7.Reassure

The sun now shone down on them from an intensely azure blue sky and although the journey was mostly uphill, the harpies - freed from Rafts weight - had to struggle less and got along better with the often deep fairways. Tjonre also tried to drive particularly carefully and vibration-free, he was always aware of his companion, although he no longer addressed her. Finally they reached the manor, the gate was now open and there was already a lot of activity inside the wall. The girl and especially the shimmering color reflections in her hair attracted attention, the landlord was greeted on all sides, but his servants looked at his companion. Tjonre directed the animals to the main entrance of the manor house and beckoned to one of the outdoors who he knew was good on foot and liked to walk. "Bring the cab behind the slave pen, Raft is in Evwarn and you know how reluctant he is walking."

"I suppose I should then come back to?"

"Either that, or you drink at Evwarn still Avon on my Taste and then come back with Raft. As your time allows and regardless of how you feel like it. "He jumped off the car, helped the girl get off, took her hand again and pulled her into the house, loudly and repeatedly" Maaaa, Ma Handor! " roaring. The so called finally appeared coming from the kitchen, whereby she did not give the impression that she had been particularly hurried. It was old, wrinkled and small, but obviously still very vital.

"What is it, lord?" She renounced any kind of honorary testimony to make it clear that she hadn't meant the "lord" very seriously. Only now did she become aware of the person who was holding Tjonre by the hand: “What is that? Who is this? Heaven, child, are you skinny! What's

your name? " When there was no answer, Tjonre responded in her place:" We'll find out; what is more important is that she gets something to eat. Let's bring something to the library. ”

“ To the library? ”Asked Ma Handor, because they often drank something there, but rarely ate, although there was always a fruit basket with fresh fruit at the table.

"Exactly; Believe me, I have my reasons. ”

“ Which the Lord will no doubt not tell me. ”Ma went back into the kitchen while Tjonre and his company followed the long, gloomy corridor to the library. He directed her to a comfortable armchair, let her sit down and went to the glass case opposite the bookcase, opened it and took out two splendid old crystal glasses. In the meantime the girl had crawled out of her mental shell and observed with increasing interest but also irritation the completely unusual way a master treated his slave. Actually, everything was very unusual here and her uncertainty grew as a result. Too much had happened in one day and her less self-confident nature was terribly overwhelmed by it. After a break that she longed for, she would have appreciated the friendly behavior towards her, it was so completely different from the Arem SiVenders or that girl who had so much fun tormenting her. In fact, no one had been anywhere near this nice to her. She still couldn't quite understand that she had the locket back.

Tjonre, on the other hand, was excited by his unusual way of acting and felt energetic and much too impatient. In the next few minutes he would have loved to have her whole life told about her since she was born and, as a special punch line, contributed what little he had to report. He went to the heavy table in the middle of the room, on which the half-full Nijem bottle was standing next to the fruit basket and because he was of the opinion that alcohol loosened the tongue, he poured both glasses full, put one in front of his slave, took it others in his right and then sit next to them. "What's your name?" He wanted to know.

"Lord, my name is whatever you want to call me," she replied, she was used to it, no master was really interested in the name of a slave. In her, however, a memory that had long been believed to be forgotten emerged: "Elri, my little darling, my darling," she heard her mother's soft voice and felt her tender hand caress her cheek. She was sitting on her mother's lap, who was wearing a long, saffron-yellow dress; the vision was very clear for a brief but wonderful moment.

Didn't she have a name because she'd been a slave all her life? Tjonre didn't think so, if only because of the medallion that was in her possession. She probably knew her parents and maybe remembered her real name. He was aware that her answer was drawing attention to the distance between them, a barrier he wanted to tear down as quickly as possible. Maybe it was better with a little alcohol? “If you're thirsty, take a sip of the Nijem wine.” He grinned: “At this point I always point out to guests that this is a product of our estate. We're pretty proud of the good droplet. ”

So the shy girl took the wonderfully crafted crystal glass in her hand and brought it to her mouth. At that moment Ma Handor tried - she wanted to serve herself, of course, curious as she was - to open the door to the corridor with her elbow because she was holding a tray with both hands. As she did so, the handle slipped, causing a sudden and unexpected clicking noise for the girl. She gave a violent start and dropped the glass, which shattered on the stone floor. Tjonre saw her flinch, press her eyelids together, and twist her mouth, apparently in anticipation of a slap. Immediately he was filled with hatred of the slave traders. To reassure her, he said softly: “It doesn't matter, it was just a glass.”

She looked at the floor: “But it was such a beautiful crystal glass. It was definitely more expensive than me. ”

'That's right,' he thought involuntarily.

Before he could answer, Ma Handor interfered: “Tjonre, what are you doing, you are overwhelming the poor girl. Leave her alone now, give her time to get used to everything! In the past she would hardly have eaten with the rulers. "And turned to the girl, who was about a head taller than she," Come on, little one! Let's leave the bad man, let's go to the kitchen and eat there. And then you rest a little, you have certainly not gotten to sleep for a long time. "The girl looked at him uncertainly, when he said nothing, she followed Ma Handor from the room, who continued chatting cheerfully:" You can call me Ma, everyone calls me that ... ”