36
(Next Morning)
D’zani was packing her bags. It seemed weird to be getting ready to leave the security of the A’mara Complex. She had scarcely been out of the building since the night she was attacked at the Blast 2. Even now, she shuddered at the thought of the night.
Several times since then she and Elíaz had been shot at. She knew they couldn’t remain in Towani much longer, not if they valued their lives or freedom. But Zilan and Iyva had been in town for less than a whole day and they were now preparing to leave with the couple. The whirlwind romance she’d had with Elíaz was nothing compared to this!
Apparently, they would never have to worry about money either as that famous Derick Aiden would be funding them provided they give help wherever needed as they travel. Elíaz had said to her that he couldn’t imagine them not helping, but that the funding would make it so that they didn’t have to worry for anything more than their lives. Staying alive would be enough to worry about.
She zipped closed one bag and took another look around for anything she had missed.
A knock came at her bedroom door.
<Come in, Vissia,> she sent mentally to her friend.
The younger woman entered, her fair skin and reddish hair making a sharp contrast to her own darkness. She had a baby bump just showing now. “I just wanted to catch you before you leave. Cyanus said that you guys were going soon.”
“Now that Zilan is in town, Elíaz wants to learn from him.”
“What do you want, D’zani?” Vissia asked.
“I want to be safe. Elíaz still has a Death Edict over him – always will. We’ve had people try to kill us several times now. Zilan can help us learn how to stay alive. That’s all I want. To be free, to be alive, and to raise our baby,” D’zani replied.
“Then, he deserves you,” Vissia answered. “I’m glad. I’m planning to name my baby after you if that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay! Mine will be named Vissia if its a girl – as Elíaz seems to think,” D’zani replied giving her friend a hug. “I’m going to miss you like crazy! But I’m glad that you’re safe, and you have your own maqla now.”
“I’m so grateful that Cyanus approved of me being a chola to Emeric. It’s more like being an adopted daughter to him and Zara. I’m going to be trained as a chef as well!”
“That’s so exciting,” D’zani replied.
“Seryan is keeping an eye on me too – to make sure no more Balan try to hurt me again. Apparently, they like to keep an eye on their vessels,” Vissia replied.
“You watch that Seryan,” D’zani said. “I think he likes having an excuse to keep an eye on you!”
Vissia blushed.
“He’s a good young man though. Just remember to stay in charge of things as long as you can!”
“Men have this habit of taking it away,” Vissia quoted. “I remember! Very well.”
Elíaz and Zilan came in. “Darling, it’s time to put our things in the carriage,” Elíaz said.
D’zani gave Zilan her bags which he carried out. She grabbed her light-weight daypack and followed Elíaz outside with Vissia.
Kinokei was there with her crystals showing Nina how to set them for the required work. Then the old woman started singing in an ancient tongue.
“She’s putting a covering spell over your carriage to make you less visible while you travel,” Vissia explained. “I listened to her explain it to Nina.”
“That sounds very good. Good-bye my friend!” D’zani said giving the woman a hug. “I will write from time to time. You have my code as well!”
“Come and visit from time to time!” Vissia told her. “I will have to see baby Vissia, after all!”
“And I will have to see baby D’zani!”
Then D’zani climbed onto the carriage to sit next to Elíaz. Zilan and Iyva were in front, ready to drive for the first leg of their journey.
The cue must have been a mental one because the carriage started forward and they were on their way.
On the road to Kyrila
“Nothing like slow transport to avoid attention,” Zilan said as they rolled slowly along in the carriage being pulled by a caballus.
“What’s our plan?” Elíaz asked, noticing the sign indicating the distance to Kyrila. “It’s going to take us a whole day just to reach the border.”
“To travel,” Zilan replied simply. “We will help where needed, and move on when we’re done. It’s an interesting lifestyle, to be sure. Low-stress and easily done incognito. All of us will need new aliases. We need a backstory to explain why we travel together like this. We have several days to work it out.”
“Life in the shadows is not a bad life,” Iyva said. “So far, it’s been very educational.”
“Along the way, everyone will develop their skills. I have yet to see D’zani with a shaze – nor you in a proper battle, Elíaz,” Zilan instructed. “I helped myself to some library flyppcards when we were in Towani City. We will borrow more flyppcards as we need them and send back the ones we’re done with. Maybe even pick up some students to drop off along the way. A traveling A’mara Complex.”
“Yes, Abári!” Elíaz replied.
Even Zilan laughed at that. “I will never wear a fringe,” he determined.
“Even I know it’s dangerous to say ‘never!’” D’zani quipped.
The caballus kicked a stone which skittered to the side of the road, nearly hitting a pair of hares who had been watching the strangely cloaked ensemble. Unsure where the stone had come from, the animals scrambled to the safety of their nest.
The End - Next, a few more chapters of Acting the Part...
NEXT CHAPTER
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. |
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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
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