Tara The Great [Nuworld 2] (3 page)

Tasha had spoken with intentional cruelty, and her hatred could only spawn

trouble.

The woman must learn to respect Tara’s position and not throw disrespectful

comments in public.

“That’s enough!” Patha’s hands went to his hips.

Tara
ripped herself from Darius’ grasp and leaped toward her sister, only to have

him grab her arm and yank her back into his embrace.

“You have no idea what I’ve been through, you little bitch!” Tara snarled as Darius

literally carried her toward the bikes. “I’ll get you for this!”

Tasha looked briefly at the family she despised, tossed her head, turned on her

heels, and walked away.

Tara
could sense the feelings of the different family members, but she couldn’t read

her claim’s reaction to the emotional scene they’d just endured. His face was sober,

expressionless. As soon as they pulled into the yard, one of his personal assistants

approached him. All she could hear was something about a landlink program not

working, then they were lost in quiet conversation.

She remained by the shed for a few minutes, grabbing a rag and absently wiping

down her bike. She worked to mollify her rage. Bastard half-breed indeed! The words cut

deeply. She viewed her heritage as an advantage that had been augmented when the

Lord of Gothman had claimed her. Tasha had made it all sound so despicable.

“Evil has arrived, child.”

The voice caused Tara to jump.

It was an old, cracked, rough voice. A familiar voice.

Tara
couldn’t believe her ears. “I thought you were dead. I buried you.”

The words almost stuck in her throat as she stared at the old lady before her. Quite

short and hunched over, she looked up at Tara with glassy brown eyes. Her silver hair,

thick and coarse, wrapped around the top of her head in a braid. A long, tan dress made

from animal skin, hung askew as she leaned on a twisted stick.

She reached for Tara’s hand and touched her. “Focus, child, you must stop this.”

Her touch sent a warm, skin-crawling sensation through Tara, forcing a shiver.

“What are you saying?”

“It’s been done and cannot be reversed. You have to address it.” The old lady

removed her hand. “Now!”

Tara
glanced over toward Darius. He didn’t seem to be aware of the old lady’s

presence, which surprised Tara. He stood with his back to her, talking to his assistant,

and didn’t turn his attention toward Tara as the woman spoke.

“What am I suppose to address?” She glanced back, but the elderly sage was gone.

A large dog caught Tara’s eye as it ran across the field, disappearing behind distant

rocks.

Evil has come. That didn’t help much. The only evil she could think of at the moment

was her sister…her half-sister.

Tara
remained still, rag in hand, staring off into the distance. She still felt a tingling

sensation where the old lady had touched her hand.

Suddenly, Tara realized the rage had left her. Her head was clear, her thoughts

orderly.

Tara
jumped back on her bike and quickly drove toward the Blood Circle Clan site.

She didn’t look back to see if Darius followed, although she knew he would. Instead,

Tara
sent a silent prayer to Crator that she could act before her claim stopped her.

Chapter Three

The Blood Circle Clan buzzed with activity, and Tara used caution as she steered

her bike through the densely packed parked trailers and motorcycles. She looked for

Tasha, which wasn’t an easy task since she had no idea what kind of trailer her half-

sister might have or what kind of bike she rode.

Tara
moved through the camp, greeting people the way she’d originally planned.

Her comm beeped.

“Tara?” Darius’ baritone almost growled.

“Yes?”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m greeting my clan members.”

“Your papa told you to do that tonight, he did.”

“Darius, I’ve got to do this.” She cut communication at that point, not wishing to

hear any lectures on obedience. Spotting Balbo walking alongside several trailers, Tara

pulled up next to him.

“Tara, now this is a welcome sight.” Balbo opened his arms.

Tara
jumped off her bike to run into them. Her older step-brother had always been

there for her as she grew up. She longed to unload on him the insults Tasha had spoken.

As a child, he’d often comforted her after she and her sister fought. Tara knew Tasha

felt jealous. After all, Tasha’s mama had taken Tara and helped raise her. And it was

Tara
’s presence preventing Tasha from being heir. But Tara wasn’t a child anymore,

and her half-brother didn’t need the burden of her problems, so Tara held her tongue.

Besides, Balbo had always been a jovial man. Probably because he was not in line to

rule the clans, and thus didn’t concern himself with affairs of leadership. Tara never

wanted to change that trait in him. She could handle Tasha by herself.

“It’s so good to see you.” She smiled and let go of Balbo. “I think someone else

might be anxious to see you as well, not that she’d admit it.”

“Has she behaved herself?” Balbo seemed prepared to hear the worse.

“She’s been a great help.” Tara avoided the answer she knew Balbo dreaded

hearing. Over Balbo’s shoulder, a familiar figure approached. Tara stiffened, her heart

picking up pace while adrenaline rushed through her. Apparently noticing a change in

expression, Balbo turned to see what had caught her attention.

The figure disappeared between two trailers, and Tara looked back at Balbo.

“What was it?”

“Nothing. I’ll talk with you soon.” She gave him a quick hug and started walking

toward the spot where she’d just seen her sister.

As Tara walked between the two trailers, the sun disappeared behind one of them.

Cool air from the shade ran a chill through her. Children played at the other end of the

trailers. A sight pleasant enough, but for some reason an ominous sensation trickled

through her.

Tara
remembered the excitement of settling in and having an area she could call her

own for a while. She reached down to help steady a toddler that had taken off too fast.

Several feet away, an infant sat on the ground holding steadfast to the long hair of an

older child who wailed profusely in protest. Tara gently released the child’s hair from

the infant’s grasp. The child cried miserably and ran in the apparent direction of her

mama.

“Well now, is this fun?” Tara smiled and reached down to scoop up the infant. The

child reached for Tara’s necklace, a teardrop-shaped ruby with a silver circle around it.

The symbol of the Blood Circle Clan. A gift from Darius. “No, no,” she said gently and

held the child’s hand.

The baby boy looked up into her face, and Tara froze. He had blond curls and the

darkest gray eyes, identical to her own children. She stared at the child in disbelief. He

looked like Andru had at that age.

Two hands roughly ripped away the infant from her. “What are you doing?”

“I was…” Tara started, surprised, realizing the child had distracted her to the point

of not recognizing the voice. She stood up straight and the amiability left her as she

stared at her sister.

Tasha held the child too close to her chest and cuddled him, smiling wickedly.

Tara
was dumbfounded.

The little boy looked at Tasha, then at Tara. His chubby hand reached for Tara.

Tasha pulled it back, snuggling it with her own hand. “This is your Aunt Tara,” she

whispered to the baby although loud enough for Tara to hear. “You two have a lot in

common.” Again the wicked smile.

Remembered words stormed through Tara’s head: at least it’s reassuring to know how

far a bastard half-breed can make it in this world. An illegitimate child conceived of two

different races. She looked in horror at the child.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you speechless before,” Tasha spoke with a

venomous tongue. “Tigo is your nephew.” Her gaze appeared triumphant as she

added, “I’m sure you can tell by looking, he’s also your children’s half-brother. Many

thanks to that darling claim of yours.” A challenging, toothy grin crossed Tasha’s face.

Tara and Tasha stood in an open area. Several mamas watched as the two sisters

spoke. As Tasha uttered the bold words, one of the women, appearing to fear for Tigo’s

life, ran up to Tasha and grabbed the toddler.

Simultaneously, Tara swung out and struck her sister across the face with enough

drive to knock Tasha backwards. Although Tasha didn’t possess her sister’s warrior

skills, she’d held her own in a battle or two. Not to mention the uncountable times she’d

fought off an aggressor who had caught wind of her risqué reputation. She could take a

blow or two and even reciprocate.

Tasha stood several feet away from Tara and leered at her. “The truth hurts, doesn’t

it, big sis?”

“You’re lying,” Tara said, unconvincingly.

“You know I’m not.” Tasha laughed and rubbed her stinging cheek. “After your

claim took me, I almost died giving birth to that child. But I finally have one up on

you.”

“You’ll die for this.” Tara leapt through the air, striking her sister to the ground and

falling on top of her.

Accustomed to this kind of aggression, Tasha managed to free herself and jumped

to her feet. Tripping several times, she reached her bike, parked nearby. Within

seconds, the bike roared to life. “It’s all your fault, you know. You’re the one who left

him!” Tasha laughed loudly as she accelerated away.

* * * * *

Tara
jumped to her feet and raced back to her bike. Curious onlookers began to

increase in numbers, but in her rage she didn’t notice.

Balbo stood among the women and children watching as the heir to the Runner clan

zigzagged through the trailers. He pulled a comm out of his pocket and fastened it to

his ear. “Lord Darius.” He instructed the landlink as to the destination of his call. “Uh,

sir, this is Balbo.”