The Saga Begins [Nuworld 1] by Lorie O'Clare Page B

busy for hours, I’m sure,” he said with disappointment.
    “I don’t know about hours, child.” Hilda stood in the doorway. “I’ll have you clean the first floor today. You’ll get your own routine down soon enough, I’m sure, as long as his Lordship doesn’t take you away from me again.”
    Tara blushed.
    Hilda grinned and chuckled as she walked out of the room.
    “Has my brother claimed you yet?” Torgo asked.
    Tara was surprised at the question, but the look of innocence on his face reminded her that this was his culture. “No, child, he hasn’t.”
    “When I get older, I’m going to claim a girl as pretty as you.”
    Torgo followed Tara around the house, talking to her as she dusted the rooms and cleaned the floors. The late morning air was brisk and a cool south breeze floated down from the hills as the young boy led Tara to the grassy meadow beyond the backyard.
    “To be a strong warrior like your brother, you must start your lessons at a young age.” She squatted to collect several small rocks.
    “And what do you know about being a strong warrior?” Torgo laughed.
    Tara squinted at the boy who stood next to her, silhouetted by the sun. “I grew up with brothers who all worked to be great warriors, I did.”
    Torgo accepted the explanation with a quick nod. Every Gothman boy dreamed of being a great warrior.
    “Darius said he would teach me to ride a motorcycle when I was a little older.” The boy put his hands on his hips and stood a little taller.
    “Ah, that’s good. Let’s see how your aim is today. Do you see that tree over that way? Hit it with these rocks.” She handed him the rocks.
    Torgo hesitated. “It’s too far away.”
    Tara held the rocks in one hand and with the other threw them, hitting the trunk of the tree each time. She bent down and gathered more rocks. “Now, you try.”
    Amazed, the boy took the rocks and threw them, missing the tree each time.
    Tara agreed they could move closer.
    After many attempts, Torgo finally started to hit the tree. His excitement showed through his young eyes and he hugged Tara joyfully. “They won’t pick on me at school anymore.” He attempted a jig as he jumped around in a circle.
    “This is just the beginning of the many things a great warrior will need to know.” They walked slowly back to the house together.
    “Throwing rocks?” Torgo looked confused. “Is this something you did with your brothers?”
    “Did you just learn to throw rocks today?” Tara eyed the young boy whose face showed his eagerness to learn.
    “Yes. All I did was throw rocks.” Torgo sounded confused.
    “Ah, I think you learned several things today. Give it some thought. Meanwhile, practice on different targets. Maybe tomorrow we can get outside again. It sure is a nice break from my chores.” To Tara’s surprise, the young boy jumped at her and gave her a tight hug. He held on to her for a moment and she returned the hug.

* * * * *
    Hilda worried about Tara working with Torgo after school. One or two walks after chores was okay, Hilda guessed. And Torgo escorting the girl did keep her safe from the guards. But the two of them traipsed off daily, and Hilda couldn’t see the point in it.
    Tara showed every sign of growing up without a mama. The girl had a bit of the wild side to her. Hilda felt obligated to her friend, Reena, to help the girl master the domestic skills she obviously lacked. Tara could clean well enough, but she seemed clueless about making many common meals. Hilda wondered more than once how Tara’s brothers and Papa hadn’t starved to death. Tara had no culinary skills whatsoever.
    Hilda knew her son would not want a claim who couldn’t run the household. What man would? Her son hadn’t sent Tara packing yet, and that was a good sign. Granted he seemed busier than normal lately, but the Lord of Gothman needed a claim, and Hilda felt the two of them would do just fine together, if she could just get Tara to fine-tune some of her