Darius put his hands on the chair. His fingers brushed 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 his or her actions and not by their race or gender. 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 of the world outside your own through Tara and it intrigued you.”
Patha paused, looking from Tara to Darius. He had their undivided attention.
When Darius didn’t respond, Patha returned to his chair and sat. “Tara has shared her feelings with me, now I must hear yours. What are your intentions here?”
Darius placed his hands on Tara’s shoulders. “Patha, I love your daughter.”
A tremor shot through her and quickened inside her. Darius 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 possessiveness more than love. Maybe to him that was love. After all, claiming a woman meant owning her without concern to her thoughts or beliefs. That was the only world Darius knew.
“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 union between you two to be more official than a marriage, or claim, as the Gothman call it.”
Patha reached inside his jacket and pulled out some papers he had clipped together. He dropped the papers on the table and looked at Lord Darius.
“This is a treaty of peace between 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 all Runner clans. The two of you will rule almost half of Nuworld. While I’m 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 with my clan.”
Patha walked out of the tent, leaving Tara and Darius alone. She turned in her chair and looked up at him. He glanced down, moving his hands to her head and stroking her hair. His expression softened for the first time.
“How long have you known Reena was my mama?” 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 in it and pulled her down on his lap. His arms were strong and sculpted from steel. He held her tight enough she felt the strong pulse of his heart thumping hard and solid in his chest.
What a man he was! He’d just been put on trial as leader. Patha had tested Lord Darius’ knowledge, and Darius hadn’t hesitated with any of his answers. Sure he would have researched Patha and known what he wanted to hear. But Tara believed he hadn’t hesitated because his answers came from the heart.
“My lady, we’re meant for each other. At first I thought I needed to break you, but now I see that would be a mistake. It’s the excitement in your eyes when you’re challenged that I love. I wouldn’t be happy with a passive woman. They all instantly bored me. Oh, I knew you were a Runner. Patha was right. I broke my own laws. But I didn’t know a woman like you existed.”
“I’m definitely one of a kind.” Tara shifted in his arms once he relaxed his grip. Then running her fingers through his blond curls, she stared into his unique gray eyes. They definitely weren’t cool anymore. The smoldering lust she saw there had her hoping there was a bed on the other side of the tapestry.
“You’d be wise never to forget what a good match we are,” she whispered, and brushed her lips over his.
Darius grinned. “Is that all you have to say?”
She smiled. “I’ll challenge you. There’s not a passive bone in my body, Darius. We’re equals, and I have no problem teaching you how to accept that. Neither of us surpasses the other in any way I can see. I’ll say this much, you proved yourself as leader to Patha. He was impressed, and so was I.” Tara wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately.
Darius stood and scooped her in his arms. “I would love to impress you some more.”
“I might let you.” Tara ducked her head when he pulled the tapestry to the side and carried her to the other side of the tent.
A large down mattress was on the floor with several quilts thrown over it. He let go of her and Tara straightened, her body sliding against his until she stood before him. That quickening in her gut became swollen need, pulsating deep in her womb. Darius had told her he’d never met a woman like her before. She’d never known a man like him. He was aggressive, dominating and so sure of himself. Tara smiled and pressed her body against his. They really were equal in every way.
“If there were time, I would ravish you right now,” Darius growled and began slow kisses up her neck toward her ear.
“If there were time,” Tara began and clasped her hands behind his neck. She stood on tiptoe, leaning her head and allowing him room to continue sending her places she ached to be. “I would demand you satisfy the fire you’ve lit in me.”
Darius chuckled. “And if I refused?” he asked.
“I would have to take you by force,” she whispered and stretched to press her lips against his when that damned cocky grin appeared on his face.
Darius deepened the kiss until Tara was mad with need. She hated that there wasn’t more time. Troops were making camp 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 tapestry to the side and hurried after him. “How could you possibly know if I’m pregnant?” She snapped at him so hard that he raised one eyebrow in surprise.
“I told you I know everything that goes on in Gothman.” He sat in his large chair and picked up the treaty. “Patha put some time into this,” he mused, and chuckled as if that pleased him.
Tara snatched the treaty out of his hands. “I don’t know that I am pregnant and nor does anyone else.”
He leaned back in the chair and looked at her. “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. The simple truth is, I outrank you. I am lord. 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 out of battle.”
His voice was so low and calm. It pissed her off further. She hated that he was right. If one of her warriors were pregnant, Tara would remove her from the line as well.
Tara stormed toward the tapestry, but 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 unfathomable. She was not one to be owned. Being pregnant would be a total 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 inside the tent and flung herself into the chair next to Darius, desperately trying to discipline her thoughts. When that didn’t work, she slammed 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 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 understand herself. “Now’s not the time for this. There’s so much to do. The crisis before us is great. One wrong play and a dangerous, unpredictable race could take over. This…pregnancy…would only be a distraction. Not to mention, there’s no proof. We can’t rely on some woman believing she saw a certain look.”
“Time will be proof enough. I’m sure there are doctors in your camp that would ease your mind, if you wish.” He smiled and covered her hand with his. He was seeing a side of her that he rather liked. Tara had an incredible temper. “I have faith in Gothman doctors, 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. I have heard that some women decide not to be pregnant, even after they are. If you don’t want this right now…” he paused and looked at her, doubting she knew how hard this was to say. “This time, I will allow you to choose not to be pregnant. But hear me, I won’t allow it a second time.”
Tara hated the look on his face. Gothman women wouldn’t consent to abort a pregnancy. All the women she’d met so far built their lives around being claimed, having babies and raising a family. Tara leaned back in her chair and studied Darius’s radiant gray eyes and the dark blond curls bordering his face. He was so damned good looking that it made her hurt inside. What appealed to her most, though, was what she saw in his eyes. He possessed something that most men didn’t. 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. It might not be the way he lived, or what he believed in, but she saw that his offer was sincere. Darius wasn’t narrow-minded. He wasn’t so selffocused that he couldn’t see how others lived differently. And(omit “And”) even if he’d never been out of Gothman, he was a good enough ruler to research the people he’d be associating with. Tara knew at least several women who had found themselves pregnant and had aborted their unborn child. Each woman’s reasons guided her conscience and allowed her to accept her decision without remorse.
“No. If I’m pregnant, I would stay that way. We didn’t plan this but if I am then it’s meant to be.” Tara knew a pregnancy would bind them together more than a Gothman claim or Runner marriage ever would. 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 stared at her thoughtfully. “We conceived the first time we were together, I’m sure of it! Even more proof that we were meant to be together, my lady.” He leaned over and kissed her, his lips soft and tender.
“Promise me our child will know no prejudice, not over race or sex. That is, if there is a child,” she added, and wondered if Darius might ever want his people to know life that way, too.
“I’ll do my best, my lady.”
Darius took the treaty she’d snatched out of his hands and pulled her chair next to his. He draped his arm over her shoulders and set the papers where they could read together.
Patha put a lot of thought into the papers. It was full of the necessity of equality among all men and women. It emphasized that the Runners and Gothman were setting a standard the rest of the world would strive to meet. Nuworld would need to become one united nation. It stated this would be the only way all war and hostility could end. The treaty stated all cultures should always be honored and respected for their diversity. No race should ever be asked to give up its traditions or religious beliefs to adhere to the beliefs of another race. If two cultures chose to unite, it would be their responsibility to peacefully combine their cultures.
The treaty was incredibly idealistic, Tara thought. What a wonderful world it would be if the treaty could be enforced to the letter. Patha didn’t take into consideration that both Runners and Gothman viewed their way of life as better than the other. She saw the two races tolerating each other at best.
Darius shared her concern as they mulled over different sentences and argued certain points. The day was well over when they finally emerged from the tent.
“Here.” Tara stopped him outside and put the comm around his ear. “You’ll need to learn how to use one of these.” She adjusted the device so it would reach his mouth then secured it.
“What is it?”
“It’s similar to your walkntalks. You can choose who you wish to talk to, however, and the main landlink will secure your line. We call them ‘comms’.”
He felt the mouthpiece and blew into it.
“There’s a switch right here.” Tara showed him. “Flip it on and say that you want to speak to Patha. You don’t have to speak loudly. The microphone is very sensitive. A whisper can be detected.”
Darius pushed the switch and requested to speak to Patha.
Tara watched the look of fascination on his face as he listened.
“We’ll ride to the Blood Circle Clan and meet Patha there,” Darius told her after talking with Patha. “Do you think we can get more of these?”
“I’d think they should be supplied to all your men. I can confirm with Patha, but I’m fairly sure we have an ample supply. It would be difficult to fight a war without them.” Tara climbed onto her bike. “I guess we’re already incorporating part of that treaty. In some ways out cultures will unite.”
“Our cultures are too different.” Darius stared across the meadow as his men prepared for nightfall. Uniting Gothman and Runners was a strong possibility, but combining the two cultures would be impossible. Darius saw how their cultures might learn from each other. He wasn’t willing for his and Tara’s relationship to become the glue to secure the bond, though. More than once he’d wanted to demand obedience from Tara. She’d accepted his claim, was pregnant with his child, and had said how they were equal. Darius needed to slow things down. With both their lives uprooted and battles to win that wouldn’t be easy to do. He needed time to train Tara. He was Lord of Gothman. With his people, and in his world, Tara would have to honor him and submit. When they were alone, he rather liked her feisty nature and way of thinking. But in public, she would have to learn the Gothman way.
“We’ll have to be the example to our people as a couple,” Tara said, as if she sensed his thoughts and decided to challenge him.
“We can do that when we reach your clan.” The two drove through the Gothman camp. Campfires were lit, and talking and laughter filled the early evening. Cheers and whoops, and just a few catcalls rang out as Darius and Tara drove past men huddled in groups around the fires.
The small Runner clan they drove through next was much quieter. Trailers and motorcycles were parked in a large circle with large fires burning inside that circle. The Runners watched with curiosity as Tara and the Gothman lord drove past them. Tara guessed the Runners probably already knew of the treaty. Patha would have made an announcement about it upon his arrival.
Darius saluted the Runners they passed, and the Runners acknowledged the deference with raised arms of greetings.
This was promising, Tara thought, although she knew the Runners would face less change with the treaty than Gothman. Her people already sa
w each other as equal. As well, they respected each individual’s ability to excel in whatever they were good at doing. Their nomadic existence provided opportunities for them to continually experience different cultures and understand that different didn’t necessarily mean wrong.
The Blood Circle Clan stood and cheered the second Tara and Darius were spotted, outdoing the noise the Gothman had made. Runner children ran beside the motorcycles encouraging the two along. They were forced to ride slower but finally Tara pulled up alongside a large trailer and got off her bike.
“Leave it to you, Tara, to draw out a crowd.” A young woman approached. Her Runner outfit showed every curve of her female body, and her black headscarf didn’t conceal her sneer.
“Tasha, I didn’t know you’d returned.”
“How could you when you were off playing house with some Gothman lord? Although why you chose such a primitive race is beyond me. I never took you to be the submissive type.” The young lady eyed Darius and flashed a flirtatious smile. “So tell me, did you have to beat her terribly to get her to obey?”
“Not terribly.” Darius let his gaze wander over the young Runner.
“Lord Darius, I would like you to meet my sister, Tasha.”
“No, she wouldn’t like you to meet me.” Tasha sashayed in a circle around Darius before coming back around to face him. “But, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. From what I hear, it sounds like the two of you are trying to rule Nuworld.”
“Come on.” Tara took Darius’ hand. “Patha is waiting.”
“I’ll say this,” Tasha continued as they walked away. “He’s much better looking than Kuro was.”
“Who’s Kuro?” Darius growled.
“He’s a guy I was with when I was a teenager.” She waved her hand, dismissing the comment her sister had made. “Tasha’s trying to start trouble. It’s her nature. You aren’t jealous, are you?”
“Do I have reason to be?”
“No.” Tara hated her sister for saying whatever she could to make Darius not trust her. Hopefully, Tasha had failed.
Nuworld: Claiming Tara Page 18