11
(Tharnday – cont.)
Yezi Desert
All Soala knew was that she hurt. Her head especially where she landed. Her leg hurt too. Even her eyes hurt from the bright sun and the sand that was everywhere. She tried to brush the sand from her eyes, but all she did was get more in them. She didn’t hear anything and wondered what that might mean.
She sat up cautiously, pleased that it didn’t hurt too much.
Soala reached into a hidden pocket in her poncho and pulled out a handkerchief that she always had there, hoping that it wasn’t as ridden with sand. It wasn’t too bad, so she used that to wipe the sand from her eyes. She cautiously opened them. More sand was wiped away, then she blinked away the remaining grittiness. She knew it might take awhile before it was perfect, but she could see.
Yet, there was nothing to see in the scorching sun.
Soala wondered what had happened to the hoverbil she had been thrown from after it crashed into something else in the desert. She wondered if it had limped away for a distance or whether it was here, somewhere, buried in the constantly shifting sands. She had heard stories about situations like this – caught in a sandstorm, whole dunes could move. Sometimes, it was weeks or months before the victims were found.
She looked around again, but all she could see was sand and the occasional bit of scrub – and a small shelter!
She stumbled to her feet and limped towards the shelter, knowing that the sun would kill her faster than almost anything else in this desert.
The further she went, the more her leg hurt. She wasn’t completely aware that she was crying out in pain until she suddenly found herself collapsed on the sand again, only a few feet from the shelter.
She was stunned to see a tall dark man in a loincloth emerging from the small shelter. Despite his near nudity, he looked as terrible as she felt. He was talking to her, but she could not understand him. She shook her head.
“Get out of the sun before you cook!” the man said in the Common Tongue.
“I was trying, but I’m hurt,” she said.
“May I feel your leg to make sure there are no breaks?” he asked gently, crouching next to her, his war apron brushing the ground between his ebony thighs. He must be Yeziling, she realized, and her enemy. Yet, she knew she needed his help.
She nodded.
His strong fingers gently probed along the line of her bones. “I think you’re just sprained,” he said. He lifted her and carried her into the tiny shelter. He put her on a spot in the corner that he had made soft with his cloak. “I’m sorry it’s so small, I didn’t know there were other survivors.”
“Survivors?” she asked.
“I haven’t seen any others. You were in the crash, right?” he asked.
“Yes. I don’t know what happened to everyone else,” she replied.
“I think the storm might have buried them. We are lucky to be alive,” he said.
“Why were you out so far?” she asked.
“I would ask the same of you,” he said. “I doubt either of us had an honorable reason to be speeding through the desert like that, right?”
“I was meant to be part of a peacemaking party,” Soala said. “My father brought me along deliberately.”
“What? He thought your beauty would win us over?!” the man replied. “With your war paint?!”
“You are also in war garb. Does that help you steal our livestock?” Soala shouted despite her dry throat. She started coughing.
“Here, drink,” he said offering her some water.
“It could be poisoned, for all I know!” Soala exclaimed through her coughs.
“Maybe,” he admitted. “You have no way of knowing except to try. And what would I have to gain from killing you?”
“One less person to use the water,” she replied weakly, coughing again.
“True, I guess. But I was able to salvage most of the water we had with us – meant to be enough for a dozen men for two days. I found the water your vehicle carried as well. We can live for several weeks on the water that I’ve salvaged. That should be enough time to find a source, don’t you think?” he asked calmly. “Now, drink.”
Soala obeyed.
“My guess is that even though we are enemies, we have a better chance surviving working together than if we fight each other. Can we declare a truce for now?” he asked, extending his hand.
Soala shook it. “I accept. But don’t try anything on me. I’m no fool!” she said.
“I never thought you were,” the man laughed. “I am Vonjy.”
“I am Soala.”
♥
Joton, Kri’enden - Freebooter Casino
“You have news?” Sheena asked as Gaetan entered the Freebooter.
“From the front line,” he confirmed.
“Come back with me – meet our colleagues,” Sheena invited, leading the way to the back room.
“I hope it’s something good,” Fashi said irritably looking up from his HPS console.
“Apparently, there was some sort of confrontation on the border between the Yeziling and the Zley today,” Gaetan started.
“We orchestrated that,” Belmara said with annoyance. “Tell us something we don’t know.”
“I took the message earlier that the Zley sent out two hoverbils and only one is coming back. What’s more? I’ve heard the same thing from the Yeziling! Something happened, they crashed or something. No one seems to know, but this is big!” Gaetan said.
Sheena’s eyes grew big at that. She turned on the holonews channel with a wave of a finger. She kept the volume low and turned on subtitles.
“Well, that worked a treat!” Fashi said laughing.
“They both lost,” Belmara said. “Sounds like a win for us.”
“The bets will start flooding in as soon as the news report is made,” Fashi predicted.
“What about the A’mara involvement? They’ve sent people to Yezi’tra to try to settle this dispute,” Gaetan informed.
Belmara looked suitably surprised.
“Are they going to make the Yeziling stop stealing brides?” Fashi asked. “I can’t see the A’mara being able to do much about this.”
“Chief Councilor Bentin has even gone to meet with Chief Councilor Uushin,” Gaetan continued.
“I still don’t see them able to do anything,” Fashi said. “Not without escalating the conflict between the countries. Do you have any idea how many Yeziling live in Yezi’tra? Or how many Zley live in Joton? I doubt things will change – for better or worse.”
“So, do I pass?” Gaetan asked.
“Pass what?” Belmara asked.
“Am I a member?” he asked again.
“You are now an Initiate,” Fashi replied. “You have more proving to be done.”
“Do I not get any reward?” Gaetan asked.
“You mean beyond being permitted to live?” Belmara retorted.
“What did you have in mind?” Fashi asked Gaetan.
“Her,” he replied pointing at Sheena.
Sheena scowled at him.
Belmara laughed. “I can’t give you a person!”
“Oh, Sheena, let him kiss you!” Fashi pressed. He waved his hand in the air. “Go ahead, Gaetan.”
Sheena couldn’t move and had to endure Gaetan kissing her, pressing his tongue into her mouth. His hand rubbed between her legs.
“Fashi, let her go. That’s more than a kiss, Gaetan!” Belmara shouted.
“Defeat me with a shaze,” Sheena reminded with a hiss.
“I will do more than that,” Gaetan promised and left.
“I repeat to you too, Fashi. Defeat me with a shaze. One-on-one,” Sheena challenged.
“And I remind you, Sheena, who are Terrenden #2 and #3… together, we can and will defeat you every time,” Fashi replied.
“You’ve promised to go to bed with him?” Belmara asked, amused. “I felt his unguarded thoughts.”
“Only if he defeats me in battle. He will never manage that,” Sheena said.
“You are over-confident,” Belmara said.
Sheena left angrily.
“She will kill him,” Belmara said.
“Or he will defeat her and make her his vessel. That’s what he wants, he is no good at hiding it,” Fashi said. “Like those teens in Omrill.”
“You’re betting?” Belmara asked.
Fashi grinned.
♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10
Spice of Strength - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 3 - Chapter 19
Sands of Survival - 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. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
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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 in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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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; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, 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? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Head of the Neví... |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
also on: Whaleshares, WeKu
