Paul Kater - Bactine

“Things like that don’t matter, Daniel,” she said, as she snuggled up to him, his arm going around her as if it had a mind of its own. “Those are the things that set everything in motion. The ones that bring us in contact.”

“They certainly did that,” Daniel said. He rested his cheek on her head.

In silence they sat like that for quite some time.

“Daniel?”

“Yes?”

“I think I really love you.”

Daniel was slightly taken by surprise by that sudden revelation. He put a finger under her chin and slowly made her look up at him. “I love you too, Rayko.”

“I know.” She reached up and put her hand behind his head.

Daniel did not need much encouragement to sink into the kiss.

When it finally broke, Rayko’s face was red. “I believe you love me, Daniel. But please, convince me again.”

He did.

Both their faces were red after that.

“I need some tea,” said Rayko, “now really. You are…” She smiled. Then she poured them some tea.

“I think I must go home soon, Daniel.”

“Yes, you should, indeed. Before your mother calls on you again.”

Rayko laughed. “Yes. I am glad she did not interrupt… this.” She handed Daniel his tea. “Would you come with me if I asked you?”

“To your home?” Daniel was not prepared for that one.

“Yes. That was what we were talking about, I believe.” Rayko held back her grin, she was trying how far she could go.

“What would your mother say about that, Rayko?”

She frowned and stared at him with big brown eyes. “You would not be going there for my mother, or am I wrong? I would hope you would go with me for me, Daniel.”

“Oh, certainly. I am just not very skilled in things like these,” Daniel said.

“I can tell.” Rayko grinned and touched his hand. “I’m so sorry, Daniel, I was teasing you. But I would really appreciate it if you would come with me. Mother likes you, and Warlem does also. He mentioned you many a time.”

“Then I’ll come with you, Rayko.” He was certain.

“Thank you, Daniel.” She put down her tea and took her locket. She contacted her mother and said that she planned on being home in about an hour. And that she was bringing over a guest, for dinner. Very easily Rayko avoided answering her mother’s questions who would be coming. She had a cheeky smile when she looked at Daniel again. “She will be so curious now!”

The senator came in again. “I heard your voices, so I assume it is safe to enter again?”

Rayko put a hand over her mouth and blushed. “Oh, sir, I am so sorry… and this in your own house…”

Sygra laughed. “Don’t worry about that, Rayko, I am very pleased to see that you and Daniel are getting along so well.”

She slipped a hand in Daniel’s. “I am taking him away from you, senator. And my mother sends her regards.”

“That is very nice, thank you, please convey my gratitude to her. And where are you taking Daniel to, if I may ask?”

“To dinner at the house,” Rayko said, beaming at the idea.

“Ah, I see.” Sygra smiled. “Very good, very good. I hope you will enjoy the visit, Daniel. It will be silent here this evening, without you. But that is good.”

“You should start packing your things, Daniel,” Rayko said.

“Packing?” Daniel frowned. “Oh, yes. I understand.” He’d need to change clothes for the dinner at the Dandra ko Galem residence. He gently squeezed Rayko’s hand and got up, to pack a bag with what he thought he’d need.

By the time he was done, Rayko was already saying her goodbyes to the senator. They both looked up when Daniel appeared with his case and also the large black cloak.

“You should leave the cloak here, I think. We’re not going to need that anymore, I think.”

Sygra was not sure what to make of that strange conversation, but he nodded. “If you need it, it will be here and waiting for you. I’ll make sure it will be taken care of, Daniel. I took the liberty of calling a carriage for you, so when you are ready to go, then you can go.”

They both thanked the senator.

“I’ll see you again, later, senator,” said Daniel, shaking the thin man’s hand.

“No need to rush, Daniel. Take all the time you need. We’ll stay in contact, I am sure.”

Daniel took the black cloak back to the room and then, hand in hand, Rayko and he left the house.

The carriage was already waiting for them, so they were on the road soon after that. As they were going along, Rayko chatted a mile a minute, telling Daniel how relieved she was that all was now behind them, and how wonderful the future now looked for her.

Daniel grinned, as he heard her talk, and still wondered how it had been possible that they had hated each other so much. “Rayko?”

“Yes?”

“You’re very pretty.”

“Oh…” She blushed again. “Thank you. I ehm…” She shrugged. “I’m nothing special, really.”

“Oh yes, you are, to me.”

“You flatter me, Daniel.”

“Oh, come one, I am sure that many men have paid you compliments.” Daniel smiled as he hugged her.

“Not really. My fath-… step-father always made sure I was not alone with men he did not know. And even if he did know them…” She bit her lip for a moment.

“I am sorry if I ruined your good feeling, Rayko,” Daniel said.

She shook her head. “No. No need for that. You did not ruin anything. You just helped me. Again. My preacher. It is something you have to know, so knowing it now is a good thing.”

They talked until the carriage came to a halt. Daniel recognised the area; he had been here plenty of times. They left the carriage and went up the hill in the basket under the floater. As they were going upwards, Daniel thought of Aldrick and wondered how the good man was getting along with the new airship. He’d have to check on that soon.

At the reception house, there was only one lady to meet them. As if nothing had ever happened, Daniel was greeted. Arm in arm Rayko and he walked through the transparent tube, to the hall. The large fountain did not spray its watery arches.

“Mother can’t stand the sound of that,” Rayko explained as if she knew what Daniel was thinking. “Come, I will show you to a room where you can get ready for dinner.”

How different it was, compared to the last time he had been in the house. Now Rayko was here, guiding him to a room. It all seemed a bit like a dream to Daniel.

She took him to an entirely different wing of the house and let him into a room that was even larger and more luxurious than the one he had been in before. “This should do, I think,” Rayko said. She showed him the bathroom and a hidden closet where he could put his things. “If you need anything, you can pull this little banner,” she explained. “It is connected to the servants’ waiting room and someone will come to you soon.”

“So it is not a bell to your room?” Daniel grinned.

Rayko wrapped her arms around him. “No. If you want me, you just have to knock on the door opposite this one. And now I want a kiss, for all the work I have done for you in here.”

She got her kiss.

“I should ask another one, Daniel Zacharias… but I’m afraid we would be late for dinner.” She sighed and let go of him.

“Does your mother know we are here? We have not seen her yet.”

Rayko smiled. “The servants know we are here. That is enough. And now I have to go, or I’ll never be ready in time. Dinner will be in two hours, Daniel.” Quickly she darted out of the room. “Oh, I will come and fetch you,” she said as she looked back into the room. “And you make me happy, just by being here.” And she was gone again.