Tara obeyed and climbed on behind him. Her bike was not designed to carry two easily, but she enjoyed being as close to him as was required for them to ride together. She wrapped her hands around his waist and locked her fingers together. He held her two hands in his and skillfully drove her bike back to the shed with his other hand.
Chapter Six
A couple weeks of riding lessons proved very effective for Torgo, and Tara awoke one morning to the sounds of his bike cruising around in the meadow. She lay in her bed for a while listening to the rumble of the teenager’s motorcycle and remembering her first experiences on one. She’d felt so mature and independent to be riding by herself, free to go wherever she pleased. She knew the glory Torgo must be experiencing without even getting up to look out the balcony to confirm her thoughts. He had worked hard to get to the point where he could master the machine and ride alone.
She showered and dressed and was absolutely ravenous as she went down the stairs to help prepare breakfast. Hilda and Darius were in the kitchen talking about something, and she could tell by Hilda’s quiet tone that the woman was not pleased.
“I just don’t understand. It was you yourself that said it was final, you did.” Hilda wrung her hands then placed them on the counter nervously when Tara entered.
“I know, and it is. I have matters of ruling a country, Mama. It’s just not a good time.”
“But, son, the community expects this, there’ll be talk, there will.” Hilda reached for her son.
“Oh blast it all with your talk, woman,” Darius barked.
“Good morning.” She looked at the two of them questioningly.
“Tara, certainly you want…” Hilda looked at Tara as if relieved that she would side with her on whatever issue the two of them were talking about.
“Mama!” Darius interrupted her with a firm tone in his voice. “Tara, walk with me to my bike.”
Darius grabbed a bag from the counter and turned to look at his mama.
Tara watched Hilda grab a dishtowel and twist it in her hands. She seemed very upset.
His tone softened when he spoke again, “I’ll be back by tomorrow, I’m sure. Don’t you worry yourself, none, my lady.” He patted his mama’s hand as he spoke, but it didn’t appear to be soothing her much. “The Lord of Gothman must protect his country, I have my duties.”
“That’s right, son, you do at that.” Hilda looked up at her son and spoke quietly, as if she were making one final attempt to reason with him over whatever point it was they were discussing. “You have the duty to uphold tradition in this land and be an example to your people.”
Tara suddenly had the strongest sensation that their discussion had something to do with Darius and her. She stood quietly at the kitchen door and tried her best to keep her facial expression blank yet pleasant.
“You think I don’t know that?” Darius didn’t yell, but he was very close to it. He turned and headed for the back door. “Tara!”
She took that as her cue to follow. She glanced at Hilda who had crossed her arms across her ample middle and tightened her lips into a thin, straight line. She met Tara’s gaze without changing expression, but then focused again on her son. Grabbing a glazed roll from a plate as she passed, Tara followed Darius into the backyard. He walked quickly to his motorcycle, and Tara almost had to run to catch up with him. There were more guards than usual in the yard, all sitting on their motorcycles, as if they had been waiting.
“I’ll meet you out front.” He waved his hand at them, indicating they should go.
None of them said a word, although most took a good look at Tara before slowly driving down the driveway to the front of the house.
“What’s going on?” Tara tried to sound casual and indifferent knowing she felt anything but that. The conversation in the kitchen had spurred her curiosity. Now, the presence of the guards really had her interest piqued. The men on the bikes were armed with the long black bang sticks that made so much noise. She wondered what Darius was leaving to do. She also wondered if he would ever confide in her…that is, if she decided to stay with him.
Darius waited until all the men had moved to the other side of the house, then placed his hand on the back of Tara’s neck and guided her to the backside of the shed.
“You’ll tell my mama that you’re a Runner.”
“Why?” By the expression that quickly came over his face, she sensed he was not accustomed to having his commands questioned. His mama had exasperated him, and now she was questioning him.
“I don’t have time to explain everything to her. She’s asking questions, and the lady has a right to the answers, she does.”
“Where are you going?” Tara sensed some type of military excursion was about to occur and wasn’t accustomed to being left out of such things. “Your men are dressed for battle.”
“There are some rumors.” He twisted a strand of her hair between his gloved fingers. “Mind you, they haven’t been confirmed now. But possibly, the Sea People are preparing an attack.” He smiled and tightened his grip on her hair. “Ah, I see your eyes dancing, I do. You’re a wild one now.”
Tara didn’t smile though. She didn’t need to be
protected
from the harsh realities of whatever was going on. She felt that was what he was doing and realized she needed to be persistent. “What are the rumors?”
“Just that their armies are moving close to the Gothman borders. I intend to find out if this is true or not, I do.”
“I don’t think I could sit by and not fight if you’re invaded.” Tara showed all signs of the true warrior that she was.
Darius saw more than that. “I daresay, my lady, I do believe you’re showing loyalty to the Gothman.” He leaned down and kissed her. “Be a good lass for now. Go talk to my mama. I’ll be back soon.”
He got on his motorcycle and drove off and Tara walked back to the kitchen.
An idea came to her as she entered the kitchen, and she approached Hilda with enthusiasm. “My lady, if I’m quick with my chores this morning, could we invite Reena over for the afternoon? I haven’t seen her in awhile, and I have something I want to tell you. I would like her to be here for it.” Tara hoped the old woman would be agreeable.
She didn’t have to worry.
The old lady’s face lit up. “Ah, a splendid idea, that one is.” Hilda grinned broadly and then opened the pantry to inspect the shelves. “While you’re doing your morning chores, I’ll drive to the grocer’s and pick up a few things. Ah, and the blueberries are good and fresh. We’ll have some of those, and I’ll whip some cream. Cold cuts will work well, don’t you think? Ah, and set some potatoes to boil. I’ll make a hot potato salad to go with the sandwiches. You might want to pick some fresh flowers for the vases, I’d think.”
Tara smiled as the old woman hurried upstairs to change for her trip into town. It felt good to know she’d made the old woman happy. She grabbed a walkntalk and placed the call to Reena who also thought the idea was splendid.
Tara sat in the kitchen by herself and decided to have another frosted roll for breakfast before starting her housework. She felt bad about not telling Reena she’d only been invited for moral support. Mulling over in her head the speech she would give to Hilda, Tara remembered that she hadn’t asked Darius what questions his mama had been posing. Seeing the guards had completely distracted her. She thought about the fact that Darius was out in some field going over military tactics while she sat here preparing for a luncheon. The irony made her chuckle. Her life had changed so much since she’d come here.
But that was why she came, right? Tara nodded to herself. She had yearned to experience a different way of living, a different kind of lifestyle. To immerse herself in new societies in order to see how they lived. Firsthand. Yet, had she planned on changing her life forever? She knew for a fact that she definitely had not when she started on this adventure. She merely wanted to come into the civilization and observe.
Tara smiled as she realized she’d done a lousy job of that. Here she’d been prepared to remain an outside observer, and instead she’d fallen in love. She was sure of that now. As she thought about it, goose bumps traveled across her body.
Jumping up, she quickly cleaned the kitchen and then moved to the other rooms of the house. Energy soared through her, and she didn’t question its source. Her thoughts focused on each room as she entered it, wiping down woodwork and making sure glass sparkled. Tara had never lived in a structure like this. Although its newness had worn off a bit over the past cycle, the place’s magnificence still hung in the air. She would make the place look absolutely immaculate for Reena. She wanted Hilda to be proud too. Both women had taken her in and allowed her to explore their people, even though Hilda hadn’t realized that was what she had done. And Tara knew a clean house meant something to both of them. She hummed an old Runner tune as she worked.
The house began to sparkle, but Tara’s thoughts remained a tangled mess. She couldn’t change who she was. She was proud of being a Runner. How could she live here with Darius and maintain the heritage that ran thick through her blood?
Hilda came home and interrupted her thoughts. She’d taken her frustrations out on the house until it was spotless. Hilda was pleased with her work and told her so.
Torgo entered the house, instinctively knowing that food was being prepared.
“What’s for lunch?” he asked, as he hovered around in the kitchen and sampled the blueberries and cold meat as it was laid out on the serving dishes.
“With that appetite, you will be as big as your brother before the new winter.” Tara laughed and poked the boy in the stomach. “Why don’t we let him eat now, so he isn’t bored with the conversation during lunch?” Tara didn’t want him there when she explained herself to Hilda.
Hilda nodded her agreement. “I’ll fix you a plate, my boy.” She smiled, showing a mama’s love, as she grabbed one of the porcelain plates from the cabinet and began assembling his meal. “And mind you, give us peace while we have our repast. I won’t have you chattering and underfoot while I enjoy the gossip.”
Reena showed up punctually, carrying one of her wonderful pies. The three women sat to a table of scrumptious food.
Tara listened as the two chatted away about mutual friends. Tara cleared the dishes from the table as the two women continued to chat and knew the time for her revelations had come. She wasn’t sure how to steer the conversation, and was almost relieved when Hilda suddenly changed the subject as Tara entered the room after moving the dirty dishes to the kitchen.
“Ah, my dear, this was a grand idea of yours, it was.” She sat back and patted her large stomach. “I’m full to the brim, I am. Now then, you said there was something you wanted to tell me. Plans on the claiming, I’m thinking.” The old lady smiled and looked at Reena.
Reena looked up at Tara with curious eyes.
“Well, in a way, you could say that.” Tara hesitated. “If you’ll excuse me, I will be right back. I think if I show you something, it will be easier.”
Tara ran up the stairs, forgetting the ladylike manners that had almost become instinctive. In her room, she reached under her bed for the bag Reena had given her and pulled out her Runner clothing. For a moment she just sat there, holding the articles. She hadn’t seen them in over a cycle. She could smell the leather. The embroidered symbol of her clan made her feel warm inside. This is who she was and that would not change.
Reena’s mouth fell open as Tara entered the room with the clothes in her hands. “Child, what are you doing?” she whispered in amazement.
“What do you have there, girl?” Hilda looked up, not seeing the expression on Reena’s face.
“Lord Darius asked me to do this.” She laid the clothing on the table and spread them out.
Reena immediately recognized them. The embroidered symbol of the clan stood out plainly to see.
Hilda gasped in horror. “Where did you get those clothes?” She stood up quickly, and her hand went to her heart.
“Hilda, they’re my clothes. I’m a Runner.”
Hilda gasped.
Reena and Tara quickly were at her side and helped her back to the chair.
She stared at the clothing as if it would bite her if she dared look away. After a minute, she looked at Tara. “What is this you’re saying?”
Tara sat next to Hilda, and Reena took her seat.
“I came to this land to see what the Gothman were really like. I heard the stories of a proud, large race of people, so different from my own. All I wanted was to see how you lived. I didn’t expect to become so involved with your family,” Tara said the last sentence quietly, almost to herself.
“Ah, so now you have a lord who’s gone and claimed you. I daresay he can’t figure out how to get out of this mess, and so he’s sent you to me, he has. Tell me if I’m not right.” Hilda tossed her hands up into the air.
“Well, my lady, I didn’t know he claimed me when I moved in here.” She glared at Reena.
Reena just stared back. She was leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed.
Tara could swear the look on her face was one of amusement. “He did finally tell me that he’d announced a claiming. But it was after I found out from Thelga at the grocery store. I was furious and ready to run from this land right then. I told his lordship that no one could claim me unless I said they could.”