All For One [Nuworld 3] (14 page)

“She protected his ego by mentioning he taught her everything she knew and she’d

learned nothing new since.” Tara met Darius’ eyes. “There’s a lot more than friendship

between the two of them.”

Darius expected this conversation to be brought up by his claim and had no

intention of allowing the discussion to continue. He’d been unfaithful to her right after

the twins were born. The torture she’d put him through had caused him to remain

faithful over the winters. He wouldn’t discuss the possibility of Torgo being unfaithful

to Rayla with her. There was no point in it. “That, my lady, is none of your concern,

no,” he said, then turned in the direction of the staircase and yelled. “Syra, come down

here, I say. We’re leaving.”

Darius decided earlier that Syra would accompany them to the dinner. Her

knowledge of the Tree People would help them confirm the accuracy of anything Sorg

said to them. She’d mentioned that she knew Sorg, although only casually, and that he

should recognize her. Darius felt her presence would force Sorg to be more open with

them. Then, because he knew Tara worried that Syra and Torgo being together publicly

could cause unneeded tension, he told Torgo to stay here and work on accessing the

Tree People’s transmission now that the programs to do so were properly installed.

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“I’m ready to go.” Syra entered the room out of breath. She walked over to Tara

and straightened her headscarf. “I haven’t worn one of these for winters.”

“It’s been a while,” Tara said quietly. “Syra, what do you think? Are we doing the

right thing by meeting with these people?”

Darius watched the two women stare at each other for a moment.

“They’re not warriors like we are. I’m sure they’re just curious about us,” Syra said.

Darius frowned as he thought he saw a flicker of hesitation cross Syra’s face.

“Let’s go.” Darius turned and walked out of the room, turning to see the two

women stare at each other a moment longer as if trying to communicate something to

each other.

* * * * *

Gothman warriors in full military attire escorted the Tree People to the meeting

hall. The warriors then stood at attention along the outer walls of the room after the

Tree People were seated. Darius and Tara entered the room followed by Geeves and

Jolee. Syra entered behind them. They were accompanied by four Runner warriors who

remained at the entrance of the large hall—two on either side of the door.

“You impress us with your military brigade,” Sorg said, when Darius and Tara

were seated at the head of the long table. Gothman women moved around them,

pouring blood-red wine into clay mugs.

“Our intention is simply to honor your presence.” Darius raised his mug as he

spoke and sent his gaze down the table making sure not to make eye contact with any

of the piercing green eyes that attempted to capture his attention. “I would like to

officially welcome you to Bryton. Please drink.”

“What is this?” Sorg asked after taking a large mouthful of the wine.

“The lord honors you with a very old bottle of the best Gothman wine.” Tara

looked at Darius instead of Sorg.

“It is very old?” Sorg sounded surprised.

“The older it is, the more potent it is.” Tara looked Sorg’s way as she spoke but

focused on the mug he had balanced in midair.

“And what does more potent mean?”

At this question the Runners and Gothman laughed and Sorg looked sincerely

surprised.

“My new friend,” Darius spoke cheerfully. “If you drink too much of it you won’t

think or walk straight for the rest of the evening, you won’t.”

“It will make you drunk,” Tara added jovially.

“Why would you alter your thoughts?”

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“Because Sorg, sometimes it’s fun.” Syra gazed fearlessly straight into his eyes. “But

there are other times when it would make someone who is trying to pull thoughts

unclear on the information they receive.”

Sorg sat back and crossed his arms staring at Syra. “I didn’t recognize you with

your Runner cloth over your head. You’ll please forgive me if I don’t remember your

name.” He dismissed Syra and turned back to Darius.

“Altering your thoughts would make me wonder if there is something you are

hiding from me.” Sorg sounded serious, but not threatening.

“On the contrary,” Darius said. “We can’t read your thoughts and so don’t wish

you to read our thoughts, no. However, for the record, I daresay there are plenty of

things I’m hiding from you.”

Sorg raised an eyebrow at the lord.

“A good ruler knows everything that goes on in his kingdom and never shares his

every thought with the rest of the nation—that would be bad leadership, it would.”

Sorg suddenly smiled and then laughed a surprisingly cheerful laugh.

“How right you are, Lord Darius, and I admire you for being so upfront about it.

Many people we’ve encountered are afraid to mention a trait we have no more control

over than your taking a breath of air.”

“Gothman do not hide behind facts, no.”

“I have a feeling Gothman don’t hide behind anything.” Sorg sniffed at the blood-

colored liquid in his mug, and took a cautious sip.

“How right you are, yes. Now, let’s eat.” Darius downed the rest of his wine and

then placed the mug on the table with a thud.

He snapped his finger and instantly five Gothman women brought plates full of

steaming food to the table. There was roasted pig and fresh broiled fish, new potatoes

and baby onions, sweet potatoes in cinnamon sauce coated with brown sugar, fresh

garden vegetables with a creamy garlic sauce and a variety of fresh pies offered at the

end of the meal.

Tara readjusted her headscarf, not remembering the last time she’d eaten so much.

She would have been more than willing to walk home just to work some of the food off

before sleeping.

Small talk occurred among the three races sitting at the table while the dishes were

cleared. Jolee asked about rank and social order in their communities, and Tara found it

interesting that the Tree People strongly resembled the Gothman. She’d had her

suspicions when she saw no women at their camp. Females ran the household while

males worked to support their families and held positions in their government. They

had more rank in the community if they had a man, but could remain unmarried if they

wished. However, in order to remain single, they had to be a virgin.

She didn’t comment on that one. She didn’t imagine there were many adult virgins

among the Runners or Gothman.

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Syra didn’t say much, and Tara couldn’t help but notice that Sorg continually

glanced at her. She wondered what Syra meant by only knowing Sorg casually. And

he’d commented that he couldn’t remember her name. She thought that was rather rude

for him to say in front of everyone, but then it dawned on her that he might be trying to

make a point that only Syra would hear—something like, you’re no longer important to

me.

The Tree People enjoyed the wine and by the end of the evening they were

laughing loudly and quite jovial with their hosts. Darius rose to leave after dessert and

gently helped Tara from her chair. He smiled as she glared at him. Both Syra and Sorg

watched curiously as he helped slide the chair from the table and then took Tara’s hand

as she stood. She kept her eyes locked on Darius’, partially so he could see her

annoyance and partially so Sorg couldn’t detect her reaction.

“My men will escort you back to your campsite at your convenience, they will.”

Darius spoke to Sorg as Syra, Jolee and Geeves stood to leave.

“And will they continue to surround our camp during the night?” Sorg stood up

carefully and Tara looked down quickly to conceal a smile. Sorg was drunk and would

learn about another thought-altering sensation in the morning.

“It’s for your protection, it is,” Darius said simply, and turned to escort his claim

out of the building.

“Where are you going?” He directed the question to Syra when they’d reached their

gliders.

“I’m going to my father’s trailer.”

“No, you’re not. Follow us back to the house, you will.”

It wasn’t a question. It was a direct order. Tara noticed Syra was ready to protest

but for whatever reason she shrugged and climbed onto her glider.

Darius dismissed Geeves before they entered the house. When he attempted to

dismiss Jolee, she simply stood there looking at Tara with a raised eyebrow.

“We’ll talk in the morning,” Tara said. She knew as well as Jolee that Darius had

something on his mind. She was sure Jolee was as curious as she was but Jolee simply

nodded and got back on her glider.

“Why did you lie to me?” Darius barked the question as soon as the three of them

were in the privacy of their living room.

Syra ripped off her headscarf and tossed it onto the couch. She gave Darius a very

unconcerned look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Darius lunged at her, but Syra moved out of the way quickly, putting the couch

between them.

Tara jumped forward as well and grabbed Darius.

“What are you doing?” she yelled. Syra’s eyes burned with rage as she gripped the

back of the couch.

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“I know when a man and a woman have slept together, I do,” Darius growled.

“You said you didn’t know Sorg that well, that there was nothing you could tell us, you

did. If you’ve jeopardized this nation in any way—”

“What’s going on here?” Torgo interrupted his brother.

Darius, Tara, and Syra all turned to look at him. He stood between the opened glass

doors and stared at the three of them. His muscles seemed tense but his hands fell to his

sides, not quite drawn into fists.

Syra didn’t acknowledge his presence longer than a moment. She glared at Darius

who looked ready to leap at any moment. Darius glanced at Torgo but then turned his