The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] (25 page)

* * * * *

Tara complied and felt a wave of exhaustion ripple over her. Holding up her head with her hands, she ran fingers through her hair. She was not thinking clearly and guessed fatigue was taking over quickly. A few hours’ sleep and a hot shower and she was sure she would be good as new.

“I can help.” Tara stood again. She started to move toward Patha, who pulled food from the small cold box where perishables were stored.

“Sit.” Darius stopped her with a hand to her shoulder and guided her back to her seat.

“This looks so good.” Tara eyed the sliced meat, smoked boar with the fat trimmed, and cold duck legs. Several chunks of cheese were still wrapped in a thin, almost transparent cloth. She reached for a vine of grapes when Patha put a bowl of fruit on the table.

She ate the food put in front of her with a vengeance.

“The Blue Horn clan reports all units are ready for battle,” Darius said with his mouth full and a duck leg in his hand.

“Good. I want all clans to report in before the end of the day.” Patha used the silver utensils he’d brought to the table and sliced his boar, then added a chunk of cheese. “Something to drink, Tara-girl?”

Patha leaned back to a wooden counter with stone top, which divided the living area from the kitchen. He grabbed a ceramic pitcher, then poured iced grape juice into a mug.

“Thank you,” Tara said between bites. She took the mug and sliced a thick chunk of cheese from the block Patha had unwrapped.

* * * * *

Darius still pondered how to bring up the conversation he needed to have with Tara. He was not looking forward to the fight he would have on his hands when he relieved her from duty. And he’d had time to think about it. Patha had broached the subject when he contacted Darius upon seeing Tara arrive at camp earlier. He’d told Darius it was his duty to take her out of the fighting and made it clear he needed to do it now.

Darius felt he’d learned more from this old man than his papa had ever taught him. Indeed, Lord Jovis had never instructed him in much of anything. In return for his tutelage, Patha demanded a loyalty that he was glad to give. Now, the old man had more or less given him a direct order, and it was not a pleasant one.

“Don’t let those clans dawdle in getting their updates to you.” Patha waved his silver eating tool, a gift Tara had given him when she’d been a child, and then he pointed it at Darius. Its silver tip, similar in style to a knitting needle but with a sharper end, had remnants of cheese on it. “If all clans haven’t reported in within the next few hours, send them notice they need to have all pertinent info relayed before sundown, or they’ll receive the last available slots when I position everyone for battle.”

Patha slid his chair from the table, then stood and patted his belly.

“Are you leaving? I’ll walk with you,” she said, grabbing a vine of grapes and starting to stand.

Patha chuckled. “Not this time, girl. I can tell you aren’t done eating. And when you’re done, enjoy a shower. I know living out of that tent you’ve been in all this time has denied you such luxuries.”

* * * * *

“A shower would be nice.” Tara relaxed and plopped a grape in her mouth. She took several more bites after Patha left and then stopped when she noticed Darius staring.

“I’ll put this food away.” She grabbed what was left of the meat and cheeses and wrapped them. Darius followed as she moved around the counter to the cold box. “Your Gothman leaders still have trouble acknowledging my authority.”

Tara didn’t understand why she suddenly felt shy. She was alone with the man she had dreamed of being with every night since they had parted for battle.

“It will take them time, it will. I daresay a culture doesn’t change overnight, no.” Darius slid her hair across her shoulders and kissed the back of her neck. “Go enjoy that shower now, my lady,” he whispered, sending chills through her body.

She walked down the hallway, noticing it seemed narrower than it had in the past. The water was hot as she stood in the small cubicle surrounded halfway by a white plastic cover, and Tara let it spray over her body, praying it would revitalize her enough to impress her claim when she was done. She hurriedly scrubbed off the dirt, knowing water was rationed and not wanting to use all of it for her own comfort.

Tara stepped out of the shower long before she wanted to and wrapped herself in a large towel. There was no way she could talk herself into putting on the clothes she’d removed to shower. They were stained, and they smelled. She would have to send for fresh clothes. The large bulky towel wrapped around her accentuated the size of her growing tummy.

“You’ve got to come out sooner or later.” Darius leaned patiently against the wall at the end of the short hallway as Tara opened the bathroom door and turned the other direction. Nothing but that white towel separated her from Darius.

She couldn’t rid herself of shyness, although she had a feeling that being alone with her claim made that towel an endangered species. She gripped it around her growing breasts and padded away from the eyes she felt sure devoured her.

Patha’s trailer had three bedrooms. She knew the first door led to Patha’s bedroom and behind the second door were supplies he might need on his journeys. The third door led to a spare bedroom, although before Tara had her own trailer, this had been her bedroom. She opened this door and saw Darius’ clothes hanging in the closet.

So, Darius had moved into her old room.

She was pleased that even though she hadn’t been able to see Darius for less than a cycle, he had slept in her old room every night. It made her feel she had been close to him after all, although, she thought with an audible grunt, Darius probably hadn’t given a thought to the fact that she had slept in the same bed many nights.

* * * * *

Darius came up behind her. As she turned to face him, he grabbed the towel and pulled it off her.

“Woman, you’re so beautiful.” He gazed at the growing bulge between her quickly disappearing hipbones. “Look at you, I should have you at home, with plenty of servants to see to your needs, yes.”

He stroked her hair, pulled her to him, and rubbed her stretched tummy. His child grew within her. And that child would be healthy and strong if his mama didn’t carry him through battle. She must return home, to a safe environment, nurturing the babe so his strength would be assured.

* * * * *

“We’re warriors, I don’t need to be taken care of,” Tara said, but she made no attempt to move away from his strong hands. She did want him by her side, helping her through this strange transformation she was experiencing.

“I love you, and our child,” he whispered in her ear as he picked her up and shut the door with his foot.

He laid her on the bed and caressed every sore muscle.

Darius kissed each bruise with lips that seared her skin. She found strength in her weary limbs to reach up and run her fingers across his muscular chest. She barely touched him, allowing only her fingertips to experience the pleasure of his virile skin.

She had no idea how her gentle exploration drove him to a state of madness, but simply enjoyed the sensation of feeling him, exploring the body she had dreamed about, and letting the downy hair on his chest tickle her sensations.

As exhausted as she was, she felt her body kindle with excitement when Darius lifted and spread her legs as he kissed her inner thighs. The heat between her legs grew unbearable, and the slight contraction as she lifted her hips to meet his lips seemed oddly pleasant when surge after surge of orgasm followed.

When Darius entered her, she felt the velvety roundness and long shaft as her soaked muscles clung to him and saturated him with greeting. She did not want their lovemaking to end. But after she’d hit that point of ecstasy to which he carried her with little effort, she collapsed.

* * * * *

Darius leaned on his arm next to her, enjoying the half-smile on her face and the glow in her sapphire eyes.

She’d let him have her, going limp and not instigating a thing. Her body slowly relaxed as he watched. Contented peace of mind crossed her face, an expression that hadn’t been there before. This is how he wanted Tara; satisfied with his love for her, and looking relaxed instead of stressed and overworked as she had appeared when she’d entered the trailer. He wouldn’t have his claim seen in public again showing such extreme signs of battle fatigue, no. This beautiful woman would carry his child and glow in satisfaction that she belonged to him, needing nothing and not entangled with worries.

“What?” Tara asked, trying to suppress a small delighted grin at the attention he was giving her. “Why are you staring?”

“You’re glowing. Pregnancy suits you very well. We should have lots of children.” Darius traced his index finger along her cheekbone and down to her mouth, allowing her to suck on it while her wide blue eyes stared up at him.

Tara pushed his finger out of her mouth with her tongue. “Oh right, that way you can order me to my room as soon as I start to show.”

“Tara, you know you can’t stay here. I don’t need to tell you that, no.” He lay next to her and tightened his grip when she tried to pull away. “I’m going to reassign you—but your skills won’t go to waste, I think. The Sea People have attacked Bryton as well. They flew over and have caused fires and much confusion.

“I have warriors assigned there, but I daresay I don’t have to tell you there’s mostly women and children in the town, there is. I need someone to take charge of the men in Bryton, I do. You’ll stay at the house and set up camp there. Hilda and Reena can see to your needs, yes, as well as any other lass you wish to have help you, I’m thinking. I’ve stationed soldiers around the house, but I need someone for them to report to who’s there, yes.

“So far they’ve answered to me, but they need a constant presence to keep them in line. I’m thinking you can do that and then report to me directly, yes. You’ll keep me informed of any potential attacks on the town, you will.”

“How long did it take for you to think up that one?” She smiled at him, pleased she would still have responsibilities, although she’d be out of the heart of battle.

He didn’t return the smile, but his eyes twinkled.

“I’ll leave in the morning,” she said. She snuggled up next to him, as she began thinking how she would have the entire town of Bryton under her control. She would organize the armies and make sure the women worked to supply the troops with food and clean blankets. Her mind tried to churn with the many tasks that would be under her power, but sleep overwhelmed her.

* * * * *

Darius listened to Tara’s gentle breathing. Life couldn’t be this good if he’d planned it. He ran his finger up and down her outer thigh. She’d been so submissive during their lovemaking. Agreeable even when he reassigned her to home, where she could rest and let the warriors tend to the duties of battle.

Just thinking about how she’d obeyed his orders caused him to harden again. Maybe she’d realized that he could direct her activities and offer her a life where she could do as she pleased, and not have to work so hard. Could it possibly be that she’d accepted the fact that he was in charge, sooner and not later? If he succeeded in convincing her to submit to him completely, he’d rule Gothman
and
all the Runner clans.

He ran his hand up her body and fondled one of her exposed breasts. She was so exciting. Darius knew that Tara wanted to be in charge, too. But, there could be only one leader. She would advise at his side, and he would control both nations. Darius smiled at the thought as he played with her nipple and delighted in her quickened breathing even though she remained sound asleep. He’d captured a beautiful Runner, and now she walked proudly at his side. He would keep her there. He’d see to that.

* * * * *

When Tara awakened, she was once again alone. She got up and noticed an outfit folded on the chair next to the bed. It was a Runner’s maternity dress. Tara held the dress in front of her for a moment, then pulled it over her head. It slid down her body with such ease, she smiled, already liking the fact that she didn’t have to struggle to make her clothes fit and then feel cramped in them. She ran her hands down the black material and then turned to the full-length mirror that still hung next to her door from when she was a child.

Tara wrinkled her nose at her knees and bare feet. She turned and searched the room and then noticed black leggings which had been folded underneath the dress. Of course, she had seen women dressed like this many times. The leggings were easy to slip into, and Tara decided the end result was tolerable. She slipped her laser into her pocket and decided to find food.

A plate of sweet rolls and fruit sat on the living room table. Tara relished the easy movement allowed her by the new clothes as she grabbed her landlink from where she had left it on the counter the day before. She sat and ate while clicking through the screens, catching up on communications and strategies she had missed. After saving several maneuvers to review later, she began consuming a second roll. Suddenly, she heard a jeep outside the trailer.

She waited to see who would come through the door, assuming one of Patha or Darius’ commanders had arrived with news or questions, but instead she heard the sound of a motorcycle being started. Tara stood and opened the door, curious as to why no one came to the door, and noticed one of the soldiers sitting on her motorcycle. No one touched her bike without prior consent.