While Reiner didn't find Kuno, Kuno found the admiral and stuck to him like glue throughout most of his inspection of the base and several meetings. There was one with only Angevin and the base commander, and everyone assumed that there was screaming or violence going on behind the thick walls and the High Sentinel's warding, though both emerged unscathed and calm for another leg of the inspection.
The feeling was not universal, but it seemed as though many soldiers had begun to think of those wards as akin to the scientific use of magic that helped fuel airships and such. Sure, Angevin had taken a Rune, but all it did was protect. It had protected the Windworks, had protected airships and bases, and anyway, he had the best minds of the Order as well as his genius of a brother-in-law ensuring that the corruption was contained.
One who had imbibed a bit too much even posited that someday, Zaichaeri progress might advance such that the deleterious effects of a Rune could be side-stepped or repaired such that even Runes could become tools for their science. Nobody agreed with him outright, but nobody made a big show of disagreeing with him either. This, at least, came from Lessnau, whom he trusted implicitly.
Later, he would hear reports from Kuno and Reiner.
While they could have flown home in the dark, Angevin opted to keep them there overnight, giving airmen and ground pounders more opportunity to fraternize. From what he remembered of long patrols, anything to break up the monotony was good for morale and morale was important as they continued to climb out of the trough dug by rift and eclipse.
He slept in quarters on the ground, allowing Reiner free rein. He broke his fast there, spoke to lesser officers and enlisted men. It was nearing noon when he embarked once more, orders given to prepare for flight.
Eitan did hope Reiner hadn't gotten lost somewhere.
