18
(Muranaday, cont.)
Joton, Kri’enden – Joton Shaze Academy
Cruro took a PCS link call as he was readying himself for bed.
“This is Belmara from Irola,” the woman introduced.
“I am Cruro, but I’m sure you knew that already,” he replied.
“Of course. You are a difficult man to track down.”
“I please no one,” he replied curtly.
“I’m alerting you to a Death Edict bounty if you’re interested,” Belmara informed.
“Tell me the details.”
“Young man with blue hair. Traveling with a much younger woman with purple hair. Last seen heading your direction. The Curator is much displeased with them.”
“How did they cross the Curator?” Cruro asked, much amused now.
“The Curator’s business is her own,” Belmara replied. “Our duty is to kill Zilan and his student, Iyva, in order to collect the bounty and please our benefactor.”
“I see many people on a daily basis, you’re aware. My Academy caters to all comers, and I do not stop to make sure I know who I am teaching. Please send me the details of the people we are looking for, and I will see what we can do.”
“You try my patience, Cruro,” Belmara seethed.
“I do not have time to try them, sweetheart,” Cruro said and closed the connection.
Cruro felt his curiosity piqued from the conversation. He had no doubt that the duo who had walked into the Academy earlier that day was the pair Belmara was talking about. What had they done so terrible to cross the Curator to that degree?
Still, this Zilan was now one of his instructors, and now under his protection. It would be very bad for his business to betray that agreement. One of the points of the Joton Shaze Academy was to treat all comers as equals regardless of where their allegiances lay. All who entered through his door was to be treated as a friend and no bounty would tempt him to change that.
He did wonder briefly if this Belmara knew who Zilan really was. He recognized the man from somewhere, he just couldn’t make the connection in his mind. It was clear that much of his training was originally from Kri’enden. The style even showed in his student. It would be a pleasure to bring her up another level as she clearly had the raw talent.
Cruro lay down for his nighttime meditation that invariably led him off to sleep. The last conscious memory he had as he drifted was that he was really looking forward to what the morning would bring.
Palerma, Tephsa
“Do you mind if I keep reading your writing?” Kanesh asked after supper.
“I guess it’s all right, if you are enjoying it,” Kauri said blushing again.
“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t enjoy it,” he replied, sitting on the couch next to her. “Miss Zella,” he said. “That must be interesting.”
Kauri’s blush intensified. That was the one she had written about Derick, she remembered. If there was any she didn’t want his film writer reading, it was that one!
“This must be one of your steamier ones if mentioning it makes you blush that much!” Kanesh said with amusement.
Kauri tried to grab the flyppad from him, but he kept it out of her reach. She chased his arm leaning across him in her desperation.
“The more you fight me, the more I want to read it!” he said, dislodging her from him. He stood, hurried into the bathroom and locked the door.
“Give me my flyppad! Kanesh!!” she shouted.
Derick Aiden sat in the bathroom alone. He felt devious keeping the flyppad away from Kauri like that, but her reaction made him curious. What was special about this story? It incurred a much stronger reaction than the stories that she had admitted were steamier than she was comfortable with.
So far, her stories had been good. Really good. Yes, he did want to consider making some of them into films… maybe having her star with him.
He started reading Miss Zella. It was a lovely little story about a young woman who accidentally runs into her favorite movie star, who turns out to be single. They start secretly meeting up, learning to dodge the media. They fall in love.
The story wasn’t very steamy compared to some of the ones he’d read. He had already discovered that she had a healthy imagination!
There was something else about this story… Some of the details were familiar to him.
Derick had had to do all the technical work in his earlier movies, so he knew a few tricks. He looked at recent changes. He scanned through the list. She’d been busy into the night, far more than he’d known. “What else are you hiding?” he asked quietly. Then he found it.
It was a dedication. But not just any dedication. She had dedicated this story to him! No wonder she didn’t want him reading it! And that was with her thinking he was just the story writer – just Kanesh.
His heart beat faster. She wrote this story several years ago, dreaming of meeting him, of falling in love with him and him falling for her in return.
“Oh, Kauri… You don’t know how right you were!” he said quietly. He restored the file back to what it was when he started reading it. He read the story carefully now, recognizing it for what it was, a study into her very heart.
He knew he needed to come clean with her. She needed to know that her most beloved actor was here with her – and had fallen in love with her too – better than any story!
“Kanesh!” she shouted at him again.
He closed the file. He didn’t need to spoil things. He didn’t need to know the ending. He would be writing that himself – very soon. But that was assuming she didn’t decide to hate him for not telling her who he was!
Derick opened the door, and resumed being Kanesh.
Kauri pried the flyppad from his hands as he grinned mischievously and wished he felt bold enough to just grab her and kiss her, and tell her the whole truth.
“How much did you read?” she asked suspiciously.
“Enough,” he replied. Enough to set his heart on fire, enough to get his hopes up… enough to scare him half to death!
(to be continued… after Spice of Strength)
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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