Sands of Survival - Chapter 34

34

(Vasanaday, cont.)

Joton, Kri’enden – A’mara Complex

“Can’t we encourage you to stay longer?” Kivana asked Chief Sidjin Yeziling.

“We have some business to complete before the Equinox,” Sidjin replied. “We have to be in Zley Falls for a couple of bonding ceremonies, after all.” The man smiled at his brother Vonjy, who stood between Chief Andac and his daughter Soala. “Thank you, my brother, Vonjy. I didn’t expect you to give up our father’s title without a fight.”

“I wouldn’t have guessed it either, Sidjin. But then I met Soala. She will be Chief here, and I will help her in every way. It’s better than being the one with the title!” Vonjy replied. “I am more than content.”

“We will be expecting you at Equinox, Chief Sidjin,” Chief Andac said with a smile. “Bring all that you can with you. We still have some single adults who need partners, after all!”

“Maybe I will take another wife,” Chief Sidjin replied. “If I do, she will be Zley!”

“But she will go with you of her own free will,” Soala reminded. “I hope my handmaiden is proof of that for you!”

“I will miss you!” Naama said, running to hug Soala again.

“And I, you!” Soala replied, kissing the young woman’s cheek. “But we will see each other at the Equinox. You and I are both getting married! And we will both be with child, I am certain!”

Naama blushed as Arzewt put his arm around her and guided her to the Yeziling hoverbil, the brand new one he had helped choose for the tribe. He got into the driver’s seat himself and started the engine.

Oberti, Se-orna and the other Yezi A’mara had boarded the other hoverbil which waited impatiently.

Naama waved to the Zley with a big smile on her face.

“It’s a miracle,” Kivana said as the two hoverbils flew away towards the Yezi Desert.

“Agreed,” Sennon said.

“I wanted to talk with you, Sennon. We need to delay your departure to Atrua until the new year. There is worry that you being there too early will arouse too much suspicion,” Kivana advised.

“I understand, Abári. I will just have to keep up with my language practice on my own,” Sennon replied. “I’m going to bed if that’s okay.”

“You are excused for the night. You have been exemplary during this trial. I was proud to give you your bronze mastery badge in diplomacy today. You really earned it,” Kivana said.

“Good night then,” Sennon said as he went inside.

“We also need to be on our way,” Chief Andac said a moment later. “We have a harvest to get in and wedding preparations to get done – all before the Equinox!”

“I’m so glad things have worked out so well,” Kivana said to Soala and Vonjy. “I could not have hoped for such a great outcome. We owe a lot to Moxara.”

“The peace of two nations has been secured because of you, Moxara. You will make an excellent adviser to the Yezi’im Chief Councilor,” Chief Andac said. “I’m glad you are in Yezi’tra.”

“You welcome,” Moxara replied, extending her hand.

The chieftain gave her a hug instead. “Hugs for friends,” he said. “A hug cements peace almost as much as Soala and Vonjy have.”

“Good bye. We try and come for Equinox,” Moxara promised as the Zley delegation boarded their hoverbil.

Then the Zley hoverbil flew up the flats above the River Joton.

“And you?” she asked Moxara and Benjan.

“Well, we still have a chief councilor to escort back when he’s done flirting with yours,” Benjan replied. “So, maybe tomorrow.”

“From what I’ve seen, it’s just the beginning!” Kivana retorted. “I suspect Kianda will become a regular visitor in Yezi’tra until the end of her term.”

“Unless she decides to resign,” Benjan replied. “The Yezi are not so great at waiting for their ladies!”

“Neither are A’mara!” Kivana reminded.

“Thank you for interfering, Abári,” Benjan said. “I will never forget what you did for us.”

“Only doing my job,” she replied winking at Moxara who smiled in reply. “Good night.”

“We check on Haldi before bed,” Moxara informed.

“Be cautious though, check the leya first,” Kivana warned. “Or their guards. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Good night!”

♥

Joton, Kri’enden – the Freebooter Casino

“Good to be back in bed,” Fashi said after they got back to their quarters after the evening festivities.

“Yes, it is. Lots of things going on. Sheena said there were two weddings over at the Complex today. That Moxara was one of them – she’s married one of the A’mara in Yezi’tra and will be returning with him after the festival ends,” Belmara said.

“I don’t really keep up on all the weddings and such,” Fashi said, yawning.

“She was one of the ones who was protecting Ardin in Varkevand when we were there last year. Maqla to that girl who knocked our chopper out of the sky – killing four of our members,” Belmara reminded.

“Oh. I guess we should keep an eye on her then,” Fashi said.

“It would be prudent,” Belmara replied, settling down in the bed.

She thought about her foray through the shopping precinct that day.

“I saw a rather odd thing in one of the curiosity shops today,” Belmara said. “It looked like an ancient scepter of some sort. I asked about the price and it was astronomical.”

“Why do we care about an antique?” Fashi asked.

“Because I do my reading, and it looked old, very old. I asked the woman if she knew anything about its origins. She said it was Velantian. That’s impossible, of course – at least that’s what I thought at the time. I want to look at it again tomorrow. I think we should even consider buying it.”

“Why?” Fashi said. “If you said it was so expensive, why is it so important to you all of a sudden?”

“Because I suddenly remembered the Legend of the Sacred Trio and had to wonder if this scepter might be the missing Usha. The first shaze in history,” Belmara said.

“We’ll look in the morning,” Fashi promised. “Meanwhile, what are we going to do about Sheena and Gaetan? He fulfilled his mission, according to him. So, he’s number 1 here now, but she hates him. How do they work together?”

“I do believe that’s their problem – after all, according to him, she now carries his twins,” Belmara replied. “Apparently, she did some damage to him in retaliation. Can they fix those things in hospitals these days?”

“Depends on how much damage is done, but he may be, uh, less functional now,” Fashi said.

“Well, if the rumors are true, it really is his karma biting his ass,” Belmara said.

♥

NEXT CHAPTER

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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Lori Svensen
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