Excerpt: Bactine

"Mr. Zacharias," Clelem said, "I have asked my daughter to keep you company for the remainder of the evening."

Rayko glared at her father with murder on her mind. Nothing less. "I am not going to do it," she hissed.

"Mr. Zacharias," Clelem ignored her, "the music will start soon. I assume you dance?"

Daniel was lost. He knew some dances, but wondered if any of them were even allowed on this planet. "A bit, sir."

Clelem lightly pushed Rayko in the back. Just enough to make her stagger towards Daniel, who caught her.

She looked up at him as if she wanted to bite him. "I am going to step on your toes," she promised. "And I am not going to like this."

Clelem and Gaguran walked out of the room.

"I am sorry, Miss Dandra ko Galem, I did not intend this."

Rayko stepped back and folded her arms over her chest. "You'd better not. I don't like you and you don't like me. Let's at least agree on that."

"Wholeheartedly," Daniel stated.

She nodded. "Good." Then the change in her stumped Daniel. She suddenly had the sweetest smile on her face. "Shall we, then?" For a moment she looked herself again. "Don't get any wrong ideas, Mr. Zacharias." The smile returned and she held up her arm, for him to take.

Arm in arm they entered the main hall, where musicians were taking their place. Rayko's appearance seemed to be magnetic: within moments there was quite a crowd around her and Daniel. Rayko seemed in her element, being the centre of attention. As soon as she noticed that this was not Daniel's game, she seemed to be aiming at directing most of it towards him.

Most of the guests had no idea who Daniel was. Rayko was quick to tell everyone what a wonderful hero Daniel was. The guests then tossed all kinds of questions at him, many that he had absolutely no answer to. Rayko, Daniel was certain, was enjoying this to no end.