Tara The Great [Nuworld 2] (22 page)

pregnant?”

“She’s on what?” Darius and Patha spoke almost at the same time.

“She’s just started the doses,” Tara retorted. “She would have ended up pregnant, if

she didn’t take precautions.”

Darius growled, showing his disapproval of the Runner drug.

* * * * *

Patha looked away, not willing to visualize what could possibly happen to the girl

if such a situation did transpire. He also saw the anger Darius felt over such news and

knew it would make Torgo’s return even more unpleasant.

Darius would double the punishment if he thought his younger brother had

encouraged anti-conception medication. He doubted that’s what Tara intended to do by

sharing this information with them. With a loud sigh he decided to change the subject.

“I know this isn’t the best time to mention it, but I’ve found in my winters of running a

nation, when a crisis occurs it usually is accompanied by another.”

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation, and Darius looked up. One of

the young servant girls opened the door slowly.

“What now?” Darius asked wearily.

“I beg your pardon, M’lord,” the girl’s voice cracked and she lowered her head.

“What is it?”

“The doctor is here as you requested, M’lord.”

“Send him up.”

The young girl took an awkward step backward, then as if an afterthought reached

for the doorknob and drew the door shut quickly.

Tara would have preferred Hilda to hire old women as servants, instead of teenage

girls. She decided not to entertain the thought of Darius taking liberties with them.

Instead, she focused on the doctor having been called at his request to examine her. But

she wouldn’t leave until she knew what Patha had to say. “What is our other crisis?”

She looked at her papa.

“I received a message from Southland,” he began, reaching for some papers. “I

printed the message for you.” He handed a page to each of them. “Apparently the

Neurian government has discovered more oil south of its cities. They are interested in

knowing if we would like to bid for purchasing rights.”

“Bid for purchasing rights?” Darius read the contents of the message quickly. “It

doesn’t say who else they’ve contacted.”

“Looks like Gowsky is learning a thing or two about ruling a nation,” Tara said.

“Of course, he wouldn’t let us know who else he’s contacted,” Patha added. “It

gives him the upper hand. We might be persuaded to negotiate in order to keep other

nations from getting the oil.”

“Maybe he hasn’t contacted other nations,” Darius suggested. “Can we find out?”

“I’m working on it.” Patha looked again at the landlink. “I’ve started a trace on the

message to see if I can find any other paths for it.”

“The Neurians are very advanced with their landlink technology. If they don’t want

us to detect a path, we won’t be able to detect it.” Tara looked at the landlink as it began

beeping.

The message was from the head Gothman guard on duty. Torgo had been detained

and would be arriving at the house within the half-hour. Tara’s heart sank for the boy

as she imagined him being brought to his own home like a hostage.

Darius caught the look on her face. He acknowledged the message, then stood and

opened the door. “Come take these children, I say,” he hollered into the empty hallway.

Tara could hear feet pattering up the staircase.

“Yes, m’lord.” The same teenager who had announced the doctor curtsied in front

of Darius.

“Mama.” Ana reached her little arms toward her as the teenager carried the

children from the room.

Tara felt a pang of regret that she couldn’t give her children more time.

The landlink beeped again as Dr. Digo appeared in the hallway behind the servant

girl. He glanced past Darius at Tara.

She could tell her claim’s presence still made him nervous. She wished it didn’t.

Darius would only use that to his advantage. She raised a finger to the doctor,

indicating he should wait a minute, then looked at Patha who was acknowledging the

incoming message. “Who is it?”

“Darius, the team of scouts we sent out is contacting you.” Patha stepped back to let

Darius communicate with his men.

Darius sat at the landlink, pushing the keys on the pad as if he’d done it all his life.

The muscles in his back moved through his shirt as he responded to the landlink-

generated message.

Tara found herself undressing him with her eyes before she realized what she was

doing. She blinked. “Well, what do they have to say?” She stood behind him to see the

screen. And fought not to put her hands on his shoulders as she scanned his backside

once more.

“They’ve been attacked,” Darius said simply.

Tara moved closer.

“They’re too far out of range for the comms to work, and so are sending messages

through the landlink. They say they were able to chase off their aggressors, but they’ve

lost several men.”

“Lost them, how?” Tara asked. “Were they killed or taken hostage?”

Darius typed.

The answer appeared immediately.

“Taken hostage,” he said and typed again.

Again, a quick response.

“They haven’t seen any sign of a Lunian camp, though.” Darius turned around.

Tara had to step aside to avoid his long legs.

“Patha, they are going to be out of communication range altogether if they go much

farther.” He looked up at Tara. “This campsite of yours must be farther away than we

thought.”

Tara focused on Patha. “Those troops need to keep going, but it’s imperative we

keep in contact.”

“We shouldn’t lose communication through the landlinks until they reach the

mountains,” Patha said. “What’s their current location?”

Darius turned and typed the message. “They are within a half-day’s travel of the

mountains.” He paused. “Wait. I’ve just been told these Lunians travel in some type of

covered motorcycle that can hover above the ground and take off into the air.”

Patha scratched his head. “I see.”

“We need to boost communications and match their speed in travel.” Tara

remembered obtaining technology from other races in the past. She met Patha’s eyes and

saw he understood what she meant. If they could get their hands on one of those

hovering bikes, they might be able to match the Lunian technology and their speed.

“Tell those scouts to continue in full pursuit, but not to go out of communication

range without prior consent. Then dispatch several small armies to follow after them,”

Patha instructed.

Darius turned and typed, then adjusted the mouthpiece of his comm and issued the

order for three armies to follow. Darius turned off his comm, then stood and reached

for Tara. “If you’ll excuse me, Patha, my claim has an appointment with her family

doctor.” He put his large hands around her narrow waist and held on firmly.

Tara tried to step to the side, but he seemed to enjoy having her right there in front

of him. “Let go of me. I’m going.” She struggled to pull away.

“I’m coming, too.” Darius started walking her toward the door where the doctor

stood waiting in the hallway. “Patha, would you mind assembling a team to figure out

a way to boost communication power?”

Patha nodded and waved his hand to dismiss the two.

Darius released Tara when they were in the hallway, but followed silently as Tara

led the way to their bedroom.

Chapter Twelve

Darius had gone from grouchy to annoyed.

Tara had refused to share a bed with him since they’d been back. She did have the

good grace not to let anyone else know by entering the bedroom she shared with him

upon retiring. Then she’d slip quickly into the nursery through the adjoining door.

She knew this act of hers got under his skin, because if he brooded openly the rest

of the household would be wise to her act. She knew her days of doing this were

numbered because she was healing nicely, and the looks he gave her let her know she’d

submit to him soon, or else.

Tara annoyed Darius further when she’d approached Patha about obtaining one of

the Lunian’s flying vehicles; when he’d okayed the mission, she’d simply ordered the

troops to leave. It was actually a surprise that she was able to give a command before

Patha had a chance to share it with Darius.

“You don’t send troops out without informing me first.” His tone caused the

children to look up curiously at their papa.

“I talked to Patha,” she answered nonchalantly as she finished tying Andru and

Ana’s little boots.

“Papa,” Ana called and reached her hands toward Darius. Her two-year-old

chubby body stretched, and she went onto tiptoe.

“Papa talking,” Andru scolded in his three-year-old tone, and wrapped his hands

around his sister’s waist, pulling her backwards until they both fell.

“I can talk too,” Ana cried and struggled to be free of her brother’s grasp.

Tara squatted to separate the bickering children. “That’s enough, you two.”

Darius pulled Tara from her position and spun her around to face him. “Our

nations have a contract. I believe you and I signed it in blood, yes.”

He held her tightly by the arms, high enough that her feet almost left the ground.

She felt a strong urge to raise her legs quickly and rack him desperately with her knees.

She refrained however and batted her eyelashes at him, then glared while her anger

flared through her. “I’ll make a point of notifying you in the future.” Tara watched a

nerve twitch along Darius’ jaw. “Gothman wasn’t infringed upon in any way by the

order, but I can give you the details in a report if you like.”

Darius stormed from the room without saying a word to the twins.

Tara heard him yell for Torgo as he stomped down the stairs.

* * * * *

Tara needed a break. She’d spent much of the night and the first part of the day