Page 91 of Cage of Destiny
“Really?” Darmik asked.“Even knowing what today is?”
Well, it was her homecoming, the dayshe would meet her brother, and the first day of the rest of herlife. Maybe it deserved a small celebration, but nothingfancy.
“Did you forget it’s yourbirthday?” Darmik asked. “Your mother arranged a party in yourhonor.”
Her seventeenth birthday? She’d losttrack of the days and hadn’t realized it until now. “How did Motherknow we’d be home today?”
Darmik removed his riding gloves.“Before I left, I told her I would do everything in my power tobring you home by today. That’s why we left Russek in such a hurryand haven’t stopped as often as we should have.” He wrapped an armaround her shoulders. “Happy birthday.” He led her into the castleand toward the Royal Chambers, Neco and Nathenek closebehind.
It felt like a dream walking throughthe corridors. Someone screamed, and Allyssa spun around. Mayra andMadelin were running toward her. Allyssa gasped, overcome withemotion at seeing her two best friends and ladies-in-waiting. Sheran to meet them, and the three cried and hugged, then cried somemore. This… this was what she’d fought so hard for.
“I thought I’d never seeyou again,” Mayra said, pulling back to look Allyssa over. “You’rehere and in one piece.”
“When I heard you’d beenkilled, I couldn’t believe it,” Madelin said. “I’ve missed you somuch.” She kissed Allyssa on the cheek.
“Trust me, the feeling ismutual,” Allyssa said, barely able to get the words out since shewas crying so hard. “I love the both of you.”
“Well, well, well,” afamiliar male voice said. “Look who we have here!”
“Marek!” Allyssa wiped hertears away, turning to face her lifelong friend and head of herpersonal guard.
Dressed in his fine armor, heapproached them with a smile plastered across his face. “I knewyou’d be back.”
She threw her arms around him, hugginghim tightly. “It’s good to see you.” She wanted to apologize forsending him away when the assassin overtook them, but now wasneither the time nor the place. “Are you fully recovered?” sheasked, holding him at arm’s length and examining him.
“I am.”
“We want to knoweverything,” Madelin said. “What happened? Where have you been? Howdid you survive?”
“Will you give her a momentto catch her breath?” Mayra chided Madelin. “She just returnedhome. At least let her bathe before you bombard her withquestions.”
“As happy as I amwitnessing this reunion,” Neco said, “I’d like a few moments alonewith my children and my wife. Did no one miss me?” He hugged Mayraand patted Marek’s back.
“We did,” Mayra assuredhim. “However, we knew you’d come back. You always do.”
“Mother is eagerly awaitingyou in our wing,” Marek added.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Necosaid. “I have a wife I miss terribly.” He wrapped an arm aroundeach of his children and left.
“Nathenek,” Darmik said,“I’m sure you’re eager to see Savenek.”
“I am.”
“Madelin, please find outwhere Savenek is and escort Nathenek to him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Shecurtseyed and led Nathenek down the corridor.
“Let’s go see Mother,”Allyssa said. “Then I want to meet my brother.
“First, you need to getcleaned up. Your birthday celebration is in a couple of hours so wedon’t have much time. I will let Rema and Savenek know you’rehere.”
They resumed walking to the RoyalChambers. Everyone they passed expressed his or her joy at seeingthe princess alive and well. Allyssa smiled at them all, overjoyedto be here with her people.
Turning the corner and entering theRoyal Wing, she said, “It feels strange to be home after being gonefor so long. Everything, while still the same, looksdifferent.”
“Yes, I know how youfeel.”
She held onto Darmik’s arm, leaningher head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
