The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] (21 page)

“If there are no thoughts other than strategy and combat, you turn your warriors into machines,” Patha commented.

“They would become machines if they quit thinking,” Darius countered. “And machines break down.”

“Very true.” Patha rubbed his chin and focused on the floor while he gathered his thoughts. He returned his gaze to Darius. “So, you allow for emotions and personal feelings to be integrated into your strategy?”

“We fight for Gothman. Our nation is powerful, and we are proud of who we are. That is an emotion.” Although Darius sounded as if he spoke from his heart, his expression remained neutral and controlled. “And as for personal feelings, a good warrior is always affected by war. I wouldn’t fight next to a man who wasn’t affected by the blood and death around him.”

A slow smile crossed Patha’s face. He stood and walked around the tent, looking out the windows. Turning, he removed his scarf from his head and gestured for Tara to do the same. “Very good, young man. We’ll review your strategies. I will have one thing made clear first.”

Darius did not change his position or even bat an eye.

Tara had no idea what could be going on in his head at that moment. She was impressed by his manner, though, and hoped Patha was as well.

“Do you want the Runners’ help in this war?” Patha walked to the table and leaned his fists against it.

“Patha, I will accept your assistance in defeating the Sea People.” Darius leaned forward and looked Patha straight in the eye. “Now, I’ll ask
you
a question.” Darius got up and moved behind the chair on which Tara sat.

Tara froze, wondering what the question would be. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw a hint of amusement in Patha’s eyes. Tara guessed her papa enjoyed the way Darius reacted to Patha, as if they were equals. Patha didn’t have many people who made that assumption around him. But Tara would have to agree that by rank, the two men were equal.

Darius put his hands on the chair.

She could feel his fingers on the back of her neck.

“What’s your opinion of the Gothman, Patha?”

Patha looked the young man square in the eye. “I’ve worked most of my life to incorporate a belief that a person should be judged by their actions and not by their race. We are all of Nuworld, Lord Darius. I see before me a man who rules a race of people, but has little knowledge of the world around him. There’s a law in this land stating if Runners enter Gothman territory, they are to be shot on sight. You intentionally broke your own law. I believe you had a glimpse at the world outside your own through Tara and it intrigued you.”

Patha paused, looking from Tara to Darius. He had their undivided attention.

Tara could guess Darius wasn’t missing a word.

With a sigh, Patha sat back down and rubbed his forehead. “Tara has shared her feelings with me, now I must hear yours. What are your intentions here?”

Tara suddenly realized how old he looked.

Darius placed his hands on Tara’s shoulders. “Patha, I love your daughter.”

Tara trembled inside. She felt a quiver go through her body and wondered if Darius felt it too. He’d just said he loved her. Did he mean it, or was he saying what Patha wanted to hear? She had seen affection in his eyes, but she would have been inclined to think of it as possession more than love. Maybe, this was his culture showing through. After all, claiming a woman and owning her without concern to her thoughts or beliefs was the only way of life he’d ever known.

“I hope the two of you have the same meaning of love.” Patha smiled gently at his daughter. “I’ll accept that answer. Now, when you unite, you’ll bring together two cultures. It’ll be hard on both of you. I want this uniting to be more official than a marriage, or claim, as the Gothman call it.”

Patha reached inside his jacket and pulled out some papers that were clipped together. He dropped the papers on the table and looked at Lord Darius.

“This is a treaty of peace between the Gothman and the Runners. It will state officially to Nuworld that our two races have united. There will be no race stronger, or larger in numbers, once our signatures appear on this treaty. It states that you’ll continue to rule Gothman, and I’ll rule the Runners. When I die, Tara is my next in line. She’ll be leader of the Runners and the Blood Circle Clan. The two of you will rule almost half of Nuworld. While I am alive at least, that rule will be a fair one. Read through this treaty carefully. The Runners will not help you with this war until this treaty is signed.” Patha got up and headed to the entrance of the tent. “I’ll be waiting for your response.”

He pulled a comm out of his pocket and handed it to Tara. “Contact me when it’s signed.”

Patha walked out of the tent, leaving Tara and Darius alone. She turned and looked up at him.

He returned her look, moving his hands to her head and stroking her hair.

“How long have you known Patha and Reena were my parents?” She didn’t know why that was the first thing out of her mouth with all the issues at hand.

“A good ruler must know what is going on in his kingdom.” He smiled at her. “I remember hearing about it when I was a boy. My papa was furious when Patha took you. You were claimed to my brother, did you know that? I didn’t know you were the girl I’d heard about as a child until you told me your papa was Patha.”

“I just found out myself. It appears I’m only half-Runner.” She suddenly felt very serious—the rush of excitement was gone.

Darius grinned. “When did you find out that I loved you?”

“Just now.”

He laughed and pulled her out of her chair, sat and set her on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her so tightly, all air was forced from her lungs. She felt very lightheaded as he released his grasp and stared into her eyes.

What a man he was! She was proud of his conversation with Patha. He’d been put on trial as a leader during that brief conversation. Patha had tested Lord Darius’ knowledge, and all the answers had been delivered without hesitation. She hadn’t known how excellent a leader he was until that moment.

“My lady, we’re meant for each other. You took me on by the horns, you did. I thought I could break you at first, but then I found I didn’t want to. It’s the excitement in your eyes when you’re challenged that I love, yes. I wouldn’t be happy with a passive woman. I tried to make myself think I would, but as they were presented to me, they disgusted me. Then, you came along.

“Oh, I knew you were a Runner. Patha was right. I broke my own laws. There was no way I could let you go, though. We’re an excellent team, you and I. What do you say to that?”

She smiled. “I’ll challenge you, that’s for sure, Darius. We’re equals, and I have no problem with accepting the challenge of teaching you that. Neither of us surpasses the other in any way I can see. I’ll say this much, you proved your worthiness to lead this country to Patha. He was impressed, and so was I.” Tara wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately.

He picked her up and carried her toward the adjoining room. A blanket served as a door, and he pulled it to the side so they could pass. There were no windows in this room, and when the blanket fell, the room became dark.

Tara’s eyes adjusted and she could see a large down mattress on the floor with several quilts thrown over it.

“If there were time, I would ravish you right now,” Darius growled as his arms slipped around her. He began slow kisses up her neck toward her ear.

“If there were time,” Tara began and ran her hands up his chest until she clasped them behind his neck. She stood on tiptoe, leaning her head and allowing him room to continue his path of kisses. “I would demand you satisfy the fire you’ve lit in me.”

Darius chuckled.

She could feel his body tremor.

“And if I refused?” he asked.

“I would have to take you by force,” she whispered and then captured his mouth when he turned to look at her with pure amusement on his face.

Darius growled and deepened the kiss, until Tara was mad with need. But now wasn’t the time. Troops waited outside, and both of them had work to do. She sighed and loosened her grip.

Darius kissed the tip of her nose before releasing her. “I do want to know when you planned on telling me that you’re pregnant.” He walked out of the room.

“What?” Tara yanked the blanket to the side and stormed after him.

Darius sat at the table, the treaty in his hands. He glanced up with a mischievous grin on his face.

She glared as she slammed down her fist on the table. “How could you possibly know if I am pregnant?” She snapped at him so hard that he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“I told you I know everything that goes on in Gothman.” He was still smiling but quickly looked back down at the treaty.

She walked over and pulled the treaty out of his hands. “I don’t know that I am pregnant and nor does anyone else.” She had begun yelling but quickly lowered her voice to a snarl.

He leaned back in the chair and looked at her. “I know that a true warrior eagerly takes on the challenge of battle. The look in your eyes over the thought of defeating the Sea People matches the feeling in my soul. Our battle will begin soon, and the satisfaction of their blood on our hands will be yours as well as mine. You’re an outstanding warrior. You’ve proven your abilities, and I need your skills. As a good warrior, I know you respect the chain of command. But the plain simple truth is, I outrank you. I am lord, you are not. Therefore, I assure you, my lady, the second you start to show signs of carrying our child, the future ruler of the greatest nation on this planet, I will see to it that you are taken from the battle.”

His voice was so low and calm, she knew there was no way she could argue. His was a very sensible statement. If she knew one of her warriors were pregnant, Tara would remove her from the line as well.

Suddenly, she was outraged. Hilda or Reena had obviously gotten word to him, there was no other way he would have this knowledge. No proof her pregnancy existed other than a
look
noticed by an old woman.

Tara turned and stormed toward the bedroom, then turned as if to leave the tent. The thought of not being in control of her own body, of something else taking over, was new. She was not one to be owned, and she viewed this as a loss of her freedom. Having a child wasn’t a top priority for her, but then, neither was falling in love. She was a warrior!

She stormed outside and plucked her landlink from the bike, then returned to the inside of the tent and flung herself into a chair at the table, desperately trying to discipline her thoughts. She couldn’t and slammed down her fists on the table, causing everything on it to bounce.

Darius knew the temper of a warrior should be treated with its due respect. He thought his words out carefully and spoke very gently. “My lady, do you not want this child?”

She glared, not softened by the gentle look. “Darius, how could you possibly understand?” She didn’t completely understand herself. “Now’s not the time for this. There’s so much to do. The crisis before us is great, and we must be careful in order to win the day. This…pregnancy…would only be a distraction. It can’t be true. There’s no proof. We can’t rely on some woman’s
knowledge
about a
supposed
pregnancy.”

“Time will be proof enough, it will. I’m sure there are doctors in your camp that could ease your mind, if you wish.” He smiled and cautiously covered her hand with his. He was seeing a side of her that was new. Tara had an incredible temper.

“I have faith in Gothman doctors and their ways, my lady. I know some Runner ways are different from ours. I’ve heard stories of how Runners try to control when they have a baby, yes. And there are even tales told how you will decide not to be pregnant, even after you are that way. If you don’t want this right now…” he paused and looked at her, knowing the seriousness of what he said was written on his face. “This time, I will allow you to choose not to be pregnant, I will. But hear me, I won’t allow it a second time, no.”

* * * * *

Tara knew what he was implying, and she gave him an odd look. This wasn’t the way of his culture, to consent to abort the pregnancy—if there was one. She leaned back in the chair and stared, studying the radiant gray eyes and the curly dark blond locks that surrounded his face. He was quite easily the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. What appealed to her most was what she saw in his eyes. He possessed something she’d not seen in other Gothman. He didn’t take things for granted because of tradition. Darius challenged life. Laws and social expectations didn’t faze him. The man existed by what he saw as right in his heart.

Tara saw a lot of herself in him. It tied their spirits in a bond she knew could not be reversed.

“No, if I am pregnant, I will stay that way. Such things won’t be reversed, if they do in fact exist.” Tara knew a pregnancy would bind them together more so than a Gothman claim could. She felt her stomach tighten at the thought.

“I knew that would be your answer, but the choice exists for Runners, and I will not deny you your heritage.” He squeezed her hand, and she looked up quickly. “We conceived the first time we were together, I’m sure of it! We were meant to be together, my lady.” He leaned over and kissed her gently.

“Promise me our child will know no prejudice, not over race or sex. If there is a child.” She needed to add this one last point.