Chapter 11

  The following day started busy for Hektor. He slept late, but had risen early to pack up his things. The luggage only amounted to a backpack, but when Hektor committed to a decision, he became quite the eager beaver and leapt to action.

  He prepared breakfast and broke his fast with Thadeus. They made small talk, mostly about Jamie and Hektor’s visit to the Merry Larry. And Hektor had to admit that the silly trip and the even sillier Jamie benefitted him immensely. A distraction was exactly what he had needed.

  A visit from a good friend and suddenly he could see the challenges on the horizon with clearer eyes and growing acceptance.

  While not confident, he felt lighthearted and with enough courage to face the day ahead.

  Soon after, Hektor moved to his apartment. He dithered only for a bath and fresh change of clothes, and to assure his housekeeper Missus Hudson of his health and with a promise to return before late evening.

  At about ten in the morning, Hektor stepped out of the carriage in front of Nazeer’s residence.

  The walled property housed a two-storey villa with a rooftop balcony. The grounds of the property were taken up by the immaculate lawn with sections of tended gardens and trimmed pathways with fruit trees planted along the walls.

  The household had only two residents, Nazeer himself alongside his manservant Kirios who let Hektor inside.

  As ever, Kirios remained a stoic presence. The manservant rarely spoke out of turn or engaged in small talk that didn’t interest him. While Hektor had seen him animatedly with various people, Kirios had always remained reserved towards him.

  Kirios led the way straight through to Nazeer, who was resting at the back of the villa, on the open porch to the backyard. He lounged on the hardwood floor with his robe half undone by the one sleeve, exposing his exotic tattoos. He was fanning himself with a black and gold silk fan while partaking of a serving tray hosting a delicate silver and glass kettle with a steaming cup. A silk cushion laid beneath his elbow.

  Nazeer Haskeem was a man of comforts, but one who practiced minimalism in having the best of what he wanted.

  “The student finally comes,” Nazeer spoke up. “I am so proud of you,” he regaled with a smugness.

  What was Teacher Nazeer proud of? Hektor was instantly confused. He offered his greetings while still pondering about the unwarranted praise.

  “Just engaged and the first thing you do is go to on a lash! I have taught you right,” Nazeer nodded proudly.

  It took a moment, but it finally dawned on Hektor what Nazeer was insinuating.

  Hektor gaped like a fish out of water. He first stuttered to explain. Then he stuttered to deny the insinuation.

  “I did not. I only went along. Jamie wanted to go. He drank. He fooled around. I didn’t do anything,” Hektor defended, flustered. He could imagine how he could be seen as a bachelor that had let loose and went out for a last hurrah at the announcement of his engagement.

  Nazeer looked devasted that Hektor kept denying his praises.

  “A shame,” Nazeer said, shaking his head in disappointment. “I had thought that you had become a man.”

  “Teacher Nazeer!” Hektor exclaimed, blushing.

  Nazeer barked a laugh with a splitting grin. “There is time. You need practice. Not good to disappoint your wife.” Nazeer was incorrigible.

  Hektor huffed, but was now wise to Nazeer’s quips.

  Nazeer shut his fan and rose from his lounging. “We will walk. The mind and feet are one. I shall beat some sense in your mind and point your feet the correct way.”

  Hektor obediently followed his teacher to the garden. Nazeer didn’t wait on him and took the curved pathway at a stroll, occasionally tapping his walking cane on the imbedded stones.

  “Listen,” Nazeer produced a sharp tap by the cane. “What is the highest purpose for man?”

  Hektor pondered and earned a sharp knock on the head from his cane. Apparently, he had taken too long to answer.

  “It is women!” Nazeer said vehemently and tapped his cane. “I hear that your bride is beautiful. She is young. Rich. Talented. Passionate. One reason alone is enough to marry her.”

  Unsure, Hektor kept quiet and Nazeer tapped his cane again.

  “Trust me, boy, troublesome women are the best. They are like salt. They make everything delicious and they hurt your wounds. Men become better for such women. They also become worse.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Tap.

  “So you will marry this beautiful, young, rich, passionate bride.” He tapped his walking cane harder in emphasis and looked to Hektor with a frown. “This is decided.” Another tap of the cane. “You should be happy. And I am jealous.”

  Tap.

  “Next. You are weak. That is true. Do you understand the strength in weakness and weakness in strength?”

  “No teacher,” Hektor lied, but it was what he needed to say for Nazeer to teach him.

  “You do. You just do not know,” Nazeer hummed. “A weak man is weak. It takes less for a weak man to become strong. A strong man has to struggle to remain strong and not fall to weakness. Understand?”

  “A little, Teacher Nazeer.”

  “Understand more!” Nazeer struck the cane. “You are weak. Easy to get strong when you are weak. Cannot lift ten rocks? Begin with one rock then. Train. Then lift two. Simple. Train. Lift three. Train. Lift four. Do so till you can lift ten rocks. From weak to strong. But remember to keep lifting or else you will lose your strength. Do the same in everything. Lift a little more every day. Get a little stronger every day. Strength in weakness. Weakness in strength. Now understand?”

  “I understand more, Teacher Nazeer.”

  “Honest. That is not good and not is it bad. But you are ungrateful.”

  Tap.

  “Wife. Wealth. Land. Power. Respect. Given to you and you hesitate! Shameful! Your mother gives and you do not take. Unfilial.”

  Nazeer stopped walking and whirled on the boy.

  “But you are not ungrateful. You are not weak. You are not unfilial. Yes?” Nazeer asked, looking Hektor in the eye.

  Hektor tried, but couldn’t say anything under Nazeer’s intensity.

  “It is now time, Hektor,” Nazeer ordered like a general commanding his army. “Enough is enough. You have to be brave. You have to try.

  “A child cannot look after himself. It cannot care for others. In Heaven, a child wouldn’t need to. This is not Heaven, Hektor. You will need to take care of yourself and your people. A child cannot do this.

  “You have to grow up and become a man.”

  Nazeer smiled like a wolf. “Yes, this is for the best. If not for yourself, you will for others. Yes. You will not be a child for others to provide for. You will grow into a man. I see this chance.”

  Hektor choked up.

  “What is this?” Nazeer cried outrage. “You cry when being praised? Are you woman, Hektor?”

  Hektor desperately blinked to dry his eyes and cleared his throat. “No, Teacher Nazeer.”

  “Hmm,” Nazeer murmured as if doubtful of Hektor’s claim. “Do you know what the worst thing is, Hektor?”

  Hektor shook his head.

  “It is not to try,” Nazeer answered. “Fail. It is good to fail. That means you tried. So many things we cannot do, Hektor. So many things we fail at. But there are many things we can do. How do we know, if we do not try?”

  Nazeer walked to a bench and patted the space beside him for Hektor to sit.

  “This is a good thing, boy,” Nazeer spoke gently, without his previous harshness. “Your mother coddled you. I have asked her for years to let you leave the Duchy and live someplace away. She always said when you were older. Now you are older.

  “This place is a trap for you, Hektor. You are stuck. Hiding and pretending. You must get away before you forget and become what you are pretending. No one wants that. You do not want that.

  “I know how your mind works,” Nazeer claimed confidently. “One side of you is running and searching for a way out. And one side wants to be brave and obey.”

  Nazeer paused, before continuing. “For now, obey. Do what you are told. You can’t do anything else and it is foolish to try.

  “Bide your time,” Nazeer lowered his voice. “Ride out the storm and look past the horizon. You can’t do anything now, that does not mean you can’t do anything later. Obey and behave. And when it is the right time, misbehave.”

  If ever there was someone who could get through to Hektor, it was Nazeer. He knew exactly what to say and how to say it to reach through to him at his core.

  Whereas Thadeus taught Hektor how the world and its people functioned through philosophy and history, Nazeer taught Hektor how to think for himself. To be honest with his thoughts. To be selfish and put himself first before others.

  Once Nazeer’s insidious words took root, Hektor couldn’t ‘not’ think about it. The suggestion had savage appeal. The possibility of a secret undertaking, a contingency that he could build towards on his own was an empowering thought.

  “But do not be blind,” Nazeer cautioned. “Fortune may favor you and things may work out for the best. You don’t need to spoil a good thing just for spite.

  “Be patient. Hope for better and prepare for worst. Do not commit to something when you don’t need to. Leave yourself choices,” Nazeer preached.

  Hektor nodded along. “I understand, Teacher.”

  Nazeer looked sideways to gauge that his pupil did indeed understand. “Good. No need to say more.”

  After a brief pause, Hektor confessed meekly, “I am scared, Teacher.”

  “That means that you are not a fool,” remarked Nazeer with approval. “But think of this like my student,” Nazeer suggested. “Suffer through the next three months and then run away from it all to your new home in the countryside. Better than a vacation, I think.”

  Hektor knew it wasn’t as simple as Nazeer was making it out to be, but he found it reassuring nonetheless.

  They lapsed into lazy conversations, interspersed with quiet reflective moments under the pleasant spring day in the garden. Even ended up having a small picnic of sorts, taking their snacks on the patio. With Nazeer’s council, Hektor felt the most reassured he had ever since he had been told of his future. So much so that he forgot the time and apparently overstayed his welcome past midafternoon.

  “Kirios!” Nazeer summoned and the man arrived. “Throw the boy out. He has spent enough of his time and mine,” Nazeer ordered at the boy’s loitering.

  Hektor smiled fondly, not at all bothered by Nazeer’s abruptness. “I can find my way, Teacher Kirios,” he said to the tall man with braided hair.

  While Nazeer led the interactions, Kirios was his ever-present shadow. He had even assisted in the task of teaching Hektor occasionally. Which had prompted Hektor into giving Kirios the same address of Teacher like he gave Nazeer. Why respect one teacher and not the other? That Kirios was Nazeer’s servant hardly mattered as far as Hektor was concerned.

  “You are soft on him,” Kirios spoke gruffly after Hektor’s departure.

  “You fish, don’t you Kirios?”

  Kirios didn’t humor Nazeer with an answer.

  “The boy has greatness in him, but it is a slippery fish,” Nazeer carried on. “Patience is a must. The fish is hooked, we cannot let it get away this time.”