All For One [Nuworld 3] (3 page)

Chapter Two

Ana parked her glider next to their large stone and mason garage. Cali pulled in

next to her and headed for the house. Ana made it to the end of the stone structure,

when Andru stepped out of the shadows. She held back until Cali was gone, and then

joined her brother.

“One of these days, you’re going to have to learn how to take care of yourself.” Her

twin brother scowled, while pulling her scarf over her head.

She braided her long hair, then tucked it under the black material. Andru often

berated her for her spontaneous adventures. It was the one difference between them—

Andru didn’t have the passion for life she possessed. She glanced up into eyes the color

of her own.

“I know, dear brother, what would I do without you?” She laughed when he

grabbed her by the arms, giving her a quick shake.

“Be in trouble with Papa more times than not, I would say.” Andru released her,

and then turned to the house.

“Andru, there’s something I want to talk to you about.” Ana caught up with him. “I

want to take a short journey, not quite a day’s length.”

“Where do you want to go?” Her brother frowned, already appearing to

disapprove.

“I want to go to the mountains.”

When he showed his surprise, and then looked ready to chastise her for such

insubordination, she continued before he could speak, but lowered her voice. “Andru,

three times now I’ve seen a man up in the mountains. He stands there with an eyepiece

looking at me while I look at him. The last time I saw him he waved.”

“And you’ve told no one about this?” Andru pulled her back toward the shed and

looked about them.

“Of course not. There’s no law saying he can’t look at our land, is there?” Ana

pulled her arm from her brother’s iron grip and rubbed it.

“And Cali, what does she know of this?” Andru crossed his arms, looking just like

their papa.

“She’s been with me all three times, but I never mentioned seeing him to her.”

There were no secrets between them. She could see deep into her brother’s soul, and he

could likewise see into hers.

Her expression softened, and she placed her hand on his chest. “Tomorrow, I’ll plan

a day journey to Taratown. That will keep questions down as to my absence all day.”

She paused as his eyes narrowed. “Andru, come with me if it worries you so.”

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All For One

Andru took her hand in his, and pulled it to his heart. “My dear sister, I do believe

you got all one quarter of the Runner blood offered to us. Your desire for adventure and

new places baffles me. Go, have your day. But take your comm, and make sure you’re

armed. I’ll pace the house until you return.”

Ana reached up and wrapped her arms around her brother’s neck. She respected

her brother’s blessing. He was the heir to all of Gothman, as was his birthright as

firstborn son. They worked well as a team, though, and he encouraged her to be at his

side—in fact, he usually insisted on it. Her cry to explore annoyed him at times, but he

would protect her secret and wait expectantly until she returned.

* * * * *

“Papa, I wish you’d let me go next time.” Ana leaned forward, grabbing another

roll.

“We chased that pack of wild boar all the way to the northern mountains.” Darius

chuckled, gesturing with his fork, while the twins and Tara listened.

“I’m sure I wouldn’t disappoint you.” Ana’s expression glowed with talk of an

adventure.

“No, you wouldn’t at that, I’m sure.” Darius laughed, and reached for another roll.

Although it had been Tara who’d insisted their family always meet for their midday

meals, he had to admit he enjoyed the time with his children and his claim. “Your aim

compares to your mama’s.”

At that, Darius glanced toward Tara, which was when he realized she wasn’t

following the conversation. He watched her scoot food around on her plate before his

daughter grabbed his attention with her excited tone.

“Then invite me next time,” Ana shot back, indifferent to her mama’s distracted

look. “Unless you fear I might put your aim to shame.”

Darius had grown accustomed to his outspoken women. He insisted upon

obedience in the public eye and around the servants, but they all relaxed when they

found themselves alone as a family. He wagged a finger at his daughter.

“Ah, little one, make sure you can back a challenge if you make it, I say.”

Ana grinned, and pushed herself away from the table. “I’ll challenge you right now,

unless you’re too tired from your day’s events.”

“Ana, I need to speak with your papa before you two go play.” Tara surprised

Darius by showing she had in fact listened to their conversation.

“I’ll challenge you,” Andru said, pushing his plate away from him. “I can’t eat

another bite.”

“At least not for another hour.” Ana giggled, and joined her brother as he got up to

leave.

13

Lorie O’Clare

Darius waited until his children had left the table, before sitting once again. Tara

leaned forward, studying him with her beautiful sapphire eyes. He didn’t rush her,

knowing her mind worked for the right words, in order to have him in agreement. He

would wait for her attack, and was ready with his rebuttal.

“That look has never worked on me. You’d think you’d know that by now. You cut

me off earlier today…”

“Tara, I will cut you off again, I will.” Darius leaned forward, realizing he needed to

help her think clearly. “We know nothing about these people, and I’ll not send them

running to make an enemy out of a potential ally.”

“We can’t be their allies.” Tara stood up quickly. “I’ll have nothing to do with them

until we know where they stand with the Lunians.”

“And what if they have nothing to do with the Lunians?”

“How could they not? We left those people virtually in their laps.”

“That was a long time ago. We haven’t encountered the Lunians since. Our nation is

powerful and covers most of the northern continent. If they had contact with the

Lunians, it could be part of their history as well.”

“That could be.” Tara walked behind Darius, running a finger from his shoulder to

the nape of his neck. “These are things we must find out before we say friend.”

Darius stood quickly, grabbing the hand that had just stroked him, and brought it

to his mouth. “Is this your only hesitation with these people?” He studied her beautiful

face, clouded with worry.

“You know it’s not,” she whispered.

He thought he saw a chill pass through her momentarily, and tried to pull her into

his arms, but she resisted.

“I’ve asked Torgo to see what kind of landlink system these people use. Since

obviously they’re still camped outside Bryton.” She paused, and he noted she

attempted to chastise him for not heeding her words earlier. “Possibly they will be

easier to investigate.”

Darius released her hand and moved toward the door. “I will give this son of a

chief an audience tomorrow and see what he has to say.”

He walked toward the front of the house with Tara at his heels.

“You agreed to see him?”

At the top of the stairs, she grabbed his arm, pulling so he would turn and face her.

When he did, he noted rage creating clouds in her blue eyes. The woman still expected

him to consult her on his every move.

“Of course I agreed to see him, I did. As you would have, if you’d think clearly

about this, and not let emotions run rampant.”

She didn’t cower. He liked that about her. But instead, braced her fists on her hips,

and glared back. “I am thinking clearly. I will not have history repeat itself.”

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All For One

Darius turned and walked a few paces down the upstairs hallway. Tara hurried

after him, and then ran into his chest when he turned and grabbed her arms, catching

her off-guard. His squeezed her arms, wanting to lift her from the ground, and give her

a good shaking.

“We lead the most powerful nations on Nuworld, we do. How would it look, what

would people think, if we were to turn away the offer of friendship from a neighboring

people? We’d have no explanation, nothing to back our decision to turn them away,

other than to say we’re not interested.” He held her firmly, watching her blue eyes

darken with her stubbornness. “Tara, what reason could I give them for not extending

an audience?”

Tara
bit her lip and he watched the small action, knowing his words hit home. She

was scared. He saw the emotion enter her eyes briefly before she suppressed it. They’d

left nightmares behind on the other side of those mountains. They were his nightmares

as well as hers. Winters had passed and the fears had subsided—but they still existed.

His claim seldom let her guard down and showed any vulnerability, but he saw it now,

pooling in her sweet blue eyes, and across her face like a shroud she silently bore.

“Tara, I’ll hear what they have to say, I will. I will give these people an audience.”

“Okay then,” she spoke quietly. “But we will meet them at their campground.

They’ll not enter the city.”

He realized later that she’d said we.

* * * * *

Tara sat lazily in one of the chairs behind Torgo while he wheeled his chair from

one landlink to another. She stared at him idly, barely aware of the mere duplicate of

her claim. Darius’ younger brother stood just as tall with broad shoulders and well-

developed muscles. His blond curls fell to his shoulders. He had a beard trimmed close,

not hiding the strong jawline. He had his older brother’s good looks, and carried

himself with enough confidence to show that he knew this.

There was a strong difference in the two, however. The first, and most obvious, was

Torgo’s long fuse. He seldom raised his voice and usually posed as cheerful mediator in

all discussions. The less obvious though was that Torgo’s heart didn’t lean toward the

military. He was the intellectual. Certainly, his large size and fighting skills enabled him

to defend himself. But Torgo had a knack for not allowing himself to be put in a

situation where fighting was necessary. It was a difference Tara enjoyed. He was, and