14
(Tharnday – cont.)
Yezi Desert
Vonjy seemed to be gone a long time. The desert night was chilly and Soala’s poncho wasn’t quite enough to ward off the cold. She pulled Vonjy’s warm cloak around her. She smelled his scent mixed with the ground coconut oil, it was strangely soothing as the cloak warmed her. She closed her eyes, thinking some more sleep would help pass the time, but she could hear the occasional desert animal noises. Her imagination turned them into large beasts who were stalking her, ready to smash down the shelter and gobble her up. She tried not to call Vonjy, she didn’t want to seem to be such a child!
Suddenly, he was there again and Soala had to admit that it was nicer to have him there. Not just because they were alone in the middle of the desert, but she had missed his company. <He’s your mortal enemy!> she reminded herself hastily. She shivered at the thought.
“I found some brush. Unfortunately, it’s too green to burn, but it’s enough for both of our beds,” Vonjy said.
Soala stood stiffly, pulling his cloak around her more as she did. She limped a couple steps away, wincing as she hobbled.
Vonjy spread brush on her bed. “If you let me spread your poncho over that, we can both sit on it. I’ll sit next to you with my cloak around us. It will keep us warm enough.” He took his cloak from her.
She hesitated to take off the warmest part of her attire when the shelter was getting colder by the minute.
“As soft as the brush is, it’s not comfortable against bare skin,” Vonjy explained. “The only other long piece of cloth I have is right here.” He pointed to his loincloth.
Soala giggled. She took off the poncho and let Vonjy spread it on her bed. He then held his cloak and helped her the few steps back to sit on the bed. She shivered from the cold, her cropped tank top and shorts not doing much to keep her warm.
Vonjy put his cloak around her, then sat next to her, pulling the cloak around them both. “Is that better? Body heat is one of the best things for warmth.”
“Thanks,” she said.
They sat quietly for a few minutes. Soala thought again about what the day had brought. She shook her head in disbelief.
“Not exactly where you expected to be tonight, huh?” Vonjy said. “Huddling from the cold next to your mortal enemy.”
She blushed. “I didn’t mean to think such things,” she said, thinking about how she needed to learn how to guard her mind better in such company!
“Hardly surprising. Your father has spent a lot of time telling you I’m your enemy. Same as my father.”
“Who is your father?” she asked.
“No one important,” he replied.
“As unimportant as mine?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Yeah. About as much,” he admitted.
♥
Joton, Kri’enden – the Freebooter Officers’ Quarters
“How goes your search for Zilan and his student?” the Curator’s scrambled voice asked over the PCS unit. “Or have you been that distracted by the little border dispute you’re taking bets on?”
“We are still watching for them, that’s why we’re in Joton. We have come here because we heard that Zilan and his student might be here. We are also keeping an eye on developments in Palerma as we also have suspicions that Zilan may meet up with Aiden. They went to school together, you know,” Belmara said sweetly.
“Good find on the school ties. I doubt many know that one,” the Curator replied. “Are you planning on going to Palerma yourselves?”
“Perhaps, but I’d rather wait until Zilan is there. He gets rather flighty.”
“Keep focused on Zilan and not the little tribal battle,” the scrambled voice said before closing the connection.
“I swear she didn’t know about the school connection until I said it,” Belmara said to her husband.
“Proves your worth, my love,” Fashi replied.
“I have information,” Gaetan said entering the room.
“You should learn to knock,” Belmara chastised.
“Go ahead, Gaetan.”
“One of our visiting A’mara has been requested to remain in Yezi’tra as a personal adviser to CC Uushin,” he said.
“I’m not sure why this is important. Which A’mara is this?” Belmara asked.
“The one called Moxara, one of the Varkevanders,” Gaetan replied.
“I think we encountered her last year with her gifted chola,” Fashi said, remembering the name. “I have a gift for you, Gaetan, to reward your loyalty.” He handed Gaetan a small packet.
“Thank you,” Gaetan replied, taking the packet and leaving.
“You gave him boosters?!” Belmara asked, surprised.
“Just evening the odds a little,” Fashi said.
“You really think that will enable him to defeat Sheena?” Belmara asked.
“Kind of fun, isn’t it?” Fashi asked, grinning.
♥
Yezi Desert
Vonjy and Soala talked through the night, learning about each other and their respective tribes.
“I think it’s barbaric that you’re expected to steal your bride!” Soala exclaimed at one point.
“I agree, actually. My father and the elders think it’s a sign of my weakness, but I want a bride who chooses to be mine, not someone who will always hate me because I took her away from her family!” Vonjy replied. “I think it’s silly that a woman is only valuable because she can produce babies.”
“I can be chieftain in my own right,” Soala said. “A leader – but only if I produce children for the tribe. It’s power, but has not yet been made certain.” She realized that they’d returned to that strange topic of weddings and children. Could they not talk about other things for long? She sighed.
“Are you hungry?” he eventually asked as the sun came up.
Soala nodded. “I wanted to put it off as long as I could though – I don’t know how much we have.”
“Not much,” Vonjy said. “We’ll have to find some game next time we want to eat. We have water – and I’m sure there’s some not too far away if we look – so we can afford to eat.”
He pulled out the rations he’d been able to scavenge. He handed her a packet and opened one for himself. He nibbled on it. “Not too bad,” he said.
She nibbled on hers. “It will do,” she agreed.
♥
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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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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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... |
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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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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu
