. She had to mentally keep up her guard.

'No one becomes that powerful by being weak. These soldiers follow her without question. I cannot take her kindness for granted.'

So Noble listened to every word spoken by the mossy-haired noblewoman, soaking in as much information as her Clarity would allow.

Just now, Syrce was gently holding the reins as she reminisced.

"I wasn't meant for all of this, you know. My parents raised three gentle ladies who should have married and had quiet lives. But that wasn't meant to be. The war required all of our best. And our king and most of the nobility answered the call. They never returned."

The Saint did not say how old she was, but no matter her age, the wounds still felt fresh to Noble.

"I am sorry."

Child of Promise knew what it was like to lose loved ones. Her father had died when she was still a teenager. Before that, she had witnessed the deaths of her extended family from afar. And then there was Seb...that death had been particularly hard on her soul.

Blinking away a tear, Syrce smiled. "When the dust settled, my sisters and I were all anyone had left. We rallied, of course. Just because we were raised gently did not mean we had no strength. We ruled in harmony, the three of us. There was a beauty to it. Things were fine for a while, until they weren't."

"What happened?" Noble knew the three had separated, but not the circumstances that had led to their parting.

The Saint shrugged.

"What else? The end of the world."

The pair of Pink Ones began to squabble, and Syrce sighed and flicked the reins. When they settled into their usual rhythm, she continued in a subdued tone.

"First was the creatures. Not Imagination's, but the wild ones. The first waves seemed like they were fleeing, searching out humanity for safety. They came out of the woods, refusing to return. We sent some scouts to investigate, but none of the men ever returned.

"Then...new, hideous beasts flocked to our cities and towns, attacking our homes. The monsters ravaged what was left of our population. We sometimes had corrupted creatures in the past, but never in such numbers or with such overwhelming power. When the darkness and its abominations came to devour us in the night, my sisters and what was left of the army met them with all our might.

"Lyra and I fought valiantly, but we were wounded by a monster that had no body, only claws and teeth. If not for Maelys and her Crimson Sword, all might have been lost. We barely survived the night. In the morning, we came to a decision.

"We would not let our world be consumed by the darkness. We gathered the people from all over the land. Lyra took them to the coast, where they would have a defensive advantage. Maelys and I went to find the answer to save our land and our people. We sought any kind of help we could get. I traveled by land, and she went by sea."

"Your sister is on the Stormsea?" Noble furrowed her brow.

What answers could she possibly find in the water? People once lived on the colossal ship that now served as the Great Citadel for the House of Night. Maybe that was who she sought?

"Stormsea? Is that what you call it? But it is so calm when I have seen it." Syrce blew a strand back from her face as she contemplated the name. "Yes, my sister went to sea. Her trip was memorable to say the least."

Her gaze became far off.

"Why? What did she find?" Flint asked after an extended silence.

Since his grumbling had ceased, Noble figured he had been listening for some time. Still, hearing his voice was startling.

The Saint laughed lightly. "You act as if this is the first time you have heard this story!"

"He just wants to share in my anticipation," Noble nodded. "What happened at sea?"

"While my first trip across the land came up empty, Maelys found an island that held deep secrets. She sent back her fastest ship with a message and a few relics to guide us on our journey. When Lyra heard the news, she sent for me straight away." Syrce patted the necklace around her neck.

"Maelys did not come back with the ship?"

Noble arched her brow. If the quest was complete, why had the noblewoman remained?

"There was a price to pay for the knowledge. Until my quest is complete, Maelys will remain on the distant shore. I have spent all this time finding the shards to repair what was broken. My adventure to the North makes everything complete."

"So that is why you said your sister will come home soon." Noble was beginning to place the pieces together.

"Until then, I will just keep speaking to her from afar. Our next meeting will be a most joyful occasion, will it not?" Syrce's face beamed. 

Noble nodded. While she had no sister, her recent reunion was full of happiness.

'Could this be the crux of the Nightmare?'

It was possible, but then why hadn't Noble and the others been thrown back before Syrce went on her great quest?

Searching for these shards sounded like it had been a harrowing ordeal.

Unless there was some large adventure yet to come, Noble had just come in on the tail end of this heroine's quest to reunite her family.

'And save the world from darkness," Noble reminded herself.

That part of the story had been the most interesting, but also the most vague. Was the darkness a metaphor, a physical being, a mystical presence, or something else entirely?

"You mentioned darkness…" Noble felt the cart bump up against her rear as it bounced across a ditch in the path. She winced in pain.

"Oh, dear Bel! Does it hurt you to talk about it? I won't mention it again!" Syrce covered her mouth with one finger.

"No!" Noble felt her opportunity slipping away. "I was going to ask what the darkness was."

"You are a Realm Walker, and you don't know about the darkness? Is that another thing that left your little head during your fall?" Syrce clicked her tongue. "If you don't remember, you will find out soon enough. I won't hasten that memory for you."

Syrce squinted before continuing.

"And speaking of darkness, it seems that night is upon us."

As they reached a break in the forest canopy, the first stars were beginning to peek out on the horizon.

Noble's eyes opened wide.

"What is that?!"