12
Yewan Avicent pulled his burgundy cloak around his face to keep the wind from stealing his breath. But, he realized, it was no use against a beautiful woman stealing his heart! It was his fault. He was the one who had gone “there” tonight with their conversation.
“What are you looking for?” he had asked.
He hadn’t been prepared for the instant flash from her mind. “Besides you?” she had wondered. Oh, she had cleared the thought away quickly enough. She was surprisingly good at that, he realized. But that first flash was often unavoidable. That’s why surprise questions were such useful tools for the A’mara inquisitor.
The ship that Tirry had seen from the window was gliding nearer the dock now.
He had seen romance blossom quickly amongst A’mara before. It was one of the hazards of being A’mara. But this had been three days now… and this was him he was talking about. More impervious than anyone he had ever met.
Someone had once told Yewan not to simply marry someone he could live with, but one that he could not live without. He had never met anyone who fit that bill. But he wondered now. Could he see himself leaving this island again? Without Tirry?
He couldn’t help thinking of Saraca and how she would laugh. She had warned him.
He shook his head as the ship docked. He cleared his mind of all thoughts of the woman who had been occupying so much of his mind recently. He knew Lataya was one of the strongest empaths he knew other than Saraca herself.
He watched as four A’mara disembarked from the vessel. First, Lataya in her lavender cloak followed by a slightly-taller man in a gold cloak accompanied by a rose-cloaked chola. The tallest of the bunch, Betel, was one of the youngest, and had a burgundy cloak like himself.
“Welcome, Betel!” he said, embracing the youth.
“Thank you, Yewan – or shall I call you Abári now?” Betel Seagle asked.
“Please, call me Yewan, just like you always have!” He turned to the others. “Good to see you, Lataya. And Mikor Hammit, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure!”
“Nice to meet you, Yewan,” Mikor said. “I’m sure I would have remembered such a friendly countenance! Please meet my chola, Garian Dabherd.”
“That’s so exciting that you’re picking up Kasagan cholas already,” Yewan said, shaking the boy’s hand. “So, Mikor, how is married life treating you?”
“It is good,” Mikor said. “You should try it.”
“It certainly seems to suit you,” Yewan chuckled, trying not to think of the woman preparing food for them.
Lataya Silna raised her eyebrows at him.
Yewan could feel the question behind them, but ignored it.
“You believe in winter in dis freezing country!” Lataya said, shivering.
“It’s good for you!” Yewan enthused, his breath hanging thickly in the air.
“Not sure,” Lataya said. “Send me back to Varkevand – I tought dat was cold in winter – but is no'ting like here.”
“Not too bad compared to A’mara,” Mikor said. “Still, I think I prefer the winter of Kasago, which has had the good sense to depart already!”
“As soon as this election is over, you can go back to your other places – though maybe Betel would consider staying, we need some youth here as well,” Yewan said.
“You might have to fight Saraca for me,” Betel warned. “I’ve been working with Lataya on the database project ever since Tle-sun came here.”
“I’ll handle Saraca later,” Yewan said with a wink. “I’m sure she owes me a favor for saddling me with a fringe. Anyway, let’s get your stuff dropped off at the Complex, then we have supper waiting at the home of the elections supervisor.”
They walked briskly through the chilly night air towards the building that Yewan had called home for all of three days.
Not too far from the quay was a small abandoned warehouse with a magnetic placard on the door with the Neví Housing Association logo on it. It had been slapped in place ten minutes before the meeting and would be removed within ten minutes of adjournment.
Inside, a man in a dark brown cloak addressed his small crowd of followers. The poorly-placed heaters did little more than take the edge off the chill.
“Thank you for attending all our Housing Association events this winter. I know it’s not the easiest thing to commit to when we are experiencing a typical Gaskarii winter,” Wolfkin Starna began. “But it stands to pay dividends tomorrow, election day.” The man turned to his younger lover.
“We expect each of you to be a great helper at your designated polling station. That’s all you have to do – is be a great helper. Everything else is already well in hand,” Ydia Tuskcat added.
“What is going to go wrong?” an older, graying gentleman asked from the back.
“If you know in advance, you are likely to give something away. There will be A’mara in attendance, after all,” Wolf replied. “Best for you to simply help the A’mara implement their chosen solution.”
“Does that mean we’re doing something… illegal?” the man asked.
“You will only be helping the A’mara. There is nothing illegal about that. That’s all you need to know,” Wolf repeated, feeling irritated with the old man now. <Is he an informant?> he thought to Ydia.
He felt her questioning shrug back. The man made him nervous. He would need to know more about him. Wolf looked around for other questions, then walked over to the door before he closed the meeting. “Thank you again for coming. Don’t forget which station you are at tomorrow. Turning up at the wrong one could set alarm bells ringing everywhere,” Wolf said.
Attendees shuffled out the door in front of him, into the cold night air. The old man approached him. “Your name, sir?” Wolf asked.
“Jasper,” the old man replied.
“You remind me of someone,” Wolf said.
“Probably several people,” the old man said. “I find that as I grow older, it happens more and more frequently.”
“Well, make sure you contribute tomorrow. That’s all I care.”
“I will contribute,” he promised with a smile before disappearing into the night.
“What do you think?” Wolf asked Ydia as they turned off the heaters and the lights.
“Of the old man?” Ydia asked in return.
“He said his name was Jasper. I don’t remember anyone signed up by that name,” Wolf replied.
“He reminds me of someone I’ve seen on holonet somewhere,” Ydia said. “I can’t think who though.”
“I know what you mean.”
They stepped outside and removed the sign. With a wave of his hand Wolfkin locked the door.
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
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