Page 53 of Cage of Destiny
Kerdan and Nathenek emergedfrom the shadows, and everything began to make sense.
“Did you get the last man?”Larek asked.
Kerdan nodded. “You’veverified everyone here is dead?”
“Yes.” Larek helped Allyssato her feet.
Kerdan scanned her fromhead to toe. “Let’s be on our way.” Black lines were swirled overhis face, making him look foreboding.
Nathenek came up to her.“Are you all right?”
She looked at the sixbodies littered on the ground. “Why did you kill them?” And how hadhe managed to do it without rousing her? These were well-trainedsoldiers who should have put up a fight.
“These men were loyal toJana,” Nathenek responded, as if that should have been more thanenough of an explanation. Logically, she understood why these menhad been killed; yet, something inside of her wished there wasanother way. She shoved that feeling aside. There was no time forsecond-guessing or being soft. To kill Jana and win this battle,Allyssa needed to be strong. Her time in the dungeon had taught herthe necessity of killing. Rema had been lenient, allowing Jana togo into exile, and the consequences had beencatastrophic.
Kerdan headed out of theclearing, the darkness swallowing his bulky frame. Nathenek noddedafter him, and Allyssa hurried to follow, Odar closebehind.
“Where’s Larek?” He’d beenstanding next to her only a moment before. And was he the only manloyal to Kerdan? There had been six men around the fire, andNathenek indicated they’d chased one more. That was seven accountedfor. Larek made eight. There was still one missing.
“Over here,” Larekwhispered, the sound coming from her left somewhere. “And Hurit ishere, too.”
They silently trekkedthrough the forest. Two men? Kerdan only had two men loyal to himamong the soldiers she’d been traveling with? She had mistakenlyassumed the entire group was loyal to Kerdan—not only two. Herhands started shaking from the realization. When she had a momentalone with Kerdan, she would give him a piece of hermind.
Weaving between the tallpine trees, she wondered where her father and Neco were. Probablytogether. One thing she learned over the years, Neco rarely leftDarmik’s side. They were the best of friends, and Neco wasunfailingly loyal to her parents.
The night wore on, and theydidn’t stop. How far did they have to go to meet Darmik and Neco?She didn’t think her father would allow her to be so far from him.Exhaustion consumed her. Couldn’t they stop to sleep for a fewhours? She tripped over a rock and fell, landing on her hands andknees.
“Over here,” Kerdan said,stopping under two trees with low-hanging branches. “Hurit andLarek, do a perimeter run. Report back here in five minutes.Allyssa and Odar, sleep for an hour. I can’t have either of youstumbling through the woods making a racket.”
She rubbed her eyes.“Where’s my father?”
“We’ll reach him and Necotomorrow,” Kerdan responded.
Nathenek stood unnaturallystill, looking out into the forest.
“Is something wrong?” sheasked him.
“No. Get some sleep. I’llkeep watch.”
Kerdan put his hands on hiships, also watching the forest.
“Are you not going to resteither?” she asked.
“No. I don’t needto.”
She raised her eyebrows,but he probably couldn’t see the gesture in the dark. “We all hadthe luxury of resting during the day. You did not.”
She glanced at Odar, whowas already sprawled on the ground, seemingly asleep. Did he havenothing to say? Sighing, she laid down, trying to get comfortableon the cold ground.
“You want my tunic?” Odarasked. “You can lay on it or use it for a pillow.”
“No, I’m fine.” She didn’tneed to be coddled. A few minutes later, Hurit and Larek returned,speaking quietly with Kerdan. Too tired to question what was goingon, Allyssa fell into a deep sleep.
***
They walked along the edgeof the forest as the sun rose, casting long rays over the land.When Allyssa asked why they had to go so far to meet up with herfather and Neco, Kerdan reminded her that she had been traveling onhorseback.
Bored, she caught up toKerdan, who led the way. “What forest is this?” she asked, tryingto imagine a map and where they were.
