She’d done a lousy job of that. She’d been prepared to remain an outside observer, and instead she’d fallen in love. Tara was sure of it now.
Jumping up, she made quick work of cleaning the kitchen, then moved to the other rooms of the house. She had so much energy, and she didn’t question its source. Wiping down woodwork and making sure glass sparkled, Tara smiled while picturing her and Darius racing across the countryside. It would do good for the Lord of Gothman to know the world outside Gothman. She would show him. After all, Darius had shown her Gothman.
Tara had never lived in a structure like this. Although its newness had worn off over the past cycle, the place’s magnificence still hung in the air. She would make the place absolutely immaculate for Reena. Hilda would be proud, too. Both women had taken her in and allowed her to explore their people, even though Hilda didn’t know that was what she had done. A clean home meant something to both of them. She hummed an old Runner tune as she worked.
The house began to sparkle, but Tara’s thoughts became a tangled mess. She cleaned for the old ladies. This big permanent house was impressive, but it wasn’t her home. Nor would she ever be able to spend all her days in any house rooted into the ground. She was proud of being a Runner. How could she live here with Darius and maintain the heritage that ran thick through her blood?
Hilda came home and interrupted her thoughts. She’d taken her frustrations out on the house until it was spotless. Hilda was pleased with her work and told her so.
Torgo entered the house, instinctively knowing that food was going to be prepared.
“What’s for lunch?” he asked, as he hovered around in the kitchen and sampled the blueberries and cold meat as it was laid out in serving dishes.
“With that appetite, you will be as big as your brother before the new winter.” Tara laughed and poked the boy in the stomach. “Why don’t we let him eat now, so he isn’t bored with the conversation during lunch?” Tara didn’t want him there when she explained herself to Hilda.
Hilda nodded her agreement. “I’ll fix you a plate, my boy.” She smiled, showing a mama’s love, as she grabbed one of the porcelain plates from the cabinet and began assembling his meal. “And mind you, let your mama have her visit. I won’t have you chattering and underfoot while I enjoy the gossip.”
“No problem. Gossip is for women.” Torgo grabbed the plate his mama had just made for him and ran out the door.
Reena showed up punctually, carrying one of her wonderful pies. The three women enjoyed scrumptious food. Tara listened as the two chatted away about mutual friends. After eating, Tara cleared dishes from the table while the two women continued to chat. The time for her announcement had come.
“Ah, my dear, this was a grand idea of yours.” Hilda sat back and patted her large stomach. “I’m full to the brim. Now then, you said there was something you wanted to tell me. Plans on the claiming, I’m thinking.” The old lady smiled and winked at Reena.
Reena frowned at Tara. “You want to discuss your claiming?”
“Well, in a way.” Tara hesitated. “If you’ll excuse me, I will be right back. I think if I show you something, it will be easier.”
Tara ran up the stairs. In her room, she reached under her bed for the bag Reena had given her and pulled out her Runner clothing. For a moment she just sat there, caressing the black leather. She hadn’t seen them in over a cycle. The embroidered symbol of her clan made her feel warm inside. This was who she was and that would never change.
Reena’s mouth fell open as Tara entered the room with the clothes in her hands. “Child, what are you doing?” she whispered, shocked.
“What do you have there, girl?” Hilda looked up, not seeing Reena’s expression go white.
“Lord Darius asked me to do this.” She laid the clothing on the table and spread them out.
Reena immediately recognized them. The embroidered symbol of the clan stood out plainly to see. She stared at the red blood drop with the circle around it.
Hilda gasped in horror. “Where did you get those clothes?” She stood up quickly, jumping back, and her hand went to her heart.
“Hilda, they’re my clothes. I’m a Runner.”
Hilda shook her head as color drained from her face.
Reena and Tara hurried to her side and helped her back to the chair.
The old woman stared at the clothing as if it would bite her if she dared look away. After a minute, she looked at Tara. “What is this you’re saying?”
Tara sat next to Hilda. Reena took the chair on the other side of her old friend and held her hand.
“I came to Gothman to learn about your people. I’d heard the stories of a proud, large race of people, so different from my own. All I wanted was to see how you lived. I didn’t expect to become so involved with your family,” Tara said, letting her last words trail off.
“Ah, so now you have a lord who’s gone and claimed you. Let me guess, he can’t figure out how to get out of this mess, and so he’s sent you to me. What is it you want?” Hilda pulled her hand free from Reena’s and fisted it on the table.
“This will be scandal for our family,” she hissed under her breath.
“Well, my lady, I didn’t know he claimed me when I moved in here.” Tara glared at Reena. “He finally admitted to me that he’d announced a claiming. But it was after I found out from Thelga at the grocery store. I was furious and ready to run from this land right then. I told Darius that no one claimed me without asking me first.”
Reena covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Hilda’s chair scuffed against the floor when she slid back and turned on Reena. “This is serious, old woman. The Lord of Gothman can’t claim a Runner. It will be the biggest scandal our nation has ever known.”
For a moment, no one spoke. The two women stared at each other. Tara gave Hilda time to digest what she’d just learned. Regardless of what Hilda now thought of her, Tara would never embarrass her or Darius. But then Hilda looked from Reena to Tara and back again. Her mouth fell open as if she would say something.
Reena’s expression changed and she shook her head. She touched Hilda’s arm and Hilda closed her mouth. Reena spoke before Hilda did.
“Do you love Lord Darius, child?” Reena asked looking away from Hilda.
Tara saw Reena was trying to help. “I think I might,” she admitted voicing her feelings for the first time.
“I’ve seen the two of them,” Hilda said to Reena, although her tone was accusatory instead of sounding pleased. “They act like they belong together. You knew about this, didn’t you, old lady? I daresay you planned the whole thing!” Hilda accused.
“She came to me the night she arrived in Gothman.” Reena waved her hand in front of her, knocking Hilda’s accusations out of the way. “She wanted to know the life of Gothman. I didn’t know she was coming.”
“Reena, Runners are our enemy. You know she won’t stay here. It’s not in their nature to stay put. I don’t need to tell you-”
“My lady, I’m not your enemy.” Tara stressed, interrupting, and putting her hand on Hilda’s. “I don’t understand why our people consider each other enemies. We aren’t a threat to each other.”
“And so you think you can change how Gothman feel about Runners, do you?” Hilda shook her head and clucked her tongue. “Is that why you were sent?”
“If she’s claimed to the Lord of Gothman, it would be a good start.” Reena was quick with her argument.
“You’d like it if that happened, wouldn’t you?” Hilda yelled and stood, glaring at Reena. She shook her head at Tara, looking disgusted as her hands went to her wide girth. “My son didn’t know you were a Runner when he made the claim. Now he must save face with his people. He has promise to be one of our greatest leaders.”
“He did know I was a Runner. He knew all along.” Tara wanted to jump up and stamp her foot. Why was she defending him? He should be defending his actions to his mama.
“Did he really?” Reena was smiling ag
ain. “Hilda, he knew and he still claimed her. Maybe they were meant to be together.”
“What a day that would be for you, wouldn’t it, my old friend? I’m not so old that I don’t remember what happened over twenty winters ago.” Hilda snapped her finger in the air. “My claim knew of your goings on with the Runners. Maybe he should’ve been rougher with you.”
“But he wasn’t. I’ve never said a word. Then was not the time for Runners to be among us. But now! Times are changing. The Runners haven’t opposed Gothman for many winters. This generation thinks Runners are enemies, but don’t know why. You said it yourself. These two are in love. Tara will challenge him, but is that so bad? Imagine it, Hilda. She will make Darius stronger. I’ve heard you say a time or two that behind a good man is a good woman. What a match they will be, don’t you think?”
Hilda was quiet. She looked at the clothes, then walked around the table, still staring at them. Tara watched her pick up the cloth with the embroidered emblem on it.
Her chubby fingers traced the circle with the red drop of blood centered in the middle. “What is this?”
“It is the symbol of my clan.”
“And what is the name of your clan?”
“The Blood Circle Clan.”
“Ah, and who are your parents?”
“Patha is my papa, but not by birth. He found me as a toddler and brought me into his clan to be raised.”
Hilda started to stomp out of the room. She stopped and turned, looking angrier than Tara had ever seen her as she glared at Reena. “You knew she was coming to you!”
“No, Hilda, I told you already.” Reena remained in her chair, but her lips narrowed to a fine line.
An animosity of some kind appeared between the two women, as if some old wound had suddenly been opened. Finally Reena relaxed and stared hard at Hilda as she spoke. “She caused quite a ruckus in the pines that night. The guards were out thick looking for her. She dodged them and made it to my house. I saw her for the first time when she came out of the woods. I didn’t know she was coming.”
Hilda stood there for a minute, thinking. Then, she picked up the clothes and thrust them at Tara. “Put these on. I want to see you in them.”
Tara took the clothes and looked at Hilda confused.
“You’ve been with us for over a cycle now. You’ve lived like a Gothman, but you’re a Runner. My heritage means a lot to me. Let’s see if your heritage means as much to you. Put those on and feel your heritage. Show me who you really are.” Hilda’s voice shook with emotion as she pointed with a shaky finger to Tara’s clothes.
Tara clutched her clothes. She trotted up the stairs, feeling queasy with excitement. In minutes she would be out of the flimsy Gothman dress. She rubbed her finger over her leather pants. Taking the stairs a couple at a time, she hurried to her room. She was also a bit nervous. Changing into her own clothes didn’t bother her. Darius had taken most of his personal guards with him. There would be a few of the lord’s guards on duty outside, not that she would tolerate any of them upsetting Darius’ family if they saw her in Runner clothing.
There was something going on between Hilda and Reena that she didn’t understand. The two of them kept exchanging looks. Tara didn’t want to fathom a guess what the two of them might be hiding but it had something to do with Runners. Once Hilda was calmer maybe they would enlighten her. Unlike the two of them, though, old gossip didn’t interest her as much as second-guessing what would happen in the future.
The leather was cool against her skin. Her feet rejoiced to be in her boots again. She pulled her headscarf over her face and headed back downstairs. She didn’t make a sound as she approached the dining room, and the two women didn’t hear her return.
“I won’t have her having my grandbabies, then steal away during the night. Those clothes will bring her back to reality. She’s been pretending, and she’ll come to her senses now.”
“You want her to leave,” Reena spoke quieter and her voice sounded strained.
“You can’t make her stay anymore than you could make her papa stay,” Hilda snapped.
“You’ll not speak of that. I have your promise!”
“You think if she quits pretending that it will change everything?” Hilda sounded downright hateful. “You’re a fool, old woman, and you always have been.”
“I am not pretending. I’ve known who I was the entire time I was here,” Tara interrupted, not understanding, or liking the way Hilda was speaking to Reena.
The two women looked up as the Runner entered the room.
Hilda shrieked and covered her mouth, staring wideeyed at Tara.
“I’ve taught your youngest son to ride a motorcycle. I’ve raced his lord through the hills on my motorcycle. Lord Darius had it brought here. It’s in the shed right now. I’ve behaved the way you’ve wanted but have never ignored who I am. If I stay here, I’ll stay as a Runner, and Darius knows this.”
“I see. Well Darius asked you to tell me and so you have. Now I know. If my son is asking for my blessing, he knows how I feel about Runners. That hasn’t changed. You have a good heart, Tara, but you’re a Runner.” Hilda sat back down and looked exasperated.
Tara moved to the old lady, bent, and kissed her on the cheek.
She then did the same to Reena. “I don’t know what yet, but you have a secret and I mean to learn what it is,” she whispered in Reena’s ear.
“Well, child, you best get back out of those clothes before someone thinks you are attacking us instead of kissing us.” Hilda grabbed her cloth napkin and dabbed her cheeks and neck. “Go now.”
Tara noticed the woman’s hand shook. But she did as Hilda asked, ran upstairs, changed, and returned her clothes to the bag under her bed. She came back down in time to see Reena gathering her things and preparing to leave. Tara followed both women to the front open room.
“I’ll be seeing an announcement to a claiming party before long, I expect.” Reena walked across the yard to her groundmobile. “We’ll have to make her a dress for certain, old woman. Goodness knows she can’t sew a stitch.”
“I wonder why she’s more excited to see me claimed to your son than you are.” Tara watched Reena drive away before turning to face the plump older woman.
“I can’t go and tell you her thoughts. She’ll have to do that herself.” Hilda headed upstairs, claiming a headache. ”And she won’t ever do that,” she called down, closed herself in her bedroom and locked the door.
Torgo ran to greet Darius when he and his guards pulled around the back of the house and parked that following afternoon.
“I’ll help fight if you need me.” Torgo sounded delighted at the thought.
“Will you now?” Darius climbed off his bike and stretched. He looked exhausted and dirty, very much like a warrior who’d been on the road a couple days.
“I can ride my motorcycle pretty well,” Torgo continued. “I can run errands, or do anything you want.”
Tara smiled as Torgo sought his brother’s approval. She’d been walking through the pines and returning to the house when she heard Darius’ motorcycle pulling into the backyard. She wanted to run and greet him and let him know how she had missed him. Instead, she stood, sheltered by the branches surrounding her, and watched Darius push his bike around the back of the shed.
Torgo ran to get water and rags to help Darius clean the mud from his bike. He returned just as his older brother was opening the shed. The young boy disappeared inside along with Darius. Tara hurried across the yard to join them, ignoring the guards when they scowled at her.
Torgo saw her first and ran to greet her. Darius turned and their eyes met. He looked exhausted and more serious than she’d seen him look before.
She imagined him creating strategies and hearing reports from his scouts while she sat and dined with old women. She should have been at his side. She had knowledge of the Sea People. She had heard stories around the fires of the strange race.
The Sea People were greedy and para
noid. Many of the stories she had heard over the winters said they were a race addicted to some type of opiate drug. If what she’d heard was true, the Sea People’s actions would be hard to predict in battle.
Darius pulled her into his arms the moment she reached him.
“I can’t wait to hear your stories,” she told him, knowing it was a Runner greeting shared between spousal warriors.
Darius only smiled. “I will be…” he whispered in her ear, but wasn’t able to finish.
“Tara, oh my dear, there you are. Come at once. There has been a call to the house.” Hilda stood at the door to the house gesturing wildly. “Darius, I’m glad you’re home. This is bad.”
Tara started toward the house with Darius following. They entered the kitchen and found Hilda rushing about, a distracted look on her face. She didn’t offer any further explanation but began moving items around on the pantry shelves. Hilda glanced over her shoulder. “I’m losing my mind. There aren’t good times ahead.”
“Woman! Hell be doomed. What’s wrong with you?” Darius spoke from behind Tara.
“Darius, I answered the caller.” She pointed to the receiver, with its stretched cord on the counter. Hilda had forgotten to return it to its cradle on the wall.
“You said that already. What is so incredible about the caller?” Darius’ frustration strained his voice. He picked up the receiver and put it on the cradle.
“Reena called and asked for you Tara, but I didn’t know where you were.” Hilda began, and brought several small jars out of the pantry. Her pallor didn’t look good. “She has company. She said some of your, uh-” She paused as Torgo slipped into the kitchen eyeing a plate of food on the counter. “Tara, your family has arrived. She needs you to take these herbs to her. I know they are used for medicinal reasons, so someone must be hurt.”
Tara didn’t wait to hear more. She rushed from the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom.
“Tara!” Darius’ bark echoed off the walls.
She ignored him as she ran to her closet and quickly flipped through her dresses until she found one more practical than the frilly thing she had on at the moment. She chose one made from a knitted material and hurried to change.
Nuworld: Claiming Tara Page 13