Page 49 of Cage of Destiny
When she reached the rocks,she quickly surveyed the area. If she hid on the south side, shewould have a better view of the valley to the right. However,someone would be able to spot her between the rocks. The north sideprovided better coverage. She sat on the ground, shimmying her bodyin a small crevice and out of sight, thankful for the refuge fromthe harsh wind. Hopefully there weren’t any small creatures waitingto pounce on her.
As the silence settled inaround Allyssa, she had nothing to do but think. How long did shehave until someone found her? She didn’t particularly want totravel at night; however, the darkness would provide cover, and shecouldn’t remain in this crevice forever. Glancing at the sky, sheguessed it would be dark in two to three hours.
It felt like herfingertips would freeze and fall off. Shivering between the rocks,she vowed she would return home and get to know her brother. Theimage of Savenek looking regal as he stood on the balcony next toher mother came to mind.Theirmother,she corrected herself. Darmikhadn’t said too much about him, and she’d been afraid to ask. Shedidn’t want to be sidetracked or lose focus on the mission. Onething at a time. Kill Jana, then return home. Even Kerdan hadpointed out that her emotions affected her focus.Kerdan…
She still needed to decidewhat to do about him. She’d agreed to marry Kerdan because shefeared Odar would have some hold over her. That if she was tied toanother man, it would help when she faced him again. However, itdidn’t matter. Whatever attraction she’d felt for Odar hadsimmered. The way he’d treated her in Fren, and the callous way hesevered their engagement, had managed to destroy the love she’d hadfor him. Even though she’d said yes to Kerdan’s proposal, herfather had made it clear she could change her mind—that nothingwould be finalized until after Jana was dead. Which brought Allyssaback to deciding whether she should marry him.
If she chose not to, thatleft her options open for other suitors. Not that there were manyworth considering at this point, especially since Emperion hadacquired Landania, Fia, and Kricok under its empire. No otherkingdom could match them in terms of size, military strength, oreconomic prosperity. Russek did offer a large military, but itbrought with it a kingdom in poverty. Once they disposed of Jana,Russek would no longer pose a threat to Emperion.
Allyssa did need to marryto produce an heir to ensure the royal line continued, but she wasstill young. That could wait. Kerdan’s words came back to her. He’dtold her to marry because she wanted to—to do what was best forher, not Emperion or anyone else. Yet, all she could think aboutwas doing what was best for her kingdom.
Kerdan… could she marry himand be happy? They were friends, and she enjoyed being around him.Could there be more to their relationship than mere friendship?Although she’d never acknowledged it before, she did find himattractive. In fact, she found him more attractive each day she wasaround him. But it was too soon to move on after Odar, wasn’tit?
The sound of horse hoovespounding over the land startled her. She pulled her legs in asclose to her chest as possible, trying to remain small and hiddenbetween the rocks. It was still too light out to make a run forit—she would be seen. Her only hope was that no one would think tolook for her here.
A horse snorted closeby.Blimey. Sheheld her breath, trying to be as quiet and still as possible. Amoment later, a man she recognized squatted in front ofher.
ChapterFourteen
Sitting atop the horse, again in front of Larek,Allyssa fumed. She was dripping wet, cold, and tired. Up ahead, theother half of their group waited for them. Squinting, she tried tofind Odar. None of the horses carried more than one rider. Two ofthe horses didn’t have anyone at all. Her breath caught. HopefullyOdar was okay.
As they neared, one of themen’s shoulders slumped forward. It had to be Odar.
“All good, Larek?” theleader asked.
“We threw them off ourtrail, split them up, and then disposed of them.”
Allyssa’s body stiffened.“You disposed of them?” she said. “What does that mean?
The leader responded, “Good. We killedthose pursuing us as well.”
Horror filled her. That waswhy two of the horses didn’t have riders and Odar sat alone. They’dlost three men. Three.
“What happened to her?”someone asked.
“The princess took a tumblein the stream.”
She did not fall. Larek hadpushed her in.
“The village we’re supposedto meet Zerek in is ten miles from here. We can’t reach it beforenightfall.” The sky had already started to turn dark.
“Let’s hunker down for thenight. We’ll leave at first light,” Larek suggested.
Lovely. Another night with these men.Larek unclasped his cloak and wrapped it around her. A small, butmuch welcome, comfort in this hostile land.
***
Dozens of Russek soldierssurrounded the small village of Henec. “Is that normal?” Allyssaasked, suspecting it wasn’t. She squinted in the bright morninglight, thankful it wasn’t raining.
“No,” Larek said, followingclose behind the leader.
There couldn’t be more thanfifty small wooden structures situated haphazardly with no clearorganization to them. If there were any stores, they weren’t markedwith a sign.
Allyssa shivered at theeerie silence of the place. “Where are all the people?”
“They’re probably dead,”Larek whispered.
“What do you mean?” Surelythese barbaric Russeks wouldn’t kill their own people. What wouldbe the point? Larek didn’t respond.
