Later on that night, Dean discovered that the refuge didn't have a council just like Refuge Sarah had. Instead, the city had a Major that was charged to make the decisions that would be taken in order to turn the refuge into a better place to live.
He didn't know anything about what was a Major before, and that was why he asked such an obvious thing. It wasn't the political system of his settlement before, after all, so they didn't teach anything about it.
This, or maybe he was just too absorbed in think about smithy and Ascendance while attending his classes, which caused him to forget a good part of what was taught.
'Anyway, people didn't say too much about the outside world, so I probably didn't miss anything.' Dean thought while still sitting on the sofa beside his partners.
He wanted to do a bunch of questions, but he decided to stay quiet after the first one. He murmured that question about what was a Major to Kevin, who explained to him quickly. However, he felt like that house was just too silent because everyone there seemed to hear what they were talking about. Anyway, nobody cared about it, so they continued to talk.
Dean let aside his curiosity and paid attention to that old man in front of him. The Major was a corpulent old guy. His hair was gray and smooth. The Major's beard was the same. He had a round face, and usually a gentle expression with soothing eyes, but now his expression wasn't the best, and his eyes darted around.
That somewhat desperate self wasn't the usual of the Major, but it was the first impression that he gave to Dean, which stayed in the boy's mind.
'I already saw this kind of people where I lived. It was quite uncomfortable the way they spoke and acted, but they generally just had a lot of energy to spend. I am just a bit curious about his reaction when seeing me.'
The group was talking about things that Dean more or less knew. Most of the subject was about how things went in their mission. Nonetheless, the boy had asked them about it a lot of times, and they gave the details of their journey, so he wasn't interested in it.
Some maids appeared at some point. The group was considering them as saviors since they were so hungry. After days having, at most, 2 meals a day, and just some small portions of food, the group was excited to have a great meal again.
A lot of plates with different and exotic dishes were put on the center table of the living room. Without even asking anything, Rick's group began to eat it.
"W-Well, I am glad that you all could make it safe until here. And it's even better to know that the Dread is now gone. Your help will always be appreciated among our folk. H-however it doesn't mean that you can do anything you want, understood? I appreciate when the peace of Refuge Oslan is maintained." That was the first time when the Major gave a strong look toward Rick. It was clear that his hands were trembling and he was sweating profusely. Since their first encounter, the Major never was so courageous.
He surely was a person who cared for the well-being of his folk. This was a fabulous quality of a leader and the duty of a governor.
"Sure. Be assured that everything will be alright, Major Oslan. We will just settle for a few days, then go to another place." Clay spoke. Sometimes he would talk before Rick could do so. Dean never thought too much about that behavior, but ultimately he had been questioning himself if that was not a strategy to keep Rick from hurting other strange people with his words.
Always when Clay interrupted Rick, Dean noticed that the latter got a gleam of fury inside his eyes and clenched his fists tightly. A clear indicator that he was going to explode at any time.
"Well, anything more you want from me? You can ask now... O-Or then later! You choose. The maids probably found rooms for you at this point, so you can go there and enjoy, or just stroll around."
Their conversation was finished. They discussed everything they needed to. Dean was glad that now they could relax a bit.
"Nothing much. Just treat us well, and my buddy here as well. If I ever know that you are talking bullshit to him, you know what will happen to you. Aside from that, just assure our payment until tomorrow, so we can enjoy a small part here then save the rest."
This way, they stood from the sofa, followed by Oslan who stretched his arms and greeted everyone.
"Thank you again for saving our refuge from that monster. Now, if you may excuse me, I need to go accomplish some tasks. Please, enjoy your stay here."
"In such a small and poor refuge, just whores are worth something, and I think that even this kind of attraction is nonexistent here," Kevin commented, clicking his tongue. The others laughed, slapping him on the shoulder.
Dean knew more or less what was a whore, but he never saw one in person. He was quite curious, but his mother taught him to keep away from those kinds of things.
"Ok, everyone, I will go to sleep. You better don't wake me up before it's time to do that thing." Rick said to them all, turning his back and going upstairs that were on the right side of the living room. The bedrooms were on the second floor.
Hector, Clay, and Kevin nodded to their leader, shrugging. They knew very well about his behavior, so they were quite used to it already.
After this, one by one the group began to split. Hector went to a store alone. Kevin wanted to eat more. Clay was interesting in some animals that just appeared on that zone and a bow that he saw a day before they went on their mission.
Suddenly, Dean got himself alone in front of the house.