All For One [Nuworld 3] (27 page)

Tara raised her hand. “She has more knowledge of these people than we do. It

makes sense that she should be present.”

Darius looked at his brother but the return gaze was blank. Without another word,

the four of them entered the conference room. Fulga had reappeared on the scene and

offered cold, spiced tea and cookies.

“We’ll need several bags of ready-made food prepared,” Tara said after the older

woman placed the large tray on the table. “We have about twenty soldiers leaving

within the hour and I have no idea how long we’ll be gone.”

When Fulga was gone, Tara repeated what Andru told them to Torgo and Syra.

“How has he ended The Waiting?” Syra asked first.

“What does it mean that all must be one?” Torgo asked next. “All what?”

“All the children.” Darius said the words with so much conviction the other three

looked at him quickly.

“It couldn’t be.” Tara shook her head not wanting to believe what had already

occurred to her. There was no way she wanted Darius’ bastard son in this house with

their two children.

“If he was here he couldn’t be a risk to us, no.”

“He’s not coming here.” Tara felt every muscle in her body tighten.

“There’s something I think the two of you aren’t taking into consideration.” Syra

spoke up and the two of them looked at her as if she’d just interrupted a private

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argument. She shook her head. “You forget that Beel is a servant. He has been all his

life. The Tree People treat their servants like they’re a lower form of life, and in essence

they are. Not because they aren’t as good as the Barringswood tribe, but they haven’t

been given the education or the culture. Beel will not make eye contact with you or

speak until he’s spoken to. He will wait on you hand and foot, and then sit in the corner

until needed again.”

The room grew quiet as everyone visualized a child of Lord Darius acting like this.

“You couldn’t just bring him here and expect him to start acting like Andru and

Ana. They’ve had a privileged life since birth.” Syra looked down at her hands when

she was through speaking.

“Good point,” Tara said quickly, wanting to put closure on that idea.

“Well then, what could the all be?” Torgo asked again, and no one had an answer.

Nothing was resolved by the brainstorming. Darius walked them back out to the

field and let Torgo organize the troops while he took his claim in his arms.

“Be careful,” he whispered.

“I’ll keep you posted on every detail,” she said then let herself be pulled in for a

passionate kiss.

It was dark by the time they crossed over the mountain range. Tara received a

message on her screen and the sender identified himself as Roth. He gave her the

coordinates of their campsite and she led her small army down into the trees.

Tara insisted before they left that all soldiers on this mission wear Runner attire.

She didn’t care if Gothman came with them but they would have to wear Runner

clothing. What she really wanted them to wear was the Runner headscarf. She donned

her own headscarf as well. Tara also had Fulga assemble a group of Gothman

seamstresses, and had netting sewn over the eye openings, making it even more

difficult for their eyes to be seen than before. She’d received assurance from Syra that

this should make it impossible for the Barringswood tribe members to pull thoughts.

Now as she climbed off her glider surrounded by her soldiers, she noticed a look of

fear on the face of the young man who stood in front of her. He was tall but not

muscular. Although it was dark, she could tell his hair was light red and it was long

and wavy. She thought she could see a resemblance to Sorg in this young man. His eyes

were a brilliant green and they almost glowed in the dark.

She glanced at Torgo who looked back at her. She didn’t quite have the same bond

with this man as she did with his brother, and she certainly couldn’t see any of his face,

but she wondered if he saw what she did. The Tree Person standing in front of her

appeared scared to death.

“We have no intention of hurting you,” she said calmly, as she stared the young

man in the eyes.

“Why are your faces covered?” When he spoke he sounded calmer than he looked.

“We are Runners and the headscarf is part of our dress,” she said simply.

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“I see.” He took a step forward and reached out his hand. “I am Roth, younger son

of the chief of the Barringswood tribe. How may I help you?”

“I’m Tara, leader of all Runner clans.” She looked down at his outstretched hand

and then slowly placed her hand into his. Much to her surprise he brought her hand up

to his mouth but held it just an inch in front of his lips before releasing it.

“High day to you and welcome to the land of the Tree People,” he said and then

bowed slightly.

“Our mission shouldn’t affect your people,” she said honestly. “My daughter is

missing. I just want to look for her.”

“I’ve received a picture of her and have given a copy to my men. We will help you

look for her.” Roth straightened and made eye contact with her.

“That is very nice of you.”

“I’m afraid you won’t get much accomplished in the dark, however.” Roth gestured

to the open area. “We have already established our camp and encourage you to do the

same. In the morning, we will begin your search.”

Tara nodded and then turned to give instructions to her soldiers. In minutes the

area was alive with activity as tents were assembled and bedrolls produced.

Roth retreated quickly after formally introducing himself to Tara. He knew damn

good and well why they all wore the headgear. They all knew he could pull their

thoughts and the fact that they had taken measures to prevent him from doing so

bothered him. He left his soldiers to watch over the Runners and returned to his trailer,

which was parked well into the trees and a far distance from where the Runners were.

“Is he here?” Ana jumped up the second Roth walked through the door.

“He didn’t come. It’s your mama.” Roth rubbed his forehead and walked over to

the landlink console built into the wall.

“Mama came but not Papa? Well, how did it go?” Ana walked over to Roth. She

reached to touch his back with her fingers but he turned to face her.

“The Runner introduced herself as Tara but she had that cloth over her head, and so

did the rest of them. My brother told me they didn’t like having their thoughts pulled.

But there were coverings over their eyes and I couldn’t recognize any of them.” He

rubbed his forehead again then ran his hand through his hair.

“They were all Runners? No Gothman?” Ana shook her head. “That’s odd.” She

snapped her fingers. “I know why Mama did that. So they all could wear the headgear,

then you can’t pull their thoughts. You’re right, my parents definitely wouldn’t want

anyone from another nation pulling their thoughts. Are you sure my papa wasn’t with

them? I don’t understand why he wouldn’t come looking for me.”

“No, I’m not sure. I have no idea who any of them were.” That bothered Roth too.

Runners were camped among them. He didn’t know who any of them were, just that

they could annihilate his small camp if they chose.

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“Why don’t you send a message asking them to give you a list of who they are,

since they don’t want to show their faces,” Ana suggested.

Roth smiled at her and then pulled her into his arms. “That’s a great idea.”

Within a short time, the messenger returned to Roth’s trailer with a list from Tara.

He’d also asked in his message if there were any supplies he could offer. He sat at the

landlink reading the list on the disc.

“How many of these names do you recognize?”

“All of them,” Ana said as she read over his shoulder. “There are Gothman among

them. My uncle is Gothman.” She pointed to Torgo’s name.

Roth turned around and pulled her onto his lap. “And you find it odd that Lord

Darius didn’t come to look for you?”

“I would think my brother would come, too. He could find me the easiest.” Ana

scowled until Roth rubbed the wrinkles on her forehead.

“You are too pretty for a face like that.” He paused for a moment then looked at her

seriously. “Ana, do your parents have any other children?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know.” He pulled her to him then and began stroking her hair. He worried

his assumption might upset her and of course, he had no way of knowing if he was

right or not. “When I first met your brother, I was quite shocked.”

“I remember.” She smiled. “You didn’t know I was a twin.”

“That’s what I let you think at the time but you think about Andru a lot. I already

knew you had a twin brother.” Roth followed her eyes so he could tell when she

understood what he implied.

“Then why were you shocked?”

“He could have a twin here,” Roth said and watched for her reaction.

Ana showed nothing but confusion on her face and in her thoughts. “What are you

talking about?”

“There is a boy here. He’s my mama’s personal servant. He and Andru could be

twins. They look that much alike. It’s really uncanny.”

Ana just stared at him for a minute. “Why are you telling me this right now?”

“It’s probably not the case, but what if your father had a son over here? It would

explain why he didn’t come. Someone might discover they had the heir to the Gothman

throne in their home. Your brother and father are similar in appearance. Am I right?”

Ana jumped off Roth and stared at him in disbelief. He looked at her seriously but

then after pulling her thoughts reached out and grabbed her before she could back

away.

“No. Don’t be mad,” he said when she tried to pull away. “You’re the one who said

it was odd that your father didn’t come here. I’m just thinking out loud, and I’m

probably wrong.”