The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] (4 page)

“We’ll do the dishes in the morning. I’ll call Togin and let him know he can fetch his family come morning.”

* * * * *

Tara had heard stories of Gothman communication devices and was curious to see one. She knew their use was limited—only one person could be heard at a time. Tara thought they must not be very reliable since she also knew the person speaking couldn’t always be heard accurately. She considered suggesting that Reena call Togin now, so she could watch the device operate. But Tara didn’t wish to pry by asking where Reena kept her device.

As she struggled to remember what the devices were called, exhaustion began consuming her. Tara decided the matter could be dwelled on later.

She heard Reena say, “I’m afraid, child, you’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.”

“It sounds more comfortable than the places I’ve slept for the past cycle.”

Reena smiled as she lowered the lights so the room was almost dark. “I’m glad to have you here, Tara. We will have more time for each other tomorrow. Good night now.”

Tara watched the older lady disappear down the hallway before stretching out on the couch.

“Goodnight, Reena of Gothman. Nice to have met you.”

Morning came sooner than Tara would have wished. Surprisingly, the homemade quilt, which she had pulled over her sometime during the night, provided a very nice sleep. Tara inhaled the many smells from the cottage the quilt had absorbed, and felt a strange sensation of peace consume her. The irony of it all brought a smile to her face while she stood and folded the blanket. She was in enemy land, being hunted. Peace was the last sensation she should be experiencing.

Tara entered the bathroom to shower and found a plain peach-colored dress hanging on a hook. The streaming hot water felt good after her long journey and late night. The soap Tara used didn’t smell like Reena, and she wondered if the lady had put it in the bath just for her.

She would have savored the hot water longer, but knew adventures awaited her on this new day. She was ready to experience all of them.

The dress fit surprisingly well. The thin material was light on Tara’s skin. After a lifetime of wearing thick Runner material, she felt almost naked. She adjusted a matching belt, which accented her narrow waist and displayed her figure nicely. A pair of plain tan cloth shoes finished the picture. Looking in the mirror, Tara stared at her Gothman appearance.

“Tara-girl? Do ya know what you’re getting yourself into?” She stared at her reflection once more and nodded. Then she turned and left the bathroom.

Tara entered the living room in time to say goodbye to the children.

Togin stopped in mid conversation with Reena to stare at the girl entering the room.

“This would be my niece, Tara.” Reena walked over and wrapped her cool fingers around her
niece’s
arm. “She was a great help last night in saving your unborn child.”

“Mighty fine-looking lass you are.” Togin tipped his hat and then turning to his claim, pulled her out the door.

“You’re welcome,” Tara muttered sarcastically as he walked across the porch.

Tara washed the dishes and made the beds. As she straightened the rooms, she reflected on how much she enjoyed the mundane tasks.

Reena seemed surprised when she came out of the bathroom and saw the condition of her house. “Goodness me, child. You’re mighty full of hidden talents for a Runner, you are. And just look at you, would you? You’re more stunning than any lass I’ve seen in this town, to be certain. It will be his Lordship himself taking a notice in you, I’d be sure.”

“His Lordship?” Tara frowned as she studied the pattern of the quilt folded over the couch.

“Oh yes, my dear. The Bryton house has ruled Gothman since the winters of my grandmama. They’ve always been quite powerful, and each generation has added land to our nation. Lord Jovis Bryton ruled for over forty winters. He passed on last spring and his son, Darius, is now lord.”

Tara followed Reena to the small bedroom Joli had occupied and listened as the woman continued.

“Lord Jovis’ eldest son, Juro, was to rule, he was, but shortly after his papa’s death he drowned in the river to the east. Darius was next in line, and so now he rules.” Reena pulled the sheet from the bed, and paused, lowering her voice to a whisper as she met Tara’s gaze. “It was murder, were the rumors, although just rumors, mind you. Not one would stand up to Darius and challenge him, I know that much. He’s a ruthless warrior, he is, although he has much to learn.”

Tara didn’t try to hide her smile. If last night’s attempt to capture her was any indication of the man’s abilities, then he definitely had a lot to learn.

“This is quiet talk, child hear me, not to be muttered outside this home, even as gossip. Lord Darius will not hear a word spoken about his dead brother. He’s powerful, and many stand behind him.”

Reena hurried out of the room without another word.

Tara followed with her arms full of the used sheets and blankets, dropping them in the basket that Reena indicated.

The lady then moved to the kitchen and stepped in front of the oven. “Oh to think, an old lady’s memory must always be checked, shouldn’t it?” She chuckled to herself. “I put the apple pie for the Lord’s family in the oven while you were showering. I’ll be struck down, to be certain, if it’s cooked a moment beyond perfection.”

She pulled the pie out of the oven. It filled the room with a wonderfully enticing smell. Reena set the pie to cool on the kitchen table.

Tara felt a twinge of hunger in her stomach as the scent of the sweet apples filled her nose.

“Some fat added to those bones will make you look more Gothman, I’m thinking.” Reena chuckled as she pulled a plate of sweet rolls from the overlarge breadbox on the counter.

Tara and Reena enjoyed honey rolls for breakfast, washed down with fresh cool milk. Then Reena washed the sheets used the night before. Tara marveled at the antiquated machine that vibrated to an off-rhythm beat as it spun the sheets around and around. Most things in Reena’s household consisted of basic domestic items; the type of things she anticipated finding within a Gothman community. But then there were mysteries like the coffee, and no man around in a functioning household. The main thing Tara had learned was that Gothman women relied on their men to provide for them, yet Reena didn’t appear to have one in her life.

Tara went outside and began chopping firewood. Extra fuel would be needed to help keep the house warm as the nights grew cooler. She stacked the logs in a pile alongside the house and then sat on the front porch to nurse some scrapes. “It’ll take some time to get accustomed to this light material you have me wearing,” Tara admitted as Reena applied a salve to one of her scratches.

“It’ll be easier for you, it will, if you accept the women’s chores and leave the men’s chores to the men. But I have a feeling you will do what you want, I do.” Reena smiled at the young shapely woman. “You might as well make me aware of the other talents you possess before we go to town. Do you sew? Have you done any quilting? The Gothman do not take well to strangers, but they welcome family with open arms, they do. Announcing you as my niece will help you in town, to be sure.”

“Well, I’ve—”

“You can obviously keep a house and you’re good with the children, but the women socialize over their chores. We’ll go to town and stop at the market to pick up a few necessaries. The women folk’ll be there doing the same after they’ve taken their sons to school. It’s a social time for us, it is, and the gossip’s usually good and plenty. You do like gossip, don’t ya?”

“I’m not much—” Tara gave up trying to talk as it appeared needless. Reena would continue without her input.

“On Saturday mornings we meet for a quilting session. If you can partake, I’ll announce your presence for this Saturday. It will send quite the talk through the town, it will.” The old lady smiled. “I enjoy good gossip, I do. And you, my dear, will put a mark on Gothman that won’t soon be forgotten. I can feel it in my bones.” Reena paused and looked at Tara. “So, what is it you can do?”

“Well,” Tara said, then waited for the interruption. When none came, she continued. “If you’re talking about the blanket thrown over the back of your couch, I’ve never seen one like it before. I’m a quick learner, though.”

“Hmm, it won’t do to have a novice quilter. Not at your advanced age. The gossip’ll fly on that one faster than the news of your being here. You’ll offer to watch the young ones while the rest of us quilt. I dare say that’ll work. I’ll try to teach you on the side, ah, that will do, yes it will.”

Tara wrapped the pie in a cloth and placed it in a wooden basket. Reena scurried from room to room preparing for their trip to town. The old woman chatted the entire time, showing obvious excitement about introducing Tara to the women of the town. Slowly the couch filled with items to take into town—the pie for his Lordship, stacks of quilting patterns, some clothes left behind by a previous caller that Reena had washed and needed to return. And last of all, a sweater made from a rough yarn Tara didn’t recognize, which Reena had thrown her way to wear if needed. Tara found herself leaning against the counter in an effort to stay out of the way.

She took this opportunity to place her small laser, easily concealed due to its size, in her dress pocket. She wasn’t going to enter a community of people that despised her kind without being armed. Since the laser was silent, Tara felt it was her best mode of defense.

They placed the basket containing the pie in the backseat of Reena’s car—an old rusty two door with black interior. Tara hadn’t ever seen such ancient vehicles, other than in pictures, and she grinned like a child when, unable to resist, she reached inside and turned the steering wheel one way then the other. Reena scolded her when she came out of the house, but Tara just continued grinning.

When the car hesitated to start, Tara volunteered to check under the hood and even consented to putting on her black gloves before lifting the hood.

Reena insisted it would not do to take her newfound niece into town with grease under her fingernails. “The cable to the battery is more than likely loose, yes,” Reena said, from behind the wheel.

Tara stared at the motor in disbelief. If Patha could only see this! Once, he had shown her sketches of an ancient motor. But to think Gothman had recreated them and used them daily. Maybe this race had a bit more intelligence than she gave them credit for having.

“Okay, try it now.” Tara smiled when the car lit to life, sputtering and shaking enough to send birds flying from the trees.

The gravel road leading away from Reena’s house was uneven and tree branches overhead made it feel as if they drove through a tunnel. Tara noticed when they reached a stone paved road, that one would have to know specifically where the road to Reena’s house was, or they would never find it.

The morning air was crisp, and Tara appreciated the knitted sweater Reena had given her before they left. She enjoyed the sweet smell of the pines and the variety of birds singing their morning songs. The road caught her attention as well. Flattened rocks, more than likely from the surrounding hills, varied in color, making the road as unique as the people who had created it.

Soon they reached the peaceful town of Bryton.

Reena told Tara that the town was once known as Smithton, but as long as Reena had been alive it had been called Bryton.

Merchants’ stores soon appeared on either side of the street. The town itself was surrounded by rocky hills providing natural protection. Most of the buildings were made of a white stone and wood. Houses off the main road appeared to be made of the same stone as the hills.

Tara noticed a large residence on a hillside. Built at the opposite end of town from where she was riding, it was high enough to be visible above Bryton. Even from a distance, Tara could tell that it was very large. The thought of a stationary house, one that would never move and always be in the same place for the lifetime of a person, overwhelmed Tara. Patha told her these people would be different, but this amazed her.

Reena told her Lord Darius lived there with his mama and youngest brother, who was still a child. Lord Darius had another brother, Mikel, who served as his advisor. Mikel and his claim lived in Bryton with their children.

Reena put the vehicle in a designated stopping zone, offering a rather bored-looking guard several coins to park there. Mamas and their daughters were everywhere. The women stood in small groups, chatting, while small children ran up and down the sidewalk and older girls huddled, giggling, not too far from their mamas.

Tara slowly opened the door and stood, taking in her surroundings. Reena seemed oblivious to the sensation the Runner caused, but Tara grew alert when women and children whispered and stared with rapt attention. She couldn’t help notice Reena holding her head high, as if proud, when they walked toward the stone structures. From what Tara had learned of the old lady’s personality, she assumed Reena enjoyed this interest. But Tara avoided their curious glances and carefully kept her eyes down. She remembered Reena’s instructions well.

“We’ll go into the grocery store first. It’s run by the Olgoods, an old family, they are. Once we introduce you to them, I daresay the whole community will get word of your being here. I’d say, they’ll all know before the day is out.” Reena headed toward double doors propped open with polished tree stumps.