15
(Terraday)
In the morning, the most A’mara Gaskarii had seen in generations descended upon the polling stations of Loxos. The heaviest presence was in the downtown, market area where two election attempts ago had been disrupted with an explosion that killed a large number of staff and voters. All the volunteers and paid workers had assembled at the main polling station, the prefab that had been brought in bustling with people already. Tirry moved to give instructions, but Yewan stopped her.
“Tirry, I hope you don’t mind if I take charge this morning,” Yewan said. “I can, at least, direct the A’mara.”
“I guess we work together then,” Tirry said with a smile. “I can tell my people what to do, but I don’t know the other A’mara like you do.”
“Thanks,” he said. “We seem to make a good team.”
Tirry didn’t really have time to be flustered at his words. She got her people onto their various tasks as Yewan directed Mikor and Garian to watch the crowds for darkness among the people. Betel and Lataya were to check the machinery. He and Tle-sun would double check all the Loxos polling stations for security breaches like the one that had killed before.
“When we get back, everyone will be on surveillance duty,” Yewan concluded before he and Tle-sun left the building.
“You two do make a good team,” Jenna echoed as she stood next to Tirry.
Tirry thought about how true it was. “I don’t really have time to think about that today!” she declared. “As soon as everyone gets back, we’ll be rushing our rears off.”
Jenna grasped her abdomen a moment.
“You all right?” Tirry asked.
“Just a twinge,” Jenna replied.
Before long, and only moments before the voting was supposed to begin, Tle-sun and Yewan returned to give them the all clear.
“I’ve got Betel and Lataya across town. We will be at the nearer polling station, just in case you need us. Mikor and Garian will continue to roam and monitor the crowds,” Yewan explained.
“Sounds good,” Tirry said nervously. Jenna nodded.
“It will be successful this time. We must believe this!” Yewan said, putting his hand on Tirry’s shoulder, giving her an extra dose of calm, for all the excitement his mere touch caused her.
Tle-sun gave his wife a kiss, then he and Yewan left to let the voters in and monitor the other station.
The two best friends got the main polling station running. Some of the voters had never seen Jenna in her A’mara cloak and commented to her about it. Most of them were positive, but others, like the governor’s secretary were suspicious, wondering if she was still one of them. Some of those were not aware that Gaskarii had a cloak pattern assigned to them.
Tirry marveled that one didn’t have to be A’mara to recognize how proudly Jenna modeled her cloak. All the A’mara seemed to be excited at the prospect of native Gaskarii children who would be entitled to wear the A’mara cloak of their island country. Even some of the voters expressed that sentiment, a sign that the A’mara were beginning to be a welcome part of the community already. She wistfully thought about how nice it would be to help provide some of those native Gaskarii A’mara. She didn’t even fight the blush, knowing that Yewan was safely a few blocks away from her turmoil of emotions.
Tirry wandered around, keeping an eye on the workers and volunteers. Most of them were doing okay, it wasn’t a difficult task, but it was a constant flow of busyness. It was approaching lunchtime and she saw Jenna sit to eat her lunch. She was glad to see she was taking care of herself. At one point, Jenna stopped eating and clutched her abdomen. Tirry looked at her PCS link’s chrono quickly.
Someone needed Tirry’s help for a moment.
Then, she walked over to see how her friend was doing.
“Almost like old times, eh?” Tirry asked.
Jenna nodded. “Except the smell of this prefab, you’d almost think it was our old building.”
Tirry nodded.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Jenna asked.
“No. I’m never hungry during the voting. I am too stressed, I guess,” Tirry said.
“Oh!” Jenna exclaimed, doubling over in pain.
Tirry looked at her chrono again. “Five minutes. How many pains have you had?”
“That’s the third one!” Jenna replied. “But we’re still three weeks early!”
“Babies don’t tend to pay much attention to the calendar. Have you called Tle-sun? You need immediate medical attention!” Tirry directed.
“I should have had plenty of time… not today!” Jenna groaned as Tirry punched a code into her PCS link.
“Yewan, do you have Tle-sun’s code?” Tirry called.
“He’s right here. Do you need to speak to him?”
“Just tell him Jenna is going into labor!” Tirry said.
“We’ll be right there,” Yewan promised.
“They will be a few minutes, Jenna. I’m sure they’re running right now,” Tirry soothed.
“Here’s another one… Ugggghhhh!” Jenna groaned.
“Breathe, Jenna. You can do this,” Tirry soothed again.
Jenna nodded.
“It is good that you’re eating. It will give you strength,” Tirry said. “Finish your lunch, if you can, before the next one.”
Jenna ate quietly, her face slightly pale.
Yewan came with Tle-sun who reached his wife just as she was having another contraction.
“Your baby is early. He might need some help to develop the lungs properly,” Tirry calmly told Tle-sun. “She needs to be at the hospital. You can call for an ambulance, but the walk will help her through some of the pain.”
Tle-sun nodded and left with Jenna.
“You are good under pressure,” Yewan complimented.
“Thanks. My mother was a midwife, so I have some experience with this,” Tirry explained. “She didn’t always have the option of getting us a babysitter, so we had to tag along. I would often help her with her patients.”
“Part of the reason you always assumed you’d have kids, I’m guessing?” he said.
“Exactly, kids have not been part of my fate. I shall die an old maid at this rate!” she said, sitting down, her heart hurting a bit.
“I hope not,” Yewan said. “Have you eaten lunch?”
“No. I can’t eat on election day. I guess the stress keeps the hunger away,” Tirry explained. “What about you? I’m sure you’re allowed a lunch break.”
“I can’t imagine eating while you do not,” Yewan replied. “Besides, we are trained to divert hunger to a more appropriate time.”
Tirry thought momentarily about what she’d do if he passed out from hunger.
“Don’t worry,” he laughed. “I promise not to do that!”
She blushed, thinking both about how nice his laugh sounded and about the fact that her mind was like an open book around this man. It was frightening and intriguing at the same time.
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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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!!! |
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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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