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breath of air.”
“Gothman do not hide behind facts, no.”
“I have a feeling Gothman don’t hide behind anything.” Sorg sniffed at the blood-
colored liquid in his mug, and took a cautious sip.
“How right you are, yes. Now, let’s eat.” Darius downed the rest of his wine and
then placed the mug on the table with a thud.
He snapped his finger and instantly five Gothman women brought plates full of
steaming food to the table. There was roasted pig and fresh broiled fish, new potatoes
and baby onions, sweet potatoes in cinnamon sauce coated with brown sugar, fresh
garden vegetables with a creamy garlic sauce and a variety of fresh pies offered at the
end of the meal.
Tara readjusted her headscarf, not remembering the last time she’d eaten so much.
She would have been more than willing to walk home just to work some of the food off
before sleeping.
Small talk occurred among the three races sitting at the table while the dishes were
cleared. Jolee asked about rank and social order in their communities, and Tara found it
interesting that the Tree People strongly resembled the Gothman. She’d had her
suspicions when she saw no women at their camp. Females ran the household while
males worked to support their families and held positions in their government. They
had more rank in the community if they had a man, but could remain unmarried if they
wished. However, in order to remain single, they had to be a virgin.
She didn’t comment on that one. She didn’t imagine there were many adult virgins
among the Runners or Gothman.
58
All For One
Syra didn’t say much, and Tara couldn’t help but notice that Sorg continually
glanced at her. She wondered what Syra meant by only knowing Sorg casually. And
he’d commented that he couldn’t remember her name. She thought that was rather rude
for him to say in front of everyone, but then it dawned on her that he might be trying to
make a point that only Syra would hear—something like, you’re no longer important to
me.
The Tree People enjoyed the wine and by the end of the evening they were
laughing loudly and quite jovial with their hosts. Darius rose to leave after dessert and
gently helped Tara from her chair. He smiled as she glared at him. Both Syra and Sorg
watched curiously as he helped slide the chair from the table and then took Tara’s hand
as she stood. She kept her eyes locked on Darius’, partially so he could see her
annoyance and partially so Sorg couldn’t detect her reaction.
“My men will escort you back to your campsite at your convenience, they will.”
Darius spoke to Sorg as Syra, Jolee and Geeves stood to leave.
“And will they continue to surround our camp during the night?” Sorg stood up
carefully and Tara looked down quickly to conceal a smile. Sorg was drunk and would
learn about another thought-altering sensation in the morning.
“It’s for your protection, it is,” Darius said simply, and turned to escort his claim
out of the building.
“Where are you going?” He directed the question to Syra when they’d reached their
gliders.
“I’m going to my father’s trailer.”
“No, you’re not. Follow us back to the house, you will.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a direct order. Tara noticed Syra was ready to protest
but for whatever reason she shrugged and climbed onto her glider.
Darius dismissed Geeves before they entered the house. When he attempted to
dismiss Jolee, she simply stood there looking at Tara with a raised eyebrow.
“We’ll talk in the morning,” Tara said. She knew as well as Jolee that Darius had
something on his mind. She was sure Jolee was as curious as she was but Jolee simply
nodded and got back on her glider.
“Why did you lie to me?” Darius barked the question as soon as the three of them
were in the privacy of their living room.
Syra ripped off her
“Gothman do not hide behind facts, no.”
“I have a feeling Gothman don’t hide behind anything.” Sorg sniffed at the blood-
colored liquid in his mug, and took a cautious sip.
“How right you are, yes. Now, let’s eat.” Darius downed the rest of his wine and
then placed the mug on the table with a thud.
He snapped his finger and instantly five Gothman women brought plates full of
steaming food to the table. There was roasted pig and fresh broiled fish, new potatoes
and baby onions, sweet potatoes in cinnamon sauce coated with brown sugar, fresh
garden vegetables with a creamy garlic sauce and a variety of fresh pies offered at the
end of the meal.
Tara readjusted her headscarf, not remembering the last time she’d eaten so much.
She would have been more than willing to walk home just to work some of the food off
before sleeping.
Small talk occurred among the three races sitting at the table while the dishes were
cleared. Jolee asked about rank and social order in their communities, and Tara found it
interesting that the Tree People strongly resembled the Gothman. She’d had her
suspicions when she saw no women at their camp. Females ran the household while
males worked to support their families and held positions in their government. They
had more rank in the community if they had a man, but could remain unmarried if they
wished. However, in order to remain single, they had to be a virgin.
She didn’t comment on that one. She didn’t imagine there were many adult virgins
among the Runners or Gothman.
58
All For One
Syra didn’t say much, and Tara couldn’t help but notice that Sorg continually
glanced at her. She wondered what Syra meant by only knowing Sorg casually. And
he’d commented that he couldn’t remember her name. She thought that was rather rude
for him to say in front of everyone, but then it dawned on her that he might be trying to
make a point that only Syra would hear—something like, you’re no longer important to
me.
The Tree People enjoyed the wine and by the end of the evening they were
laughing loudly and quite jovial with their hosts. Darius rose to leave after dessert and
gently helped Tara from her chair. He smiled as she glared at him. Both Syra and Sorg
watched curiously as he helped slide the chair from the table and then took Tara’s hand
as she stood. She kept her eyes locked on Darius’, partially so he could see her
annoyance and partially so Sorg couldn’t detect her reaction.
“My men will escort you back to your campsite at your convenience, they will.”
Darius spoke to Sorg as Syra, Jolee and Geeves stood to leave.
“And will they continue to surround our camp during the night?” Sorg stood up
carefully and Tara looked down quickly to conceal a smile. Sorg was drunk and would
learn about another thought-altering sensation in the morning.
“It’s for your protection, it is,” Darius said simply, and turned to escort his claim
out of the building.
“Where are you going?” He directed the question to Syra when they’d reached their
gliders.
“I’m going to my father’s trailer.”
“No, you’re not. Follow us back to the house, you will.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a direct order. Tara noticed Syra was ready to protest
but for whatever reason she shrugged and climbed onto her glider.
Darius dismissed Geeves before they entered the house. When he attempted to
dismiss Jolee, she simply stood there looking at Tara with a raised eyebrow.
“We’ll talk in the morning,” Tara said. She knew as well as Jolee that Darius had
something on his mind. She was sure Jolee was as curious as she was but Jolee simply
nodded and got back on her glider.
“Why did you lie to me?” Darius barked the question as soon as the three of them
were in the privacy of their living room.
Syra ripped off her