Farming for Courage - Chapter 2 - A'mara Books

2

(Terraday, cont.)
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Marc’la felt renewed gratitude for Ek-ul and the part he’d played in the miraculous recovery of her mother. That meant she was now well enough to handle this new, exciting chapter at their farm – the excitement would undoubtedly boost her further. She watched her mother’s enthusiastic interactions with interest.

“Have you all journeyed far?” her mother asked the travelers.

“We sailed from Atrua,” a dark-skinned woman replied.

“Atrua!” Marc’la’s mother exclaimed. “You must stay here then! As long as you need! I’m sorry the house and barns aren’t bigger. Is camping enough? What are your names?”

“It’s plenty, thanks. I’m D’zani.”

“Nice to meet you, D’zani. I’m Tinley. You carry a shaze...” The older woman drifted off.

Marc’la looked at her mother incredulously, following her gaze to Torsten, then to a tan young woman who was the only one who seemed to be unattached. Her mother was such a stickler for romance!

Ek-ul’s arm came around her and squeezed. “Let her have her fun,” he encouraged. “I’m glad to see her matchmaking.”

“Me too,” Marc’la admitted, though wondered whether Torsten would agree. She hoped the tan young woman was up to her mother’s challenge.

“The upper field on the other side of the caballus barn, with the windbreak of trees, would be perfect if you’re trying not to be seen from the road,” her mother was still chattering.

Zilan seemed a little bemused. “Thank you, that will be sufficient,” the blue-haired man replied, absently rubbing his blue goatee.

“We have plenty of jelip steaks if Torsten wants to get a fire started,” she continued.

“Thank you. We need to set up camp then,” Zilan said.

“I will assist, let the ladies rest,” Ek-ul offered.

“I will get the spare room set up,” Marc’la said, watching her husband go. She turned back to the girls and the younger boy, steering them towards the house. The older girl already had Karlun’s hand. “How old are you children?”

Tinley answered, “Ervin is 9, I’m 7. The twins are 5.” She had the mannerisms of a little girl who had been forced to grow up far too early. Marc’la resolved to let the girl have some of her childhood back.

“I’m going to have to have you guys share a room to begin with. Ek-ul was planning an extension to the house anyway, but it’s going to be more critical now.”

“Thank you,” Tinley said.

“You don’t have to be quite so grown up here, Tinley. We are family and I would do anything for Uncle Marosio,” Marc’la said. “I loved him so much.”

“You’ll have to tell me more about him. I only know what my mother said,” Tinley replied.

“I will tell you all I can – in time. But right now, we have beds to make – all before the evening farm chores. As wonderful as Torsten is, he can’t get everything done himself, especially with him helping with your livestock.”

“I can tell we’re going to love it here!” Tinley said, hugging Marc’la impulsively.

“I hope so!” Marc’la replied as they went inside.

♥

At the harbor office, Latássi groaned in frustration. She had been checking the list of arriving ships daily. Everything was so mundane! Ships from Kri’enden, bringing exotic meats, electronics and tribal goods to Kasago. Ships from the Northern Isles, bringing lumber, arctic fish and glass. Ships from X’lea bringing meat, produce and leather. Ships from Çtaráña bringing cacao, medicines and tropical fruits. Ships from Atrua…

“Atrua!” Latássi cried when she saw it.

Tasp looked over her shoulder. “What did it discharge?”

“Lumber… tropical fish… rare metals...”

“Any caballus?”

She looked over the list of passengers. “I don’t see anyone named Zilan...”

“Try Shadow. Espera said they were using that name in Hailu.”

Latássi looked over the list, shaking her head.

The official came over. “Can I help you?”

“Yes… I’m just looking for my cousins… they were coming in from Atrua with caballus. I don’t see their names on here.”

“Caballus? We discharged three caballus with carriages – empty. We don’t know who they were for… just a single handler in charge, named Yavin.”

Latássi didn’t know that name, but she was certain this was the group they were looking for – though she didn’t know about the third carriage. “Can you tell me where they were going?”

“Sorry. I don’t know. I do need you to move along so that I can do my job.”

“Thanks,” Latássi said. “Let’s go, Tasp. Do we know anything that would give us a clue as to where they were going? You’re the one who spoke with Espera.”

“They’re just traveling,” he replied as they left the office and headed back to their hoverbil – a classic Elite… in purple. It was definitely a bit more conspicuous than Latássi liked.

Her mind churned with the mystery at hand. “With a third caballus? Why did they grab another? They left Hailu with just one.”

“They picked up some dancers from Hailu… That’s when they picked up the second. And it’s said that Zilan’s woman is pregnant – same with Elíaz’s woman,” Tasp said. “That’s why I didn’t even ask Elið to come.”

“So, that explains the second carriage… but why a third?”

“I don’t know. I’ll try contacting Espera again, but it would be better if we could solve this one ourselves.”

“Where is Zilan from?”

“Maalan, I believe,” Tasp replied. “He’s known to be a friend of Derick Aiden… who went to school there.”

“So, no family in Kasago...”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“I guess we just start asking around about who the new folks are,” Latássi said with a sigh.

“I know a way to spend some time…,” Tasp said, holding her against his body, his lust hard on her hip.

“We have plenty to do!” she pointed out, pulling away from him.

“You owe me!” he reminded her.

“Not now!” she growled, noticing someone who would definitely have paid attention to a caravan of caballus… the parking attendant. “Excuse me!” she said, working her way towards the lady. “Excuse me!”

“Can I help you?” the woman asked.

“I am looking for a rather motley group of immigrants – possibly legal, possibly not...”

“I’m not really supposed to...”

“Three caballus… handlers…”

“Yes, I remember seeing them. A crazy bunch. A man with blue hair, a pregnant woman with purple hair… a dark pregnant woman, her fair-skinned partner… a blond man and possibly two partners… and children.”

“Children?!” Tasp questioned. “Who did the children belong to?”

“Relatives of some sort – they live here in Ke’oya… somewhere.”

“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful,” Latássi said.

“You’re welcome. You’re officials?”

“Of a sort,” Tasp replied.