2
(Rinday, cont.)
Zukie Majan put the pebbly mixture into the smallest seed trays. She used a wooden dibber to press a hole into each tiny compartment. Then, she dropped a seed into each one and lightly covered them. Next, she placed the tray into the stream of water which trickled through all the seed trays and into the fish tank below, filled with fingerling fish.
She wished she’d known about aquaponics when she was still in Iloren – before she met her husband. It still made her blush to think of that stupid stunt she’d pulled, following Akeld and Betel across town until she’d accidentally bumped into them. Why she’d done it, she’d never be able to guess, but she was eternally grateful for that bit of foolishness, for she would likely have never met Akeld otherwise. She rubbed her belly, where their unborn child grew by the day.
Akeld had already proven to be a great father to her children – it made her realize all the more what a miserable father her deceased husband, Vinu, had been. Where Vinu had been demanding and condescending, Akeld was encouraging and uplifting, completely the opposite. Sure, even Akeld wasn’t perfect. He couldn’t cook or barbecue and he snored something fierce unless Zukie elbowed him back to his side. And sometimes he tried just a little too hard, afraid of failing, but that just made her love him all the more.
“Zukie, I have something which may be of interest to you.”
Zukie’s attention returned to the present as she turned to see the stella approaching her with a small box.
“Hello, Kinokei. Pleasure seeing you,” Zukie greeted the woman with a hug. Their shared interest in plants and Zukie’s willingness to listen to the older woman’s many stories had endeared them to each other very quickly after the younger woman’s arrival.
“I’ve been sent these seeds from a stella who claims to have been around since the days of Velantia,” Kinokei Zeren said, opening the box to reveal a bunch of small packets.
“Velantia!” Zukie repeated. “Surely, that’s impossible!”
“Stellas often live an unusually long life,” Kinokei informed.
“But we’re talking over 1000 years!” Zukie replied.
“I’m only saying what she said to me,” Kinokei stated. “I don’t find that as fascinating as the fact that she said these seeds came from the Other World – through the portals.”
“Is it possible that everyone originally came from the Other World?” Zukie asked the question that she’d always wondered since hearing about the portals between Terrenden and the Other World.
“I have heard it said. I think only the Guardians themselves could enlighten us on that one,” Kinokei replied. “I have never heard of the Guardians answering the questions though… Anyway, I would like it if you could start a separate plant collection using these Other World seeds. It is possible that Terrenden could find them useful.”
“How many of these things have you heard of before?” Zukie asked, thumbing through the first few packets of seeds.”
“Maybe half. But the ones that we have had, such as tomatoes, there are varieties here we have never heard of in our world. Clearly, someone found a reason to bring them here, so we need to find these things out.”
“I will do my best,” Zukie promised.
“I know you will. As will your daughter,” Kinokei said, indicating Zukie’s slightly rounded tummy.
“Daughter?”
“A’mara and stella, she will be – honoring both lineages,” Kinokei said with a wink. “I hope you will allow me to teach her.”
“If my daughter so wishes it,” Zukie replied.
Kinokei smiled and went to another part of the greenhouse.
Zukie grabbed another seed tray, prepared it and planted a couple of each of the varieties of ancient tomato seed. There seemed no point in doing all of the seeds – not unless she had trouble with the first batch. Better to keep the others as a back up. Zukie did not anticipate trouble thanks to her previous experience growing the fruit in her old garden back in Iloren.
She placed the tray in an isolated section of the greenhouse, just to be safe. This was where she put anything she was more nervous about, to make sure they didn’t catch or spread any diseases. She filled the fish tank with some of the fingerling fish from the other part of the greenhouse. Honestly, if they were a source of disease, there would be little she could do for these plants anyway.
Zukie finished setting up the new section and thought about the whole aquaponics thing again. She had never messed with it in Iloren, but since being in Towani, it had quickly won her over. She found that she lost fewer seedlings and they grew faster and stronger in general. She wouldn’t trust these ancient seeds to any other method.
She felt strong arms come around her. Her husband’s bearded cheek rubbed against hers and she felt her heart soaring with love as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “I love it when you do that!” she exclaimed.
“Why do you think I do it?” he asked squeezing her gently. “How are you doing? Feeling okay today?”
“Yes. I think the sickness has passed now,” she said thankfully, referring to the developing A’mara/stella deep within her body. She would have to talk to him about that conversation later.
“Good,” he said, kissing her cheek.
She turned and met his lips with hers, grateful for the love he showed her every day – just as he’d promised back in her little garden in Jerven.
“We have company,” he told her, breaking off the kiss.
Zukie and Akeld left the isolation room.
Towards the front of the greenhouse, they saw Cyanus and Nina Ivald with Tyree Nwosu coming into the greenhouse with a couple of unfamiliar A’mara.
“Good evening,” Zukie greeted the couple and the tall, dark young man who wore a Kri’enden tribal cloak. The other younger man resembled Tyree in many ways, clearly also from Kri’enden. The other was significantly shorter, but still a pleasant height for a man with the olive skin of the northern part of Kranisis.
“Zukie, Akeld, please meet Emeric Jalairs and his chola Seryan Keledo,” Cyanus introduced. “Zukie is married to Akeld Majan and has been the acting head of the greenhouses here following Coomar Everes’ transfer back to Omrill as the abári last autumn.”
Zukie shook the hands offered.
“Emeric has been working in the Omrill greenhouses of Çtaráña,” Cyanus explained. “I met him years ago while on honeymoon. I’m sure he will be a great asset here. Seryan is another Kri’enden recruit.”
“I hope his love of the greenhouse comes close to his love of the shaze,” Akeld said with a smile.
“I’m sure with Emeric and Zukie to teach him, he won’t have much of a choice!” Cyanus joked.
“Abári!” another A’mara called, entering the greenhouse.
“Yes, Vissia?” Cyanus asked the young lady.
“We have been asked to investigate a building near the quay,” the young woman replied.
“Thank you. We will be there shortly.”
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
|
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! |
|
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. |
|
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? |
|
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. |
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2018 – 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, and Bearshares
Banner by @shai-hulud
