Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (36 page)

them.

“That’s a good idea. We could go over the route we plan to take up there and how

we’ll split up the troops,” he suggested as he looked from Gilroy to Ana but not at

Meah.

“I’ll do whatever you say, of course.” Meah only looked at Ana and pulled off her

comm as she spoke. “But I usually go to the Crator temple around this time.”

Ana hesitated, remembering that she wasn’t in charge here and very aware of

Gilroy watching her. She knew Gilroy and Andru had devised some plan concerning

Meah and they could be relentless when they set their minds to accomplishing some

task.

“Go to the temple.” Andru looked directly at her. “Then meet us at Gilroy’s house

in a couple of hours.”

Meah simply nodded and smiled pleasantly enough at Ana before taking off

toward the clan site. Ana watched her go then turned to face the two men.

“She hates your guts,” she said rather bluntly.

Gilroy snorted and then punched Andru in the arm. “Makes for quite a challenge,

huh, my friend?”

Andru glared at him but then let his gaze shift toward the glider that was almost

out of sight. “I’m not sure her hatred is reversible.”

“You can hardly blame her,” Ana said without thinking and then saw the animosity

her brother threw in her direction. She held her ground. “There is nothing you could

say to me that would make me understand why you felt a need to treat her, or any

woman, that way.”

“Head home to your son, Gilroy,” Andru said without taking his eyes off Ana.

“Your claim will be there shortly.”

Gilroy almost looked like he would protest but then thought better of it. He strode

off toward his glider without a word to either of them.

“Get off your glider.” Andru dismounted his own.

“I’m not in the mood for your bullying, dear brother.” But Ana found herself

obeying his command.

“Walk with me.” He put his hand on the back of her neck to guide her and they

walked into the nearby wooded area for some privacy. When he obviously felt they

were out of view from any of his soldiers he turned her around to face him. “I sure hope

you don’t speak like that around Meah.”

“Like what?”

“The way you just did…saying words that would fuel her hatred for me.”

“I meant what I said. What you did to that poor girl was despicable and I do

understand her hatred for you but no, I don’t say anything around her other than to

encourage her to find room in her heart to forgive you. She’s actually trying, I think.

That’s probably why she went to the Crator temple.”

“I’m going to tell you something but you must swear to me that you won’t repeat it

to anyone until I say you can.” Andru ran his fingers through her hair then wrapped his

arm around her neck and began walking aimlessly through the trees as he continued to

talk. “Meah is pregnant and it has been confirmed that she carries my child.” Ana

stopped suddenly and turned to say something but he simply put a finger to her lips to

silence her and continued with his speech. “She doesn’t know that I know. Dr. Digo told

me. I don’t think that she’s talked to anyone about it yet.”

“Andru, she is so young.” Ana managed to speak this time. “What are you going to

do about it?”

“Claim her.” Andru looked straight ahead as he spoke and Ana could feel his

emotions in turmoil but couldn’t narrow in on any of them.

“What if she won’t let you?”

“It’s already done. I’ve talked to Papa and Mama and I’ve contacted her brother,

Mog. He was actually quite delighted.”

“I’m sure,” Ana said quietly.

“It is the right thing to do.” Andru stopped now and held Ana’s arms as she faced

him.

“I just wish it didn’t have to be this way for you. She doesn’t love you—hell, she

doesn’t even like you. And I wouldn’t put it past her to run if she finds out that you’ve

claimed her behind her back,” she whispered and he knew she meant it.

“Ana, if I could reverse what I’ve done I would, but I can’t. I must live with it. We

must all live with it. You must help her to see that I can be a nice person. If I could

protect you, protect you and Meah, from seeing all the atrocities a leader must incur at

times…” He sighed and pulled her into his arms.

“It’s hard for me to imagine you being so cruel.” She shivered at the thought of it

even though Andru’s body pressed against hers made her feel anything but cold.

“Then don’t. I will do my best to see to it that neither one of you ever knows of such

cruel acts again.” He pulled away so he could see her face and she attempted a smile.

“Go home now. Take care of our son.”

“Kiss me,” she whispered, and he did.

* * * * *

Meah enjoyed the quiet tranquility of the large tent that served as the Crator

temple. Although there were no windows to offer light, enough candles were lit that

she could see easily. Many pillows were thrown on the ground and she kneeled on one

of them and studied the small wooden altar that housed the large Crator book she knew

had been brought up from the Neurian nation many winters ago.

She’d read all of the translations from that book and worked hard to live by every

rule issued. She could think of no rule that would help her now. How could she forgive

such a cruelty? The man hadn’t even made an attempt to ask for forgiveness. Not that

she expected him to—that didn’t seem to be part of his nature. So she came here to pray

as often as she could and beg Crator to help her understand how someone that He’d

chosen to work through could have harmed her so unceremoniously. She had no

answers.

She held herself straight, kept her eyes closed as tightly as she could and let the

tears fall willingly as she prayed for understanding and knowledge as to what to do

now that she was pregnant. Someone entered behind her and she forced her prayers to

a deeper part of her mind in an attempt to not be distracted by someone else’s presence.

After almost an hour, she could no longer ignore the growls of her empty stomach and

the reality that her legs had fallen asleep. She thanked Crator, knowing He would guide

her, and slowly started to rise. Her legs briefly didn’t want to hold her and she moved

slowly. A gentle hand on her back helped brace her and she jumped from the touch.

“I didn’t know that you were behind me.” Meah forced herself to remain calm as

she stared into Andru’s dark gray eyes.

“You were pretty intent on your prayers.” His tone sounded so reverent that she

felt some of the iciness she felt for him melt against her will. He stood as well and then

moved around her toward the altar. She made no attempt to move, hoping he would do

nothing to defile the temple. “Have you ever seen the original book of the words of

Crator?”

“I’ve memorized the words from transmissions but I can’t say I’ve ever seen the

actual pages.”

Andru gestured for her to come to him and she licked her lips nervously as she

approached. He was so much larger than she was and she found herself studying the

veins that twisted around well-developed muscles in his arms. Quickly, she averted her

attention to the glass dome that protected the ancient bound papers. When he lifted the

dome she gasped, not believing he would allow her to examine the book so closely.

He turned to her and smiled. “It’s an incredible book.” She watched him lift it from

its sanctuary and then sit down on one of the pillows, setting the book in his lap. He

patted the pillow next to him, and she hesitated. He watched her but said nothing, his

face quite calm, as if he were patiently willing to ride out her fears. The desire to see the

book firsthand allowed her to push all other thoughts out of her head and she moved to

sit next to him. He moved the book so that it rested between them, half of it on his knee

and half of it on hers. She forgot quickly how close he was, or that it was even him

sitting next to her, as her eyes fell on the ancient print and the faded pictures that were

painted on each page.

“Look, it’s the story of the beginning of Oldworld.” She pointed to one of the

pictures and then boldly reached to turn the page. The faded illustrations enchanted her

as she recognized scenes that accompanied the stories she’d memorized. “Here are the

stories of the wars. They were always my saving grace growing up in such a small

clan.” She laughed. “So many times, Crator helps the small army defeat incredible

odds.”

“If faith is strong enough, anything can be overcome.” He spoke so soothingly that

she couldn’t help look up at him. It was then she remembered that it was Andru she sat

next to and quickly she rose to her feet.

“Thank you for showing it to me.” She backed away but didn’t take her eyes from

him. “I’m really hungry.”

Andru stood and put the book back in its glass sanctuary and she took that

opportunity to leave the temple. Heavy steps sounded behind her and his hand rested

on her shoulder. Meah jumped away from him, then looked around her nervously. It

was almost dark, and she saw no one nearby. He didn’t take his hand from her

shoulder but instead ran his fingers down her arm and then took her hand in his.

“Don’t fear me, Meah. I can’t change the past but I will say I regret it.” His

expression was so relaxed she almost didn’t recognize him as the warrior she’d grown

to know over that last cycle. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

A tear welled up in her eye and he reached to catch it before it could fall down her

cheek.

“I need to go.” And she took her hand from his and turned to walk quickly through

the darkness toward her trailer.

Chapter Twenty-One

Another cycle flew by as maneuvers were memorized, routes were programmed

into the landlinks, and soldiers were prepared for battle. Andru and Gilroy spent the

evening before they left at the local tavern building moral among the men.

“Will you be going with us, Beel?” Andru asked his half-brother, who sat with one

of the women from the brothel.

“No, I think not. Someone needs to stay and protect all our womenfolk.” Beel

buried his face in the woman’s large breasts and she threw her head back and laughed

as she moved around on his lap.

“Protection ain’t what he’ll be offering our womenfolk,” one of the soldiers hooted