Harvest of Travel - Chapter 6 - A'mara Books

6

(Tharnday, cont.)

Irola – Parliament Commons

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Peri Harmon had dressed nicely in anticipation of the A’mara who was meeting with her. She didn’t understand why she felt so nervous. She had often met with people to discuss political matters. The Commons was a good place to meet them casually – which usually helped keep the nerves at bay.

So why did she feel so nervous now? He wasn’t even a real stranger, but the cousin of one of her classmates. He was practically her neighbor.

She reached the Commons to see Julleon Dellan waiting for her. Peri smiled at him, feeling her cheeks redden slightly. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she apologized.

“No apology necessary,” Julleon replied. “It is habit to arrive early for any engagement. It’s one of those A’mara things, I guess.”

“Have you eaten?” she asked politely.

“Yes, thanks.”

“Let’s sit near the windows,” she suggested.

“Wherever you feel most comfortable.”

Peri led the way to the large windows which offered a great view of the city. She could just catch a glimpse of the sparkling blue from the Irolean Sound, and could just make out the distant mountains of Çtaráña. She sat, then took out a breakfast bar and nibbled. “So, why did you want to meet?” she asked.

“Several reasons,” Julleon said. “Firstly, I realized I should have greeted you when you arrived last year, newly elected and all.”

“Thank you, but that was unnecessary.”

“I’ve never been super keen on politics, so I let it go. I am sorry for that.”

“Again, totally unnecessary,” Peri protested.

“But now, I understand that the anti-A’mara movement has grown during the break. I am looking for ways to avoid the loss of my job.”

“My colleagues and I were talking about that last night, actually – when you found us. There is a lot of concern for all the things that have been going wrong within your organization in the past few years. There are worries that you have too much power within your grasp considering that you can’t seem to keep control of your own members,” she said, feeling uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, that’s just what everyone is saying.”

Julleon nodded. “There is never a need to apologize for the truth, PC Harmon.”

“Please, just call me Peri.”

He nodded again. “People seem to remember only the mishaps, but not the good – such as our handling of the elections investigation in Varkevand, or the peace we were able to negotiate between Kri’enden and Yezi’im last year.”

“But you also had traitors who cost innocent people their lives. The explosion in Gaskarii, for instance.”

“Can you honestly say that there is no one in Parliament who is there for their own selfish purposes? No bill that has destroyed the livelihoods of many or caused death either directly or indirectly?” he challenged.

Peri’s countenance softened again. “I can’t say that, of course. We just hold you to a higher degree of accountability.”

“And 99.9% of the time, we live up to that, Peri. But it’s the other 0.1% that everyone remembers. It’s not a reason to tie our hands.”

She nodded. “It would be good if there was a report showing all the good things you’ve done, as A’mara. Then, maybe there would be a chance of defeating the bill when it’s proposed.”

Julleon nodded too.

“Maybe we could work on that together,” Peri suggested.

“I think it would be good for us, as an organization, to have something concrete like that. It’s a great idea.” He smiled.

She felt her cheeks reddening again and hastily looked out the window.

“We can have something finished by the time the new session begins,” Julleon was saying.

Peri nodded, looking back at him, trying not to think about how dangerous it would be to work with him.

“Let’s meet again this afternoon. We need to spend some time in the Complex library. It’s time to log all the great things the A’mara have done for everyone else.”

She nodded again, glad she could at least have the rest of the morning to strengthen herself emotionally.

“See you later then,” he said rising, then reaching his hand for hers.

She shook it cordially.

Then Julleon Dellan left, leaving Peri sitting there, unsure what to think. She thought about the impending legislation that her constituents were demanding. She thought about all the things that Julleon had said, the good things about the A’mara. Then, she thought about the report she had suggested, and the time she would be spending with Julleon in the coming days. She flushed again as she wondered what it would be like to kiss that cheek – neatly bearded in the A’mara fashion.

But she couldn’t – not if she valued her job. She couldn’t be seen getting too friendly with the A’mara, and if she knew anything about them, she had to make sure she didn’t think about it when she was around Julleon!

♥

Hailu, X’lea – Buccaneer Casino

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Yavin was just about to pour himself a cold breakfast when there was the ping from his PCS link, alerting him to the fact that least one of the cousins had left the zip-lift.

He put the milk back in the chiller, grabbed a granola bar and jogged across the road to go into the quiet casino. He slipped quietly into the showroom, but the room was empty and dark. He took a bite of his granola bar as he felt through the leya for the young women who had been the stars of the show the previous evening.

He felt them, but not in the room. Crossing the dark showroom, he found another door marked “Employees Only” - but could just hear music playing. Maybe this was where they practiced. He looked around first to ensure he was unobserved, then he turned back to the door and waved his hand gently. The door opened silently before him, letting music spill out and him slip in quietly.

The room was a smaller studio, blaring with music. A group of a dozen women, including the cousins, danced in their underwear.

The lights on the stage would obscure their view of him, he knew as he sat and watched the women dance into a stack like he’d watched the previous evening. The cousins were at the top of each tower again.

A woman sat next to him. “They perform in less than underwear, I’m sure you appreciate,” the woman said. “It would be silly to have them practice in their everyday clothing, then have them wearing next to nothing on stage.”

Yavin nodded, wondering if the woman was about to ask him to leave.

“You will have to leave before the next group – who practice nude. That group perform topless and have to be prepared to lose the rest of it if patrons get rowdy – or pay enough. Those ladies have to keep their cool no matter what,” the woman said.

“I thought it was against the rules to … touch the dancers,” Yavin said realizing the woman was a Sensitive.

“I’m sure you understand that money talks – big money talks the loudest. Obviously, it’s always up to the women – whether they’re, uh, available or not. But we costume and time them accordingly.”

Yavin nodded again, humbled to be informed about the nitty-gritty of the lives of casino dancers. He was also surprised he hadn’t been shown the door already.

“There’s something special about you, I can tell,” the woman replied to his thoughts again. “You’re here to watch the twin cousins, I already knew that. They’re something special, those two. I was one of the servants at Savint Manor – before everything happened. I worked for them until the day the place burned down, before Siji made it into a somber memorial to his father.” She sighed sadly. “l’ve known those two girls since they were tiny – before they snuck their way in here to watch. They were born on the same day, neighboring delivery rooms. Their mothers are sisters, their fathers are brothers… That’s why we call them the twin cousins – they’re like twins, but they’re just cousins twice.

“Anyway,” the woman continued. “I’ve allowed you to stay as a measure of security.”

“Security?” Yavin echoed.

“Celna is being stalked and threatened,” the woman replied.

“I saw the man last night,” Yavin said.

“Then you know what I am talking about. I know you’re as Sensitive as I. But the difference between you and Tilo Martinis is like night and day.”

“Is he dangerous?” Yavin asked.

“Most likely. Tilo’s father died for his treachery. The Savints tried to turn him around, but Loti wouldn’t have it.” She continued sharing the story of rape and the man’s violent end.

Yavin shuddered.

“Anyway, his sons seem to be in Loti’s mold and Tilo is far worse than Lotten. I’m not sure why. Now, I don’t believe in locking someone up because they might do harm, but Tilo is up to no good. He will eventually hurt someone. I’d prefer it to not be Celna.”

“Why is he so interested in her?”

“You’ve seen her. You’re attracted to her, I can feel it, remember,” the woman said. “Celna did date him a short time. Then something happened, perhaps. She cut him off cold turkey, wouldn’t see him again. Of course, he didn’t accept that too well, so he thinks he can just bully his way back into her life.”

Yavin nodded again.

“Make sure she trains today.”

“Trains?”

“You know, leya training – at the club downtown. She and Seri resist, but it’s what they need – a little more self-defense.”

Yavin nodded, happy to have an excuse to meet Celna.

“I’ll introduce you,” the woman offered.

“Thanks.”