Building on Promise: Acting the Part, #2

By Lori Svensen

Meet Tirry Jelham, an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride. When the A'mara oversee their three-times-lucky election, charming, but stoic, Yewan Avicent is called in to be the new abári for Gaskarii. Tirry fears that she may never see her dream of having a family even when she's asked to oversee the new A'mara Complex project. Is it possible for Tirry to build her way into Yewan's heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Viking Ventures
• Release date: Feb 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386113218

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.

♥

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

Alacantis (al-uh-CAN-tis) A tropical continent

Tephsa  (TEFF-suh)  A country in Alacantis

Palerma * (pah-LER-muh) Capital city of Tephsa

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Almara  (al-MAR-uh)  A northern continent

Gaskarii (gas-KAR-ee)  An island northeast of Almara

Loxos *  (LOX-ohs)  Capital city of Gaskarii

Kasag0  (kuh-SAW-go)  A country in Almara

Ke’oya   (kai-YOI-yuh)  A’mara center in Kasago

Towani  (toe-WAH-nee) A country in Almara

Towani City    Capital of Towani

♥

Kranisis (KRAN-ih-siss) An equatorial continent

Irola **  (eye-ROLL-uh) Terrenden global capital

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Kri’enden (KREE-en-den) A country and a continent

(note: k sounds like German/Scottish ch or Welsh ll)

Joton *  (JOE-ton)  Capital city of Kri’enden

♥

Terrenden (TAIR-en-den)  The name of this planet

Pronunciation Guide – People

Groups

A’mara   (uh-MAR-uh) leya-talented people

Balan (BAY-lan)  rebellious leya-talented

Neví (neh-VEE) organized gang

Yerdua (yer-DOO-uh)  evil/chaotic leya-talented

♥

A’mara & Assoc. in Gaskarii (Loxos)

Betel Seagle (beh-TEL SEE-gul) on assignment 

Garian Dabherd (GARE-ee-un DAB-berd)  on assignment

Ja’tel Krijo ** (juh-TEL KREE-joe) visiting 1st husband

Jenna Orivesk (or-ih-VESK) wife of Tle-sun

Lataya Silna (luh-T EYE-yuh) on assignment

Mikor Hammit (MEE-kor) on assignment

Saraca Krijo ** (Suh-RAH-kuh)  visiting abári

Tirry Jelham (TIER-ree JELL-am)  Jenna’s friend

Tle-sun Orivesk (tlay-SUN or-ih-VESK)

Yewan Avicent * (YEW-an AV-ih-cent)  abári

♥

Balan/Neví

Curator

Belmara Wolfkin (bell-MAR-uh)  Terrenden #2/ Irola #1

Fashi Wolfkin (FASH-ee) Terrenden #3/ Irola #2

Jasper Jarly (YAR-lee) Terrenden #1

Wolfkin Starna  Gaskarii #1

Ydia Tuskcat (YIH-dee-uh)  Gaskarii #2

♥

Politicians & Elections

Angela Beach Receptionist for Governor

Barb  Assistant to Tirry

Nate Daegal (DAY-gul) Aux. Governor of Gaskarii

Sandy Langle  Governor of Gaskarii

Tirry Jelham (TIER-ree JELL-am) Elections Manager

♥

Mentions (absent or deceased)

Derick Aiden filmmaker in Irola

Ek-ul Forester A’mara in Kasago

Jerreck Mastin deceased Terrenden abári

Jilia Thule Mastin   deceased Terrenden abári

Levon Tharn deceased chola of Tle-sun

Marosio Muran  deceased A’mara

♥

The Calendar

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 as follows:

Solstice

Brezanari

Kalinari

Equinox (Quinya)

Komanari

Lashanari

Solstice

Casminari

Tulinari

Equinox

Sebenari

Avrinari

Solstice / Year End

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Note: glossary and image credits at the end.

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1

(Vasanaday)

late Kalinari (mid-spring)

851 TCE – Loxos, Gaskarii

Fighting the spring gales high above Loxos, a blue-headed tern screamed and dove for a fish. Missing this time, it flapped back up into the sky to watch for another opportunity as fishing vessels returned to shore. Below, it saw the young woman come out onto her balcony, belly full of child. The tern screamed again before diving into the deep.

♥

Jenna Orivesk stood on her balcony, semi-consciously rubbing a knee that pushed from inside her swollen abdomen. She felt many things as she stood there; her unborn baby, the nervous anticipation of the new Gaskarii abári, the apprehensive excitement that their three-times-lucky election time was bringing the people of Loxos. All the emotions flying were exhausting. She pulled her A’mara cloak of sea green and sand plaid around her to defend against the bone-chilling wind.

Strong arms came around her as her husband rested his head on her shoulder. What are you thinking about? Tle-sun asked.

Everything, Jenna replied simply. I’m thinking about the elections... about us getting our own abári... Tirry... our baby...

Tle-sun gave her a kiss. Well, I can give you an update on the abári part. Yewan’s ship has docked. He will be with us shortly. How is the chowder coming?

I will check on it in a few minutes, Jenna replied. I couldn’t think of a better welcome.

I agree. Have you invited Tirry yet?

I will in a minute. I’m slightly afraid she’ll chicken out.

Give her a massage, Tle-sun said simply. "You know she won’t refuse that!"

You’re very right, my husband. I will do that at once, then attend to the chowder.

I will give it a quick stir for you, he offered.

Thank you, my love, Jenna replied before putting Tirry’s code into her PCS link. Her life-long friend answered. Tirry! Massage time, get over here!

Tirry laughed. I’ll be there in a few. You don’t need to tell me twice!

Jenna added a few more ingredients to the chowder. She made the table look nice, but didn’t set it yet. She didn’t want her friend to know what was brewing prematurely.

♥

Street lighting was inadequate in the poorer districts of Loxos. Of all the improvements Wolfkin Starna had ensured when he took over the run-down building near the river, lighting was not one of them. He did not want to draw premature attention to himself or Ydia Tuskcat. The fact that the city databases were notoriously vulnerable to attack made it easy for him to infiltrate the system and ensure the building belonged to him. The funds that had come in through the Neví project had helped him remodel the inside of the building.

On the outside, he did minor improvements, always making sure it wasn’t too obvious to any passing inspector – nor to any busybody who wanted run-down buildings torn down. He looked like an inattentive landlord, but not negligent. The inside, however, was a different story.

Wolf wore his typical dark brown hooded cloak as he put the connection on the big screen hoping to impress the younger woman in the room.

Pay attention, Ydia, Wolf Starna said to her. See how to handle Belmara.

The young woman nodded from a comfortable chair just out of view of the camera.

Good evening, Belmara! Wolf said silkily.

Wolf, the Curator wishes to know if everything is ready for the elections, the curt woman in midnight blue said on the PCS screen. You did receive her shipment?

We have, Mestari. The trivial operation has already been carried out. Even Saraca herself could never guess how the elections could still be lost, Wolf Starna replied.

"Beware overconfidence, Wolf. You are aware they are sending more A’mara, including a new abári. They intend to be there long term," the woman informed.

It does not matter who they send, Mestari. We will still control the elections... one way or another, the young man replied.

Be mindful that you do not get lazy from arrogance, Initiate, the woman reminded, emphasizing Wolf’s low rank. The Curator is watching this election very closely.

I appreciate his attention. Good night! Wolf said as he closed the connection.  

How do we still control the election? Ydia asked.

The free rent month for our residents helps a lot, Wolf answered. I am grateful that Belmara gave me the opportunity to oversee our properties in Gaskarii. The Curator will see that I am as worthy as any. And me training you will only help to strengthen my position until the day you and I are able to defeat Belmara and Fashi in the duels.

You are so clever, Ydia said, snuggling up to Wolf who kissed her possessively.

Mmmm. And with our members volunteering at each of the polling stations, set up for when things go wrong, we will have this election – and it will look completely normal, Wolf explained. That makes me feel like celebrating. He resumed kissing his lover.

♥

Jenna felt her friend’s leya imprint at her door. Tle-sun answered it for her. He greeted Tirry Jelham with a warm hug.

You’re gettin’ big. You sure you’re not having twins? Tirry asked, giving Jenna a hug and patting her baby bump. The baby kicked in response.

Seems to be just one, but maybe he will arrive early. I’m still about a month away!

You be stayin’ in there a bit longer, now, you hear! Tirry said to the bump. No hospitals tonight, please! She walked into the treatment room. Jenna followed, closing the door behind her. She locked it out of habit, but her husband could overcome that lock – even most A’mara children could do that. Still, the man knew that the treatment door had better stay locked if he didn’t want an embarrassing shock, like what happened once previously. That story only came up if Jenna needed to remind him of the importance – or if she wanted to see him blush. He was quite cute when embarrassed. Truthfully, that didn’t happen often.

Tirry had already made herself comfortable without her shirt on, so that Jenna could massage her friend. An expert masseuse, she put a relaxation oil on her hands and started massaging.

I see your treatment room is filling up with baby things, Tirry said as she relaxed.

Yes, I’m not really sure where else it’s going to go just yet, Jenna said.

You can always have him in your room with you. That’s the way it was done when my mother was little.

There just seems to be so little room. This apartment was the perfect size for me, just me. Now, being married and a new one here soon, it’s feeling small, Jenna said.

So much has changed in the past few months, Tirry said. I remember lying here just like this when I told you your future husband was going to be here.

That was like a lifetime ago. Before... everything.

True, Tirry said with a sigh. All those people we lost.

Guess what? Jenna asked her friend more cheerfully.

What? Tirry asked.

Our new abári has just arrived, Jenna replied.

"Your what?"

The single, middle-aged and available A’mara you wanted to meet, she said.

When do I get to meet him? she asked impatiently.

Maybe he’s coming for supper...

No! Tirry exclaimed. I would have dressed more nicely if you’d told me. I guess that explains the smell of chowder permeating the entire floor!

The doorbell sounded.

I think he’s here, Jenna said.

Tirry got up quickly and put her shirt back on. So much for my massage! she said.

You’re not nervous! Jenna exclaimed incredulously.

Perhaps a tiny bit, Tirry admitted.

I’m sure he’s very nice, Jenna laughed as she unlocked and opened the treatment room door.

♥

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,