part 3, chapter 19
(Tharnday)
Casminari - after mid-year solstice
Palerma, Tephsa
Andrian Ramsley approached the Kaarle suite early. He was glad to feel the movements within. He didn’t wish to wake them, but he had a surprise for Kauri. He knocked on the door.
“Abári, a pleasant surprise,” she greeted. “Kanesh is in the shower.”
“May I come in?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said, opening the door further and letting him in.
He turned and nodded at the man following him who had a small hovercart with half a dozen small cages. He felt Kauri’s curiosity, then her excitement as she worked out what was happening.
The other man left before Andrian shut the door. Then Kauri opened the first cage.
“Scamper!” Kauri shrieked as a small black, furry creature no larger than Andrian’s two hands jumped out and scurried up to Kauri’s shoulder where it immediately nestled into her hair, making contented burring noises. A second lasa jumped out of the second cage.
“Streaker!” she cried as the brown and white animal ran up to her other shoulder. She sat on the couch and tickled Streaker behind its ears. It turned its head and gently grabbed Kauri’s fingers with its teeth.
Andrian felt her tears of joy. “We felt that it was time that you were reunited with your animals,” he said.
“Thank you, Abári!”
Just then, the bathroom door opened and Derick Aiden came out, a towel around his waist.
“Kanesh! My lasa are here!” Kauri said excitedly.
“That’s fabulous! Good morning, Abári. I’ll just get dressed,” he excused going into his bedroom.
Even in that brief exchange, Andrian felt the love that flowed between the two. He had always found fascination in watching developing relationships. Normally, it was between two A’mara, which often developed fast and intensely. He didn’t remember watching the slow version before. It was a beautiful thing, he realized. But Derick Aiden had yet to tell Kauri his secret. He hoped it wouldn’t kill the love she had for him.
“Where do you want me to put the other cages?” Andrian asked Kauri.
Kauri got up, the two lasa still perched on her shoulders as if afraid she’d leave them again.
She opened her bedroom door and took the first cage towards the window. These were some small hamsters with bushy tails. They had recently had pups, it seemed.
“I hope it wasn’t a bad time to move them,” Andrian said.
“I don’t know,” she said. “They haven’t had babies before!”
Another cage had a small colony of dwarf Atruan hamsters. “Are these common?” Andrian asked.
“Quite rare, actually. I’m glad they made it.”
“Let me know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
“Thank you, Abári.”
Derick joined them that moment. “Who are these guys?” he asked, going up to Kauri and tickling the black one, who nuzzled against his hand.
“That one is Scamper. He likes you,” Kauri replied.
“And the other?” he asked tickling the brown and white one who responded by grabbing his finger with her teeth.
“Streaker. She nips, so be careful,” she warned.
“I’ll be going then,” Andrian excused himself.
Kauri and Derick barely acknowledged him as he let himself out, taking the hovercart with him.
Andrian shook his head as he walked down the corridor, guiding the hovercart a few feet before him. He had never expected this couple to brew to this degree as he watched them. The international megastar and a humble receptionist-turned-actress-and-dancer. If the filmmaker hadn’t blown it already by not trusting Kauri with his identity, there would be a very public wedding very soon and thousands of broken hearts across the world as one of the most-eligible bachelors of the generation was snapped up by his most-devoted fan – who hadn’t a clue to who he was! Andrian shook his head again and kept going down the corridor.
♥
Irola – Balan Center
“Any sign of Aiden’s informant?” Belmara Wolfkin asked over breakfast in the new Balan cafeteria.
“None. Maybe he really has enough information already to film a second movie. Maybe the Curator is wrong,” Fashi replied.
“But the Curator is never wrong!” a man exclaimed sitting down.
“Who is this upstart?” Belmara asked.
“Rurik Shimian. Meet my wife, Belmara,” Fashi introduced. “Bel, this is my top student, and #3 on Irola.”
“Then, why haven’t I met him before?” Belmara asked.
“Because I’ve only just started ranking them. He gave me this bruise,” Fashi said, showing her a large dark mark on his arm, just beginning to heal to shades of green and yellow.
“It won’t be long before some are challenging you to your position,” Belmara said with a smirk.
“It’s more than simply battle,” Fashi reminded her.
“I wish it was true that the Curator is never wrong,” Belmara said. “She has become careless recently. I will be there when she slips up.”
“Sounds dangerous,” Rurik said.
“That’s what I’ve told her,” Fashi replied.
A Kri’enden woman brought a fair-skinned young woman to them.
“Halley, explain!” Belmara demanded to the dark woman.
“This would be our #4,” Fashi interjected.
“Unsurprising for a Kri’enden,” Belmara replied. “But what of this woman?”
“She claims to want to join, but she resides with them,” Halley said. “She was at the door.”
“Tell me more,” Belmara said looking at the young woman.
“I’m Elskie. I’ve been with the A’mara since I was very small.”
“So, why do we believe you are loyal to us? You’ve just betrayed someone else,” Belmara asked. She felt the spark of infatuation from Rurik at this woman. If she proved to be worthy, Belmara would award her to him. Cement her to the Balan.
“They’ve never given me a maqla, never taken my training as seriously as I’ve taken them,” Elskie complained.
“Maybe there’s a reason for that,” Belmara said condescendingly.
All at once, a shaze swung toward her, blocked by Fashi’s.
“And that makes me believe you how?” Belmara asked coolly. “Surely, that was proof that you’re still A’mara.”
“If I’d been trying, I would have succeeded,” Elskie boasted.
“Give me some information that is classified,” Belmara requested.
“Derick Aiden lives in Palerma, under the name Kanesh Kaarle. He lives with the former receptionist of our Complex where he’s filming his next movie with her,” Elskie told Belmara.
“We already knew this. Tell me something I didn’t know.”
“Her belongings have been boxed up and stored and her pets have been shipped to her,” Elskie continued.
“Now, why would they do that?” Belmara asked, sitting up straighter.
“Because they don’t expect her to come back,” Rurik suggested.
“That is interesting,” Fashi agreed. “But her belongings have not been shipped yet?”
“No,” Elskie said.
“That would seem to indicate that they don’t expect her to stay in Tephsa,” Belmara said. “If she’s attached to Aiden, then maybe they’re preparing to send them somewhere else… Fashi, I think we’d better step up our surveillance in Palerma.”
“I’m trying, but the A’mara have also stepped up their security around Aiden,” Fashi replied.
“We may need people out there,” Belmara said. “Good work, Elskie. Go back and let us know if anything else develops.”
“But I want to work with you!” she replied. “I’m not here because I want to play both of you at once. I’m here because I’m tired of them.”
Belmara barely avoided rolling her eyes at the woman. “Then go with Rurik. You are to work with him and serve him. If you prove yourself, you will have a position with us,” she said with finality.
Belmara watched Elskie leave with Rurik who was doing a poor job of hiding his feelings about working with the pretty young woman.
“You are cold sometimes, Bel,” Fashi said lovingly.
“Simple. She has to prove her worth… prove she won’t run back to Saraca with her tail between her legs. I can’t think of a better way than giving her to Rurik.”
“And Aiden and his girlfriend?”
“Keep watching him and be ready to move if they do.”
“You think Rurik can look after this place when we travel?”
“With Elskie’s help… maybe.”
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] (@viking-ventures/acting-the-part-part-3-chapter-19-a-mara-books)
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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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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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; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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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
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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu
