Chapter 39

  Thadeus studied the file with a grim focus. He went over the names on the list, trying to match some of the more obscure surnames from memory with the aid of the snippets of information attached to each entry. Most of the people on the starting pages were considered either harmless or friendly, majority of them being eager well-wishers amongst the bourgeoise.

  Then there were those deemed more prominent who warranted a mention of their lineage and affiliations, personal and political. These included those of minor nobility and the very rich. Their main purpose deduced to be either fealty or the opportunity to socialize.

  Following the pattern came those of higher nobility. These names were the most recognizable to Thadeus. They included the cream of Ithican aristocracy and close relations of royalty. Thadeus paid them the least attention as he had anticipated their attendance. A few names did jump out, but none too surprising.

  Thadeus flipped through the next few pages, combing over about fifty names before coming to a pause.

  There, on a separate page of the report, were the names of foreigners.

  “Well? What do you think?” Delia said impatiently after Thadeus had been staring blankly at the page for a good ten minutes.

  Thadeus looked to Delia and then over to Sabina behind her desk who had paused in her work to listen. He looked over to the file once again, his eyes honing in on the foreign monikers different to Ithica’s own.

  “There might be some friction,” Thadeus spoke slowly. “If I am not mistaken, these are some of Miss Croft’s former suitors, are they not?” he asked to verify.

  “They are,” Delia affirmed.

  “Why would they involve themselves now?” Thadeus inquired about the unwelcomed guests. He could understand someone attending in an official capacity, but not these individuals.

  “The most likely reason would be that they believe that Miss Croft is still obtainable,” Sabina suggested in a casual tone.

  “What would give them the idea?” Thadeus speculated.

  “They make their own assumptions,” answered Sabina. “While their visit gives them ample opportunity for spying and sabotage.”

  “Are we vulnerable?” Thadeus inquired gravely.

  “No,” Sabina declared with confidence. “It is merely what is expected of them. You know how it is. You play the game and the game plays you.”

  Thadeus rubbed his forehead at the futility of politics. Just because an opportunity presented itself meant that someone was always compelled to try and exploit it, regardless of whether or not they should. Such was the cutthroat nature of the game. No one was spared from the vicious cycle.

  “What do you foresee?” he asked, resigned to the drama that always accompanied aristocracy.

  “The usual. Nothing unmanageable,” assured Sabina.

  Thadeus didn’t impose for details, picking up that Sabina would not elaborate on matters of state secrecy.

  “Why did you call on me, Your Grace?” he asked instead as to the purpose of his summon.

  Sabina signed a few documents and Delia wordlessly arranged them in a separate pile as she cleared the desk.

  “I want your advice with regards to Hektor. Any suggestions?” Sabina gestured to the list of Gwen’s former suitors.

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  “Can’t they be avoided altogether?” he investigated about the suitors, despite knowing the answer.

  “Not feasible,” Delia confided. “They are attending at the behest of their superiors. We cannot turn them away or deny them guest rites without creating an incident.” Her reply very much what Thadeus had suspected.

  “You think they will seek out Hektor?” he guessed.

  “He makes an accessible target,” Delia followed the train of thought. “They dare not confront Sabina. And they need to entice the Crofts, not alienate them. That leaves Hektor.”

  “Is he in danger?” Thadeus worried.

  “None,” Sabina spoke the word as if the world would align with her intent.

  Thadeus brought his fingers together and leaned back in his chair. After a few minutes of contemplation, he spoke, “I would suggest that you give Hektor a free hand.”

  “What do you mean?” Delia asked, curious.

  “Do not order him about,” Thadeus elaborated. “Rather, give him a task and leave him to his own devices. Explain the situation to him, give him an objective and let him loose.”

  Delia turned thoughtful while Sabina had a knowing look to her.

  “Are you sure?” Delia was not enamored with the idea.

  Thadeus nodded, contemplative. “Hektor is very clever in that he only matches up to what is asked of him. He gets by doing the bare minimum and walking away with no one the wiser to his actual capabilities.

  “All his tutors can attest to the fact.” Thadeus gave a chuckle. “He only trips up when you do not set any expectations for him. Then he never fails to surprise.”

  “I am inclined to agree. Thank you, Thadeus,” Sabina decided. “We will follow your advice and let Hektor work things out for himself before stepping in should the need arise.”

  Thadeus bowed while Delia gave her support. “It would make for good practice,’ she added, thinking of how the opportunity would lend towards Hektor holding his own court in the future.

  “When do they arrive?” inquired Thadeus.

  “A week to ten days before Hektor’s birthday,” Delia reported.

  “Could be worse,” he reasoned.

  “Yes. They are being delayed with southern hospitality,” Delia smirked.

  Thadeus laughed at the bizarre method of stalling unwanted people by accommodating them as honored guests ‘elsewhere’. Meanwhile, the guests in question were bound by propriety to behave and conduct themselves in an accommodating manner, particularly when their benevolent hosts insisted on their company.

  Politics were a funny business.

  “And what about yourself?” Delia prodded Thadeus. “How go your preparations?”

  “Things are progressing nicely. I only have to properly store my effects,” he mentioned his precious collection of books and documents. “Thank you for helping with that,” he gave thanks to Sabina for her assistance in the task. She had generously offered to safekeep his belongings.

  “It is the least I could do,” Sabina deferred.

  “Are you looking forward to it?” interjected Delia with some excitement.

  Thadeus ruminated over his answer. “I am,” he decided. “I have never been to Roheim and a change of scenery would do me a world of good I think.”

  “It eases my heart that you will be there for Hektor,” Sabina confessed.

  “Please, Your Grace. I am doing this as much for him as for myself,” he spoke gallantly, trying but failing to hide his eagerness at joining Hektor’s cabal in Roheim. “I am not finished being a teacher. And it would be my pleasure to look out for him and watch him grow.”

  “Still, I am happy that Hektor asked and you agreed,” Sabina repeated, a bit melancholic at the thought of her son leaving.

  In his competitive spirit, Thadeus inquired about his colleague. “And what about Nazeer?”

  “What about him?” Delia asked, confused at the abrupt mention.

  “Has he confirmed his plans for Roheim?” Thadeus clarified.

  “No. I’m afraid he will not be going.” It was Sabina who answered.

  Thadeus was rocked. “He refused? Nazeer said no?” he repeated in shock.

  It was a bit of a sore spot for Thadeus, but everyone knew that outside of Sabina, Hektor was closest to Nazeer.

  “Hektor did not ask Nazeer to go with him,” Sabina reported.

  Beyond surprised, Thadeus descended to disbelief. “What?”

  “I was surprised myself,” Sabina admitted. “When I asked him why he hadn’t, Hektor stated that Nazeer wouldn’t leave Faymoren and that Nazeer would be disappointed if Hektor asked him to.” She left unsaid in present company that in spite of it all, Hektor would have been over the moon had Nazeer decided to accompany him to Roheim.

  “Why?” Thadeus demanded with a furrowed brow.

  “I asked Nazeer the same and he agreed with my son. As to his reasons,” Sabina shook her head in amusement. “He claims to be an old man and refuses to leave the comforts of the city in his frail age to relocate to some ‘backwater village’, his words.”

  Delia chuckled while Thadeus remained puzzled.

  “He is very much a rogue, but Nazeer believes with good conscience that he has become a crutch for Hektor. And he deems it the next step in Hektor’s coming of age for Hektor to grow out of his shadow and move on to new horizons to discover himself.

  “He makes for a compelling argument.”

  Thinking things through, Thadeus had to once again concede to Nazeer’s unconventional wisdom. How it chaffed him to do so!

  “I just know that his reasons aren’t as altruistic as he is making them out to be, but I am loathe to admit that there is reason to his logic,” Thadeus admitted begrudgingly.

  Delia barked a laugh. “Of course! Nazeer has that effect.”