29
(Vasanaday, cont.)
Vissia lay in bed. She knew how red and puffy her eyes were and how her face was streaked from her tears. She had looked at herself in the mirror briefly last time she used the bathroom. She tried to stop the tears, but they just kept coming. She knew she’d been made a fool of in the worst possible way. She had thought Breckan actually had feelings for her. She wouldn’t have given in to him otherwise. The tears flowed again. How could she have been so stupid?
The front door opened, but she did not move. She felt the presence of her roommate.
“Vissia,” D’zani called softly. She stroked her hair. “I’ve brought Kinokei to see you.”
Vissia turned towards them enough to see the aging stella sat at the foot of her bed.
Kinokei held a crystal on a chain about a foot away from her body, waving it slowly around her. She nodded.
D’zani knelt beside her bed, the concern clear in her face. It made her hate Breckan even more. He had made her the subject of pity!
“Vissia,” she said gently. “About the man you saw at the Blast 2.”
“Damn him!” Vissia said through her tears. “He used me and left me!” She turned back towards the wall. “He couldn’t even see me home again.”
“He is Balan,” Kinokei said softly. “He did exactly as he was bidden.”
“It’s evil, that’s what it is!”
“Yes, it’s evil, but we need to figure out what you’re going to do about it,” Kinokei said quietly.
“About what?” Vissia turned back to the stella, her heart threatening to choke her.
“You’ve conceived by him,” Kinokei said.
“What?!” Vissia shouted, sitting up suddenly. “How could he?!” She started crying hysterically, falling back against her pillow. She turned away from everyone again.
“It’s what he was told to do,” D’zani said softly.
Vissia knew they were right, but it didn’t make it any easier. She needed to be alone, so she could just die in peace. But they didn’t leave.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Kinokei said. “It’s difficult news to take, I know.”
“How would you know?! Have you ever been pregnant by a Balan?!” Vissia shouted. She immediately felt sorry. She knew the stella’s own problems had far exceeded her own. She knew the woman was trying to help her, but somehow sharing her misery made it more tolerable.
“I know, darling,” Kinokei said affectionately, hugging her and kissing her forehead. “When you’ve calmed down a bit, I need to know what you plan to do about it.”
The hurt began to be replaced by anger. Anger at the Balan’s plan, anger at Breckan, anger that she had been so easily misled. The only thing she wasn’t angry at was the spark of life she could feel when she held her hand over her abdomen. Whoever he or she was, the little one had no fault in this. She could not extinguish that spark.
“Kinokei!” she called.
“She’s already left, Vissia,” D’zani told her. “Do you need me to bring her back?”
“I just wanted to tell her my plan.”
“I can go and tell her if you want. What do you want to do?” D’zani asked gently.
“The only thing I can do. Raise my baby as A’mara!” Vissia said defiantly. “How would I do anything else?”
D’zani hugged her tightly. “I’m proud of you.”
“Your Elíaz. He hasn’t hurt you?” Vissia asked suddenly, feeling she was being selfish.
“No. He’s been given a Death Edict by the Balan – for refusing to adhere to the Balan plan!” D’zani told her.
“I am glad for you. You didn’t want to go to that dance either,” Vissia said, smiling.
“No, I didn’t!” D’zani said, laughing. “But I’m glad you made me go. Elíaz is joining the A’mara now.”
“I’m glad it’s worked out for one of us, anyway.”
“Thank you for not being jealous. I worried about that!” D’zani said.
“Go. Be with Elíaz. If he’s taken a Death Edict for you, he needs you more than ever!” Vissia insisted.
D’zani seemed reluctant to leave her.
“I will be fine. I just need some time alone, just me and my baby,” Vissia reassured.
D’zani left.
Vissia lay there for a long time. She couldn’t cry – there were no tears left now. She would do her best to be a good mother. That seemed the best way to handle this crisis – with defiance. The Balan would not win!
Tasp grumbled as he heard the PCS unit buzzing. He hated that Belmara felt the need to know everything he did. She wasn’t the #1! But she did outrank him, which irked him just as much. She hadn’t even dueled him – just pleased the Curator in some way or other. He didn’t want to know the details. There was nothing which was beneath Belmara, no lows she wouldn’t stoop to. It was something to admire as much as despise.
“Yes, Belmara?” he asked, pretending that she didn’t get under his skin.
“What’s your update?” Belmara asked.
“The Edict has been sentenced,” Tasp informed.
“How is Elið handling it?” Belmara asked.
“He’s not really. He would not join me when I passed judgment. I haven’t seen him since. He’s around, I can feel him.”
“Is he capable of handling his responsibilities?” Fashi asked.
“I’m not sure. I was never this uncertain about him before. It’s like Elíaz was all that was keeping him in check,” Tasp replied with a sigh.
“I would suggest making his position available then. Do you have others that you know can defeat him in battle as well?” Fashi asked.
“I do have one. He has been proactive in attempting to serve the Edict on Elíaz.”
“Elíaz still lives?” Belmara asked.
“He was rescued by the abári and has been taken in by the A’mara now.”
“That’s a pity,” Belmara said. “I suppose it justifies his sentence more.”
“Elið doesn’t see it that way, I think,” Tasp replied.
“That is Elið’s problem. Maybe if he’d told his son the truth, the boy would have remained loyal to his father. Maybe if he had raised the kid better. It’s not like he didn’t have time. His vessel didn’t hang around long enough to stop him doing much of anything!” Fashi said harshly.
“This is my best friend you’re talking about,” Tasp replied equally harshly.
“Favorites tend to be… costly,” Fashi reminded. “Favorites tend to cloud our judgment.”
“So, the one who carries out your Edict becomes Towani #2. Sounds fair to me,” Belmara said.
The communication ended as Breckan walked into the room.
“You wanted to see me, Mestari?” the young man asked.
“I just wanted to know how you’re getting along – whether you need any assistance in carrying out the Edict.”
“You sound like you want to offer assistance,” Breckan replied.
“I have a new offer for you – providing you carry out the Edict and fulfill Elíaz’s mission,” Tasp said evenly. “You will be my new assistant. Towani #2.”
“It will be done,” Breckan committed.
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. 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
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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares
