Chapter 124 - 125
"You’d do well to. As for matters of your parentage, all will be revealed in time. For now, you’ll continue to live here with Caedmon as you have been."
These words caused Alistar’s heart to skip a beat. His uncle was no longer treating him as a simple bastard, and had evidently contemplated taking him away from Distan.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Excellency. It’s very encouraging to know that you’re thinking about me."
Antoine rested a hand on his shoulder, though said nothing. A tiny jolt of energy tickled Alistar’s arm at the contact, which immediately raised his guard, though the duke retracted his reach a moment later and turned to approach his horse without any regard for the reactions of his brothers.
Alistar had felt the same sensation once before, when Mr. Albeck had inspected his inner energies to get a feel for his body’s capacity at the time. According to his teacher, such a manner of inspection wasn’t too reliable when the person of focus was subject to external influence. Since Alistar was currently wearing many limiters as well as maintaining an advanced alteration spell, it was unlikely that his uncle had been able to manage a proper read on him, though something about the look in the man’s eyes in the moments that followed left Alistar feeling a bit unsettled.
Johan came over to say his goodbyes immediately after his father walked away, giving Alistar a look of warning in the brief moment that they connected eyes. In response, Alistar thanked him for both his thoughtfulness and his company over the past week, and wished him nothing but the best in the future. Following this, he and the girls bowed at the dukes and nodded their goodbyes towards Daniel’s indifferent sons.
The visiting Silverkins rode off soon after, Edmun and Calum casting glances over their shoulders at Alistar as they closed in on the distant gates to the property. Their expressions reminded him of the way that Bertrand had looked at his uncle Raidon moments before the former had murdered the latter. His cousins had looked upon him with genuine bloodlust. Equally as disconcerting, their father looked over his shoulder just before he rode past Harold and Rayson, focusing on Alistar with poorly-hidden unease.
Just what had changed since the night before?
As their relatives disappeared around the distant hill that separated the estate from the city, Caedmon let out a sigh of relief that had been brewing all week and then rested a hand on Alistar’s head.