All For One [Nuworld 3] (30 page)

man disgraced his niece in any way…

“They don’t have a military like we do if that’s what you mean.” She pointed to one

of the trees as they flew past silently. “Look, there’s one of the tree houses.”

Torgo turned to look out her side at a wooden house built in the branches of the

enormous tree. He never would have believed a house that size could be built above the

ground if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.

“Incredible,” he muttered.

“We’re here.” Roth landed the glider behind a tree that had a circumference bigger

than the garage outside Ana’s house. He helped her out of the glider, looked around the

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deserted area, and then walked over to a door she hadn’t noticed until now. The door

opened into the side of the tree.

“Beel, are you in here?” Roth’s voice was gentle. He reached above her head and

turned on a lamp attached to the interior of the trunk.

Ana realized they were in a small house. The floor was wooden, and the walls were

paneled with the same wood. A table and cabinets stood along the far wall and a

narrow bed was built into the wall alongside her. A person was wrapped in a mat-like

blanket, and he groaned when Roth tapped his leg.

“Wake up, Beel. I have someone who wants to meet you.”

Ana’s hands went to her mouth in a failed attempt to stifle the gasp that came out

when the boy sat up in his bed and squinted at them. He scratched long blond curls,

causing them to stand on end more than they had a second ago and stared blankly at

them without speaking. Then, as if recognition hit him, he quickly jumped out of bed

and bowed to Roth.

“Yes, Master, what do you need?” Beel didn’t make eye contact with either of them.

For some reason, it bothered her that he acted like this, although she hadn’t given it too

much thought when Geli acted the same way.

“Stand up straight, Beel. Look at us.” Roth’s voice was calm and quiet.

“Yes, Master.” Beel stood tall, several inches taller than Ana. His shoulders were

broad and his skin well tanned. His dark gray eyes met theirs although Ana could tell

he wasn’t comfortable with the act. He looked first at Roth, then at Ana. His gaze

stopped at Ana.

“He thinks you look like him and is wondering if your hair is really red.” Roth

leaned to her and spoke as if Beel wouldn’t understand him.

“I see why you were shocked when you saw Andru.”

“They do look alike.”

She looked up at Roth now. “Can I ask him some questions?”

Roth rubbed her back and nodded.

“Beel, how old are you?” She smiled as she looked into the eyes that were identical

to her brother’s—yet so different. There was no confidence, no growing wisdom. And

there was something she couldn’t place, something that made her uncomfortable.

“I have thirteen seasons.” Beel even sounded like Andru.

“You don’t look like a Tree Person. Where are you from?”

“My master found me with the Lunians when I was a baby. They stole babies. I

could be from anywhere. Where are you from?”

Ana was taken aback for a minute not knowing how to answer. Roth saved her

from trying to come up with a quick lie.

“Remember your place, Beel,” he ordered.

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Beel lowered his eyes again. “You told me to look at you,” he muttered under his

breath with his eyes fixed on the floor.

“Do you remember who your parents were?” Ana asked.

“I was a baby when they found me. I don’t even remember that.” Beel was pouting

now and refused to look at either one of them.

“Okay, Beel. Go back to bed.” Roth placed his hand around Ana’s and turned her to

the door. “If you mention to anyone you saw us tonight,” he lowered his tone to

emphasize his threat, “you may not live through the beating I’ll give you.”

With that, he opened the door and they returned to the glider. Ana was quiet and

focused on her hands as they flew back to his trailer.

“I want to see what this boy looks like,” Torgo whispered as he and Syra watched

Roth’s glider take off.

“I figured you would.” Syra looked around the quiet yard then walked quickly over

to the door Roth and Ana had just exited. She opened and entered with Torgo right

behind her.

Beel sat back up in bed quickly.

“It’s okay, Beel, it’s just me.” Syra smiled and gestured for Beel to relax.

The boy’s face lit up. “I thought you left.” Then his eyes focused on the tall man

behind Syra. Fright covered his face and he pulled the blankets up to his eyes.

“It’s okay, Beel. I promise, no one is going to hurt you. This is Torgo. He’s a nice

man—he’s not mean.”

Beel didn’t say anything but just stared at the man with identical features to his.

Torgo walked to the boy and knelt so he was at his level. Gently, he reached up and

pulled the blanket from Beel’s face. He studied him for only a minute then stood up and

faced Syra.

“We’re taking him with us, I say.”

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Chapter Sixteen

Torgo and Syra flew silently in the foreign glider until they’d crossed the mountain

range. Beel seemed cautious, but not frightened as he sat between them and looked

occasionally from one to the other. Torgo chanced a glance at the child as well and

when they made eye contact, he smiled and the boy looked back at his hands.

“We need to alert someone before we’re shot down or forced to land.” Syra glanced

at the boy before looking at Torgo. “I’m still not sure why you’re doing this but I do

know one thing. It will be a bigger mess than you or I want to deal with if our guards

force us to land and see our little friend here.”

“I’m your friend?” Beel looked up at her with questioning gray eyes.

“I think so. Would you like that?” She smiled and put her hand on his clasped

hands but he pulled them away.

“I don’t know,” Beel muttered.

“You’re right. I’ll contact Darius.” Torgo flipped the comm on that was already

wrapped around his ear.

“What time is it?” Darius sounded groggy from sleep.

“Darius, Syra and I are headed for Bryton in one of the Tree People’s gliders. I need

you to meet us…alone.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’d rather not say right now. You need to meet us personally and make sure your

guards leave us alone.”

Darius growled a few profanities before confirming.

A short while later Syra watched the lights of a glider approaching them and

glanced at the dash as Torgo pushed several buttons. “He’s going to kill us. You know

that, don’t you?”

“We’re going to get killed?” Beel straightened and looked at Syra. “I know how to

fight. Do you need protection?”

Torgo made a snorting sound and Syra glared at him then smiled gently at Beel.

“What I meant is that we might get yelled at…or something.” Her voice faded and

then she grinned at Torgo. “Actually, I can’t wait to see the expression on his face. Do

we have anything to cover him up with? Let’s surprise him.”

“You’re impossible.” Torgo shot her a look that said behave yourself. “Trust me, he’ll

be surprised, he will.”

Beel looked from one of them to the other, his confusion obvious from the

expression on his face.

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Torgo landed the glider and lifted the dome. Darius’ glider landed just fifteen feet

away and he too got out. He was armed, obviously leery of the strange message that

brought him out alone in the middle of the night.

“It’s us,” Torgo yelled and turned on a beam.

“What’s going on here?” Darius barked, with a deep frown on his face. The

shadows set off by the beams made him look even more intimidating than normal.

“Where’s Tara? What’s so important that—”

Darius quit talking but forgot to shut his mouth as he focused on the boy who stood

partially behind Syra. He raised his beam, blinding both of them, and Beel covered his

face with his arms and moved further behind Syra.

She gently took his arms and pulled him so he stood next to her.

Darius lowered the beam so it wouldn’t blind them but kept it in their direction so

he could see. His harsh glare went first to Torgo, then to Syra. “What in Crator’s name

have you two done?” Darius looked hard at the child who focused intently the ground.

“Look at me, boy.”

Beel looked up at Darius, making eye contact, then quickly lowered his gaze.

“You wouldn’t believe how easy he was to get,” Torgo said when all were quiet for

a minute. “The Barringswood tribe has no protection.”

“That’s not true.” Beel looked up at Torgo, his tone defensive. “Master Roth turned

it off when he brought his girl to see me.”

He immediately seemed to regret talking as he glanced quickly at the three of them

then lowered his head further than it had been before.

“It’s okay, boy.” Darius’ voice was surprisingly reassuring and Torgo and Syra

gave him an odd look. “Explain to me what you just said.”

“Maybe we should find him a place to sleep and talk to him in the morning,” Syra

said quickly, suddenly realizing Beel had made reference to Ana. If Darius knew they’d

brought Beel to him but not Ana then they would be in serious trouble.

Darius took one look at her and then at Torgo. He returned his gaze to her and it

wasn’t friendly. “Are you here for moral support?”

She opened her mouth to respond but then shut it again before shooting a sideways

glance at Torgo.

“Just because you throw this at me doesn’t mean I don’t see everything that is in

front of me. It didn’t take you long, did it Syra?” Darius ignored the child and slapped