Name of the Neví - Chapter 3 - A'mara Books

3

(Muranaday, cont.)

Towani Greenhouses

Two green-cloaked women carried a heavy bucket of compost to a back corner. They were expecting another shipment of plants from Çtaráña any day now and had to make sure they were ready. Another pond was also ready in case Coomar Everes sent them more fish.

“I’m going to lunch, Vanti,” the shorter woman said.

“That’s fine, Janika. I’m just going to spend a bit more time in here,” Vanti Potam replied.

As if waiting for her friend to go, suddenly Samek Potam was in the greenhouse with her. “Why do you never spend time with me?” he demanded.

“You’re never ready when I am,” Vanti excused.

“I could be if you tried,” Samek said. He pulsed his hands towards her, knocking her over with the leya blast. “You don’t treat me like a wife should treat her husband!”

“I try,” Vanti said. “I really don’t know what I’m doing wrong!”

“You could try harder,” Samek said.

“The abáris are here!” Janika’s voice sounded through the greenhouse.

Samek gave Vanti a hand and pulled her into a deep, possessive kiss, just as their guests arrived. Then, Samek left. Vanti wondered why he could never remain where Nina was. At first, she’d thought it was always Nina who couldn’t be near him, but now she knew it ran both directions.

She made eye contact with her former maqla as he came in. Cyanus gave her a quick hug. Nina followed suit. Vanti studied the woman’s abdomen. No, she was still not showing. Vanti had been showing for a couple of weeks already, the first outward sign of the developing lives within. Of course, everyone around them knew – A’mara were excellent at knowing such things. It was both a relief and an annoyance at times! No secrets here! She laughed inwardly as Janika joined her again.

Cyanus made the introductions. “My former chola, Vanti Potam, our head gardener. Her assistant Janika Nathalis,” he concluded.

Vanti began taking the group around, hoping that Cyanus wouldn’t notice any bumps or bruises she’d taken when she fell earlier. He was overly worried about her already. She was grateful when Kinokei Zeren, the stella, joined them and took over part of the tour.

“What do you think about the abári?” Janika whispered when they were able to step back a bit.

“I don’t know. He seems nice enough,” Vanti said. “What are you driving at?”

“Totally in love, but won’t admit it!” Janika said.

“You’re such a matchmaker!” Vanti exclaimed quietly. “Who is he in love with?”

“The first adviser, of course! You really need to brush up on your skills, Vanti!” Janika scolded with amusement. “There is a rumor that he created that position solely because he loves her.”

“I can’t believe the abári would do that,” Vanti said. “Surely he’s just realizing he needs someone to help him more. That’s a good thing. He must be 100 times busier than Zarma, after all!”

♥

Jilia was enjoying the greenhouse tour. She had not seen the greenhouses since she was a small child, but they had done so much more now! The only thing that would have made it better would have been to be within the arm of the man a few feet in front of her. She looked at Jerreck, admired again his long golden-red hair braided into a single long plait, the same as it had always been. She felt her heart long for him before she put that feeling away again, as she’d always done.

“I love this tree!” Jilia said suddenly, causing Jerreck to stop and look. She leaned against the black bark, causing little rainbows to ripple away from her in response.

“This is the ata’il,” Janika said. “Coomar said it was his favorite too.”

“Trust he will be back,” Jilia said, feeling the longing of the woman’s heart.

Janika blushed and looked down.

Jilia could feel the young woman trying to send her own encouragement. <It is of no use worrying about me,> she sent back.

<Thanks,> Janika’s reply was felt.

“She is right,” Zarma’s voice came from next to her.

“I am contented,” Jilia insisted again.

“He struggles against himself, I can feel it. One day, he will recognize how much you mean to him. I just know it,” Zarma replied.

Jilia stopped in order to let the men go further into the greenhouse. She could feel the tears threatening to fall. “You don’t know how hard it is. To love him so deeply as I have for so long. Working by his side, unable to share, knowing that he’s already closed himself off to the love I have for him.”

“I know better than you think. Have faith,” Zarma encouraged.

“Nothing else could have kept me going,” Jilia replied. “Not for so long. But time to file these feelings away again. It would break me to lose what I have, to scare him away.”

“I understand,” Zarma said with a sad smile.

They rejoined the men.

“I think we need an update on Coomar’s situation,” Jilia said as they started back towards the entrance of the greenhouses.

“I suspect you are right,” Jerreck replied.

“I can arrange for that,” Zarma offered as they stopped to talk to Vanti and Janika once more. “We will be having a discussion with Omrill this evening. We’d like you to be there with us – both of you,” Zarma informed.

“After supper, we’ll be with you,” Vanti promised. Janika nodded. “Now, how about lunch!”

♥♥♥

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

Birth of the Neví - coming soon on Whaleshares - otherwise, scroll way back on Steem (like summer 2018.)

Name of the Neví - Chapter 1

Maps and Guides

Terrenden Atlas Pages (six maps of Almara and Kranisis.)
[characters, pronunciation, glossary and image credits](https://steemit.com/writing/@viking-ventures/name-of-the-nevi-character-guide-calendar-glossary-and-credits-a-mara-books

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...

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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