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.
“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.”
