Page 35 of Cage of Darkness
“Your Majesty!” a young boyabout ten years old called out, running into the room and towardthe king. “This letter just arrived for you.” He held out a pieceof paper, breathing heavily.
King Drenton snatched the paper andopened the seal, reading the contents. His face turned red,contorting in rage. He shoved the letter at his son, who silentlyread it. “Where is the messenger?” the king demanded.
“I…I don’t know,” the boystammered. “He gave it to me and bid me bring it to you, YourMajesty.”
The king unsheathed his sword. In oneswift motion, he brought the weapon down, slicing off the boy’sright arm. The boy screamed, falling to the ground, blood gushingfrom the wound. Horror filled Allyssa, and she ran toward the boy.If they stopped the bleeding soon enough, the boy wouldlive.
Kerdan grabbed her by the jacket,throwing her to the floor and placing his large boot atop her back.“Where do you think you’re going?” he snarled. “I told you to stayput. Do not move unless I tell you to. Understood?”
“Someone has to help theboy.” He was running out of time.
Kerdan kicked her side. Pain explodedin her torso, and she curled into herself, not expecting such aviolent outburst from him. “Apologize to the king,” hedemanded.
“Apologize? For what?” Sherolled over, facing the boy. He had passed out, blood poolingaround his still body. “Someone help him!” His skin turned white.He was only a child and had done nothing wrong.
No one moved.
Why wouldn’t anyone help him? A sobescaped her mouth. The prince crouched next to her, a small knifedangling from his gloved fingers. “If I have to repeat myself, youwill wish you were that boy.”
She glanced up into Kerdan’s cold eyesand knew he meant what he said. She tilted her head toward theking. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she wheezed, still trying to catchher breath from the kick. She hated the prince for allowing this tohappen, she hated the king for harming the boy, and she hatedRussek for existing.
“Son,” the king said. “Isthat the princess?”
“It is,” Kerdan replied,standing.
King Drenton laughed, the sound savagein the vast room. “You’re forcing her to serve as a soldier?” Heslapped his son’s shoulder in approval.
“I am forcing her toserveallmyneeds, Father.”
A new fear trickled through her. Ifword got out that she was holed up with the prince, her reputationwould be ruined.
“Well done,” the king said.“Just don’t let your stepmother find out. She would beupset.”
“Queen Jana is not mymother,” Kerdan softly replied. He returned the message to hisfather.
Allyssa glanced at the boy.His chest no longer rose and fell. The blood turned dark aroundhim. So much death and destruction in this vile kingdom. Shestaggered to her feet.Bloody hell, thathurts. She wanted to fight back but knewthe effort would be futile in a room filled with armedmen.
“I need to deal with this,”the king said, folding the paper in half. “Not having access to theriver impedes our supply chain.”
River? Supplychain?Allyssa had been right about Russekusing the river when they invaded. “What happened to your soldiersat the cave in the Romek Mountains?” she asked, hating to call themen soldiers—they were animals who had slaughtered her men. And oneday, Russek would pay.
“How do you know aboutthat?” Drenton demanded.
“Prince Soma took methere,” she said, altering the truth slightly.
“You were at the cave withSoma?”
“Yes. We left when wordreached him that a squad of Emperion soldiers were nearby. He wasworried they would find and rescue me.”
The king balled the paper and growled.“You.” He pointed at the closest sentry. The man’s face drained ofall color. “Come here.” When the sentry neared, the king punchedhim. “Soma should have stayed and fought.” Drenton punched thesentry again. “His skills could have made the difference.” Thesentry fell, and the king turned his attention to hisson.
Allyssa fought a smile. Her men musthave killed the Russek beasts. Good. They deserved it.
“Instead, Soma chose tobring Princess Allyssa and Prince Odar here.” Kerdan lowered hisvoice to a whisper and said, “I’ve been telling you, Father, Somais under the queen’s command. Not yours. Now if you’ll excuse me,there is much to be done to make up for Soma’s errors.” Kerdangrabbed Allyssa’s arm, pulling her away from the king.
Chapter Fifteen
Allyssa stumbled to the middle of acourtyard, the imposing castle surrounding her on all four sides.The sky above boasted beautiful white clouds, a stark contrast tothe twelve heavily armed soldiers sitting atop horses, waiting.Kerdan shoved her toward one of two saddled horses, a stable boyholding the reins.
