32
(Vasanaday, cont.)
Palerma - Tephsa
“Would you have Andrian meet us?” Zilan asked Derick. “I don’t have his code, nor his trust.”
“Where should I have him meet us?” Derick asked in reply.
“Somewhere we can see each other… maybe a place that isn’t too busy. I don’t know what the results of this meeting will be,” Zilan said.
“The formal lounge?” Kauri suggested. “Pretty much anyone is allowed there as a visitor.”
“Kauri and I need to meet with you,” Derick informed the abári. “We will be in the formal lounge.”
“I will be there in a few minutes,” the man replied.
Zilan took a deep breath. It was risky what he was doing, but it would make their life a little more stable, he hoped. He took Iyva’s hand and accompanied Derick and Kauri to the room designed for meeting guests of any stature and status.
“Let’s sit down,” Iyva suggested. “You look like you’re awaiting a firing squad!”
“I could be!” Zilan replied, but sat with her.
Derick and Kauri sat on the couch next to them.
Zilan recognized Andrian Ramsley when he walked into the room.
The man sat in a chair between the couples. “I know your leya print,” he said, looking at Zilan. “But it’s very faint. What is the purpose of this meeting, Kanesh?”
“We can drop the aliases now, I think,” Derick replied. “Everyone knows – including everyone we didn’t want knowing.”
“Very good, Derick. I’m glad to hear it,” Andrian said.
“Would you please have Saraca join us?” Derick asked.
“This must be serious!” Andrian said, but did as requested, activating a PCS unit on the table before them.
Zilan used the leya to adjust the camera so that he and Iyva were just off screen. He felt Andrian’s curiosity grow.
Saraca answered a moment later.
“Your presence was specifically requested by Derick,” Andrian said.
“I have some happy news for you,” Derick said.
“I can sure use some,” Saraca replied.
Zilan adjusted the camera a little to include him now. “Hello, Saraca, Abári,” he said to the woman slowly, respectfully.
“Who are you?” she asked, looking at him curiously. Zilan felt nervous, then Iyva’s hand squeezing his in support.
“I recognize his imprint, but I can’t place him,” Andrian added.
“For the past 13 years, I have been known as Zilan,” he replied already feeling the blast of rare emotion from the abári. “Before then, you knew me as...”
“Joen Vaala!!!” Saraca Krijo exclaimed. “I thought you had died! Until Tle-sun and Levon started the database project, I had no idea you were alive! It was only recently that one of our young A’mara made the connection to your current alias. It is so good to hear from you! We have much catching up to do.”
Zilan fought the tears in his eyes as he replied. “Yes, we do. I never wanted to leave you. But it was the Balan who found me and finished my training. I never was one of them though – not really.”
“I think I understand,” Saraca said calmly, but even Iyva could hear the tears in her voice.
“There is more,” Zilan said. He adjusted the camera again so Saraca could see Iyva. “I believe you know my student and fiancée.”
“Iyva!!” Saraca exclaimed. “It is very good to see you too! I was so worried about you! I was so relieved when we saw footage of you from when you two visited the greenhouses in Towani.”
“We were cloaked!” Zilan protested.
“Ah, but we have a very special chola in Towani City who has developed a special filter to get past your cloaking,” Saraca said.
Zilan shook his head with amazement.
“I’m so sorry, Abári!” Iyva said, unable to keep the tears off her face.
“What’s done is done, Iyva. I’m grateful that you are well and in such capable hands!”
“I sort of feel bad,” Iyva said. “I hurt everyone, didn’t I?”
“I believe Levon suffered the most from it,” Saraca replied. “Emotions are powerful things.”
Iyva nodded, the tears still running slightly.
“Congratulations to both of you. Andrian can conduct your wedding unless you’d prefer me to do it. I think I need to visit anyway,” Saraca said.
“We’ll have to think about that,” Iyva said.
“It’s not urgent, but it would be best to get it done before your baby comes. They have a way of making ceremonies interesting.”
“Baby?” Zilan asked, stunned.
“She hasn’t told you? I shouldn’t have assumed, I’m sorry. She’s under age, I seem to remember, so A’mara authorization is a useful thing. I will be there soon. I will want to hear the whole story, but be careful – all of you. The Neví have a few reasons to turn up in Palerma right now. Stay safe.”
♥
Zilan felt Iyva’s inner tremors and turmoil as they took up their quarters across the hall from Derick and Kauri. While Saraca’s news had surprised him, he hadn’t felt any sign of surprise in Iyva. She’d known already. Yet, he’d never felt Iyva’s thoughts about the baby – he’d taught her well in that regard!
He still felt her trebling as he sat on their bed and pulled her into his arms.
“How long have you known you were pregnant?” Zilan asked Iyva gently.
“Since we met Kami – she felt it,” she replied.
“You didn’t tell me,” he said quietly. “Why?”
“I was afraid...”
“Afraid of what?”
“That you might be angry. That I didn’t do enough to prevent a baby.”
“No! Iyva. My darling. Why would I be angry for that?” he said. “We love each other, isn’t a baby a natural result of that?”
“My dad was never happy that I came along,” Iyva said through the tears that dripped down her face. “He often said that my mother had tricked him. They got married because she was pregnant, he never got over that! So, I was scared you might make me get rid of it. I was going to keep it quiet until I was past when it’s legal to abort.”
“I’m so sorry!” Zilan said, cradling her tenderly. “I had no idea you were carrying such a load with you. You don’t have to worry. If either of us is to blame, it is me. Do you realize that in most countries, I risk jail for my role in this? But that’s not why I want to marry you. You are an amazing young woman and I want to be by your side – always.”
♥
“I see why you like Zilan. He’s quite a character,” Kauri said to Derick when they retired to their own quarters. “You said you went to school together?”
“Yes, in Maalan,” Derick replied. “My parents had me in an A’mara school even though I wasn’t gifted enough to join in. I met Ja’tel during that time too – though I think he was a chola by the time he visited us.
“Anyway, I wasn’t a super gifted student and didn’t have many friends, but Joen was the one who believed in me when no one else did. He saw my creativity and told me that he wanted to make films with me one day. Then, he became a chola and left Maalan.
“I thought that was all over when I’d heard that he’d died in the Diner Disaster. But then I happened across his path a few years ago. I learned about his life and agreed to do the film on the Neví – with him as my main source of inside knowledge.”
“Wow,” Kauri said. “You are so loyal to your friends. No one ever talks about that aspect of you in their articles and interviews.”
“No one thinks to ask,” he replied. Derick kissed her more possessively.
“Practicing for the scene?” Kauri asked.
“Maybe, but maybe Zilan was right – I need to give you more.”
“I’m not complaining!” she said as he gave her another one.
“Maybe Zilan is also right when he told us we need to be making babies..,” Derick hinted. “We agreed the day we met that our children will go to A’mara schools.”
Kauri giggled. “It’s like we already knew we were destined for each other, Derick. But I hope having children won’t interfere with our movies.”
“We might just have to make another one first… One about how the number one fan meets her dream actor and they fall in love and have loads of children!”
Kauri’s mouth dropped. “You read that one?!”
“I have a confession to make. I know how to do a little bit of technical work. I found your dedication – that evening when you were banging on the door, yelling at poor Kanesh!” He laughed.
Kauri blushed. “I’m so embarrassed! How much did you read?”
“Actually, I didn’t read much after that – I decided I didn’t want to find out how your story ended, especially when I knew that I wanted to write that for you,” Derick said, lifting her to him. He kissed her and carried her to the bedroom.
♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.
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
Acting the Part, part 3 - Chapter 19, Chapter 28
Sands of Survival - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 4 - Chapter 29
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. Book 1 in the Rise of the Neví series. |
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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 in Rebound of Power; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past in Friendship on Fire; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness in Courage to Trust; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara in Elect to Change; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara in Ocean of Empathy. |
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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; in Acting the Part Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; in Building on Promise Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; and D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; in Spice of Strength Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart in Sands of Survival. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
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Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. In this series, 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? Titles to include: Name of the Neví, Head of the Neví... |
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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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