5
Outside the capitol building, it was cold and blustery despite the shining sun. Tirry pulled a scarf over her nose and mouth to keep the wind from whipping her breath away from her.
She watched Yewan follow suit, pulling his cloak around his face.
“That really pulls the breath out of you!” he said to Tirry.
“Welcome to winter in Loxos!” she replied with a smile.
“Most other countries would be feeling the breath of spring by now!” he said bemusedly.
“Not in Gaskarii! Not for a few more weeks, anyway,” Tirry replied with another smile.
“Feels like time for lunch,” Jenna said as they walked.
“It’s not too early,” Yewan encouraged. “Where’s one of your favorite places to eat?”
“There’s a nice place on the waterfront,” Tirry suggested. “Not too expensive either. They have a great selection of all the local seafood.”
“Sounds good,” Yewan said. “Please lead the way.”
Tirry and the A’mara walked the short distance towards the harbor and waterfront area.
“Your burgundy cloak is very nice, Yewan. Which country uses that color?” Tirry asked as they walked.
“Avicen – just like my surname. My family have resided in that country for many generations,” Yewan explained.
“Your cloak has a fringe, whereas Tle-sun’s and Jenna’s do not.”
“The fringe designates that I am the abári of the group,” he replied.
“Could make you a target,” she said with a hint of worry.
“Mostly for questions,” he said with a smile. As if he felt her unspoken concern he hastily added, “I don’t mind your questions though.”
Tirry smiled her relief.
Jenna found herself hanging back a little with her husband.
“They’re getting along really well,” she said to Tle-sun.
“Yes, they are,” he agreed.
“But he’s so professional and cordial, as always,” Jenna said.
“As he’s been trained,” Tle-sun said simply.
Jenna wondered whether it was possible for her best friend to reach the heart of the abári.
Tle-sun squeezed her hand. “Only time will tell.”
They were at the restaurant now. It was still fairly quiet, so they were able to grab an optimal table at a window near the water.
“I could never tire of this view,” Tirry said sliding onto one of the benches. Tle-sun indicated that Jenna should sit next to her friend. He waited for the abári to scoot in on the other bench, across from Tirry and sat down on the outside himself across from his wife.
“You have to try all the local dishes,” Tirry insisted to Yewan as a waitress attended their table. “We have the best seafood on Terrenden!”
“I promise,” he said chuckling. “Why don’t you pick out some sort of sampler of all your favorites?”
Tirry wasted no time choosing half a dozen side dishes to give the man plenty of variety plus a pile of various kinds of chipped veggies each with their own sauce.
“No one will go hungry with Tirry around!” Jenna said encouragingly.
“I hope I didn’t overdo it,” Tirry said, suddenly worried that she’d gone overboard.
“You’re fine,” Yewan said smiling and touching her hand for calm.
Tirry smiled back at him.
A few minutes later, the waitress returned with their platter of chips with little bowls of sauce near the appropriate vegetable.
“Which one is your favorite?” Tirry asked Yewan as he used the tongs to help himself to the chips.
“I find it hard to choose between laithos and good old potatoes,” he replied, using the spoons to put some dip on his plate.
“I think I agree with you,” Tirry said.
The other dishes arrived on their own little serving cart. Tle-sun handed each plate around the table. There were fried clam strips, butterfish fingers, crab fritters and several other seafood dishes.
“It all smells so good!” Yewan appreciated.
“I can’t believe that the governor offered to fund our building project!” Yewan said after everyone had been served and was eating their lunch.
“I agree,” Tle-sun said. “I can’t imagine that happens very often.”
“I think it happens in some of the very pro-A’mara countries like Kri’enden and Towani, but in most places, it’s simply unheard of. There, we have to hope that our investments elsewhere are able to cover it until the new buildings are self-sufficient,” Yewan continued.
“I’d never thought about how we were funded,” Jenna admitted.
“A lot of it is returns on old investments,” Yewan explained. “A leftover from our last glorious era. Some of it is returns on newer investments, especially when building a new complex, it is wise to include shop and/or office space that we can rent out in order to cover our costs. Some of it is from governmental grants for our work. Other parts of our funding come from donations and legacies from wealthy families. So, lots of different places. It’s a relief still, when someone like Governor Sandy decides to help us so profoundly. It’s not just the money, of course. The support of someone in a position of power is a huge blessing and is more powerful, in many ways, than all the other sources of income put together! A local government can make our lives easier or harder – I am thankful that Sandy has chosen to make our lives easier.”
Jenna nodded her agreement, taking a bite of clam.
Yewan looked at Tirry, sitting across from him. “You will have more to design now. We will have to prepare to accommodate needy families as well!”
Tirry’s eyes gleamed at the challenge. “Gladly,” she barely managed to say. Her nerves were all in a bundle. She was nervous and excited, challenged and delighted, but terribly attracted to this man who was so calm and professional. She wondered what Yewan was thinking. She knew that some A’mara could hear thoughts – was Yewan one of them?
When they had finished eating, Jenna accompanied Tirry as they showed the men to the new and bustling election headquarters and then the temporary building brought in for the replacement marketplace polling station.
“Do you mind if we look around a bit?” Yewan asked Tirry.
“Please do. I’d rather have your guys’ opinion on this.”
Jenna stayed with Tirry.
After the men left the busy room, she saw a chance to talk to her friend at last. “How is it going?” Jenna asked.
“You’ve been here...”
“I don’t mean that, I mean… him..,” Jenna said.
“Oh!” Tirry said. “I’m not sure, really. He’s quite friendly in that professional way.”
“Agreed. I do like that you have managed to make yourself useful for after the election. If he’s within reach, I think that’s the way to do it.”
“He’s such a great guy! I hope he has some room in his heart for me.”
“I think you’re doing a splendid job though. Become a close friend and confidante – I think that’s the key, having watched him interact with you a bit.”
“Do you really think there’s hope?” Tirry asked.
“Yes, I do. But won’t he make a great friend no matter what?”
“Yes. He’s just simply an awesome guy.”
“So, just work on that.”
Tle-sun and Yewan returned. “We checked out everything and there’s nothing worrying anywhere,” Tle-sun confirmed.
“Thank the stars for that!” Tirry said.
“We must not get complacent though,” Yewan warned. “Things can change. We will check again before the polls open. We want everyone safe!”
“Until then, we can open up ourselves to the tremblings of the leya. If there’s sinister thoughts and emotions flying around, we’ll pick up on them,” Tle-sun continued.
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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