![All For One [Nuworld 3]](https://fs.ageofbook.com/451765/thumbs/152x264/all-for-one-nuworld-3.jpg)
Torgo to stay here and work on accessing the
Tree People’s transmission now that the programs to do so were properly installed.
56
All For One
“I’m ready to go.” Syra entered the room out of breath. She walked over to Tara
and straightened her headscarf. “I haven’t worn one of these for winters.”
“It’s been a while,” Tara said quietly. “Syra, what do you think? Are we doing the
right thing by meeting with these people?”
Darius watched the two women stare at each other for a moment.
“They’re not warriors like we are. I’m sure they’re just curious about us,” Syra said.
Darius frowned as he thought he saw a flicker of hesitation cross Syra’s face.
“Let’s go.” Darius turned and walked out of the room, turning to see the two
women stare at each other a moment longer as if trying to communicate something to
each other.
* * * * *
Gothman warriors in full military attire escorted the Tree People to the meeting
hall. The warriors then stood at attention along the outer walls of the room after the
Tree People were seated. Darius and Tara entered the room followed by Geeves and
Jolee. Syra entered behind them. They were accompanied by four Runner warriors who
remained at the entrance of the large hall—two on either side of the door.
“You impress us with your military brigade,” Sorg said, when Darius and Tara
were seated at the head of the long table. Gothman women moved around them,
pouring blood-red wine into clay mugs.
“Our intention is simply to honor your presence.” Darius raised his mug as he
spoke and sent his gaze down the table making sure not to make eye contact with any
of the piercing green eyes that attempted to capture his attention. “I would like to
officially welcome you to Bryton. Please drink.”
“What is this?” Sorg asked after taking a large mouthful of the wine.
“The lord honors you with a very old bottle of the best Gothman wine.” Tara
looked at Darius instead of Sorg.
“It is very old?” Sorg sounded surprised.
“The older it is, the more potent it is.” Tara looked Sorg’s way as she spoke but
focused on the mug he had balanced in midair.
“And what does more potent mean?”
At this question the Runners and Gothman laughed and Sorg looked sincerely
surprised.
“My new friend,” Darius spoke cheerfully. “If you drink too much of it you won’t
think or walk straight for the rest of the evening, you won’t.”
“It will make you drunk,” Tara added jovially.
“Why would you alter your thoughts?”
57
Lorie O’Clare
“Because Sorg, sometimes it’s fun.” Syra gazed fearlessly straight into his eyes. “But
there are other times when it would make someone who is trying to pull thoughts
unclear on the information they receive.”
Sorg sat back and crossed his arms staring at Syra. “I didn’t recognize you with
your Runner cloth over your head. You’ll please forgive me if I don’t remember your
name.” He dismissed Syra and turned back to Darius.
“Altering your thoughts would make me wonder if there is something you are
hiding from me.” Sorg sounded serious, but not threatening.
“On the contrary,” Darius said. “We can’t read your thoughts and so don’t wish
you to read our thoughts, no. However, for the record, I daresay there are plenty of
things I’m hiding from you.”
Sorg raised an eyebrow at the lord.
“A good ruler knows everything that goes on in his kingdom and never shares his
every thought with the rest of the nation—that would be bad leadership, it would.”
Sorg suddenly smiled and then laughed a surprisingly cheerful laugh.
“How right you are, Lord Darius, and I admire you for being so upfront about it.
Many people we’ve encountered are afraid to mention a trait we have no more control
over than your taking a
Tree People’s transmission now that the programs to do so were properly installed.
56
All For One
“I’m ready to go.” Syra entered the room out of breath. She walked over to Tara
and straightened her headscarf. “I haven’t worn one of these for winters.”
“It’s been a while,” Tara said quietly. “Syra, what do you think? Are we doing the
right thing by meeting with these people?”
Darius watched the two women stare at each other for a moment.
“They’re not warriors like we are. I’m sure they’re just curious about us,” Syra said.
Darius frowned as he thought he saw a flicker of hesitation cross Syra’s face.
“Let’s go.” Darius turned and walked out of the room, turning to see the two
women stare at each other a moment longer as if trying to communicate something to
each other.
* * * * *
Gothman warriors in full military attire escorted the Tree People to the meeting
hall. The warriors then stood at attention along the outer walls of the room after the
Tree People were seated. Darius and Tara entered the room followed by Geeves and
Jolee. Syra entered behind them. They were accompanied by four Runner warriors who
remained at the entrance of the large hall—two on either side of the door.
“You impress us with your military brigade,” Sorg said, when Darius and Tara
were seated at the head of the long table. Gothman women moved around them,
pouring blood-red wine into clay mugs.
“Our intention is simply to honor your presence.” Darius raised his mug as he
spoke and sent his gaze down the table making sure not to make eye contact with any
of the piercing green eyes that attempted to capture his attention. “I would like to
officially welcome you to Bryton. Please drink.”
“What is this?” Sorg asked after taking a large mouthful of the wine.
“The lord honors you with a very old bottle of the best Gothman wine.” Tara
looked at Darius instead of Sorg.
“It is very old?” Sorg sounded surprised.
“The older it is, the more potent it is.” Tara looked Sorg’s way as she spoke but
focused on the mug he had balanced in midair.
“And what does more potent mean?”
At this question the Runners and Gothman laughed and Sorg looked sincerely
surprised.
“My new friend,” Darius spoke cheerfully. “If you drink too much of it you won’t
think or walk straight for the rest of the evening, you won’t.”
“It will make you drunk,” Tara added jovially.
“Why would you alter your thoughts?”
57
Lorie O’Clare
“Because Sorg, sometimes it’s fun.” Syra gazed fearlessly straight into his eyes. “But
there are other times when it would make someone who is trying to pull thoughts
unclear on the information they receive.”
Sorg sat back and crossed his arms staring at Syra. “I didn’t recognize you with
your Runner cloth over your head. You’ll please forgive me if I don’t remember your
name.” He dismissed Syra and turned back to Darius.
“Altering your thoughts would make me wonder if there is something you are
hiding from me.” Sorg sounded serious, but not threatening.
“On the contrary,” Darius said. “We can’t read your thoughts and so don’t wish
you to read our thoughts, no. However, for the record, I daresay there are plenty of
things I’m hiding from you.”
Sorg raised an eyebrow at the lord.
“A good ruler knows everything that goes on in his kingdom and never shares his
every thought with the rest of the nation—that would be bad leadership, it would.”
Sorg suddenly smiled and then laughed a surprisingly cheerful laugh.
“How right you are, Lord Darius, and I admire you for being so upfront about it.
Many people we’ve encountered are afraid to mention a trait we have no more control
over than your taking a
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