7
(Terraday, cont.)
Sitting down at a table in the canteen, Nina sat with her husband and his chola, Tyree.
“Young people!” Cyanus exasperated.
She couldn’t help but giggle. She knew exactly what he was thinking. Then, she realized that there was a presence with Vissia that made her wonder whether the young woman was safe.
Obion and Ory came and sat down at the adjoining table.
Zukie sat down opposite her with a smile. She had much in common with the head gardener, both of them of stella lineage and both of them married to good A’mara men. Nina’s children were much older, but otherwise, they shared many secrets.
“Are Akeld and Artem to join us?” Nina asked the woman.
“I hope so, but Akeld was really busy,” Zukie replied.
Emeric and Seryan sat with Obion and Ory.
Nina looked from Tyree to Seryan to Ory. “How much do you guys know about the club you were at last night, Ory?” she asked. “Were Vissia and D’zani with you?”
“Well, they were to begin with, but they ditched us awful quick,” Ory replied reluctantly, as if afraid he’d get them in trouble.
“Did you see who they were hanging out with?” Nina asked.
“No, but there were some ‘others’ there last night,” Ory said. “I could feel them.”
“What do you mean by ‘others?’” Zukie asked.
“Other leya-sensitives, but not A’mara,” Ory replied. “Their thoughts and intentions were not good, so I blocked them out.”
“Did Vissia and D’zani spend time with those others?” Nina asked.
“Maybe… I didn’t spend that much effort working out everyone. I was there to enjoy myself and maybe dance with a pretty girl or two,” Ory said with a shy blush. “I have work to do.” He excused himself and left the table.
Obion nodded to the young man and looked slightly questioningly at Nina.
“I think you made him feel uncomfortable, Nina,” Zukie admonished gently.
“Discomfort isn’t always a bad thing,” Nina replied. “I’m sure you know that, being a mother and all.”
“Yes. But Ory isn’t your child.”
“That’s what I keep telling her!” Cyanus said jovially, squeezing her to him encouragingly.
Nina still felt the sting of her friend’s censure.
Then Cyanus grew more serious again. “However, I am also concerned about the presences in the minds of our young women this afternoon.”
“I think D’zani is okay, but Vissia is too unguarded for dealing with young men like that,” Nina said, feeling more justified again. “She reminds me so much of our Nadrah – so impulsive and impatient! That’s probably why they’re great friends as well.”
“Ory said there were leya-sensitives at the club. Who would those be?” Zukie asked.
“It’s hard to be certain,” Cyanus replied. “They could just be undiscovered A’mara.”
“But he said that their thoughts were impure,” Zukie replied.
“They are young men!” Cyanus retorted. “Teenage boys rarely have pure thoughts when it comes to young ladies! Right, Emeric?”
Emeric didn’t reply immediately. He was eating his lunch, but barely noticing that which he put into his mouth. Nina smiled as she followed his gaze towards the kitchen.
“Your sister seems to have mesmerized him!” Cyanus said to Zukie.
Zukie laughed which brought Emeric out of his trance.
“What did I miss?” Emeric asked, looking around.
Nina giggled. “Not much, Emeric,” she reassured.
“As I said,” Cyanus said and winked at Zukie.
Zukie nodded at the abári. Nina knew something of how the woman managed to get Akeld’s attention and wondered if the woman was planning to return the favor.
“I think we need to get back to work, Emeric,” Zukie said, getting up to put her tray away.
Nina watched as Emeric followed, his eyes still on Zara.
Zukie waved at her sister as she passed her.
Emeric seemed to recover a bit after that.
Cyanus laughed again. “You might be right, my love,” he said to Nina.
Tasp knew what he was doing, Elíaz realized. He had refused to pit Elíaz and Breckan against each other in their shaze training despite the fact they were the two top fighters. Instead, he had Elíaz working with the youngest students. Sure, it was rewarding teaching the little ones, but it did his skills no good, and there was no one to converse with either.
It was also infuriating because he knew he was being humiliated deliberately because of his defiance the other day. He realized that honor knew no place with Tasp and he was being punished for it now.
For the benefit of the students, he tried his best not to let his irritation show and helped them go through their basic moves, offering rewards for those who could do them perfectly unaided. He tried to let their enthusiasm boost his mood.
Elíaz’s mind returned to his own skills. It was hard to see how he could improve without further instruction. Simply sparring against Breckan and Tasp didn’t get him anywhere new. He resolved to see if he could find a flyppcard to borrow that would teach him some Kri’enden-style skills in his own time.
Again, he mentally kicked himself for not going with Zilan when he was here… but then, he wouldn’t have met D’zani. His heart grew warm at the thought of her.
“Is she the cause of your rebellion?” Tasp asked as he came into the room.
Elíaz swore inwardly at the bad timing of the momentary slip. He turned to face his mestari.
“I only met her last night,” Elíaz replied.
“And you’re only thinking of her? What happened to your Balan training?” he demanded.
“I respect her,” Elíaz answered. “And she was not ready.”
“Respect does little to fill the Balan ranks,” he replied.
“I will not harm her,” Elíaz said.
“I never asked you to harm her. Only use her as you ought.”
“Even Breckan did not manage that last night,” Elíaz pointed out.
“He spent the time grooming her towards his future needs. Her guard down, her desire for him, Breckan will accomplish his mission soon. Can you tell me you did that? Did you push her? Prepare to use her?”
“I cannot do that,” Elíaz said. “I will not deceive someone I respect.”
“Your pride does not do you service,” Tasp said. “You are dismissed until you rethink your position with us and fulfill your Balan mission – with her. I do not need you tainting our students with your pride and ego.”
Elíaz left the room, but he did not return to his quarters. Instead, he took the long walk down to the quayside, where he sat and meditated a long while.
Orun Nwosu seemed to be very difficult to track down.
“He’s never there, never answers his messages and never returns them,” Ory Tapnell shared frustratedly with his maqla.
“Tyree said something about his father having family and tribal issues right now. He’s got good reasons to be distracted, apparently,” Obion replied.
“Isn’t that when it’s time to give the fringe to someone else?” Ory asked.
“It depends on the type of crisis, my chola. Something that will be quickly resolved can be overcome. I’m sure he knows when it’s time to resign,” Obion said confidently.
Ory sighed and placed the communication again.
“Orun here,” the reply came from the dark-skinned Kri’enden native. Ory could hardly contain his relief.
“This is Ory Tapnell from Towani. I have a question for you. Did you guys ever have a student named Zilan? He would have trained sometime ten to twenty years ago.”
“Let me talk to our instructors,” Orun Nwosu replied. “I will get back to you.”
“Thank you, Abári,” Ory said as the connection went dead.
“While we are waiting, let’s go and get some Refuge hours in. There is always much to be done there – and much to learn,” Obion suggested.
Ory nodded, hating to be delayed in his quest.
“But yet, that’s why delays happen – to teach us patience, Ory,” Obion replied to his thoughts.
Ory felt two censures – one was a lesson in patience, the other was a reminder to guard his thoughts better.
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!!! |
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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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