Chapter 35

  “There was a rich man with three sons. When he got older, he wanted to choose the wisest son as his heir.

  “To find out, the father tested them. He sent his sons away and told them to return with the most important things they could find to impress him.

  “The first son became a trader and gathered enough coin to own many shops. He returned to his father a wealthy merchant with a successful business.

  “The second son became an adventurer. In his travels, he gathered fame and found treasure. He returned to his father famous and with priceless relics.

  “The third son went to the nearest city and became a laborer. He returned with his brothers and gave his father a knife, a pouch of salt, a rope and flint.

  “The father judged the third son to be the wisest of all and made him heir.”

  Nazeer spat to his side in mockery.

  “A shit story,” he declared. “The father was a fool to choose the third son. Clearly, the first son should be the heir. But every child in my village knew the story and to always carry a knife, salt, rope and flint.

  “It was a lesson I never forgot. I survived many times because of it,” Nazeer narrated, fanning himself with his silk folding fan.

  “In many cultures, a boy is given a knife when he is considered a man. It was a woman who made a man out of me, but I do not think Sabina would let me live if I took you whoring.

  “A knife it is then,” he said, gesturing to the package on the table.

  The crass remark went ignored as Hektor reverently lifted the sleek wooden case. He opened the lid to find a knife propped parallel to its sheathe on muslin cloth.

  The knife was beautiful in its simplicity. As far as Hektor could judge, it was a cross between a sailor’s knife and a hunting knife. A one-sided blade with a thick spine leading to a sharp point. Elegant with a subdued matte finish to its dark steel and a black oak handle. It was a sturdy and simple thing, made for purpose. A tool, not an ornament.

  Hektor slowly lifted it and found its length to be three fourths of his forearm. Despite not being an advocate of weaponry, Hektor loved his gift.

  “Thank you,” he choked to Thadeus who sat there grinning.

  “The salt, rope and flint you could do without,” said Nazeer. “But a man always has a good knife on him! And a clever man keeps one hidden.”

  Hektor nodded along, still mesmerized by the knife.

  “Hektor,” Nazeer called loudly to get his attention. “I want you to carry that always. Keep it hidden. Keep it secret.”

  Hektor swallowed at the seriousness, but nodded. “I will, Teacher.”

  Appeased, Nazeer reclined lazily. “I will teach you a few tricks.”

  Nazeer’s sharp eyes caught on to Gideon’s disapproval. The protector sat further away, politely unobtrusive while Hektor visited Nazeer.

  Never one to let slip an opportunity, Nazeer spoke up, “Hektor, promise me something.”

  Hektor picked up on the change of tone and reluctantly put down the knife. “What is it, Teacher?” he asked warily.

  “Promise me, you will not become like that man,” Nazeer said loudly, pointing to Gideon.

  Hektor was immediately confused while Gideon looked on with vague interest. Thadeus struggled to keep a straight face.

  “Pardon?” was all Hektor could ask.

  “None of us are born free, Hektor,” Nazeer explained. “We are all bound to one thing or another. But the most wretched are those that ‘choose’ to become slaves.”

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  Hektor only grew more confused. Gideon meanwhile, remained outwardly unaffected.

  “That man,” Nazeer kept poking, “had everything that I didn’t. He was born blessed by the aether while I was a poor fisherman’s son. And look at him now. A dog on a leash.”

  “Teacher Nazeer!” Hektor interjected. “You must apologize to Sir Gideon immediately!” he demanded.

  Nazeer’s expression went cold. “You would dare tell me what to do in my own home?”

  Hektor blinked heavily, suddenly breathless and afraid. But he didn’t back down. “You are my Teacher. And I would be a worthless student if I let you insult the man who has sworn to protect me.”

  Nazeer held Hektor’s gaze before barking out a laugh.

  “I was only joking!” Nazeer said airily, immediately at ease. “I apologize, Gideon Sir Protector,” Nazeer couldn’t miss taking another dig at the man who had the temerity to pass judgment on him.

  “You are forgiven,” Gideon spoke imperiously, dismissing the apology as something insignificant. Nazeer’s retorting smile was all teeth.

  Both men shared an inherent animosity and made no attempts to mask their dislike. Their personalities rebelled like the same ends of a magnet.

  Only difference was that Nazeer was very much the agitator. So as much to distract Nazeer, Hektor brought up the reason for his visit. “Teacher, I need to tell you something.”

  Nazeer immediately focused on to Hektor like a hound sniffing a bone. Nazeer had a nose for juicy topics.

  “Tell me.”

  Awkwardly, Hektor narrated what he thought he had seen pass between Gwen and Shane two days ago.

  Nazeer listened intently to the short tale and stroked his chin while humming.

  “Hektor, are you attracted to this woman, this Gwen?” he asked.

  Hektor spluttered at the question. “I, I suppose I am,” he replied unconvincingly.

  “Suppose? Are you or are you not?” Nazeer pressed. “What do you like the most about her?”

  Hektor thought for a second and replied, “Her hair.”

  Nazeer blinked, puzzled. “You like her hair?” he asked, incredulous. Hektor nodded.

  Nazeer grumbled in frustration, but his gaze snapped to the boy. “Hektor, close your eyes.”

  Baffled, Hektor obeyed nonetheless.

  “Good. Now I want you to imagine Gwen. Picture her as perfectly as you can,” Nazeer instructed. “I want you to remember her face, her eyes, her hair,” Nazeer rolled his eyes at that. “I want you to see her standing before you, wearing what she wore when you last saw her. Even her shoes. Remember her scent. Her voice.

  “She is standing in front of you,” Nazeer lowered his tone, almost lulling Hektor in a trance. “Can you see her? Can you see her standing there?”

  Hektor nodded, eyes furrowed in concentration.

  “What is she wearing? Do you see her clothes?” Nazeer whispered.

  Again, Hektor nodded.

  “Good, good. Now remove her clothes!” Nazeer uttered quickly, but smoothly. “See her standing naked in front of you! Her bosom, her womb, bare.”

  A few seconds passed before Hektor slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly at his teacher’s antics.

  But Nazeer had gotten his answer. He had seen the dilated pupils, noticed the hitched breath and the small gulp in Hektor’s throat.

  Nazeer howled like a wolf with laughter.

  Hektor couldn’t stop blushing and every time Nazeer looked to him trying to maintain his dignity, he burst out laughing again.

  Eventually, Nazeer had his fun and shared a discreet look with Gideon. Both men silently relieved.

  “Well, you clearly desire her for something more than her hair!” Nazeer teased and had a chuckle. “But do you ‘like’ her?” Nazeer asked, stamping out his levity as he did.

  Still embarrassed, Hektor tilted his head in thought. After a while, he admitted, “I don’t think I do.”

  Nazeer clapped once, making Hektor jump “So what is the problem? Let the girl have her fun. She is a nymph and you are too young. She will eat you alive. Not worth the trouble.”

  “But you said that troublesome women are the best,” Hektor reminded him.

  “That is true,” Nazeer agreed magnanimously with himself. “There is no higher purpose for a man than women.”

  The mixed signals had Hektor going in circles.

  “But there are so many women out there,” Nazeer intoned with sagely wisdom. “No need to fuss after one when there are plenty of fish in the sea. You’ll catch plenty.”

  Hektor was caught halfway between a jumbled understanding and puzzling uncertainty. “So you want me to?” he helplessly left the question open-ended.

  Nazeer sighed in exasperation. “Boy, you are growing up all wrong!” he complained as if some grave injustice was committed. He abandoned his theatrics to speak plainly for his student’s sake. “Just wait, Hektor. You are too young for this kind of thing. Give it a year or two, grow older and everything will become clear on its own. Trust me, you will find love when it is ready to be found.”

  Hektor remained unconvinced. “And what about Gwen?”

  Nazeer chuckled vindictively. “Didn’t you say that she is meeting with Sabina? With that dragoness for a mother, you worry too much,” he hinted gleefully.

  An impish smile slowly spread across Hektor’s lips.

  “And Hektor, just to make things clear if you were too thickheaded to understand earlier, I would be most disappointed if you took too long,” Nazeer decreed most seriously. “Sabina and I want grandchildren!” he shouted.

  Hektor buried his face in his hands in embarrassment.

  Watching it all unfold, Gideon saw through to the method behind the madness. Unconventional yes, but Gideon could see what Nazeer was doing. He was trivializing the subject of women and intimacy for the emotionally stunted boy. Inducting Hektor slowly, little by little, with humorous flamboyance and coaxing him through bawdy jokes and vulgar banter.

  Nazeer played the persona of a harmless old rogue well. He distracted Hektor with shock and awe to then lead him to the right solutions that seemed tame and sensible by contrast. He was manipulative, but only up to pushing Hektor along to eventually let him walk on his own path.

  Nazeer wasn’t a saint, but Gideon’s hands weren’t that clean either. Perhaps the protector could afford to give the charlatan a little more latitude. Didn’t mean he disliked the man any less.