2
(Rinday, cont.)
Joton, Kri’enden – Joton Neví Housing Project
.
The new development stood tall and proud in Kri’enden tribal colors. Mammoth, by Joton standards, it comprised two full blocks in the Shadow District and stood half a dozen stories high, not including the basement levels and the parks on top.
The ground level was beginning to fill with shops and businesses and lower levels housed storage units, exercise rooms and even a huge public swimming pool which would remain free for residents. Even the top level, reserved for entertainment and penthouse suites was beginning to fill with wealthy businessmen and gamblers alike.
It was, indeed, a full community in one building, Jessten Sipper mused as she picked up another application form and skimmed down the flyppaper. At least everything was filled out on this form.
“I just wish this project was funded by someone other than my father’s group,” Jessten said. “I feel weird helping out when he basically disowned me last summer!” She didn’t add the fact that her father now had a mistress or something and was expecting another child.
“I’m sorry,” Se-orna Jotoln replied, giving her a sympathetic smile. “I do have to be glad that someone has stepped forward to transform the Shadow District into something useful.”
“I agree. I just wish I didn’t have conflicting feelings about it – like there’s something sinister behind it.”
“We don’t have a lot of choice. There is a need that no one was filling, your father may have been a lousy father, but maybe he’s a good humanitarian,” Se-orna surmised.
“I hope so,” Jessten said, honestly. She used an electronic stamp to approve the application in front of her and put it in the interview pile. “Do you think Rami is going to assign me a maqla?”
“Normally, maqla/cholas are worked out by mutual agreement,” Se-orna said.
“You could be my maqla,” Jessten suggested.
“I’m still a bit young, honestly. They prefer us to be 25 or 26 before we are permitted – unless the situation is exceptional. You’re just starting, so Rami might not have you become a chola for a bit longer, so maybe I will – in a couple of years.”
“I feel so impatient! It wasn’t my fault that I turned 16 before I could even start!”
“I know, Jessten. Perhaps this is precisely why she has delayed – to teach you some patience.”
Jessten grumped and returned to looking at applications. She hated that her father had chosen to withhold their leya-sensitivity from her. He had hidden the reddish sheen in her hair with shampoo dye. It hadn’t been until she’d come to Joton for school that she discovered the truth. That school place had remained unfilled as she joined the ranks of the A’mara in one of the planet’s strongest Complexes.
She read another application. Single mother, fleeing domestic violence – it seemed like at least half of the applications were from women like that. To be fair, there were a number of men in that situation too, but she really felt for the single parents, whose opportunities were limited by the needs of young children.
“I sure hope I never have to go through all that,” she said to Se-orna.
“Agreed. It would be better to find the right guy first, get married, have kids, all that… in the security of a loving relationship.”
“Do you think it’s possible, Se-orna? To find someone you will always love, who will always love you in return?”
“I like to think so. I mean, sure, there will be days you get mad at each other. My mother told me once that her extreme love for my father also meant that sometimes she was extremely angry with him – precisely because she loved him so much and knew he could be better. It sounds weird, maybe, but it worked for them.”
“Not weird, just extremely romantic!” Jessten replied dreamily. Unbidden, the image of Laisen Toban filled her mind with hurt. She closed the image away again – hopefully before her friend could notice.
“I’m surprised you don’t have half the Complex trying to date you,” Se-orna said, apparently missing the thoughts, to Jessten’s relief.
“Oh?” Jessten laughed.
“Is there really no one here you fancy?” Se-orna asked.
Jessten shrugged, keeping her feelings to herself. “Not sure. I guess I’ll know him when I see him. What about you?”
Laisen walked through the office at that moment, his forest green Towani cloak billowing behind him. A moment later, he disappeared into the interview room and a tall dark-skinned man came out, apparently done with his shift. His tribal cloak drifted more lazily behind him, the yellows a stark contrast to the oranges and siennas that dominated Kri’enden tribal cloaks.
“Is he new? I don’t think I’ve seen him before,” Jessten asked.
“Apparently. I haven’t met him either. It’s strange, I thought I knew all of my A’mara kinsmen in Yezí’im.”
Jessten’s mind went disobediently back to the man who had gone into the interview room.
“That Laisen is rather fine, isn’t he?” Se-orna said.
Jessten felt a knife in her heart. “He’s still good looking,” she said aloud, trying not to give anything away.
Se-orna’s countenance softened, but Jessten didn’t look at her. “I’m sorry, Jessten. I’d forgotten that you’d been watching him back at Vestharya. Has he really not talked to you?”
“I guess he’s too busy,” Jessten said quietly.
In her mind, Jessten could hear Laisen’s voice. “I’m a full 10 years older than you,” he had warned. “You should meet some of the A’mara guys that are closer to your age before you decide to go for someone like me.” She sighed. She hadn’t seen much of him for quite awhile now. He seemed to be avoiding her.
In the months since she’d arrived in Joton, she’d met all the local A’mara guys – all the ones her age. None of them excited her – except Laisen. She loved everything about that man. But he was right, the 10-year gap was a huge one. Why, when he was her age, he was halfway through his chola training and she was barely learning how to read! She sighed again.
“Maybe we should go over to the Shaze Academy later,” Se-orna said. “There are plenty of guys there – and not so many girls. In Joton, there are many men who can handle a shaze who don’t belong to our Complex. Prove to them that you can fight as well as a guy.”
Jessten brightened a little. It was a good idea and she did enjoy shazeplay.
“I’ll take you over when we’re done here. That should cheer you up!”
Jessten smiled, she would try again to do what Laisen had suggested – to meet the local guys closer to her age...
♥♥♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on [Goodreads](coming soon) for me.
Buy at: (coming soon to Books2Read, Scribl, LBRY and Lulu - paperback.)
Other Chapters of this set
Birth of the Neví - Chapter 1 on Whaleshares
Name of the Neví - Chapter 1
Mind of the Neví - Chapter 1
Game of the Neví - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- Kri'enden & Joton - 830 TCE (New/imprived map coming soon)
- Character Guide and Image Credits
- Calendar and Glossary - for Name of the Neví but these two parts are true throughout.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace
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