Nuworld: Claiming Tara

by Fitzgerald, Laurie

  “There will be a ten minute recess. Several of the contestants have withdrawn their application for the Test of Wills. We’ll begin again shortly with the last ten contestants.”

  There were only ten more contestants? Two large Runner warriors strolled into the arena and escorted Tara through the crowd. She knew both of them as Patha’s personal guards. Fortunately, they paid more attention to everyone surrounding them and didn’t look too closely at her.

  “Make way for the next leader of the Runners,” a young boy screamed not too far in front of Tara.

  “You’ll defeat the others, don’t you worry,” came another voice from beside her.

  “Never seen anyone fight like you, lady,” a man yelled.

  Patha ordered her to be secluded in a white tent near the arena. She was given water as the two warriors stood outside the tent preventing Runners and Gothman from entering to offer their allegiance.

  Tara’s hands shook as she sipped the water. The crowd outside pushed against the canvas, and more guards yelled at them to step to the side. Tara exhaled and watched her breath appear as a puffy cloud in front of her in the chilly air. A Test of Wills hadn’t been called for in over a hundred winters, and Tara couldn’t recall from her history lessons if another warrior had successfully won every round. She felt exhilarated and nervous at the same time.

  “I’m meant to lead the Runners.”

  The crowd outside the tent and throughout all the benches buzzed with the excitement of the day. The same questions were repeated everywhere.

  “Who is she?”

  “Can anyone defeat her?”

  “Which clan is she from?”

  The Blood Circle clan members knew exactly who she was. Whispers circulated through the crowd. “Tara is dead. How is it that we watch her fight?”

  Kuro pushed his way toward Patha. He demanded permission to speak with the leader of the clans. Patha ordered his guard, who stood next to Kuro, to inform the young man it would be inappropriate to speak to a contestant during the test.

  “You know who that is out there.” Kuro looked past the guard and spoke to Patha anyway. “What are you going to do about it?”

  Patha didn’t answer and the guard stood between Patha and Kuro. “Patha will not speak with a contestant.”

  Disgusted, Kuro left Patha for the other side of the arena. It had been well over six cycles since Kuro had spoken with Dorm Gowsky. Granted, the Neurian leader was no warrior. He had been, however, a means to an end. There had been no reason for Gowsky not to believe what Kuro had told him about Tara. And Kuro had believed Gowsky when he’d said Tara was dead. He’d been so excited with the news that he hadn’t investigated to learn if it were true. Kuro would have unlimited power leading the clans. He’d been so close when he was younger, but Tara wouldn’t have him.

  The bitch! It wouldn’t have surprised him a bit if she’d spread her legs for Gowsky in order to stay alive. Then she’d plotted her escape. That’s what Tara did best – fucked men, then ran from them. She would not make a good leader of the Runners, he thought with bitter disgust.

  He searched through the Gothman, looking for Darius. The Gothman were whooping and hollering and faking punches as they downed Runner ale. Darius was still sitting on the bench with several men around him, including his little brother.

  Kuro pushed aggressively through the men and confronted Darius. “That’s Tara, isn’t it?”

  Kuro had bellowed the question, and Darius looked annoyed at the rudeness. The other Gothman pushed Kuro back and grumbled something about showing respect to the Lord of Gothman. He had no intentions of respecting this race of people who possessed an Oldworld mentality much longer.

  “She’s supposed to be dead. What’s going on here?” Kuro ignored the other Gothman and demanded an answer.

  “You know as well as I do that Gothman aren’t allowed to have anything to do with the Test of Wills.” Lord Darius showed no expression as he downed his cup of ale. “We’re just here to observe.”

  “No one can fight like that,” Kuro snarled. “Except maybe Tara.”

  Darius stared blankly, and Kuro was furious. “I haven’t seen her in five winters, and I can tell you without any doubt that is Tara. If you aren’t so sure, then maybe your claim isn’t as strong as you think. After all, you weren’t able to keep her here the first time.”

  Darius leapt from where he was sitting and struck Kuro with his body while in midair. The two tumbled down the stadium benches to the ground. Gothman hurried out of the way in all directions, clearing a path for their lord so he could fight.

  Kuro landed on his feet and stood inches from Darius’ face. The rage in Darius’ eyes was enough to make the largest of men back down. Kuro, however, stood tall and smiled.

  “I knew I could get a rise out of you, my friend,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt her, I promise.”

  Darius lifted Kuro by his coat and shoved him backward. Kuro stumbled a few feet before regaining his balance, and raised a fist at the lord. But Darius moved fast and grabbed Kuro’s fist with his gloved hand.

  Kuro stared hard at the handsome lord, whose face came within inches of his own. He hated the man for taking Tara, and despised him even more for somehow managing to bring her back. He wouldn’t let the hatred show. First he had to win the Test of Wills, only then would he put Lord of Gothman in his place.

  “Fight her like a man,” Lord Darius snarled, undaunted by the chivalrous smile. “She’ll take you down like one.”

  “Trust me, my lord. I know exactly what she’s capable of doing.” Kuro’s eyes gleamed. He yanked his hand free from Darius’ and straightened his clothing. He slowly walked away from the outraged lord.

  Patha announced the fights would continue, and the crowd pressed, again, against the arena. As Tara re-entered the arena and the crowd volume noticeably increased. Gothman and Runners pounded their boots on the wooden seats and hollered and yelled.

  Tara stood in the center of the ring, calm and unharmed from the previous fights, letting the crowd show their respect. These people would follow her unconditionally. Kuro would have to kill her.

  The next contestant entered the arena and Tara watched him, searching for any weaknesses he might possess as a warrior. He was a large man, standing head and shoulders over Tara. She recognized him as the one who had checked in when she had. He turned and held his hands over his head, causing the crowd to make even more noise.

  Tara realized he was drunk. With his back turned, she jumped in the air and kicked him hard in the small of his back.

  The crowd roared as he stumbled but did not fall.

  He turned and howled at her. “Why you little bitch!”

  Tara wasn’t able to move fast before the man lunged forward, grabbed her, and threw her as if she weighed nothing. The ropes stopped her from falling, but she found her torso twisted in them and took a second to gather her bearings and balance. Hands were all over her, and Tara got the sensation that part of the crowd tried pushing her in, while others tried pulling her out of the arena.

  Tara’s clothes were twisted, and she felt groped as she finally faced her aggressor. A true warrior didn’t always get to fight in the best of conditions.

  “You’re going to lose this one, little bitch,” Bordo sneered and lunged at her again.

  “And you’re going to learn some manners,” Tara hissed. She gathered her strength and jumped. Her legs went up, this time kicking him in the face. The heel of her boot hit him in the nose and blood splattered everywhere. It didn’t stop the brute. This time when he picked her up, he slammed her to the ground.

  Tara lay without moving. The large man stood over her breathing loudly, but she didn’t move. The crowd yelled for her to get up and finish him off, but still she just lay there. Reena’s hands went to her face, and she started to cry.

  “Don’t worry, woman. I taught her this,” Patha whispered.

  Reena slowly spread her fingers and peeked between them, unable to stop wat
ching her daughter in action. The large man approached Tara slowly. The noise from the crowd was deafening. Patha glanced around. Most didn’t know the Runner who was undefeated and facing a giant. Already his daughter had their loyalty. He beamed with pride, although he was also pissed. Once Tara survived her way through this, and he had a feeling she would, she would go a couple rounds with him. Patha watched the giant Runner finally stick a foot under Tara to turn her over. Patha would wait out the Test of Wills, his people were too wound up to stop the event now. But when it was over, Tara would face his wrath! She already had the title she was out there fighting to win.

  Tara moved so fast, most onlookers wailed their dismay when they missed what happened. She grabbed his foot, jumped up with lightning speed, and raised it high into the air, causing the man to fall on his back. Before he could move, she was on him.

  After several punches to his face, she wrapped her hands around his neck and twisted his head within fractions of the breaking point. Then she sat on him and waited. Each time he tried to move, she turned his head just a little farther.

  At last, the giant sobered enough to see his life was in her hands. He reached for the white cloth on his arm and threw it to the ground.

  She jumped off, and the crowd sounded ready to riot.

  The contestants that followed were all huge men. They hovered over her, and she made it look like a struggle to defeat each one of them. Each time, they lost, bloody and mad as hell. Tara remained unharmed.

  At last the moment she dreaded arrived. Kuro entered the ring.

  A hush fell around the arena as they saw the man predicted to win the Test of Wills stand before the undefeated woman.

  Unlike the other warriors, Kuro stood facing Tara and bowed.

  She stood undaunted and bowed in return. Then, to her surprise, he assumed the position of the ancient warriors: bent knees, straight back, arms bent with hands opened. He held the position until Tara matched the pose.

  The crowd grew silent. No one moved. Everyone sat on the edges of their seats.

  The Gothman were not familiar with this method of fighting, and most Runners had not studied it. Patha had taught Tara and Kuro the ancient fight when they were teenagers.

  Kuro knew this would be the final proof he needed to convince himself that this Runner indeed the first, and in fact, only love of his life. Love as he understood it, of course. Tara was worth the fight, because with her came the rule of all Runner clans. When he’d lost the first battle for her love, he’d spent winters plotting and scheming. It was round two with Tara. This time he’d win.

  Kuro began moving slowly around the arena, stepping lightly, and keeping his knees bent. He watched as the woman in front of him matched him move for move and not a peep came from the hundreds of onlookers. With speed quicker than the eye, Kuro darted toward her and chopped with his hand.

  She blocked the chop with her arm, spun and kicked him while jumping into the air. He took the blow and returned one of his own. They continued to match each other, blow for blow. The crowd cheered, then grew silent after each attack.

  Thirty minutes passed, and Tara had had enough of Kuro’s style. He was mocking her and the ancient method of fighting. She unleashed her power, raging at him with blow after blow, not allowing him a warrior’s courtesy of returning each blow.

  Kuro went on the defensive, eager to find an opportunity to return to the offensive. The fear of defeat rose inside him, and not ready to accept it, he lunged and wrapped his arms around her.

  She twisted, kicking and punching as he lifted her from the ground. She elbowed him hard in the ribs, causing instant pain throughout his body. He couldn’t breathe. She damaged his insides but Kuro wasn’t giving up. He knew how to defeat Tara.

  As he let her go, he ripped her headscarf from her face. Both Gothman and Runner alike howled as their suspicions were confirmed, or realization hit them. As suddenly as they had gasped their amazement, the masses quieted, wondering how a dead woman was standing before them.

  “What is this Test of Wills that you would have me fight a ghost?” Kuro turned and yelled to Patha. “No wonder she can defeat each warrior entering this arena. Will we let ourselves be ruled by a dead woman?”

  The crowd stirred, murmuring as unrest created an unsettling feeling in the air.

  Patha looked across the arena to Darius who returned his gaze. Neither wanted a riot to break out.

  Tara glanced from Patha to Darius and guessed their thoughts. It would take little to stir the crowd. She glared at Kuro who had turned away as he uttered his disrespectful outcries to Patha. She jumped up and kicked him hard in the square of the back.

  “Does that feel like the blow of a dead woman?” she screamed. The crowd roared with laughter as Kuro stumbled forward.

  Tara showed no mercy and kicked him again, and he fell. Once on the ground, she hit him so hard in the side, he was unable to rise. She jumped on him and pulled his head back by his hair.

  “Which part of me do you think is dead?” she said as she punched him on the side of the head. She threw his head to the ground and leaped to stand on his back. She jumped, landing on him so hard not an inch of breath was left in his lungs.

  “I’m not dead and have returned to the land and people I love.” She shook her head enjoying the cold breeze on her sweat-soaked face.

  The crowd cheered and slowly began to chant her name. “Tara! Tara!” The sound grew louder and louder. Gothman and Runner jumped to their feet and roared. “Tara! Tara!”

  Kuro appeared lifeless at her feet, and for a moment she wondered if he were dead. A doctor was escorted into the arena and soon called for a stretcher. With relief, Tara watched Kuro carried through the crowd.

  She now stood alone in the arena as the crowd continued to chant. She turned to Patha, who looked at her with a hardened look she knew well. He wasn’t happy to have been left in the dark. She clasped her hands in front of her and bowed low in respect.

  Patha stood and was assisted down the stairs by several attendants.

  Tara noticed how slowly he moved and hurried toward him as he entered the arena. He waved away the attendants and took Tara’s hand as she helped him move to the center of the arena.

  The crowd slowly sat and waited for the ruler of all clans to speak. Patha bent over and picked up her headscarf. As he reached to place it back on her head, she stopped his hand.

  “No,” she said loudly enough for all to hear. “I wear the clothes of the Runner to show the pride I have in my people. But, from this day forward, I will not cover my head so that I may honor my mama’s people, the Gothman.”

  The crowd gasped as they heard about her mixed heritage for the first time. “I stand before you as rightful heir and future leader of all Runner clans. I also stand before you as Lord Darius’ claim, the leader of Gothman.”

  Patha turned to Darius and raised his hand to salute and show respect to the Lord of Gothman.

  Escorted by his guards, Darius led a small procession into the arena.

  Patha took his hand and placed it in the hand of his daughter. He then turned and faced the crowd. “This day will be remembered for many winters to come. All of you have witnessed a great event in our history. We can tell our children and our grandchildren that we were present the day Runners and Gothman were truly united as one nation with two races that will never be defeated.”

  At this, the crowd stood and cheered loudly.

  Darius turned to Tara and pulled her close. “You were incredible,” he whispered.

  She smiled up at him. “Crator told me I’d be victorious.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  THE GUARDS encountered a major challenge creating a

  path through the crowds for Patha, Tara, and Darius. The leaders’ motorcycles were brought to them, and once they were on them and surrounded by even more guards, they were able to move through the crowd with more ease. They rode slowly down the main street toward their home. A lot of the crowd followed, cheering
their allegiance.

  The party would continue into the night. Tara and Darius planned on joining them after a private family reunion.

  Tara entered the house through the front door this time. She was nearly attacked by Reena and Hilda. Syra and Torgo were not too far behind. Hugs and kisses and tears followed. Then, of course, there were the twins.

  Tara collapsed to the floor and gathered her children into her arms. She felt immediate panic and dismay when the two did not respond as eagerly and, in fact, pulled away.

  “Don’t worry, child.” Reena patted her shoulder. “You did the same thing to me when I had an opportunity to see you at times when you were young. They’ll learn who you are once again. It won’t take you long to gain their love. Syra, be a good lass now and take them upstairs. Tara can come see them privately in a short while.”

  Syra reluctantly led the two toddlers by their hands and slowly climbed the stairs. “I miss out on everything,” she mumbled.

  “I can’t believe you’re alive!” Torgo exclaimed, and unceremoniously gave her a hug.

  He had grown a lot taller than Tara in the past six cycles. He was as skinny as he was tall, but his muscle structure indicated he would soon look just like his brother.

  “I couldn’t believe I was dead.” Tara laughed, feeling happier at that moment than she had in a long time.

  The boy stood next to his brother. “You were incredible today. I’ve never seen anyone fight like that before.”

  “It wasan incredible show,” Darius added.

  “More like unbelievable.” Tara faced her family, beaming from ear to ear.

  “Unbelievable is right.” Patha entered the room. “Leave us everyone. I wish to talk with Darius and Tara alone.” The tone in his voice was enough to clear the room.

  Patha stood in front of his daughter with his hands on his hips. “Absolutely unbelievable!” Patha walked to the other end of the room before turning and glaring at his daughter.