Page 12 of Cage of Darkness
“Oh, but you already hadyour chance,” Soma purred. “And you didn’t take it. I told you whatwould happen when I caught you.”
He stood before Allyssa. When hereached for her, she swung her head, hitting his bad arm. He criedout in pain, cursing, and backhanded her across the face. She flewto the ground, her cheek stinging from the hit. But it had beenbloody worth it to see the look of pain on Soma’s face.
A soldier ran into the cave. “Emperionsoldiers have been spotted.”
“Where?” Somademanded.
“Three miles south ofhere,” the man panted.
“How many?”
“Two dozen.”
Allyssa got to her feet. It had to beMarek with a squad searching for her. She just had to hold out alittle longer and help would arrive. However, were Marek and hismen skilled enough to fight these Russek barbarians? After all,these soldiers had already killed some of her best men. At leastthere were twenty-four of her men to twelve of these idiots. She’dtake those odds.
“We must move quickly,”Soma said. “You two, guard the prisoners. Everyone else, with me.”He moved over to the section of the cave where the supplies werelocated. His men started packing food and provisions insaddlebags.
“That monster is mycousin,” she muttered.
Odar ran his hands through his hair.“Cousin or not, he is an assassin and a Russek prince. We need aplan.”
“We bide our time and waitfor my men to find us.”
One of the soldiers guarding themlaughed. “Neither of you will be found before you enterRussek.”
Allyssa was about to argue and tellthis bloke exactly what she thought of him when Odar shook hishead. “Ignore him. We don’t have much time.”
She sighed, trying to think of ways tostall so her men could catch up to them.
Odar leaned forward so his lips werenext to her right ear. “Do you have anything you can leave behind?A piece of jewelry or clothing that your men will recognize? Wecould leave a trail so they can find us easier.”
“I have nothing.” Beforeshe departed on the journey to Fren, she had left alldistinguishing items behind, dressing as a commoner so no one wouldknow her identity.
“Back up,” the solider saidto Odar, hitting him on his shoulder. “And nowhispering.”
Odar leaned away from her. “Let’sassume we are taken to Russek.”
Bloodyhell. How could they be in this position?Allyssa had been putting thieves behind bars for years, and nowhere she was, stuck in a situation she couldn’t fight or talk herway out of. She’d never felt so helpless before. “If we make it toRussek, we’ll be used as bargaining chips against ourparents.”
“Maybe.”
“You’re not so sure?” Theking would be stupid not to use them.
“I think,” Odar hesitated,“that perhaps the king doesn’t know about this mission.”
“What are you suggesting?”she asked.
Odar glanced at the soldiers guardingthem before answering. “Think about it. Jana hates your father.Shelene hates me.”
“So they want usdead?”
“Or to make us suffer.” Hiseyes were grim, revealing the truth in what he said.
Allyssa closed her eyes. She was goingto be sick.
“I promise to get you outof this alive.”
She opened her eyes and looked atOdar. His eye was swollen, lip bloody, and cheek purple.“Likewise.” She wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
