All For One [Nuworld 3] (22 page)

her bedroom door.

Floorboards squeaked somewhere in the house, and her heart nearly came up in her

mouth. There were no other sounds. When she looked back down at the landlink she

was surprised to see Roth had responded.

“Ana, are you serious? Do you mean it?”

She bit her lip and typed quickly. “There is no way I can slip away unnoticed. If I

go, it will have to be for good. I don’t know what kind of trouble would occur if I’m

caught with you. I do know it won’t be good for either of us.”

“I’ll take that chance. My servants are loyal. I can protect you.”

This was serious. Ana could hardly breathe. She was going to run away from home.

Granted this could jeopardize her standing with her mama, and the Runners. But she

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was going to go to Roth—and he wanted her to come to him. Eventually Mama would

see that Roth was a good man. Ana was sure of it.

Andru’s bedroom door opened across the hallway and her heart literally exploded.

She gasped for breath as she quickly told Roth she’d see him later that day and ended

the transmission. She’d barely slid the flat landlink under the blanket when her door

opened slowly and Andru stuck his head into her room.

“You’re awake?” He looked sincerely surprised.

“What do you want?” She suddenly didn’t appreciate her lack of privacy. She

regretted sounding so harsh, though. Andru cocked his head and raised an eyebrow at

her. He slipped into her room the rest of the way and shut her door quietly.

She pulled her blankets up around her, but her face, if not her actions, must have

betrayed her because Andru’s eyes suddenly narrowed. He moved before she could

react and yanked her blanket away.

“It’s not like you to hide things from me, Ana.” He looked at the landlink that the

blanket had covered and then at her face. “What’s going on?”

She didn’t answer right away, predominantly because she was trying to figure out

what to say. Her brother’s tone was harsher than usual and his face showed concern. He

didn’t plop down on her bed as he usually did. Instead, he gave her a sorrowful look

and turned to look out her window.

“It’s Roth, isn’t it?”

She didn’t answer and he didn’t turn around.

“I wonder if I made a mistake by letting you stay with him last week.”

She jumped out of bed and walked over to stand behind him. She hesitated at first

but then slowly, she placed her hand on his back. He flinched at her touch but then he

turned and took her hand in his.

“The dog-woman woke me up this morning and told me to come to you. You’re

putting yourself into more danger than you realize by doing what you plan.”

She looked up at him, but still she didn’t answer. What could she say? She knew

her plan was dangerous but it wasn’t like she’d get killed or anything. Here was where

she and Andru differed by nature. He lacked the drive for adventure that she craved.

This was the adventure of a lifetime and there was no way she’d miss out on it.

“My sweet, dear sister.” He cupped her face with his hands and stared into her

eyes. “There is so much you don’t know.”

“I can fight better than you can.” She spoke quickly, stubbornly and with enough

arrogance to make him smile—a sad smile.

“Yes, you can. And I hope to have you with me when I rule someday.”

“You will. I’ll rule the Runners.” She backed away from him, tossing her hair over

her shoulder and then grabbing some clothes.

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“Tell me what your plans are. The dog-woman said you were leaving and to come

to you right away. You can’t leave without me knowing where you are. What if

something happened to you?”

“Roth will take care of me.”

Some emotion traveled across Andru’s face. Ana watched his gray eyes darken and

his jaw clench. She felt a surge of animosity that she wasn’t accustomed to experiencing

from her brother. The impulse to step back from him surprised her. Andru would never

hurt her.

“When will you be back?”

She’d never heard him use that tone with her before. His eyes grew darker with the

control he exerted over the many emotions attacking him. She noticed his entire body

tense. She probably should have been afraid of him, but he was Andru. And at the

moment, all she needed to do was console him. “I don’t know, Andru.”

He flashed outraged fury at her and then turned quickly as if looking for something

to throw, or break, anything to vent his anger. She made it harder by walking to him

and wrapping her arms around his waist.

“I’ll be okay, trust me,” she said and relaxed her cheek against his back.

“I could force you to stay, you know.” He whispered the words, still not turning to

embrace her.

“I know. I want to do this. I have to do this. Andru, I love him.”

Slowly, he turned and wrapped his arms around his twin sister and held her

tightly. “I hope I can do this again soon,” he whispered in her ear.

* * * * *

“Have you had enough to eat?” Balbo scraped the pan over the stove.

“I’m fine, Papa.” Syra drew circles in the eggs on her plate, and then dunked her

biscuit into them.

There was a knock on their trailer door and the old man moved to answer it. “Are

you expecting anyone?” he asked and looked at his daughter who had her eyes fixed on

the door.

“Frig, come in,” Syra said, as she stood and moved her plate to the counter. “Papa,

do you remember Frig?”

“Ah, yes, you’re one of Tara’s guards now, aren’t you?” Balbo shook hands with the

Runner who entered in full uniform.

“Yes, sir, I am.” Frig then looked at Syra. “In fact, I have to report soon. I can’t stay

long.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two kids alone.” Balbo reached for his headscarf.

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“No, Papa, you don’t have to leave.” Syra smiled at her papa’s questioning look.

She gestured and the tall, well-built Runner moved to join her at the table.

“I think everything you want is on this disc.” Frig handed a square landlink disc to

Syra and then looked awkwardly at his hands. “Syra, what are you going to do with

this information?”

Balbo raised an eyebrow as his daughter handed Frig a stack of money. Frig stuffed

it into his pocket then leaned back and looked at Syra.

“What exactly do you have?” Syra looked at the disc in her hand.

“Just what you asked for. I got pictures, recorded dialogue and accounts of when

they met and where. It’s pretty deadly evidence and the Gothman have certain laws.

I’m sure you have enough there to have the claim dissolved…if that’s what you’re

aiming for.” Frig paused for a moment and studied Syra.

Balbo leaned against the counter. He had a look of understanding and concern on

his face and he too watched his daughter.

“I’m just saying that if this information became public, which it will if the claim is

dissolved, it could be rather humiliating for Torgo.”

“It’s humiliating for him now,” Syra argued.

Frig stood and pulled his Runner headscarf over his head. “Just think it through

very carefully,” he said, nodded to Balbo, and then left the trailer.

“What have you done?” Balbo asked when they were alone.

“I asked Frig to document evidence that Rayla, Torgo’s claim, is having an affair.”

Syra sighed as she flipped the disc in her hand. “It wasn’t too hard to do.”

Balbo just stared at her a moment, his expression torn with emotion.

“Don’t worry, Papa. I don’t have any false illusions that this will bring Torgo back

to me. I’ve lost him and I accept that. He doesn’t deserve the embarrassment, though,

and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Shit, Papa, the bitch is sleeping with a

Gothman—with Torgo’s nephew. Doesn’t he have a right to know?”

“Yes. He should be told delicately though and you’re right that he’ll be upset with

whoever brings him the news. What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to take the information to Darius, I think.”

“Darius? Why not Tara?”

“It’s not a Runner issue. He can make things happen without a lot of noise. He

respects his brother and he’ll handle it best.” It sure wasn’t because she wanted to rub

anything in Darius’ face.

Her father looked at her oddly. “Do what you think is best.”

A while later Syra entered the Bryon house without knocking and headed for the

kitchen. She’d lived in the house for a number of winters when she was the twin’s

nanny. The place still felt like home. Fulga and Cali chatted in the dining room and Syra

went in to say hi.

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“Syra, what are you doing here?” Cali smiled warmly at her good friend since

childhood. “I’ve been wondering when we would have time to spend together.”

“That sounds good.” Syra returned the warm greeting. “Right now I have a matter I

need to discuss…”

“Tara has gone to Taratown, she has.” Fulga also managed a smile. “I don’t think

she’ll be back until the end of the day, no. You may join us for coffee and rolls if you

like. Share your stories with us, if you will.”

“Actually, is Lord Darius here?”

Both women gave her a curious look. Fulga recovered first. “I’ll see if he can see

you.” She moved to leave the room.

“No, that’s okay. I don’t want to be announced.”

“Syra, I don’t think that’s a good—” but Syra had already left the dining room and

headed for the conference room.

She almost ran into Ana as she came down the stairs.

“Hi there.”

“What are you up to?” Syra smiled at Ana but the girl avoided her eyes. Just like me

when I was a teenager, Syra thought to herself.