Page 12 of Cage of Destiny
“You’re resourceful andfairly competent, I’ll give you that. However, you are not deftenough to travel into Russek to find and rescue PrinceOdar.”
“How dare you!” She raisedher voice as exhaustion and anger took over. “You gave me a task todo, and I completed it.”
He went to move around her.
“You’re not being fair.”She stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “You wanted me tofail so I’d have to stay in Emperor’s City where it’s safe. But I’mnot a frail woman who needs to be protected. I’m going.”
He walked away.
“That’s it? You’re not evengoing to discuss this with me? I passed!” How in the world had herbrother been raised by this insufferable man?
Nathenek turned around to face her.“You’re reckless and act without thinking. You just rushed into thesituation with no idea how you’d complete the task, noplan.”
“You didn’t give me time toprepare.”
“And if I had? Would youhave made a plan? And then a backup plan? Or would you have runthrough the city like a gazelle, giving no thought to what youlooked like? What kind of attention you attracted?” He sounded anawful lot like Marek right now.
Those things had come to mind. She’dtaken them into consideration and acted accordingly given thecircumstances.
“We’re not going intoRussek until I feel confident you can handle these sorts ofsituations. If you had a plan today, you wouldn’t have flounderedso much. You would have made it to the guard station in the timeallotted, and you wouldn’t have been arrested.”
At least he hadn’tsaidnooutright.“What do I need to do to gain your confidence and prove I can dothis?” She’d been to Russek. Had survived the dungeon, beingtortured, and the deranged royal family. She’d journeyed to Frenseverely injured. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do.
“Complete the task again.You have two days to come up with a plan.”
“The same task?” She’dnever be able to steal from the three brothers again.
“The exact sametask.”
“You’re mad.”
He chuckled. “You have noidea.”
***
Allyssa and Nathenek stood oppositeone another in the sandy training area behind his house. The windblew, whipping sand around Allyssa’s legs, stinging her through theheavy pants she wore. The sun had not yet crested the rise. It wastoo hot in this blasted city. Loosening her grip on the sword, sheprepared to attack.
“You’ve already lost,”Nathenek commented.
Ignoring him, she attacked,swinging the sword, only to find herself flat on her back.Blimey, that hurt.
“If you plan to reveal yourintentions before you strike, you’ll be dead.”
She stood, brushing herself off. “Howdid you know I’d attack like that?” She’d carefully kept her eyeson his before she swung the sword, just like she’d beentaught.
He smiled and stepped closer to her.“Your entire body gave it away. You loosened your grip, your bodytensed, and you radiated aggression.”
“What should I have done?”Something hit her side. When she glanced down, she noted Nathenek’ssword rested against her hip. She hadn’t even seen himmove.
“You should have attackedwhen it was least expected.” He withdrew his sword and steppedaway.
That seemed ratherdevious.Whoosh.She found herself on the ground again, the wind knocked out ofher. Groaning, she stood, brushing herself off. “I wasn’tready.”
“You should always,” heswung at her as he spoke, “be ready.”
She barely had time to lift her swordto parry the blow. Her arms shook from the impact. “I’m used topracticing with wooden swords.” She hadn’t expected someone his ageto be so quick.
“You have a lot to learn.”He was always so calm and collected. It made her want to smack him.“Your technique is exceptional—which is the problem. You must learnto fight like a ruthless soldier, like a criminal, like you havenothing to lose and everything to gain.”
