18
(Tharnday, cont.)
Zara grabbed the potatoes and laithos from the larder; she put them on the counter.
Akeld was standing in the kitchen with Emeric.
“Hello,” Zara said, wondering what her sister and brother-in-law were up to. “I didn’t know you were our guest of honor tonight, Emeric.”
“Hi. I, uh…,” Emeric stammered.
Evidently, he hadn’t been aware that she was going to be there either, Zara concluded. She wanted to march out to her sister and demand what she thought she was doing, but that would embarrass Emeric needlessly and it was pretty obvious what her sister was up to. Besides, it wasn’t like Emeric wasn’t wanted, he was just too shy.
“Did you want something?” Zara asked again. “A drink of something?”
“I’m sure you’ve got something Emeric can help you with,” Akeld said and retreated.
“Can you chop veggies for me?” she asked.
Emeric nodded.
Zara showed him the potatoes, laithos, carrots and other root vegetables. “Only peel the laithos, scrub the potatoes and carrots.” Then she explained exactly how big she wanted each vegetable cut.
“You’re sure precise,” Emeric commented.
“You do speak!” Zara exclaimed with a laugh. “Sorry. I am on ‘chef mode’ - I instruct my assistants exactly as I did for you just now. I hope you’re not upset by it.”
“No! I just thought it was the best set of instructions anyone has ever given me in the kitchen. I know exactly what you want,” Emeric answered.
“You have a nice voice, it’s good to hear you use it.”
“Thanks, Chef,” he replied.
Zara stopped for a moment to look at the man again. He was only a couple of inches taller than herself, with olive skin and long, dark, nearly black hair. She wondered if he would continue talking to her or whether he would go all shy again. For the moment, he seemed happy enough, chopping the required vegetables.
A timer buzzed and pulled Zara out of her thoughts about her assistant and back focused on the cooking.
She opened the oven and pulled out the roasting pan. She placed it on the counter and used a baster to siphon juices to another pan for a gravy before using the same baster to add a sauce over the meat.
“What kind of sauce is that?” Emeric asked.
“Joberry and honey,” Zara replied. “It really brings out the flavor of the jelip like you wouldn’t believe. Here, give me those vegetables.”
“Yes, Chef,” Emeric said, complying with the instruction.
Zara put them around the meat and then put the roaster back in the oven before she checked on the status of the roasting laithos.
“I wouldn’t have thought of that flavor combination,” Emeric said. “It’s really smart.”
“Thanks. I’ve been playing with flavors as long as I can remember,” Zara replied smiling. “We have a few moments of peace while we wait for the final stages. The table is already set, so why don’t we just sit for a few minutes.”
Zara turned on a hanging lamp and sat at the table in the breakfast nook.
“Did you want a drink?” Zara asked.
“No, I’ll be fine until supper,” Emeric reassured.
“So, tell me something about where you came from.”
“How do you think it’s going?” Akeld asked Zukie.
“They seem to be chatting now, so that seems a positive thing. He’s so talkative in the greenhouses that I didn’t think he could keep being so quiet!” Zukie replied.
“I’ve seen him around the Complex a bit too, and yes, very chatty – then he freezes around her. Thankfully, that seems to have thawed now!”
“Supper will be served imminently,” Emeric announced a moment later.
Akeld raised his eyebrows at Zukie who just smiled back.
“Leave a space next to Aunty Zara,” Akeld reminded Vaara. “You can sit next to me tonight!”
“I thought that man was Mommy’s friend, not Aunty Zara’s,” Vaara said, confused.
“Just for tonight,” he said quietly. “Look, you can talk Seryan’s ear off. He’s fun, isn’t he?”
Vaara nodded and seemed placated, taking a spot between her new father and the visiting teen.
Everyone sat as Zara and Emeric brought the dishes to the table. Finally, they sat in the vacant seats, Zara in her normal seat at the head of the table and Emeric next to her, the corner between them.
The children were enjoying conversing with Seryan and Artem, something which pleased Akeld as much as it did his wife.
“They’re still talking,” Akeld said quietly to Zukie.
“Do you know what they’re talking about?” Zukie asked.
“Mostly about what sort of dishes are customary in Çtaráña. I hope you have the right taste buds, Zukie!” Akeld replied.
“Oh dear!” Zukie replied.
“She’s mentally preparing a meal for him right now. It’s really quite sweet,” Akeld said, taking his wife’s hand and squeezing it. “She blushes because she has no idea if he can hear her thoughts like I can. He’s empathic, but I don’t know how telepathic he might be. Still, he’s affected by her blushes.”
Zukie squeezed his hand back excitedly.
He wished he didn’t have to break up the conversation. He cleared his throat meaningfully.
“We do have a slight issue tomorrow night,” Akeld said to everyone.
“What’s going on?” Zara asked.
Akeld described the situation with Kinokei’s missing ingredients and the significance of the things that were missing. “As such, we need more people to be watching over our ladies to make sure nothing bad happens to any of them,” Akeld continued.
“I’m already excused,” Zukie said. “Kinokei tells me I need to spend less time on my feet.”
“Do you mind if I help out?” Akeld asked his wife.
“That’s fine,” Zukie said. “As long as I can contact you if I need you here.”
“I’ve already agreed to help,” Emeric said. “As long as no one expects me to dance, anyway!”
“It’s not difficult to dance,” Zara challenged, looking at him.
“I’ll be there anyway,” Seryan said. “But I was planning to socialize.”
“I could go,” Zara said. “Or do you specifically need A’mara?”
“You’re totally welcome,” Akeld assured. “All the eyes and ears we can have will be good.”
Zara got up. “Go let your meals settle while I finish getting dessert.”
Zara took a couple of serving bowls to the kitchen. As she started putting away leftovers, she worried that her heart was threatening to play stupid again. She couldn’t let that happen again, she scolded herself. Although Emeric was proving to be a friend, she wanted to convince herself that her heart could be contained.
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
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares
