21
(Wirnday - cont.)
Yezi Desert
“Do you want to come with me?” Vonjy asked.
“Yes,” Soala said getting up. Her limp was still there, but nowhere near as pronounced.
“Tell me if you start hurting. I’ll take you back – better to miss out a little and get better,” Vonjy said.
Soala nodded.
They looked around for plants – anything that would indicate hidden water or game to eat. Anything that would provide fuel to keep warm and cook food.
Working side by side was entrancing for Soala. All her life, she’d been conditioned to think of the Yezi as her enemy. Now, she was working with one – to survive the desert – and she realized there was no one she’d rather be with in this situation. He knew how to survive the desert – and he was sharing with her despite their opposing tribal positions.
There was very little to find, but a small amount of tinder and grass. Vonjy found some reptile eggs buried in the sand.
“I hate to disturb those,” Soala said.
“It is food. Protein, maybe a bit more if there are embryos in the eggs.”
“Ew!” Soala said.
“I plan to live. Do you plan to live with me?” he asked.
Soala giggled at the unintended innuendo.
Vonjy suddenly blushed as he understood what he’d said. “You know what I meant,” he said trying to save face.
Soala giggled some more. “I’ve laughed so much since I met you,” she said. “No one in my canyon can do that for me.”
Vonjy stopped and looked at her. He looked away again, as he started working on a fire.
Soala watched him intently, ready to put the eggs onto the fire as soon as it was going. They didn’t have much fuel, so would have to make the most of it.
After they cooked and ate some of the eggs – which were thankfully undeveloped – they sat watching the rest of the fire.
Soala scooted closer to Vonjy.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“A little,” she said not wanting to admit to what was building within her heart. She couldn’t after all. What would her father say?!
Vonjy put his cloak around them again, but this time, he left his arm around her.
She snuggled closer despite her own hesitations. She looked at him, wondering if he was feeling the same thing. The lips which brushed hers indicated that he did. She kissed him back, hungrily.
“We can’t,” he finally said pulling away. “Our fathers would probably kill the both of us.”
“Mine won’t – though I may not be able to be chieftain.”
“Mine just might,” he said.
She felt close to tears. Finally, she’d found a man that she wanted – and he was enemy!
♥
Yezi’tra, Yezi’im
Moxara deliberated all through dinner. Although still a virgin, she was not naïve. She knew exactly what Benjan intended for her if she opted to spend the night with him. When she was fully honest with herself, she knew her heart wanted to be with him tonight and every night thereafter, but she was so scared as well.
“You know that you’re not the only one who is scared?” he asked her.
“What you afraid of?” she asked.
“Almost the same thing. Remember the desert museum?” Benjan asked.
“Of course,” she said, blushing, thinking about his first kiss.
“Not that,” Benjan said, smiling. Then his smile faded again as he continued. “I mean the hoverbil accident. I created that scene as a way of getting over my grief.”
Moxara looked at him more intently.
“I was engaged to be married to Tsia Uushin. She was the daughter of our Chief Councilor. She was even pregnant with our child when she was involved in that accident,” he said.
“Den you understand when I say dat I regret not spending one night wid beloved Tero in Ilim City. How I wished for a child by him, a little someting to remember him by,” Moxara said, tears in her eyes again.
“I understand you perfectly. I would have given anything to have had her give birth before she died – for the same reason,” he replied.
“Is dis Tsia Uushin the reason you reject Tsia Havos? She clearly much attracted to you,” Moxara said.
“Yes and no,” Benjan said. “Yes, the name and her appearance remind me far too much of the woman I lost. It’s a bittersweet thing. But no, I’m simply not attracted to Tsia Havos. I can’t tell you why… just like I can’t tell you why I find you so entrancing.” He grinned at her.
She blushed again as she finished her dessert.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested, taking her hand as they left the restaurant. They walked through the darkened park. It was a little chilly. “It gets cold in the desert at night,” he said, putting his arm around her.
She heard dabblers squawking nearby. “A river?” she asked.
“A little one, yes. Just large enough to have our share of waterfowl,” he said sitting on a bench.
A moment later, his lips were on hers again. She felt herself responding to them more now.
“Moxara,” Benjan said. “We have both had tragic pasts. We have both lost people we loved. But we are here now, together. We can be happy again – together.”
She knew he was right. It was time to stop living in the past and be together in the present. She also realized that she really did want him. She felt tingly between her legs and the moisture which told her that she was ready for him, but also fertile. Now, she had two decisions to make, she realized.
♥
Zley Falls Pueblo, Kri’enden
“Go back out!” Chief Andac demanded when the search party returned.
“We must get some rest or we’ll suffer the same fate,” the scout replied.
“Yet, it’s dark now. She might have found a way to make a fire. She will be easier to see! Find a fresh driver and search some more!”
“Yes, Chief.”
Before the hour was up, the scout was back out scouring the desert for any sign that the heir was alive.
♥
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... |
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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
