Sands of Survival - Chapter 35 - A'mara Books

Previously...

35

Muranaday

Joton, Kri’enden

Belmara returned to the curiosity shop. “I want to see that scepter I was looking at yesterday.”

“I sold it,” the woman replied.

“Sold it?!” Belmara cried. “I wanted it!”

“You should have said so yesterday, ma’am,” the woman said.

“To whom?” Belmara demanded.

“I do not have that information. Sorry.”

She rejoined Fashi outside the shop.

“Well?” he asked.

“I should have committed on it yesterday. I can only hope that one day I’ll have another opportunity to hold part of the Sacred Trio.”

“You’re sure that’s what it was?” Fashi asked.

“Certain,” Belmara said. “I should have trusted my instincts. We would have had to take a loan for it, but it would have given us unprecedented power over the A’mara. We must watch for the other parts, it is unlikely that only one of the pieces is moving right now.”

Fashi nodded. “The Curator would also remind us to be looking for Zilan.”

“Do you have any better idea where he is?” she asked.

“I think he’s eventually going to turn up in Tephsa. He’s a friend of Aiden, after all,” Fashi answered.

“You think that because he’s an old school friend that he’s somehow privy to that classified information?” Belmara asked.

“I have a feeling…,” Fashi said.

“What?” Belmara asked again.

“I have to wonder, having watched Aiden’s movie… I have to wonder if Zilan is his informant,” Fashi said. “If he is, he will eventually turn up where Aiden is to help him on the next movie.”

“Next movie?” Belmara asked.

“Of course. Can you imagine him not doing a sequel?” Fashi asked.

“Not when he’s running the show. You’re right. But we can’t just turn up in Palerma, it would ensure Zilan does not turn up there. He’d figure something else up.”

“So, we can stay here and watch over the Freebooter...”

“And make sure Sheena doesn’t kill Gaetan?” Belmara quipped.

“Or we can go back to Irola and see how Rurik and Elskie are handling things,” Fashi suggested.

“We can even instruct them to start watching for the Usha. It is bound to turn up again,” Belmara said. “If the legends are true, anyway. Yes, let’s go home.”

♥

Joton, Kri’enden – A’mara Complex

The two Varkevanders spoke rapidly in Moxara’s native tongue.

“Again, I have to bid you farewell, my chola!” Moxara said tearfully to Kami Kree giving her a hug, careful not to squeeze the baby bump.

“Probably the next time I see you, we will both be mothers!” Kami said equally tearfully. “But I feel so much better now knowing that you are no longer alone.”

“I’ve never been alone!” Moxara replied.

“You know what I mean,” Kami said as Benjan joined them.

“Are you ready to go Mrs. Masola?” he asked hugging his wife.

“Is so hard to leave dem again!” Moxara said in Common Tongue. “I not intend dis trip to become one-way journey!” She hugged Jessten Toban tightly.

“But sometimes, that’s how things turn out to be. I never intended to go to school in Kri’enden, but that’s where I needed to be. You are needed in Yezi’tra,” Jessten replied.

Moxara nodded. “Is so much to take in!”

“We will send your remaining belongings immediately,” Jessten promised with a smile. “I’m so glad you found happiness. We’ll miss you, but we’re only a PCS away. You know that!”

Moxara nodded tearfully, then got into the waiting hoverbil that was gaudily decorated in celebration of the newlyweds.

“I’ll drive if you don’t mind, Mrs. Masola,” Benjan said, closing the door and going around to the driver’s side.

A few moments later, he was next to her again. “I not believe it,” Moxara said to him.

He embraced her and kissed her. “Maybe this jogs your memory,” Benjan said. “But you are no longer afraid of loving me.” He held her hand as he drove the hoverbil forward, beginning their long journey back to Yezi’tra.

“When we back in Yezi’tra, I start new position,” Moxara said. “Hope I can also serve A’mara well and serve CC Uushin.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine. He’s not actually a very demanding employer and probably won’t call you too often, but he likes to have someone to bounce ideas off of – someone who won’t just say it’s great because he’s the Chief Councilor,” Benjan explained. “It’s a very high honor for him to have requested you.”

“When Haldi come home?” she asked.

“I don’t know. I guess he and Kianda wanted to spend a few more days together. If I was a betting man, I’d bet that she will come back with him.”

“Is amazing!” Moxara replied.

“Just like us,” Benjan said holding her hand.

♥

The next thing Moxara realized, they were in Yezi’tra and Benjan was parking the hoverbil.

“I hear that pregnancy makes a woman tired,” he said grabbing her hand in comfort.

She kissed him. “I not believe I have such amazing man for husband!” she replied.

“It is I who have been blessed,” he said, getting out of the hoverbil.

“Is not Complex,” she said, confused, but getting out.

“No, but it is the little piece of land that Haldi has asked me to prepare for you. He is concerned that you might be tempted away by the beauty of other lands, so he wants me to make you your own little parcel of paradise, right here at the edge of town,” Benjan said with a huge smile.

“Your dream!” she said, her eyes brimming with tears again.

“Our dream,” he corrected. “What do you think? Should we start making it come true together?”

“Yes!” she cried. “Oh, Benjan, I so happy, I not believe it!”

“We can even plan our own house here if we want – or we can just make it a park and live in the Complex. It’s totally up to you. CC Uushin will make sure it gets done,” Benjan said excitedly. “Come. I have to show you something!”

He led her to the far corner, where two trees stood tall and a swing hung between them. “These were planted by someone, they’re not native. I don’t know how they grow so tall either, but I did make sure we had a little something.”

He sat on the swing, his arm outstretched and Moxara hardly needed persuading to sit next to him as they swayed gently beneath the trees.

♥

Nearby, a Yezi antelope grazed on the sparse tufts of grass that grew sporadically along the edges of the city. She lifted her head at the gentle creaking of the swing which had stood so silently since its installation. Her ears twitched as she located the noise and decided whether she and her nursing calf were safe or not. Contented that there were no lurking predators, the doe lowered her head again.

♥

NEXT CHAPTER

If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on Goodreads for me.

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

Acting the Part, part 3 - Chapter 19

Sands of Survival - 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

PLEASE CATCH UP!	LINKS TO BUY! (in chronological order)
	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 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 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 - 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...

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
find me on Twitter
also on: Whaleshares, WeKu

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