35
(Two months later)
D’zani Kalvåg rubbed her stomach, glad that the sickness had passed finally. She and Elíaz worked to prepare the display gardens for winter that was coming quickly now. Suddenly, she felt Elíaz’s excitement. She looked in the direction of his interest.
A couple walked in the direction of the Complex. Both wore black cloaks, and both had freshly-dyed hair, the man blue, the woman purple.
“D’zani, that’s him, that’s Zilan!” Elíaz shrieked, running towards the man. D’zani quickly ran after him. “You have an A’mara cloak now!”
The blue-haired man stopped and looked at Elíaz. “Yes – as do you. And with a gold shaze mastery at that… and your lady? I think we have much to talk about,” Zilan said. “Let’s go inside, my wife has need of refreshment.”
“My name is Elíaz, my wife D’zani. Do you remember me from our battle?” Elíaz asked, falling into step with the man, D’zani leading the way through the doors to the Wind Rose, Iyva right behind her.
“Yes. I do not remember your wife though,” Zilan replied.
“She was always A’mara,” Elíaz explained.
“That sounds like an interesting story. I am surprised by your gold badge, I wouldn’t have guessed you were capable of that given the sorry excuse of a fight you gave me,” Zilan censured.
“I never wanted to fight you, Maqla,” Elíaz said as they reached the buffet.
“I do not deserve that title, friend. I knew you didn’t want to fight. That’s why you didn’t get one. Iyva and I did only what was necessary,” Zilan said.
“I should have gone with you that time, I won’t make that mistake now. Please teach me, Zilan.”
“It would have got you a Death Edict to go with mine,” Zilan replied.
“Meeting you changed my life. I could not continue to behave as Balan – especially to D’zani. It got me my own Death Edict,” Elíaz said.
“And you’re still alive with an active Balan cell,” Zilan said. “That’s impressive. I accept your offer to come with me – you, your wife and your child. You know the hard road I live in order to stay alive. The Death Edict never expires.”
They sat at a table and ate, swapping stories about how they had met one another. Frequent laughter punctuated the meal.
“Abári!” D’zani called excitedly as she saw the man with the pink fringed cloak coming in with his wife.
Cyanus and Nina Ivald, accompanied by Tyree Nwosu, reached them. “Well, well, well!” Cyanus said. “Nina, Tyree, I present Joen Vaala, more recently known as Zilan and his wife, Iyva. Welcome, both of you!”
“I watched your wedding. Such a lovely day,” Nina said.
“Since you’re here properly this time, I wish to ensure you get a proper tour of the greenhouses,” Cyanus said with a grin.
Iyva echoed the grin.
“You will stay with us for a few days?” Cyanus invited.
“We can stay overnight, but no longer. A Death Edict isn’t easy to live with,” Zilan said.
Cyanus nodded.
“Abári, I wish to join him.”
“I remember you said that before. With your own Death Edict hanging over you, I will respect your wishes,” Cyanus said.
“I’m sorry I will be taking two A’mara from you,” Zilan said. “However, I happen to be reasonably good at dodging Death Edicts.”
“If it keeps the lot of you alive, I’m willing to accept it,” Cyanus said.
Akeld Majan took the sling from Zukie and put it on, adjusting it to his body. Then, Zukie placed the sleeping bundle in the sling and gave Rachel a quick kiss. He could feel the love she gave to their baby, just as surely as he could feel it when she looked at him with the eyes that had taken possession of his heart from almost the moment he saw her, flushed from running after him through the crowded market in Iloren over a year ago. He took her hand and they left the greenhouse in search of a meal at her sister’s restaurant beneath the Refuge.
They found a table near some of the other A’mara.
“Is this the famous Zilan?” Akeld asked as he stood near the table with the blue-haired man.
“And his wife, Iyva,” Cyanus replied. “Akeld, his wife Zukie, their daughter Rachel.”
Akeld sat at the next table, keen to hear anything the man had to share.
Zukie sat with him and almost instantly the waitress scurried towards the kitchen. Akeld chuckled.
A moment later, Zukie’s twin, Zara joined them, carrying the small basket above the swell of her abdomen.
“Thank you, Sis,” Zukie said. “What did Kinokei have to say?”
“She says I’m just starting my second trimester now. The little lad is doing just fine! I can hardly wait! And Emeric is doing such an awesome job as chef now.”
“He sure cooks well with you, Sis!” Zukie said causing her sister to blush.
“I can’t help loving him!” Zara replied.
Akeld felt Rachel gurgle for attention from her aunt. Zara turned and gave the baby what she was looking for. “Hey there, Rachel! Auntie Zara wants to give you a roll too, but the stella says you’re still too little. I will spoil you rotten!”
“But finally, I can pay you back!” Zukie reminded. “You must owe me half a dozen nieces and nephews, after all!”
Zara blushed again before turning back towards the kitchen.
“Akeld, as our new head gardener, can you and Zukie give our guests a proper tour of the greenhouse?” Cyanus asked.
“Absolutely!” Akeld replied, squeezing Zukie’s hand. It had been the best assignment he could remember having been given. “Of course, everything has to be run by Zukie!”
“I don’t care whose in charge, I only have to tell Irola whose name is on the door of the shed,” Cyanus replied. “At least you won’t get swept away to the kitchen like our last one did!”
Zukie laughed. “At least we won’t all starve when Zara’s time comes!”
“You’ve got that one right,” Nina answered with a giggle.
“We would have never have guessed when he came to us!” Cyanus said. “Just goes to show how things change. I would never have expected a Balan to become A’mara or to be proudly sitting next to three Death Edicts!”
There was a laugh all around.
“Zilan, how are you going to be funding your journey?” Cyanus asked.
“Derick is funding us. He wanted to make me part-owner of his company. I told him I wasn’t sure how that was going to work, but he will continue to give us cash cards as we need them. The first purchase was the carriage that will be here tomorrow morning. Caballus driven and all that,” Zilan replied.
“Sounds well planned, anyway. We all wish you the best!” Akeld said. “Now, let’s get that tour done!”
[NEXT CHAPTER
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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