11
(Tharnday, cont.)
Irola – A’mara Complex Conference Chamber
Julleon Dellan shifted impatiently in his chair as the meeting began. He adjusted his aqua cloak to not pull on his neck, but to drape nicely over his matching tunic as it was meant to. He wanted to return to his duties, helping Ajabo with the all-important database project, especially when he felt he was making progress. He was certain that they were very close to cracking the mystery of who Joen Vaala had become. Every interruption set him back again. Julleon hid his annoyance and paid attention to Ja’tel Krijo, first husband of the A’mara.
“I have had word that the subject of Neví prohibition has been brought up in the Council of Peers,” Ja’tel said as the meeting began.
“Isn’t this a good thing?” asked Nico Mastin who wore the black Irolean cloak.
“It would seem like that, Nico,” Saraca replied. “However, the freedom of the Neví to assemble is paramount to our own freedom that we enjoy. Making any organization illegal, no matter how dangerous or opposed to us they seem to be, is a dangerous measure.”
“But the Neví have been killing A’mara!” Nico said.
Julleon knew that Nico had suffered the bitter pain of losing his mother to the dreaded Neví.
“And those Neví need to pay the full price of their crimes,” Saraca said emphatically. “I have not forgotten the bitter price we have paid at their hands!”
“The thing is,” Ja’tel interjected. “Say that the Neví are made illegal – and for good reasons – the next stop could be the Balan – again, good reasons – but then, the fingers will point at us. They will tell us that we can no longer handle our own affairs, our own investigations. We will become little better than an elitist club – if we survive at all!”
Next to Nico, his twin sister, Chaila rubbed his shoulder, the tears barely held back.
“How much support is there for the Neví bill?” Chaila Mastin asked.
“It sounds like it’s just a buzz at the moment,” Ja’tel reported. “But the fact that it’s been proposed at all shows some of the sentiment that is going around various countries. They are tired of the Neví.”
“Is this true in all countries?” Julleon asked.
“It depends on who is running the show,” Saraca answered. “The Family and Silatian Alliance welcome any attempt to thwart the Neví. But the Neví have complete control of the Terrenden Freedom Party now, so anywhere the TFP have won majority is very much for the Neví.”
“How great do you think the danger is?” Jálmur Holden asked, sitting next to his chola, Ronin Lane. The bright orange-red and scarlet cloaks made a striking contrast to the calmer cloaks in the room, Julleon mused.
“It’s anyone’s guess,” Ja’tel said. “But, again, the fact that it has been brought up is very concerning, and it is an important issue for us to be aware of.”
“It also means that we need to be proactive, taking extra care about any actions we take as a society. We need to be inscrutable, lest we be relieved of everything that makes A’mara beneficial to Terrenden,” Saraca said.
“Does this affect the database project?” Ajabo Zurike asked.
“Only in that it makes it more urgent. We don’t want to make the mistake of assuming business as usual, only to find that our hands are bound from the privileges we currently enjoy to access records that common citizens can not,” Saraca said.
“Is this proposed bill an unintended consequence of Derick Aiden’s new film?” Mnero Eloho asked.
“It is a possibility I had not thought of,” Ja’tel replied. “I don’t think that negates the good he is doing in exposing them for what they are. There are still plenty of countries which think the Neví are the gods’ gift to the poor of Terrenden.”
“Is Aiden still safe?” Julleon asked.
“He is in good hands,” Saraca replied.
“That’s good news, anyway,” Julleon said.
Saraca adjourned the meeting and Julleon joined the Kri’enden teenager, Ajabo, wearing his amazing tribal cloak, similar to one that Ja’tel liked to wear. “What is the design of your cloak?” he finally asked as they walked towards the library.
“This is Zley, the Queen Dabbler of the Zley tribe, my people,” Ajabo replied, his white teeth gleaming across his dark face.
“A dabbler? Doesn’t seem very scary.”
“She has poison spikes on her wings. She’s the mother and protector of our tribe,” Ajabo explained.
“Well, I guess if I wanted a dabbler to defend me, she’d be the one!” Julleon replied as they reached the library. “We are going to find this Joen.”
“Yes, we are,” Ajabo said, equally determined.
Irola – Balan Center
“I’ve checked immigration records all over the planet. I’ve checked so much surveillance footage that my eyes have gone crossed. I have checked with all our contacts all over Terrenden, but I cannot find someone who looks like Aiden!” Fashi said to Belmara, feeling very frustrated at the efforts.
“What is so special about this guy that makes him invisible to our network?” Belmara asked. “He’s just an actor after all!”
“And writer/director,” Fashi added.
“Why does that add anything to it?” Belmara asked.
“Because he has to be smarter than the average actor – he has to think like a shadow,” Fashi said, thinking.
“Or like a character,” Belmara added.
“Which means… he could look like almost anyone!” Fashi exclaimed with frustration. “I’m drawing flyppin’ circles in the sand!” He banged his fist in the middle of his messy desk. “What do we really know?” he asked.
“We know his height, age, general build. Everything else can change,” Belmara replied.
“I’ll look at the immigration records again. We know when he traveled from where… it really can’t be that hard, can it?!” Fashi said, scolding himself.
Towani City, Towani
A few thousand kilometers away, two people were beside themselves with laughter.
“I don’t know how the boy did it, but he’s frustrated Fashi and Belmara beyond belief!” Zilan said in near hysterics. “I’m so glad the battery in that PCS link was one of the best, it’s giving me such great amusement!”
“Derick Aiden?” Iyva asked.
Zilan nodded. “The guy is brilliant, I have to hand it to him! We will have to see his film when it comes out, of course.”
“Belmara and Fashi will eventually figure it out though, won’t they?” Iyva asked.
“Undoubtedly. But until that happens, Derick is as safe as we are. Safe in the shadows.”
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10
Maps and Guides
- continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
- continent of Almara (five maps)
- countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
- characters, pronunciation and glossary
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
| Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. The Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares
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