Kai and Noble flew over the city with barely a word being spoken. Between the air whizzing past them and the murmur below on the streets as people spotted Saint Kai, there was not much silence left to fill.
At last, Kai coughed.
"I apologize if this causes you inconvenience, Master Noble. I really should have thought this through a little more before we headed out."
"What do you mean?" Noble gave him a strange look, causing Kai to blush.
"It's nothing. Only some of the people below seem to have gotten the wrong idea. I would hate for anyone to have nasty words to say about you or Ambassador Fort. I really should have grabbed a scarf to disguise my face!"
Noble turned away to hide her grin.
"With all due respect, I don't think even the best scarf can hide your identity when you are flying over the city."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, I suppose you are right."
"But to settle your mind, please don't worry about me. We are on legitimate business, and I will be sure to tell anyone who asks as much. Plus, everyone knows you take dates above the clouds before leaving the city. This level of visibility just isn't your style." Noble felt Kai's emotions spike.
"…Everybody knows that?"
"Well, maybe not everyone." Noble winced. "Don't take it to heart. You are very important to Ravenheart and all of humanity. That's why so many people are fascinated by everything you do."
"And here I thought it was my looks and previous music career." Kai gazed at the sky dramatically.
"Those would be contributing factors as well, yes." Noble was glad that Saint Nightingale was a good sport.
Many actors and famous artists were known to be temperamental, but Noble had never had anything but positive interactions with the charming archer. It was a credit to him that fame hadn't brought with it the ego to match.
The pair managed to leave behind the gates and venture out into the open countryside. Now their task truly began. It was time to get serious.
"Do you know the path that any of the caravans were supposed to take to get here?"
'Oh no, is he looking for me to give him directions?' Noble froze for a moment.
"The ones I know about were coming from southern citadels. I was just planning to head south and see what I could find. There was a spot past the Ash Plains that I wanted to investigate, but I am not certain of the exact location. Beyond that…" Realizing how her plan sounded, she adjusted quickly. "Of course, if you know the trade routes, we can head along one of those. It might prove more fruitful."
"I think the main southern road is the widest and most traveled. We can head that way until we reach the split and go from there." Kai offered.
"That's a wonderful idea."
It was likely that all of the merchants had started in different places on their journey to Ravenheart, but most would have ended up on the widest road by the end. It was as good a place to start as any.
"You can sense emotions, right?" Kai waited as the woman nodded. "How far is your range?"
Noble hesitated. She didn't want to lie to him, but she also knew that giving him the full extent of her power would be admitting they were far beyond what a Master was capable of doing.
"It is pretty wide in all directions, but I've never measured the exact range. If I know the person's emotional signature, I can focus and look solely for them in an even wider area. Unfortunately, I don't think I knew any of the traders personally, so adding that detail wasn't exactly helpful."
Kai graced her with a winsome smile. "Still, it is very interesting. And I think combined we can cover more ground than either of us alone. I can see very long distances, but obviously my eyes can only look in one direction at a time. With you being able to sweep on either side emotionally, we can cover a wider area in a single pass."
"And if I feel something I cannot see, you can check it out before we head that way. It's a solid plan." Noble was already glad she hadn't left alone. "Lead the way."
The handsome Saint shot her a curious glance.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel like I took over your expedition."
"I am certain. Even on a good day, I'm, shall we say, directionally challenged. It will save us both a lot of frustration if you know the route and take the lead."
Kai smiled to the point his cheeks dimpled. "Directionally challenged? That's not a term I was previously familiar with, but it does paint a picture. Very well. Follow me."
The handsome archer veered left, and Noble reacted in kind. In what felt like a few heartbeats, they were hovering over a wide paved road that led far into the distance.
"I'll mostly scan the road and either side of it." Kai directed his gaze forward.
"I'll feel for the wider area, then." His companion nodded.
Noble released the tight radius she often kept and allowed her area of influence to naturally expand. She was careful not to push the boundary and expend too much essence so early. That would be a poor use of resources. A middle ground was best.
Like this, the pair began their search in earnest. The road that afternoon was empty this close to Ravenheart. That wasn't too surprising since most people returned closer to sunset.
Kai set off at a brisk pace, though not quite so fast as when he was wanting to leave the crazed fans in the city behind.
After a few moments, Saint Nightingale seemed troubled.
Noble glanced at him. "What is it? Do you see something?"
The handsome man shook his head.
"No. It's nothing…"
"Saint Kai, you might be known for being able to discern the truth, but I have ways of gleaning falsehoods myself as well." Noble arched her brow.
Kai sighed. "I wanted to ask if you have heard from Rain, but I realized that would put you in a difficult position. Either you'll have to lie to me, tell me the truth and hope I don't tell Song, or give me bad news."
"That is a problem. I appreciate you not asking then." Noble turned her face toward the sun and let the sun and wind dry the water threatening to fall from her eyes.
"If I may, I will just say that she's a wonderful young woman. I don't know if you remember, but I gave her some archery lessons back when I was a Master."
"I remember quite well." Noble couldn't exactly remember how the situation had come about, but it had been quite a shocking turn of events.
"Rain was a natural. And she never swooned like most girls her age." Kai smiled.
"You didn't see her when we went to one of your last concerts. She has her moments." Noble remembered how willful and carefree that night had been.
"You went to one of my concerts?" Kai's cheeks dimpled for the second time.
"Uh, yes, for Rain…mostly," Noble added belatedly as her ears burned.
"I am glad Rain enjoyed it." Kai grinned knowingly, causing the woman's cheeks to flush even more in embarrassment.
'I can't let him get the wrong idea!'
While she was still formulating her defence, Noble vaguely sensed that there were people on the horizon just beyond the upcoming fork in the road. She breathed a sigh of relief. 'Saved by the travelers!'
"Some people are coming."
She pointed, but Kai was looking in a very different direction. He was no longer smiling.
"What is it?"
Kai's frown deepened. "Blood."