54. Kernak

 

"Daniel?" Rayko's soft and not so awake voice startled him.

"Oh. You're awake." Daniel became aware that he had no idea how long he had been sitting there, dividing his time between reading the book, dozing off and thoughts.

"I think so," she said. "Could you help me sit up, please?"

"Certainly," he said. He put the book on the bed and held her up, rearranging the pillows with one hand. "Comfortable enough like that?"

"Yes. Thank you." She smiled a tired smile. "I just wish this sitting and pain was over. I want to go outside. Walk. Feel the sun and the wind, and smell the ocean." She reached out for the book, a short twitch in her face showing that the movement still hurt. "Oh." She smiled. "You were reading this."

"Yes, I did. I picked it up as I was afraid it would fall off the bed," Daniel said.

Rayko looked at him. "How long have you been sitting here?" Her voice did not sound accusing, it was just a question.

"I'm not sure. For some time." Daniel noticed the empty cup. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Oh, and to eat, please!" She nodded. "I am famished." After all, she had missed breakfast.

"I'll go see what the house has to offer," Daniel said as he got up and picked up the teacup. "Do you want to try sitting in the dining room?"

"I'd really like to. Maybe we can see Kernak from there."

"Oh, you know her?" Daniel asked.

"Yes, I have seen her several times. She is magnificent."

Daniel agreed. "Let me see what can be arranged. I'll come back for you, okay?"

Rayko glared at him. "Okay. Okay. Do you know how much that makes you sound like an uncivilised peasant boy, Daniel? It is such a dumb word."

"Calm down, you. You're in no position to fight, remember?" Daniel warned her.

"Hmpf. If my ribs did not hurt, I would throw a pillow at you. You don't know how lucky you are that I am defenceless at the moment."

"Shouldn't that be offenseless?" Daniel laughed.

"Oh, go and do something useful, instead of trying to outsmart me." She opened the book and stared so intently at the page that it was clear she considered the matter closed.

"It's upside down," Daniel said before he left. He laughed at the peasant sound she made as he closed the door behind him.

It did not take long to get a nice lunch on the table in the dining room. Daniel and a servant had brought a large chair into the room, filled it with pillows and then he had picked up Rayko and seated her in the chair.

"I am relieved that you no longer worry about me dropping you, Rayko," Daniel said as she was sitting and he took his own seat.

"I know now that you are strong enough. And not nearly as clumsy as you look," she said as she reached. "Oww... could you please hand me the bread?"

"Of course. What do you mean by looking clumsy?" Daniel had no idea that he looked like that. He held the bread basket for her.

"You're so... big. Broad. Your voice was so loud then. And then your clothes... so sailor like. And you smelled bad."

"I was at a ship, Rayko. Sailors don't wear suits or costumes."

"So I've noticed. Marmalade please."

For a while they ate in silence, until Rayko suddenly exclaimed: "Oh, there she is!"

Daniel looked over to where the woman was pointing. Outside the window, the Kotrvayk walked to her spot under the low tree. "She's magnificent, isn't she?"

"Oh, yes, I can't look at her enough."

"She is also good fun to play with," Daniel said, a grin on his face as he remembered the tugging contest.

"Play?" Rayko's large eyes stared at him. "Surely you are joking, aren't you?"

"No? Why should I? The senator introduced me to Kernak, and she seems to like me," Daniel said.

"For lunch, I'm sure, or a hearty snack in-between," Rayko muttered as she buttered some toast.

"I'll show you after lunch," Daniel said.

"You will do nothing of the kind, Mr. Zacharias. I can not allow you to go near that animal just because you have the need to show off. Kotrvayks are strong and dangerous. I have read my books, you know. It is a miracle that the senator has not been hurt by her. Magnificent or not."

"You, miss Dandra ko Galem, are hardly in a situation to allow me anything. Allow me to pour you some more tea."

"Thank you for that, Mr. Zacharias." Her face made it clear she was not done with the other issue though, it was just on a back burner.

Lunch went by without further incidents.

"I never knew that eating is such hard work," Rayko said as she carefully touched her ribs. "But I am glad I had lunch, Daniel. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, if you would excuse me for a moment." Daniel got up and slipped out the dining room. He walked through the other corridor and reached the door to the inner garden, where he walked up to Kernak. "Hello Kernak, how are you today? You don't seem to get many visitors," he said.

"Oh no, he really is an idiot," whispered Rayko as she saw Daniel cross the yard to where the Kotrvayk was lying. "He is going to die, and I put him up to this." She pressed her napkin against her lips as she saw how the man walked to animal and kneeled next to her. She wanted to look away, but could not avert her eyes.

Daniel stroked Kernak's head. The Kotrvayk rolled on her back and allowed him to pet her all he wanted. She was just a great big kitten to him, enjoying the attention.

Inside the house, Rayko stared and could not believe what her eyes told her. "He is petting her," she whispered. "He is petting the Kotrvayk. He truly is a preacher."

"So, tell me, girl, do you want to meet Rayko? I am sure you will like her." Daniel rubbed the massive chest of the animal. "I just wish I could be as certain as the senator about that."

Rayko witnessed how Daniel got up and came back to the door. Soon after, he came into the dining room. She stared at him.

Her piercing look made him feel slightly uncomfortable. "Is something the matter?"

"If you ever so much as dare to hint to me that you are not a preacher, Daniel, I will kick you. And I will not stop until Nahmyo herself comes to tell me otherwise."

"Come on, you're exaggerating," Daniel said. "It's just a friendly animal."

"It is a Kotrvayk, Daniel. Apparently you don't know what they can do." She relaxed somewhat.

"Kernak is not dangerous for me, Rayko. Would you like to meet her?"

Her eyes became small slits. "You know... I have heard of preachers gone insane. Don't make me believe you are one of them, please."

"You saw what I can do with the Kotrvayk, Rayko. The senator also said that she would be friendly with you. I don't know how he knows, but he was right about me."

"And you may be wrong about things, Daniel. A preacher is not infallible..."

"That is a fact," the senator said, who entered the room, to both people's surprise. "It is also a fact that I know that Kernak will not hurt you, Rayko. Daniel was right in that respect."

"Hmmf. I can't go out to her anyway," she tried.

"I'll carry you. I've become good at that lately," Daniel grinned.

Rayko did not look amused.

"You don't have to, Rayko," Daniel said. "Nobody wants to make you do anything you're afraid of."

"I'm not afraid!" she snapped at him, faster than she had intended to. "I'm just not sure."

Sygra suggested that she would sit in the chair, inside the house, just beyond the door. If she did not feel secure, there was someone standing by her, to close the door at any moment. "You just have to say the word."

She agreed with that, so a little while later, she sat close to the outside door.

Daniel sat with Kernak, talking to the animal. Then he turned to the door. "Tell me when you feel safe, Rayko. Kernak will stay with me, she won't come faster than I walk."

Rayko still was not convinced, but there was a servant with the door and the senator was with her also, so there was little chance something failed. "Yes. I am ready."

Daniel got up. "Come Kernak. Let's greet Rayko." As he made a step, Kernak rose and slowly walked along with him as his hand rested on the large red-haired head. Daniel kept his eyes on the young woman. She was visibly tensing up as the Kotrvayk approached.

"Wait here, Kernak," Daniel said. He kneeled down and held on to the thick layer of hair on the animal's side. She looked at him and waited.

"Are you well, Rayko?" He remembered how she hated the word 'okay' so he did his best to avoid it.

She looked up at the senator, who just smiled. She then turned her eyes at the animal and nodded. "Yes. I can do it." She felt wildly excited.

Daniel got to his feet again and calmly walked over to the opening of the door.

Kernak followed him, walking surprisingly lightly for such a large animal. As if she understood, Kernak came to Rayko very slowly. Her head hovered several inches from the woman's knees but did not touch her.

Daniel and the senator watched how Rayko looked at Kernak, and how her curious looks seemed to be returned. Then Daniel slowly stroked Kernak's head.

After seeing him do that, Rayko slowly reached out and touched the red haired head. It was clear that she was holding her breath. Kernak clearly enjoyed all the attention.

"Senator," Rayko whispered, "I am touching a Kotrvayk..."

Sygra touched her shoulder for a moment. "Yes. You do. She likes you, Rayko."

After a few minutes of careful petting the huge pet, Rayko was tired again. She felt sorry that she had to be carried to her bed again. "It was magical, Daniel," she said, "to touch her, and not to be afraid of her."

"I know. She scared me too, at first. You have made a very powerful friend, Rayko." Daniel put her in the bed that had fresh sheets now.

"I did, yes. And, uhm, Daniel? Thank you for helping me overcome the fear."

"Sure. I'm glad it worked out so well," he said. "You'd better rest now. I'll come and have a look occasionally, to check on you, if you want."

"Yes. I'd like that." She looked at Daniel, and she saw a different person. "Thank you, preacher."

Daniel winked at her and left the room.

"You're not so bad after all, Mr. Zacharias," Rayko whispered.

-=-=-

"You are working miracles with that girl, Daniel," said Sygra. "She starts to trust you, instead of wanting to take your eyes out."

Daniel grinned. He had noticed the change in her as well. And the one in himself. Then he talked to Sygra about the call he'd had from Huajo, earlier that day, and told the senator about the plan he had made, together with the ship owner. "It would be great if we could have some official backup of sorts, just in case," he ended.

"I see that you are determined to do something drastic, Daniel," said Sygra. "I will see what I can do for you, but as usual, there is nothing I can promise."

Daniel understood. The senator was influential in inter-planetary affairs, but not so much in local things. Especially the fact that they were going against one of the most powerful and respected people of the Zoroon community made things a tad more complicated.

Sygra had some lunch and left again. Daniel in that time made contact with several people and informed them of the plan he wanted to deploy the next day.

Most of the people he called were immediately ready to help. Some, as he had expected, were not so enthusiastic. The action against Clelem would mean going against their employer. Daniel could not blame them.

After all these things, he carefully looked in on Rayko. She was sleeping, the book resting on her knees again. Daniel smiled as he saw her. How different things had become in these last few days. As he was closing the door again, he heard her say his name.

"Daniel?"

When he looked again, she was awake. "Oh... I thought you were sleeping..."

"I was dozing. Are you busy?" she asked.

"Not anymore," he said.

"I would like to talk with you, Daniel."

Daniel pulled up a chair. "Is there anything in particular you want to talk about?"

"Yes. I want to know what you think of me. And, if you want, I will tell you what I think of you."

They talked for a long time.