Chapter 53

  Hektor’s task for the day had only just started with Marolyn. After finishing up with her, Hektor moved on to his next appointment.

  Accompanied by Gideon, Hektor was aided by a maid who was assigned to them by Missus Wicks to show them to the designated rooms of his retainers. She was also tasked to forewarn the other advisors whom Hektor was to visit next in keeping with his schedule.

  The first stop was Mister Len Kennedy. A middle-aged man with a bookish demeanor who was to serve as Hektor’s accountant and financier, his advisor in matters concerning bookkeeping and monies.

  Hektor began their meeting by formally welcoming Kennedy to Roheim, spending some time showering his appreciation and gratitude towards Kennedy for willing to work with him. He exchanged a few pleasantries, inquired after Kennedy’s wants and needs, before moving on to serious business.

  While polite and easygoing, Kennedy became a man of solemn disposition whilst concerning his field. With unshakeable confidence, Kennedy provided Hektor with an abridged overview of the financial situation in Roheim.

  All in all, there were no surprises or warnings. Everything was accordingly per the reports on Roheim that Sabina had provided Hektor weeks before his eventual arrival into the county.

  The meeting lasted about twenty minutes and Hektor wasn’t inclined to linger and impose on Kennedy. He left as soon as he could with a polite farewell.

  The next stop was Doctor Timothy Pascal. Hektor went over the same customary welcome and gratuitous rhetoric with Pascal as he had done so before with Kennedy. With the doctor however, Hektor mostly inquired as to the transport of his equipment and his stocks of medicine. Pascal reported everything to his satisfaction. With regards to his expertise and opinion on Roheim, Pascal was quick to admit that the people were a healthy population. Furthermore, he found no health concerns in town. The water was clean and people disposed of their wastes properly.

  And so went Hektor’s morning and much of his afternoon as he proceeded to meet the pillars of his court.

  Meeting Mister Bradley Gibbs; his jurist and legal advisor, and Mister Kevin Clay; the civil engineer, went much the same. Following Hektor’s welcome and appreciation, both of them had only good things to say about Roheim.

  Moving on, Hektor met with Miss Imogen Barnes; the healer, Miss Irene Holmes; the court wizard, Mister Terrance Ward; the enchanter, and Mister Damien Fennel; the alchemist. These were the more recent additions, with them having arrived only a fortnight ago. Powerful aether blessed that they were, Hektor was reverently polite to his seniors and mostly asked after their comforts and lodgings, inquiring as to whether or not there was anything they desired.

  The aether blessed retainers were amongst the most exclusive of advantages Sabina had given her son. Hektor had plans for them, but he had to be patient before he could set things in motion.

  Hektor had scheduled visiting Thadeus for later in the day. With Thadeus arriving only a few days earlier, there hadn’t been enough time for him to get a grasp of the local scene to contribute anything helpful to his student.

  Rather, Hektor met with Thadeus without any agenda but to spend some time together and talk. They discussed their journey to the countryside and shared their first impressions of Roheim. Oddly enough, they ended up reminiscing about Faymoren. They had been away from the duchy for only a few days, but being strangers in a new place had them feeling misplaced and homesick, pining for what they had once taken for granted.

  Everything was new in Roheim. The land, the people. The streets, the buildings. The weather, the scent. Everything was different.

  After spending more time than perhaps he should have with Thadeus, Hektor proceeded to meet the last of his advisors, Knight Quincy. Still, the talk with Thadeus had gone a long way to liven up Hektor and settle his heart.

  Hektor and Gideon left the keep and made for the barracks, which was a smaller building to the west of the fort courtyard.

  A squire waited at the ready for Hektor at the entrance. With a salute and greeting, the squire quietly marched them to the Knight’s office. In transit, Hektor had little time to observe the barracks. What he could infer was that the décor was minimalistic and sparse. Though the place was squeaky clean as expected of a well-run military residence. Hektor spotted a few recruits in the hallways and corridors, but they made themselves sparse at noticing their count in their midst.

  Arriving at their destination on the second floor, the squire knocked on presumably the Knight’s office door and announced the guest’s arrival.

  “Enter,” a voice commanded from beyond the door. Gideon entered first with Hektor following.

  The Knight’s office was expectedly a large room, with shelving on the side walls and the far wall dominated a large arched window. In front of which was a large wooden table that presently served as Knight Quincy’s main workspace.

  Quincy received them standing in front of his desk, with a crisp salute and a shallow bow. “My Lord.”

  “Please, at ease, Knight Quincy,” Hektor spoke immediately. “Thank you for receiving us.”

  Quincy gave a sharp nod in reply.

  “I wouldn’t take much of your time,” began Hektor. “I am here to extend a belated welcome on my part for your arrival to Roheim. And I would like to express my gratitude for you joining me and lending me your support in my countship,” Hektor finished with bow.

  “You’re welcome,” Quincy spoke succinctly, appearing bored.

  Hektor didn’t lose patience. Quincy’s prickly nature and no-nonsense was made abundantly clear to all those who knew about him.

  “Is there anything you require? Any way I can help?” Hektor inquired politely.

  “Everything is as I have submitted in my bi-monthly report,” Quincy replied in the same banal tone.

  “I have read your all your reports, Knight Quincy,” Hektor conversed casually. “Your professionalism was never in question. I am merely stating that I will heed your counsel and will assist you to the best of my abilities should you ask for my help.”

  Quincy looked on blankly, staring Hektor down.

  Hektor had to admit that Quincy intimidated him. Yet, at the same time, he understood the man’s irritation at being answerable to a youngster like himself.

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  “Would you like me to leave, Knight Quincy?”

  Quincy raised an inquisitive brow at Hektor, his dull eyes livening up. For the first time in their meeting, Quincy’s interest was tickled.

  “As much as I am to rely on you, Knight Quincy, I intend to learn from you as well. I would treasure any lessons or advice from you.

  “But if today is a day you couldn’t be bothered to teach me, then I will try for another day and waste neither of our time.

  “On way or another, I will get what I want,” Hektor spoke assuredly, while continuing to be courteous. “Good day, Knight Quincy.”

  Hektor turned and left the room before his bravado expired. Behind his back, Gideon threw a smirk Quincy’s way, before following after his ward.

  Quincy scoffed and returned to his chair behind the desk. Turning to face sitting the window, his eyes gleamed as a grin threatened the edge of his mouth.

  Missus Wicks was the one to find Hektor and drag him to lunch.

  Hektor found out quickly that Ruby Wicks was cut from the same cloth as his former housekeeper, Missus Hudson, and his Aunt Delia. Ruby was like them in that she wouldn’t be deterred in her duties and what she thought necessary for taking care of her young charge, status be damned. Hektor could swear that her hand had almost reached over to twist his ear when he had insisted on not being hungry and skipping lunch.

  All the signs were there that Ruby Wicks wouldn’t take any flak from Hektor and wouldn’t hesitate to set him straight when he went against her wishes.

  Not the worst thing to have a mother-hen looking after you.

  It was past four in the afternoon that Hektor found himself with Jamie, strolling atop the fort ramparts. Caught between enjoying the view and answering Jamie’s inexhaustible curiosity. For nigh on two hours, Hektor had been forced to recall what had come to pass ever since Gwen’s arrival in Faymoren.

  Left to his devices, Hektor would have finished telling his side of the story within quarter of hour and be done with it. But Jamie was wise to Hektor’s propensity for underplaying events and his reticence to talk about things that he didn’t fancy talking about.

  Jamie was a bloodhound as he sniffed and hunted for every juicy morsel of gossip and every exquisite detail he could squirrel away from Hektor. Constantly hounding him until he got as complete a version of events as Hektor was willing to reveal.

  Boys being boys, Jamie was particularly obsessed with details of Gwen Croft. He begged, demanded, teased and cajoled for information on the Croft heiress, tripping Hektor into humoring him and feeding his infatuation.

  Then there were Hektor’s encounters with Gwen. Jamie took to dissecting those interactions like a bored housewife starved of hearsay.

  The climax was the scandal at Hektor’s birthday created by the Triton noble, Niklas Lang. All Jamie needed was folding fan as a prop and he could have marched into any grapevine and belonged as the undisputed gossip-queen.

  As much fun as Jamie seemed to have at Hektor’s expense, Hektor recouped going through with his interrogation by enjoying Jamie’s exaggerated and clownish reactions.

  “Enough, all right, Jamie,” Hektor said with a laugh as Jamie was midway through creatively cursing the no-good Tritons. “You’ve had your fun and we can talk about it later. Now tell me, tell me about Roheim.”

  Some of the mirth vanished from Jamie’s face as he turned thoughtful. The question wasn’t entirely unexpected and Jamie had anticipated it. He had thought for days on what he would say to his friend and so he was partially ready with an answer.

  Looking to the idyllic town from atop, Jamie uttered, “Different. Roheim is different.”

  Hektor remained silent and let Jamie set his pace.

  “It is not like any place I could have imagined,” Jamie confessed. “Like you,” he glanced at Hektor, “I never left the duchy.”

  Jamie paused and took a deep breath to collect his thoughts. He could have given an easy answer, but this was his best friend who was also the Count of Roheim. He wanted to help Hektor the best he could.

  “When I came here, things were busy and I didn’t get much time to explore the town. Even then I could have given you a long list of things about how Roheim is different form Faymoren. The differences weren’t that hard to spot,” Jamie chuckled as he swept his hand towards the town and the valley.

  “It took me a few weeks to finally get it.

  “It’s the people, Hektor. It’s how they live.”

  Leaning with against the raised edge of the walkway, Jamie regarded Hektor with a hardened gruffness.

  “Life in the city is quick and fast. It’s a struggle. Everyone is trying to meet ends meet and put food on the table. Rushing to get from one place to another. Trying to get one over the person ahead while those behind try to pull you down.

  “I understood that. I lived that.

  “But here, here life is slow and folk are content. Content to live their lives as they are and not chase after something more. Life seems easier somehow. Simpler.

  “The people here built their homes, live in their homes, and ‘own’ their homes. They could go a week without work and they would not worry and sleep peacefully with full bellies.”

  As he spoke, Jamie unwittingly grew upset with every spoken word as he described a life so much better than his own upbringing. So much so that even Hektor could pick up on the bitter envy in Jamie’s voice.

  Hektor stepped closer and squeezed Jamie’s shoulder. Jamie being an orphan, Hektor could never fully understand his friend’s plight, nor his pain and struggle. Hektor could only imagine the life Jamie had lived and its tribulations.

  But Hektor would be there when his friend needed him. Stand by him and hold his hand when Jamie was hurting.

  Jamie shook his head and shrugged off Hektor’s hand, though not unkindly.

  “That’s the biggest thing, Hektor,” Jamie said with a strained smile, pretending that he hadn’t let his emotions slip through. “You could see everything else from up here. The town is tiny. Fewer people. Everything is smaller and simpler. Without so many things that are common in the city. Not much excitement either.

  “But there isn’t a crowd to fight over. Little to no crime. It is peaceful. Pretty and quiet. And the people are happy.”

  Hektor allowed Jamie some time before he asked his next question. “And what do the people think about me?”

  Jamie frowned and rubbed the back of his head. “They don’t want you here,” he blurted out and then winced at his lack of tact.

  Hektor waved off Jamie’s blunder. “Jamie, say what you want.”

  With more tact and forethought, Jamie elaborated, “The people here see Mayor Williams a similar way to the Duchess. As far as I could make out, he seems the real deal. A good man and a good leader. I did a little nosing around and nobody has anything bad to say about him. That is suspicious, but you said the Duchess vouched for him. So maybe he is good after all,” Jamie suggested with a shrug, keeping his voice low.

  “The people are scared of you coming about and making a mess of things. These lot are closely knit and do not like strangers as much as they do not like change. Most of them care little for you. But,” Jamie stressed, “as far as I know, the Mayor has always spoken in your favor. Believe me, things are much calmer to when I arrived in town. Folk were a little unruly then. Some were mad enough to speak openly against you in their cups. But the Mayor and his people were quick to put a stop to it.

  “Right now, the people are waiting. Watching. Praying that you are not some scoundrel come to ruin their home.”

  Hektor stepped closer to the edge and gazed at the town thoughtfully.

  Meanwhile, Jamie mustered up the courage to give voice to his thoughts that verged on being dangerously irresponsible.

  “Hektor,” Jamie spoke out tentatively, “you have a good thing here.”

  Hektor looked inquisitively to his friend.

  “Everything is set up nice and proper,” Jamie insinuated, hoping his friend caught on to his meaning. “You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I am not saying that you should or shouldn’t,” Jamie added quickly, tripping over his words, “but you could leave things as they are. Let Mayor Williams carry on with his job, while you do your own thing. Everyone’s happy that way. It would be like a paid vacation. Isn’t that what it’s called?” Jamie rambled, faltering in getting his point across.

  Inscrutably, Hektor stared down his friend at the suggestion. Jamie meant well, but Hektor had something different in mind. In this new chapter of his life, Hektor strived to do better. To be more than a bystander watching his life dictated by the will of others.

  Remembering what Nazeer had said in their last parting, Hektor’s resolve only grew stronger.

  Hektor wanted to change. To be better. Take charge of his fate. And he wouldn’t achieve that by being passive.

  Just as the silence was growing to be uncomfortable for poor Jamie, Hektor smiled in realization of his convictions overcoming the temptation. Couple of months ago, he would have faltered and taken the easy way out.

  As small and insignificant a test as it was, Hektor had overcome it.

  “You mean well, Jamie. But that is not something I am willing to do,” Hektor replied without any sting to his tone. “Now, would you like a paid vacation?” he teased with a grin. “Or have you given any thought to what we talked about before?” he hinted to a conversation between them from more than a month ago. “I have a few ideas that I can help you with.”