3
(Rinday, cont.)
Cyanus looked around the old abandoned warehouse, not two blocks from the quay. He could see the scorch marks – both the ones that came from showers of hot sparks and the ones that came from shaze blades.
“The battle was intense, but one-sided,” he said. “Anyone get anything from the leya imprints?”
“Thoughts, Seryan?” Emeric asked his tall, lanky chola.
“Two very strong shazes versus 6 weak shazes. One was a teacher, the others learners, but unimpressed learners. They didn’t want to fight.”
“Any fallen?” Emeric asked.
“That’s what’s funny. None fell. None were injured. It was a pretty boring battle by my standards! Hardly ‘intense,’ not meaning to contradict you, Abári.”
“Accuracy is more important than rank,” Cyanus explained to Seryan. “Done respectfully, you’re allowed to correct anyone. Any abári who tells you differently is not worthy of the fringe.”
“Cyanus, what is the history of this building?” Emeric asked the abári.
“Abandoned after the Uugli disbanded,” Cyanus answered.
“Not completely, it would seem.”
“On the contrary, I think it’s only recently been inhabited,” Cyanus replied. He looked at his chola, Tyree. “See what you think of the imprints.”
“Strongest over here,” Tyree said as he walked over to a corner.
“Slept here. Love exchanged, even. The same imprints as the stronger two shazes.”
“And the ones we felt in the greenhouse recently,” Tyree suggested.
“Leya sensitives who trespassed, but did not cause trouble, yet found enemies to fight. Clearly they didn’t look for trouble – otherwise, there would have been fallen fighters. Strange situation which will require some investigation,” Cyanus concluded.
Seryan shook his head almost imperceptibly. “I guess that’s why you’re the abári,” he said in awe.
“Becoming abári has less to do with my skills and more to do with trust. I have been here a long time,” Cyanus replied. “I also had many trials to undergo. If I could trade my abári cloak for Zarma still being here to advise us, I would do so in a heartbeat.”
“The unfortunate events that often lead to a new abári,” Emeric replied.
“Lia-linn is truly missed,” Cyanus said respectfully before continuing. “I will ask Ory to check into intelligence – see if there’s anyone the Balan or the Neví are seeking right now.”
“You mean other than the actor?”
“Yes. What we found here was no actor!” Cyanus replied.
“There is a… a dance at Blast 2 tonight,” Tyree said. “I believe Ory was planning to go.”
“There was a time when cholas didn’t have a hope for mingling outside the Complex!” Cyanus said nostalgically.
“That was also a time when our Terrenden abári did not believe in A’mara relationships,” Emeric replied.
“Before he realized his partner had been working at his side for twenty years!” Cyanus said as they left the old warehouse. “Maybe you should accompany our cholas! You appear to be single.”
Emeric laughed. “I have no skill when it comes to dancing.”
“I have been told that it comes down to practice!” Cyanus replied.
“The club is the place for the youth. Not people like me.”
“You are young compared to me,” Cyanus replied. “You have plenty of life left!”
“I’d better get back to the greenhouse after supper!” Emeric excused. “I need to get acquainted with the set-up here and get settled in.”
“I hope you’ll let me go with Ory!” Seryan begged his maqla. “What better way to get to know people?”
Emeric laughed. “My own failings shall not plague you more than they have to. I’m sure some of our young ladies are going too and could use looking after.”
Elíaz checked himself in the mirror. His long chestnut-brown hair was pulled neatly back into a low ponytail. He could just detect the faintest scruff of a beard where he’d decided to grow it out since meeting Zilan. He wasn’t sure about the blue though. His mestaris would be quick to condemn the obvious imitation anyway.
He looked at his clothing, fine, casual black tunic with some detailing that looked almost tribal, he realized, thinking of some of the geography texts he had read. His black pants and boots complemented everything else. He added a casual sash belt over his tunic rather than the more utilitarian belt he wore normally. He wouldn’t strap on a shaze, that would make it too obvious. He didn’t need A’mara noticing him right now.
He came out of the bathroom noticing that his roommate had returned. “I need a quick shower and a shave,” Breckan said pushing past him. “Aren’t you shaving?”
“I’ve decided to change my look for awhile,” Elíaz said.
Breckan shrugged and closed the door behind him.
Elíaz walked to the window and looked out across the corner of the City Hall quad, past the hospital and out towards the harbor, imagining where Zilan had gone. There was a line of boats just beyond the reef, waiting for the tide to rise enough to get them safely across. He wondered why no one had simply cut a path over the reef to avoid this constant problem. It must have cost untold amounts of money in delays. He would have to remember to ask questions at some point. There must have been a good reason to leave the formidable obstacle in place.
“You look fit to pull,” Breckan said as he joined Elíaz at the window. Breckan was busily toweling off his short, spiked strawberry-blond hair. Then, he was splashing cologne over his shaven face. “You want some?”
“No thanks,” Elíaz replied.
“It’s one thing to look smashingly good, but adding a little good smell does wonders!” Breckan advised. “Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to bring girls home tonight!”
“I’d rather find someone who isn’t swayed by me pretending to be something I’m not,” Elíaz replied. “Bringing a girl home might achieve the Balan objective, but it doesn’t make for a life-bond.”
“There’s nothing that stops us bonding with a vessel,” Breckan protested.
“I want a partner, not simply a vessel,” Elíaz replied.
“Tasp is right – you need to be careful that Zilan’s misguided sense of duty and honor doesn’t get you a Death Edict,” Breckan said shaking his head.
Elíaz shrugged, he knew it was pointless debating this, it would only get him into trouble. He wondered again why he had to be so different, why he had to be a rebel. He couldn’t just leave the Balan, not without getting a Death Edict. One of those normally was carried out within a few weeks of someone leaving, the bounty and status reward being too great a temptation to nearly all members or non-Balan bounty hunters. It was the Balan way of cutting off loose ties and tidying after any sort of messiness caused by a wayward member.
“I suggest guarding your thoughts and actions more when you’re around him. I like having you as a flatmate.” Breckan said.
Elíaz looked at him. “I have similarly enjoyed the experience,” he replied with a sincere smile. He had heard plenty of horror stories about guys – and girls – having very bad experiences with their shared accommodation. He was grateful that Breckan was so easy to get along with.
“Let’s pull,” Breckan said.
Elíaz nodded and joined his friend. Then, they headed out of Balan Center towards the Blast 2 nightclub for an evening of music, dance and (hopefully) girls.
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
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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