6
(Majanday)
Across the cobbled street from both Tirry and Jenna’s apartments, the election headquarters occupied the corner storefront, as it had for many years. In fact, the side of the building still boasted the fact with the logos of the main parties of the day, none of which were around anymore, Tirry mused as she went to open the building for all the workers.
Jenna was right behind her, waddling as quickly as she could. “I’m tired of being out-of-breath!” she complained.
“It won’t be long now,” Tirry promised, turning the key and letting all the workers in.
“That’s easy for you to say!” Jenna retorted.
Tirry barked out the assignments. There were things to be done everywhere that day. Some hauling of equipment from the headquarters down to the various polling stations. There were hoverbils to help with some of it. Other things had to be moved to the polling stations from the storage building a few doors down. As the polling station buildings around the city were temporary buildings, they would have to be treated as high-risk places.
“I’m so glad we have Tle-sun and Yewan to check on the polling station buildings every day!” Tirry said to Jenna.
“Me too. I hope it will be enough.”
“Are they going to be here to help today?” Tirry asked.
“I told Tle-sun to work on our apartment. We’ll get him if we need his help. Yewan is helping him, I think,” Jenna replied.
“That’s good. That baby will be here before you know it!” Tirry said. “Especially with the way you’re carrying him right now. I think he’s dropped.”
“What does that mean?” Jenna asked.
“Any day… Another week would be good though, it could still be rough on his lungs,” Tirry said.
Jenna went to help move some equipment.
“No lifting for you this time!” Tirry insisted. “Try hanging up signs and things like that. We need that to be done too – and we don’t need your back hurt again either!”
Jenna grunted and found a light-duty task.
“Barb! Keep Jenna busy with simple tasks!” Tirry instructed the assistant manager who then helped find things to keep Jenna busy.
A little while later, Jenna knocked over a pile of signs. “I guess pregnant brain strikes again!” Jenna complained frustratedly. “I feel so useless!”
“Why don’t you go make everyone some drinks or something?” Tirry suggested. “I think you need to relax. Pretend you’re waiting tables again.”
“That was hardly relaxing!” Jenna replied. “But you may be right that a change of pace would do me some good.”
“Nerves are frayed around here anyway. Some caff would do most of us good right now,” Tirry said.
Jenna rummaged to find a flyppad and stylus to take orders.
Mid-morning, Tle-sun Orivesk was working hard on the quarters he would be sharing with his family soon, building a partition wall that would separate the master bedroom from the nursery. Although Tirry had mostly convinced Jenna that co-sleeping was the easiest and most secure method of starting off their baby, he would eventually need his own space and even now, all the paraphernalia required would fill half of his new room.
“Is there anything I can do to help you?” Yewan asked as he came in again.
“You could bring in the next two-by-four,” Tle-sun suggested.
Yewan returned a few moments later with the requested item.
Tle-sun indicated where the abári could put it.
The man wandered out again. Tle-sun knew from their days in Irola that Yewan would pace when he was thinking about things that were puzzling him. Although the man was always extremely guarded, Tle-sun could feel the tremors of a troubled heart. Yewan was someone who would wrestle with his feelings all alone and maybe even reject them altogether rather than accept them. Tle-sun resolved to do his part.
The next time Yewan wandered into his apartment, Tle-sun asked him, “Have you shown Tirry the rooftop yet?”
“Not yet,” Yewan replied.
“I’m sure they’re pretty stressed down there right now. I expect she could use a break. Besides, she needs to see what she’s working with. If I know her, just thinking about it will give her a bit of the break she needs,” Tle-sun advised.
“Good idea,” Yewan replied.
“You could even see if Jenna wanted to come back to see what I’ve been working on,” Tle-sun added.
Yewan nodded and then left.
She really should train up another assistant manager, Tirry thought for the thousandth time. It was always stressful during the final preparations for an imminent election, always lots to do. For some reason, the atmospheric stress and urgency were effecting her a lot more this time.
She knew everything was going well, but the perfectionist inside her had trouble letting go. The elections had to run smoothly this time. The whole world was watching Gaskarii this time. It was embarrassing and expensive to have to run them a third time!
Tirry closed her eyes and attempted a relaxation technique that Jenna had taught her during the second running a few months ago. Then she opened them and saw Yewan walking towards her. She was suddenly smiling helplessly as the handsome man approached her.
“How is it going?” Yewan asked as he reached her.
“Things are coming along,” she replied, her face recalling the stress of the enormous task. “We have so much more to be done though – strict deadline and all that!”
“You are too stressed,” Yewan said calmly to Tirry. “Come with me for awhile. Let the others pick up the pace for a bit.”
Tirry thought a moment about all the work that needed to be done. She wondered how they would get everything done on time.
“Don’t you have an assistant?” Yewan asked.
“I do,” she said, allowing herself to be persuaded. “I’m going out for a bit, Barb,” she said to her assistant manager.
“Will you have your PCS link?” the assistant asked.
“Yes,” Tirry replied.
“I need her for some A’mara business,” Yewan explained.
The assistant nodded without further comment.
Tirry went with Yewan, knowing that she would enjoy any time with this man who was already in full control of her heart, no matter how little of the affection he seemed to return. She sighed inwardly at the fact that she was helpless to control her feelings towards him. It was just the stress of the elections, she reasoned. Yep, that was it. When the elections were over, she would be able to control herself a little better.
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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