All For One [Nuworld 3] (11 page)

lashing from his superior over on the side of the house. She took the opportunity to

sprint across the yard to her bedroom window—still open, thank Crator.

Ana managed to strip out of Mirak’s clothes, pull one of her long sleeping gowns

over her head and crawl into her bed when her bedroom door opened slowly.

“Ana!” Andru shut the door behind him quietly and approached her bed. “You

weren’t in here a minute ago.”

“Oh Andru, please tell me no one else knows that.”

“I don’t think so, but where were you?”

Her smile revealed more than she wished. “I had a glorious morning.”

“Do I want to hear this?”

“Nothing happened, dear brother.” She felt her blush streak across her cheeks and

watched her brother frown. “Well, not much.”

“Tell me about this man.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Andru. I’m sure you’ll like him. I can see to it that you meet him

if you’d like. We devised a plan so we could meet without me traveling all the way to

the mountains.”

“I will definitely meet him. What plan have you made?”

“He’s going to meet me south of here, in the hills, none of the guards are ever down

there.”

“Did you tell him that?”

“Well, I might have. I don’t remember. Roth isn’t a threat to us though. His people

are curious about us and I really think he wants to get to know me better.”

“I’m sure he does.”

Her brother’s tone bothered her. “Andru, it’s not like that. He doesn’t act perverted

like Gothman men that come after me. And he doesn’t try to lure me like the Runners.

He likes me and I want to know him better. We really haven’t had a chance to talk that

much yet.” When the concern didn’t leave his face, Ana ruffled his hair and then poked

his chest with her finger. “You’re my hero to worry so much but you don’t have to. I

can take care of myself.”

“There are some methods of attack you don’t have a lot of knowledge about yet.

You will tell me when you leave to see him again.”

Ana got up and showered after Andru left her room, and then dressed for the day.

She and her brother wore Runner outfits as they left the breakfast table for archery

practice before lessons. Ana’s aim had always been better than her brother’s but today

she was distracted.

“Ana, where are your thoughts? That is the second time you’ve missed your

target.” Cali walked toward her with a frown on her face.

“I’m afraid the pain capsules aren’t out of my system yet,” Ana said quickly.

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Andru simply gave her a worried look.

After four tedious hours of Gothman history, Runner history, and working to

decode programs their uncle devised for them, the twins stumbled happily to the

dining room table for a family meal. Their parents were continuing a conversation

they’d brought to the table and Ana ate silently. Andru watched her more than she

cared for him to and occasionally commented on something his parents said.

“So, we’ll meet with Sorg this evening,” Tara said, and Ana fought to conceal her

excitement.

“I’ll send word that we plan to use the meeting house and have Fulga arrange

servants. We’ll wine and dine them Gothman style to show our welcome.” Darius

gestured to Geeves who stood to the side and said something to him that Ana didn’t

catch, and then Geeves left the room.

“I still haven’t found any kind of major transmission for them.” Torgo had joined

them for the midday meal. “I guess it’s possible they don’t use landlinks to

communicate from tribe to tribe although we haven’t discovered a race yet that

doesn’t.”

“There’s always a first,” Tara said. “It does seem rather odd, though.”

“I’ll keep looking.”

“Mama, will we dine with you tonight?” Andru asked, and Ana looked up at Tara

with dread.

“No,” Darius answered quickly. “Fulga will serve you here.”

Ana sighed her relief and then focused on her potato salad. The rest of the

afternoon crawled by slowly. Andru and Ana exchanged glances when Tara informed

them she’d go to the Crator temple with them this afternoon. Ana wanted to object that

they weren’t children who required a parental escort, but one look from her papa and

she held her tongue.

* * * * *

Tara flew with a twin on either side of her. They parked at Tara’s trailer that she

used to manage affairs of the Blood Circle Clan. Andru and Ana knew the place well,

having spent many days here as young children playing while their mama worked.

Fartha and Trev sat inside at the round table, drinking coffee with a third Runner.

Tara gasped when the unidentified Runner turned and then stood to greet them.

“Syra!” Tara exclaimed when the woman removed her headscarf.

The younger Runner grinned at Tara, and gave her a big hug.

“Oh my, these aren’t the twins, are they?” Syra released Tara, and focused on

Andru and Ana who had entered behind Tara.

“Can you believe it?” Tara laughed. “Andru’s almost as tall as Darius.”

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Lorie O’Clare

“And to think I watched you when you were babies.”

Ana remembered Syra, not from when she was a baby but from several winters

before. She and her Uncle Torgo had been lovers before he claimed Rayla. Syra’s brown

hair fell loosely past her shoulders and when she smiled her green eyes lit up. Not at all

like the emerald green eyes that haunted every thought she had, but Syra was still quite

pretty.

“I can’t believe I’ve been gone long enough for you two to look so, well, grown-up.

I look forward to a test of your warrior skills.”

“I’ve got to tell Darius that you’re here.” Tara reached for her comm.

She wanted to do more than that. Darius would be shocked to hear that Syra had

finally returned to her clan. There was definitely cause for celebration. Tara wanted to

bring her to the dinner they were having for the Tree People. But there was one thing

she needed to know first. Darius would understand as soon as she mentioned Syra’s

name. After all, it had been a lover’s fight that sent her niece running from her clan and

from Gothman. The fight was never settled. And, the lover now had a claim and a

fourth child on the way. What would Torgo think of Syra’s return?

* * * * *

Darius stood expressionless as he listened to his claim speak through his comm. He

studied the papers in front of him, glanced at the two landlink screens on the desk, and

watched Geeves leaning over Torgo at one of the landlinks.

“I see,” was all he said after Tara suggested she bring her niece to the dinner.

“Well, what do you think?” Tara asked him.

“I still don’t see anything.” Torgo turned and looked up at his brother. “I’m starting

to believe these people don’t use landlinks. Darius?”

Darius gave his brother a blank look. “Tara, I’ll let you know soon.”

He clicked off his comm and turned to Geeves. “I need a few minutes alone with

Torgo.”

If Geeves was surprised he didn’t show it. His outstanding Gothman training

earned him his position at Darius’ side. The large man simply gave a quick nod, then

turned and left the room, shutting the door silently behind him.

“Is something wrong?” Torgo narrowed his eyes at his brother trying to read his

expression.

“Syra’s back.”

Darius might as well have clobbered Torgo in the face. The look of stunned

astonishment that crossed the younger brother’s face couldn’t be missed. Darius saw

more emotions twist across Torgo’s face than he had in a long time. The usually jovial

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expression turned clouded. He saw pain, anger and excitement attack him

simultaneously.

Torgo looked past Darius for a minute clearly struggling to grasp everything those

two words did to him. Finally, he straightened and his placid expression returned. “I’m

sure she’ll have great stories to tell by the fires.” He shot his brother a look and then

turned to his landlink. “Do you want me to continue to run a search for another

transmission?”

So his brother wouldn’t talk about Syra. Obviously, emotions were stirred. But

Darius knew his brother would handle them as he saw fit. He worried for his brother,

though. Darius knew Torgo remained loyal to Rayla and had commented more than

once that he wouldn’t indulge in the Bryon tradition of infidelity. He also knew Torgo

didn’t love Rayla. There were no looks of passion between them. Torgo had gotten her

pregnant and did the right thing by claiming her. Darius knew Torgo had loved Syra

once and feared that same love still existed.

“Torgo.”

“Darius, I appreciate your telling me privately.” Torgo sighed. “We have work to

do.”

“There’s one more thing. Tara wants to bring her to the dinner tonight.”

Torgo slammed his fist down on the desk in front of him. Then, without another

word, he got up slowly and walked out of the room.

* * * * *

Andru walked alongside his sister as Tara and Syra chatted in front of them.

Children and dogs ran around them playfully and Tara said hello to each of them

personally. Syra knew many of the Runners and he watched as hugs were exchanged

when they crossed a family member or old friend. Andru’s thoughts preoccupied him,

though, and he had to force himself to show courtesy when introduced to, or reminded

that he knew the Runner his mama talked to.

He worried about his sister. And he planned on meeting this Roth of the Tree

People the next time his sister saw him. She’d given a member of a race they knew

nothing about some incredible strategic information. He needed to reassure himself that

Roth could be trusted. A command decision needed to be made here and he knew after

sixteen winters he still didn’t possess the experience to make the decision.

But who could he talk to about this?