Page 40 of Cage of Destiny
“Being here brings back somany memories.” Kerdan walked to the corner of the room whereseveral spears hung on the wall. He ran his hands over them. “Mymother used to bring me here when I was a child.”
“Are you close to youruncle?”
“Very.” He turned to faceher. “He taught me to hunt. We’d go on trips all the time—until myfather forbade it. As an adult, I understand he was jealous. As achild, I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t want me to spend timewith my uncle. I thought I’d done something wrong.” He came andstood before her. “I don’t suppose you’ve ever gonehunting?”
“And by hunting, I assumeyou mean animals?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Isthat a joke? Or is your opinion of Russeks truly thatbad?”
Both, though she didn’t have the nerveto admit it.
Kerdan sighed. “Yes, animals. And whenI get a chance, I’ll show you another side to Russek. What you sawin Clovek, that was the very worst of it. I promise there are goodpeople here.”
“What sort of animals doyou hunt?” she asked, trying to steer the conversation away fromClovek.
“Big game.”
She raised her eyebrows, not sure whathe was referring to.
“How about I take youhunting sometime and show you?”
“Just the two ofus?”
“Yes.” Challenge burned inhis eyes as he waited for her response.
Was hunting a popular sport in Russek?Did women hunt? Instead of voicing those questions, she asked,“What do you hunt with?” Russek didn’t use bow and arrows likeEmperion did.
“Knives, spears.” Heshrugged.
“I think I would like tosee you in action.” She smiled, trying to envision this enormousman charging after an animal with a spear in hand. “Then I’ll showyou how to shoot a bow and arrow. I have wicked aim.”
He grinned. “Did you just declare thatyou may be a better hunter than me if given your weapon ofchoice?”
“I think I did.”
“I have years ofexperience,” he said, taking another step closer to her, now lessthan a foot apart. “My uncle taught me everything Iknow.”
Suddenly conscious of how close theywere and that no one else was in the room, she asked, “Where is theduke?” She hadn’t seen him or any of his family members since thatfirst day.
“Somewheresafe.”
“Not here?”
He shook his head. “I sent them awayafter you arrived.”
“You won’t tell me wherethey are?” Because he didn’t trust her or so she wouldn’t know thelocation?
Taking one more step, he leaned hisforehead against hers, sending a jolt of shock through her. “I’mafraid of getting hurt.”
She knew he didn’t mean physically.“So your solution is to trust no one?” He was so close to her. Shecould see the various shades of brown in his eyes, his longeyelashes, and a freckle on his left cheek. “I believe trust goesboth ways. If I’m to trust you, you must trust me.” She couldn’tmake herself move away. Somehow, being this close to him was…comforting.
“Against all common senseand rationale, I do trust you. And that scares me.”
She opened her mouth to argue and heraised his hand, placing it over her mouth. “Let meexplain.”
Oh, he had better explain because itwas not irrational to trust her.
“I swore never to trustanyone ever again. Then you come blazing into my life like a ragingfire and burn down my resolve. And now, here we are.”
