Chapter 207: CHAPTER 207- UNKNOWN RECONNECTION

Evelyn stepped back, her eyes wide, “What? You knew my mother?”

Alaster nodded with a smirk, “And your father.”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes in suspicion, “How?”

“Long ago, your parents did something for me of such importance that I swore that I would protect them. I had been around your family for many years. I was even there, waiting with your father, when your mother gave birth to you.”

Everything Alaster said was the truth. He had known he wouldn’t be able to lie to her, so he had prepared to misdirect her and everyone else.

The Duke and his son, noticing that something was wrong, walked forward.

“Is everything alright?” Luke asked, casting accusing glares at Alaster.

“Lord Ashborn was just telling me that he knew my parents.” Evelyn explained.

The Duke’s eyes widened slightly, the grip on his champaign tightening slightly, but his voice remained steady, “How so?”

Evelyn opened her mouth to answer, but Alaster beat her to it, “I owe her parents a debt. I held the family dear to me.”

“Their passing must have been hard for you.” The Duke said solemnly.

“More than you will ever know.” Alaster said, memories briefly overwhelming him as an animalistic growl wormed its way into his words.

“I was away at the time,” Alaster continued, “By the time I returned, it was too late. I have spent the last several years trying to locate their daughter.” Alaster said to Evelyn.

“So, you came here just for her?” Luke asked, still defensive.

Duke Redmond was just as curious, though for different reasons.

Alaster looked around him dramatically, “If I had showed up in front of the Castle Gates saying any of this, your guards would have arrest me. Or at least, they would have tried. This way, I get invited in, and can protect her while also doing some good for the people who have treated me well.”

“She is under protection of the Duke of Lissura. There isn’t anywhere else she would be better protected.” Luke proudly stated.

Alaster leaned in, “Little duke, I know you and her regularly go out Monster Hunting, as you should, but the Duke only has two dozen of his agents watching over you and her. Of those two dozen, only three are Experts, and none are geared or trained for direct conflict.

I learned all that in less than two days, without an established network. I have under my direct command over twenty battle hardened Experts and over forty, just as experienced, Adepts. Had I desired, I could have wiped out your entire escort, and taken or killed your entire party before any reinforcements could arrive from Zolis.

So no, your protection is not enough.”

Luke’s face turned red but the Duke’s was one of curiosity and intrigue.

“So then why didn’t you?” The Duke asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Why didn’t you just take her away?”

“I actually considered it. I really did. But then I saw how she interacted with the rest of her party. Evelyn enjoys being here. I promised her father that I would protect his family. I failed once, I won’t again. So as long as she desires to remain, I will ensure that she can.”

“What about your duties as the delegate sent by the Independent Alliance?” Luke asked, calming down.

“My oath to her family came before my oath to the Alliance. I will do my best to uphold both, but Lady Evelyn will came first. The Alliance knows this and they respect it. Which is why I do not speak for them.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

They have informed me of their wishes, so tomorrow, when Duke Redmond and I sit down to discuss these matters, I will relay these wishes, do the beginning work of diplomacy, and relay what happens to the Alliance.

If things go well, then the Alliance will send their official Diplomats.”

“So the Alliance didn’t even send their own people? Many would say that was dishonest.” Luke smirked, feeling as if he had gotten a leg up on the Lord.

“Exactly right boy.” Alaster chuckled, “It is, but that’s the entire point. The Alliance is a newly formed faction on the global scale. The not so important Independent Cities are suddenly a global power. Most of the other Nations would want nothing more than to remove another factor before it became a problem.

The Alliance figured that since I was not one of their own, I could come and figure out which one the Kingdom of Lissura was. If I was taken advantage of, or disappeared, they would know.”

“Wouldn’t that be easier to accomplish if we didn’t know that was your purpose?” Luke chuckled.

Alaster stared down at the boy, “Now that I have located Evelyn and identified her circumstances, if I find that the person who has cared for her all these years has malicious intentions against a faction who has done nothing against him, she would wake up in a strange place one morning and he would not wake up at all.”

“Are threatening my father?” Fire filled his voice as he spoke.

Alaster shrugged, “Merely a warning.”

“How dar-”

Luke was interrupted by the deep belly laughter of his father.

Luke looked at him like he was insane and Evelyn merely sighed.

“You know Lord Ashborn, its been a long time since I met someone as fun as you. Sir, I believe you and I can do business. I shall look forward to our meeting tomorrow. Do enjoy the party, Lord Ashborn, but I must be going. I promised my wife that I would make a showing at the new ‘Golden Dragon’ play.

Apparently its supposed to be a good play,” The Duke leaned in like he was telling a secret, “just between you and I; I’ve never really cared for plays.”

Alaster chuckled, “Of course, go go. Don’t want to piss off the missus.”

The Duke smiled and raised his glass slightly before he drank what little there was left and walked away, leaving Luke and Evelyn with Alaster.

“Sooo,” Evelyn started warily, “If you knew my parents so well, how come I never saw you?”

The music changed once more and couples once again took to the dance floor.

Alaster smiled slightly, “Perhaps we can have this conversation on the balcony?”

Luke moved between the two, “I knew it, you’re a creep!”

“Luke, with all the respect granted as the son of the Duke, kindly shut up. As a friend of Evelyn, I have no issue talking in front of you, if she doesn’t. But please don’t push it.

I’m sure we can find a free table and a couple of chairs on the second balcony. If you would m’lady?”

“Alright, I’m curious. Lead the way Lord Ashborn.”

Alaster began to walk away, seeing Evelyn and a hesitant Luke follow behind through his Seeker Sight.

The four Forgotten in the Ballroom quietly followed behind at a distance. As Alaster reached the second balcony, they remained at the top of the stairs.

Alaster located a small table with four chairs, and walked over, taking a seat.

“Please, ask away. Keep in mind, there are some things I can’t tell you. But what I can, I will.”

Evelyn gracefully took a seat across from Alaster and Luke sat down next to her.

After they were all situated, Alaster spoke, “So you asked me how you never saw me. You did, you saw me quite frequently.”

“I feel like I would recognize you.”

“You would if I told you my name.”

“You want to tell me?”

Alaster smiled coyly, “Maybe someday, but not today. Lord Ashborn will do just fine, Ash will also work. I don’t really care. Unfortunately, I have more enemies than friends, so I would prefer to stay nameless.”

“Why do you have so many enemies?” Luke asked.

“Did you think power came without making enemies? The very idea of power creates enemies. My power was gained without harming anyone, I gained my power through exterminating…honestly a god-forsaken amount of Monsters. I have stood atop a mountain of monster corpses and looked out at a sea of Monsters.

Yet despite how I’ve never harmed anyone who did not attack me first, I still have enemies, merely because I was could have possibly stood in their way and refused to join them.

Power creates enemies, but without power, you have no way to protect yourself if someone decides to step on you or someone you love. So I grew in power, gaining enemies, becoming strong enough that most could not even hope to stand in my way.

As I grew stronger, so to did the people who believed themselves to be my enemy.”

“So then when will it stop?” Evelyn asked in little more than a whisper.

“I guess until people understand not to mess with me or the people I care about.”

“Are there many of those?”

“Who?”

“People you care about.”

“When I first started, there was only one, now? Now there are a handful more.”

Attempting to lighten the mood, Evelyn asked, “So what’s your favorite color?”

Alaster chuckled, not expecting a question like that, “I’m sorry?”

“Come on, everyone has a favorite color! If you know my family so well, maybe you even know mine?”

Alaster smiled, “If nothing has changed since you were nine, your favorite color is light blue. As for mine, lets play a game, if you can correctly guess it, at any time, I will tell you my name, on the stipulation, that you do not even utter it under your breath.”

Evelyn, always enjoying games, smiled as well, “Deal.”