9
(Terraday, cont.)
The clouds had parted overhead making it hot and humid in the greenhouses. Zukie sat on a stool setting a large transplant into the raised bed in front of her.
“Sis!” came the call.
“Over here, Zara!” Zukie replied as she brushed soil into the hole around the plant, patting the soil gently, but firmly over the root ball. Lastly, she put a little resin sign in front of the plant. It identified the plant by its scientific name, common names and the fact that this one was toxic. A skull and crossbones was affixed below the information in case someone couldn’t read Common Tongue.
“What are you planting?” Zara asked, crouching next to her peering over her shoulder.
“Some medicinal herbs that Kinokei wanted to have available for all her different treatments.”
“That’s so cool! I love that you are adding little information plaques in front of everything – now it’s educational too!” Zara replied. “Not to mention useful when I’m training a new assistant!”
“Make sure they at least grab an edible rather than this poisonous beauty! This grows to be a very beautiful plant, but deadly if you’re not under the supervision of Kinokei!” Zukie commented. She looked around for Emeric, hoping to get him to join them. She spied Seryan, caught his eye and raised her eyebrows meaningfully and pointed towards her sister. He nodded his understanding.
“I’m glad it’s nice and obvious, I don’t want to be poisoning my customers, after all! Eventually, I need a sous chef or two so I can take time off more freely.” Zara said. She stood and looked around some more.
Zukie turned back to the raised bed and placed another plant.
“I just love how you get to garden so much more here!” Zara said. “If your garden back home was anything, this is a million times better!”
“Yes it is. I’m so glad you get to cook to your heart’s content now. No more writing about cooking, just doing it!” Zukie said. “I’d hug you, but I’d get you all filthy.”
“I’m going home now, actually,” Zara replied reaching to give Zukie a hug. “You keep resting those feet of yours!”
“Everyone fusses too much about me!” Zukie said feeling slightly annoyed. “It’s not like I haven’t done this before.”
“But you’re older now, sis. I’ve heard you say how you’ve noticed the difference,” Zara said.
“I think that’s just because I’d forgotten, really,” Zukie said. She noticed the shy gardener approaching them, Seryan behind him, grinning. “Hang on half a sec, Sis.”
“Did you want something?” Emeric asked, noticeably nervous.
“Oh, I’d like you to meet someone,” Zukie said. “My sister, Zara Vine. Sis, please meet Emeric Jalairs, the new head of the Towani greenhouses.”
Zara held out her hand which was met shyly by the man.
Emeric seemed to completely freeze up!
“I promise she won’t bite!” Zukie said to the man to try and snap him out of it. She wished she could use the leya to knock him loose.
“Nice to meet you,” Zara said to the man who could only manage to nod his acknowledgment.
“Emeric’s chola, Seryan,” Zukie continued as the young man came closer. “He’s a good, hard worker who is learning so much so quickly!”
Seryan beamed at the praise.
“I’m so glad. I could use a chola in the kitchen!” Zara said with a smile. “Anyway, I’m off for now. See me when you get home, if you would!”
“What happened today?” Breckan asked Elíaz.
“Tasp felt my skills were best used to teach the little ones,” Elíaz replied.
“Why did he change his mind?” Breckan asked. “I asked because it cost me a challenger today.”
“You’d have to ask Tasp,” Elíaz said. “I don’t feel like talking about it.”
“I did talk to Tasp. That’s why I’m talking to you. You’ve always been a strong part of our team. What happened?”
“We weren’t killed, Breckan – not even injured. We attacked them, tried to kill them and they let us go,” Elíaz said, putting expression to the thought he was willing to admit.
“Maybe they couldn’t have killed us,” Breckan said.
“You were there. You know how strong those two shazes were – against our six – yet, they could have easily killed us. They chose not to. Why, Breckan? Why would they do that? Why would they show such mercy?” Elíaz asked.
“You need to learn to guard your thoughts a lot better,” Breckan censured. “Tasp told me there were two reasons he dismissed you today. You questioned him in front of all the others. But he is less worried about that than he is about your misguided sense of what you call ‘honor’ - both regarding this Zilan and your thoughts of D’zani.”
“You told him about D’zani?!” Elíaz demanded feeling his anger rise.
“I didn’t have to. Your thoughts are full of her – and too unguarded. Tasp and Elið questioned me for an hour after you left to make sure your ideas hadn’t tainted me,” Breckan said. “Have you forgotten everything we’ve been taught, Elíaz?”
“Breckan, I know what we’ve been taught, but what if we were taught wrong? I don’t want to take advantage of D’zani. I want to treat her with respect and honor. Don’t you feel the same way about Vissia?”
“Of course,” Breckan replied. “But within the scope of Balan thought. Vessel first, emotions after, if at all. Had she been at her peak, I would not have cared about her friend’s concern. The girl would have spent the night here and would already be my vessel.”
“But that isn’t honorable, is it?”
“I wasn’t going to force her or anything!” Breckan said indignantly. “Just charm and gentle persuasion.”
“She’s just a girl!” Elíaz retorted.
“Old enough,” Breckan replied.
“I won’t harass you, but consider what I said.”
“And you need to consider your position a bit more. Tasp is already concerned that you are not trustworthy. If you keep this up, he will require proof of your allegiance – and I think you can guess what he may ask.”
“He has already hinted as much. If it comes to that, I will have to leave,” Elíaz said quietly, with the realization of the gravity of everything.
“No one just leaves, you know that,” Breckan replied.
Elíaz sighed his understanding. The Edict would be a difficult thing to live with – if he could manage it. He needed Zilan.
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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