All For One [Nuworld 3] (36 page)

“Why?”

“Because he asked that I send you to him. Andru, he didn’t do anything wrong and

he’s locked up like a criminal. I stood by the jail earlier today and told him in my

thoughts that I wanted to help him get out of there but I didn’t know how. Then, the

strangest thing happened. He put a thought in my head. I could hear his voice, plain as

day, telling me to send you to him.”

“He put a thought in your head?” Andru frowned.

Ana nodded. “Please, you’ve got to help him.”

“Will you run off with him again?” Her brother was still frowning.

Ana studied him for a moment and then looked at the ground. “I won’t do anything

you don’t want me to do.”

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Chapter Nineteen

“I didn’t realize you were still here,” Darius said as he entered the landlink room.

Torgo glanced up distractedly but then returned to his work. “It’s a good thing. We

need to talk, we do.”

“What is it?” Torgo again glanced at his brother then switched screens on his

monitor.

“Have you been home recently?”

A look of frustration crossed Torgo’s face as he swiveled his chair toward Darius. “I

haven’t been home since we got back from the Tree People nation, no,” he said flatly.

“Rayla is back. She came home yesterday with the children, she did.”

Torgo’s expression remained blank.

“I had a message sent to her while she was at her parents’, I did. I told her the claim

would be challenged because there was evidence she encouraged the claim under false

pretenses and that her first-born child in fact wasn’t yours.” Darius paused, but still his

brother showed no reaction to what he said. “Torgo, she’s disputing the challenge, she

is. She claims the boy is yours…and, since the alleged papa is dead.” Darius sighed. “It

might be hard to prove otherwise, yes.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Torgo turned and looked back at the landlink.

“What will you do with the children if you kill her?” Darius leaned against the

doorjamb and watched his brother for some kind of reaction.

“I’ll raise them. They’re mine, right?” He waved his hand at his brother without

looking up. “Don’t think such drastic thoughts, no. That may be your way out of a

problem—to kill someone—but we both know that method can backfire and come back

to haunt you, we do.”

Darius walked across the room, shutting the door behind him. He sat down on the

corner of the desk and looked down at his brother. “Speaking of which, how is our little

charge doing?”

Torgo leaned back in his chair and shot his brother a disturbed glance. “Our little

charge? He’s your son, not mine, he is. And if you must know, he’s missing.”

“He’s what?” Darius yelled, and then quickly lowered his voice. “How long has he

been missing?”

“Since this afternoon.”

“And when were you planning on telling me?”

“Just now…as soon as you finished talking. The little rascal simply disappeared

into thin air, he did. No one has seen him anywhere. Our guards have been discreet, but

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your family was out at the clan site today and if they’d seen him, trust me, we would

have heard about it, we would.” Torgo looked up and Darius watched his expression

soften. “You care about him, don’t you?”

“He’s my son.” Darius shrugged. “And he looks so much like Andru, he does. I

daresay the fact that no one can find him sends a surge of pride through me. But I do

what I do for Tara, yes. His coming to be was such an awful mistake, and it took Tara a

long time to forgive me for it. I don’t want it all brought up again, no. Are the guards

still looking for him?”

Just then, the door opened slowly and Tara entered and closed it behind her. Darius

and Torgo stared at her, and she glared at both of them without saying a word. When

her gaze met Darius’ he saw the fire in her eyes.

“You were standing outside the door listening, weren’t you?” Darius accused her.

“It wasn’t that hard to hear,” she said coldly. “You brought that child back here and

tried to hide him from me, didn’t you?” She walked over and poked Darius in the chest.

“And now the little bastard is wandering the countryside while the two of you sit here

and talk about fatherly pride. Well, I tell you what, my Lord,” she said sarcastically.

“You find that child before the night is out and get rid of him.” Her voice became a

whisper and she moved within inches of Darius’ face. “Because, if you don’t, I’ll go find

him myself. And I promise you, if I find him, I won’t bring him back alive.”

Darius opened his mouth to respond but Tara turned and stormed out of the room.

On the other side of the landlink wall, lying on the floor of a closet, Beel stared

wide-eyed into the darkness as he listened to the adults’ conversation.

* * * * *

Andru hadn’t planned on spending his evening at the clan site. Gilroy had waited

for him but Andru decided he had matters to deal with and questions that needed

answering. He landed in the dark field surrounded by large tents and trailers. The

nomadic people didn’t create permanent homes, and he knew the clan would leave

come spring to see new places. He donned Runner clothing and walked confidently up

to Syra and Balbo’s trailer.

“Andru, what a surprise. Come on in, boy. We were just sitting down to some hot,

spiced Gothman tea. Would you join us?” Balbo stood to the side, and Andru entered

amiably. The middle-aged man was actually his mama’s stepbrother. He viewed the

man as family, even though he didn’t see him that often.

“That would be nice. There is a bit of a chill out there.” Andru pulled the Runner

headscarf off and tossed it on the counter. Syra sat sideways in one of the living room

chairs. Her long legs hung lazily off one of the sides. She looked warily at Andru.

“I can’t remember ever seeing you in Runner clothing before,” Syra said.

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Balbo handed him a steaming cup and Andru sat down across from Syra. He gave

her the same wary gaze, then shrugged. “I am half Runner.”

“That’s right, you are.” Balbo smiled and sat down to join the young people. “So

what brings you to our home?”

“Actually, sir, I came to see Syra.”

Balbo looked curiously at his daughter who looked curiously at Andru. The best

thing to do was stick to Runner custom, Andru thought. “But first tell me of the goings-

on of your clan.”

Andru half-listened as Balbo relayed the current events within the Blood Circle

Clan. He made appropriate comments as needed until Balbo sighed finally.

“Well, I’ll let you two have your talk.” The older man stood, and then kissed his

daughter on the forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning, sweetheart.”

Syra watched her papa walk down the hallway and disappear into the last door.

When the door had closed securely, she turned and gave Andru her attention.

“Who is the boy that you brought back from the Tree People?” Andru didn’t waste

words.

Syra leaned forward and rested her arms on her legs. She stared intently at Andru.

“What do you know about him?” Syra wasn’t going to offer the answers easily.

“Not everything, which I intend to find out from you.” Andru hoped he sounded

firm, like his papa. She didn’t have the respect for him that she had for his papa, but he

hoped if he sounded determined, he could convince her to share what she knew. “He

approached Ana and me today and told us how he came to be here. He then said he’s

been locked up like a criminal, which he didn’t much care for and managed to escape.

He’s asked for my help, Syra. I see no reason not to help him.”

Syra didn’t look at him, but stared blankly across the room. Andru stopped talking

and watched her until she gave him her attention.

“Who is he, Syra?”

“Andru, I can’t answer that question,” she said finally.

“Who can?” Andru stood and walked over to look out the small window. When she

didn’t answer, he turned to face her. “He’s related to me, isn’t he?”

Again no answer.

“Syra, I’m not leaving until you answer my questions.”

“Don’t put me in this position, Andru.” Syra leaned back and put her hands behind

her head.

“You brought Beel back here. You had to have done it for a reason,” Andru argued.

“Will Torgo answer my questions?”

“I don’t know.”

Andru pulled a comm out of his shirt pocket and wrapped it around his ear.

“Andru, I don’t think you should—”

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“Uncle Torgo.” Andru ignored her. “I need to ask you some questions.”

“Andru, he can’t—”

Andru silenced her by raising his hand.

“No, I need you to come to me. It’s very important. I’m at Syra’s.” Andru removed

the comm and looked at Syra triumphantly. “He’ll be here within minutes.”

Syra jumped up and went into the kitchen to make more tea. Andru saw how

nervous she was but made no attempt to calm her nerves. Once, he would have jumped

at her command. Syra had helped raised him since he and his sister were infants. But

now she had no rank.

Inevitably, she would be his uncle’s mistress. He would always respect her, he

knew that, no matter what title she ended up with. She was daring like his sister but

needed guidance. He wouldn’t say like all women, he knew that much not to be true.

His mama didn’t need guidance.

A solid knock on the door made Syra jump. Andru turned and opened it to allow

Torgo to enter the trailer. His uncle glared at him, but his gaze softened drastically

when he made eye contact with Syra.

“What’s this all about?” Torgo placed his hands on his hips and confronted Andru.

“Who is the boy that you and Syra brought back here?” Andru worked to match his

uncle’s stance.