by Paul Kater
"Warlem, please," Ugidra cautioned her son. Then she looked at Daniel again. "I sincerely apologise for my poor choice of moment, Mr. Zacharias, but there is something I would like to ask you. It is about something that bears down on me very heavily."
Daniel looked at Rayko, who frowned back at him. It was evident that this was not a part of any plan.
"I do want to discuss this with both my children present. At this moment, Mr. Zacharias, the business of my... former husband... is still running itself. There are people occupied with the daily affairs. But sometimes questions are asked that we have no answers for. Solutions have to be made, decisions need to be taken ."
A feeling crawled up Daniel's spine. It tingled as it crawled, and it made him curious as well as a bit nervous.
"I would like to ask you, Mr. Zacharias, if you would consider taking part in the business as it is now." Ugidra waited for a moment, tasting Daniel's reaction from his face, his body language. "I understand that this is very much a surprise. To you as well as to Warlem and Rayko. It is something that I thought of just today. I have spoken with Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy, who told me about how you received the medal at the Society, and someone who carries that medal is regarded upon as a very respectable person."
"Medal?" Rayko turned to Daniel, ignoring the fact that she was interrupting her mother. "What medal?"
Warlem also seemed surprised by that, so all of a sudden there were three people wondering about all kinds of things.
"It's just a small one," Daniel said. "I got it from Seigner Skinsh ko Talush. Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy had recommended me for it."
"But which one was it?" Rayko wanted to shake it out of Daniel, but that would not look very good.
"They told me it is the medal of Valour and Reward."
Rayko's eyes became large again. She put a hand over her mouth. "You received the medal of Valour and Reward?"
Even Warlem, who was not easily shaken, looked perplexed. "Good grief."
Daniel was suddenly painfully aware that this medal meant quite a great deal here. He had not thought much of it all, as the general attitude at the Society was one of pomp and grandeur.
"Exactly, Warlem," Ugidra picked up. "And since Mr. Zacharias was awarded this honour, I think it would be very beneficial to either side if he were to venture into the company with us. Or perhaps I should say for us." She gazed at Warlem for a minimal moment, her expression making it clear how much she expected from that side.
"Oh, yes!" Rayko grabbed both Daniel's hands. "That would be fantastic!"
Daniel was stumped. Parts of his brain fought for supremacy for a while and as that battle raged, he felt like an idiot. "I must say," he said, trying to stall for time, "that I am quite overwhelmed by this offer, Mrs. Dandra ko Galem."
You should not do this, part of him argued, you are a soldier, not a businessman!
Take that offer, Daniel, you'll be out of financial problems for quite a while!
And you get the girl too!
"It is a splendid way to become one of the people from here," the voice of Lundar the preacher pitched in.
But you won't be able to go to sea again in that situation!
Calmly Daniel told every participant in the shouting contest to be quiet. "Your offer sounds very attractive," he said. "Almost as attractive as your daughter."
Rayko blushed.
"I am not cut out for this kind of work, never had any training or schooling for that, though. Have you considered that?" The words came to him naturally.
Ugidra smiled. "Yes, I have. And I have talked to Seigner Dogom ko Tzuy about that as well. He is willing to guide you, give you advice."
Warlem seemed surprised by how far his mother had already gone in this. Rayko, whose blush had faded again, looked happy, her eyes beaming at Daniel.
"The Seigner even talked about a partnership, where the ships of both companies could be formed into one fleet."
Daniel nodded slowly. "That sounds almost too good to be true." His warning lights blinked. If something sounded too good to be true, it usually was. He acknowledged that. "But I will give this a try. We could see how things go, for a period that we can decide on. Would that be acceptable for you?"
"Yes, it would," Ugidra said.
"But not for me, Daniel. I want to keep you," Rayko said, holding one of his hands with both of hers.
"I don't plan on giving you a period for evaluation," he grinned. "I am not taking the chance that you don't like me after all."
As a smile unfolded on her face, Rayko slowly leaned over to Daniel and very lightly kissed him on the cheek. "I do not believe, Daniel, that you have to worry about that." Then she looked at her mother. "And I think, mother, that it is time that you call him Daniel. I love him. And he will be here a lot."
Ugidra smiled. "Yes. It sounds appropriate. Daniel it is, if you agree." She looked at him, waiting.
"I do. Oh, I do, absolutely."
"Thank you, Daniel. I am very grateful that we had this conversation." Ugidra got up. "And maybe it is a bit early to say this, but I would really like to welcome you to the family."
Daniel was getting up to properly thank the lady, so he managed to hide his surprised face for a moment from her, but not from Rayko, who giggled. "Thank you, for the impromptu dinner and the very generous offer, my lady."
"You are most welcome, Daniel. I will see you tomorrow, at breakfast." Ugidra nodded and left the three younger people.
"At breakfast?" Daniel wondered as he watched her go.
Rayko took his hand and pretended to pull herself up on his arm. "Yes. We are a very hospitable family, Daniel. Even when not everyone knows who is where." She looked at Warlem, who winked. He had told her about Daniel's visit and his stay at the house, when he and her mother had asked Daniel for help to find her again.
Rayko's poet brother got to his feet. "I should see to some books that I have. If you would excuse me..." He did not wait for an answer, he simply slipped out of the conservatory and then Daniel and Rayko were alone.
Daniel started to put his arm around Rayko, but she stepped away. "No... wait..."
"Uhm... am I missing something?" Daniel wondered about her sudden shyness.
A few moments later, a servant came into the conservatory. She carried a tray with two glasses of pink wine and offered them to Rayko, who took both glasses and then waited until the serving lady had left again.
Then she stood in front of Daniel and looked at him. "Daniel, I hand you this glass of wine. It is offered in love and friendship, and I hope it is received in the same way."
Daniel understood then that this was some kind of custom, or perhaps a ritual of sorts. He was not sure what would be the proper way to respond, so he improvised. "I gladly receive this glass. In love and friendship."
Rayko smiled and handed him the wine. Their fingers touched as he took it. Then she slipped into his arm. After a taste of the wine, they ended up tasting each other's lips.
###
About the author:
I am an IT consultant who loves reading and writing.
I've been an amateur-author since years, writing SciFi, Fantasy and lately also Steampunk. My home is in the Netherlands.
I hope you liked "Bactine".
All other books I published so far:
Hilda the wicked Witch series:
Hilda, the wicked witch (Amazon.com, April 2011)
Hilda – Snow White revisited (Amazon.com, June 2011)
If you want to connect with me online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pagan_paul
My writing-blog: http://paulkater.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paul.kater.author
Table of Contents
1. Daniel
2. Training
3. It just sucks
4. Moon base (1)
5. Moon base (2)
6. Tailored
7. NGC6637-VIII
8. The mission
9. The Pricosine
>
10. Sailing
11. Home is where the ship is
12. All aboard
13. A night on the town
14. Jailbirds
15. A new trip
16. Rayko
17. An unexpected visitor
18. Huajo Dogom ko Tzuy
19. Under sail again
20. Bactine
21. Invitations
22. Soirée (1)
23. Soirée (2)
24. A strange call
25. Soirée (3)
26. Under sail again
27. Walking the plank
28. You're out
29. Need job, will sail
30. Where Flish went wrong
31. Action, where are you?
32. No music and bars
33. Shipyard
34. Strange Aldrick
35. Getting ready
36. Airship
37. It's dangerous
38. Win one, lose one
39. Missing
40. Daniel Detective
41. Senator Sygra Dirrit ko Asac
42. Kitty cat
43. Blood shed
44. An unexpected encounter
45. Investigations
46. When things blow up
47. Another shed
48. The cellar
49. Guerilla
50. The start of things