20
(Fenjaday, cont.)
Tirry diligently looked around each room in the Complex. Finally she looked around the basement, noting every crack, every bit of mold as well as each thing that would make a contribution towards this building they were remodeling. She also wrote down impressions of what kind of room it was and how it could serve. There were small rooms and large rooms. At least the zip-lift was operational, though it could do with a service.
She thought again about the man who had given her the task, grateful she was a little further away for the moment so she did not have to guard her thoughts so diligently. Again, Tirry didn’t understand why her heart had fallen so hard and so fast. She had only known him since Vasanaday after all, not even a full week had passed! She already knew that love with the A’mara was love in the fast lane. She’d watched it with Jenna and Tle-sun, after all! But she had been totally unprepared for the possibility that it might happen with her, and just as fast. Not appropriately slow like with most people.
Sure, they weren’t young and innocent, like the puppy love of young teens. But still!
All the same, she knew full well that her heart had gone and bound itself to the man upstairs who wore the fringed cloak of office.
101 Reasons Not to be Abári! She laughed to herself. That wasn’t the title of someone proud and arrogant. It was someone who knew the difficulties of leadership and wasn’t interested in it. Yet, it was foisted upon him anyway. That spoke highly of him, she realized. That was the thing – there were no red flags. No reason to distrust him. No reason to force her heart to hold back – not that it would have worked had she tried…
Yewan was the abári of Gaskarii, she knew. It also meant that if she were to bond with him, she would also have the position with him. It would be both a position of honor and a position of burden. She would look after the needs of all A’mara on the island, despite the fact she was not one. She might stick out like a sore thumb, she realized.
But the A’mara who had come, she found it easy to love and care for. Mikor with his gallantry, Garian with his teenage exuberance, Betel with his studiousness and electronic expertise. Lataya had made a special place in her heart already. Between her unparalleled empathic and telepathic abilities and her deep heart, she was easy to love. Maybe there would be some future A’mara that Tirry couldn’t bear.
No, her heart wasn’t interested in reason. She loved Yewan, with or without his abári fringe. She was neither hungry for his power, nor afraid of his position. She simply loved him. But did he love her in return?
Jenna said there was hope. Lataya also gave her hope. Being what she was, Lataya was more likely to be right than anyone. But was it enough?
Tirry realized she was sitting on an old stool. She worked on trying to clear her thoughts again before she went back upstairs.
“There you are!” came the familiar voice. Tirry was relieved that she had already started clearing her thoughts and returning them to the task at hand.
“Just getting some perspective, Yewan,” Tirry replied standing up and looking at the flyppad again.
“Don’t worry about rushing,” Yewan said. “You need the rest, even when you don’t want to slow down.”
Tirry nodded. “Better lighting down here would be good,” she said, forcing her mind onto the job. “Actually, I’m pretty much done in this building now. I still need to look at the one next door.”
“I’ll come with you,” he said. “I don’t know what the internal condition of that building is. I wouldn’t put you into danger.”
She nodded again. They walked up the stairs together and next door to the other building.
“I’m constantly amazed at how much you do for others,” Yewan said. “You have little thoughts for your own needs.”
“I could say the same about you,” Tirry replied. “Besides you gave me this job. I will do it well.”
“Only because I knew you’d do it anyway. You have the dedication of an abári, and I don’t mean a brand new one like me – who didn’t even want the job. I mean the dedication of someone like Saraca. That’s special,” Yewan said.
Tirry began looking at the Project building, making notes as she did so. There was a dining area with a kitchen that was of special note. It would make a good restaurant, and maybe a good way for the building to make some money when it wasn’t feeding residents.
“You don’t like talking about yourself,” Yewan observed.
“It doesn’t seem to get me anywhere,” Tirry replied. “I focus on what I can do, not on what I can’t.” They walked to another part of the lower level. Tirry made notes before checking the ziplift. “That doesn’t seem to be working,” she said, hearing no response from the machine. They used the stairs, turning on lights as they went.
Finally, they had inspected the entire building. Tirry wondered whether she should go home for the evening. She didn’t mind solitude, but that’s not what she really wanted right now. Being alone with her thoughts was not helping her right now.
“I’m getting fish and chips for everyone tonight,” Yewan said as they left the building again. “I thought you might stay and join in.”
“I would like that,” Tirry replied, smiling again.
“Let’s take orders and you can come with me. I think this abári might have trouble carrying take-out for so many! My cloak didn’t come with extra arms!”
Tirry giggled.
“I’m glad to make you laugh again. You’ve been quite sober today. Maybe we’re just tired,” Yewan said.
“I think you’re right,” Tirry replied.
Late in the evening, Yewan looked over at Tirry and noticed that she had fallen asleep. He unfastened his cloak and put it over her for warmth.
<Abári must heed advice, not just give it,> Lataya’s gentle censure came to his mind.
<She was too tired for much today,> he excused as they left the room.
<You are one reason she tired. She tired of fighting feelings,> she replied.
“Why does she not like to talk about herself? Is there something she is hiding?” he asked quietly.
“She not have an easy life. She work for everything she has. But she love focus on others. She make good abári wife. But first she need abári love. Den she focus on self a little more,” Lataya said.
“I am almost ready,” he said. “I want to wait until I have a place for her to live, not just a couch or a place on the floor to sleep.”
“Speak of sleep. I go to bed,” Lataya said, leaving the abári to his own thoughts.
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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