Page 63 of Cage of Destiny
“Nothing.”
“You look like you want tosay something.”
“Do Russeks have atradition when saying goodbye to friends or loved ones who aregoing off to battle?”
He eyed her.
“I feel like I should sayor do something,” she replied.
He focused on the group ofmen. “Everyone into formation,” he called out. Then, he leaned downand whispered in her ear, “It is customary for a woman to kiss aman and… slap him on his arse before he leaves for war.”
Allyssa’s face went flamingred.
Kerdan chuckled. “Care to tryit?”
“Most certainlynot!”
“You asked.” He shruggedand went over to his horse, climbing on, a hint of a smile still onhis lips. “Listen up,” Kerdan hollered. “This is going to be afast, clean mission. No room for errors today. We must assassinatethe false queen and take back Russek. We willpersevere!”
His men pounded their fiststo their chests, shouting in approval. Kerdan gave the signal, andthey rode out. Allyssa’s heart squeezed in panic. This had to work.It just had to.
***
“It’s taking too long,”Neco said, coming to stand next to Allyssa.
She’d been thinking theexact same thing. The mood among them had shifted after four hourspassed. She stood at the spot where she’d spoken to Kerdanyesterday on horseback, overlooking the valley below. She’d hopedthe view would ease her mind, but it had done no such thing.Instead, it mocked her with its serene beauty, gentle breeze, andfragrant smell. It screamed life when all she could think about wasdestruction.
If something went wrong,Kerdan and Nathenek could be dead. No, she couldn’t think suchthoughts. They were both competent fighters and wouldn’t rush intoa situation without thinking it through. She needed to have faiththat everything would be all right. That nothing wentwrong.
“Part of me wants to go andinvestigate,” Neco said. “However, if things went to hell, I can’tleave you or your father.” He glanced over his shoulder. Darmikpaced back and forth next to Odar, who lay on the ground staring upat the sky. She suspected he wasn’t sleeping but rather plotting.Just like her father. Just like Neco.
“Are you armed?” Necoasked.
“Always,” she replied.“What do you think happened?”
He shook his head.
“Are we just going to waithere?” What if Kerdan and Nathenek needed them? Shouldn’t they goand help?
“We are only four. Kerdanhas over two hundred men. There is nothing we can do to help atthis point. If we leave, we risk missing them or causing furtherchaos.”
The faint sound of horsehooves rumbled in the distance. Neco ran to the nearest oak anddeftly scaled it. “Our men,” he said before climbingdown.
“Are you sure?” Darmikdemanded.
“Yes.”
A moment later, Kerdanburst into the clearing with Hurit, Larek, and Nathenek closebehind.
“Where are the decoys andthe rest of your men?” Darmik asked.
“About three miles fromhere,” Kerdan replied, dismounting. “I didn’t want anyone to trackus to this location in case we were followed.” He instructed Huritand Larek to take the horses and rub them down.
“What happened?” Necoasked.
Kerdan removed his ridinggloves, the lines of his face pulled tight. “When Hurit and Larekarrived at Duke Opanek’s, Zerek—the man who had identified Allyssaand Odar—greeted them. Thankfully, he recognized my men. When Huritasked for the money, Zerek demanded the prisoners first. Hurit saidhe wouldn’t bring them in until he saw the money.”
“Then what happened?”Allyssa asked.
