36
(Silnaday, cont.)
A’mara Complex
.
Jessten Sipper remained awake for a long time. The day had been a stressful one – and incredibly long. She knew she had trained that afternoon, but that seemed like forever ago already. After a relaxation exercise, she felt her muscles melt into the bed, but still sleep would not come.
A light tap came at the door.
<Who is it?> she asked mentally, hoping to avoid having to get out of bed.
<Kailey,> came the faint reply.
<Come in,> she answered, using the leya to open the door. She was glad of her strengthening skills which allowed her to open the door from the wrong room now. Apparently, not everyone could do that.
The door opened and closed. Then, the light footsteps came into her bedroom. The young woman sat down, holding her sleeping baby in her arms and a very tired child against her leg.
“Marcey, come, sleep on the couch in my room,” Jessten invited, grabbing a fuzzy blanket and placing it over the exhausted child, who slept almost immediately. Kailey put the baby safely next to the toddler.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Jessten asked Kailey, going into the kitchenette to make some cocoa.
Kailey shook her head, following Jessten.
“Neither could I. Too much happened today.”
“Yeah,” Kailey said in agreement. “How is your patient?”
“He’s as good as can be expected. He is pretty banged up, but he’s conscious and well on the mend. He knows he owes his life to the boy who died. He’s taking that pretty hard.”
“I don’t blame him. Should I go talk to him?” Kailey suggested.
“You could tomorrow. Maybe it would help; I don’t know,” Jessten replied.
“What is the story between you and Laisen?”
“There isn’t one.”
“Don’t tell me that. Anyone can see it’s not true.”
“He decided there wasn’t one. That is the truth.” Jessten sighed sadly. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’ve got a little more to do here; then I will leave Joton.”
Kailey was silent at that, as if unsure what to say.
“It’s the only thing I can do.”
“But you’re a great team together.”
“Only if he decides to see it that way. There’s nothing else I can do now. Oh, Kailey! I don’t want to talk about it!”
“Sorry. I just hate to see anyone make a decision like that over love.”
“I have loved him since the moment he rescued me from the Uugli last summer. I loved him when he helped train me. I will always love him, but I can’t bear to be around him if he won’t love me.”
“He does love you, I’m certain of that, Jessten.”
“Maybe he does in his heart… but until his head allows him to feel it, there’s nothing else I can do. Kailey, this is killing me!”
“I’m sorry. I hope things get better – without you having to leave. I would miss you terribly. Do you mind if I stay here tonight?”
“I don’t mind. Your girls already have my couch. You could borrow Se-orna’s bed in the other room, or sleep on the couch in the living room...”
“How about on the chair, right here? I’m afraid to be alone right now. He is capable of terrible things.”
“Of course, Kailey. You can sleep wherever. There’s a blanket behind you – will that be enough?”
“I think so.” She adjusted the chair to lean back.
“Reach out with your mind to the light switch. See if you can turn it off.”
“I’m ever so tired, but I’ll try.”
Jessten could feel Kailey reaching through the leya.
“That’s it. Keep going.”
Suddenly the light went out.
“Well done, Kailey!”
Jessten could feel her pride.
“Thank you, Jessten. Good night.”
Jessten felt Kailey sleeping shortly thereafter. She remained awake awhile longer, but finally the sounds of slumber lulled her off to sleep as well.
♥
Down another corridor, Laisen also lay thinking. His acting abári duties had been a real trial today, but somehow that wasn’t as frightening as it was working side-by-side with Jessten. She had been a perfect partner, he had to realize. She had many strengths where he had weaknesses.
The main thing they had in common, skill-wise was their shaze skills. Even though he had earned his gold mastery badge, he knew that Jessten was more than capable in battle. She was definitely at silver level now, but even with her slightly lower level, he couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather have next to him in a battle like the one they’d had today, defending the Complex. She had fought calmly, but proficiently, working with him as a team. She would make a good wife for someone. But not for himself.
Ten years was still a huge age gap. How could he live with himself? Jessten was still under age for marriage. How could he succumb to this temptation? It would be robbing the cradle – and to consider taking her to his bed?! No, he had to squash those feelings again. He had to regain his self-control and avoid her again… well, once Rami got back anyway. Until then, he would have to keep working with her, tempting her, tempting his resolve.
He had made the mistake earlier of listening to her thoughts when she mentioned naming the Neví! Sure, he knew about her father, Yidal’s role in the ‘charitable organization,’ but he hadn’t heard that Jessten had been involved earlier. She didn’t seem to be now, but maybe he was making a mistake in trusting her now too. He had closed himself off from her thoughts again. He didn’t want to know what she was thinking. He also wanted to make sure Kailey didn’t catch his thoughts. The woman was gifted, for sure. She would make a more appropriate choice in a partner, despite being a single mother. But the more he thought about Kailey, the more his mind drifted back to Jessten and how she looked, caring for the small children. Even with her face streaked with the shared tears, she was beautiful and selfless.
How could he even stand to fight Jessten in the weekly tournament this week? He didn’t want to fight her, where his emotions might get the better of him. No, he would have to make his apologies to Mathis and refuse to fight her.
His last conscious thought before drifting off to sleep was to wonder how it would feel to have Jessten with him, next to him, cuddled against him.
♥♥♥
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.
Asking @popcornexpress to bring popcorn!
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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blogging on: Steem, Whaleshares, WeKu, Hyperspace
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