17
(Muranaday)
Joton, Kri’enden
The fast ship pulled into Joton very early in the morning. Zilan and Iyva were ready. Pulling the leya tightly around themselves, they avoided the officials greeting the ship and were soon walking through the streets of Joton.
“Can we help you set up?” Zilan asked a meat vendor.
“I can’t pay you anything,” the vendor warned.
“A small sausage for each of us would be sufficient pay,” Zilan negotiated.
“I’d be delighted to have some help,” the man replied.
Zilan and Iyva quickly got to work, helping the man lift heavy joints of meat as well as boxes of bacon and cuts of jelip, venison and other kinds of meat.
“Thank you so much,” the man said, handing each of them two sausages.
“We agreed on one,” Zilan protested.
“I also like to reward hard workers,” he replied. “You look like you need the extra.”
“Thank you very much,” Zilan said.
“Thank you!” Iyva echoed.
“Eat one, stow one,” Zilan said, giving Iyva his extra sausage and presenting a pocket of his pack to her.
She quickly put the bonus sausages in the pocket and zipped it closed again.
“Look! A fruit vendor setting up!” Iyva said excitedly.
“Your turn to negotiate,” Zilan said.
“Can we help you set up?” Iyva asked as they reached the vendor.
“Please,” the woman replied. “Normally, my son is here to help, but he was injured. I have to do it alone now. I can manage the stall, but it’s a lot to set up all by myself.”
The two got to work, and got the stall set up quickly.
“You are so lovely. Fill this bag with what you can carry,” she invited.
“Thank you!” Iyva said, taking some apples, pears and punnets of joberries.
“Thank you,” Zilan echoed.
“May the gods bless you,” the woman said as they left.
“This is how you survive without money,” Iyva said surprised, as she secured the bag to Zilan’s pack.
“I rarely have money,” Zilan replied. “And with a little hard work, I have little need.”
He took her free hand and they walked through the main part of town until they arrived at a building garishly decorated with tribal mythology.
“Joton Shaze Academy,” Zilan told her. “Probably the only place on Terrenden where we can train without worrying whether we are A’mara, Balan or any other leya-sensitive. The Kri’enden tribes have long been strongly leya-sensitive, so there was a reason to have an independent academy.”
“Such a beautiful building!” Iyva said, amazed.
“Yes, it is amazing - I almost forgot how beautiful it is - despite its garishness," Zilan replied. "I want a chance to speak with the instructor. If he remembers me at all, it would be best to deal with that without others to overhear. Let's go in."
A secretary met them. “Can I help you?”
“We need to see the head instructor,” Zilan requested. “Who runs this place now?”
“Cruro Stóri has been our head instructor for about 10 years. Who may I say is calling?” the woman asked.
“That won’t be necessary. Either he will recognize me or he won’t. It doesn’t change my purpose here today though.”
Moments later, a graying man of the tall, dark Kri’enden tribe came out from the sparring rooms.
“Do I know you?” the man asked.
“I was here about 15 years ago,” Zilan replied. “Now, I have a student who needs to have my mistakes corrected. I could pay for her tuition through teaching some of your students, if you would allow?”
“I’ll be the judge of that!” Cruro said, indicating the sparring room.
Iyva had never been able to watch Zilan against another opponent so was delighted to watch him spar against the aged man. It was clear that the aging man was far from frail, but one of the most formidable shaze masters on the planet, even now. She watched Zilan use many of the moves he had taught her over the past year, but he was losing ground against the elderly man.
“Stop!” Cruro shouted.
Zilan did with a respectful bow.
“You may teach the younger teens. Now let’s see how your student fares. Prenz!” the instructor called one of his teenagers.
Iyva positioned herself to begin the duel. She breathed calmly as it began, the much taller Kri’enden teen circling around her, trying to intimidate her. She stood her ground until he attacked, forcing her to defend and use all the tricks Zilan had taught her – defending every stroke with the perfect counterstroke, parrying every stab, swipe or slash, catching him in binds at every opportunity. At last, Prenz managed to wear her out and knock her into the foam.
“Very good,” Cruro said. “You have taught her well. Yes, we will teach her if you teach others. What shall we call you while you are here?”
“Shadow,” Zilan replied. “No one needs to know we are here.”
“Very well, two shadows here to train and be trained. Welcome to Joton Shaze Academy. Do you need lodging while you are with us?”
“If it is no bother.”
Irola – A’mara Complex
“I’m curious about your progress,” Ja’tel said as the three young A’mara met in his quarters.
“We make good progress,” Lataya Silna reported, in her silky, strong accent.
“Any sign of this Joen Vaala?” Ja’tel asked.
“I can’t find any sign of him after his time in the Balan,” Ajabo replied. “He survived the Ilim Diner Disaster, trained with Jarly, then totally disappeared.”
“Maybe we need to implement a new strategy,” Ja’tel said.
“Like?” Ajabo asked.
“Start looking for someone who only appeared 15 or 16 years ago with a mysterious past. Someone whose age, height and body type match Joen Vaala’s. He’s alive, we know this because Tle-sun ran into him in Loxos, but he seems to have disappeared again. Remember, his life may depend on us finding out who he is now. Now, we’re on a mission to keep him alive!”
“We do our best,” Lataya promised.
Ajabo nodded his agreement.
“Yewan was asking today whether we had any news about the legality of the Neví as an organization,” Saraca said to her husband over lunch.
“It is as we had feared, but no motion has been made yet, in either Council. There is a lot of chatter about it though, so we must pay attention,” Ja’tel replied.
“And the Council of Sages?” Saraca asked.
“It may also be as we feared, Neví there too already. I’m not sure there’s much that can be done right now. We’re going to have to brace ourselves for things to get worse before we can do anything about them other than clean up their messes.”
“That’s really too bad,” Saraca said with a sigh.
“Have we made any progress on finding Jasper Jarly?” Ja’tel asked.
“Since last year’s beach battle, he hasn’t been seen, as far as we can tell,” Saraca said. “He’s doing a great job of remaining hidden. I fear that all we do is cut off the insignificant heads while the real beast replaces each with three more!”
“Which is why we must discover the heart of this beast!” Ja’tel replied.
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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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!!! |
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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
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