Doorways Chapter 6a

“Yes. Yes of course.” Darius gave himself a shake. “Skatch, would you do me a huge favour? There's a gold credit in it for you.”

“If you tell me what it is, then we can talk prices.” Jack said nodded.

“You little weasel.” Darius twitched his nostrils at the first grader.

“Yes sir.” Jack agreed.

“OK. I want you to keep an eye on Miss Rayne. Not spy on her, or bother her in any way. Just see that she's OK in there.” Darius turned over a gold credit. Jack looked at him with the utmost suspicion. “She doesn't know anyone in there, that's all.” Darius smiled. “I know what twenty first birthday parties are like. I wasn't born this old.”

“She'll be fine, sir.” Jack was satisfied. “She'll come to no harm with Axel looking after her. Pardon me sir, but I thought you'd be invited as her escort.”

“I was. I had an appointment I couldn't get away from and I have another soon. It didn't seem fair to deprive Miss Rayne of a night out because of my work commitments.” Darius sighed wearily.

“That's really decent of you, sir. Very decent. Don't you be worrying though. She's fine with Axel.”

“Oh good.” Darius said gloomily. “Go on then, shoo. I'm not paying you to loiter about out here.” Jack scampered off back to the party. “I can't speak Al Kazik.” He said in dejection. “Axel was born to it. How can he hold her attention with a language that sounds like one has a chest infection?”

“How does Alexandria know a language that sounds like one has a chest infection?” Zach said. He was certainly as impressed as anyone else would be.

“She'll have picked it up off the streets in the Minor Sector, Zach.” Darius shrugged. “Al Kazik has it's share of on the run riff-raff, just like anywhere else.”

“She obviously has a natural flare for languages, Darius.” Zach nodded.

“Yes so she can chit-chat with Axel Samson.” Darius grumbled.

“You are pathetic.” Zach rolled his eyes. “Listen, you aren't a linguist, Darius. If you helped her by getting her a teacher, then she'd know you're helping because you want to, and not because of your egocentric and devious bet.”

“I used to like you.” Darius said dryly. “I think the damage has been done, Zach. It's a great suggestion and thanks for making it. She was a bet and that's a solid fact. Nothing I can do can change that and anything I do do will never be enough to compensate. Apart from that, she wouldn't let me have any further say in her life, Zach. Would you? She'll never trust me again and I can't blame her. The Samsons are good people, as well as influential people. They'll get past Alexandria's background and she'll do just fine. She's far better off taking that path with them than she would be staying with me.”

“So you think she'll tell Axel where she's from?”

“Eventually, yes. She's already told them the truth, she is a scholar. All she needs is genuine backing from genuine people for genuine and compassionate reasons. My original motives nullify every one of those criteria.” Darius smiled sadly and left Zach at the end of the road to his home.