Samh 9.04.1342 18:38
Upon the Geodor’s arrival back in La Soutain on
the Antiby IV, outside its docking station, he was pleased to see a plain, dark
landcraft, rich in all its appearances and a second one parked behind it that
was only slightly less opulent.
Standing beside the first landcraft, was his head
servant, a well-dressed man of some thirty-five years with moderate stature,
whose only remarkable feature was an impenetrable countenance. Next to this man
was a more relaxed man, newly employed and, in all probability, not long for
the job.
As the Viscount of La Soutain came down the
docking ramp with Lira and several other servants, he saw his faithful
attendant raising his hand. Then, his man darted forward—an action that parted
the crowd without difficulty. When he reached the Viscount, he removed his cap and
bowed low.
“Ah, Lobo! All is well?” asked Geodor.
“Doubtless, sir,” replied the dependable servant
with his usual, unruffled reply as he cleared a path through the crowd to the landcraft.
Viscount Elwynalam gently helped Lira into the first
vehicle before entering it himself. Her duenna soon followed them, assisted
into the landcraft by Lobo.
After passing through many streets, they stopped
before a stately mansion. The second landcraft arrived at almost the same
moment with the remainder of the servants who had accompanied them on their
voyage.
Three white, obround levels of the house rose
above the inner courtyard. Windows banded the middle of each layer. On the left
side of the house was a stairway leading up to an elevated garden and
greenhouse on the third floor. On the other side of the external stairs was an
organic, three-story annex that looked almost like a rounded triangle when
viewed from the other side of the house. This annex was the suite where Lira
lived.
“You did very well tending to the place,” Geodor said
after surveying the whole.
A gleam of pleasure briefly lit up Lobo’s impassable
countenance. Clasping Lira’s hand in the crook of his arm, Geodor passed under
the arched gateway, up the broad steps, through the garden, and entered the
ample hall. He kindly greeted those of his household who had gathered there.
After greeting them, he and his sister returned
outside and descended the stairway to the second floor, passing into the left
wing, and throwing open the doors to the annex suite. The first room was a
closet that extended the length of the annex to the right and left of the entryway.
It had chairs and mirrors throughout in addition to the traditional clothing
storage spaces. Continuing through it, they stepped into the principal room,
which was wider than it was deep. The richest of Dathuanian hand-woven rugs in
cinnamon red, apricot, and bronze covered the floor. The walls were hung with
silk painted with delicate rose and orange flowers. In the center, a
magnificent bronze candelabra hung, upon which tiny branches burned a hundred pea-sized
lightbulbs, scattered among numberless crystals, each reflecting and varying
the soft lights in a thousand different forms. Raised mats and piles of
cushions continuing the color scheme were sufficient places for repose.
On one side was a stairway covered by an archway.
This led down to an elegant bedroom. Above the bedroom’s picture window was a
relief in geometric designs. The curtains were pulled back and allowed the sun
to coat the pillows in the window seat beneath it. Similar geometric designs
covered in different shades of stained leather went up the wall behind the bed,
forming an unattached headboard. A few ferns and palm trees lined the walls in
large bronze pots. Three area rugs adorned the wooden floors.
At the other extremity of the principal room, another
stairway led up to folding doors of glass that opened into a rich conservatory.
After uttering an exclamation of delight, Lira released herself from Viscount
Elwynalam and darted up these stairs. Upon entering the earthy room, Lira inhaled
the fragrant odors of jasmine, orchids, and bougainvillea. A fountain and pool
in the center of the room contained her two goldfish and several varieties of
water lily and lotus. She rushed to greet her pets, who made bubbles at the top
of the water for her. It is here that Geodor found her when he finished
ascending the stairs.
“I’ll give you my leave, Kleine, and see you at
dinner,” Geodor said before bowing and exiting. He crossed into his abode with
Lobo and traversed halls, saloons, and private parlors. At length, he reached
his rooms in the opposite wing. His bedroom suite had everything that bespoke he
was a man of wealth, genius, and intellect.
He had an elegant, well-used library,
sitting-room, sleeping, dressing, and bathing rooms that were a perfect
combination of useful, refined, and luxurious,
“Have you made the other arrangements? The cottage,
the—”
“Your commands are obeyed—when would your lordship
like to see them?”
“Tomorrow,” replied Geodor carelessly before
adding, “You are the prince of valets, Lobo.”
“And your lordship is the king of masters,”
respectfully returned the man.
Most of Geodor’s household consisted of foreign
servants who had been with him sufficiently long to learn quiet, complete,
implicit obedience. He guarded his past and current actions well. He rarely let
anything about his future plans slip unless it was absolutely necessary so
arrangements could be made to facilitate those plans. Being private meant that
even his servants had little to gossip about because he was just as much a
mystery to them. He kept them well-paid, and they had a certain degree of
luxury that made them satisfied with their occupations. That satisfaction was
enough to stifle any curiosity that might have proved disastrous or even fatal
to all involved.
Lobo, however, went beyond that. It was never Lobo’s
custom to ask a reason: He always obeyed punctually and faithfully the very message
and spirit of the command without demanding why. He neither thought, felt, or
lived for himself but was like an extension of Geodor’s being. Because of this,
he was invaluable to the Viscount.
Dinner was soon announced. Geodor sat alone because Lira, tired from their travels, requested to have hers in her apartment. It gave him time to contemplate the problem he discovered on the moon as well as the problem of finding an acceptable wife.
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