The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] (46 page)

Male moved into her kitchen area and pulled a ceramic pitcher out of the small cooler in the wall. Handing a chilled lemon drink to Tara, she sat in the one chair at the kitchen table. She gestured with her cup to the matching chairs. “Sit. Be at home.” She smiled and loosened her head cloth, revealing dark curls. “I hear you have no landlink. And that you’ve come all the way from Southland. Where are you going?”

“North, for the test,” Tara lied.

“What were you doing in Southland? My papa will probably report you, you know.”

“Report me, why?”

“Why? Because it’s forbidden, that’s why.”

Tara wasn’t sure what to say. What was forbidden? Male saw the confused look in her eyes and squinted at her. “How long have you been without a landlink? You do know Runners are forbidden to enter Southland, don’t you? Patha of the Blood Circle Clan passed the law himself. That’s why we’re having the Test of Wills. His daughter died down there.”

So Patha was alive. At least, it sounded like he was. If he had officially announced her death, she guessed her login number would be detached from the system. She would need a new number in order to access a landlink, any landlink. How would she explain no login number without revealing who she was?

“Would you like to contact your family?” Male asked.

“Would it be all right if I took a shower first?”

Male jumped up and walked down the six-foot hallway, opening the first door and turning on the light. She entered her room and returned immediately with a thick cotton towel.

The shower felt good. Afterward, Tara decided to walk around the camp. As she approached the main fire, she saw ten to fifteen Runners surrounding it, sipping ale and chatting among themselves. A large woman dipped wooden mugs into a barrel and handed them out. Tara slipped in inconspicuously and accepted the mug of ale offered to her.

She tried to remember the last time she’d enjoyed this Runner tradition. Gatherings around the evening fire at the end of a day, listening to the old Runners tell their tales of victories and places traveled—these were good memories. She recalled hearing the news from travelers of other clans, enjoying the screams and chatters of the younger children as they ran and played on the outer edge of the circle. These were the parts of her childhood of which she was most fond. This clan made her feel right at home.

The stories she heard that night shocked her. It was Rolko, himself, who explained the latest conflicts between the Gothman and Runners. Lord Darius wanted to be part of the judging for the Test of Wills. Rumors also circulated that several Gothman wanted to partake in the test. Many Runners had complained loudly to Patha. The test was for Runners only. Rolko felt safe in assuming that Patha would not allow Gothman participation.

Tara wanted to say this was true. She knew her papa, and he would want a Runner to succeed him. They had an alliance with Gothman, but she knew he wasn’t ready to integrate the two nations that quickly. Chaos would result if they did.

Tara was called upon to tell her stories of Southland. She found herself telling the Runners about Crator. She explained that the Southerners believed that Crator made the planet and all races on it. She told the myth of the Guardians, saying that they brought messages to the people from Crator and could take the form of animals. The Runners loved her stories and applauded as they refilled her mug.

She sat at the fire well into the evening, sipping the ale and catching up on the tales of the Runners. She felt relaxed, at peace and very much at home as she walked slowly back to the trailer later that evening. In a few days, she would have her children in her arms again. Then there was Darius. Would she make peace with him? She wondered once again if he’d found another woman. What would she do if he had? Probably kill her. Tara giggled to herself and realized the ale had hit her.

Tara knew no other woman would be able to prevent her from returning to her life. She hadn’t asked to be gone for six cycles, and she never intended to be separated from Andru and Ana. It tore into her like a jagged warrior’s knife that her children might not recognize her. Every time she thought of how the twins might react to her, she filled with trepidation.

Male was working at the landlink when Tara slowly pulled open the door to the trailer. “Did you catch up on all the latest gossip?” Male didn’t turn around as Tara entered.

“It was great to sit at a fire once again and hear all the stories.” Tara sat in one of the stuffed chairs and glanced at the monitor.

She leaned forward as she realized Male had logged onto the Blood Circle Clan site. Tara quickly scanned the screen, trying to see what the clan was broadcasting. She tried to sound nonchalant as she looked over Male’s shoulder. “What are you looking for?”

“I’m going to submit the written part of the Test of Wills.” Male glanced up at Tara and smiled meekly. “I don’t expect to win or anything. Papa thinks it would be good experience. You’d have to understand what it’s like to be the daughter of the clan leader, I guess.”

Trust me, I do understand.
“Why don’t you print one off for me too?” she said instead. “There’s no harm in trying, right?”

“Sure, as long as we don’t get killed in the confrontation part.” Male groaned. “I can handle the first part of the test, I think. But, I don’t know about the second portion. Papa has never been too satisfied with my warrior skills.”

“Maybe I could help you.”

“If you want to take the time. It couldn’t hurt.”

Male printed two ten-page tests and handed one to Tara. She clicked through the information on the Blood Circle Clan and stopped on an article with a large color picture of Darius.

Tara’s heart skipped a beat.

“Isn’t he handsome?” Male leaned back and breathed deeply. “I hear he’s an incredible warrior. He was able to defeat Patha’s daughter, Tara.”

“When did he do that?” Tara asked the question without thinking.

Male turned to stare. “I guess not everyone follows this news as closely as I do. That’s how he claimed her as his wife. She couldn’t tame him, though. So she left.”

Tara couldn’t help smiling and had to stifle an uncontrollable giggle that climbed within her. “Has he found another woman?”

“No. I hope to see him in person when we arrive at the Blood Circle Clan,” Male said. “I wonder if he’s as good-looking in person.”

Tara wanted to say that he was much more handsome. She gazed at the picture of Darius on the monitor. Her body warmed as she studied the blond curls and deep gray eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she missed him until that moment.

She wondered if she could trust him again. But then, only Darius could answer that. He would have to show her, through his actions, that he could be trusted. And that would take time. Tara’s heart told her that now, she would offer him that time.

She smirked. Darius definitely had his work cut out for him, if in fact, he still wanted her to be his claim.

At least now she knew she wouldn’t have to kill anyone.

Chapter Twenty

The sunshine seemed a little too bright the next morning as Tara wiped down her bike and prepared for the day’s journey. She had declined breakfast, but eagerly worked on her second cup of coffee. The camp was dismantled, and everyone appeared ready to leave.

“It’s just occurred to me that I don’t know your name.”

Tara looked up to see Rolko speaking to her as he and two other Runners approached. “Good morning.” She tried to sound polite as her mind raced for a response. “I’m Leetha,” she decided quickly.

“Leetha, we’ve brought a landlink for your bike.” He gestured to one of the men with him, and he produced a small flat black panel. “Which clan are you from?”

“The Blood Circle Clan.”

“Well, we really are taking you home, aren’t we?” He smiled, but the look in his eye let her know he had more to say.

She stood silently, showing her respect.

“You violated our law by entering Southland, Leetha. Male has told me you plan to enter the Test of Wills. I can’t permit you to do that. I’ll turn my report into Patha and make him aware of your violation. You’ll have to approach him personally to argue your case once we arrive at our destination, before your entry can be accepted. I’m sure you’re aware of the laws.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for the landlink, sir.” Tara stood perfectly still until the men were finished with her bike and had left her. Her heart sank. The only way she could enter the Test of Wills now was by using her own login number. Furthermore, she knew the second Patha received a transmission saying a Runner named Leetha—from
his
clan—had just come over the border, her cover would be blown.

There was no Leetha in the Blood Circle Clan that she knew of. She could only hope Patha wouldn’t review the reports from the clans right away. After all, there was a lot going on to distract him.

Somehow she needed to remain undetected until the Test began. She knew she could prove herself in battle. In fact, unlike Male, she looked forward to that part of the test.

Everything was ready to go. Tara tested her landlink, and the travel plan for the day appeared on the small screen. They were scheduled to arrive at the Blood Circle Clan that evening! This was perfect. Arriving in the dark could only be to her advantage.

She shut down the landlink and quietly entered Male’s trailer. Tara already knew the young girl was not there. She’d taken off earlier to help some of the mamas organize their children for the day. It was a job that had often been assigned to Tara when she was that age. Male would be gone for a while.

She sat down at the landlink and took a deep breath. This would either work or it wouldn’t. She held up her fingers, hesitated for a second, and then typed in her login number. The landlink buzzed quietly, and the proper lights lit up accordingly. She waited for what seemed like an eternity.
Come on…come on.
Male wouldn’t be gone forever. Tara wanted to submit the answers to the written test before she was discovered. She couldn’t remember the last time a landlink moved so slowly.

At last, the picture on the monitor flashed and the selection screen appeared. It worked! Her logon number hadn’t been deleted. She realized that meant she’d not yet officially been determined dead. Why then, were they conducting the Test of Wills? She had no time to ponder this mystery but instead selected a blank page and began answering the questions that Male had printed.

She was familiar with the test but still read over each question carefully. Because the leader of the clans would have to know all the laws of the Runners very well, each test question asked about a particular one. Also required was the origination of laws, which one best suited a particular situation, and how she would interpret several selected laws. Tara typed quickly yet answered each question thoroughly.

After Patha reviewed the tests, he would name those who could compete in the Confrontation. This part of the Test was no longer a fight to the death. That law had been changed over one hundred winters ago because too many good warriors had been killed. The fight would last until the surrender of one of the competitors. Nevertheless, this still resulted in a fight to the death all too often, at least according to the stories. There’d never been a Test of Wills called as long as Tara had been alive.

Her fingers ached, and her back was sore. Over an hour passed. Tara clicked on submit and leaned back in the chair.

It was done.

Whether this would cut her throat or lead her to victory was undetermined. Tara knew if the test with her logon number was identified before she got to Gothman, Runners she didn’t know would arrest her, and she would be delayed. But if she could get into Gothman before her test submission was discovered, she could speak to Patha, convince him of her need for the test to continue, even though, strictly speaking, it was unnecessary. Indeed, she could imagine Patha’s outrage that she’d enter the Test of Wills instead of simply acknowledging she’d returned.

She stared at the blank monitor for a minute, wondering who would first notice a written test had been submitted on her logon number. Would they assume it was fraud, or would they suspect it was her?

Tara smiled to herself. Could she actually win the Test of Wills and be heir to Patha twice over? If so, she would rule the clans completely. Her authority would be unquestioned. And then there was Darius. She
wanted
him to see her earn her way to victory, conquering each hurdle every step of the way.

The winner of the Test of Wills wore the title of Head Warrior. It was the highest honor a Runner could receive and always fell upon the ruler of a clan. Not as many women won as men did, but Tara knew she hadn’t lost a competition in—winters. She could not think of any warrior she couldn’t defeat. And if Darius could witness her taking the title of Head Warrior, he, as well as all of Gothman, would see that a person’s sex had nothing to do with what skills they possessed. Taking the title would be one more step toward earning the respect Tara needed from Darius, and from his people.

Her heart ached and her blood warmed as she thought of battle. Her pregnancy might have stopped her from participating in the last war, but nothing would stop her from using her warrior skills for the test. She was free to soar to her highest potential.

Who would the other contenders be? Would they be allowed to use weapons on a field, or would it be in an arena with hand-to-hand combat? How many finalists would there be? Tara had studied a few Tests of Wills during her childhood, and knew the leader of Runners had complete control over how the test would be conducted. Tara couldn’t help but hope for an arena. More people could witness the victory.