4
Tirry led Jenna, Tle-sun and Yewan the short distance to the capitol building.
“What’s your surname, Yewan?” she asked pausing in front of the building.
“Avicent,” Yewan replied.
“Yewan Avicent, very nice,” she said smiling. “I will do the introductions.”
“Hello, Tirry,” the receptionist, Angela Beach greeted as they reached the front desk.
“Good morning, Angela. We would like to see Governor Sandy, please.”
“I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you,” Angela replied casting a wary, but accepting glance at the A’mara. She pushed the required button and informed the governor that she had visitors. “I’m sure I know you as well,” the receptionist said looking at Tirry’s pregnant friend.
“Jenna. I was working with Tirry for the previous elections.”
“Ah yes. Married an outsider, I seem to remember hearing.”
“New blood is required from time to time to replace all those who leave,” Jenna said practically.
“I see you wasted no time in that,” Angela replied haughtily, looking at Jenna critically.
Tirry and Jenna ignored the hostility. Tirry chalked it up to Jenna crossing too many lines to accept for some in Loxos. Fortunately, Governor Sandy came out about then and gave Tirry a hug.
“Governor Sandy Langle, this is my best friend Jenna, her husband Tle-sun Orivesk and the new abári of the Gaskarii A’mara, Yewan Avicent,” Tirry introduced.
“Any friend of Tirry is a friend of mine,” Sandy replied with warm handshakes for each of them. The governor led them slowly through a corridor to her office. “Let’s see, I am pretty sure I’ve met you before, Jenna. A’mara now?”
“Yes, at is happens,” Jenna replied.
“Good. Evidently, your husband has been good for you. Pleasure, was it Tle-sun?” she asked, looking at the taller man at Jenna’s side.
“Yes, ma’am,” Tle-sun replied.
“You know, Tirry, we didn’t think we’d get Jenna married off, did we? But then it happened. I wish I could do the same for you.”
“It doesn’t seem to be my fate,” Tirry said with a blush.
Sandy didn’t seem to notice, but moved along to the abári. “And Yewan, or shall I call you by your title?” she asked the shorter man.
“Yewan is good,” the man replied.
“I appreciate that. I don’t like the pretentiousness of titles either. I was Sandy Langle before I became governor and will still be Sandy Langle when I’m done. So, Sandy works perfectly for me now as well,” she replied. “Do sit down, especially you, Jenna. You look like you’re nearly ready to pop.”
“I have most of another month to go still,” Jenna replied.
“That last month is always the worst,” the governor empathized. “I remember it well. If you ever need any advice, feel free to come and ask me, it would make a nice change to being asked about the budget – or elections, as I have no doubt that’s what you’re here for.”
“Worthy of an A’mara,” Yewan said in his charming fashion. “Yes, we need to talk to you about the elections. Tirry was telling me about the way they were wrecked the past two times, leading to many deaths. The Terrenden abári, Saraca, has determined that A’mara would be helpful here to not only to make these elections successful, but to help root out the Neví influence here and return Loxos and the rest of the island to the peaceful state it enjoyed for many years.”
“With respect, Yewan. I’m already very much aware of the benefits of having A’mara on my island. That is why I approved your project the moment I became aware of it. Having A’mara boosts our rankings as a tourist destination as well as making the citizens more secure. Both facts boost our economy as well. It is beneficial to us to have you here. As such, I intend to fund your building project if you will also take on the old warehouse adjoining your complex in order to build a public housing project that will not be in the hands of the Neví. I think we can borrow from the proven Neví model to build something that will be profitable and beneficial to the city,” the governor said.
Even Tle-sun reacted in surprise to that news, but Yewan kept his cool, something that Tirry noticed with admiration. “Thank you, Sandy,” Yewan said humbly. “This is far more than we could have anticipated. I was not expecting to be so warmly welcomed to this post. I thought the Gaskarii were more suspicious of A’mara.”
Tirry knew that Jenna probably felt another pang of guilt. Her friend had been so hostile to the presence of those A’mara, but then promptly fell in love the moment she gave them half a chance. The whirlwind had taken even Tirry by surprise. She looked at her friend who rubbed her baby bump where she could feel a knee or an elbow pushing the bounds of its limited space.
“It is true that the Gaskarii are suspicious of A’mara, but they are also suspicious of any outsider who decides to stay here. Or those who leave and come back… or those who change too much,” she looked at Jenna. “You’ve sort of broken all those rules now, Jenna.”
“Your receptionist is a case in point. I know she doesn’t mean much by it, but yes, she’s very much offended by me now,” Jenna said.
“I’m glad you didn’t take offense at her.”
“Of course not. I know how my people are. But the Gaskarii remain my people regardless,” Jenna said loyally.
“I didn’t mean to get so side-tracked,” Sandy apologized. “Yewan, what is your plan to help our elections go peacefully and honestly?”
“The simplest and cheapest solution, especially so late in the game, is to throw out all current registrations and have everyone re-register when they go to vote. That takes out all the dead votes and foreign votes instantly. Anyone who isn’t here on the day doesn’t get to vote.”
“And those who normally have electronic votes due to disability?” Sandy asked.
“We could easily visit all of the housebound e-voters the day before to collect their ballots,” Yewan explained.
“What stops someone from registering at three different polling stations?” Sandy asked.
“Using a database will prevent them registering the same name at more than one place. It will also prevent them using a fictitious address and we can also make it clear that fraud is illegal. We will be sending out voters cards after the elections – all on the same day. If there are unexplained multiple cards to the same name or address, we can investigate that part at that time. It’s not perfect, but I reckon it will take out at least 70% of the fraud you were experiencing. Probably more than that.”
“I think we can do better than that if everyone is required to vote at only their local polling station. Then, if any station’s results look suspicious, they are automatically discarded,” the governor said.
“That’s good,” Tle-sun began. “But if that is made known then anyone who wants to control the elections just needs to have opposing districts have their votes not count anymore. By-and-large, most people vote at the place closest to them anyway.”
“Good points,” Sandy said. “Well, I can tell the elections are in good hands now. Not meaning anything by it, Tirry. You do an excellent job as well, it’s just too big of a job for you when someone’s out to deliberately mess things up.”
“No offense taken, Sandy,” Tirry said.
“I can tell you guys are terribly busy,” the governor said, standing. “I won’t keep you any longer. Please keep in touch with my PCS code. I want to be able to reassure people that the elections will be successful this time.”
“We will do our best,” Yewan said, shaking the governor’s hand.
“Stop,” Tirry commanded them, pulling out her camera. “A picture would be excellent!”
“Include Tle-sun,” Jenna suggested.
“And you, Jenna,” Sandy encouraged. “It’s a great idea to show our people that we are unified in our efforts – the mixture of cloak colors, burgundy, turquoise and our own sea green and sand cloak emphasizes that even more.”
Finally set, Yewan took the governor’s hand again and posed for the picture Tirry captured.
The A’mara and Tirry finally left the governor’s presence.
“That really was a good idea,” Tle-sun said as they left the building.
“Yes, it really was,” Yewan agreed.
“It comes from years of working with politicians,” Tirry said with a shrug, but she could not escape the blush on her cheeks under Yewan’s attention.
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - 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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| 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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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares
