Acting the Part - Chapter 37

37

(Vasanaday, cont.)

Terrenden Media

“The brides are working their way down the aisle through the huge crowd. Some estimates have 20,000 people here today to watch this event. Only 5,000 fit inside this courtyard, but thousands more are watching the screens from Palerma’s waterfront park,” the male commentator described.

“I think it’s been awhile since we had such an event in Tephsa,” the female commentator said.

“On your screens now, you can see the grooms waiting. Iyva’s groom, Joen ‘Zilan’ Vaala is standing there.”

“He was rumored to have died back in 835, the Ilim City Diner Disaster on Varkevand,” the female commentator added.

“It turned out they were wrong. Zilan has been secretly training and operating around the world for years, even advising Derick about Neví operations. It seems he got mixed up with them for awhile.”

“I think it speaks volumes that the A’mara were willing to take him back after all that.”

“The A’mara have had trust issues the past couple of years. Let’s hope they’re forcing their members to adhere to a higher standard,” the male commentator criticized.

“Agreed. Anyway, Zilan is almost 31 years old – that’s quite a hefty age gap going on there,” the woman added.

“The A’mara are quick to point out that love doesn’t always follow the rules. We just hope he’s not robbing the cradle with this one. She looks happy enough though.”

“Derick Aiden is also waiting on the dais. He’s 31 as well. A better age gap in my opinion, but that’s just me.”

♥

Palerma, Tephsa

Saraca looked at the two couples standing before her. She needed to use her training to keep her tears at bay. For 16 years, she could never have dreamt of seeing Joen Vaala again, let alone performing his wedding! Although she was used to crowds and to cameras, she had never seen both to this degree in front of her. She swallowed her nerves.

“It is my honor to be here today, in the land of my birth, to perform several ceremonies for you. It is highly unusual for any A’mara ceremony to be filmed, so it is my wish you will see this as an educational opportunity and a glimpse into our world.

“When I asked Derick if he wanted to have a separate ceremony, he reminded me about his life-long friendship with both the A’mara in general and with Zilan in particular. I asked if he would prefer that I do our A’mara business separately and he indicated that he liked the idea of including everything together – as we are accustomed to doing. Although we do ceremony, we don’t tend to do pomp and circumstance as we have here today.

“As per Derick’s wishes, we will begin with some A’mara business.”

There was an anticipatory silence.

“Joen Vaala was a promising young chola back in 835 when we experienced a disaster in Ilim City. We lost many people that day including two of Joen’s closest mentors. He went missing and was listed amongst the dead. It was only last year that we realized he was alive. This year, we put a lot of work into finding out the mystery of Joen, finally discovering that he was using the name Zilan. But us finding him wasn’t enough. He had to decide he wanted to be with us as well.

“Then comes Iyva. She came to us last year, the victim of a horrific accident that required months of treatment. She also disappeared shortly after she recovered. Amazingly, she was picked up by Zilan at the precise moment that she was abandoned by her new mentors. He picked up the reins, finished training this young woman to a high-degree of shaze mastery, besting the best the Kri’enden had to offer.”

There was a gasp and a few appreciative claps among the attending A’mara. They knew what that meant, Saraca knew. Even Ja’tel seemed notably impressed.

“Before I can give the pair of them their shaze mastery badges, I need to induct them both into the A’mara,” Saraca said. “As this ceremony is only for our tradition, I can do the two of you at once. Iyva Erynnes. Joen Zilan Vaala. Do you swear to do your best to learn A’mara skills, abide by A’mara tradition, and to serve your planet every day, by being A’mara?”

“Yes,” Iyva said.

“I do,” Zilan replied.

“Iyva was born on Irola, as such, she has a black cloak. Irola has long been a political no-man’s land, a place of no original culture, but a mixture of all colors. That is why they have black. I present this cloak to you, Iyva. I wish that you wear this cloak with pride as you embark on your training.”

“Thank you,” Iyva replied.

“Joen Vaala was born on Maalan, but in his eyes, he was reborn (as Zilan) on Irola and has requested to also wear the black cloak. Hence, I present this black cloak to you, Zilan. I wish that you wear this cloak with pride as you embark upon your training.”

“Thank you, Abári,” Zilan replied.

“Next. These two helped protect Derick from an attempt to kill him and his bride only a few days ago. Iyva and Zilan worked together as a team to help get two top-ranking Balan and Neví into custody. Their shaze skills are quite amazing. The other day, Andrian watched them earn silver mastery badges for sure, but their work both in Joton and in defending Derick and Kauri the other day was definitely deserving of the gold mastery badges that I award them today. I believe that makes Iyva the youngest gold shaze master of our generation.”

There was a round of applause with some excited cheers from the local A’mara as Saraca affixed the badges to their cloaks.

“Now, we can get to the fun business of conducting two weddings!”

Another louder cheer went up, this time from Derick Aiden’s fans.

“I have to read each vow separately for it to be valid under Terrenden law. I will begin with Zilan and Iyva. Iyva Erynnis, do you take Joen ‘Zilan’ Vaala to be your life partner with all the rights and responsibilities thereof?”

“I do,” Iyva replied smiling at her beloved.

“Joen ‘Zilan’ Vaala,” Saraca began, repeating the vow.

“I do,” he said.

“Then Zilan and Iyva, I declare you to be lawfully wedded under A’mara tradition and Terrenden law. You may share a token of affection.”

Iyva and Zilan kissed to the cheers of the A’mara part of the crowd.

“Moving right along. Kauri Emma Klement, do you take Derick Kanesh Walker Aiden to be your life partner with all the rights and responsibilities thereof?” Saraca asked.

“I do,” Kauri said grinning.

“Derick Kanesh Walker Aiden, do you take Kauri Emma Klement to be your life partner with all the rights and responsibilities thereof?”

“I do,” Derick said grinning back.

“Then, Derick and Kauri, I declare you to be lawfully wedded under Terrenden law. You may share a token of affection.”

Derick lifted Kauri into his arms to the screams of the audience. He kissed his bride romantically and passionately, eliciting louder cheers and cries from everyone able to see.

♥

Terrenden Media

“That would be the most-eligible actor of our generation, scooped up by a mere secretary who didn’t even recognize him when they met,” the male commentator continued.

“What’s next?” the woman asked.

“Honeymoon plans have been tightly guarded, but rumor has it that the two couples have planned a lengthy Terrenden-wide honeymoon, maybe even together for part of it. Both couples are well-familiar with disguise, so it’s not even clear we will catch glimpses of them as they travel.”

“Well, I think everyone wishes them well in their marriages,” the woman commentator concluded.

♥

Joton, Kri’enden – the Freebooter Casino

“We wish them well to their deaths!” Sheena N’handu seethed cruelly. “All four of them on the Curator’s hit list now.”

“We do owe Zilan and Iyva some thanks though,” Gaetan Rookley said.

“It was nice of them to free us from the burden Fashi and Belmara had become,” Sheena said, thinking of how Fashi had betrayed her, allowing Gaetan to make her his vessel and usurp her position – all because of one foolish utterance. She would not make that kind of mistake again.

“I hated thinking that they might exact some kind of payment in return for their help,” Gaetan admitted. “With them in prison, we are #2 and #3 in Terrenden. Pretty nice, isn’t it, my love?”

“I am not your love!” Sheena seethed. “And with them in prison, you are lucky I have not killed you!”

“Sweetheart, if you kill me, you’d have to find someone else you could trust enough to help you with this Casino – someone else to be your #2. I seem to remember that’s how you got into this mess to begin with.”

Sheena knew he was right, as much as she detested him, better the devil you know…

♥

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, Chapter 28

Sands of Survival - Chapter 1

Acting the Part, part 4 - Chapter 29

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...

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