10
(Terraday, cont.)
Zara filled the evening table with many of the dishes that had not been sold at the Wind Rose during the day. She was grateful to not have to cook this evening, but just heat everything quickly.
When the food was eaten, Akeld’s chola, Artem, took the children to the den and played a game with them, as he often did.
“He’s so good with the kids,” Zara commented, pausing at the table a moment to watch.
“Yes, he is. I think everyone needs a chola,” Zukie replied.
They both grabbed dishes and took them to the kitchen.
“So what was up with that guy, Emeric, earlier?” Zara asked as they loaded the dishwasher.
“Okay, maybe I’m not entirely innocent, but at lunch time, he could not take his eyes off you. Nina, Cyanus, Tyree and I were talking about things and Emeric was there totally smitten with you and unable to say anything about anyone!”
“Really cute, Zukie,” Zara said with a wry smile. “I guess you owed me one though! No, I’m not falling for anyone again. Not after Jeftey. I don’t care how smitten they are with me!”
Zara returned to the dining area for more dishes. She wasn’t going to be made a fool of again! Not by a man!
“We’ll see,” Zukie replied, gathering the linens from the table. She threw them in the laundry hamper.
“Don’t try, Sis. Really. It’s not worth the wasted effort,” Zara insisted.
“I think I told you the same thing once,” Zukie reminded.
“I’m more resistant than you. You’ve been married – twice now. I haven’t been down that road even once – and don’t plan to go down it. I’ve got a great job, great friends, great family here – I don’t need a man!”
“You’re trying too hard to convince me,” Zukie said.
Zara knew her twin was right, but she would do anything to avoid that pain again. “I’d rather just let it go – than to have to go through a Jeftey thing again,” Zara said with a sad sigh. “I wasn’t meant to fall in love and get married.”
“Jeftey was an idiot to let you go!” Zukie declared with a hug for Zara. “The other guys were blind. Maybe Emeric, who is just as scared as you, maybe he will be the one to see your true value – maybe that’s why he’s so scared – scared that you’re too good for him!”
“You’re silly, Zukie! How am I too good for someone like him? A’mara?!”
“You have always admired A’mara. But it was you who reminded me that they are still just men, Zara. All I’m really saying is that the fear goes both ways – and until you’re willing to be brave again, you will miss out,” Zukie said.
“Do you really think I can be as lucky as you?” Zara asked, doubtfully.
“I think you can be even luckier!” Zukie replied. “Your kids will all have the same father and never know the pain of an abusive father or a broken home!”
“I don’t know about Emeric, I’ve not even got two words out of him yet – you’re sure he speaks Common Tongue?”
“He’s quite chatty while we work,” Zukie said. “He just needs to spend some time around you – that’s all. But I can tell you for a fact that he’s got a massive crush on you. That’s all I know, because he doesn’t share anything except the stares he gives you.”
“I don’t know. I’m not going to hold my breath or anything. I’d asphyxiate before some guy actually fell in love with me long enough to commit to me!” Zara said. “I’m going to bed early, I have to cook breakfast for the early risers tomorrow!”
“Okay. See you tomorrow then,” Zukie said giving her one last hug.
“Good night, everyone!” Zara called as she headed towards the stairs amidst a chorus of replies. Then she disappeared down the stairs to her basement apartment.
Emeric knew he was preoccupied. He cursed the way he froze up the moment Zukie had introduced him to her twin sister. He could talk to anyone in the entire Complex – quite possibly anyone in the entire world, except Zara. It had surprised him then and frustrated him now.
“Maqla, how is she ever going to know if you don’t talk to her?” Seryan asked, infiltrating his thoughts.
Emeric didn’t reply. He really didn’t know how to put it into words. He could talk about anything to anyone except about having his heart held hostage by a woman he’d barely met!
“Maqla, this happens all the time, you know that! That’s one of the reasons we have so much training,” Seryan said making Emeric realize he needed to practice guarding his thoughts better.
“Training does not prepare the heart for this,” Emeric said. “Lessons can teach me to guard my thoughts and mind. Maybe it even helps me to guard my heart from most. But it doesn’t tell me what to do when my heart wants to run both directions at once!”
“So, talk to her. Just say ‘hello’ to her every day,” Seryan suggested. “She comes into the greenhouse every day. Find a plant that’s edible and ask her how to prepare it or something.”
“Something will come up,” Emeric said with certainty. “If this is the will of the leya, something will come up. It always does.”
The loud knock interrupted Kinokei as she was getting crystals ready to cleanse. She got up from her spot in the dining area and answered the knock.
“Abári, what can I do for you?” she asked. “Nina asked you to see me?”
“Yes,” Cyanus said. “She is concerned about Vissia.”
“D’zani came to me earlier. You and I both know that the girl needs a maqla more than anything else.”
“You know we have no women available in Towani right now,” Cyanus said. “And you know my feelings about pairing her with a man.”
“You don’t know that’s why Vanti suffered,” Kinokei tried to soothe. “Samek got his karma in the end, you know that too.”
“You could teach her,” Cyanus said.
“She is not stella material. Now, Nina could still be a delightful student if she wanted to learn,” Kinokei replied. “With the children gone from home, it would be a good time for her. It will be years before I can teach Zukie’s little one.”
“I will tell Nina. She told me once before that she did not want the burden of being a stella, but maybe she has thought about it some more. But still, what can we do about Vissia?”
“I will tell you the same thing I told D’zani. There is little we can do except support her and trust that she will be okay in the end. Doing anything else will cause her to close off from us. You have taught her to the best of your ability. Having a maqla would have made a huge difference, perhaps, but even the best maqla cannot completely quell impulsiveness. I believe that Vanti needed to suffer in order to become the wonderful person she is today. Perhaps it was your guidance that helped her to survive and overcome.”
“Thank you, my friend. Sometimes, it’s just good to talk to someone else.”
“Yes it is. Remind Nina of my offer. I would be delighted to teach her.”
“Good night, Kinokei,” Cyanus said as he left.
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
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
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