Nuworld: Claiming Tara

by Fitzgerald, Laurie

  lowered her voice as if someone might be listening. “I heard

  that he asked Reena to go with him.”

  “What did she say?”

  “Well, I would think she would say no.” Hilda thought

  the question absurd.

  Tara picked up the babies and walked into the large

  adjoining bedroom she now shared with Darius.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to say goodbye to my papa.” Tara pulled a

  clean headscarf from her top dresser drawer.

  “You’re taking the babies?”

  “Can you tend them?”

  Hilda shook her head. “I’m having tea with some of the

  ladies over at Roga’s. You really should hire one of the girls

  in town to be a nanny.” The old lady scurried off to prepare

  for her outing.

  Tara was left alone with her babies. She thought about

  asking Torgo or Darius to go with her, but neither was to

  be found when she loaded the babies into the back of the

  groundmobile. It took some effort to remove the two plastic

  sections that made up the roof of the groundmobile, but

  Tara managed. Fresh air blew her hair off her neck when

  she finally sat behind the large steering wheel.

  “It will get you accustomed to riding on a bike when

  you’re older.” She watched them look up at the endless

  blue sky.

  Andru and Ana’s blond curls fell around their creamy

  white, pudgy faces. Their deep gray eyes, which were the

  same color as their papa’s, took in everything and didn’t

  miss a thing. Watching her children at times made Tara

  feel as if she had double vision. Andru watched a bird fly

  overhead, and so did Ana. One twin didn’t parrot the other.

  Both twins moved as if controlled by one thought. Tara saw how intelligent her children were. They were

  beautiful and perfect in every way. Once they got older, and

  came into their own personalities, she didn’t doubt they’d

  quit being so identical. Until then, she allowed herself to

  marvel in their unique behavior.

  “Shall we go see the people you will one day rule?” Tara

  tapped Ana’s nose.

  If it were her call she would allow the twins to grow older

  before deciding which would lead which nation. Darius had

  laughed and tried getting her to admit that their son would

  be the better ruler. He insisted his son had been born first

  and was the rightful heir of Gothman. Reena had told her

  Ana was born first, but then later insisted she didn’t

  remember. Tara was sure regardless of which of her

  children were the elder, Darius wouldn’t budge on his decision that Andru would lead Gothman and Ana be heir

  to all Runner clans.

  Her children quit looking at the sky. They gave her their

  attention and kicked their pudgy legs. Tara laughed at their

  baby babble.

  “Then let’s get going.” She double checked the straps

  secured around them in the special infant sized seats

  Darius had installed in the back seat of the groundmobile.

  Then turning and facing the wheel, she accelerated and the

  rumble of the motor drowned out the chatter.

  “And we’re off,” She laughed and glanced over her

  shoulder to see her babies laughing, too.

  Her clan was definitely preparing to leave. Doors stood

  open as trailer interiors were dismantled. Breakable items

  were being boxed before being placed in compartments

  under the trailer. It was summer and the best time to travel

  to cooler land north of them that wouldn’t be passable

  when it got close to the new winter.

  Tara felt a pang of regret that she wasn’t going. It

  surprised her. She’d been so busy with the babies and so

  wrapped up with her love for Darius that it hadn’t dawned

  on her until now how long she’d been in one place. The clan would move around for the next four to five

  cycles before settling in right before the new winter when

  the weather turned bad. The alliance built with Gothman

  enabled the Runners to leave some of their possessions on

  the land, with Darius promising protection. Patha and

  Darius agreed that the land just to the northwest of Bryton

  would be Blood Circle clan property.

  The townsfolk had grown accustomed to Runners

  entering their stores. It was a first for the clan to own land.

  Times were changing in so many ways. Thinking about it

  always gave her tingles of excitement. She forced herself to

  feel cheerful as she waved to clan members and weaved

  around trailers in the groundmobile.

  “Hi, Syra.” Tara pulled up to Patha’s trailer and smiled

  at her niece. “What are you doing?”

  “Nothing.” Syra sounded sulky.

  Tara was about to ask her what was wrong when Patha

  and Balbo came around the other side of the trailer. “I heard you were leaving.” Tara greeted her papa as she

  reached for her children.

  “In the morning.” The old man smiled and headed for his

  grandbabies. “These babies will be walking by the time I get

  back.”

  Tara handed Andru to his grandpapa and held Ana in

  her arms. “What’s wrong with Syra?”

  “Believe it or not, she doesn’t want to go.” Balbo

  shrugged his shoulders at his daughter’s behavior. “I don’t

  understand her lately.”

  “Why not let her stay with me? I need a nanny for the

  children. I could pay her, and she could have her own

  room. It would help her save money for her first bike. She’s

  about ready for one, you know.”

  Patha looked at Balbo, nodding his approval of the

  suggestion.

  “She’s growing up so fast.” Balbo shook his head.

  “Nothing I do is right for her anymore. Are you sure she

  would be a help with the babies?”

  “I was caring for babies at her age if not younger.

  Besides, Balbo, it might make it easier to find another wife.

  Syra is quite the young lady, and another woman might

  think she has competition with her around.”

  “Another wife?” Balbo started coughing and his face

  turned red. “I don’t need to leave my daughter behind to

  find a wife. What stories are you hearing around the fires?” “Nothing.” Tara didn’t remember when she had last sat

  around a roaring fire and listened to the stories. “I really

  need help with Andru and Ana.”

  “Don’t try to argue with her, Balbo.” Patha laughed.

  “Sounds like she has her mind made up.”

  “Okay. I’ll speak to her. That is, if she’ll talk to me.” He

  walked over to the sulking girl.

  Tara watched her papa play with her son. “I’ll miss you.

  You better stay in touch with me.”

  “Don’t you long to travel, Tara-girl?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it to be honest with you until I

  entered the clan and saw everyone tearing down. The twins

  and Darius keep me so busy.” Tara squinted from the sun

  and looked around the clansite. Runners loaded bags onto

  their bikes and locked down trailers. “Coming out here

  does put the yearning into a person, though.”

/>   Patha looked at her, but instead of saying anything he

  moved closer when Andru reached for Ana. He stood next

  to his daughter while his grandbabies wrapped their pudgy fingers together and held hands. He didn’t know a lot about twins but it seemed these two were exceptionally connected to each other. Patha glanced at Tara. As always, his daughter was playing strong and trying not to show how

  torn she was over decisions she’d made in her life. She noticed the look of concern in Patha’s eyes. “Don’t

  worry about me. I am happy. Really I am. I’ve found a good

  man.”

  “Good. You have an obligation here. The Runners have

  never had land like this before, and a lot of that is due to

  you, Tara-girl.”

  “I know.” Tara knew the Runners were talking about her

  being responsible for a pivotal turn in their history. Maybe

  she didn’t join in on stories around the fires the way she

  used to. She did make time to read communications

  between clans on her landlink. She received more respect

  from them due to the Lord of Gothman claiming her than

  she did from the Gothman.

  Balbo and Syra returned from the side of the trailer.

  Tara noticed the young girl was all smiles.

  “Can I really stay with you?” Syra looked from one twin

  to the other, her smile growing.

  “You can work for me.” Tara caught the girl’s eye. “You’ll

  be in charge of the babies, and you’ll go to school. It won’t

  be fun and games.”

  Tara knew the teenager had had exposure to young

  children. Tara realized Syra would be one of the few girls in

  her class. Syra wouldn’t let anyone bully her. Still, she was

  breaking the mold by attending school while Gothman girls

  were discouraged from going. The Gothman believed their

  girls learned what they needed to know by staying home

  and helping their mamas. Tara had done her best to

  encourage girls to attend, but it was a slow process. Darius had approved Runners enrolling their children in

  the Gothman school. That was a slow process too,

  encouraging Runners to take advantage of the Gothman

  schools instead of home-schooling their children, as had

  always been the custom.

  “I won’t let you down.” Syra bolted away and ran toward

  her and Balbo’s trailer. She yelled over her shoulder. “Just

  let me get my things.”

  Syra couldn’t believe her luck. She would see Torgo

  every day. This sure beat spending the next several cycles

  cooped up with her papa. Torgo would be a lot more fun. He was so cute and so tall. Ever since they’d finished the project of clearing rubble for the Gothman, all she did was think about him. This change of events was too good to be

  true.

  “I’m ready.” Syra ran back to Tara who was still talking

  to Patha and Balbo. She took Ana just to make sure Tara

  knew she could do the work.

  Tara handed the baby to Syra but didn’t pause in her

  conversation. “Why are you going south instead of north?” “The River people at the southern edge of Southland are

  trying to form a new government, and I thought we would

  start by going there,” Patha said. “I want to make sure they

  know the Gothman and Runners have united. We’ll show

  our respects to their new government and see if they’ll

  welcome our union by letting Runners enjoy their

  community.”

  “Honestly I thought you’d go north for milder weather,”

  Tara admitted, watching as Syra struggled to strap Andru

  and Ana back into their seats. “I guess the travels aren’t

  about survival anymore.”

  “They are, Tara-girl, but in a different way. Runners and

  Gothman are building a new nation,” Patha explained. “And to survive, we must make sure all of Nuworld knows. Defeating the Sea People gave us strength. There are other

  nations who need to acknowledge us.”

  Tara knew there was oil in the ground down there. It

  was thick in the ground just north of the border, then

  continuing into Southland. Patha and Darius had probably

  discussed this. Gothman had very little oil. Runners had

  bartered with nations all over Nuworld for winters to secure

  enough oil for their travels. Darius was aware of his lands

  limits. Securing relations with the River people would

  greatly help Runners and Gothman.

  Syra had loaded the babies and her bags into the back

  of the groundmobile. She sat in the passenger seat waiting

  for Tara. Hugs were exchanged one last time, then Tara

  and Syra headed back to town.

  “I can’t believe it. The house is so big. Isn’t it weird how

  all their houses are fixed into the ground?” Syra watched in

  awe as Tara drove along the gravel driveway toward the

  Bryton home.

  “You get accustomed to it. Let’s get you settled first.”

  Tara parked behind the house. Tara gave Syra a quick tour

  of the home and showed her where her bedroom would be. She gave her old room to the girl, knowing Hilda wouldn’t mind. After Syra seemed somewhat familiar with her surroundings, Tara decided to put her to the test and announced she was going to take a short ride and would be

  back in a few hours.

  “Reach me on the comm for any reason.” She made Syra

  promise then left her playing on the nursery floor with the

  twins.

  Her bike felt so good underneath her. She revved up the

  motor then took off toward town. Darius wasn’t answering

  his comm so she decided she would go look for him. It had

  entered her mind, while she was showing Syra around, that

  she would now be able to spend more time with him. She

  wasn’t sure where he was at the moment and hadn’t taken

  time before leaving the house to track him on her landlink.

  After driving through Bryton, she wondered if he was out

  joyriding, too.

  Tara rode around town, taking her time and enjoying the

  aroma of blooming flowers. It was fun riding through the

  trees, weaving in and out of the brush. Once she hit the

  open meadow, she pushed her bike and flew at speeds

  she’d only dreamed about over the past winter.

  Instinctively she headed for the back hills, to the cliff

  where Darius had taken her on their first motorcycle ride,

  where the twins had been conceived. Now it was her

  favorite spot, as well. She imagined Darius standing at the

  edge of the cliff overlooking his reign, lost in thought. She

  would sneak up on him, giving her Runner skills a muchneeded workout.

  Tara smiled, deciding she would take him right there

  and make love to him. Their lovemaking was often

  interrupted or hurried since their children had been born.

  They were way past due for some incredible foreplay and

  heated sex. She drove faster, skillfully dodging the ruts in

  the earth, enjoying her thoughts.

  She bypassed the rugged rocky road leading up the hill,

  knowing the motorcycle would make too much noise going

  over the rocks. It was a slow climb riding around the jagged

  rocks and through tall grass but she enjoyed it. Her heart

  leapt when she spotted Darius’ bike close to where she’d

  imagined it
would be. Tara parked a fair distance before the

  trees ended and climbed off her bike. The excited pounding

  of her heart soon changed when she heard voices. “Why did you bring me here, my lord?” a female voice

  said. “It would be nice if you would have me in a bed.” Tara almost tripped over a loose branch before she

  dropped to the ground and crawled through the grass. She

  couldn’t believe what she just heard. Images of Darius’

  face, so full of love and concern throughout her labor,

  appeared in her mind. He had repeatedly told her she was

  beautiful even though she was pregnant with twins. After the twins were born, he’d not once complained that

  he had to wait to make love while her body mended. She

  had hated rushing through their love making when the

  babies started to fuss. Not a day went by, though, when he

  hadn’t told her that he loved her.

  The pain that burned up her insides as she watched her

  claim through the trees was unlike any pain she had ever

  experienced in her life.

  “Shouldn’t a lord’s mistress enjoy better comforts than

  this?””

  Tara saw the woman now. She was facing Darius. He

  wasn’t looking at the woman, or in Tara’s direction, but

  staring toward the cliff.

  Her heart seemed to stop beating. She couldn’t breathe.

  The air had turned to poison.

  He was with another woman.

  How could this be? He’d given no indication he was

  having an affair. Her blood boiled inside her as she listened

  to the conversation. The pain she’d initially felt hardened

  inside her and turned to raging fury.

  “Don’t presume you’re anything that merits a title,”

  Darius said.

  Tara saw the woman’s face, or better yet, the girl’s face,

  no – thewhore’s face! She was young - too young - more

  than likely not even twenty winters. Her long reddishblonde hair fell in a mass of curls down her back. Tara was

  sure she would vomit. The little tramp was beautiful and

  looked nothing like Tara.

  She watched in violated shock as the girl began

  undressing in front of Darius. She was experienced; Tara

  guessed she’d undressed in front of men before, seducing

  them with a toss of her long hair. And the way she played

  with each button before releasing it! It was disgusting,

  revolting. She let her dress fall to the ground. Then she

  reached for Darius’ shirt.

  Tara was horrified. Every inch of her began to tremble.