by Paul Kater
Rayko was puzzled, she had never heard of a Malcolm. But there was so much she did not know about Daniel. "Face him. See what he does. And understand that he cannot touch you, Daniel."
Daniel followed her leads, one after the other, and finally he reached a place in the tunnel where there was an immense shower of light. It looked like flowing silver and gold, and as he approached it, Rayko told him to step into it, and feel how the stream was taking away all the shadows that clung to him.
"It is the shower of forgiveness and acceptance, Daniel," she whispered. "It is where Nahmyo waits for you, where you open your eyes." Her hands were hurting, her face was wet with tears, but she had to push him through this. Otherwise it had all been in vain. Slowly she felt how his hands relaxed, she saw how his features eased and his breathing became more shallow, calm.
Daniel slowly rose from the trance. There was a lightness in him that he had never experienced before, not even in the zero gravity of space.
"Keep your eyes closed, Daniel," Rayko whispered. She was leaning against him, as this had worn her out quite a bit. It had been hard work for her as well as for him, and she felt drained. But happy.
"Where are you, Rayko?" Daniel asked.
"I am here. Right beside you," she whispered.
Somehow Daniel managed to raise his arm and put it around her. He pulled her close, and again she did not resist.
After a while, Sygra dared to move. He had come in and understood what Rayko was doing. She nor Daniel had noticed him enter the room, and he had not dared to stir a muscle. He was too much aware of what was going on, and any sound he would make would break the spell of the trance-work, so he had remained standing and waiting and watching.
He went into Daniel's room to fetch a blanket. The senator frowned at the mass of black fabric on the table for a moment, then he returned and covered the two sleeping people with the blanket. Silently he left the small library.
"I think I will have my tea in the garden today," he said to a servant. "And please, tell everyone not to go into the library for a while."
"Very well, sir."
62. Awakening
Daniel slowly awoke. He did not want to emerge from the soft warm cocoon he was in, but reality was relentless and dragged him out. Then he noticed that he was not alone. Slowly he looked to the side and saw brown hair against his shoulder. His arm was around the owner of the brown hair.
With a slight frown he tried to remember what had happened, but apart from going through the tunnel after Rayko had been talking to him he could not recall how she got to sleep in his arm. He also wasn't sure where the blanket had come from, but it certainly felt nice.
Being awake was now apparent. He felt relaxed though, and understood that being awake did not imply being on the run-around. Sitting there on the couch, with Rayko close, was enough of the world for now.
It was a gentle pling-plong sound that ended the cosiness.
Rayko stirred. She too was a bit confused at first, when she found herself cuddled up with Daniel. "Oh..." She wiped her hair aside. Then she looked at Daniel and slowly sat up. "Uhm... how do you feel?" As she asked it, she reached for the pendant she wore and flipped open the cover. "Hello mother." She stared intently at the stamp-sized picture in the cover.
"Rayko, where are you? We are getting worried," the voice of Ugidra sounded from the locket.
"I am visiting with the senator, mother. I told you that I do not know when I will be back."
"Oh. I see. Pay my respects to the senator, please, and do inform us when you intend to come home." The tiny display turned grey.
Rayko closed the locket and looked at Daniel. "Is your mother like that?"
"Never had such a problem," Daniel said.
"My mother is really good and caring, please don't misunderstand. But sometimes I would like to trade her," Rayko said.
"Ah, there are people who are awake." Sygra came into the library with a smile. He laughed widely as he saw the failing attempts of Rayko and Daniel to sit further apart; the blanket held them together. "Please, do not worry. I have seen people sit together before."
The senator kept his distance. "Would you like some more privacy for a while? Just say so, I understand. You have gone through something intense. It is not like sharing a cup of tea."
Daniel was lost for words. He still had no idea what had happened.
Rayko slowly pulled at the blanket, in vain. Then she gave in and leaned against Daniel again, who did not mind. "If you would please sit with us, sir," she said. "Maybe you can help me in telling Daniel what I tried to do for him."
"Of course." After calling for fresh tea, Sygra sat down and together they explained to Daniel about the trance and the intended effect.
"You, young lady, delivered some very frightening moments to me, do you know that?" Daniel reacted, after they had done their talking.
Rayko, who held one of Daniel's hands, nodded. "I know. Are they still frightening, young man?"
Daniel grinned. This talk was going on in such a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, and they had never before been so open and close. "No. They aren't. You did something amazing, Rayko."
"I hope you are serious about that, Daniel," Sygra said. "Because it is truly amazing what she did. It was an act of trust and care. And..." His eyes drifted off to Rayko. "Dare I say it? Or do you?"
"Love."
Rayko and Sygra looked at Daniel. "How do you know that?"
"I don't really... know. It just feels like that should be it." Daniel felt very thoughtful. He looked at Rayko. "And it is... how I feel, I think."
Rayko's eyes grew larger. Then she smiled. "Thank you. For returning the feeling."
They hardly noticed how Sygra quietly left the room.
"I didn't really know I had it, Rayko. Not with everything that has happened."
"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 tha
t 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.
63. At the big house
Daniel took his time in making himself presentable. He had brought far too much things along, but that was okay. He also had the book of Nahmyo with him, and as he had to wait, he sat down to read.
There was a knock on the door. "Daniel? Are you decent?" It was Rayko.
"I am very decent, do come in." He got up and was on the way to the door when she came in. "By the storms, you look magnificent." He stared at her. "I can't believe it."
Rayko blushed. "It is nothing special, Daniel." She walked over to him and fumbled some with his tie. "There, all done. Now come." She held out her hand, which he gladly accepted. They walked along the corridor, into the hall, and from there to one of the smaller rooms where a table had been laid for four people.
Ugidra and Warlem were already present. They stood by a window and looked out over the water. The sun was setting, and the resulting view of the bay was truly breathtaking.
"Ehem..." Rayko said as they entered the room.
"Oh, Rayko. And Mr. Zacharias, how wonderful to see you. And in better circumstances than before," Ugidra said. She came to greet Daniel and her daughter.
Warlem trailed behind and shook Daniel's hand. "Welcome, Daniel. I am pleased to see you again. You look well."
"I feel well, thank you. It is good to see you again too."
"Come, everyone. Sit for dinner, please," Rayko's mother said. "Mr. Zacharias, would you care to sit there, next to Rayko..."
Daniel wondered what she knew or suspected, but did not object at all to sit next to her daughter.
The dinner started with a refined clam soup and a special kind of wine.
"Rayko, you look wonderful," said Ugidra, "as do you, Mr. Zacharias."
"Thank you, mother," Rayko said, "Daniel also complimented me, earlier."
"I am sure," Warlem grinned, "after all, you did your best. And you weren't even late for table."
Daniel suppressed a grin, and then conversation floated along some light and safe topics.
The food was amazing. There were things that Daniel had never seen, and Rayko had to help him by showing him how to attack certain bits and pieces. It turned into a dinner with lots of laughter because of that.
After dinner, the group repaired to a small conservatory which gave an unobstructed view of the bay. As if it was planned, Rayko and Daniel were sat in the only two-seater chair available.
"You look very handsome together," Ugidra then said. "Really."
It made Daniel feel a bit uncomfortable. All of a sudden he was not sure how much of this all was set up.
"Please, Mr. Zacharias, do not feel
alarmed." Rayko's mother sat down. She seemed to notice Daniel's slight unease. "I can tell you and Rayko care for each other. There is nothing mysterious about a mother's instinct."
Daniel grinned sheepishly. He felt as if he had been caught.
Rayko took his hand. "Yes, mother, we do care for each other."
"That was already so clear during the party," Warlem pitched him. He pulled his legs out of Rayko's reach, who cast a short look at him.