Page 22 of Cage of Destiny
Tears slid down her cheeks. The pain,the terror, the memories choking her. “Do you feel?” shewhispered.
“There was a point in mylife where I stopped feeling. It was the only way to survive. Whenyour mother gave Savenek to me to raise, I began to feel again.I’ve had no greater job in the world than raising him as myson.”
“You really love him? Eventhough he is not your blood?” Even though he had to have known thatone day, Savenek would be taken from him?
“I love him as if he weremy own child.” He spoke with a firm conviction, and it warmed herheart.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” heasked.
“For taking care of mybrother. For loving him like your own. I can’t imagine what he’sthinking or feeling right now. But for me, I’m thankful he wasn’traised by an uncaring person. Someone not worthy of him.” Savenekhad to consider Nathenek his father. Now that he knew the truth,how did he feel? If the roles were reversed and Allyssa was toldRema and Darmik weren’t her parents, she would be devastated. She’dbe hurt, betrayed, furious. At least Nathenek had known the truth.He knew this day would come and he wasn’t blindsided like herbrother.
“Savenek was upset whenyour parents came and told him the truth. Unfortunately, we didn’thave any time alone to discuss the matter. He was whisked away thatnight. I don’t know if he’s furious with me or not.”
Her brother probably understoodNathenek was only following Rema and Darmik’s orders—the empressand emperor. He couldn’t be mad at Nathenek. But with her parents,he did have a right to be hurt and angry. And what about Allyssa?Would Savenek resent her growing up with their parents? It feltstrange to realize she was no longer her parents’ only child. Shewould have to share them.
“Get some sleep,” Natheneksaid. “It will get better. All you can do right now is focus on thepositive. Choose how to lead your life. The memories will never begone completely; they will always be there inside of you. But theywill fade, and it will be manageable.”
***
Lying on their stomachs, Allyssa andNathenek observed the small border town of Jontis below. Eventhough they were hidden beneath a bush, she still felt oddlyexposed. Men dressed in commoner clothing stood on every corner andoutside of every establishment. Their wide shoulders and predatorygazes revealed their ruthlessness, marking them for what theywere—Russek soldiers.
“Let’s get out of here,”she whispered in Nathenek’s ear. Being this close to the Russekbeasts made her skin tingle.
He shook his head and pointed at hiseyes, then back at the town. Not knowing what he was looking for,she put her head on her hands, taking deep breaths while trying tocontrol her fear. She couldn’t let the mere sight of Russeksoldiers send her cowering like a child. Allyssa had survivedRussek, escaped, and now it was time to make them pay. She breathedin the smell of the moist dirt below her body, strength anddetermination filling her.
Thick clouds overhead concealed thesun, casting a gray hue to the dreary town. She started watchingthe soldiers, trying to determine who was in charge and what theywere looking for. Probably a young woman matching her description.After a while, a pattern emerged. The men were divided into groupsof ten, each patrolling a block. One man checked in with each groupevery thirty minutes or so. After he spoke to one person from eachgroup, he headed to the northern part of the town and entered asmall inn. Whoever oversaw this operation had to be leading it fromthere.
Nathenek tapped her shoulder andpointed behind them. She nodded and slowly scooted back, takingcare not to rustle the bush. Crouching low, they returned to theirhorses a short distance away.
Once mounted, Nathenek said, “Mysuspicion is confirmed. Jana set a trap to lure youhere.”
Allyssa rubbed her temple, wonderingif Jana had set a similar trap for Odar. If so, had he fallen forit? “Do you think Jana is down there?”
“No. She is probably stillin Clovek.”
“Where to?” As soon as sheasked the question, she knew. “You want to go to the Womek estatein southern Russek, don’t you?”
A sly smile spread across his face. “Iwas actually going to suggest we send word to Prince Kerdan. Butsince you’ve mentioned it, I think that’s a superbidea.”
“Do you know the Womekfamily?” The name was unfamiliar to her. However, when Kerdan hadtold her how to get in touch with him, she’d been with Neco. He’drecognized the name.
“Yes. Don’t you?” Nathenekasked, steering his horse northward.
She racked her brain, trying toremember everything she’d learned. “The name isn’t one Irecognize.”
“Duke Womek’s daughtermarried someone from Emperion. I thought you knew this?” He glancedover his shoulder at her, his eyebrows pulling together. “Maybeyou’re too young to remember.” He slowed his horse so they were nowriding side by side. “After your mother became the empress, shesent an envoy to Russek. They met with Duke Womek—the late queen’sbrother. He had a daughter of marriageable age. She met and fell inlove with a man named Traco. Traco is one of your father’s mosttrusted and loyal friends who served in his elite squad. Remaapproved the marriage; King Drenton did not. The king and duke hada falling out over it.”
Interesting. Allyssa didn’t recall hermother or father ever mentioning it. Obviously Kerdan knew of thesituation; otherwise, he wouldn’t have recommended they sendmessages for him to the duke—who was his uncle. “I find thesituation more complicated by the second,” she mused.
“I find Prince Kerdanintriguing.”
Allyssa reached back, pulling up thehood of her cloak. Nathenek’s suspicions whispered in her head,planting seeds of doubt. While she wanted to dismiss his concernsabout Kerdan, she couldn’t. There were still too many sides toKerdan she hadn’t seen. “What’s your opinion on theprince?”
“I don’t have one. Which isstrange. Usually I have a feeling one way or the other, but basedon what you’ve told me, I can’t get a read on him.”
“How do we plan to lureJana into a trap? Are we going to the duke’s and sending word toKerdan?”
