11
Tirry and Yewan walked quickly between the various homes on their list.
“I’m surprised you guys don’t have a hoverbil for this,” Yewan said.
“There is one, but we generally don’t have the authorization to drive within Loxos. There aren’t that many things we need to do in the city anyway,” Tirry explained as they picked up the pace again.
“I would have thought that running elections would give you automatic authorization to drive,” Yewan said.
“Not when everything is so close together. Remember that normally, these voters submit their ballots electronically,” Tirry explained. “This job only became necessary with the cancellation of voter registrations.”
“Sorry,” Yewan apologized. “I hadn’t thought of that potential implication.”
“It’s okay. It still seemed to be the best solution that we had available,” Tirry said smiling at him. She didn’t want him to feel bad. “It just means you get to carry the ballot box around in the cold.”
Yewan grinned at her.
They reached another house and collected a couple of ballots.
“Don’t you get cold?” Tirry asked Yewan.
“Our cloaks are amazing at keeping cold out and body heat in. I can’t imagine what they did before this fabric was developed!” he said.
“Maybe something like this?” Tirry asked indicating her thick winter coat with waterproofing.
“I suppose so!” Yewan said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t want to have to use a shaze under all that though.”
“Yeah,” Tirry replied with a giggle of her own.
After a few hours, they had collected the rest of the ballots.
“I’m tired!” Tirry said as they left the final residence.
“We’ll just hand this in, then you can go and get ready for this evening – have a bit of a sit-down while you can!” Yewan suggested.
“Sounds like a plan.”
The man’s PCS link buzzed. “Yewan,” he replied.
“Our ship is hour late,” came the lady’s voice.
“Got that, Lataya. I will be waiting,” Yewan promised as he disconnected.
They turned in the ballot case as the street lights began to turn on for the night.
“I have a few extra minutes,” Yewan said. “Is there anything you need help with to get ready for the pizzas?”
“I don’t think so, but you can come and sit for awhile anyway,” Tirry invited.
“Thanks,” he said gratefully.
They went up to Tirry’s apartment. “I’m thinking some nightbrew to keep us both awake. What do you think?” she asked Yewan.
“Yes please,” he replied. “It’s been a long day.”
“Yes,” she replied turning on the kettle and preparing two mugs.
The drinks ready, she brought them out to the living room. One, she placed in front of Yewan. The other she sat down with, sitting across from him.
“Thank you!” he said appreciatively, just warming his hands a few minutes on the hot mug. “I hope you can take a few minutes to just relax.”
“I can sit until you need to go,” Tirry replied. “My pizza crusts don’t take all that long.”
They sat a few minutes in silence, drinking their nightbrew. Tirry thought about how nice it was to be able to just be with someone without all that pressure to fill in the gaps in conversation. She walked over to her window and looked out over the city. It was completely dark now. The lights of the city always cheered her up. But there was a dark mass where the sea took over from the land. A tiny dot of light could be seen. She wondered whether it could be the ship they were awaiting.
“You said earlier that Governor Sandy is always trying to match you up with people,” Yewan ventured.
Tirry blushed, still looking out the window. She wondered if he could feel her blush – if he knew why she blushed. She turned around and sat down again.
“Yes, she’s been trying for years now. I’m the one that matches others up – I helped get Jenna and Tle-sun together, after all! But no one’s been able to do the same for me.” She sighed, thinking of the man she was talking to. “You know what they say about doctors not being able to heal themselves!”
Yewan nodded. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
<Besides you?> came that first flash of thought before Tirry could regain control. “I’m not completely sure. I guess just like Jenna, I’ve been waiting for someone who makes me want to break the rules. She’s broken all of them – including her own.” Tirry smiled again. “She had a rule to not massage A’mara. Then she goes and offers Tle-sun a massage!”
Yewan laughed merrily. “But it must be difficult watching people much younger than you settling down and having kids,” he suggested.
She nodded. “It’s been especially difficult watching Jenna. She’s like a niece to me, so I’m delighted for her, but there’s always a tinge of jealousy as well.”
“You do a good job managing those feelings,” Yewan complimented. “I’m sure there were men along the way who would have loved to have settled down with you.”
“I don’t know,” she replied blushing again. “If there were, they never told me about it. I certainly never assumed… and now… I feel like I’ve lost so much time.” She thought about the children she’d always been confident she’d have by now. “My friends my age are grandparents now.”
He nodded sympathetically.
The silence hung in the air again. Tirry walked back to the window once more and saw a larger light on the water. She wondered if that might be their awaited ship. It was a better size than the previous light.
“I’m sorry, Tirry, but I must get down to the quay,” Yewan said.
Tirry saw him getting up in the reflection. She swallowed her jumble of emotions and turned back to him. “I will have everything ready when you get back,” she promised.
“Thank you!” Yewan said warmly. “You seem to always have everyone else’s needs in mind – well before your own.”
Tirry blushed again as he left the apartment.
She thought about everything he had said as she prepared the dough for the pizza. She wondered if the conversation was a good sign – that he was thinking about her – or if it was just small talk.
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
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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