17
Darkness fell and the evening rolled to a close. All across town, the polling stations began to close their doors as the last voters cast their ballots and returned to wherever they had come in from. All the workers including the A’mara were approaching exhaustion.
“It seems strange. It’s not like we did a whole lot,” Yewan said to Tirry as they sealed a ballot box and locked it.
“It’s a lot of busy work,” Tirry said. “Strangely wearying. Given that most of you guys are supposed to be empathic, you probably pick up too many new energies all at once as well. You brushed elbows with thousands of people today!”
“You are very astute for one with so little A’mara contact,” Yewan said sealing the final ballot box.
She smiled. “You guys have taught me a lot already!” Tirry said putting on her winter coat.
“Has anyone heard from Jenna?” Yewan asked.
“Not yet. But then, she might have deliberately kept us in the dark so that we could get our jobs done uninterrupted. She’s like that,” Tirry suggested. “Let’s go and see her, then I think we could both use a little celebratory meal for an election completed!”
“I would like that. As soon as we deliver the last boxes to be counted,” Yewan replied.
They walked to the elections headquarters where officials were awaiting the boxes. The other A’mara were there too, each pair having brought a couple of ballot boxes in. “Good night, Yewan,” Mikor said as they turned to go.
“I should be along soon, but I have a hospital visit to make first,” Yewan told the other A’mara.
“Not rush, we understand,” Lataya said with a smile. She and the others left to their temporary quarters at the fledgling Complex.
Yewan and Tirry reached Jenna’s hospital bed. The baby was happily feeding. Jenna covered up a little more to be modest in the abári’s presence. Tirry hugged her friend carefully and then started cooing at the tiny one who let go of the nipple in curiosity. Jenna quickly covered up the exposed skin.
“Child birth and breastfeeding are natural processes no matter what anyone says to stigmatize them!” the abári shared. “There is no shame in the nipple exposed for a baby.”
Tirry smiled her warm approval at Yewan. Her heart was sending out ripples that the abári could not possibly miss, she felt. But for once, she didn’t try to squash down her emotions. She was far too tired to try; she was also tired of pretending that she didn’t have them.
Jenna smiled. “You’re a wise man,” she replied.
Yewan reached Tle-sun and gave him a huge hug. “Congratulations, my friend!”
“Thank you! I can tell you will make a great abári,” Tle-sun said. “Saraca has chosen well in her appointment.”
“I nearly refused,” he said. “I don’t want to be the center of attention and all that. But, Loxos is a small town and only the three of you here permanently so far.”
“How is your baby?” Tirry asked. “Being that he was early and all.”
“He’s doing well. His lungs are perfect. They’re keeping an eye out for any signs of jaundice, but otherwise, he’s in perfect health,” Jenna replied.
“I am glad,” Tirry said.
“By the way, what’s the new one’s name?” Yewan asked.
“Before we tell you, we want you to see something,” Tle-sun said.
They all crowded around, Tirry very much aware of the close presence of the man she knew she loved.
Tle-sun picked up the infant and raised the gown above the baby’s clamped umbilical cord stump. There was a birthmark just to the left, a dark line, the length of a man’s handspan.
“It looks like a burn,” Tirry said. “Like he was too close to a wood stove.”
“Or a shaze wound,” Yewan said with awe. “You believe your departed chola has returned to you.”
Tle-sun nodded. “We had already chosen to honor Levon with our son’s name. We both owe him a great debt. His name is Arvad Levon Orivesk.”
“It seems you may be about to repay Levon in full.” Yewan placed his hands on the infant. “You may join me if you wish; you too, Tirry.”
Tirry put her hands on the child’s tummy, touching Yewan’s hand to make space for Tle-sun.
Yewan spoke. “Arvad Levon Orivesk, we welcome you into this life. We wish you a good life with all the dedication of your last one, but we pray you will get to finish your tasks in this one. So be it.”
“So be it,” the others repeated.
“I owe you a dinner,” Tirry said to Yewan.
“I think you’re right that we need to leave these three in peace,” Yewan agreed. Turning to Tle-sun. “Please let us know when you’re home – or if you need anything.”
Tle-sun and Jenna agreed. Then Tirry and Yewan left.
“That is very encouraging,” Tle-sun said to his wife.
“You think he’s falling for her?”
“I think he’s very much smitten with her. He’s admitted it to himself now, he’s just not ready to admit it to her – or anyone else - yet,” Tle-sun replied.
“Yet, he appears so calm and non-emotive,” Jenna said.
“That’s just his training. I could feel it though. And she’s so calm as well, but crazy in love with him… Seems like a good match.”
“What happened?” Wolfkin Starna asked of Belmara that night.
“What do you mean by that?” Belmara asked.
“Whose idea was it to send faulty ballot papers?” Wolf asked.
The woman looked at her husband who had joined her on screen.
“I thought it was the Curator,” Fashi said.
“Then explain why the Curator is blaming me for things going badly? I’m not the one who screwed up on the formulation. The A’mara were alerted to the problem before even one faulty ballot was put into the box!” Wolf demanded. “Fortunately, I was smart enough to make sure there were plenty of people who wanted to vote for the TFP anyway. That was my doing, my thinking! If we win, it’s because I invested the time, not anything the Curator did. In fact, due to the bad formulation, they’re far more onto us than they would have been had the Curator just trusted me to begin with!”
“I suggest you take this up with the Curator, not with us,” Belmara replied. “We do not control the Curator.”
“The Curator would likely kill me,” Wolf replied.
“Then, I suggest you remain quiet and let the Curator figure the truth out for herself. She’s not stupid. More than likely, she is testing your resolve and your ability to control your temper.”
“I see,” Wolf replied more subdued.
“I have no doubt that the Curator knows far more than you are comfortable with,” Fashi said. “That is the way of the Curator.”
It was after midnight when Yewan walked Tirry back to her apartment block.
“Sorry, Yewan. I didn’t realize there weren’t any real restaurants still open,” Tirry said. “Come, I’ll make you some supper.”
“I’m sure there are some snacks at the Complex I haven’t eaten yet,” he said, turning to go. “You don’t have to make anything on my account.”
“It’s no trouble. I have to make something for myself anyway,” she replied. “It only takes a few minutes to boil up some pasta and heat some meat sauce to go with it. Besides, you’ve hardly eaten today!”
“You can be persistent,” he teased, going with her.
“Only when it’s important,” Tirry replied. “And keeping the abári healthy is definitely important!”
Yewan sat on the couch as Tirry quickly made a supper. “So tell me more about what you are planning for the Complex,” he requested.
Tirry began talking about all her many ideas from the structure of the rooms to the way the common areas should be designed, to the grand foyer to the playground.
Finally, she plated up the meal and brought a plate out to the abári, who snoozed exhaustedly on the couch. She smiled at the handsome, but worn out man. She felt her love for him growing again. She draped a blanket over him. Sitting at the dining table, she ate a bit, watching Yewan sleeping. If she was a bit bolder, she would sit close to him and sleep there too. But she wasn’t that brazen.
When she’d eaten enough, she put the rest of the food in the chiller. She turned off lights, changed into one of her more modest nightgowns and went to bed thinking about the man in the next room.
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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