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Building on Promise - Chapter 2 - A'mara Books

viking-venturesPosted for Everyone to comment on, 5 years ago11 min read

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2

Tle-sun Orivesk was in a friendly embrace with the shorter man. They parted as the women entered the room.

Jenna barely remembered meeting the man previously on Irola. His burgundy cloak designated his homeland of Avicen.

“You remember my wife, Jenna,” Tle-sun said.

“Yes, I remember her from Levon’s funeral, your somewhat unexpected life-bond ceremony and her A’mara commitment ceremony,” he reached Jenna and shook her hand. “Busy day it was, but it was good to have something to celebrate after we mourned.”

“Welcome, Abári,” Jenna said in greeting.

“I haven’t been sworn in yet,” Yewan protested.

“You may as well get used to it,” Jenna insisted. “Please meet my friend, Tirry. She is in charge of the elections here.”

“Nice to meet you, Tirry,” Yewan said, shaking the woman’s hand. “But seriously, in this room, we are all equals, A’mara and non-A’mara alike. Please call me Yewan.”

“Of course, Yewan,” Jenna relented.

Tle-sun chuckled. “That’s what he’s like. Straight forward, but down-to-Terrenden.”

“This is a good thing,” Tirry said. “It prevents some people feeling that A’mara are haughty and all, right, Jenna?”

Jenna giggled and grabbed Tle-sun’s hand, remembering how not too long ago, she didn’t even want to meet them. Now, not only was she married to an A’mara, but thanks to him, she found out that she was one as well – and she was soon to give birth to another.

Tle-sun finished getting the table ready and Jenna served up a hearty seafood soup.

“I couldn’t think of a better welcome for our new abári than a Gaskarii chowder,” Jenna said as she put the pot on the table.”

Tirry nodded. “It’s almost our national dish. Especially in our cold, bitter winter. Even spring tends to be quite chilly. I promise that our summers are much nicer, Yewan.”

“Glad to hear it,” Yewan replied as he took some soup and some of the accompanying biscuits.

“So, where are you going to be living?” Tirry asked.

“The A’mara have just invested in an old building near the marketplace. We will be transforming that into our A’mara Complex for Gaskarii,” Yewan replied. “It will include apartments and everything, just like anywhere else.”

“Is that the old warehouse?” Tirry asked.

“Actually, I think it was once the newspaper building with a theater next door.”

“Okay, I know which building you are talking about. Good solid structure. Plenty of prospect there. Where are you staying until that’s done?” she pressed.

“You are welcome to stay with us,” Tle-sun said. “But we only have a couch to offer you.”

“It’s okay,” Yewan replied. “I have plenty of dry floor, and plenty of warmth. It is enough for now and will only get better.” He dipped a biscuit in his chowder. “That is one of my main missions right now, to build our new A’mara Complex. It’s a big job though, so I definitely welcome all the help I can get – after we get these elections done.” Yewan took a bite of the biscuit.

“And that’s my main job,” Tirry said. “How will we manage fair elections this time? We have half a week to orchestrate a fix.”

“The easiest thing is to throw out all the current registrations and start over. Everyone registers at the polls. Name and address, normal details and all that. You have a database of all valid addresses on Gaskarii, so you can check for validity.”

“And if people try to register at multiple stations?” Jenna asked.

“If all the confirmations go out on the same day, it will look odd if too many go to the same address with different names. That would warrant an additional investigation into criminal charges.”

“It almost sounds too easy,” Tirry said.

“Yes, but it solves many of the problems we’ve been seeing all over Terrenden this past year. Dead people won’t turn up to vote, for one thing,” Yewan explained. “Our A’mara will be on hand to provide for the physical safety of the elections. We were caught off guard last time, it won’t happen again. Do you know where the explosives were hidden previously?”

“They were in a boiler room. The room was always locked, so it never occurred to anyone to check it when looking for safety gaps,” Tirry said.

“The culprit was a leya-sensitive, so that lock didn’t stay locked with her around. I assure you, that won’t happen this time. We can unlock anything that needs searching,” Yewan said.

“That will be appreciated,” she replied.

After awhile, the conversation dwindled. “I should get back to the Complex,” Yewan said. A moment later, he turned to Tle-sun. “It will be soon enough. Remember, there’s no hurry to make it perfect. But I do want to make space for the pair of you plus the baby a high priority – you’ve clearly outgrown this apartment here. Please help whenever you can.”

“Certainly! But it is a big job for two men,” Tle-sun said. “Do you know if we are expecting any more A’mara in town for the elections? We could put them to work for a few days afterwards.”

“I think we will be borrowing Mikor, at least. I’m not sure Saraca can spare anyone else,” Yewan said. “Even with the recent gains, it doesn’t quite make up for new outposts both here and Kasago, and Ke’oya doesn’t even get an abári yet.”

“I hope it will be enough. In any case, I look forward to being able to help out,” Tle-sun said.

“Once you two are in the Complex, it will start becoming a real community,” Yewan said, turning to leave.

“Sounds promising,” Jenna said.

“Would you come with me for a bit, Tle-sun?” Yewan asked.

“Of course, Yewan,” Tle-sun said getting up to join him.

“Good night,” Tirry said, echoed by Jenna.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” Yewan said to the women as Tle-sun closed the door behind them.

“And?” Jenna asked her friend.

“Interesting, handsome, but uninterested in me,” Tirry said.

“He’s A’mara. He’s meant to hide everything!” Jenna said.

“You’re A’mara,” Tirry said. “Can’t you tell?”

“I’m still just learning and Tle-sun didn’t want to push me too much during my pregnancy,” Jenna replied.

“I just don’t think he’s interested,” Tirry said, disappointedly.

“But are you interested?” Jenna asked.

“Hardly matters,” Tirry said. “Forever single is my fate!”

“Well, if you can set me up successfully, then maybe I can get you hitched as well,” Jenna said soothingly. “I’m sure we’ll get a few more sent out here soon enough if Yewan proves impossible to persuade. For what it’s worth, I think he likes you. He just doesn’t quite know it yet.”

“We’ll see,” Tirry replied. “I’d better get going. I guess we have a lot to do tomorrow!”

Tle-sun returned as Tirry left. “Good night,” he bade. Tirry returned the sentiment.

The door closed, Tle-sun turned to his wife and kissed her tenderly.

“I think that went well,” he said.

“I agree,” she replied. “I’m glad there is a simple solution that should help run the elections fairly.”

He nodded. “Yewan said that we’ll have to talk to the governor tomorrow for an emergency change to the rules. After this election, the Gaskarii council can help work out how to run them in the future.”

“Sounds encouraging,” Jenna said.

“Is Tirry okay? She didn’t seem quite herself as she left.”

“I think she’s rather taken with Yewan, actually,” Jenna replied. “And he was, well, rather A’mara… little or no emotion visible.”

“That’s one of the reasons he’s abári,” Tle-sun said. “It’s hard to tell with Yewan; he doesn’t share his emotional goings-on with anyone and protects it well. He could be turning to mush inside and we’d never know.”

“Is there any hope, do you think?” Jenna asked.

“There is always hope. Look at us!” Tle-sun said, kissing her again.

“You know what I mean,” she replied.

“I think Tirry needs to work side-by-side with Yewan for the duration of the election. She needs to look for ways to serve him. Then, after the election, she needs to find excuses to keep working for him. If there is a path to Yewan’s heart for her, that would be the way in,” Tle-sun said.

“I will encourage her as much,” Jenna promised.

“Tomorrow,” Tle-sun said kissing her again. “Tonight, I need to spend with you.” He tugged her towards the bedroom, flicking off lights as he went.

NEXT CHAPTER

Previously posted on Steemit.



Other Chapters of this set

Acting the Part - chapter 1

Building on Promise - chapter 1

Maps and Guides

PLEASE CATCH UP!
LINKS TO BUY! (in chronological order)
Brighid's Blood 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!
Birth of the Neví 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.
Rebound of Power - 850 TCE Collection of Romance 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.
Acting the Part 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!!!
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
find me on Twitter
also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares



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