"We're here," Ember said. I watched out the window as we slowed to a stop. A forest of ivory tents littered the clearing in the forest. Trees invaded the corners of the camp. A few larger tents stood at the center of camp.

A few soldiers stopped what they were doing and gazed at our carriages in open curiosity. I glanced forward and saw Iric was jumping off his horse and handing the reigns to a young dewlos.

Ember pulled open the door and jumped out, shouting his greetings to a few soldiers he must have known.

"After you," Jack said softly and gestured for me to exit. I jumped out and took a deep breath. The air smelled of fire, horses, and pine. A few soldiers looked at me curiously, noting the bracers on my wrists. I wore a spinne around my arm and noted more than a few soldiers who wore it as well.

Would Anthony wear one?

Most of the soldiers were wearing a plain tunic, but three wearing dress uniforms stepped through the crowd to meet Lord and Lady Strapos.

My eyes scanned the soldiers who had popped out to see the new arrivals. I didn't see him.

"C'mon, Naomi," Jack said softly, pushing me forward. "Ember is moving, and we move with him." I nodded and saw that Ember had connected with his mother briefly and was moving deeper into the camp. The Sam was close behind him and I followed, Jack taking the rear.

"The Nomars will be here shortly," Ember said tersely, weaving between tents and fires.

"The Nomars?" Jack asked. "Why? Surely they are not going to insist they negotiate the peace?"

Ember nodded. "That is exactly what they aim to do. They recently passed a law that their officials should handle the peace negotiations. It is my family's job to fight, not to negotiate."

Sam scoffed. "That's ridiculous. Do they know your mother?"

"Apparently not. I cannot imagine a single Nomar completing this deal. The amount of tightrope walking my mother has done is ridiculous. For them to sweep in and either steal the success or ruin the deal—it's dishonorable," he said. He said the last word as if it were a curse.

"What are the generals going to do?" Jack asked.

Ember stopped in front of a tent and pushed the canvas aside, revealing a simple room inside with a wooden beam in the middle. Sam ducked in and Jack's presence behind me told me I should as well.

"They aren't sure yet. One of the Nomars will be arriving today to give us more details."

Ember turned to me. "Naomi, you should rest before tonight. Can you sleep during the day?" he asked. "If not..."

"I can sleep anytime."

Again, a hint of disappointment flashed over his face. "Rest. Night will be here in a few hours."

I nodded and glanced around the tent. "Where should I sleep?" I asked.

He nodded to the bed in the tent. "Space is limited," he said. "Jack and Sam will sleep in the Slate quarters, but as the only female in the camp, you may do better here."

I wanted to fight back, but I knew the risks of entering a soldier's sleeping tent. Someone was bound to confuse me for a doxie.

"Naomi, if any point you are uncomfortable, please let me know and I can have you sent back. There is only so much I can do."

I nodded and Ember went to sit down at a desk at one side. Jack and Sam stood in the corner after Sam gently healed him. Ember nodded his thanks.

I was supposed to sleep now? With them all here? I glanced down at my clothes and decided to stay in them—I would find a suitable place to change and bathe later.

I went over to the bed and pulled back the covers slowly. Ember glanced at me, as if expecting me to back out. To say that I wanted to go back. To go back to a place where I could sleep alone safely.

I gave him a small smile, imitating the courage that Amarilla possessed. I shut my eyes, anticipating to lay awake until it was time for Ember to rest.

Instead, I awoke in darkness, sleepiness clinging to my eyes.

"Noble! I thought you were still up north!" Ember exclaimed.

"Well, when father calls..." a new voice said, laughing.

"Here, let's talk outside the tent," Ember said, lowering his voice. I blinked and saw the tent was lit by a few candles and Ember was at the door of the tent with someone else standing there.

I locked sleepy eyes with the newcomer.

"I didn't take you for someone to have a doxie," the new person said.

"She's not," Ember said, voice turning a bit harder. "She a new Slate, c'mon outside. Let's talk about this new law..."

I rubbed my eyes, heart pounding in embarrassment. At least I hadn't woken up sobbing. I didn't know how long I was asleep, but night had clearly fallen. I pushed the covers off me, face flushed from the man's doxie comment. At least Ember had clarified.

I reached up and felt my hair slipping out of my braids. I undid them and swiftly retied them, pulling a Slate ribbon from my pocket and spinning my hair into a bunch at the top of my head.

I slid off the bed and pulled the covers back to a normal position. I glanced around for water but saw nothing. There was so much about this camp I needed to learn.

I shook off the last bit of sleepiness and checked to ensure I still looked like a Slate, albeit one without a magestone. I did. I slid out of the tent, hoping to find someone who might be able to point me to water.

Instead, I ran into Ember and the new man, engaged in a low conversation.

"Oh!" I exclaimed, jumping back. "Apologies," I said, slipping back into the tent.

"Slate!" the man called. "Please, return."

I hesitantly stepped back out. "I did not mean to interrupt."

"What is it that you need?" Ember asked softly.

"Water," I confessed.

"Here," the man said. "Take some of mine." He pulled a bottle skin from his pack and lifted it to me. Ember's face turned dark.

I took it gratefully, curious who this person was. He was a bit disheveled from his journey, heavy pack on his back. I opened the skin and took a deep drink, careful not to drink it all.

"Thank you," I said and returned it to him.

"Noble," he introduced. "And you are..."

"Naomi," I said.

"Ah, another N. My brothers all start with an N. Nile and Notion." Why did those sound familiar?

"Naomi," Ember cut in. "This is Noble Nomar."

My eyes went wide, and I almost spit out the water I had just swallowed. A Nomar? My eyes roved over him. He had messy dirty blonde hair and square jaw. A Nomar? One of the Three?

Noble smacked Ember. "This man," Noble said to me, "is the worst wingman." I nodded nervously, glancing at Ember. "Please, I mean no harm. A last name can be an intimidating thing, I understand. How is it that you ended up working for Ember?"

He asked. I opened my mouth, still in shock. I don't think I could answer even if I wanted to.

"Wait," Noble said. "Naomi. Is this one who saved your sister?" he asked Ember, excitement filling his eyes.

Ember nodded curtly, eyeing Noble warily.

Noble laughed. "What a pleasure," he said, taking my hand and kissing the top of it gently. "This is how he repays you?" he asked me, eyes alight with amusement. "By making you work for him?"

"I ask to," I managed. "Forgive me. I was not expecting you to say that," I confessed. I would have never taken his water.

He waved it off. "Nothing to forgive. It was a pleasure to meet you," he said again, nodding at me.

"You, too," I blubbered and stepped back into the tent. A Nomar. What in the world was I getting myself into? I just wanted to find Anthony.

A few minutes later, Ember entered with Sam and Jack at his back. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"He's one of the Three," I said.

"So am I," Ember said dismissively.

"Yes, well. If it makes you feel better, I am equally freaked out around you."

Jack smiled at my honesty, and I bit my tongue. I was a Slate.

"You dislike him?" I asked Ember.

Ember shook his head. "No. Noble and I are old friends. Of the Nomars, he is the least egregious."

"There seemed to be some tension," I said simply.

He nodded. "Mayhap there was. I am getting ready to rest. Are you fit for tonight?" This was his last chance to get rid of me.

"I'm ready."