Courage to Trust: Rebound of Power, #3

By Lori Svensen

Meet Zukie, a widowed mother and gardener in Iloren whose confidence was shattered by an abusive husband. Zara is unwilling to let it go and is determined to get her twin sister more-happily married, but Zukie resists, frightened to try, lest she end up miserable again. When Zukie bumps into Akeld, she ends up embroiled in A'mara business and in serious danger both physically and emotionally. Can she find the courage to trust again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Viking Ventures
• Release date: Jun 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386140924

Lori Svensen

Student-of-the-world, jill-of-many-trades; mother and dreamer ready to share dreams with the reader.  Lori has never been able to follow everyone else, nor always follow directions or social expectations. Hence, her writing also tends to cross genres to create her own unique blend. A'mara Books are stories about personal relationships with strong flavors of fantasy, sci-fi, action and adventure, all wrapped into one plus a sense of social and moral responsibility that tends to be lost in today's world. 

Book preview

Dedication

To my children:

Our combined imagination gave birth to Terrenden and our A’mara in the beginning. It is ultimately for you that I have worked to give A’mara breath.

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To all who aspire to be A’mara:

You make the world a better place through your love of peace, knowledge and understanding. May we use this to bring people together.

♥

Last, but not least

To my husband:

My number 1 fan.

Terrenden Atlas Pages

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Almara – (al-MAR-uh)

Avicen – (A-vih-sen)

Bartecia – (bar-TEH-see-uh)

Iloren – (ih-LOR-en)

Kasago – (kuh-SAW-go)

Narcía – (nar-SEE-uh)

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Other Places of Interest

Irola – (eye-ROLL-uh)

Tephsa – (TEFF-suh)

Terrenden – (TAIR-en-den)

Varkevand – (VAR-keh-vand)

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Country of Iloren

Town of Jerven

This is a simple town plan of Jerven. The park featured at the end of this story is located to the north of Jerven, along the fjord.

Pronunciation Guide - People

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People

Akeld Majan – (ah-KELD)

Beren Wort – (BEH-ren)

Betel Seagle – (beh-TEL)

Catalia Vendar – (kuh-TAL-ee-uh)

Evvan Wellin

Hira Raiden – (HYE-ruh)

Jasper Jarly – (YAR-lee)

Ja’tel Krijo – (juh-TEL KREE-joe)

Lataya Silna – (luh-T EYE-yuh)

Leena Pieron – (LEE-nuh)

Mikor Hammit – (MEE-kor)

Neví – (neh-VEE)

Saraca Krijo – (Suh-RAH-kuh)

Tle-sun Orivesk – (tlay-SUN)

Wenay Horch – (weh-NAY)

Yewan Avicent

Zara Vine – (ZAR-uh)

Zukie Vine Barns – (ZOO-key)

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The Calendar

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Terrenden operates on a 9-day week.

The days are named after gods except Terraday which represents the world or the void in popular mythology.

Muranaday (mur-AHN-uh)

Majanday (MA-JAHN)

Rinday (RIHN)

Terraday – midweek break – holy day for Faldur sects.

Fenjaday (FEN-ya)

Tharnday

Wirnday

Silnaday (SILL-nuh) – weekend – holy day for Silatians.

Vasanaday (vuh-SAHN-uh) – weekend – holy day for followers of Vasana and other Faldur.

The month is roughly 45 days always ending with the double full moon and beginning with a festival. Terrenden has 8 months in a year.

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Note: glossary and image credits at the end.

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Prologue

850 T.C.E.

late spring, month of Lashanari

Iloren

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In Almara, on the eastern part of the landmass of Alara lies Iloren. The country is sheltered from the more prominent NW winds and therefore is drier than some of the neighboring countries. Iloren seems insignificant in the shadow of Kasago’s pleasant pastures to the south, neighboring Bartecia and the northern trading giant of Narcía who occupies a prime position for trade between the Almaran isles.

Good roads making up for that lack, the A'mara have long used Iloren as one of their better school bases in the region.

At this point in Terrenden history, the most recent A'mara golden age long in the past, people were in two camps – they either believed in and admired the A'mara or they thought it a quaint, ancient and irrelevant religious cult. In the towns which hosted an A'mara complex and school, they were respected, but sometimes only as a cheap police force or as an alternative to the local (often failing) public schools, as A'mara schools would accept other children if there was space. Their educational methods were generally seen as second to none though there were always concerns regarding some of their social policies and beliefs especially among those who follow the Silatian belief system.

Zukie Vine Barns and Zara Vine, fortunately, fall into the first camp – those who believe in and admire the A'mara; in stark contrast to Zukie's recently-departed husband who was actively hostile towards them.

The twin sisters live in the Iloren capital of Jerven with Zukie’s children.

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1

(Muranaday)

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It was the first school day of the week, and Zukie Barns kissed her children good-bye as they rushed out the door.

Kynu, she said to the 9-year-old boy with the mousy hair. Take extra care today, it's meant to be warm this afternoon.

He nodded. He was such a good, trust-worthy child.

Raani, Zukie said to the 7-year-old girl with blondish hair. Don't let the boys tease you today! Don't let them fool you!

I'll try to remember, Mom, she said.

Vaara, Zukie said to the youngest, barely 5. You mind Kynu. He will take care of you as long as you do what you're told. No giving him grief today!

Okay, Mommy, she said giving a tight hug.

Now hurry, or you're going to be late! Have a great day at school! Zukie called as her children walked down the path to the street. She kept the door open until the children were out of sight, then she closed it and went into the kitchen where her twin sister, Zara Vine, was washing dishes.

Zukie cleared the table and brought the resultant dishes to her sister. Then, she began drying some to make space for the remainder. I'm really glad the school is so close, Zukie said. No streets to cross before the crossing guard.

If you send them to the A'mara school next year, it won't be so easy, Zara replied.

I'm still in two minds about it, Zukie confessed. Vinu hated those schools and gave me plenty of reasons to have doubts about sending the children there. I mean, did you know that their teen pregnancy rate is atrocious?

I wonder if it's that’s because they are accepting and supportive rather than pushing abortions, Zara wondered aloud. In any case, that's not something to worry about now when even Raani is only 7. You can always change your mind when she's 12.

But that could be disruptive to her education, to change schools so late, Zukie said.

Thing is, Zara said. "You know that the quality of education at the A'mara schools is really, really high. The graduates there, even those who are not A'mara, seem to be able to go on to be successful. The schools are respected worldwide."

Even Vinu wasn't able to fault the quality of education. He was mostly worried about the social aspect of our children being seen as inferior to those around them.

From what I know of A'mara ethics, Zara said, they don't view the others as inferior – just different – without any positive or negative connotations.

That's good, Zukie said.

There's another great reason to send them there – in fact, even better because you'd have to accompany them...

What's that? Zukie asked.

Oh, just that there are plenty of single men there of the highest quality! she said with a gleam in her eye. And you'd be brushing past them on a daily basis!

Zukie laughed. I swear! Your number one goal since Vinu died has been to match me up with someone! What about you? Has Jeftey given you any hints?

Not really, but he seems to be thinking about marriage a lot... little things he says.  I think there is hope, Zara answered.

That's really encouraging, Zukie said, putting some plates away.

"I hope so. But how do we get you hitched again? How do we get you dating?" Zara asked.

Zukie sighed. I really don't know. One of the most frightening things about being single at thirty is dating again. How in Terrenden can I possibly find a suitable partner... especially when I have kids?!

One must set their standards very high, said Zara.

But maybe there are none who can fit! Thirty-something men are either taken, rejected, or thrown back! What if all that are left are the riffraff? I don't want one of those!

"Then don't marry again! Zara exasperated. But if you don't try, you will never find one!"

I know you are right, Zara, but it's scary, Zukie said. I mean, Vinu wasn't exactly a great one, was he? 

I'm still not sure what you saw in him to begin with, Zara confided. But I wasn't going to stir up trouble while you were reasonably happy.

I'm not sure I was ever truly happy in that relationship, Zara. Sure, he gave me stability and security when I needed it most, but I don't think I was ever really happy.

So stable and secure that you couldn't even stay in the house after he died, Zara said with a tinge of sarcasm. "It was like he never did understand how much you did for him and how much you caring