Spice of Strength - Chapter 20 - A'mara Books

20

(Wirnday)

It was a windy morning, Cyanus noted as he reached the Conference Chamber. There were clouds moving in, but they seemed to just keep going today. He hoped that any troubles that had been brewing would blow along with them.

The bulk of the Towani A’mara were in the room now, so he turned and addressed them.

“I will try to keep this brief. Many of you are already aware that the Blast 2 nightclub seems to be getting more than its fair share of attention at the moment,” Cyanus began. “We have reason to believe that someone wishes to harm our young women by giving them the Petal Bed Plus cocktail drug tonight – or some night in the future – while they’re enjoying themselves dancing.”

“How does this drug work?” Akeld asked.

“This drug removes inhibitions that one might normally have when dealing with a young man who is charming, but deceitful. It makes a young woman weak, depending on the dose, might even render her unconscious to be taken advantage of,” Cyanus shared as tactfully as he could manage.

“And we think this is the work of the Balan?” Akeld asked.

“It only makes sense. We know they are here and active. They are believed to be fairly weak following the confrontation in the warehouse,” Cyanus said.

“I beg your pardon, Abári,” D’zani piped up. “I’ve been told that they are stronger than one would have thought. That they only appear weak when their strongest are away.”

“I don’t know where you got that information, D’zani,” Cyanus said. “However, even if that is true, a group that is dependent on one or two strong shazes is still a weak group. Still, you don’t need to have a strong shaze if you have other means, such as the ability to outwit normal magna-locks in order to steal the ingredients to make one of the more dangerous cocktails at their disposal. They don’t wish to kill you, after all – just become a brood mare for them!” He looked at the young woman sternly.

D’zani averted her gaze.

Cyanus wondered what she was hiding. There had been some rumors about her meeting with someone recently. If this man was giving her this information, it was quite possible he was Balan and very dangerous. The girl could have become an unwitting informant as well as being a target as a vessel. He would talk to her privately later.

“What is this drug? What does Petal Bed Plus look like?” Akeld asked.

“Generally, it is used to spike the young woman’s drink, to render her incapable of resisting him. But the group have also stolen the antidote. We don’t know whether that’s to make sure we can’t treat it or whether it’s so the young men can safely share his own drink with her. In any case, the best course of action would be to not have any refreshments at the nightclub except water directly from the fountain,” Cyanus advised.

“And the buddy system?” Akeld suggested.

“Yes, ladies, stay in pairs. If only one of you is dancing, the other should watch like a hawk. Don’t let the other out of your sight. Restroom breaks together – everything,” Cyanus said.

“Do we have any of the antidote?” Akeld asked.

“Unfortunately, after it was stolen, Kinokei informed me that she had no more of the ingredient until the fall,” Cyanus said.

“We are growing it even now,” Emeric added. “But we won’t have enough to harvest safely for at least another year. Zukie and I have planted up all the seeds we have though – to try to get our supply up more quickly.”

“Great thinking,” Cyanus said. “For now, the only antidote we have is time – and you guys with your shazes, ready to defend our young ladies. You are dismissed. Akeld, thank you for making sure I covered all the points.”

He turned around to try to catch D’zani, but she was already gone.

The buzz in the air was palpable as Zara worked to get the lunch service going for the day. Most of the youth were anticipating an evening of dancing.

Zara instructed one of the sous-chefs on how to prepare some vegetables for the next dish. She noticed the lady looking over her shoulder a moment before a pair of olive arms squeezed her from behind and a kiss was planted on her cheek. The sous-chef grinned as she began preparing the vegetables Zara had requested.

“Emeric!” Zara cried in both surprise and pleasure. “I can’t kiss you right now!”

“That’s okay. Give me a task,” he requested.

Zara looked at him incredulously. He really meant to follow through?

“We discussed that last night,” he reminded her. “You need more staff and said I could come in here. So, give me a task.”

“You can grate cheese,” she said at last. “Large setting, about half that block.”

“Yes Chef,” he said.

Zara smiled again as she watched him wash his hands, put on an apron and start working. She then noticed that everyone in the kitchen had been distracted watching her and Emeric.

“Get back to work!” Zara barked. Then, she set her mind back on the task of getting lunch out.

Zukie couldn’t take her eyes off her sister as she sat down for lunch with Akeld.

“Would you ask my sister for a basket of bread rolls?” Zukie asked the waitress.

The woman nodded and went to the kitchen on her mission.

“Told you,” Akeld said quietly.

She nodded dumbly as she watched Emeric working side-by-side in the kitchen with her sister. She could see that her sister was enjoying his help and closeness. She shook her head with disbelief.

“What’s that about?” Cyanus asked as he and Nina joined them.

Zukie indicated the kitchen with her eyes.

“What?… Oh!” Nina said, watching the couple.

“How did you guys manage that?” Cyanus asked. “Emeric was frozen with fear around her.”

“We had him over for dinner last night,” Zukie said.

Zara brought out the basket of rolls.

“And?” Zukie asked pointedly.

Zara blushed. “He’s sure excellent in the kitchen!” she replied.

Zukie raised her eyebrows meaningfully.

“Sis!” Zara protested, her blush deepening. “Health and safety, you know...”

Zukie giggled as Zara regained her composure and returned to the kitchen.

“You sure you two aren’t A’mara?” Cyanus teased.

“It’s called being identical twins,” Nina chimed in. “They are like two halves of the same being.”

“I’m not sure I want to know any more,” Akeld teased.

Zukie met his laughing eyes with her own giggles. “If I’m not very mistaken, we have a new brother-in-law in our near future.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t tease him – in fact, it very much begins the season for sibling-like mischief!” Akeld joked merrily.

“A’mara families are sure something else!” Nina said.

“Yes, we are, honey. I’m glad you let me show you,” Cyanus said tenderly.

NEXT CHAPTER

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

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.
	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 - 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.

Lori Svensen
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