The womanas words bothered her, she couldnat deny it. Although shead written them off as the delusions of an old mind, Tara couldnat get them out of her mind.

You arenat through with your old life. You still have so much to do.

Tara shuddered as she saw the truth in those words. She was heir to the leader of all the Runner clans. The old woman couldnat have been more truthful when she told Tara that her old life wasnat done. Tara kicked the ground with the tip of her boot and scowled. That old woman couldnat have had a clue who Tara was or where she came from.

aWhat do you want to know about Crator?a The voice that came from behind her made Tara jump. She jerked around, and her laser pointed straight into Fleedersa chest.

He too jumped and his arms flew into the air. aIt was just a question. You donat have to tell me if you donat want to.a aYou startled me.a Tara returned the deadly weapon to her pocket.

Fleedersa eyes followed it to its hiding place as he slowly lowered his arms.

aWho is Crator?a aHe is why we exist. Crator made all of this. Everything you see.a aWhere is he? I want to meet him.a aYou canat meet him.a Fleeders laughed, then sobered immediately. aAt least not until your life here is over. Crator created all life on Nuworld. Heas a spirit. Iam sure Runners must have a name for Him. Who made you? Gave you life?a aMy parents gave me life. Thereas no spirit responsible for my life.a aWe believe there is. Crator is responsible for all living things and for Nuworld itself. Are you saying Runners have no faith?a aFaith?a aWhat do you think happens when you die?a aWhen you die, youare done. You exist no more.a aI donat think I could go through life if I believed that.a aWhy couldnat I find information on Crator through the Network?a aThereas plenty of information on Crator. But, the council is watching you closely. I wouldnat be surprised if they know Iam here.a Fleeders looked around him nervously. aWhy this sudden interest in Crator?a aI met someone today.a Tara pointed to the dark, foreboding wilderness.

Fleedersa gaze followed her finger.

aOut there. She said something about Crator.a aWho did you meet out there?a aI donat know her name.a Tara shrugged. aSome old lady. Her words were mostly babble.a aYou met an old woman out there?a Fleeders looked and sounded very worried. aWhat did she say to you?a aI donat remember exactly.a She wrinkled her brow and studied Fleedersa face.

He looked back at her anxiously, his eyebrows wrinkled.

aShe didnat really make any sense. She said Crator knew things about me. Things I was supposed to do.a Fleeders stared out into the wilderness blanketed with darkness. It was as if he expected to see this old lady Tara had mentioned. There was a strange look on his face, one of fear and awe.

aDo you have any idea where she might live? I thought I would take her some food. She was an odd sort. I donat think she talks to anyone much.a aThereas a legend about the Guardians, voices for Crator.a Fleeders shuddered and turned away from the field. aThere are animals that turn into people and tell us the wishes of Crator. Itas just an old legend. No oneas ever seen one. She didnat turn into an animal on you, did she?a Fleeders chuckled as he said this, but he sounded nervous.

He caught Taraas gaze and looked away quickly. She sensed how awkward the conversation made him. He really believed these legends of his, yet had no proof. She had the proof and didnat believe in them. A people with such faith could be very powerful, yet these people were scared and felt deserted.

aWhy donat you go for a ride with me and letas see if we can find one of these Guardians?a Tara walked over to her bike.

aYouare not going to go out there tonight, are you?a Fleeders stood firm, carefully focusing his attention away from the dark wilderness. aNo one goes into the desert at night.a aThere are good lights on my bike. Weall be able to see fine.a A sudden loud explosion from the town caused both of them to jump. They turned toward the sound; within seconds large flames began shooting into the sky.

aSomethingas on fire!a Tara straddled her bike.

aOh no! It couldnat be!a Fleeders gave no explanation for his comment, but ran to Tara and squeezed onto the seat behind her. She took off slower than she would have liked out of deference to her pa.s.senger. Fleeders obviously wasnat familiar with a motorcycle; he kept fidgeting from right to left.

A large two-story building at the other end of the main street was engulfed in flames. As they drew near, Tara heard gla.s.s exploding from the heat. People ran from all directions toward the building. Trucks with long, thick hoses pulled up, and shouts came from many directions as the hoses were dragged from the truck and hooked up to small cylindrical objects attached to the ground beside the road.

The smoke attacked Tara and Fleeders, blurring their vision and making it difficult to breathe.

aLet me off.a Fleeders squirmed behind her.

aWhatas that building?a aItas a warehouse thatas not being used right now. Our whole project was in there. Nothing in that building could have caused an explosion like that. Everything is ruined. Who would have known? Who could have done this?a Tara pulled the bike to the side of the road, and the two jumped off. aWhat project was in there? Who would have known about what?a aNothing. Itas nothing.a Fleeders took off running toward the building.

A big, round-bellied man shouted orders as a large hose flooded the building with water. The fire withered from the attack.

Tara noticed another hose still coiled on the side of the truck. Why werenat they using it?

The smoke thickened.

People crowded into the street. It was easy for Tara to move closer and not be noticed.

Tara wanted to know what project had been going on in this building. Fleeders had looked as if head regretted saying what he had just before he ran off. Where had he gone?

The men putting out the fire seemed to move at a snailas pace. They acted content to let the building burn to the ground. A group of men stood across from the burning building. They watched intently and occasionally spoke with one of the security men who had come onto the scene. The crowd of onlookers was now being herded away from the building.

Tara stood down the street from the fire and avoided the security. She noticed handfuls of people trying to get into the side of the building that hadnat burned yet. The security guards were on them instantly, pulling them back.

Through the smoke, Tara noticed Fleeders, his tall skinny profile moving quickly through the thick haze to the group of men standing across the street. Tara watched as he spoke to one of them. He gestured wildly at a broad-shouldered man with long black hair. It was the man shead seen the first day she arrived. She saw the broad-shouldered man gesture to several others, and the men took off running. It appeared he was giving orders to everyone.

Could that man be Gowsky? Fleeders said Gowsky had known she was there shortly after shead arrived. Had Gowsky recognized her when he saw her pull in to town? The broad-shouldered man turned and looked directly at her.

A window exploded, this time from the second floor. Tara turned, as did others, and noticed a young woman waving her arms frantically.

aHelp me!a she yelled to the men putting out the fire. aPlease, youave got to help me!a The potbellied man shouting orders looked up at her and then at the broad-shouldered man Tara guessed was Gowsky.

Fleeders lunged at the building, but several men grabbed him.

They werenat going to rescue the woman! Tara couldnat believe these people would let her burn. What was so awful about the project that they would let a woman burn for it? What could have been going on in this building that would provoke someone to set fire to it? She didnat know the answers to these questions, but she wouldnat watch someone die like this. Tara lunged toward the building.

aHey! Get back!a The potbellied man gestured for Tara to move away. aWhat do you think youare doing?a Jumping, she grabbed hold of the ledge above the window and swung her legs through the gla.s.s of the window. As her legs swung back, she turned and made eye contact with the broad-shouldered man.

As their eyes met, he froze, and his mouth fell open.

She turned to look inside the window, swung forward again, and dropped inside the burning building. The intensity of the smoke increased drastically as Tara landed in the room. It seeped through the broken windowpane, as she waved her hand in front of her face and began coughing. The room was dark, and Taraas eyes slowly adjusted.

She ran into a hallway. Smoke was billowing through the door at one end. Tara ran the other way. Several doors at the other end of the hallway were open. The farthest one opened into the large warehouse part of the building. Fire crawled along the floor at the far end of this cavernous room. Some of the rafters on the same side also burned. Tara guessed that within ten minutes the building would start to collapse. To make matters worse, fire swept the stairs, and the woman was trapped on the floor above!

Tara looked quickly around the warehouse. The large s.p.a.ce was empty except for abandoned boxes tossed in a corner. She ran to the boxes and grabbed several, collapsing them as she ran back to the stairs.

ah.e.l.lo? Can you here me?a Tara yelled through the smoke. She beat the fire with the flattened boxes until it had subsided somewhat. aIam at the stairs. Are you hurt?a She threw the cardboard down on the stairs and quickly bolted up to the second floor. Fire leapt at her from the walls and ceilings.

Tara entered a large, open room. The young lady was still standing by the open window. Tara ran to her and grabbed her shoulders. aCome on. The building is going to collapse.a aWho are you?a The woman looked horrified at Taraas foreign appearance. Tara had grown accustomed to the dark-skinned race reacting to her that way. She doubted many of them had ever seen someone with her pale skin color. The woman was young, of small build. Her black hair had once been pulled up, but long strands fell wildly across her face and down her back. aI donat know who you are.a aMy name is Tara, and Iam going to get you out of here.a The lady, obviously in shock, looked around the room disoriented. She glanced at Tara and then down at the items she held in her arms. To Tara, they appeared to be loose papers and a small plastic container, similar to the kind Runners used to hold landlink discs.

aThis wonat stop anything, you know.a The lady was obviously delirious. aWhy would they want to stop us? Theyare not going to hurt us. Theyare stranded where they are.a aCome on.a Tara guided her to the stairs.

aWeave already communicated with them. I donat think they know that. This wonat stop anything,a the lady rambled.

When they reached the stairs, Tara saw that the fire had engulfed the collapsed boxes. The ladyas body tensed, and she looked at Tara desperately. aWe canat die. Weave come too far. They can help us, you know. And we can help them. We call them Lunians, which was my idea. But I donat know if thatas what they call themselves.a The lady continued to babble as Tara looked frantically around the room, saying to herself, aWe need something to stamp down the fire before it takes out the stairs.a The crackling of the rafters and the heat from the floor let Tara know the structure was only a few minutes away from collapse. The fire was closing in. The heat was unbearable. They had to move, or neither one of them would make it.

She turned and looked out a window by the staircase. The men below still aimed the lone hose at the building. However, the broad-shouldered man whoad been talking to Fleeders was simply standing there watching it burn, calculating the minutes, probably, before they could go home. Through the darkness she could see him point to her, but none of the men moved.

It was too far down to jump.

aWeave got to make a run for it,a she said, turning back to the burning staircase.

aWhat?a The ladyas eyes looked terrified. aWeall be killed.a aThereas no time to discuss it.a Tara grabbed the lady and threw her over her shoulder. The lady squirmed in protest, but Taraas grip was firm. She dashed down the stairs straight through the flames. She could feel the heat singe her hair and clothes. The stairs cracked and groaned under their weight. Large popping sounds indicated that one moment too long would send them falling through. Her foot did break through the last stair, and she pulled with a vengeance to release it from the torn board. Pain shot up her ankle, her knee, and then her thigh as her foot popped free from the burning wood. She grimaced as she put weight on it and limped through the large open room toward the window where shead entered.

A large explosion told her the ceiling had caved in at the back of the building. Immediately, smoke from the collapsing wood filled the air, completely blinding Tara. The woman she carried screamed loudly, piercing Taraas eardrum. The womanas body went rigid with fear, and she made an attempt to jump out of Taraas arms. Tara held onto her tightly with one arm and used her other hand to feel her way down the hallway. She reentered the small room and ran to the window, her feet crunching over the broken gla.s.s.

aWe can get out through this window.a Tara released the woman. aQuickly, climb out. The ground is just a few feet below.a aYouave saved my life.a The lady climbed through the open window and then turned to smile at Tara. aI know who you are now. You are the Northerner Iave heard about. Do you know about the Lunians?a aNo, who are they?a aThey are a colony living on the moon.a Tara froze in disbelief at these words as the lady stuck her legs out of the window and jumped. Another crash inspired movement and she, too, jumped out the window.

Her injured foot protested loudly as she hit the ground. Pain shot up Taraas leg. She fell sideways in response, and the rest of her body hit the hard ground. The crackling sounds nearby warned her that she still wasnat safe. Using her good foot and both hands, she moved crablike away from the building to a safe distance. As she stood, putting the weight of her body on her good leg, she looked up in time to see the building collapse to the ground.

The girl shead rescued was gone. The crowd had dwindled, and the darkness, either from the night, the smoke, or both, made it hard to see. It was hard to identify which people were still hovering around the building. She didnat see the broad-shouldered man anywhere.

Tara turned and limped slowly toward her bike, thinking about what she had just heard. That lady had said something about a colony on the moon. She had called them Lunians. She said the Neurians had communicated with them. Tara squinted at the full moon. It looked the same as it always had.

She wondered what communication had transpired with this Lunian people. Shead never given much thought to the moon, although she relied on its light at night and had enjoyed its beauty. But now she studied it, looking for something she hadnat noticed before. The round object gave no indication that it housed life. But then, she felt sure with a good viewer she might notice something to indicate a city. Tara wondered what technology the Neurians possessed that allowed them to discover the people living there.

Without warning, a hand came from behind her, covering her mouth. Then, she experienced a sensation shead felt too many times beforea"someone had stuck the end of a pistol into the back of her rib cage.

Tara turned instinctively and grabbed for the gun. Her aggressor was stronger than she was, but showed no knowledge of combat. She pulled the weapon from his grasp. Unfortunately, she turned and placed her weight on her bad foot. She grimaced in pain and let out a low shriek as she lunged helplessly to one side, unable to steady herself before falling to the ground.

The glow from the fire silhouetted the figure standing over her. The broad-shouldered man with long flowing hair stared down.

Still holding the gun in her hand, she aimed it up at him as she slowly forced herself into a standing position.

aIam not foolish.a The manas voice was calm, almost soothing. aItas not loaded.a She focused on his Neurian features. His brown skin was unblemished, and his dark eyes matched the color of his pupils. A small smile revealed white teeth almost glowing in the darkness. aIam aware of your reputation as a warrior, and I had no doubts youad be able to unarm me.a His singsong accent was as distracting as his features. aYou have not disappointed me.a Tara looked at the gun in her hand and then nonchalantly tossed it away. Relying on that distraction, she reached for her laser. The distraction didnat work.

The manas grin increased as he pulled another gun. aThis one however is loaded.a aFine, you win.a Tara held up her hands. aNow what?a aCan you walk?a The man continued to look straight into her eyes.

Knowing this to be the perfect way to intimidate an enemy, Tara returned the gaze. aIt depends on how far. If Iam lucky, I can make it back to my bike.a aWeall get you home to your babies. First though, you and I are going to talk.a With no warning, the man pulled the trigger on his gun, and Taraas world went dark.

Chapter Seventeen.

The first thing Tara felt was pain. Her entire body reverberated with it as she slowly tried to focus on her surroundings. The throbbing in her foot matched the throbbing in her head. Tara realized she was lying down and lifted her upper body onto her elbows. Everything around her was spinning, and her muscles felt very stiff. For a second, Tara had no idea why she lay here. She searched her brain for an explanation for the pain and why she would be sleeping. It hurt to concentrate, but panic threatened, and Tara didnat like the sensation of fear beginning to consume her.

Then it came to her. The fire. She had jumped from the window and hurt her foot. Tara turned her head with effort, the blurred surroundings making her dizzy and looked at her foot. It also appeared a blur. She blinked and allowed her eyes to focus on nothing while she worked her thoughts into order. It made no sense why pain in her foot would make her brain so foggy. And where was she? She needed to find her bike and get to her children. Tara made an effort to sit.

aYouall feel better in a few minutes,a a male voice said.

She jerked her head toward the voice, and her vision returned.

The man whoad shot her sat several feet away in a metal chair. His features were perfect. Eyes like onyx stared at her with long lashes almost reaching thick black eyebrows. He had p.r.o.nounced cheekbones and a long, straight nose. Tara noticed strands of his long hair were braided, but otherwise his mane fell free past his shoulders and behind his back.

His long legs disappeared into boots made of animal skin tied with leather straps just below his knees. He smiled, and his dark skin showed off his white teeth.

She noticed her laser sitting on his lap. aWhere am I?a Tara continued her effort to reach a sitting position. Her head still pounded.

aYouare in my barn.a Tara moved slowly to the edge of the makeshift bed, which felt like nothing more than a bench with several quilts thrown over it. As she shifted her legs over the side, one foot hit the floor, and she felt incredible pain shoot upward. When she leaned over to ma.s.sage it, she noticed it was bandaged. She grimaced, swiping her hair over her shoulder. For some reason, her hair seemed longer than it should be.

aIt was a pretty nasty sc.r.a.pe. Our doctor cleaned it up. He said it would hurt for awhile.a Tara glanced up at the man.

aWould you like something to eat?a She shook her head, still dwelling on the pain in her foot.

He handed her a plate of sliced light-colored meat and a small vine of grapes.

Although shead declined his offer, her stomach groaned loudly in protest, and she hated to admit she was famished. Reluctantly, Tara accepted the sustenance.

aI figured youad be pretty hungry. Youave been asleep for several days.a Tara was stuffing one of the slices of meat into her mouth and had begun to chew eagerly when she heard his last words. She almost choked when she heard how long shead slept. Instantly, she thought of Syra and the babies. What would Syra have done when she didnat come home? Tara immediately feared the worse. There was no satisfactory outcome. Andru and Ana would have cried for her. Syra hadnat known the children that long. She wouldnat have been able to calm them.

aIave been asleep for several days?a Tara spat remnants of meat from her mouth and glared at the man. aHow dare you keep me from my children for that long!a aYou were injured.a The man shrugged.

aWhat about my children?a Tara raised her voice and felt the pain increase in her head. She felt too much outrage to care, but rubbed her hands over her face trying to understand what was happening. aWhy are you holding me here?a aYour niece and children have been notified. They are fine.a The manas calm made Tara want to smack him. aYou havenat answered why you are holding me here,a she said through clenched teeth. aAnd why did you keep me asleep for several days?a aI donat run Semore by myself. The fate of all Neurians must be considered. Itas obviously no secret how your war has affected us. Northerners are very differentayour beliefs, your prioritiesa"a aAnd what do my beliefs and where I come from have to do with you holding me and keeping me from my family?a aWe have a duty to the Neurian people to ensure their safety.a The man shrugged again.

Tara slowly stood, testing her foot. She started to put weight on it, then stopped. While she probably could walk, she decided it might be best not to let him know that fact. She was also very aware of her laser in this manas lap. aYou seem to know more about me than I know about you. Who are you?a *

The manas dark eyes watched her slim figure as she hobbled a few feet away from the bed. He knew very little about Runners, other than they were supposed to be incredible warriors, and they had defeated the Sea People. She was beautiful, even in her current state. Those blue eyesalike the color of the skyaand that pale skinashe was quite the distraction. Head never seen a woman like her before, other than in pictures.

She limped slowly, but there was very little sign of discomfort on her face. He guessed even in her drugged state, she had enough training to prevent her expression from betraying emotion. His best approach would be to not second-guess anything about her, so he continued to watch her.

Head heard that shead united two nations and could claim leadership over both. What power, what beauty! He wanted to know the type of person who could master such a feat. She would have to be intelligent, with negotiating skills and the ability to influence positively. Otherwise, people wouldnat respond to her. And from the reading he had completed while she had been there, he realized not enough good things could be said about Tara.

He was definitely attracted to her. But if his plan was to work, he had to remain true to the role head agreed to play.

The council hadnat accepted his ideas on how to handle Tara, at first. In fact, head been forced to keep most of the arrangements from the council. They knew shead been taken hostage. Head brought her to them after head shot her. But they didnat know she was here, at his home. And they didnat know how long head kept her here. The council wouldnat have approved, but he knew he acted with the Neuriansa best interests at heart. His conscience was clear.

Head watched her as she lay under the covers, unconscious from the drugs. She became his sleeping beauty. There were nights when her presence haunted his dreams. He could have had s.e.x with her, and shead have never known. But that wasnat his style. He liked his women able to enjoy his ability to please them. No, it would have been rape, so he hadnat touched hera"except in his dreams.

It had all started when the Runner, Kuro, approached him.

aYou know there is a way to turn around the Neurian economy,a Kuro had told him one night after they had enjoyed a fair bit of the Sea Peopleas opiate wine. aAnd it would make you a hero.a aHowas that?a Gowsky had asked, although he thought his friend a bit too intoxicated to be taken seriously.

aI grew up in a Runner clan known as the Blood Circle Clan,a Kuro told him. aTheir leader, Patha, has a daughter, Tara. Sheas a manipulative, hardhearted b.i.t.c.h, Iall tell you that. They say she is his b.a.s.t.a.r.d child, but she managed to lie and cheat her way into becoming Pathaas heir. Sheall lead all the clans after Patha dies.a aAnd what does she have to do with the Neurian economy?a Gowsky had no idea why his friend was talking to him about this.

aShe charmed her way into the pants of the Lord of Gothman and gave him an heir.a Kuro had poured more wine and then leaned back in his chair. aThis is where it gets good, my friend. Tara and her children have entered Semore. They are right here in town.a aYou are talking about the pale woman I saw yesterday?a Gowsky had been running errands when the young woman had driven her trailer into town. He had listened while she asked where she could keep her trailer, and then had offered gold as payment. The woman hadnat impressed him as coldhearted and manipulative, and Gowsky thought of himself as a good judge of character.

aShe must be killed, Gowsky.a aHuh?a Gowsky choked on his wine. aWhy does she have to be killed?a aGothman and Runners need oil. Your land is floating with the stuff. But Tara wonat negotiate for it. Right now, she is probably devising a plan to take it without the Neurians knowing. That is how she is, my friend. But with her out of the way, the Neurians could sell the oil to a just Runner leader, themselves. And enjoy an economy better than theyave ever known.a aAnd who would be the new leader?a Gowsky hadnat liked the idea of murder, but reestablishing the Neurian economy was imperative.

Kuro grinned. aSimple my friend. Me.a Gowsky pulled himself out of his reminiscing and focused on Tara. aIam Dorn Gowsky,a he said to her. aHowas that foot?a *

Tara glanced sideways at Gowsky. He watched her as if determining the answer for himself. That was something Darius often did. Guilt tugged at her. Noticing that this man was handsome was no crime, so why did she feel odd? She concentrated on his question in order to get her mind off him. aYour doctoras done a fine job. Please thank him for me. I would like to check on my children. Am I free to go?a She knew the answer to this question before she even asked it, but she decided to play his game and met his gaze with an innocent smile.

Gowsky smiled back. aYour children are fine. I would like to ask you some questions, if I may?a aIad like to see my children first. Itas important they know Iam fine. Iall be more than willing to answer your questions after I see them. After all, I have nothing to hide from you or your people.a She decided to take a chance and started hobbling to the door. There was no doubt in her mind that he wouldnat let her go, but she needed to make sure. If he had questions for her, head better start asking.

aYour children arenat in Semore anymore. Your trailer pulled out of here yesterday.a aYouare a fool!a Tara turned and faced Gowsky. The rage burned in her eyes and her body tensed. She saw the amused look in his eyes and her anger intensified. aYou better let me contact my family so I can tell them Iam all right.a aI might be able to arrange that.a Gowsky stood and walked over to Tara, took her arm, and calmly but firmly escorted her back to the bench. aYou handle pain well, but I wouldnat give that foot too much of a workout too soon.a She yanked away her arm and sat. Once again, her hair streamed over her shoulder. Lifting several strands in her hand, she realized her hair was definitely longer.

Gowsky dropped into the chair across from her, a serious expression on his face. He stared at her once again.

She glared back. aGo ahead with your questions.a aWhy did you come to Semore?a aIave never been south of the Trueland. I simply wanted to visit your town.a aYou were looking for a job with our government.a aI liked it here. Your people haveaa She hesitated.

aWe have what?a Tara reminded herself she had nothing to hide. aYou have oil. We need oil. Getting a job with your government seemed like a good way to convince you to trust me so I could begin negotiations.a *

Gowsky was surprised by her answer. Could she be telling the truth? He suddenly worried head made a grave mistake. These people were so different. Could he trust her?