All For One [Nuworld 3] (16 page)

of his voice. “You won’t mess anything up, and I certainly won’t do anything you don’t

want me to do.”

“Am I that easy to read?”

“Only because you let me,” he whispered, and took her hand in his, then drew it to

his lips. After a moment of enjoying the sensation of drowning in him, as his green eyes

searched for that very spot that boiled with passion just moments ago, Roth stepped

back but kept her hand in his. “Let me show you what I brought.”

She noticed several brown bags leaning against a rock on the other side of the small

fire. He led her to them and squatted, opening the first one. He pulled out and unfolded

a large mat-like blanket. It seemed to be woven out of tiny branches, yet it was so

pliable that she decided it couldn’t be made of bark. She liked the way he guided, then

assisted her, as she sat on the blanket. No one had ever treated her so gently. Her

brother babied and fondled her, but he was her brother and would always treat her that

64

All For One

way. Roth handled her as if she were a delicate flower and he feared he’d break her if

he was too rough. She’d never felt so cherished.

Roth sat next to her and pulled the other brown bag onto his lap. “None of this is

anything fancy. It’s stuff I brought so I could camp and wait for my brother. But I got to

thinking that a lot of it is different than what you’re accustomed to, and if you ever visit

my home,” he paused and gave her a boyish grin. “Well, you’d want to know about this

stuff.”

She looked anxiously at the bag. She wanted to know about his home. Her mind

quickly supplied her with valid reasons for curiosity such as learning information like

this was something the daughter of rulers of nations should do. Also, the Runner

culture taught that learning about other nations helped them to be stronger. But in all

honesty, she wanted to know Roth. She wanted to know how he thought, what he liked,

and what he didn’t like. And if these were his things then she wanted to know about

them.

A sudden movement in the trees across the clearing caused both of them to look up.

Roth was on his feet instantly. He took a step in front of Ana and pulled his gun, a gun

she didn’t realize he was carrying until that moment. She peered around his leg to see

what was there, simultaneously feeling something close to amusement that he felt a

need to protect her.

Apparently, as Andru strolled into the clearing in his Runner attire and saw the

strange man protecting his sister, he also experienced a moment of amusement.

“Don’t let her fool you. She’s not that helpless,” he said and then studied Roth

carefully, paying little attention to the gun in his hands.

Ana jumped to her feet. She placed her hand on Roth’s arm and slowly lowered it.

“The Runner outfit will repel your bullets,” she said quietly. Then to Andru, “What are

you doing here?”

Her brother walked nonchalantly over to the secluded setting he’d just interrupted.

“I told you I wanted to meet this man.” He made eye contact with his sister and she

sensed his strong reluctance to share her.

“Roth of the Barringswood tribe, younger son of the chief, I’d like to present my

brother, Andru, heir to the Lord of Gothman.” She said the words with little enthusiasm

as she gestured her hand from Roth to her brother.

Roth suddenly stood taller and bowed his head. At first, Ana thought he mocked

the title she’d given her brother, but then she realized he took the title seriously, very

seriously.

“It’s a privilege to meet you, my Lord.”

Roth’s serious tone and militaristic stance was new to Ana. She looked at him,

baffled.

Andru quickly sensed her awe and had no intention of ruining her evening. She

was entitled to a boyfriend—he guessed. At least he hadn’t caught them in a

65

Lorie O’Clare

compromising position, and he’d prepared himself for that possibility when he showed

up unannounced. He wanted to check this guy out, though. He’d make sure this man—

my Crator, Roth was a man—knew who he was keeping company with. His sister

wasn’t just another girl—damn, she didn’t look like a girl at all right now. She was the

daughter of leaders and any action this guy took with her couldn’t be taken lightly.

“Call me Andru,” he said, and then looked at the mat they’d been sitting on.

“I was getting ready to show some items from my homeland to your sister. I’d be

honored if you joined us.” Roth gestured to the mat inviting them to sit. “I’ve also

prepared some of our best delicacies. There’s enough for three.”

Andru ignored the glares his sister gave him and also successfully concealed a

small smile that threatened to appear on his face. I know, sweet sister, he thought to her

with his eyes, you want me out of here. But, I recognize the setting and I know what this man

has in mind. I’m going to check him out for you.

Andru sat. Roth brushed the mat flat so Ana could sit then seated himself beside

her so he was facing Andru. He pulled his brown bag open so Andru and Ana could see

the contents. He pulled out several items, all of them foreign to the twins, but what

caught both of their eyes was the flat disc he pulled out last.

“Is that a landlink?” Ana asked, ignoring the other items.

It obviously wasn’t the first thing he was going to show them and he looked

somewhat surprised as he picked up the flat, square panel.

“Yes, does it look different from yours?”

“Very,” Andru said and held out his hand. “May I look at it?”

“Sure. It’s pretty basic. I just use it to store notes and communicate with my brother.

Have you met him?” He looked up at Andru.

Andru met his gaze but then squinted and looked down.

Ana thought his reaction to Roth’s very different eyes was insulting and she looked

quickly at Roth to see if he’d taken offense. His face showed no indication that Andru

bothered him. He simply watched as the hooded Runner scrutinized the flat disc in his

hands.

“You turn it on right here,” Roth offered as he pointed to the side panel.

“Oh, I see.” Then, Andru ripped off his Runner headgear so he could see easier.

Blond curls fell in disarray and he shook his head to straighten them.

“Oh dear Yawa,” Roth whispered, taken completely off-guard.

Both Ana and Andru looked up at him curiously.

“I guess I never mentioned how much we look alike,” Ana mumbled. “We’re

twins.”

Roth simply stared at Andru speechless for a minute. Andru looked back at him

questioningly. Ana simply stared from one to the other.

“I sincerely beg forgiveness, my Lord, I mean, Andru.”

66

All For One

Ana thought she actually saw Roth blush. He managed a coy smile and looked at

Ana. He reached to touch her leg but then pulled it back when Andru’s eyes followed

his action. Ana ignored her brother and put her hand into Roth’s. He smiled genuinely

at her.

“Your sister is right. She never mentioned you were twins. Although, now that I

study both of you I see differences.”

Andru glanced at his sister who seemed lost in Roth’s presence. Shy of her long hair

and quickly developing curves, there were no differences between them. He decided

not to ask what differences Roth saw. Questioning the man could put him on the

defensive, and since Roth seemed willing to share knowledge with them, he would

simply hear what the man had to say.

They sat there a while longer and listened while Roth showed them how his

landlink worked. He then showed them several warming crystals that could be placed

by a fire then maintain the heat for up to twelve hours. The crystals were beautiful and

when Ana mentioned it, Roth insisted she have one.

She glanced at her brother and when he nodded, she graciously accepted.

The rest of the contents of his bag consisted of a brush made completely from tree

parts, and several plates and bowls molded from crystal formations that grew among

the roots of some of their trees. Finally, he shared a picture of his father and mama. Both

of them had the red hair Roth had and the same intense emerald-green eyes.

When he motioned to the fire and commented that the food was ready, Andru

stood and said he’d leave them. Ana was glad when Roth didn’t object to Andru’s

refusal to eat with them.

“I’ll expect you back at the house in an hour,” Andru said, and brushed his sister’s

hair with his hand.

“Andru,” she attempted to object but Roth held up a hand.

“I’ll make sure she is safe with you by the end of an hour.”

Andru nodded and then turned and left them.

“I think you impressed my brother,” Ana said after Andru was gone. “He wouldn’t

have let me stay otherwise.”

“I never expected you to be one to follow instructions from someone else,” Roth

teased her as he walked to sit next to her with two plates of food.

“Andru’s different. I don’t always do what he tells me to do. But he seems to be

able to tell things about a person…things other than the obvious.”

She looked at the strange food that was on the plate in front of her. Could she

actually eat this stuff?

Her thoughts must have been all over her face because Roth laughed. “You won’t

know if you like it until you try it.”

She wasn’t even sure how to eat it. Roth handed her a narrow stick, carved to a

point on one end. He took another stick, and as if demonstrating, he took the stick,

67

Lorie O’Clare

stuck it into one of pieces of boiled Brooca bark and lifted it to his mouth. “Perfect,” he

said with his mouth full.

“Here goes nothing.” Ana stabbed some of the bark and quickly put a piece in her

mouth. “Mmm—this is good.” She quickly took another piece and ate it. It was like

boiled fruit, but not like any she had before. It almost dissolved in her mouth.

“Do you think I’d offer you something that wasn’t good?” Roth acted offended. “I