It seemed that Trin was right and worrying to much didn't help. Also, it seemed that after changing my account to retina access only, no more incidents happened. When I once managed to ask Blindgen, he shook his head. But from his stance I could see that he believed it was not over yet. Whoever managed to gain access to our money would certainly try again. I felt for him, but there was nothing I could do to help except being extra vigilant and careful.

Kestrel did not press the matter when I came home all worn down. Instead of questions I got tea and a massage.
"Of course there are things you cannot tell me," he had said. "You're working in a bank and there is something called banking confidentiality."

I had sighed and wished there wasn't but since he was so cool with it, I let it drop, too. Sometimes Kestrel's understanding and compassion were almost spooky. And he seemed to know exactly what I thought all the time. But I loved him for it, and he didn't seem to expect the same of me.

Just when the tension had let off, he collected me from work. I was surprised, because he never had done that before. But from the grin on his face, I could see that he had something planned.

"Ready for another culinary adventure?" he asked while he linked his arm into mine.

"If it is not alive again, I'm game, " I replied, remembering the last adventure with mixed feelings. Though Mon Calamari clam fish could not be called sentient, and seemed to be half vegetable, too, eating them alive with fried rica seeds had been borderline disgusting.

"No, not this time, darling," he leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek. "I got us a reservation in the 'All Oceans'."

"You didn't!" I kept being amazed how he managed to get tables in the most exclusive restaurants in this part of Cosucant. The kind, that didn't display prices in their menus and had a waiter stand by in case you dared try and put you food on your plate yourself. I had earned a lot of annoyed glances.

"I don't have to eat any of the possibly poisonous fish, do I?"

"Of course not." Kestrel squeezed my arm. "What would I do with a poisoned fiancée, anyway. I prefer you alive very much." He whispered that last part into my ear, tickling it in the process and I giggled. Encouraged by my reaction, he kissed the inside of my ear before straightening up again.

"You will certainly find something to eat, Lorna. As the name says, they serve fish from all oceans in the galaxy."

And they did. I had expected their menu to be as big as one of the old flimsy books in the museum, but it was not. The slim volume had hardly ten pages, and I guessed that only the really expensive dishes from any given ocean made it into it. Half-sentient clam fish did, fortunately, not fall into that category.

Obliging to my wish, Kestrel had chosen a giant crustacean that was not poisonous the least bit and, additionally, also the least likely to entice allergic reactions. The huge thing was peeled out of its carapace right on our table, and its breast plate fell into two neat halves that turned into our plates.

Obediently, I waited until the waiter (now I know where the name comes from) had spooned tiny, fried pollywogs over my rainbow-coloured algae salad and then did the same for Kestrel. It took all self-control I could muster, during the pâté-filled sucker, Kestrel had hinted at another big surprise and I was dying from excitement.

"So this is what I thought," Kestrel said while the waiter, who wore a uniform in a dark burgundy colour, poured us wine of the same hue. He waited until we were alone before he continued.

"I know this is all a little fast and I can't expect you to settle the date of the wedding any day soon, but still I'd just love to go on a holiday with you. Like an advanced honeymoon, so to speak. I'd so love to show you some of the galaxy's wonders."

I almost dropped my cutlery. "But, but, I don't even know when I'll get free," I blurted out. "And who will look after the dengas?"

"Oh, I am sure Sigur can take care of them," Kestrel said. " He can take care of about anything." He smiled again. "And don't worry about your work. We can take the next free slot. The more time we have to plan, the greater the anticipation."

I considered his words, and he was probably right. It did not really matter when we could go, just the fact that we would, was already wonderful. And maybe Blindgen would be rather happy to dump me on a holiday with all that happened. I moved my algae around on my plate, thinking. And Sigur, well, if Kestrel said he could care for Meeper, Dita, Sweeter and Fluff, I believed him.

"How did you meet Sigur?"

"Oh," Kestrel seemed surprised by the sudden change of topic. He looked arpund before he answered. "It was through my boss, actually. Sigur, well, he's always been good with - wood and the shaping of it. And my boss had some special things to be made. I was sent to do the negotiations."

"Did you connect well immediately? he seems such a nice guy."

"No we didn't connect well, at first," Kestrel laughed. "It probably because you're such a pretty girl and my friend, too." He winked at me and I had to laugh, too. After a small pause he went on.

"Sigur was not very happy with the wishes of my boss and tried to con him. But my boss does not take such things well. I had to intervene for Sigur's good, or he might be - disreputed now."

There was a rather long break before disreputed and I wondered why. After all, what could a single man do to the reputation of a good carpenter?

"How is you boss, Kestrel? You never talk about him."

He looked a little embarrassed, and took a sip of wine before answering.

"I don't know him that well, after all, I'm just an errand boy." he shrugged apologetically. "But he's rather reclusive and - easily bored. I think that's normal for a man who can buy everything. Nothing really interest him for long."

"Not even women?"

"Oh, he likes them overall, but he doesn't stay long with a single one. Though, usually he pays them off rather well, for never calling again. As I said, highly eccentric."

"Have I ever heard of him?" I asked. That mysterious employer sounded intriguing.

This time, Kestrel clearly hedged. "Only if you know royalty," he finally replied. "He's a real prince, even owns a skyhook and all."

I was disappointed. If there was one thing that did not interest me the least, it was royal families and their never-ending appearances in the yellow press. I sighed.

"Have you ever thought of changing your job? I mean, if we really want to start a family-" I stopped blushing.

For a second Kestrel looked bitter, but it might only have been a trick of the light. "What else could I do, honey? I have no education, and the only reason I can keep this job is because I know how to keep my mouth shut about the boss and his projects and because he trusts me. What else could I do with those assets?"

I looked at him over the table, the candle light flickering over his features. I had never thought of him as an uneducated man, he always was so clever and witty and he seemed to know everything. For the first time I found myself wondering about his childhood and the life he had when he was not with me.

"I'm sorry, Kestrel," I mumbled and began to shove the remains of my food around.

For a while he didn't answer. "I could have told you, but it's a topic I like to avoid," he finally said.

Our waiter took our plates away and refilled our glasses.

"It's okay, I won't bring up the topic again, dear," I promised and looked into his eyes. I could already see his good humour return. "I - I didn't think, and of course, you can take any job you like."

"Or get," he interrupted.

"Yeah, that too." I smiled at him, while a huge plate of dessert was placed between us. It smelled of deep fried dough, honey and other things. I took up my spoon and began to eat, hoping the embarrassment would go away, when I did the next best more embarrassing thing. Like starting to eat without waiting for Kestrel.

"That is what I love about you," he suddenly said and took my hand across the table.

I looked from my spoon to him and back questioningly. Eating dessert did not seem to be an asset to me.

"You are so uncomplicated and always ready to try out new things." He laughed. "Not many women would just try Selonian sweetfish with honey and ice cream."

I eyes my spoon carefully. Sweetfish, huh? Not that it mattered now. I had eaten fish with honey and ice cream, and I had to admit that I liked it. Not that much taste from the fish made it past the honey that dripped abundantly out of the enveloping dough once you cut the slices open.

"It's good," I assured Kestrel, not sure what he expected from me. "I like the hot honey with ice cream and, " I picked one of the things out of the ice cream that looked like biscuits. "this is probably chocolate covered algae, but so what?"

Kestrel smiled and let go of my other hand. "We will have so much fun on our tour, love."

We waited outside the restaurant for the cab and I felt dizzy from the wine, the food, and the outlook of me and Kestrel on a galaxy spanning pleasure cruise. The whole cityscape wafted in brilliant colours, which I could not remember from arriving. Suddenly, a stinging pain shot through my stomach and all went black.