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Courage to Trust - Chapter 17 - A'mara Books

viking-venturesPosted for Everyone to comment on, 5 years ago9 min read

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17

The sun had set and the blue moon was rising, but Zukie and Akeld barely noticed as they strolled slowly back to her house, hand-in-hand. He could feel her extreme weakness as they walked. He tried to give her extra strength, but he knew she needed rest more than anything else right now.

Betel had gone back to the Complex to take care of Beren and then talk to the abári about what had happened that evening. It was vital that Evvan knew the details as quickly as possible.

“Can we talk about what happened?” Akeld asked quietly as they walked.

“Sure,” Zukie replied wearily. “All I really want to know is whether I helped you.”

“Yes,” he said with a smile. “I'm absolutely positive you helped me enormously. I don't completely know how or why, but I know that what I was doing was extremely challenging. Shana was close to death when we got to her. I might not have been able to save her were it not for you being there, lending me your strength.”

“Is that why I feel so weak now?” Zukie asked.

“I think so,” Akeld said putting his arm around her. “Hang onto me if you need to.”

She nodded.

“We can talk more about everything tomorrow,” he said. “I hadn’t realized how much it had taken out of you.”

She nodded again as they reached the house. They entered to a tearful Zara.

“I'm so glad you're okay! I heard the sirens, could see the emergency teams going in. I was so scared!”

“We made it,” Zukie replied weakly.

“Where's Shana?” Zara demanded bringing a soapy cloth to wash her sister’s makeup off.

“She's okay too,” Zukie replied.

“Several A'mara are taking her back to her country now,” Akeld answered. “They will keep a close watch on her as she grows up.”

“She will be a good ruler one day,” Zara said.

Zukie nodded in agreement before heading to the lounge to rest. Akeld helped her recline on the couch, exhausted. He sat next to her and pulled her to him in order to give her the comfort he knew she needed.

A few minutes later, the three children were climbing on the couch too.

“I missed you, Mommy!” Vaara said.

“Me too!” Raani said.

“I'm glad you're both back,” Kynu said looking at Akeld. He smiled at the boy.

“Okay, back to bed, kids,” Zara said. “Your mom is very tired.”

Indeed, Zukie had already fallen asleep in Akeld's embrace.

Zara offered him a drink which he gratefully accepted. She returned to the kitchen.

Akeld activated his PCS link and contacted Saraca.

The woman appeared on the screen. “You look awful,” she commented. “Are you okay?”

Akeld nodded. “We lost Wenay – he was the traitor. He nearly took Beren with him, but I think he can still be reached.”

Saraca nodded sadly. “And the Princess?”

“Safely on her way back to Balan – with Hira and Leena,” Akeld said. “We nearly lost her though – Wenay stuck her in the freezer and put his leya-enhanced magna-lock on it.”

“How did you break it?”

“Lots of help,” Akeld said. “Including that of Zukie.” He turned the PCS link so that Saraca could see the sleeping woman in his other arm.

“Is she leya-sensitive?” Saraca asked.

“I don’t think so. She’s more of a stella lineage, I’m guessing. She helped me with the crystal healing too. But she’s not used to it, so it left her very weak.” Akeld continued.

“It may take her a couple of days to return to full strength I would guess,” Saraca said. Then she smiled at Akeld. “Can I take it that you would like me to come out there to perform a ceremony?”

“I haven’t actually asked her yet, but I’m pretty sure she will agree,” he said smiling wearily. “Tell Tle-sun and Yewan that they are next.”

“I will pass along those sentiments. I’ll bring them along if I can,” Saraca agreed. “Do you think Evvan is still capable as an abári?”

“Yes, but I think he needs a first adviser or someone like that. He doesn’t have a wife to assist him,” Akeld suggested.

“We can talk more about all the details later. I expect you to submit your report as soon as you can. I would like the investigation mostly wrapped up by the time I get there,” Saraca instructed. “But right now, it looks like you need sleep. Good night.”

“Good night, Abári,” Akeld said as the connection went dead.

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” Zara said, bringing Akeld his soothing hot drink.

“Thank you,” he said, taking a sip. He put it on the end table.


When Zara returned, a short time later, she saw that Akeld was also asleep. She covered the sleeping couple with a light blanket and turned out the light.

She returned to the dining room. She sighed as she picked up the card on the table. She read it again, shook her head and put it down in Zukie's spot.

NEXT CHAPTER

(Note: Previously posted on Steemit - and now available as ebooks that you can buy - see below.)
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Other Chapters of this set (in order)

Rebound of Power, part 1 - Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4

Friendship on Fire - Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Rebound of Power, part 2 - Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Courage to Trust - Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
(Navigation tool now added.)

Supplemental Materials

Character Guide, Place Guide and Glossary
Maps for Courage to Trust

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.
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;
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!!!
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?
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;
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.

Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2018 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.

(This post is crossposted at Steemit, Whaleshares, WeKu and Bearshares.)



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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