The Duke stepped to the side and waved at the massive sprawling castle, “Welcome to Lissura, Lord Ashborn. We have prepared a tour of the grounds. Light refreshments will be available afterwards, and we have prepared a ball for later this evening to welcome you properly. If you wish, we may discuss official business in private tomorrow afternoon?”
Alaster put on his best fake smile, “That sounds wonderful. Though I am curious, who will be invited to the ball?”
“It will be an open invite for anyone of Noble Blood, in addition to a plus one. That might sound like a large gathering, and it would be, if they all came. We expect the participants to be larger than usual, due to your presence and their curiosity, but I doubt there will be more than three hundred people.”
Alaster nodded, “So what will you be showing me first?”
“Might as well start here! One of my aids will take over for me in a little bit as I could not completely clear my schedule for the day. But for now, I will be your guide.
Currently we are standing in the Julian Parade Grounds, named after General Julian who led Lissurian forces to defend the city of Krilla against barbarian invaders nearly five hundred years ago.
Now, it is used for the City Guard to practice drills or form up for announcements or marching out.”
Duke Redmond began leading Alaster through the gates, into the Royal Castle grounds, but stopped himself.
“Oh, I apologize, but if your men need to rest, we have reserved a small barracks where they can stay during your stay here. It also has its own stable. Of course, it is near to your own suite.”
“My men thank you.” Alaster said with a slight bow.
The Duke waved over a servant and order the man to lead the hooded Forgotten away. Of course, to retain an image, Alaster had four of them stay with him. The mounts of the four were taken away by the others.
Duke Redmond then went on to escort Alaster through the castle grounds, followed closely by most of the present Nobles. Some others walked away, their curiosity either sated or they had other matters to attend to.
While none of what the Duke was anything most other Nobles would really pay attention to, as they did not need to care, Alaster paid close attention to everything. There was still much that remained unknown to him. Every bit of information was a blessing, and if his enemy was willing to give him that blessing, he would take it.
However, while the Duke spoke, Alaster began to periodically release Shadow Assassins. The magical defenses preventing his Shadows to enter the castle were largely focused on the exterior. While there were still many places within the castle that had defenses, Alaster still hoped to covered most of the area with his spies.
He attempted to attach a Shadow to the Duke’s own, but something prevented it, the Shadow bounced off, almost alerting one of the other Nobles. Alaster suspected that the Duke had an enchanted item that prevented it, but it was not as if he could merely ask the man.
Half an hour later, Duke Redmond was explaining the history of a large statue in an interior courtyard when Alaster felt a multitude of his Shadows erased from existence. He became alert and tense, though he expertly hid it behind the cool smile that the Duke had begun to connect with ‘Lord Ashborn’.
A few minutes passed without any thing happening. Alaster droned out the Duke’s speech, intently searching for any threat, but found none. That is, until he felt his insides twist and spasm in agony. But it was not just Alaster that was impacted. The air seemed to glow and grow lighter.
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Duke Redmond stopped mid-sentence and turned in the direction of the source, “Sir Castiel, what a pleasure.”
Even as inexperienced as Alaster was at the political game, he could tell that the smile on the Duke’s face was tense.
Alaster took a deep breath, even as his body continued to revolt, and turned to the newcomer.
Sir Castiel brushed his blonde hair back with one hand as he spoke, “I see the diplomat from the new Independent Alliance has arrived.”
“Lord Ashborn, at your service.” Alaster introduced himself with a small courteous bow.
“I am Sir Castiel, the Saint and messenger sent from the Gods to aid the glorious Lissurian Kingdom in the coming dark days.” The man said, bowing deeply with his arms swung out to the side.
“The Gods?” Alaster snickered, “Pardon me, but it is my understanding that the Gods have not spoken to any of their Followers for the last decade or more. It is also my understanding that the Gods have never before worked together, at least not all of them. So forgive me, but what Gods exactly do you serve as a messenger for?” Alaster said with a tilted head and raised eyebrow.
The guards and Nobles stood, stunned that someone would dare question the Saint. The smile on the Duke’s face turned genuine and full of humor, especially as the smile on Sir Castiel’s face grew tight.
“Nothing to forgive. All you have said is true. However, never before has the world faced such a threat. The Gods had deemed it necessary to put aside their quarrels to face this threat as a unified force.”
“And what is this threat? This threat they have apparently decided important enough to work together, but not important enough to inform their own followers?”
“They have not deigned to inform me. Perhaps it is not the right time?”
“So without informing their own followers, they have sent you to aid the Kingdom of Lissura? Yet while I traveled to this capital of Zolis, I encountered the makings of a Monster Horde. I fought. My men fought. The Soldiers of this Kingdom fought. Yet I did not see you there. For someone who claims to be here to protect, you did not seem to care much for the innocent men, women, and children, that were torn apart by monsters.”
The stunned silence became crushing. It was already unbelievable to question the Saint, but to accuse him? It was unthinkable. Even the Duke had not dared to do so. His cousin, the King, had welcomed the Saint, so the Duke had to as well. But here was a man who held no oath to the King. Here was a man who questioned the Saint.
“I understand your worries, and I feel for their pain. I pray for them. But I am not here to combat Monsters. If the Gods had sent the Monsters, there is a reason, and as mortals, we have no right to question them.”
“To question is to know. If you do not question your Gods, how can you possibly claim to know them?”
“I do not such to know them, only that I humbly serve them. Do you not?” Sir Castiel questioned pointedly.
The worship of the Gods was bound to the very fabric of society. To not worship the Gods was to practice heresy.
“I worship not one God, but I do believe in their cause to protect this world. When I was a young boy, my family were devote followers. But as I learned more about the Gods, I realized that they were just as us. Powerful beyond understanding, but not all knowing. Not perfect.”
The smile on Sir Castiel’s face withered and died, “What you speak of is blasphemy.”
“Perhaps, but tell me, as someone who serves as the Gods’ messenger, you certainly know them better than I. If they were all perfect, then why do they bicker and fight amongst each other? If they are all knowing, then how can they consistently keep secrets from each other? If they are all powerful, then why do they allow such death and misery while spouting life and love?
If you can not answer that, then you are no more worthy to serve them than I.”
“It is not my place to question them.” Sir Castiel firmly stated.
“And so we have returned to the prior topic, that of not knowing that whom you claim to serve. I do not claim to know everything about who I serve, but I do know their intentions and desires.”
“I was led to believe that you serve no one, that you are as small and independent as the Alliance you represent.”
The insult did not fall on deaf ears, merely on ears that did not care.
“Every man serves someone, even if it just themselves. However, you have been misinformed, I am, in fact, bound to someone. Or perhaps, more accurately, to the promise I had made.”
“And that promise would be?”
Alaster felt as if everyone in the sunny and snowy courtyard was leaning in, hoping to hear.
“Between me and them. Neither you, the King of Lissura, or even the Gods have the right to know.”
“Not only do you disrespect the Gods, but now you disrespect the King?” Sir Castiel accused, feeling as if he had won.
“Do you tell the King everything? Do you tell the King what color underwear you have? Do you tell the king what the Gods want, even if they ask you to keep it secret?
Now I feel like our discussion is spinning around needlessly. I am sure your Gods have given you a task, so I will let you get back to it. I certainly wouldn’t want to stand in the way of their ‘Chosen One’.”