34
(Silnaday, cont.)
A’mara Complex – Conference Chamber
.
Laisen Toban didn’t waste any time contacting Rami as soon as Jessten entered the Conference Chamber. He struggled against his emotions, raw from shock and grief.
The familiar image came on the screen, her kind, calm face a welcome site. It almost soothed the panic that had threatened to consume him.
Jessten’s calm presence at his side was equally soothing, he realized, but he tried to ignore it for the moment. He resisted the urge to grab her hand to tap into her calm.
“We had an attack,” Laisen began and continued explaining about how a mob had attacked the Complex, leading to a handful of deaths to the adversaries and one of their own students perishing. “We went out to disarm only, but things went wrong.”
“Who died?” Rami asked gently.
Laisen looked at Jessten who answered the question. “I asked around, Rami. Apparently, he was Ash Joson, an orphan you took in some years ago.”
“I’m saddened,” Rami replied. “He was a nice boy, well gifted.”
“Apparently, he was defending the other boy who was hurt,” Jessten added. “Daim Fenley.”
Laisen realized the boy died a hero, and he hadn’t even heard the boy’s name before. He felt slightly ashamed. He felt a warble from Jessten, but tried to ignore it.
“How is he doing?” Rami asked, looking at Jessten.
“Well enough,” she replied. “The dragonstone did most of what was required. I’m grateful you had me working with Ra’kate those few weeks.”
“You were a good student,” Ra’kate added. “I’d be happy to teach you more, whenever you want.”
“Thank you,” Jessten said.
He could feel her cautious smile without looking at her. She was afraid to let down her guard even a fraction. Had he done that to her?
“Laisen, did the officials take Ash’s body?” Rami asked.
“Yes. They said you’d know where he was when you returned,” Laisen replied.
“I’ll take you with me when I do. It would be good for you to know how it works.”
Laisen nodded.
Jessten spoke again. “Oh, Rami,” she said. “That new apartment block opened. They took fifteen of our Project residents today!”
“There is good news then!” the abári replied. “I’m glad of it.”
“We also took another woman into our Complex. She seems to need extra protection from her estranged partner,” Laisen added.
“It would be wise if you worked out who the partner is and who he might belong to or work for,” Rami said. “That could be another factor in today’s attack.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Laisen admitted, feeling that he should have.
“I will find out,” Jessten volunteered.
“Let me know if anything more develops,” Rami said. “Sounds like the Complex is in good hands.”
“I do not envy your position, Rami. I’ve never felt so unequal to a task before!” Laisen said.
“It’s an unbearable one, Laisen... unless you learn to lean on those around you. Much of the job is learning how to share the burden. It was the first lesson I had to learn, and one I highly recommend you learning as quickly as possible,” Rami replied.
Laisen felt the censure again. He needed to lean on Jessten too, even with the emotional risk that involved. “When are you going to be back, Rami?” he asked.
“Not today. We’re working with Ka’lai still. Egan did a lot of damage, including stealing some valuable texts. We are also exchanging some important information. Do you need me urgently? I think you can manage just fine.”
“No, we’ll be okay,” Laisen said, wishing he felt more confident about it.
Rami continued. “Until we get back, have everyone do extra shaze practice, martial arts and leya warfare – anything that might help if you’re attacked again before we get back. Work together, I can’t emphasize that enough.”
Laisen nodded again as the connection was closed.
“I will interview our new resident,” Jessten Sipper said, rising quickly from her seat next to Laisen. “Perhaps she prefers to talk to a woman.”
Not waiting for a reply from him, she left the room.
He watched her go, unsure what he should do next. She had kept her heart tightly zipped up while she was next to him, with only the faintest bubble from her. But now, the torrent was unmistakable. She was in pain, and he was doing it to her.
Ten years though. How could he even consider it? Better to let her leave Joton – better for her.
♥
Jessten was grateful that the PCS talks were done. For the duration of the marathon, she’d been in the seat next to Laisen – too close. The barriers that she had carefully constructed to keep herself from hurting too much were near crumbling.
Finally out of the room, away from him, the barriers crumbled completely. She nearly collapsed in the pain of having to be next to him, without letting that love flow. Certainly, wearing the fringe couldn’t be as difficult as having to sit next to Laisen without emotion. She couldn’t keep it up much longer.
She would do what Rami expected of her, but then, she would have to leave. It was too hard to have to work side-by-side with the man she loved without letting him know that he still had possession of her heart. The next few days just might break her.
She let herself grieve as she approached the dormitory wing. Then she cleared her feelings away again as she reached Kailey’s door across the hall from her own. The woman had problems enough of her own. She didn’t need Jessten’s mess as well.
♥♥♥
If you have enjoyed this book, I would be grateful if you could put your thoughts as a review on [Goodreads](coming soon) for me.
Buy at: (coming soon to Books2Read, Scribl, LBRY and Lulu - paperback.)
Other Chapters of this set
Birth of the Neví - Chapter 1 on Whaleshares
Name of the Neví - Chapter 1
Mind of the Neví - Chapter 1
Game of the Neví - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- Kri'enden & Joton - 830 TCE (New/imprived map coming soon)
- Character Guide and Image Credits
- Calendar and Glossary - for Name of the Neví but these two parts are true throughout.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2019 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
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