All For One [Nuworld 3] (39 page)

“I thought I was brought here to be reunited with my family,” Beel said quickly, his

eyes meeting Tara’s. He then boldly looked at Darius. “I see now that’s not the case.

Andru told me to stay here while he found out who I was and why I was kept hidden.”

Ana spoke up. “We knew immediately that we were related.”

“And if I’d discovered he was our brother, I would’ve seen to it that he be made

comfortable in our home,” Andru finished.

“Now that you know he isn’t, what are your plans?” Darius knew Beel watched

him too carefully. He sensed the boy knew that the information Andru offered was

inaccurate. The boy’s eyes looked wounded and confused as he stared at him. Darius

told himself it was his conscience playing with him and shoved the feeling to the side.

“I’ve made arrangements for a party to escort him out of Gothman territory.”

Andru held up to his reputation of honesty.

“And who is this party?” Darius gave Andru his full attention.

“Do I have your word that you won’t harm the party I’ve secured?”

Andru stood attentive in front of the rulers of two nations. They were his parents,

but this wasn’t the first time he demanded the respect due an heir to a nation.

“As long as your party is not wanted for a crime, I give you my word.” Darius

stifled a smile at the self-importance that crossed his son’s face. Slowly, he put his arm

around Tara and pulled her to him.

“I’ve chosen Roth.”

Ana gasped. Darius dropped his hand from Tara’s back. Tara groaned. But all three

showed surprise when Beel spoke up.

“No, Andru.” Beel put his hands on his hips and scowled. “He’ll take me back to

the Barringswood tribe.”

“Roth is locked up.” Tara ignored Beel’s outburst.

Calmly Andru turned from Beel and once again faced his parents’ potential wrath.

“No, he’s not.”

Just then, someone knocked on the door to the bedroom. Ana moved toward her

brother.

“My Lord?”

At the same time, Tara’s comm beeped in her pocket. Darius walked to the door

and opened it, privately grateful that it opened inward and the person knocking

couldn’t see the three teenagers standing behind him.

“The Tree People have crossed the mountain range again. There are more of them

this time and we have an incoming message from Sorg,” the guard at the door informed

him.

“Send troops out with orders to detain them and I’ll be with you in a minute, I

will.” Darius closed the door and then turned to look at everybody in the room.

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“I’ve just received word that at least two people overcame the guards surrounding

the Runner jail.” Tara had her comm wrapped around her ear and paused to listen. She

looked at her daughter. “Roth has escaped.”

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Chapter Twenty-One

Torgo, Syra, and Roth moved quietly through the woods toward the spot Andru

suggested they meet. They’d taken Roth to Syra’s trailer and enjoyed his overwhelmed

reaction to the structure Syra lived in with her papa. Their lifestyles were so incredibly

different and they’d passed time by discussing this. Torgo and Syra both liked the man,

although neither of them wished to warm to him. He was only several winters younger

than they were and he was interested in Ana—a child.

“Over there,” Torgo pointed to several figures barely visible in the night.

“Why did you make us walk all the way out here?” Syra sounded annoyed as she

came upon the three teenagers.

“Ana!” Roth said at the same time, as she ran into his arms.

Andru watched the couple cautiously before answering Syra’s question. Beel stood

next to him, matching his pose. When Andru turned to Torgo and Syra, he saw their

curious gazes as they studied the similarities in the two boys. His eyes narrowed at the

realization that neither of them showed any emotion other than curiosity at the boy they

claimed was their son.

“Right before we left, we received word that the Tree People have crossed the

mountains.”

Roth turned to look at him while his arms remained wrapped around Ana.

“They have quite an impressive army and are prepared to attack if we don’t release

Roth to them right away. We know they’re monitoring our activity. If we sent you on

gliders to go anywhere but toward them, it would be viewed as an act of aggression.”

“Beel doesn’t wish to return to our tribe,” Roth said unnecessarily. “I understand

your concerns, Andru. If you’ll give me a comm I’ll contact my brother.” He paused

and then nodded at the heir to Gothman. “Yes, I know you’ll monitor my

communication. I understand. I wish no ill will against your people.”

Torgo pulled his comm out of his pocket. The mature Gothman stood almost head

and shoulders taller than Roth.

When Roth reached for the comm, he noticed the laser in Torgo’s other hand, which

hung by his side.

Andru watched Roth as the man noted that they all were armed, and ready to fire if

needed.

Roth breathed deeply and wrapped the comm around his ear.

Andru felt they made it very clear that he better choose his words well if he wanted

to live.

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“Make sure your brother understands it’s in his best interest to go home and wait

for you there,” Torgo explained.

Roth flipped on the comm and focused on Ana as he spoke. “Sorg, this is Roth.” He

paused. “I’m fine and I’m free… No, I haven’t been detained… I’m sorry that’s what

you were told. I haven’t been in a position to contact you before now.”

Andru scowled as he watched Roth wrap his arm around Ana’s shoulders, pulling

her into him. His fingers twisted through her braided hair and tucked her head under

his chin. She stood cuddled into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She

didn’t look at any of them. It didn’t help Andru’s mood when his sister wouldn’t look

at him.

“Sorg, if you attack these people I’ll do everything in my power to see that you’re

defeated.”

There was silence for a moment and Andru glanced at Torgo and Syra who

watched Roth intently.

“Why? Because I love his daughter and will do what is necessary to earn his

respect.”

Andru froze at Roth’s words. The man continued to hold her, and continued to play

with her hair.

“Sorg, my brother, I have no desire to betray you. Let this drop. I’m not harmed and

will come home when I’m ready. Ana and I don’t want blood shed because of us.”

There was another long pause and Roth took his time looking at Torgo, then Syra,

Andru, and finally Beel. He then glanced again at Torgo and Syra. “I’m with Lord

Darius’ brother, Lady Tara’s niece—” he hesitated as he looked at Andru and Beel, took

a deep breath, then added, “—and Lord Darius’ children.”

Andru looked at Beel quickly and then turned to frown at Torgo and Syra. It

dawned on him that Roth could pull all their thoughts. Why would he say Lord Darius’

children and not Lord Darius and Lady Tara’s children? Unless…all three of them were

Lord Darius’ children. He turned again to look at Beel, look into his eyes, and study his

face. Beel looked up at him, shy but definitely seeking approval, Andru thought.

“Sorg, that would be foolish. These people are incredibly powerful. They would

annihilate us. We would be better to have them as allies. Our cultures would benefit

from each other, I think.”

Andru realized Sorg wasn’t agreeing easily.

“I have no authority to say that he’ll meet with you,” Roth continued to speak. “I’ll

ask on your behalf.” He then looked at Beel. “No, I haven’t seen him. If I do, I’ll take

him in tow.”

Finally, Roth pulled the comm from his ear and handed it to Torgo. It began

beeping when Torgo took it. He listened for only a minute then pulled it from his ear.

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“Lord Darius will contact Sorg and arrange a meeting, he will. He has noted your

loyalty to our people.” Torgo looked over at Beel. “Now to our matter at hand. You and

Beel shall leave here, yes.”

“But Uncle Torgo,” Ana whimpered.

A raised hand from Torgo quickly silenced her.

“If it’s your wish not to return to your nation right now you’re welcome to stay in

our nation and you won’t be harmed, I say.”

Roth pushed Ana to arm’s length and wiped a tear that escaped down her cheek.

He smiled gently then leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I’ll request permission

to see you again soon,” he whispered.

Andru took a step to his sister and Roth looked up at him and smiled sadly. “Don’t

worry, my friend, your sister still has more loyalty for you than she does for me.” He

then took both of her hands in his and gently guided her into her brother’s arms.

“You two shall go home,” Torgo instructed Andru. “Syra and I will escort Roth and

Beel to a safe haven.”

Andru pulled his sister toward the gliders as she continued to watch Roth. “You’re

not going to harm them, right?” But Andru pulled her along and she didn’t hear if they

answered.

* * * * *

Three adults and a teenage boy walked west along the rugged ground. After just a

short amount of time, two gliders appeared in the sky and Beel froze in his steps. Torgo

pulled out his comm and the next thing they knew he was waving a beam to signal the

gliders.

“You have your own following, I see,” Roth commented, as two Gothman landed

not too far from them.

“Our actions are not unknown to my brother,” Torgo answered without looking at

the Tree Person. “We don’t ask that you walk across our nation, no.”

“You’re giving me a glider?” Roth tried to see Torgo’s eyes but it was dark and

Torgo wasn’t quite looking at him.

Instead of answering, Torgo walked over to talk to the guards. It was getting too

dark to see anyone’s eyes well and Roth was forced to voice his curiosity.