Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (52 page)

“Gilroy, she just doesn’t understand…” Ana reached for Gilroy.

“It’s wrong!” Gilroy interrupted her and sliced the air between them with his hand.

“Gilroy…” Andru issued a silent order.

“No, Andru. It’s wrong.” Gilroy studied the twins who stared at him hesitantly.

“Meah heard things she never should have heard. That son of a bitch told her about the

Bachula.”

Ana’s hands went to her mouth. A common Gothman soldier knew about Gilroy

and Andru’s Bachula? Her tears flowed freely now.

“Oh no, my beautiful lady, that is not all. Gothman may have the best warriors in

all of Nuworld, but we are also known for our gossip. The two of you are not as discreet

as you would like to believe. My papa told Meah that my claim allows her brother in

her bed…on a regular basis.”

There, he’d said it. He walked away from both of them and looked up at the clear

blue sky through the trees. When he turned after several moments of chilling silence,

Andru watched him carefully. He knew all along that Gilroy knew what he did with

Ana. But now that it was out in the open, what would Gilroy do with the information?

Several Gothman laws concerning a claim committing adultery jumped into his head

but he pushed them away.

“It’s wrong, Andru.” Gilroy spoke quieter now. “You have my loyalty but you

don’t have Meah’s. She didn’t know what she saw. She was so damn innocent.”

Gilroy sighed and looked at Ana. Her eyes were red and puffy from tears and he

walked over to her and grabbed her hair behind her neck then wiped her tears with his

other hand.

“We made you what you are today, my beautiful lady. Once, not so long ago, you

too were very innocent. In a way, you still are. Andru and I are equally to blame. I knew

you continued to have sex with your brother and I did nothing to stop it. I should have.

I could have.” Gilroy suddenly looked very sad, as he rubbed his knuckles down Ana’s

cheek.

Ana walked into Gilroy’s chest and he wrapped his arms around her. He looked

over her head to Andru who still watched him with intense eyes. Gilroy knew Andru

wondered if his commander’s loyalty had just wavered. He also knew his loyalty was

so deeply engraved in his bones it would take more than this to turn him away from his

lord—he wasn’t sure anything would turn his loyalty.

“My lord…Arien, my papa, told Meah that she is his bastard daughter.” He spoke

calmly but Ana pulled away from him and gasped. Even Andru showed sudden shock.

“I would imagine she went to her clan to search for answers. Then my papa decided

that the young lass might still have a shred of innocence about her and decided to

berate her further. I daresay in case she couldn’t think it through for herself, he felt the

need to point out that her child could be her half-brother’s, in other words…mine. It

seems he had quite a bit of dirt on us.”

“I’m going after her.” Andru started toward his bike.

“Andru.” Ana called after her brother.

Andru turned and looked at her briefly but then looked up at Gilroy. “Take your

claim home. She’s fortunate to have a man to protect her the way you do.”

* * * * *

“I hear you’re going after Meah.” Darius walked up to his son and watched as the

young man secured a small bag to his glider.

Andru’s emotions had been in pure turmoil as he flew back to his house to grab

what he needed for his trip to the Red Star Clan. Meah’s baby was gone. Why was he

trying to chase her down? She was mouthy and she hated his guts. But over the past

few weeks he’d suffered through the job of breaking down her defenses and he’d made

headway.

Andru straightened from his glider and looked at his papa. How could he explain

to him why he was running after Meah? Did he love her, or was it just pride?

“Yes. She’s run away.” Andru stared at his papa.

“Why did she leave?”

“It appears the reasons are not too far off from the reasons Mama left you many

winters ago,” Andru said without hesitation or change of expression.

“I see.” Darius studied his son for a moment but Andru’s expression remained hard

as stone. Darius pulled a small pouch from his pocket. “I have something that you

might wish to offer her, I do. I don’t know if it will help to rectify what is already done,

but it will honor her for what she has done for her nation, yes.”

Andru accepted the pouch and then opened it. A small silver circle hung on a thin

silver chain. He held it up in front of them and let the necklace dangle. A red ruby

shaped like a drop of blood fit perfectly inside a delicate silver circle.

“The symbol for the Blood Circle Clan.” Andru looked up at the lord.

“Yes. She helped keep the strongest clan intact, she did. It’s a gift to honor her

warrior abilities.”

“I’ll give it to her.”

* * * * *

Two scouts escorted Andru through the Red Star Clan that he’d visited only twice

now—once when he had fourteen winters and the second time only several cycles ago

when an inky black-haired little vixen threw him to the floor. Both times seemed like

lifetimes ago.

The clan had been attacked, he noticed, and made a note to tell his mama they

should offer any needed supplies.

He was led to a trailer he hadn’t been to before. A tall man at least several winters

older than Andru greeted him. He had straight brown hair and gentle brown eyes. The

man wore the Runner attire without the headscarf and greeted Andru with a blessing

from Crator.

“I am Mog, leader of the Red Star Clan. I believe I know your reason for visiting our

clan, my lord.” Mog was gentle-spoken and as Andru studied him, he had a hard time

seeing the man as half the warrior his sister was. He remembered Gilroy’s words. Could

it be true that Meah was not the same blood as this man? Unfortunately, it seemed

likely.

“Your assumptions are probably correct. I believe Meah has returned here. Am I

correct?”

“Before I answer, may I ask your intentions?”

Andru smiled, his loveable crooked smile. “I’ve come alone, Mog. There are no

Gothman warriors with me. The first time I met your sister she threw me flat to the

ground. I don’t think you need fear me dragging her off by her hair.”

Mog smiled as well, but his wasn’t as convincing. “Meah is injured and not

thinking well. She wouldn’t be able to stop anyone at the moment. Do I have your word

as a warrior that you will not force her hand in any matter?”

“I give you my word,” Andru said and meant it. “I only wish to talk to her.”

Mog personally escorted Andru across the rocky plateau to a multicolored square

tent. There was an awning that stretched out in front of the large tent, and Mog asked

Andru to wait there while he entered alone. After a brief time, he came out of the tent

and looked Andru square in the eye.

“Meah has been with us for only a couple of hours and has been in the temple the

entire time. Her prayers are deep and strong and I can tell she’s deeply troubled.

Although she hasn’t shared her reasons for pain with me I know my innocent sister is

not so innocent anymore. I won’t pretend to be a match to your warrior skills but I tell

you now, do not hurt her anymore.”

Andru simply nodded and then entered the tent. It was very spacious inside with a

woven cloth spread across the ground and many multicolored pillows spread around

on top of it. A small table was along one wall and a large white candle flickered a lone

flame. Several lanterns hung from hooks, offering more light, and bowls of crushed

petals added a sweet smell to the area.

Meah stood, facing the white candle. She turned slowly to face him and he couldn’t

keep the admiration off his face. Her hair was down, long silky black locks that fell

easily to her waist, and she wore a long midnight-blue gown. She was dressed as a

priestess of the temple and if it weren’t for the trouble swimming in her blue-green

eyes, she would appear completely at peace.

“Hello, Andru,” she said simply.

“You look beautiful.” He breathed without thought.

Meah blushed a deep crimson and looked down quickly. “Why are you here?”

“I hoped I could talk to you.” He kept his tone gentle.

She nodded, unable to speak, but still looked at the ground. Andru approached her

slowly. She squeezed her eyes shut and he noticed her fear.

“Maybe if we pray together first,” he suggested and she opened her eyes quickly

and looked up at him. “Let’s pray for trust. Trust and knowledge. Trust that I hope to

earn from you, and knowledge of what Crator wants from us.”

He saw some of her hesitation dissolve in her blue-green eyes. Instead of touching

her, he gestured to one of the pillows where they might sit. After at least half an hour of

both of them praying in silence, eyes closed, praying their hearts out for answers to

questions that haunted them, they leaned back and studied each other.

“I’m leaving, Andru.” It was all Meah could say after a long silence.

He frowned. “Where are you going?”

“Several of the priests are forming a pilgrimage west. Our goal is the Sea People.

We’ll introduce Crator and teach His ways to anyone who will have us.”

Andru chewed the inside of his mouth for a minute and stared into her swimming

eyes. “That sounds like a trip that will keep you away for a long time.”

“It might.”

“Is this what you want?”

“I want to serve Crator and when I was told about the priests’ plans the second I

arrived this morning, I knew Crator wanted me to go as well.”

“Meah, if I could erase everything that has happened to you since you set foot on

Gothman soil and start over, I would do it without hesitation.” He reached into his

pocket and pulled out the necklace his papa gave to him. “This is from Lord Darius—a

gift for outstanding warrior skills.” He leaned forward to put it around her neck then

leaned back to look at her. “I owe you so much.”

“Why? Is it because you think I saved your life?” She shook her head and her silky

black hair swayed gently around her. “I didn’t do anything. I don’t remember

everything clearly but the dog-woman was there…as a dog. She licked the blood from