All For One [Nuworld 3] (2 page)

then looked carefully at her blank expression, as if memorizing her features. “I am Jeth

of the Barringswood tribe. We are the largest tribe of the Tree People, and have come in

a small procession to pay homage and extend a greeting of peace.”

“I’m not familiar with the Tree People.” Something inside Tara cried caution.

Jeth relaxed, as if some prepared speech had suddenly returned to him. “The Tree

People and the Runners have not crossed paths. Although we share the same sun and

walk the same ground, we are strangers. We are not hostile, but can defend ourselves.

Our mission is simply an introduction.”

Tara
took a moment. Their mission was simply an introduction? An introduction to

what? “What land do the Tree People claim?”

“We have come from the other side of the mountains to your east—the Grathing

mountain range.” Jeth stared at her, not blinking once.

He anticipated a reaction from her. But what would make him think his homeland

might impress her?

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Tara
fought not to show any emotion although her insides lurched with sudden

panic. This man was from a people who lived on the other side of the mountains. It had

been thirteen winters since she’d been across those mountains. She’d seen no sign of a

race of people living there then, although her reason for being so far from her home had

been to protect her people, their very means of survival, not to explore the land for

inhabitants.

Horrible memories from a time she’d hoped to forget ever happened ransacked her

thoughts. A time when they’d fought for freedom. A time when they’d destroyed the

deadly race of Lunians to prevent themselves from becoming breeding stock.

An even worse memory surfaced its ugly head. The face of a sleeping baby

appeared before her mind’s eye—a baby who looked like her own children, but who

was not her child.

“You’re here for an introduction to what?” Tara couldn’t hide the coldness that

seeped into her tone.

“An introduction of our people—yours and mine.” Jeth smiled, but began wringing

his hat again. “We are neighbors. As our technology grows, a mere mountain range

isn’t as much of an obstacle as it was for our fathers. The Tree People would like to

extend a formal greeting of peace. Our small assembly consists of the chief of the

Barringswood tribe’s son, Sorg. He waits now for my return in hopes of formally being

invited for an introduction.”

Tara
listened closely as the messenger spoke. He had a unique vocal inflection, as

did most new races she’d encountered over the winters. She found it interesting that he

spoke with a similar accent to the Gothman, not quite the same, but similar. He was

nervous, but who wouldn’t be in his position? Runners weren’t a race to seek out other

races and ask for friendly relations.

Other races in the northern continent made it clear they didn’t trust Runners and

wanted nothing to do with them. Of course, when Tara and Darius united and therefore

combined their races, Runners began receiving more respect. They were still viewed

with suspicion, but now there was respect.

They were no longer gunned down on sight, but instead viewed with a distant

reverence. She wasn’t opposed to the idea of meeting new races and learning from

them. Something deep inside her demanded caution, however. The Lunians had been

left on the other side of those mountains, and although she hadn’t heard from them in

over thirteen winters, she didn’t believe they had left Nuworld and returned to the

moon.

“I see,” Tara said after moments of contemplation. “So you have studied our

technology and decided we are a people whom it would be advantageous to know?”

“Studied?” Jeth looked unsure how to answer. “We know you are a large race.” He

paused. “But your people and my people are strangers.”

He twisted his hat vigorously.

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These people had the technology to determine a large number of people lived on

the other side of the mountains. Yet, this messenger just implied that the Tree People

knew nothing else about the Runners and Gothman. Did she believe him? His

nervousness definitely increased when she asked him what his people knew about her

people.

“Certainly you know something about us if you’ve ventured this far into our

nation.”

Jeth hesitated. “Lady Tara, I’m just a messenger sent to you to announce our

presence and request an audience.” He held his hands out in front of him helplessly, his

green eyes appearing to glow.

“Jeth,” she said without hesitation. “I fear your leaders have sent an ill-equipped

messenger. I won’t allow an audience until my questions are satisfied.”

Without cue, the glass doors opened, and two guards stepped forward.

“Escort this man back to his assembly.” When Jeth looked like he’d object to the

armed escort, she allowed a small smile. “I look forward to our next visit when you’re

enlightened with more information.”

The guards closed the front door behind them, and Tara jumped up immediately,

heading for the stairs. Upstairs, she bounded down the hallway until she reached the

small landlink room. Two runners looked up questioningly when she entered the room.

“Where’s Torgo?” she asked.

“He’s taken Rayla to see Reena. He should be here soon.” The Runner reached for

some papers that began spewing from the printer. “I’ll have the financial report from

Taratown ready in a few minutes.”

Tara
nodded. “Is Rayla with child again?”

“They think so. Torgo never misses the appointments she has with their doctor.

What is this, their fourth child?”

“Yes, it would be.” The last thing she wanted to do was gossip about Torgo and his

Gothman claim. “Tell Torgo to find me when he gets here.”

* * * * *

Darius led his troops across the plateau north of Bryton. The large gliders flew

several feet above the rough terrain with incredible speed. The small assembly they had

detected on their landlinks appeared, and Darius slowed, his troops following suit

without instruction.

A tall thin man, with a red mop of hair and beard, appeared from one of the small

white tents and approached them. His dark green shirt and trousers hung loosely on

him as he sauntered forward.

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The wheels of a motorcycle appeared from underneath the metal of the glider,

bouncing the machine slightly when they hit the ground. Darius brought his glider to a

stop. The stranger paused several yards away, two others from the campsite joining

him.

“Identify yourselves, and tell of your mission, I say.” Geeves, Darius’ first man,

could sound threatening with his raspy bark of a voice.

“High day to you, sir.” The man had an unfamiliar dialect. “I am Sorg, of the Tree

People, and son of the chief of the Barringswood tribe. We come on a mission of peace,

and introduction.”

Darius studied the man. He was shorter than Darius and at least fifty pounds

lighter in weight. Darius could annihilate him, and his companions, single-handed.

When after a moment’s silence, the Tree Person didn’t offer more information, but

stood motionless, as if aware he was being inspected, Darius sensed intelligence. The

man respected the Gothman in front of him. He answered the question, and waited for

the next.

“I haven’t heard of the Tree People, no.”

“We are from the other side of the mountain range to the east of your borders.”

Darius knew nothing about these people, but ignorance was a weakness, and a

sensation he didn’t enjoy experiencing. He studied Sorg, and the surrounding camp.

There were no weapons of size. Their vehicles were small and domed. But they were

gliders, a Lunian technology, which meant the Tree People had somehow obtained the

knowledge from them.

Had they also had contact with the Lunians? He wondered about this since it had

been the Lunians who had brought the technology of the glider to Gothman. These Tree

People had learned how to build gliders from someone. The vehicle appeared too

similar not to be shared technology.

“Why have you camped here?” Darius redirected his gaze to Sorg.

“We have sent forth a messenger to announce our presence and request an

audience.” Sorg spoke loud enough for all in the camp to hear.

“Who is it that you wish an audience with?” Darius asked.

“I wish to address Lord Darius and Lady Tara.”

Darius realized the messenger would request to see Tara. She’d be curious, and

agree to see him, but what would she think when she learned where he was from? He

knew the answer to that one. She’d be horrified. He knew more than anything that his

claim would want nothing to do with anyone from the other side of the mountain

range.

Darius’ comm beeped in his ear. He reached up to turn it on, and spoke quietly. The

distance between him and the Tree People would make it difficult for them to hear what

he said. Sorg cocked his head, watching him as he spoke into his comm.

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“Darius?” Tara sounded concerned. Oh yes, she’d already talked to the messenger.

He could tell by her tone. “Have you reached the strangers camped north of us yet?”

“I’m right in front of them, I’d say.”

“I want them sent out of here. Make sure we have an army twice their size to escort

them all the way to our borders.”

He sensed her worry, but could tell by her tone that she meant business. Seldom

did she give him a direct order, and she knew better than to try and tell him what to do.

She was his claim, and she knew how to address him. However, she was obstinate, and

over the winters he’d never been able to tame that in her. Truth be told, he found it one

of her more appealing qualities.

In this particular incident, however, he disagreed with her order. And he knew

there’d be hell to pay!

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