Page 68 of Cage of Darkness
“We can’t risk a fire,”Odar said, putting her down and closing the squeaky door. “Let’srest for a few hours. We’ll leave at first light.” He pulled out atin from one of the bags. “I must put this salve on yourarm.”
She swayed on her feet. “I need to sitdown.” Lifting her in his arms, he carried her into a small bedroomoff the kitchen and gently laid her on the bed. Dust motes floated,and she sneezed, the simple act making her cry out. Everythinghurt. She just wanted to sleep so she wouldn’t feel the pain anylonger.
“There’s nothing I can dofor the ribs. This salve should help your arm though.” He slid herarm out of the shirt, unwrapped the bandage, and exposed the wound.After covering it with the salve, he pulled her sleeve backon.
At least if she died now, it wouldn’tbe from Jana torturing her. But her parents…her people…she couldn’tleave them. She had to hang on, had to fight for them. Her eyelidsbecame heavy.
“Get some sleep,” he said,pulling the blanket over her body. It reeked of dust and mildew,but it was warm. “I’ll be in the other room if you needme.”
“Don’t leave,” she mumbled.She needed his steadfast presence to keep her grounded and fightingto hang on.
He sighed. “I guess all decorum isalready gone.” Sliding under the blanket, he laid next to her,wrapping his arm around her stomach and holding her close tohim.
His steady breathing soothed her.“Much better.” Even though her breath came out in white puffs, shefelt warm and content next to him.
***
Allyssa woke up, her body achy andtender. Groaning, she rolled over and grunted from the shootingpains radiating through her torso. Odar didn’t even move as he laythere breathing heavily, looking peaceful in his sleep. Not wantingto wake him, she slid out from under the blanket, holding herbreath, trying not to make a sound.
When her feet touched the ground, shealmost screamed. It was bloody cold in this small house. Slidingher boots on, she shuffled over to the window, trying to seethrough the dirty glass. Using her sleeve, she wiped a sectionclean and looked out at the brightly lit morning. Snow coated theground and trees, making the surrounding land appear peaceful andstill. If it were any other time, it might be considered romantic,but not here only a few miles from the castle. They needed to be ontheir way. Blood soaked through her sleeve again, probably frommoving her arm around.
“Morning,” Odar mumbled,rubbing his eyes and sitting up in bed. “Thought I was dreaming atfirst, but that is you, and we are here. Hard tobelieve.”
“Let’s see if there’sanything we can use here for supplies and be on our way.” Shewanted to put as much distance between them and Clovek as possible.No matter what happened, she would not go back there unless Kerdanwas sitting peacefully on the throne.
“I’ll take a look at yourarm first, then check the cabin for supplies. You sit and rest. Wehave a long day ahead of us.” He ran his hands through his hair,trying to tame the disheveled mess. Allyssa couldn’t believe howlong it had gotten over the last couple of weeks.
Sitting on the bed, she pulled thefabric away from the wound and then slid her arm out of the sleeve.Odar examined it. “I’m going to apply some more of the medicine. Ithink you should keep it wrapped tightly. I don’t have anything tostitch the skin together, but maybe if you keep a bandage aroundit, it will help.”
Not having many options, she agreed.While he worked on her arm, she examined the room in greaterdetail. For no one living here, there sure seemed to be a lot ofstuff. Pictures hung on the walls, old rugs lay on the floor. Thedresser had some knickknacks on top of it. It seemed odd that theplace hadn’t been cleared out when the army stopped usingit.
If anyone stumbled uponthis place, it would be obvious that someone had been here sincethere were fresh footsteps on the dusty floor. Well, there wasnothing that could be done about that now. One of the tapestrieshanging on the wall to her right had a picture of a wolf stitchedon it. The tapestry hanging on her left had a soldier embroideredon it. The soldier held a sword in one hand, blood dripping off thepoint.Lovely.Andso…Russek. In the soldier’s other hand was some sort of weapon shedidn’t recognize.
“All done,” Odarsaid.
Allyssa slid her arm back in thesleeve and went over to the tapestry to examine it in greaterdetail. It wasn’t a weapon he held—but a mask. This man remindedher of Kerdan. It was no mistake—this tapestry being here. Herbeing here. She peeked behind the tapestry.
“What are you doing?” Odarasked.
A section of the wall appeared darker,but it was hard to tell. “Hold the tapestry away from the wall so Ican get a better look. I think there’s something behindit.”
He did as she asked. Sliding behindthe tapestry, she saw a section of the wall had been removed tocreate an inlet, which had been filled with food, blankets, and apiece of paper. She pulled everything out, setting it on the floor.When she stepped out from the tapestry, Odar let it fall backagainst the wall, concealing the hidden inlet.
“I’ll be damned,” hemumbled. “Just what we need.” They sat on the ground, examining thesupplies. “I’ll tie the blankets to the horses. We have enough foodin the saddlebags to last a couple of days, so eat what you can ofthis and I’ll pack the rest for later.”
She picked up the paper andunfolded it. “It’s a map.” She showed it to Odar. It looked like itstarted at the cabin they were currently in, went through theforest, along a trail, and to a spot markedHunting Lodge. “What do you think?” Atrap? Or Kerdan’s way of helping them out of Russek?
Odar sat staring at it for severalminutes, his fingers tapping on the floorboard. “I say we followit.” He finally looked at her. “Somehow, you knew about this place.I have to assume Kerdan wanted you to find this.” Folding the map,he shoved it in his pocket and stood. “Let’s go. If Kerdan knowsabout this place, I’m sure someone else does too.” He pulled her toher feet.
Allyssa nibbled on a roll while Odarpacked their things. Once everything was ready, they went out tothe barn and mounted the horses. Riding through the forest in thedaylight, she was able to see how strong and well-trained her horsewas. Kerdan must have chosen these horses for them. He must haveknown they could carry them to Fren. A thought occurred to her, andshe said, “Jomk.” The horse whinnied. This was Kerdan’s warhorse.And the map had been an unexpected gift from him aswell.
They traveled hard and fast most ofthe day. Just as the sun started to set, they came upon a crudewooden structure.
“This is it,” Odar stated.“The map leads us right to here.”
The place didn’t have a door, but atleast it had a roof. Dismounting, she tied Jomk to a post and wentinside. It was a small room without any amenities. Odar brought inthe blankets, laying them out for them to sleep on.
“This is what hunters usewhen they’re out tracking game. It’s meant to serve as a shelterfrom the snow or rain for a few hours—nothing more.” He handed hersome bread and cheese along with a water skin.
