25
(Silnaday)
Palerma, Tephsa – A’mara Complex
Kauri felt the warm body next to her as she roused from sleep, Scamper and Streaker curled up behind her knees, between them. She smiled. “Is this real?” she asked softly.
“Of course it is,” Kanesh’s voice came from behind her, his lips on her neck.
“So hard to believe!” she said, turning towards him to meet his kisses with her own.
“Why?” he asked, kissing her again.
“Two days ago, we had a strictly professional relationship. Today, it’s completely different,” Kauri said from beneath his caresses.
The lasa quickly scurried out of the way of the flailing humans making Kauri giggle lightly.
“It’s a common thing for professionals to fall in love,” he said, moving down to kiss her body, taking her hardened rose buds in his mouth, running his tongue across the tips in turn. Then he moved back up to meet her mouth. “Let’s skip work today and just concentrate on us. Learn more about each other. The first showing of ‘Between Friends’ is just after lunch. I’ve had Andrian make reservations for half a dozen A’mara to attend. We’ll just go with them.”
Kauri’s reply was muffled by another passionate kiss.
♥
Irola - A’mara Complex
“So, Kivana had someone check in at the Joton Shaze Academy earlier. The head instructor wouldn’t say anything, but it’s fairly obvious that Zilan and Iyva have disappeared again. They’re no longer in Joton,” Ajabo reported to Saraca.
“Any idea where they might have gone?” she asked.
“We have been going through the surveillance of the port,” Julleon answered. “I can’t even find a shadow right now.”
“Can you apply the Ory filter to the footage?” Ja’tel asked, joining them.
“So far, that only works for stills. If we could find a shadow, I could use it,” Julleon replied.
“Watch it again,” Saraca requested. “They should be visible somewhere! If we can work out when they left, we might have an idea of where they went.”
Julleon and Ajabo nodded, then returned to their task.
♥
Ilim City, Isle of Varkevand
“I’m becoming quite the world traveler,” Iyva mused as the ship docked at the port. “Will we get a chance to just tour and do some site-seeing this time?”
“Quite possibly. I need to see some old friends this stop. Maybe you’ll see someone you know as well,” Zilan replied mysteriously.
“Who do I know in Varkevand?” she asked.
“We’ll just have to see. In the mean time, our stop here will add to the confusion of anyone who is trying to follow us,” Zilan added.
“Always an ulterior motive!” Iyva said, laughing.
“Always!” he said kissing her passionately. “Now, it’s time to disembark without any questions.”
They proceeded to skip customs as had become normal for them. They headed towards a hoverbus terminal.
“What’s special about Varkevand?” Iyva asked as she and Zilan walked.
Zilan answered by changing direction abruptly and heading down to the shore. He pointed to a park. “There,” he said. They continued walking towards the point.
“What’s there?” she asked.
He didn’t answer, but they kept walking until they reached the nicely-planted memorial park. He stopped in front of a plaque.
“Ilim City Diner Disaster?” Iyva read questioningly. She read the rest of the plaque. “I don’t understand. I learned about this in school, of course. Terrible tragedy. But what does it have to do with you?”
He pointed to the name Joen Vaala, reported as one of the dead. “That’s me,” he said. “I was there that day, I almost died. I would have died if it hadn’t been for the other chola, Tle-sun. He pulled me out of the wreckage – me and another boy, Ardin.”
Iyva’s mouth hung open a bit.
“Our maqlas weren’t so lucky. Tle-sun lost his maqla, Tra-nic Kree. I lost mine too – Danen Tapp,” he informed.
“I met Tle-sun on Irola.” Iyva said quietly. “Nice man.”
But she could feel the tears in Zilan’s composure. She put her arm around him. “How were you listed as dead?”
“Most of the dead required DNA samples to identify them. They couldn’t find me at all, so they assumed I was one of the dead as well. Ardin and Tle-sun were found more quickly, I guess. I was picked up by Dr. Jarly and trained as a student for a few years. We went to Kri’enden so that I could learn shaze properly. When I discovered what Jarly was, I left him too. I knew I would be in danger by leaving Jarly, so I became Zilan and have lived in the shadows ever since.”
“Is Jarly the Curator?” Iyva asked.
“No. He often poses as the Curator, but she is someone beyond him. Very secretive, I don’t even know where her base is. I think she’s an alien left over from when Vendaria kicked the A’mara off their island.”
“That would make her ancient!” Iyva replied.
Zilan nodded. “Anyway, we need to catch a bus to our next destination unless you want to spend the next week walking.”
“So, if you were a chola in the Diner Disaster, that means you’re at least 28,” Iyva said.
Zilan didn’t reply.
Iyva realized he was wondering how important the age gap was to her.
“My mother would so disapprove!” she exclaimed grabbing his hand. He squeezed it in response.
They walked back through the town. A woman came out of a shop.
“You!” she called out.
They turned. The woman was looking at Iyva. “Me?” Iyva asked.
“I have something for you,” the woman said disappearing into her shop. A few moments later she emerged with something in a little bag. “It told me that you are the next stage of its journey.”
The woman disappeared again.
“I’m not even from here, there must be some mistake,” Iyva said, as she followed the woman back into the shop. But she couldn’t see the woman anywhere.
“We must catch this bus,” Zilan urged her. “We can sort this out later.”
They caught the hoverbus as planned and headed out along the south coast road.
“What’s in the bag?” Zilan asked as they sat.
Iyva opened it. It was a beautiful hairnet, all in white with a little bit of purple with a brighter stone in the middle, like the gem on the top of a crown. She was stunned. She examined it, letting Zilan take it from her hand to look at it more closely.
“It’s ancient,” Zilan said, examining it. “It must be worth a small fortune! I think you should tuck it away safely in a pocket or something. We’ll have to work out what to do with it later. Maybe our friends will have some ideas.”
Iyva stuck it into an interior pocket. Then she watched the scenery, forgetting all about the priceless trinket in her cloak pocket.
“It’s so beautiful here!” she exclaimed as they flew along.
“It is,” Zilan agreed. “I enjoyed my time here – until the blast, anyway.”
♥
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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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. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
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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 in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, 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? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Head of the Neví... |
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
also on: Whaleshares, WeKu
