Maverick got down the stage behind the council members; he searched for his friends but the huge crowd made it difficult for him to find. Maverick spotted a big lantern above one of the feasting tables; he lowered his head and closely examined the dying fire inside the rusty lantern. Although no wind could enter the lantern, the fire swished vigorously and died. Maverick felt a gentle tap on his shoulders and spun around. A bulwark stood stiffly and said in a humble tone, “Sir, the Royal Table is waiting for you.”

Maverick asked, “The what?” Since his mind was already occupied with the dying light in the lantern, it suppressed his knowledge about the Royal Table.

“Sir, the council members, the chief, and your family are waiting for you to join the feast at the Royal Table,” the bulwark explained humbly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just — ”

“Please,” the bulwark stretched his hand towards the crowd.

Maverick and the bulwark passed through the crowd and reached the Royal Table. Jurisbard, Specsolven, Empirica, Swanky, Aegis, Sugaall, and all council members and department heads were seated at the Royal Table, which was decorated with a variety of roasted fish, eggs, and wheat.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the delicious dishes except Jurisbard’s and Aegis’s family. Specsolven scratched his bald head and yawned heavily. Swanky licked his lips in hunger. The moment Maverick showed up at the Royal Table everyone breathed a relief except Jurisbard who looked furiously at Maverick; he waved his hand at the bulwark who escorted Maverick. The bulwark bowed and disappeared into the crowd.

Aegis looked more furious than Jurisbard. Maverick sat between Aegis and Sugaall. All eyes were on Maverick. Aegis tilted his head slightly towards Maverick and said, “Where did you go? We all were waiting for you. Why are you so irresponsible?” Aegis tried to whisper but even Swanky who sat directly opposite to them at the big round table heard them with a delighted face.

Jurisbard cleared his throat. “No need to scold your son, Aegis. Youngsters are just curious. Let’s start our feast.”

The moment Jurisbard uttered those final words, everyone at the table filled their plates with a variety of dishes. Swanky, who ate hurriedly at first slowed down after realizing Sugaall was noticing him.

Empirica said, “Situations like this are very rare to happen. I’m really happy to share the Royal Table with Maverick Ciekawy and his family. It’s a special night for me too.”

“The honor is ours really, Madam Empirica,” said Aegis “I’m so glad to hear such humble words about our family — ”

“Even after Maverick disrespected the Royal Table,” Swanky interrupted. “Swank, shut up, I warned you,” said Empirica, sternly with a fake smile. “Excuse my son, Aegis. He gets upset when he misses his meal.”

“No need for you to apologize, Madam. The mistake is my son’s,” said Aegis; he turned to Maverick and said, “Go on, apologize.”

Swanky’s face got brightened.

“Um, I’m sorry for showing up late at the Royal Table. I hope you all forgive me,” said Maverick. Except for Jurisbard’s and Aegis’s families, everyone was keen on finishing the dishes on their plates.

“Apology accepted,” said Swanky raising his charming face, with a malign smile.

Jurisbard looked calmly at the conversation, and said, “People… you are making Mr. Maverick uncomfortable. He’s the center of attention tonight. Let him enjoy his freedom while he can because after joining Bulwarking I hardly think he will have time to enjoy.”

Everyone went clueless. Swanky coughed when he heard those words from his grandfather, the water he drank spilled out of his mouth. Specsolven, who was eating busily raised his head instantly, the big fish he was eating hung down vertically from his mouth. Even Maverick’s eyebrows rose in shock.

“Haven’t you opened your gift, Mr. Maverick?” asked Jurisbard, cutting a big chop of roasted fish.

“No… sir. I didn’t,” said Maverick and searched for the scroll in his robe.

“No need to search, Mr. Maverick. It’s a formal invitation for joining Bulwarking. I hope you won’t deny it?”

“No sir, he won’t. Thank you for offering such a great chance to my son,” said Aegis gleefully.

“Don’t thank me, he earned it. We don’t want a talented guy like Maverick working in a menial job. He will be a crown jewel in Bulwarking,” said Jurisbard.

Empirica’s smile vanished when her father-in-law called Wheat Cultivation a menial job. Maverick said nothing, just dropped his head, and ate.

The department head of Poultry asked, “Mr. Specsolven, as the new Commander of Bulwarks, do you have any new plans to preserve the defense fences? I heard a couple of nights ago some wild animals destroyed those and two bulwarks were severely injured.”

“Let me finish my food first, questions later,” said Specsolven, stuffing a mouthful of eggs. Maverick noticed Swanky was looking at Sugaall and whispering something into his mother’s ear. Soon people over the table started to converse about Tenebro’s economy, current population, and all political stuff.

“Sir, I’m getting a complaint from people that the availability of fish in the market is very low. We are getting plenty of fish from the river but why there is a huge demand for them in the market? As the market’s owner and head of fisheries are present here I would like to get a solution from them,” said Robust Fuhrer, the head of the People’s Committee.

“This is not a proper place to discuss such things, Robust,” said Jurisbard, finishing his meal. “And you can see the head of fisheries, Lacklue Neying, is not present here, so we can discuss this matter at the Council.”

“Sir, but the deputy head of fisheries is present here — ”

“I said we can discuss it at the Council,” said Jurisbard sternly, the Royal Table became silent.

Maverick who looked for an opportunity to escape from the political group made use of the silence and said, “Excuse me, I got my robe dirty. I’ll wash and come.”

Maverick got away from the table and disappeared into the crowd as fast as he could. He stood on his toes and searched for his friends. In the northern corner, below a torch post, he saw Blardece. Maverick rushed through the crowd and went near his best friend.

Blardece, Lidrolla, and Velvebloo were standing under a torch post having their meals. “Hey, look who is here!” said Velvebloo. “What took you so long?” asked Lidrolla.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Maverick with a relieved deep breath.

“Where did you sit at the Royal Table? What dishes were there? Did you sit near Jurisbard?” Blardece asked with glittering eyes.

“I said I don’t want to talk about it, Blard,” said Maverick, and grabbed a plate, filled it with wheat bread and fish.

“How do you feel?” asked Velvebloo.

“Um, the fish must have roasted well, it’s very raw,” said Maverick.

“Not the fish, brainy boy. She asked how you are feeling about the celebration,” said Lidrolla.

“Why?”

“I thought you are disappointed,” said Lidrolla shrinking her round face.

“Disappointed! About what?” asked Maverick, tearing a wheat bread.

“Didn’t you see what just happened? Tonight you are supposed to be the center of attention but Jurisbard turned the tables. He talked more about Bulwarking, and those council members and department heads delivered their job statuses, and finally, he appointed his son as Commander of Bulwarks. Why did he do all those tonight? Tonight’s celebration is only for recognizing your invention and your contribution to our village, but that old illiberal idiot turned it into a council meeting,” said Lidrolla angrily.

“Wait, the council members and department heads did what?”

“Why? Haven’t you noticed! I still didn’t know why they did that. They had a paper in their hands and read from those: their duties, what are they doing till now, what will they do in the future, blah, blah, blah.”

“Oh, that must be the thing they were hesitant to do,” said Maverick gulping a fish.

“What?”

“Nothing, when I was in the Council earlier, I saw all of them trying to mug up something from a piece of paper. They were hesitant but Jurisbard insisted them to do.”

“Jurisbard is a very adamant man. He gets what he wants and makes people have what he wants,” said Velvebloo leaning on a nearby table.

“No, that’s not true. He may be strict but he is a good man,” said Lidrolla.

“Earlier you called him ‘old illiberal idiot,’” Maverick chuckled.

“Yes, he may be my idol but I can’t tolerate him taking my friend’s momentum away,” said Lidrolla.

“Were you dreaming, Mav? How you didn’t notice their speech?” asked Velvebloo.

“Uh, I was distracted,” said Maverick palely.

“Hey, what about that gift he gave you? What’s in that?” Blardece questioned.

“You mean the scroll? Here take it,” Maverick tossed him the scroll and emptied his plate.

Blardece opened the scroll with excitement. “Wow…! Are you serious? It’s a formal invitation to join Bulwarking,” cried Blardece.

“Is it?” Lidrolla snatched the scroll from Blardece and examined it. “What are you going to do, Mav?”

“Nothing,” said Maverick washing his hands.

“Nothing? Are you insane, Mav?” Velvebloo asked instantly.

“Yes, nothing. He can’t make me have what he wants.”

“Really are you going to reject an invitation from Jurisbard? That too personally signed by him,” Blardece asked.

Maverick nodded.

“You are really going to regret this,” Blardece said harshly.

“Hello, Mr. Maverick. I’m glad… to see y-you here,” Fadherdy Bough greeted.

“Oh! Hi, Mr. Bough, nice suit,” said Maverick.

“Thank you. It is my wife’s selection,” said Fadherdy looking at his long coat made of beaver skin. Beaver skin coats were the cheapest in Tenebro. A pretty woman stood locked arms with Fadherdy.

“She is my, my wife, Presista,” said Fadherdy, “…and Presista this is Mr. Maverick and his… his friends: Blardece, Lidrolla, and Velvebloo. Did I pronounce your names correctly? Blard-ece, Lidrolla, Velvebloo…right?”

“Dear, I know them,” said Presista softly.

“She’s very pretty,” Lidrolla whispered into Velvebloo’s ear. Her face seemed familiar to Maverick and as Lidrolla whispered she was very pretty, but her flawless face looked dull. She looked very young compared to her husband.

“What are you people doing here, away from the c-c-crowd?” asked Fadherdy.

“Hunting a wild animal, care to join us?” said Lidrolla.

“Sure, wait. I’ll fetch my axe and crossbow.”

“Mr. Bough, she’s kidding you,” said Maverick.

“Oh, is it? Err — I was distracted by some good smell. Uh, look, wheat bread, my favorite,” said Fadherdy Bough, and clumsily attempted to grab a plate.

“Dear, just now you had your meal,” said Presista.

“Uh, did I? Yeah, maybe, umm,” Fadherdy stuttered.

“Thanks for the flowers, Mrs. Presista,” said Maverick, trying to start a conversation.

“You are welcome, Maverick. And, thanks for escorting my husband three nights ago; I can’t believe he forgot his way home.”

“No, I didn’t forget. I was kind of dep-depressed that night, heavy work you know. Uh, I’m really hungry,” Fadherdy took a plate and filled a lot of eggs and bread. Presista’s face went dull, again.

“Can I keep this scroll? I really like this,” asked Blardece. Maverick nodded.

“What’s with the scroll? Is that what our chief gave you?” asked Fadherdy, with a plateful of boiled eggs.

“Let’s give them some privacy, dear. He looks exhausted,” said Presista.

“Oh, okay. Enjoy your n-night, young people, enjoy…” said Fadherdy and walked away with his wife.

Maverick stood watching Fadherdy walk away, guided by his young wife.

“Hey, Mav, Are you dreaming?” Velvebloo shook her hand before Maverick’s eyes.

“No — What?”

“You looked worried. Are you worried about Fadherdy?” she asked.

“Um, yes, and — ”

“Don’t worry, with a proper medical treatment he can be cured,” Velvebloo said tapping Maverick’s shoulders.

“Not only him, I… had a dream yesterday, it’s disturbing me a lot,” Maverick said slowly.

“Dream! What dream?”

“I was inside a box, you see, a BOX, and the box was moving. I saw immense brightness outside the box, brightness I really can’t describe, believe me. There was a man inside the box with me but I couldn’t see his face. That man was talking to himself; I couldn’t understand what he was talking about. He said something about, uh, car… client, it was like he is talking to another person. I can’t see where the brightness came from. Suddenly the box stopped, the man got out of it and I saw a lady, but not her face, and……. I woke. Isn’t this crazy?”

“Um.”

“Right from dusk this dream, that brightness is distracting me.”

“It’s just a dream ignore it,” said Lidrolla

“Just ignore it!”

“Yeah. Earlier I had a dream, three years ago I suppose. Do you know what the dream was about? I was riding a wild hog in the market streets. Can you believe it?” Lidrolla chuckled.

“It’s normal, Mav. When you experience a strange dream it will bug you for two-three nights, just relax,” said Velvebloo calmly.

“Really, you are not going to join Bulwarking? Because if you join, within the next ten years you will be definitely promoted as Commander of Bulwarks,” said Lidrolla changing the topic.

“I hardly think Specsolven can survive as commander for that long,” Velvebloo chuckled. “He hasn’t got any prior experience in bulwarking and he won’t manage people smartly like Jurisbard.”

“I agree,” Lidrolla said with a nod. “If not Specsolven whom do you think is perfectly intellectual and qualified for such designation?”

“Lypimenous Nisipazl,” said Blardece pointing a man at a feasting table.

“Uh, yes. Lypimenous!” said Velvebloo. “He is talented and my mom once said he is from a reputed lineage but he is an underrated inventor. The Council doesn’t approve any of his inventions. He is socially inept, and I rarely see him conversing with people. That guy is like an island. I think we are the only friends he got.”

“Yes, I agree, Velve. But that guy is undoubtedly a genius,” said Maverick. “If he becomes Commander of Bulwarks, he would initiate more strategic laws and innovative machines for bulwarking. If you ask me I would say he is the one who truly deserves that designation.”

“You guys wait here. I’ll go talk to him,” Blardece ran to Lypimenous.

“Mav, stop him before he does something stupid,” Lidrolla spurted. The three ran behind Blardece, but before they could reach him Blardece had already started the conversation.

“Greetings, Mr. Lypimenous. I feel sorry for you. We know you are the only qualified person to be the Commander of Bulwarks but somehow Specsolven got it. Don’t feel sad, although the Council doesn’t respect you, it doesn’t change anything. You are a genius” Blardece said hurriedly.

Maverick who came sprinting managed to stop without dashing into Blardece. “Hello, Lypimenous,” he greeted

“Hello, Maverick. Your friend is trying to say something but I couldn’t understand. Can you help him?” asked Lypimenous. The sudden wind blew Lypimenous’s shoulder-length hair which went uneven. He had a plateful of fish, only fish. His dark connected eyebrows curled in suspicion. His dropped shoulders carried a heavy bag. He usually looks a little crooked but due to the heavy bag on his shoulders, he looked like a hunchback. Despite his age, he looked young and charming.

“Um, what Blardece trying to say is…. umm… uh,” Maverick searched for nice words to cover Blardece’s inappropriate words. Velvebloo and Lidrolla joined them.

“Don’t worry. I too didn’t understand what he said.”

Blardece again started, “Actually what is said is — ”

“Shut up, Blard,” Lidrolla shushed him.

“Well, well, well, we have Lidrolla and Velvebloo. Greetings, ladies!” said Lypimenous and turned towards Maverick, and asked, “What are you doing here, Maverick Ciekawy? I thought you will be at the Royal Table with those imbecile Council fellows,” Lypimenous said staring at the council members.

“Yes, I was there but their political conversations made me drowsy,” said Maverick. Everyone laughed.

Aegis Tutelage stood near the Royal Table and looked furiously at Maverick and his friends. Sugaall went near her father and said, “Come on, Dad. Let him enjoy with his friends at least tonight. You both can have your arguments at home.”

Soon people started to disperse from the feasting area. The bulwarks started to arrange the plates and feasting tables. Maverick, his friends, and Lypimenous started walking away from the Great Stage. Blardece explained how he got into a better place among the crowd during the celebration. One by one Lidrolla, Velvebloo, and Blardece departed to their homes. Maverick and Lypimenous were walking down the empty road, silently. The bright moon shattered its light over the silent village.

Lypimenous hung his head and was muttering something. Suddenly he looked up and said, “Now I understand what he said,”

“What?”

“Now I understand what Blardece said,” Lypimenous sounded furious. “How could he say that?”

“Please don’t take him seriously, Lypi. You know Blardece very well, he just gets clumsy when he speaks,” Maverick tried to convince him.

“Uh… yes. But he was right though,” Lypimenous’s voice sank.

“Come on. You are a good friend to me. You are a good friend to us. Why can’t you make more friends?” Maverick questioned.

“I can but I choose not to.”

“Why?”

“Because people are vicious, they are chameleonic monsters.”

“Come on, you are thirty-three years old now don’t talk like a child. If you hate people, then why are you nice to us four?”

“You four are… dependable. You don’t expect anything from me, like what Blardece did, you guys are honest with me.”

“If you don’t like to mingle with people then why did you come to the Great Stage?”

“For you.”

“Really… Come on, really only for me?” Maverick asked with raised eyebrows.

“Okay… fine… fifty percent for you and fifty percent for my research”

“What research?”

“Err… I can’t say that. If I say you won’t be surprised.”

“You are the most complicated person I have ever met,” Maverick said with a smile.

Lypimenous stopped. “Well, it’s nice speaking to you, Maverick. Now I must rest. Would you like to come, I renovated recently,” he asked.

“No, thanks. I must go,” replied Maverick.

“See you then,” Lypimenous bid him bye.

Maverick looked puzzled at Lypimenous’s house. It didn’t look anything like a house. Entirely covered with metal it looked like an eggshell.

Maverick walked slowly gazing at the bright moon.

“Hey, Wheat Boy.”

A familiar voice stopped him. Irascias Piraat sat on a bench under a torch post. “Come on, sit,” he tapped the wooden bench.

“Irascias, what are you doing here?” Maverick questioned while sitting. Irascias’s clothes smelled very bad.

“You see that lady over there. I had a chance to talk with her; she seems to be really a nice woman,” Irascias pointed at Mrs. Benaida, who was busy closing her windows from outside.

“You mean Mrs. Benaida!!” Maverick asked surprisingly.

“Yeah.”

“Really…! Unbelievable!”

“What? An old man can’t make new friends?” Irascias’s stern tone returned.

“No, no… I didn’t say that….” Maverick stuttered.

“Bye, Irascias… see you tomorrow,” Mrs. Benaida bid him bye.

Maverick was astonished, “I never saw her happy after her husband’s death thirteen years ago. How did this happen?”

“Uh, that’s a big story but I’ll narrate shortly,” Irascias sat stiffly. “I came to the Great Stage for attending the celebration, that’s where I met Mrs. Benaida and her granddaughter. That little girl was very fond of me, unlike other kids in this village.”

“So you made two friends tonight?” asked Maverick. Irascias sat motionless looking at a barrel in the opposite of the road.

“Irascias! Look at me,” Maverick waved his hand before Irascias’s shallow eyes.

“Wh-What, what are we talking about?” Irascias stuttered like he was woken up from half-sleep.

“Mrs. Benaida’s granddaughter.”

“Oh, yeah… Yes. That little girl. I promised I would take her inside the Watchtower tomorrow.”

Maverick saw a rare smile on Irascias’s wrinkled face. “You look different, Irascias. Not in the looks but I can see in your eyes, you are… happy,” said Maverick.

“Yes, yes I am. You see, Maverick. I’m eighty-seven years old. I have no family, no children and I don’t remember having any relatives. But tonight, I feel different after befriending that little girl and Mrs. Benaida. I feel like, I was born today,” Irascias Piraat said enthusiastically.

“Hey, I was there for you, and right now I’m here for you, even before you got your new friends,” Maverick snapped.

“Yeah, I know, Wheat Boy,” Irascias put his right hand around Maverick’s shoulders and dragged him closer.

“Did you have your food?” asked Maverick with his neck locked in Irascias’s fat arm.

“Yes, of course. Look at my tummy how big it is,” Irascias patted his stomach.

After a twinkling laugh, there was silence. They both sat looking at the bright moon.

“Okay… It’s getting late. I need to be in the Watchtower before the Eye Burner shows up,” Irascias got up hurriedly, wished his friend goodbye, and walked away on the empty road.

Maverick went inside his home and saw his father sitting sternly at the feasting table. Sugaall brought some freshly baked wheat bread to her father. “Do you want some, Mav?” she asked without looking at him.

“No, thanks,” Maverick turned to go inside his room.

Aegis signaled at Sugaall, “Ask him.”

Sugaall cleared her throat, “Um, what are you going to do tomorrow, regarding the invitation?”

“Nothing,” Maverick spun around. Aegis looked furiously at his plate. Sugaall signaled Maverick to go inside his room. Maverick locked his room’s door, turned off the lit torches, and jumped on the bed. After a while, the first bell from the Watchtower chimed.

Maverick took his blanket, covered it from head to toe. He rolled over a couple of times but couldn’t sleep. Frustrated, he threw his blanket away, lit a lantern, took a book from his shelf, and started reading. It can’t be called a proper book. A bunch of papers was hand-stitched on some old book’s cover. The second bell from the Watchtower chimed. After some time Maverick’s eyes closed slowly, his grip on the book loosened and it fell on his stomach.

Maverick felt a sudden chill. He ran his hands over the bed looking for his blanket but what he felt was not his bed, it was a polished wooden plank.

Maverick opened his eyes and realized he was sitting on a wooden bench under a lantern post. He looked up at the post, instead of burning fire there was a small lantern, a small but bright lantern. He looked around the place he was in and realized it was a graveyard.

In front of him, probably ten yards away, he saw a group of people standing, heads down, facing the same direction as Maverick. He saw something lying on a wooden plank, wrapped up in white cloth beside the grave. At first Maverick thought, it was waste baggage with clothes, due to its enormous size, but after realizing the atmosphere around him, he understood it was a man under that white cloth or maybe a woman.

Four big men standing opposite the people stepped forward, took the dead body, and placed it in the grave. A young man went near the grave, took a handful of mud, and spilled into the pit. After him, a lady and a small boy went near the grave and did the same. Everyone moved away from the grave and two big men took a shovel and filled the grave with mud, and made a hump above with the remaining mud.

The small boy who earlier dropped mud inside the grave went near and placed a flower on top of the hump. A bald old guy went near the young man, placed his hand on his shoulder, and said, “Your grandfather lived a full life. Without him everything is never going to be the same, he gave us the strength to live and guided us like a father. His death is an immense loss for us too; take care of your family. We are here for you, always.”

Maverick tried to look at his face but due to low brightness, none of their faces were visible. Everyone dispersed from the burial ground except the young man, the lady, and the small boy.

Maverick tried to stand but he found himself glued to the wooden bench. He tried to stand but he couldn’t even move an inch. With his full force, Maverick pushed himself front and fell from the bench. But instead of falling on the ground, he felt he was on a solid surface, with no trace of mud. Maverick got up but before him, there was no graveyard, not the young man and the lady, not even the wooden bench and lantern post. He was in his bedroom, standing beside his bed. The lantern’s fire was still alive. His whole body sweating; his entire room was in boiling heat.

Maverick grabbed his blanket from the floor and got on his bed. “Is that a dream?” Maverick mused and slept.

Read the next chapter here -

EA-R-TH Age of NeOlwd

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