A thick silence stretched between us for some time after Octava had delivered his strange request.
For him he was simply waiting for my response, me on the other hand, well that was totally unexpected. I was trying to get the angle he was working from. I mean there had to be one. It would have been easier to understand his motive had he not shortly ago reassured me he was not interested in the position.
Could it be...
"I have nothing against Maya sir," he declared as if he had read my thoughts.
"On the contrary, we enjoyed a healthy working relationship for the entire seven months I was her assistant. At least until the last days of her tenure. We became a little estranged."
"Why?" I asked almost immediately.
Octava's body language immediately became too uncomfortable.
"That is not my story to tell sir. It is hers. It was her tenure."
I stared at him confused. "But I am the current caretaker. If there is something I should know, why will you not tell me?"
He nodded now looking at the shelf. "It is against the custom of succession sir."
He raised his hands and one of the books from the shelves flew into his hand. He laid it gently on the table.
"Succession across tenures."
There was no author name but like the title suggested it was probably written by hundreds of caretakers.
"Only a caretaker has the right to discuss anything about his or her tenure," Octava explained. "I could tell you everything about mine some 250 years ago but times have changed, and so has the game and the players. In any case I have written all about it."
He raised his hands and again another volume swooshed into his hand. The title was plain enough. "Bilio Octava - 1780-1792."
"You were a caretaker for 12 years?" I exclaimed. In fact what awed me more was the realization of how old he was.
Having seen the large number of rats who had been former caretakers, I had wondered how short their tenure could have been. Now I realized that they may just not be dying.
"Oh, that should not fool you," Octava smiled casually. "Back then I only ran an inn for the weird sort. I only served a total of eight patrons throughout my time."
I was hardly paying much attention to all this. Questions were literally flying across my mind.
"And how long does a caretaker live?"
This is the question I had been meaning to ask Maya for a while now though something else kept shoving it aside.
"A caretaker? Well they are mortal so it depends on the circumstances and the kind of ability they unlock. To answer the question, a caretaker can die just like normal humans which most of them are anyway. What you mean is probably how long does a former caretaker live?"
"Yeah," I nodded quickly.
"If no one kills them, or they do not kill themselves, then it is forever. But only if they are in the rat form."
Yeah, that was definitely a curse. Live forever as a rat? At some point I would definitely get something to kill me, or I would do it myself.
I suddenly remembered we were digressing.
"You were explaining something about Maya," I said steering us back on track.
"Why should I not make her my assistant? I mean do you think she plans to work against me?"
Octava was quick to correct me.
"Certainly not sir. At least not to my knowledge. And I did explain I have nothing against her. I am here as one of the heads of department," he began.
"While I cannot discuss her tenure, I am obligated to advise the current caretaker."
"And what exactly are you advising sir? I mean other than not to choose Maya."
He paused as if trying to gauge the level of sarcasm in that statement. I had however been too stingy with the dosage that the statement felt just inquisitive.
"The assistant serves as the acting caretaker during the caretaker's absence," he explained. "The two cannot be out of the hotel premises at the same time."
"And what does that have to do with Maya?" I asked getting impatient.
"Well, that would make her the caretaker in case you were to attend to matters outside of the Neutral Zone. I am advising against it. It is both dangerous to you and the guests."
"Dangerous?" I asked preposterous.
Despite only knowing her for barely a day, Maya and danger were two things I could not see fitting in one sentence.
"You cannot tell me," I surmised seeing the hesitant look on his face. "Has Maya written her book yet?"
I was grasping at straws but that is how curious I had gotten.
Octava was already shaking his head. "Her tenure only just ended about six months ago. Most take time before coming around to documenting their tenure. Some never do."
"In that case I will just have to hear it from the horse's mouth," I answered yawning involuntarily.
"That would be worth a try sir. Most of us have failed so far," he said beginning to bow before stopping himself.
"I will leave you to get your rest sir."
"Wait, you said earlier that you were her assistant. How come you still are..."
I did not want to say rat and luckily he seemed to get my question.
"An assistant is under a caretaker's contract. If they get terminated, they both suffer the consequences."
"That is not Clemency. Sounds like temporary reprieve."
Octava nodded grimly. "Mine came early," he said smiling. "As I told you sir, our relationship became a little tough during the end of her tenure. She took me to head the security department."
"Hff."
This thing sounded every bit like a saga had been unraveling for those months.
"Have a good night Octava. And thank you for your advice."
"Just doing my job sir," he said as the door opened and he stepped out. "Sleep well."
I stood at the door watching him seemingly glide over the staircase.
Gently I pushed the door shut before resuming my seat at the sofa.
I looked at two huge books in front of me before raising my head and scanning the towering shelf full of books.
Now I began to realize why a study and a reading desk were part of my chambers. If I wanted to survive here beyond a week I had to feed in as much knowledge as I could.
As for Maya and Octava's cryptic warnings, I would have to ask her as soon as I had the chance to. I mean, there had to be a reason for her actions, and her side of the story would clarify things.
I sighed before pulling Octava's book closer. Sleep would have to wait for a few more hours.