27 – Anaster

“Hmm?” The man, apparently named Anaster, turned to look at Lars. “And who are you?”

“My name is Lars, adopted knight of House Steelheart, Lord Anaster. I am assigned as Lord Kalin’s bodyguard.” Lars’ head bowed deeper.

“Oh, little Lars! I do remember you. This is where you ended up, huh? Makes sense, you were that girl’s guard before. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well, thank you Lord Anaster. I have advanced to a low-ranking knight from an initiate since our last meeting, though that is the extent of my advancement.”

Anaster tapped his chin, thoughtful. “Low-ranking, huh? Not bad for someone your age. Excuse me though, I have someone else to greet.”

Lars nodded his bowed head.

The silver-haired man’s eyes alighted on me.

“Hello little Kalin. How have you been, all alone out here? And who are all these other people?”

I stared at him blankly. The silver-colored, metal-like hair was a common trait in the Steelheart family. The duke himself had hair like that, from Kalin’s memories. But this man was not someone he recalled ever meeting.

“I have no idea who you are.” A bit more blunt than I intended, but it just kind of slipped out. My nerves were not the best after the emotional roller-coaster of the last few minutes.

“You don’t remember me? Why, I’m hurt, little Kalin. You were so cute as a baby. Well, guess I have to introduce myself then.” He did a fancy flourish, sweeping into a little bow. I couldn’t decide whether it was formal or mocking. Probably a bit of both, considering his smirk. The metal ribbon fluttered about with his movements. Somehow, the bits of metal in his robe didn’t make a sound.

“My name, little Kalin, is Anaster Steelheart. I’m your uncle.”

That… couldn’t be true.

“My father doesn’t have any living brothers.”

“Fine, fine, I’m your great-granduncle. Make me talk about my age, will you? Just call me uncle, or uncle Anaster.”

My great-granduncle? What…? Just how old– Never mind.

I was a bit distracted from my thoughts by Anaster stepping in my direction.

The captain had become decidedly paler since his arrival. He might give me a run for my money at this rate. Even through whatever shielding prevented me from sensing his heart properly, I could tell it was beating way too fast. He was basically a constantly thumping vague shape in my perception.

Actually, I could feel his heartbeat where our skin touched. Barely better than a normal human could by feel, but his blood really was hammering through his veins.

“Now, why don’t you tell me who you are. And release my lovely nephew while you’re at it?”

“I– uh…” The previously so stable captain was motionless, sweat breaking out across his body. Maybe it was an instinctive reaction, but he hadn’t let go of me. I felt a little like he was treating me as his anchor to reality.

Anaster clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “Won’t do this the easy way then?”

Before I could even blink in shock, a silver flash jumped towards us. I could tell the captain almost sliced me open as he flinched away. Or tried to anyway.

The ribbon made of what appeared like liquid metal was wrapped around his body. Slowly, as Anaster bent a single finger in our direction, the captain’s arm holding his sword followed the motion, bending away from my neck. His other hand lost its grip on me as well.

I stumbled at a small push from behind, turning to see the ribbon’s end wave at me.

The captain had fallen to his knees, his face turning crimson as he fought to keep breathing through the metal snugly wrapped around his neck. If his arms weren’t immobilized, he’d no doubt be scrabbling helplessly at the binding.

“That’s better. Little Kalin, why don’t you come over here and give your uncle a hug?”

When I turned in his direction, Anaster was smiling at me. If I couldn’t hear the choking man’s gurgling from behind me, I almost could’ve believed this was just a friendly family visit. A shiver ran down my spine.

“I’d, uh… ahem.” Swallowing my refusal after another glance behind me, I stepped forwards and put an arm around the honestly very scary man.

What I’d intended to be only a short, impersonal hug quickly morphed into me almost choking just like the captain as Anaster wrapped both arms around me and squeezed.

Just as I feared my ribs might crack under the pressure, I was released. Anaster was still smiling at me.

“You look healthy. That’s good. Well, healthy as can be. You don’t need to be scared any more. Your father sent me here to help you out. Honestly, your face looks a lot like your mother’s, now that I get a closer look at you. Minus the skin tone, of course. And I can’t tell whose eyes you got either, how sad.”

A hand brushed through my hair. It took every bit of self-control I had not to flinch back.

Something about this man scared me on a deep level. It was familiar as well.

It took a long moment to figure out. My mind wasn’t exactly operating on peak performance right now. But I knew what he reminded me of.

That moment, yesterday, when the mosaic on the floor had aligned just right. When I felt like I was face to face with a real steel-hearted stag. Anaster’s presence brought out the same type of fear.

A sputtering noise drew me from my thoughts.

The captain was turning blue in the face, his arms still immobilized. The one that held his sword earlier bent at an angle that turned my stomach.

I opened my mouth with a frown, but before I could formulate any words, an unfamiliar calm voice interrupted me.

“I greet you, Lord Anaster. I am–” there was a faint buzzing sound, like static, “squad leader of the Divine Eyes. I have heard tales of you before, Silver Magus. It is an honor to meet you, even under such unfortunate circumstances.”

When I turned towards the entrance, it took a moment to identify the man locked in a formal bow. The metal weighted staff leaned against his body stirred my memory.

Right, that strange guy is the leader of that second trio. Weird that I didn’t remember him. Though Anaster is pretty distracting…

My attention was quickly grabbed by what was actually said. Silver Magus sounded like a title. And if someone in this backwater had heard of him, he must be quite famous. At least among certain circles.

“Oh! How delightful. What a fascinating effect that is on you. Who is your mentor? Is it–” another burst of indecipherable noise, though Anaster’s lips moved like he’d said actual words. Weird. “-or someone else?”

“I-I don’t know who you are talking about. I apologize.” The man sounded genuinely confused, so much so that it even stuck with me for longer than a few seconds.

“You don’t remember? Ha!” The silver-haired man chuckled. “That so like them. Did you know I’ve worked with your order a few times? Your lot are always so interesting.”

The amused smile vanished, replaced in the blink of an eye by total seriousness.

“Now, I believe you wanted from me something beyond simple introductions and talks of old times. Speak up.”

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“Thank you for hearing me, Lord Anaster. I humbly request that you leave these three claimed demon hunters to our order’s custody. Rest assured that the matter will be dealt with appropriately. Your nephew will not be harmed further.”

“Wait, these guys are demon hunters?” Anaster looked the rapidly fading captain over. The other two were clearly trapped in between their desire to help and Anaster’s overwhelming presence. Their weapons were grasped tight and their bodies coiled like springs, but neither had moved from their spot in over a minute.

They’d barely been breathing either.

“Oh, that does explain all the stuff. And the interference… But why was a demon hunter holding my dear nephew hostage? With a blade to his throat, no less?” The venomous tone of the later questions clashed hard with the idle curiosity when describing the ‘stuff’. It made my skin break out in goosebumps.

“Did you do something bad, little Kalin?” Back to an almost sickly-sweet voice. The inflections were almost like he was talking to a little child.

I got the distinct impression this man wasn’t entirely… stable. Which, combined with the amount of power and raw, intimidating presence contained in his form, made my stomach twist itself into anxious knots.

“Err, no?” was all I managed to squeak out.

“Do you expect me to just let something like this go?” It almost felt like the words were etched into my mind by a blade, rather than spoken. Luckily they weren’t directed at me.