23
(Wirnday, cont.)
Irola - A’mara Complex
Julleon Dellan stood at the window of the library, looking at the planted balcony outside, with its birds and butterflies. It was soothing. Maybe it would help them with the revelations they needed to help keep a man alive.
“Julleon, look at this,” a voice broke through his thoughts.
Julleon turned to regard Ajabo, a recent chola graduate from Kri’enden.
“I need to show you this,” Ajabo called again from the HPS terminal.
Julleon joined the man, sitting on the offered spot. He saw a collection of images, seemingly of the same man, but often fuzzy and hard to see. “Tell me what I’m looking at,” Julleon requested.
“This man is called Zilan. He has no last name. His trail is very sketchy, never in one place for very long – and only fleeting glimpses of him,” Ajabo explained. “See this...”
“A Death Edict? That’s impressive. Can you find any pictures of him?” Julleon asked.
He noticed the abári passing and mentally called her over.
“What are you guys looking at so intently?” Saraca asked as she reached them.
“Does this guy look familiar to you?” Julleon asked as they looked at the few images they could find of the man.
“It’s hard to tell, he’s usually shrouded – an expert at hiding. I want you to compare it to something else,” she said, plugging her flyppcard into the machine. Almost instantly, a file came to the front.
The feat impressed Julleon – he had only seen one other A’mara do that, the young man named Betel. He wondered which one had been the teacher in this case. He returned his attention to Saraca’s flyppad which opened a video.
“This has only recently been sent to me from Towani,” Saraca explained. “What are your thoughts?”
Julleon and Ajabo examined the video with critical eyes. “It’s really hard to tell,” Ajabo said.
“I’m getting a feel for his leya imprint,” Julleon said. “Look at his connection, his bubble. It’s very strong in all the pictures. The one thing he can’t completely shroud. Yes, I think it’s the same man.”
“And you’re saying that Zilan only turned up about 15 or 16 years ago?”
“I’d say about 13 years ago,” Ajabo replied.
“You said that Joen Vaala trained with Jarly for a couple of years?” Julleon asked the abári.
She nodded. “Do you have any pictures of Joen that we can compare to Zilan?”
Ajabo brought up another file. “I collected a bunch when I was trying to find where his trail went. Take a look.”
Saraca and Julleon looked critically at the new set of pictures, comparing them with Zilan’s images.
“I think it’s the same person,” Julleon said. “Again, that very strong leya bubble. The height looks the same, the same muscular, trim build. Longer hair now, dyed of course – always blue, it seems.”
“Joen Vaala is Zilan,” Saraca said with sudden certainty. “And he’s with Iyva Erynnis, training her. And they have Death Edicts, the pair of them.”
Julleon looked at the abári, sensing the tears that were in her eyes.
“I thought he had died,” Saraca said softly. “And here he is with one of the most promising students I’ve seen since the Disaster.”
Julleon gave the abári a hug. “He’s safe. She’s safe.”
“For now,” Saraca said, her tears fading again.
“She could not have chosen a better maqla, Abári.”
“Let’s just hope it’s enough. Cyanus was keeping an eye on Zilan and Iyva – last known to be in Joton. But I haven’t heard confirmation from our group – apparently, the Joton abári is having his own crisis right now and intends to resign.”
“I’m sorry to hear about Orun. I think he’s right to consider returning to his tribe though. It sounds like they need him more.” Ajabo said. “Do you know who is meant to succeed him?”
Saraca nodded. “Unfortunately, these things happen from time to time. He has asked Kivana N’jia to succeed him.”
“She is a good choice. Our Complex will be in good hands with her,” Ajabo replied. “My sister was a chola to her, good woman.”
♥
Saraca went to her quarters and placed a connection.
“Andrian,” came the reply from the man in a cloak very much like her own, purple fringe instead of gold.
Saraca related the latest findings.
“This is such good news!” Andrian replied.
“Except that we have no idea where he will turn up next. He doesn’t stay in one place for long,” Saraca said. “He does tend to go places where A’mara are plentiful though – as if he can’t help it.”
“We will keep an eye out for him,” Andrian promised. “Blue and purple hair are fairly easy to spot.”
“Except that he shrouds himself better than any I’ve seen before. Watch for faint, but unfamiliar leya imprints where there should be only A’mara.”
“I will.”
“Did Kauri’s animals make it okay?” Saraca asked.
“Yes. She was delighted, as you could expect. The baby hamsters seem to have survived as well – I checked on her earlier,” Andrian said.
“Babies? There weren’t any when we shipped them!” Saraca said.
“That explains a lot,” Andrian said with a laugh.
“How are Kanesh and Kauri?”
“A lot of dancing, from what I understand. The stella was required to give Kauri something for her poor legs. The girl isn’t yet at the level of fitness he is. It is amusing as well. She will do anything for that man!”
“And she still doesn’t know who he is?”
“No. I did try to suggest to him earlier that he needs to come clean with her without delay. She needs to know everything. Especially after some of the students saw them kissing in the lounge last night!”
Saraca laughed.
“I don’t know how you do it. You’re a matchmaking genius!” Andrian said.
“You’re lucky you’re not younger, Andrian,” Saraca said. “Anyway, that is news that warms my heart, but will make shockwaves around the world when it gets out!”
“I just hope he doesn’t live to regret not telling her the full truth sooner.”
“If I know her, she will be mad, but she will forgive him and they will bond like glue,” Saraca said. “Besides, it will build an extra level of equality between them if she has something over him like that.”
“I hope you’re right, Saraca.”
“Let her know that we can ship her things anywhere she needs, if the time comes for that.”
“Thank you, Abári.”
♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.
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
Spice of Strength - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 3 - Chapter 19
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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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
