The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

"Work? Oh yes, that! Tell me everything I need to know. Unless all I need to know is how to pick up and drop off papers— I've been doing that for years!" Teddy beamed. 

She was right. Teddy was quirky but she was very good at making sure her work was completed. Noble knew that she would do a good job.

"It is mostly delivering papers, yes. I have a Memory that I use to ensure the documents get back and forth from the Dream Realm without issue. I can transfer it to you..." Noble paused. 

The note from Sunny and the report's original wrapping were still in there!

"...after I give Fort the papers from today." 

Teddy took another bite, talking around her food. "I don't need it. I got a Memory in the Nightmare that will work for bringing things back and forth to the boss-man, even if it is a little unconventional." 

'What in two worlds qualifies as unconventional for her?!' Noble was afraid to ask. 

"That's good. You should work out with Fort the delivery times. He would know better than I do what he needs." 

"I can't wait to tell him I'm Awakened! He will be so surprised." Teddy's eyes glistened with anticipation. 

"You didn't tell him you were going? Fort must be worried sick!" 

Noble could imagine how much her husband would be concerned for his assistant. He had felt personally responsible for her since she came to Ravenheart and checked on her often. 

Teddy waved off her concern.

"He should be fine. I told him I was taking some personal days. I just didn't explain that it was for Sushi." 

Sighing, Noble tried to get the conversation back on track. "I will inform him of the developments when I get home. Please come by for a meal before Monday so we can iron out the details." 

"Will you be having sushi?" The new courier asked. 

Noble frowned. Fish, even the synthetic kind, wasn't exactly her favorite. "Probably not." 

Tapping her chin, Teddy hummed softly. "That's ok. I'll bring my own. I can do that now!" 

"Yes, yes you can..." Noble turned her attention to Zeth, who was taking in the whole scene with mild amusement. "I should be on my way soon. Do you have the contracts?" 

Zeth's jovial expression faded. "Ah, yes I do. I have some good news. Clan Song came down on the price for the land." 

"I don't understand why they should charge at all. They don't own the Dream Realm, do they?" Teddy rested her chin on her palm. 

"When in the Song Domain, we should do as their Sovereign asks." Zeth shrugged. 

Queen Ki Song was protecting the people of Ravenheart and beyond from the influence of the Spell. Angering her or those under her was not only unwise, it was dangerous. 

The clerk pulled up the paperwork on his datapad and began going over the details. "I have already secured the signatures of the necessary members of the Song Clan and the government. You will be allotted this portion of land. Here are the boundaries and the expectations for how the land will be used."

Zeth pulled out the schematics that Noble and a few others had made. Referencing the buildings and their placement, he pointed out the parameters that were agreed upon by both parties.

"Will I get a copy of this?" Noble knew better than to trust her sense of direction especially when it came to permanent construction.

"Once you sign your portion, I will print all of this for you to take with you," Zeth confirmed.

'What a relief! Not sure even my Clarity would have been enough to get me through.'

They continued through the document with the third member of the group looking on.

Once she finished her food, the young woman got on her datapad to take notes. Or at least that is what Noble assumed the young woman was doing. With Teddy, one could never be sure.

Finally, they reached the section on funding.

"I guess the Chancellor signed off on my offer," Noble smiled.

Zeth was confused by her words. "It was Director Luna of the Eastern Quadrant who has been the champion of your cause. She picked up on the project almost immediately and has been watching it closely to make sure things run smoothly." 

"Director Luna?" Noble remembered the lady that she had first seen on the screen at the Awakened Academy on that fateful day that the Sovereigns appeared.

Luna had been present via video conference in the preliminary meetings, but the director had only seemed passingly interested.

'I guess I am not a good reader of emotions when I can't feel them myself.'

Zeth nodded. "The Director loves what you are doing and from what I have seen, she is pushing for a similar model to be built inside Bastion. Director Luna is the one who redistributed funding for you to get the desired location. She is a kind person and a very hard worker."

Zeth pressed his lips together. 

Noble smiled softly.

"Don't worry. I will not take her faith or kindness for granted. I will pay back what is owed. Exactly how much will I owe for this little slice of Dream Realm?"

Zeth adjusted his collar. "Uh the final figure is right—"

A knock at the door cut him off before he finished his statement.

"We're busy!" Teddy called to the interloper.

Yet the door still opened. A man with a long nose peeked in.

"There you are, Teddy!"

"Here I am but why are you here?" Teddy scrunched her face.

"We are a little busy just now," Zeth tried not to sound as annoyed as he felt.

"I understand, but I also know how much Teddy hates surprises, so I came to find her and let her know." The man shrugged. 

"Let me know what?" The plucky Awakened looked perturbed for the first time since the meeting began.

"Saint Kai is coming down the hall. He's asking everyone the same set of bizarre questions about Nobody. Seems like some weird quirk to me. Anyway, I wanted to give you a head's up in case he came by here."

"Nightingale is looking for Nobody? Here!?" Teddy looked excitedly at Zeth.

"Whoever that is…" the long-nosed man was confused by her enthusiasm.

"Have you been living under a rock today? Even Noble has heard of Nobody! Haven't you?" Teddy tilted her head at the professor.

Noble simply nodded.

"Well, I was able to answer honestly that I didn't know anything, so he moved on quickly. I can see I'm not appreciated here, so I'll get back to work."

The door shut.

"Saint Kai thinks that this Nobody is here?" Zeth scratched his chin contemplatively.

"This is the best day ever!" Teddy clapped her hands.

"I hate to put a damper on the enthusiasm, but we still have work to finish. Let me sign the papers and I'll get out of your way." Noble barely held her neutral smile.

Zeth frowned. "But we haven't talked about…"

"I can look over the last bit later…" The professor spun her fingers in the air to get him to hurry.

When he did not immediately comply, she scrolled down and added her name on the appropriate line.

"If that is all," Noble rose with a glance to the hall.

She was running out of time!

"It all looks in order. Let me print it out for you to take with you." Zeth clicked and the machine in one corner whirred to life. 

The first line was printed and then the second.

'Come on. Come on. COME ON!'

Each synthetic page looked like it might take an eternity to print.

'Was this thing made in the dark ages?!'

Noble willed the papers to come faster, but the ink continued its steady stream without paying her any mind.

The final page began to spit out the signatures so that the professor could be on her way.

Alas, it was too late.