All For One [Nuworld 3] by Lorie O'Claire Read Free Book Online

reservations of his own about this new race. After
    almost an hour of polite information exchange Darius cleared his throat, stood, and
    reached his hand down to Tara. She always felt infuriated when he treated her as the
    submissive female. She knew nothing angered Darius more than challenging this
    treatment in front of strangers. His eyes twinkled as she glared at him but she accepted
    his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
     
    Sorg also stood, as did Jolee and Geeves.
     
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    All For One
     
    “Will we be able to meet with you again before we end our visit in your land?”
    Sorg, of the Barringswood tribe, looked from Darius to Tara.
     
    “How long do you wish to stay?” Tara turned her attention from Darius to Sorg.
    Darius still held her hand and she felt it tighten when Sorg once again seemed to pull at
    her with his eyes. Was he actually jealous of this tall, thin man? Sorg was certainly no
    threat to Darius in any way. The three guards Sorg had in the tent couldn’t stop one of
    the Gothman guards. They all looked very humble with dark brown hair and mousy
    brown eyes.
     
    She took in the appearance of the three guards at that moment. They had a darker
    complexion than Sorg did. Their eyes moved from hers as she looked at each one of
    them. Their clothes were drab colors unlike Sorg’s clothes. Each of them wore brown
    pants with plain black pullover shirts. They were armed, she noticed, long black guns
    hung from each of their belts.
     
    “We would like to visit your cities if we may be permitted.” Sorg glanced quickly
    from Tara to Darius and seemed somehow to be aware of the uneasiness he’d stirred in
    Darius. He turned his attention to Tara.
     
    “You may continue to camp here for the time being.” Darius spoke in a calm but
    authoritative tone. “Use our land to your advantage. There is ample wildlife on the
    plateau that serves up well to feed a small group such as yours. We will contact you in
    the next day or so.”
     
    With that, he guided Tara through the opening in the tent and toward their gliders.
    Sorg and his guards stood outside the tent and watched as the Gothman and Runner
    party departed. Tara didn’t look back but she knew they were watched as they flew
    slowly away in their ceremonial procession.
     
    Formalities such as these seemed pretentious to her and she scowled at their slow
    pace, anxious to return home and discuss the meeting they’d had with the Tree People.
    She turned to stare at Darius through her clear dome. He rode several feet away from
    her to her side, staring straight ahead and showing absolutely no emotion. Nor would
    he look at her. She suspected he could tell she stared at him but obviously he wouldn’t
    open the floor for discussion until they were in their conference room.
     
    Something caught her eye as she stared at Darius. A speck behind his head—
    something moving quickly off in the distance. She refocused her gaze to stare out onto
    the open plateau at the same time one of the guards spoke into their comms.
     
    “My lord,” she heard the voice speak to Darius through her comm. “A glider to the
    east.” The soldier pointed. “It’s headed toward Bryton at high speed.”
     
    Darius turned to look, and simultaneously slowed his speed. The surrounding
    gliders followed suit. The approaching glider, flying across the open field as they
    watched, had come a great distance in a very short time. But now, the glider also
    decreased its speed and seemed to hesitate in moving closer or turning in the opposite
    direction.
     
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    Lorie O’Clare
     
    Tara reached for her viewer and held it up to her eye. Her gasp caused Darius to
    look at her, and she realized her comm was still on.
     
    “Darius, I will meet you back at the house.” Tara’s expression showed no emotion.
     
    Quickly Darius raised his own viewer.
     
    “No. I will go. I’ll handle this.” He spoke with his head turned toward their
    daughter,