Sapiens

3. The Liar’s Son-1

Fabian spent the walk home wondering what he could do to help his friend. It was unlike Sapiens to be so quiet, distant. He would have to talk to him further when they met later that day.

When his house loomed in the distance, Fabian saw a growing crowd next to his house. His heart dropped. Mom …

Mom …He barely knew how his feet carried him the remaining distance. Prayers, probably.

As Fabian approached the house, more and more eyes turned on him. Endless murmurs. Shuffling feet. They were making way for him. Children seemed unable to hold their excitement. Among the young men was Calvin.

Calvin was one cruel youth who considered Fabian his archenemy and the least of Fabian’s concerns at the moment.

Relief filled Fabian head to toe when he saw his mother. She was peeking through the slightly open door, pale with anxiety but otherwise fine.

But if his mother wasn’t the heart of this gathering … what was?

He’d barely opened his mouth to ask when a man punched him. Without thinking, Fabian punched him back. No one could hit him and get away with it. He heard his mother shout his name. Natalie would be awake this time of the day. She would see him. She would see the fight, and it would give her nightmares.

He wished he could tell his mother to shut the door and get inside, but he had a lot on his plate: the fight now involved several people. Fabian got hit again. With everyone forming a circle around him, it was impossible to tell where the hits were coming from. He kept delivering punches regardless.

Before things could get worse, Sir Ajra stepped in. Fabian hadn’t noticed him there before, but he was relieved to have him.

“I said ‘calmly’!” Sir Ajra shouted. “Break it off! Everyone, step back!”

Fabian straightened but didn’t lower his guard. He should be the one with the last punch. Still, Sir Ajra was a man he held deep respect for. He lowered his fists.

Sir Ajra was shouting at people who weren’t involved to go home. Fabian stole a glance at his house. The door was shut. His mother was smart enough to go inside with Natalie.

“Good,” Sir Ajra was saying more calmly. Fabian paid attention. “Now let’s talk like men, as you two should have done from the start.”

Fabian knew he’d done nothing wrong. Those men had brought a fight to his door, frightening his family when he wasn’t there, and then beat him in front of his mother—and possibly sister. He wasn’t to blame. But everyone in town knew of Sir Ajra’s fondness of him. Fabian bet Sir Ajra was including him in the blame to establish the fact that Fabian’s dearness to him would not affect whatever was about to follow.

And whatever it was, Fabian knew it wouldn’t be good.

He shut his mouth and regarded the man who beat him with hate. He had a bad feeling about him, like he remembered him from somewhere. It wasn’t a good memory.

“Fabian, there’s a matter that we need to talk to you about. If there’s a place we can go⁠—”

“I’m not going anywhere, Ajra!” the man bellowed. “I’ll take what’s mine here and now!”

Fabian hated to look ignorant, so he kept a straight face, but his heart was pounding. He was already starting to form an idea …

“Old Anders here saw y’r father,” the man said with disgust. “And he w’s alive’s a kickin’ mule! You two fooled me! You and your⁠—”

“I’ll have respect!” Sir Ajra shouted. Fabian’s mind barely registered that it was unlike Sir Ajra to yell. His father’s lie had been made. Everything Fabian had feared for the past four years was happening.

“What do you mean ‘alive’?” Fabian raged on. “The man’s been dead four years, and you come knocking on our door to pour the salt in the open wound? This is insolent!”

“Don’t y’ speak o’ ins’lence!” the man advanced to punch Fabian again, the few remaining men holding him back.

y’“Hey!” Sir Ajra shouted. Fabian’s hands itched.

“He knew about this!” the man bellowed, resisting the men’s grip. “Like father, like son, and y’ and that Kumar-cursed Jeffrey’ve been treatin’ me like a fool all those y’rs!” he addressed Fabian.

“You think I’d let him get away with it if I knew he was still alive?” Fabian put up his best act. “Where is he? Where did you see him, Anders?” he pleaded, cursing his phony tongue.

“I’s comin’ back from Corodria when I saw ’im,” the old man, Anders, said. “I yelled, ‘Jeffrey,’ and he turned to look. If it’sn’t for the stupid fast carriage I’s ridin’ … By the time I went back, he’s gone. Couldn’t find him nowhere.”

“And you’re sure it was him?” Fabian acted the part so well he convinced himself he was dying to see his father again.

“It was him alright!” the first man said. “Now, give me back what you owe me!”

“What?” Fabian turned around quickly.

“Don’t test my patience, boy!” the man advanced quickly and grabbed Fabian by the collar, Fabian instantaneously readying his fist to charge. The only thing that stopped him was Sir Ajra holding him by the arm. He was holding out the other hand to stop Fabian’s attacker.

“Jared, I will have discipline around, or I swear to Good Kumar himself I will make his debts fall!” Sir Ajra bellowed at his loudest. “Get your hands off him!”

The man, Jared, reluctantly let go. Fabian was aware of all eyes on them.

“And you,” Sir Ajra turned to Fabian. He sounded like he was trying to contain his emotions—and failing. “You already hit him once and he is older than you! You shall not do it again!”

“Sir Ajra, he⁠—”

“I will hear none of it, Fabian!” Sir Ajra shouted. “How much did Jeffrey owe you?” he addressed Jared.

The moneylender … Fabian suddenly realized, blood freezing in his veins.

The moneylender … “Two hundred in silver!”

Fabian heard the number and his stomach turned, but he remembered to keep a straight face.

“I remember it to be different,” Sir Ajra said.

“That’s four years ago. But Jeffrey’n’t pay four years ago, now, did’e?” Jared looked at Fabian with hate. It was mutual.

There was a long silence as Sir Ajra gave it thought. All eyes were on Fabian. He would not let his eyes look broken, even though he could see his future now: word would spread like wildfire, and everyone would know the lie that Fabian had had to endure alone for four years. He was once the drunkard’s son, and he was just starting to change that image. Now he was the liar’s son, and he was sure it would take just as many years, if not more, to do something about it. He was a liar, a son of a liar, and people relished a good victim.

“I see your point, Jared,” Sir Ajra finally said. “But I’ll do my own calculations and let you all know the final and just number.”

Fabian wanted to punch a tree until every bone in his hands broke, but he took the news with grace. There was no way out now; it was happening for real. He would have to pay back the money his father owed the moneylender, and he would be labeled a liar for the rest of his miserable life.

“Fabian,” Sir Ajra said, “you have a month to pay.”

“I won’t give this fibber a single day!” Jared bellowed and spat. The cool air of the Tenth failed against the heat escaping Fabian’s body.

“The law allows him a month from the day you reclaim your money,” Sir Ajra said coolly.

“The law should allow him nothing. He and his father tried to rob me! This little insect should be in prison!”

“Hey!” Fabian shouted, pouring all his heat on Jared. “Sir Ajra has spoken his word. Do not insult me further. Jeffrey deceived even me.” For the first time, he wasn’t entirely lying: the disgust he felt was real. “He hid the fact that he was alive from his own son and wife. That man is nothing to me. And Jared, why don’t you go take your money from him?”

“You listen, you little⁠—”

“Jared!” Sir Ajra shouted, looking back at Fabian. “Fabian, Jared is right. It’s not his problem where he gets his money, you or Jeffrey. This day next month, he better have his money, Fabian, or else … you both give me no other choice.”

Fabian knew Sir Ajra meant imprisonment, but that’s not what bothered him. What hurt him most was the word ‘both.’ Sir Ajra wasn’t referring to Fabian and Jared; he was referring to Fabian and Jeffrey. That was the final blow to his chest: even Sir Ajra associated him with Jeffrey.

“If you try to assault Fabian in any way during that month, Jared, you will face the consequences, and he will no longer owe you a single silver. Fabian, you’re safe; I guarantee it. Now, I do not wish to see your faces in the same place again. Dismissed.”

Jared gave Fabian an ugly smile before he left, everyone following his lead. They were murmuring as they walked away, and Fabian could feel their excitement about the new piece of gossip. He was repelled by the fact that he was the heart of it. Even showing grace wasn’t going to be enough.

“Go talk to him, Fabian,” Sir Ajra said when only the two of them were left.

“I’d rather die,” Fabian said under his breath.

“Then you shall pay the man his silver.”

“I will.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, boy?” Sir Ajra whispered. “You should have told me you knew.”

“I didn’t know.”

“You don’t have to lie, Fabian, not to me.”

“Sir Ajra, I didn’t know,” Fabian insisted. “Jeffrey was dead to me until they told me.”

“Dead to you is one thing, and dead is another. I know you, Fabian, and you knew.”

Fabian remained silent. He glanced at his house and found his mother standing at the side window, pulling the curtains aside, looking right at him. He felt tired.

“You should pay him a visit, tell him to be a man for once in his life.”

“I won’t speak to him again. He died four years ago, Sir Ajra, and whatever comes next, I’ll face it. We want nothing from that damned traitor.”

“What about your uncle?”

“I’m the man of the house, and I’ll be ready with the amount you see fit, Sir Ajra. Kumar’s blessings.” And with a bow, he walked away.

He would have gone anywhere in the world had his mother not been watching. Now he had to go home and warn her, and he had to show Sir Ajra he was fine. He had to show the world he was fine.

* * *

“Fabby!” a voice came squealing.

“Hey!” He opened his arms and kneeled to embrace his little sister. She always waited close by the door so she could run to Fabian when she heard the key in the lock. “How’s my bumblebee doing?” he kissed her on the cheek.