Chapter 58

  Theodore tried repeatedly to get an inkling as to the mixed bag that was Hektor Ashborn. Sitting before him, the boy was a squirming sack of eels, a slippery customer that Theodore had been hard pressed in getting to know better.

  It wasn’t that Theodore found the boy mysterious and strange, he did, but the thing that kept tripping him up was that Hektor was too many things at once. Not only that, but new quirks kept popping up and complicating matters further every time he met the Count. Oddly enough, rather than a lack of details, there were too many pieces to the puzzle instead and they didn’t always come together perfectly. Vexing Theodore thusly and preventing him from forming a solid opinion on Hektor that he could stand by.

  Very much a work in progress, Theodore’s catalogue on Hektor was gaining volume nonetheless. His first impression lending itself to the conclusion that it could have been a lot worse.

  Theodore’s worst fears were allayed, to an extent if not entirely. The Count wasn’t prideful and pompous, nor childish and interfering, nor incompetent and ambitious. Gratefully, Hektor was bereft of the worst of qualities that would have meant an inevitable disaster.

  Rather, Hektor had come across as fairly reasonable and humble. He was respectful and sympathetic, responsible and diligent. Crucially, he was self-aware and willing to listen and defer to his elders. For all intents and purposes, a promising candidate.

  But Theodore worried. He worried because it was his job to worry and because of the politics and people involved.

  Then there was Hektor himself. If there was to be a liege, Theodore was more than tolerable with the choice of lord on offer. And while his first choice would always have been for things to remain as they had been, he wasn’t given the worst hand to work with in the circumstances. Yet, there were concerns.

  Amongst the many things Theodore felt about Hektor, the boy wasn’t a simpleton. Still waters run deep, and Theodore was sure that there were hidden depths to Hektor. Theodore only hoped that Hektor wasn’t a storm in the brewing that would wreck Roheim and his people.

  Said powder-keg was sitting before Theodore in his study. Not someone Theodore would have preferred in his home, but Hektor was Count and he was the Mayor, and such was the way of things.

  Closing in on three weeks since the Count’s arrival, Hektor had visited the Williams house four times, while Theodore had made the visit to the fort more days than not in the weeks prior.

  In many ways, Theodore was reminded of his army days in lieu of the shakeup of government, his time consumed with shuffling and reassigning people to new and altered positions of administration in little Roheim. Like in the army with logistics and management. So similar to whenever there was a change in command and people were displaced; promoted, demoted or let go on the whims of the new superior in charge.

  In a similar vein of thought, Theodore covertly studied Hektor as he would have once upon a time regarded any superior officer or soldier under his purview.

  First thing his military eye picked up on was that the boy had a good physique. Tall, limber and long limbed. There was promise there, more so with Hektor still growing and possibly putting on muscle. Able bodied and healthy, Theodore found no concerns in that regard. Were it the past, Theodore would have no issue accepting Hektor as a recruit under his wing when he had been in charge of his own squadron.

  And yet, at the same time, whenever Theodore thought of Hektor, he always ended up comparing Hektor to Robert. Not his daughter, Chelsea, who was closer to Hektor in age at twenty herself, but his ten year old son.

  For all of Hektor’s maturity and intelligence, the father in Theodore couldn’t help but see Hektor as a boy pretending to be a man. Wasn’t to say that Hektor was failing at it. Rather, were Hektor to persist just long and hard enough, he would inevitably grow into his act. And Theodore found that a shame.

  It was always a sorry thing when children were forced to grow earlier than they should.

  Regarding appearances, Theodore lazily assessed Hektor to be passable. The boy wasn’t pretty or handsome, but he wasn’t unpleasant to look as well. If Theodore was to be pressed, he found Hektor to be average. Hektor’s dusky complexion robbed him of some of the allure of being highborn where fairer skin was generally regarded as more appealing by the masses.

  As to Hektor’s future prospects, Theodore hadn’t a clue. He lacked the imagination and enthusiasm to guess at how Hektor would turn out to be in adulthood. If the boy had inherited anything from the Duchess, he had nothing to fear. Thadeus himself was most grateful for his good health and full head of hair, and that’s where his sense of masculine vanity began and ended.

  And yet, if Theodore was being fair, looking over to Hektor’s shadow, Sir Gideon, he had to reluctantly admit that the knight was a handsome man. More so than himself.

  Eager as Theodore was to move on from that unflattering comparison, it was Hektor who broached the silence, commenting, “Thank you for being so accommodating, Mayor Williams. I know my visits only add to your workload.”

  “Please, My Lord. You are always welcome,” Theodore uttered graciously. He could hardly say otherwise.

  After all, the Count’s visits to his home were a powerplay; one in Theodore’s favor.

  To the public eye, the Count being a regular visitor at the Williams household was an open show of support and promoted Theodore’s importance in the new regime. It stood as a demonstration of the Count and Mayor’s approval, of them working together with each other’s trust. For the locals, it showed Hektor paying his respects and fostering goodwill with the Mayor, and vice versa. Where the Count could just as easily summon Theodore as a subordinate on a whim, Hektor was giving face by being accommodating towards Mayor Williams and not the other way round. It supported the opinion that Hektor regarded Theodore highly and valued his counsel.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  It also showed that the new Count wasn’t lording over the locals and replacing their representatives with his lackeys. The endorsement helped lower gossip of a coup and eased public concerns over upheaval and change.

  The act of camaraderie between the two also ingratiated the Count to the residents. That the Mayor was at ease to invite the Count in his home meant a great deal to the people of Roheim. It was another step towards them accepting their new liege.

  Beyond a publicity stunt, their meetings were of a casual nature. It usually involved a meal with the Williams family, after and during which Theodore and Hektor made small talk and discussed work mostly. Two, two and half hours at most and Hektor would leave without overstaying his welcome.

  “Just a few more days and things will settle down, hopefully,” spoke Hektor, appearing bored and tired, while restlessly looking to his watch repeatedly.

  “Hopefully,” Theodore shared, willing to match Hektor’s optimism.

  The past two weeks had kept Theodore busy with the task of establishing a chain of command and communication between his camp and Hektor’s. Made busier with the first decree of the Count to find people for his court who would work under his advisors as subordinates and apprentices.

  The assignment was Theodore’s first test and it was a delicate one. While Theodore had been given the freedom to present hopeful prospects, the final selection was left to the advisors themselves. There were a few guidelines in that the candidates must not be older than forty five, those selected had to be committed to staying in Roheim for the upcoming five years, and that each mentor would apprentice one man and one woman each, regardless of additional hires.

  As much a recruitment of people with intelligence, talent and promise, Theodore also had to factor in a candidate’s allegiances.

  The Count had played a calculated gambit in allowing Theodore to organize the recruitment amongst the locals who would go on to work in the Count’s court. Hektor was openly giving Theodore a chance to advocate his own people for administration whose first loyalty would be to Roheim before anything else. These people would learn under the very best of experts and if Theodore played it right, would go on to become the future pillars of Roheim.

  It was another political ploy, another that played in Theodore and his people’s favor. Against all convention, the Count seemed driven to limit outside interference and was committed to uplifting the county from within.

  In spite of his pragmatism, Theodore was beginning to be persuaded of Hektor’s character through his repeated acts of empowering the locals. It was the furthest thing from a tyrant hoarding power, hopefully akin to Hektor following in his mother’s footsteps to becoming a fair and just ruler.

  Though as much as Theodore appreciated the gesture, he remained wary. Duchess Sabina was very much the exception where nobility was concerned. Nobles and politics were forever a pitfall of venomous snakes. At best they were a necessary evil, never failing to churn trouble and make things complicated. And the fact was that Hektor belonged to such a crowd of manipulators and backstabbers. Leaving Theodore facing a conundrum. Was Hektor genuine or was he playing the game and pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes? Theodore couldn’t afford to guess at the truth.

  “How are things with the court? Any issues?” Hektor asked casually.

  “None, My Lord. I haven’t met many who are as accomplished and capable as your advisors,” Theodore praised truthfully. Following Hektor’s lead, the Count’s people had been very accommodating and respectful with Theodore in their dealings. They were true professionals and Theodore found it pleasantly fulfilling to work with them. Only a few weeks in and they were well on their way to building a rapport and fostering a good working relationship.

  “That is good to know. It goes without saying that they are of similar mind towards yourself.”

  Theodore gave a gracious nod at the compliment.

  “And how do you find Miss Lloyds?”

  The charged inquiry jolted Theodore out of his comfort. “She is a most capable Lady,” he said hurriedly to show his support, unsure why Hektor had singled out his deputy. “We are fortunate to have her.”

  Hektor nodded along. “She is Lady Moore’s relation. It is how I have known Miss Lloyds, through Aunt Delia who is like a, like an aunt to me,” Hektor shared with a smile at his verbal slip.

  “Miss Lloyds came highly recommended and with an impressive resume. She attended Amberhearst Academy as a distinguished student and until very recently she was a part of the administration in the city of Orensten.”

  “That is impressive,” Theodore added vaguely, unsure as to Hektor’s agenda.

  “Yes,” Hektor readily agreed. “Mother and Aunt Delia both vouch for her.”

  Theodore looked on in puzzlement, waiting for Hektor give him some clue as to why he was discussing Miss Lloyds.

  “I wonder if you would give some thought to letting Miss Williams apprentice under Miss Lloyds?”

  For a moment, Theodore didn’t know who it was Hektor was talking about. It took a second for him to work out that Miss Williams would be his daughter, Chelsea!

  “Pardon!” Theodore blurted in surprise.

  “It isn’t that surprising if you think about it,” Hektor spoke patiently. “It goes without saying that the decision is entirely up to you and Miss Williams.”

  Still flustered, Theodore stared blankly between Hektor and Gideon. “Forgive me, I do not understand.”

  “My Lord is offering Miss Williams an opportunity to apprentice under Miss Lloyds,” Gideon repeated for Theodore’s sake, speaking for the first time in a while. “As a favor to you.”

  Theodore was still flustered by the sudden offer, an irrational fear overcoming him of Chelsea having caught the Count’s fancy. His unease was blatant enough for all to see.

  “It is just a suggestion,” Hektor placated, openly confused at Theodore’s adverse reaction.

  By this time, Theodore had gotten a hold of his emotions. “Forgive me. that was unexpected,” he apologized.

  Hektor nodded hesitantly, still confused.

  “May I know the reason behind the endorsement?” Theodore asked, failing to hide all of the suspicion in his voice.

  “It makes sense,” Hektor answered in his blunt manner. “Miss Williams is an obvious choice. She would be the perfect intermediary between us. She is also amongst the more educated young ladies in Roheim and has strong roots in the county.”

  “Is that all?” Theodore stressed.

  “Yes,” Hektor trailed off. “I assure you, Mayor Williams, it would be a big opportunity for your daughter,” Hektor tried to assuage the anxious father.

  It was about now that Theodore suspected that he was mistaken. And in his assumptions, he had misled Hektor as well. To make matters worse, he saw Gideon lean towards Hektor and whisper something to him, no doubt clearing up the misunderstanding.

  Hektor went through several expressions as he digested whatever Gideon had said to him.

  As Hektor looked on in recrimination, Theodore feared that he made the Count genuinely angry for the first time. But he didn’t apologize and only said, “She is my daughter.”

  Hektor went silent and Theodore was relieved when Hektor pardoned him with a measured look.

  “The offer stands,” Hektor clarified, eager to ignore and forget the misunderstanding. “Whatever your decision, Miss Williams would be hard pressed to do better than have to Miss Lloyds for a mentor.”