Nuworld: Claiming Tara by Laurie Fitzgerald Page B

bag, and I’ll see
Reena to the door. Come down when you’re ready, and I’ll
show you what chores you’ll be doing. It’s a true pleasure
to have you here, child. I just know you’ll be happy.”
“She’ll bring life back to this house if she does anything,
that much is certain.” Hilda told Reena when they started
down the hallway.
“I know she was only with me a quarter-cycle, but I’m
going to miss her.” Reena replied.
“You’re the one that brought her into town and went all
about showing her off. You knew you’d lose her by doing
that.” It was the last Tara heard as the door at the end of
the hallway closed.
Tara set down her bag on the bed and looked around the
room once again. She walked to the glass doors, opened
them, and stepped onto the balcony.
Patha, guess where I am now. Here she was, a Runner,
inside the home of the Lord of Gothman. She smiled, rather
satisfied with her Age Of Searching.
    Gothman were actually tolerable people. Both genders
needed a lesson in equality, though. Gothman women
needed to stand up to their men. If the women here had a
clue about how their lives might be, they would give up this
submissive lifestyle in a second.
    What kind of thinking was this? She wasn’t here to
change this culture, just observe it, right? It would be
wrong to allow some type of attachment or loyalty to these
people. No Runner ever did that on their Age Of Searching .
    Maybe it was time
to leave. It wouldn’t be hard to get her
motorcycle now. She’d seen the men move it out of the
shed and put it out in the backyard, unattended and
unguarded. Maybe if she sneaked out after dark. She
would be out of Gothman territory within no time.
    Tara mulled this over as she stared at the beautiful hills
rolling farther than the eye could see. The rocks jutting up
from the earth added to the glory of the view.
    Far in the distance, someone raced over the hills on a
motorcycle. The rider dodged rocks that sprang up from the
earth with a skill equal to her own. The rider was familiar
with the terrain. She imagined the thrill of the ride.
    Tara wanted to be on her bike and take the same path.
She wasn’t familiar with the terrain, yet it called out to
accept its challenge. Her hands itched with the temptation,
and she rubbed them on the soft material of her dress. But
for now, she was expected downstairs. Tara turned from
the tantalizing scene. At least until nightfall she would
continue with her role. Then she’d make a decision about
staying or leaving.
    The bureau held ample space for the dresses Reena had
given her. The older woman had spent a great deal of time
over the past quarter-cycle creating this wardrobe. Tara
gazed at her Runner clothing at the bottom of her bag. The
black
leather
looked
so
appealing
compared
to
the
Gothman dresses. If anyone found her Runner clothing,
however, it would mean her death. Leaving them at Reena’s
would endanger the woman’s life. Too many people moved
through that house for Tara’s liking.
    Tara stroked the silky headscarf and fingered the bright
red symbol of her clan. She wrapped her Runner clothing
around the landlink from her bike. Tara searched for an
appropriate hiding place when she heard voices coming up
the stairs. She stuffed her Runner clothes and landlink
back into her bag and shoved it under the bed.
    Hilda and the young boy Tara had met in the alley were
climbing the stairs when Tara reached them.
“So, you’re coming
to live with me now?” The
boy
grinned from ear to ear. “Do you want to see my room?”
“Ah, all in good time, my child.” Hilda patted the boy on
the head. “Tara, have you met Torgo?”
“Only for a moment.” Tara almost caught herself
clasping her hands behind her back, the pose of a warrior.
Instead, she relaxed her features and stared at innocent
gray eyes. “We’ve not been properly introduced, though.”
“Well, this is my youngest son, Torgo. He is quite the
handful.” She hugged the boy and