Page 77 of Cage of Destiny
“What of Neco, Nathenek,Hurit, and Larek?” Kerdan asked.
“We don’t know if they’rein position,” Darmik responded. “As of now, they’re our backupplan.”
“For the record, this is afoolish plan,” Odar said.
“Do you have a betteridea?” Kerdan asked.
“Not now.”
“Stop arguing.” Darmiksighed. “I want everyone to go to sleep. We’ll need to be alerttomorrow, not dragging our feet in a daze.”
Allyssa rolled onto her side andclosed her eyes, trying not to think about what they would bewalking into in a few hours. Her father was right—Jana wouldn’timmediately kill them. First, she would torture them as much aspossible. Kerdan, Odar, and Darmik were proficient fighters.Between the three of them, one should have a chance to kill thequeen. And if Allyssa had the opportunity, she would takeit.
Just as she started to drift offagain, a warm breath caressed her neck. Her heart beat frantically.Was it Kerdan? It had to be.
“For us to survive thistomorrow,” he whispered, so softly she knew no one else could hear,“I need you to be the fighter I know you can be. I need you to beyou.”
She wanted to roll over and trace thelines of his face with her finger. However, she was bound and shefeared moving would awaken her father. Instead, she blindly reachedfor Kerdan’s arm, squeezing it.
***
“Do you honestly havefeelings for him?” Odar asked Allyssa as they made their waythrough the forest, soldiers surrounding them on their way to theduke’s residence where, presumably, Jana was waiting for them. Odarwalked a step behind her, Darmik and Kerdan about ten feetback.
“Why do you care?” sheasked. A thick dew blanketed the land.
“You never showed anyinterest in Jarvik,” he said. “I thought it would take more thanflattery to get your attention.”
She kicked her leg back, hitting hisknee. He stumbled but caught himself before falling on hisface.
“What the hell was that?”he asked indignantly.
“Me telling you to mindyour own business and stop worrying about me,” she replied, hertone clipped. “Besides, Kerdan isn’t the sort of man toflatter.”
“No, not the same wayJarvik did,” Odar said. “But he flatters you in other ways. Does heappeal to your strong-willed side? Say what a good fighter you are?How adept you are at taking care of yourself?”
She did not care for Odar’simplications. Now was hardly the time for them to bearguing.
“What? No reply? No retort?How unlike you.”
They came to the edge of the forest. Asizeable field extended before them. About a mile away, a stonecastle stood. That must be the duke’s home. Dark gray clouds hungoverhead, promising rain.
“He’s only using you,” Odarmuttered.
If her hands weren’t tied together,she’d strangle him. “What is it you want from me?” she practicallycried. “You broke our marriage contract. You left me. Now that I’mmoving on, you’re acting like a petulant child. I don’t understandyou. This is already difficult enough for me. I don’t need yourubbing salt in my wounds.” She sped up, wanting to put some spacebetween them.
“I’m sorry,” he replied.“It’s hard to watch the two of you together.”
“Then don’twatch.”
“I still loveyou.”
The words were like a knife to herheart. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. When she reopenedthem, she continued walking. “We’re about to face Jana. I think youshould be a little more focused on what’s before us instead ofme.”
“That’s my point,” he said,catching up to her. “I severed our marriage contract to keep yousafe.”
“So you claim.”
“Look where it has gottenus.”
