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[Previously...](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/decima-one-mission-chapter-7-a-mara-books)

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## 8
(Silnaday)
### Chalða, Çtaráña
.
Hrista opened her eyes to see that the hoverbus was slowing and there were more houses, wet from the recent rain. They must be coming into Chalða. She lifted her head from Kjane’s shoulder. His arm shifted slightly.
	
“Good thing we didn’t have to get off urgently,” Kjane murmured into her ear. “Didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”
	
“I thought I had, but apparently not.”
	
“All that lovemaking,” he murmured, kissing her cheek.
	
Suddenly, she was completely awake. “Kjane!” she said almost too loudly.
	
“Shhh, darling. Remember that we’re married now, we’re expected to do such things!”
	
“You’re embarrassing me!” she hissed at him.
	
He grinned and chuckled. “Remember that some of those around us may be able to hear your thoughts! Our survival may depend on us being consistent in our heads with what we say. We said we were married, we need to think like we are!” he whispered back, kissing her ear as he did. “I have no problem with this and you actually like it, so why fight it so much?”
	
Hrista wasn’t sure why she was fighting – something about saving face, she suspected.
	
“Like this morning when you told me you didn’t want me to touch you.” He tsk-tsked at her.
	
Hrista blushed again. She knew he was right. He caught her chin and turned her face towards him. She should have expected his lips, but the kiss that followed took her breath away. He began it so sweetly, then deepened it, licking at her lips until she parted them enough for his tongue to enter. His taste was tantalizing and addictive. She realized again that she wanted more, so much more, than what could be allowed on a hoverbus. The first kiss ended and the second one began the moment after. Her very soul was consumed by him in those seconds. She knew that she belonged to him. She barely stopped herself wondering how it had come to this and instead thought about being his wife, as they were portraying. She tried not to think about what it all meant, and let his passion consume and ignite her.
	
“Excuse me,” the bus driver’s voice cut into their moment. “You need bus 38. That’s the one to Omrill. It leaves in the next few minutes.”
	
“Thank you,” Kjane said, getting his backpack down. “Come, darling. We mustn’t miss the bus.”
	
Hrista nodded and followed.
	
They found the appropriate bus and boarded. “Omrill, please,” Kjane requested.
	
“Return?” the driver asked.
	
“Not today.”
	
“Tomorrow?”
	
“Probably not. Singles for the both of us is good.”
	
“Okay,” he said, naming the price.
	
Kjane paid.
	
“Do you know the stop?”
	
“No.”
	
“I will tell you when we get there,” the driver promised.
	
“Thank you. Come on, darling,” Kjane said, turning to Hrista. “If you can avoid falling asleep this time, this really is spectacular countryside, between the firthorns and ata’il trees. Nothing like it on Irola!”
	
Hrista smiled, then sat in a similar spot to last time. Kjane stowed the backpack again, then sat beside her, putting his arm around her again. It was almost feeling like it was normal for them now. Their relationship had begun as a very open and physical one from the outset, mostly for show, but sometimes she wondered before she could get her mind back.
	
“I’m going to have to teach you how to guard your beautiful mind from others who may be listening,” he murmured into her ear, as he gave her another kiss. “You are delicious!”
	
Hrista fought the blush. She wasn’t used to men talking to her like that! Even her boyfriend a couple of years ago hadn’t done that! 

♥

### Imperial Palace Irola
.
Belmara Wolfkin answered her PCS link. “Yes, Oleana?”
	
“We’re in Chalða. The fugitives have been here and have taken another bus. We’re not sure which one.”
	
“Aren’t there surveillance cameras on all the hoverbuses?” Belmara asked.
	
“Of course.”
	
“Then the answer should be obvious.”
	
“I’ve never been good with that sort of hacking.”
	
“Then allow me. Your father taught me a few tricks before he died,” Belmara replied. She turned to the HPS in front of her and used her mind to direct her search to the surveillance system of Çtara Bus Lines. Pretentious name, she thought. Would the goddess approve of her name being attached to a commercial venture like that? Probably not, she thought – assuming the goddess was even real. Legend had it that she was Vasana, the giver of the Material used by all leya-sensitives to power their shazes and similar tools.
	
Clearing that from her mind again, Belmara concentrated on the cameras. Suddenly, they opened and became clear. With dozens of cameras on, it took a few minutes. She tried to ignore the casual chatting of Oleana and Thorsa at the other end.
	
One by one, she looked at the cameras, looking for the familiar leya imprint of Issyk. Finally, she found them.
	
“They’re on the Omrill bus,” Belmara reported. “Left half an hour ago.”
	
“Do you not have a way of stopping them?”
	
“Sure, I do,” she said with a grin. “Set up an interrogation room in Chalða. Our fugitives will be there soon enough.”
	
“Where?”
	
“I’m sure you can work that out, Oleana. You’re meant to be teaching my granddaughter well, after all.”
	
“Yes, Mother,” Oleana said, disconnecting.
	
Belmara grinned, then placed another connection.
	
A woman answered.
	
“This is your Empress speaking. Two fugitives are on your hoverbus to Omrill. I need them apprehended and returned to Chalða.”
	
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness!” the woman replied. “I will send officers out immediately.”
	
“Sensitives!” Belmara insisted. “They can disappear like you wouldn’t believe!”
	
“Do you have descriptions of the pair?”
	
“Even better. I can give you an image of them on the bus.”
	
“Thank you, m’lady,” the woman replied. “They will be taken into custody.”
	
The call disconnected.
	
“Abári Kulun,” she said to the air around her. “Your daughter will never reach you. She will soon be mine. She will be a good vessel for someone in my army, I’m pretty sure. I just have to work out who...”


</div>
♥♥♥

[NEXT CHAPTER](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/decima-one-mission-chapter-9-a-mara-books)

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: [Books2Read](https://books2read.com/u/mZKvLl)

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## Other chapters of stories about Decima...

**Decima: Ground Zero** - [chapter 1](https://peakd.com/writing/@viking-ventures/decima-ground-zero-chapter-a-mara-books)
**Decima: One Mission** - [chapter 1](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/decima-one-mission-chapter-1-a-mara-books)



## Maps and Guides

* [Glossary and Calendar info](https://peakd.com/writing/@viking-ventures/complete-modern-age-glossary-and-calendar-info-a-mara-books)

* [Character Guide and Image Credits](https://peakd.com/hive-153503/@viking-ventures/decima-one-mission-character-guide-and-image-credits-a-mara-books)

* [Apothecary Kit, Dec 2019](https://peakd.com/@viking-ventures/apothecary-kit-december-2019-a-mara-books-and-viking-visual) - part of the kit of a good healer

**Map of Kranisis**

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This book takes place on Irola.
Çtarest is also mentioned. That is the giant mountain that forms the border between Çtaráña, Shayanda and Ubre'in.

**Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2105 – all rights reserved.** 
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AmaraBooks/) or Discord, viking-ventures#2883. 

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**Lori Svensen**
author/designer at **[A'mara Books](https://www.facebook.com/AmaraBooks/)**
photographer/graphic artist for **[Viking Visual](https://www.facebook.com/vikingvisual/)**
(Buy my work at [RedBubble](https://www.redbubble.com/people/vikingvisual/shop?asc=u), [TeePublic](https://www.teepublic.com/user/viking-visual), [PicFair](https://www.picfair.com/users/VikingVisual) and [DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com/clatsopduck).)
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(Buy my books at [Books2Read](https://books2read.com/ap/RDD3NR/Lori-Svensen) and at [LBRY](https://lbry.tv/@LoriSvensen:6))
find me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/LSvensen)

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