Luka arrived panting as Bernis and Emily hanged the last sheet.
"Sorry, I'm late," he apologized and then made a small bow.
"We all know you came late to avoid washing these sheets," Emily replied, and Luka blushed. She had seen through him. "Go pour some tea into the pot… Bernis, I'll finish up. Go help him with the snacks."
Bernis was more than glad to leave the washing area. He washed his hands rather aggressively with soap and water before running after Luka, who was steps ahead of him.
"How were the bedsheets today," Luka asked.
"They were nasty, as always. How is your wound doing," Bernis asked as he looked at Luka's pant leg.
"There is no pain or signs of infection. I guess it's okay," Luka replied.
Luka entered the kitchen to find the tea ready. The trio had made it. He poured it into a pot that had a spout like an elephant's trunk. He then set the tea tray; the pot and three cups. Bernis, on the pastry side of the kitchen, placed some cakes and biscuits on a huge wooden tray.
"I hear there is a new general," he whispered to Luka as they walked towards the general's office.
"How is he?"
"We are about to find out," he said once they stopped outside the door.
Bernis knocked thrice on the door. "Tea is ready, my lord," he said, then winked at Luka, who was nervous.
A soldier standing outside the door - whom they had ignored as he seemed like a statue—opened the door. A deep 'mmm' sound was all it took for the soldier to know that the general had given permission to enter. Neither Bernis nor Luka had heard it.
Bernis almost dropped the tray when he saw a familiar face seated in the general's chair.
"You again," Bernis growled. The man had given him nightmares for the past two nights.
A middle-aged man who was the general's assistant rushed to warn Bernis. He ordered him to correct his tone or else he would receive punishment. Bernis ignored both the order and the nervous tap from Luka. He proceeded to invade the personal space of the general. He slapped the tray firmly on his working desk instead of the designated tea table.
"You," Bernis growled again. The man gave him the creeps. He smelt like danger. Did the king even do a thorough background check-up on the man? Did he know that the man was possibly from hell, probably the devil? He, however, noted that Maverick was not as playful and patient looking like he was back in his house.
The general sent a sharp gaze to his feet. Bernis knew it was a warning to step back, but he refused to leave the desk. Despite his demeanor, Bernis was a little scared. The aura the man radiated at that moment was not at all similar to the one in his bedroom, nor did it remind him of their time together in the cave. Various demons may have possessed the man, so he thought.
Maverick uttered not a single word. Instead, he sent his sharp gaze over to his assistant.
"Guards," the assistant called out. Two soldiers came rushing.
"You call your guards on me when—" Maverick's palm, which was raised facing him, cut off his speech.
"Leave." Maverick's voice vibrated in the room.
Bernis huffed. He furiously turned as he hailed curses in his thoughts. He took an angry two steps before he heard Maverick's voice again.
"Not you," Maverick said, his eyes turning to the assistant and the soldiers.
"Are you sure, my lord?" the assistant asked.
"Leave me with him," Maverick said, firmness in his voice. The assistant dared not question further. The soldiers were first to leave, followed by the assistant. Luka, who was initially so humbled and looking tiny, placed his tray onto the tea table and left. Instant relief rushed through his body once he stepped out of the room. The first impression of the captain had not been so nice.
"This is a general's office," Maverick said. "You should respect me the way you respected General K. Do you understand."
Bernis huffed. "I am wondering how you got to be a general."
Maverick intensified his eye contact. "You understand?" This time, his voice was strict, deep, and cold.
The surrounding aura thickened, scaring Bernis. He broke eye contact and politely replied, "Yes, I understand, my lord."
"Good. Now, how is your morning, and why is Bernis angry with me." His tone changed: he sounded happy and the thick aura had disappeared. The room appeared brighter; the sun's rays hit the room unlike before. Bernis felt his body thaw. A force that had been suppressing his spirit lifted.
"I am afraid of you," Bernis muttered. "Right then… it had felt cold and dark, but now… Does the weather obey your mood?" Bernis raised his head to meet Maverick's eyes. A smirk greeted him.
The aura in the cave, the breaking into his house and now his workplace? The man was there to torment him. Afraid of getting into trouble with the unanswered question he had, he excused himself. "I need to go." Bernis hurried out of the room. Maverick wanted to stop him, but his brain thought of a better way to teach him a lesson—walking out on him was unacceptable. Respect needed to be reinforced early, if they were to be together for a long time.