Page 28 of The Ruler
Khan
The meeting took place in the far corner of my private park, an ungroomed area with wildflowers and cotton trees that Pearl had developed a particular fondness for after we walked here once.
To me the meeting was unnecessary since I’d already decided I wanted Archer to run the inclusion project. Pearl, however, insisted that she wanted to interview him and at least two other candidates for the job.
Leaning against a tree, I greeted Hanzo, a middle-aged man named after a famous ninja. It was laughable because with his large beer belly and wheezy breathing, Hanzo definitely couldn’t sneak up on anyone.
“Thank you for coming,” Pearl said and folded her hands behind her back. Ahh, so apparently she was learning not to grab strangers’ hands and share intimate look-me-in-the-eye moments.Good!I didn’t want his greasy hands anywhere close to her.
“This shouldn’t take long,” she said softly. “Lord Khan tells me that you’re a teacher.”
Hanzo gave me a sideways glance. “A mentor,” he corrected her. “Or master if you prefer.”
“Mentor –yes, of course, my apologies.” She smiled like an angel and he looked confused, probably unsure about her honeyed voice and unnecessary apology.
“Mr. Hanzo, what do you think is the most important part of a child’s development?”
He cleared his throat and spoke in a gruff voice. “That’s simple. Boys need discipline or they’ll never respect their elders.”
“I see.” Pearl observed him closely. “And how do you instill discipline in your students?”
He grinned and lifted his right hand. “Meet Mr. Because I Said So,” and then he lifted his left hand up. “And Mr. Don’t Talk Back To Me.”
Her brows lowered and the left side of her upper lip lifted in disdain. “Thank you, I have no more questions,” she said and gave me a pointed stare.
I shrugged and smiled at the older man, who had performed according to my expectations. “You can go, Hanzo.”
The next candidate was seventy-five and the oldest mentor in the Northlands. Half deaf and too proud to admit it, he had the same grumpy-old-bastard expression on his face as the last time I saw him ten years ago.
Before he even made it close enough for a conversation, Pearl shook her head at me. “You’re doing this on purpose,” she accused.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said innocently.
“These aren’t serious contenders for the job, and you’re doing it just to be sure I’ll pick this Archer guy.” Her tone radiated blame.
“Mentor Luther King is a very wise and respected man in the Northlands,” I insisted.
“Luther King?” She looked away, but I thought I caught a small eye roll.
“Lord Khan.” Mentor King approached me and respectfully bowed his head.
“Mentor King, may I introduce you to Councilwoman Pearl Pilotti. She will be asking you a few questions.”
“What did you say?” He placed a hand behind his ear.
I pointed to Pearl, who stood five feet away with her hands folded in front of her.
Mentor King’s bushy eyebrows sank so low I couldn’t see his eyes anymore. “A woman,” he said with clear distaste and looked back at me. “I didn’t know you got married.”
“I didn’t,” I corrected him.
“Then who is her master?” he asked.
“No one is my master,” Pearl said loud and clear.
Mentor King shook his head and kept his eyes on me. “A woman should always have a master. They are senseless beings, worse than children. Too sensitive and irrational for their own good.” He gave her another once-over. “But at least they are good for one thing. Is that why you have her?”
“What thing would that be?” I asked, hiding my amusement at the pink color on Pearl’s face. For a pacifist, she looked close to hitting the old man.
