18
(Fenjaday)
Tirry heard the sound of sizzling and smelled bacon. She opened her eyes, startling to full wakefulness. Then she remembered Yewan sleeping on the couch. He must still be there.
She quickly threw on a comfortable, but nice dress and some leggings. Tirry even took the time to brush her hair nicely. Then, she ventured out of her bedroom, unable to keep the smile off her face as she saw Yewan in the kitchen.
“Sorry for falling asleep on you like that,” Yewan apologized, looking at her briefly before returning his attention to the frying pan.
“It’s okay,” she replied. “I’m sorry I didn’t manage to feed you before you fell asleep.”
“I will have some bacon and eggs for you momentarily,” he said, turning the food.
“Thank you. But you didn’t have to,” Tirry said.
“I wanted to,” he said simply. He served up, putting a plate of food at the table for her and sat down across from her with his own plate.
“Thanks,” she repeated with a warm smile. “I see you cook better than Tle-sun anyway – not that that’s saying much!”
He chuckled. “Hopefully it’s edible,” he said. “I don’t have that much practice, I guess.”
“It’s good,” Tirry said through a bite. “You have an underused talent.”
“I suspect we all have underused talents,” Yewan philosophized. “None of us can do everything we are gifted at.”
“I suppose you are right,” Tirry replied.
“I guess you told me all about your plans last night, but I’m afraid I fell asleep. I have no idea how much I missed,” Yewan said. “I still feel bad that I missed what you had to tell me.”
Tirry smiled at the man who had possession of her heart. She wondered if he knew, or cared, about that fact. She thought about what Lataya had told her. “You don’t need to apologize for being human,” she said. “You are still a man underneath that abári fringe, right?”
He smiled with apparent relief. “Sometimes, others expect an abári to be more akin to a god,” he explained. “I saw it when I worked with Jerreck, when I was a chola. It’s why I’ve often joked about ‘101 Reasons Not to Be an Abári.’ Now look where that got me?” He laughed. “I overheard Jilia sometimes remind Jerreck that he was just a person. He was just the overseer of the A’mara, not the entire planet. But sometimes, it’s easy to forget that because so many others want you to be more – need you to be more...”
“It sounds like Jilia was quite an amazing woman,” Tirry said softly.
“She was. She was like an aunt to me – the best sort of aunt. The one who would listen to all your troubles, but then also tell you what you did wrong, and how to fix it. She was the kind of woman I … She was the kind of woman who made the perfect companion to the abári. I miss her so much,” Yewan said.
Tirry wanted to touch that hand again, but she was equally afraid. She also wondered what he stopped himself saying. She finished her food.
“So, what were those plans you had for our Complex?” Yewan asked.
“I have many ideas,” Tirry said. “I have played with plans since I was little. I did wonder if we could start off by researching some of the places you A’mara have already built for this purpose? I’ve never seen any of them in person.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “I also think the governor is right that we can learn a bit from the Neví designs that they have implemented in various countries. But what sort of things do you want to make sure that little Arvad has as he grows up in our Complex?”
“I think we need to be thinking along the lines of what is most important for his development – both as a child as well as an A’mara. Hence, you need areas for him to be able to explore safely both with and without supervision. He needs to be able to experience nature so that he has a good understanding and connection with it. He needs a place to hang out with friends… a place where his family can hang out – both as a family and with others – as A’mara. He needs to experience both the beauty of nature as well as the ways he can influence it. He needs a world – all on top of the Complex!”
“Wow,” Yewan replied. “You have spent a lot of time thinking about this!”
“Actually, I was simply thinking about what I’d want for my own children, were I fortunate enough to have any.”
“You would make a good mother,” he said.
“Thanks,” she said blushing just a little. She couldn’t help but thinking he’d make a good father as well. But she couldn’t bring herself to say that in this context. Too risky.
“I agree with you, actually.”
“What?” she asked suddenly, worried that he’d picked up too much of her thoughts.
“I just meant that were I to have children, I’d want them to grow up in the environment you just described. I didn’t mean anything else by it,” he said.
She wondered if she was imagining it, but it seemed that Yewan might have been blushing. She wanted him to mean something by it, after all. She wished she could have met this Jilia that Yewan had admired so much. She knew that she wanted to be just like her and as much a part of Yewan’s life as Jilia had once been to Jerreck.
“I’m going to change the priorities just a little,” Yewan said. “Come, let’s go to the library first to find you ideas. Then, we’ll go to the Complex and take another look. It’s a beautiful spring-like morning. You tell me what you envision, but in the right place.”
Tirry quickly washed the dishes and set them to dry. Then they left the building.
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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