Game of the Neví - Chapter 28

28

(Wirnday, cont.)

Freebooter Apartments – Games Room

.
Marline’s attention returned to the table as Joneel shouted “No!” to a strong hand played by Ninn. “Anozzuh round!” he slurred.

Ninn laughed and shrugged. “As you wish.”

“Another long night?” Uana asked as she drew closer. “High stakes require a long match.”

“Whatever it takes,” Ninn said. “I will win tonight. Especially with Sheena gone so she doesn’t cheat again.”

Marline looked at Ninn curiously. How had Sheena cheated? She didn’t know whether to thank her or strangle her – if she was able. Sheena was pretty formidable, she already knew.

“She messed with my mind,” Egan said into her ear. “Joneel couldn’t have won without Sheena’s interference. I’m sorry for that.”

Marline smiled at him, even as his hands caressed her. “You can still help me raise him – and any others we have,” she offered.

“I will,” he promised, kissing her ear.

Marline wondered about Sheena. So rude to so many, she must be hiding something from her past, something which prevented her loving anyone, male or female. Marline pitied Sheena, though she knew she must never let the woman know. Someone would get through to her some day, she knew – and hoped. Even Sheena wasn’t beyond the reach of love.

She noticed Uana watching the card game. Marline felt the flutter from Uana’s unborn child, now just beginning to show. Uana’s hand rested on her abdomen, as if connecting to the boy already. She also felt the love the woman had developed as Sipper moved behind her and placed his arms around her, his hands resting on her abdomen as well. Marline wondered if she would develop that level of love for Egan. She thought she might; he was good to her, and made her feel loved. But she also knew that Egan had been harsh with Ada, and even harsher with Ada’s cousin Qinta. Could he separate his wrath from his passion?

After a few more rounds, it was clear that, when drunk, Joneel’s skill at Wolff was nowhere near that of Ninn’s.

Joneel looked furious, but graciously conceded defeat. “Ah’ll tae yuh t’ Kailey now,” he slurred.

“I will have Rika first, since she’s been prepared already,” Ninn said. “But I’ll be ready for your wife in a couple hours. I’ll find you then.”

Joneel nodded. “Ah’ll jes graba bunk ‘til den, I gess.”

Ninn grinned, taking Rika’s arm and steering her towards the zip-lift.

“Rest well,” Uana instructed. “You need to be ready for your battle tomorrow!”

“I will rest just fine,” Ninn promised. “Not sure about Joneel though.”

“Sheena not ‘ere neider,” Joneel moaned.

“You have a death wish,” Uana commented. “What about the girl you had last night?”

“She’s no’ ‘ere tanigh’.”

“I guess it’s the bunk room for you then. Go, get some sleep!”

Joneel left.

“Let’s go to bed,” Egan muttered into Marline’s ear.

“Yes, lover,” she replied.

♥

A’mara Complex

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Ada Raiden couldn’t sleep. Too much had happened. From catching Egan with another woman to the attack yesterday to all the infighting in the Complex today, it was exhausting. Yet, still she couldn’t sleep.

<Qinta,> she called, like she had years ago when her parents tried to prevent her being with Hira’s father. The fact they had turned out to be right was difficult to face. And Egan hadn’t been much better. She hoped his new love would work it out before it was too late. <Qinta,> she tried again, wondering if their distance was too great.

<Be safe, my cousin,> Qinta’s voice impressed upon her mind.

Ada felt a wave of relief. <Are you okay?>

<I am well enough. You must sleep – for the baby,> Qinta’s voice replied.

<You can’t hurt someone who is dead,> her response came.

<Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you harm.>

Ada felt the connection dissipate, and lay on her bed, listening to Hira’s breathing, feeling the soft squirming of her baby. A soft breeze whistled gently past her window, coaxing her to slumber.

♥

Jessten Sipper’s feet kept moving to the steps she’d been taught over the past few days. She tried to calm herself down for sleep, but it wasn’t coming, she had to move and practice until she fell asleep. She missed Se-orna, missed the distraction. Jessten supposed she could talk to Kivana, who seemed as wise as Rami must have been as a teenager. Her problems were her own, though. She would have her silver. She would win the tournament. Then, she would leave.

Maybe someday she’d find a man who wouldn’t break her heart, but maybe she’d live out her life single. In either case, she would not be in as much pain as she was now. Frey didn’t understand her need to leave, but he had Se-orna now. She was pretty sure they’d bond when she got home. Jessten wouldn’t really be leaving Se-orna then.

She stopped for a moment and felt the tears threaten again.

“No!” she shouted to no one. She would not cry! She grabbed her shaze and stepped up her practice, not caring when the blade marked the wall again.

♥♥♥

NEXT CHAPTER

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.

Asking @popcornexpress to bring popcorn!

Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
find me on Twitter
blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace