Page 60 of Cage of Destiny
“Why do you think Zerekwill be with Jana?” Neco asked.
“The meeting beforehand toidentify them was merely a precautionary measure. I’m sure therewill be something else in place at the duke’s house to ensureJana’s safety.”
“Which is why you want touse decoys tomorrow,” Darmik commented.
“Exactly,” Kerdan replied.“If we have a group of nine men on horseback with the decoys inview of the duke’s house, then send Hurit and Larek to go on aheadto make contact, I think we have a good chance of getting past herdefenses.”
“Who will make the kill?”Nathenek asked.
“I’d like that honor to goto Allyssa,” Kerdan said.
Darmik laughed. “I musthave heard you wrong. It sounded like you said my daughter, asixteen-year-old girl, would be making the kill.”
“I did.”
Allyssa’s hands tingledwith anticipation. While she didn’t have to be the one to killJana, she wanted to be there to witness it. If she didn’t see itwith her own eyes, she’d never believe the woman was trulydead.
“My daughter will benowhere near the duke’s property tomorrow.” The fire flickered inthe wind, casting dark shadows over Darmik’s angry face.
“Why not?” Kerdan asked. Hetossed the stick into the fire.
Darmik raised his eyebrows. “She isthe heir to Emperion.”
“She deserves to be the oneto do it,” Kerdan said. “Besides, two hundred and fifty of my menwill be there. Once we have Jana captured and the place secure,Allyssa can enter and kill Jana. At no time will she be in harm’sway.”
“I can do it,” Allyssaspoke up. “I’d like to be the one to kill the woman who made mylife a living hell.”
“No,” Darmik barked. “It’snot open for negotiation.”
“I agree,” Neco said. “Thisis not something the princess should be involved in.”
“Why?” Allyssa asked.“Because I’m a woman?”
“Because it’s not necessaryfor you to be there, so why risk it?” Darmik replied.
“Are you going to bethere?” she countered.
Darmik stared at her acrossthe fire for several seconds before replying, “No. I will be herewith you.”
She wanted to argue, butknew it was pointless. Her father would never put her in harm’sway. To keep her safe, he was sacrificing his right to see Jana’slife ended.
“What about me?” Odarasked. “Or did everyone conveniently forget I am evenhere?”
“You will remain with us,”Darmik said.
“Once Larek and Hurit havevisual confirmation Jana is in the house, then what?” Nathenekasked.
Kerdan replied, “When theyexit the house to get the prisoners, they’ll give a signal, and weattack. I will enter the residence from the east entrance with aselect group of my men, locate Jana, and kill her.” Simple,efficient, brutal.
“It sounds like a solidplan,” Allyssa said.
“I want Nathenek with you,”Darmik said.
Kerdan glanced at theassassin. “I’m not comfortable working with someone I’ve neverfought with before.”
“I’ll be more of abehind-the-scenes sort of fellow,” Nathenek replied.
A chill went through Allyssa. Ifsomething happened and Kerdan didn’t make the kill, Nathenekwould.
