Page 23 of Cage of Destiny
“Yes. We’ll figure out therest of our plan once we’re there. For now, we have to pray we’renot going to be ambushed at the duke’s.” He nudged his horse to acanter, pulling ahead of her. She followed, wondering exactly whatNathenek had in mind. Because one thing was certain, he didn’t doanything without having multiple backup plans in place. So, whilehe acted like the idea of going to the duke’s had just occurred tohim, she knew full well that it had been his intention all along.Now she just needed to figure out why.
***
Ever since they entered Russek,Allyssa’s senses had been heightened. Nathenek made sure to keepthem off the roads. He seemed to know where they were going. Notonce did he consult a map or pause to look at their surroundings.When he steered them onto a narrow road, she felt every hair on herbody rise. “What are you doing?” she hissed, afraid Russek soldierscould easily spot them.
“We’ve reached the edge ofthe Womek estate.”
Huge trees towered on either side ofthe road. Feelings of unease continued to build. Someone waswatching them. She could feel it.
A low rumble sounded in the distance.Nathenek reached out, grabbing her arm. “Do not draw your weapon,”he murmured.
She couldn’t tell how many horsesthere were, but they were quickly approaching. “You don’tunderstand. Russeks are barbarians.”
The look he gave her implied heunderstood their disposition quite well. “If you want to make itout of this alive, then follow my lead.”
She nodded, trusting him enough tolisten. For now. Nathenek pulled his horse to a stop and held hishands away from his body. Allyssa followed suit, her horse prancingnervously. A group of six men thundered up the road toward them. IfNathenek was as adept as he implied, he should be able to dispatchthem with ease. Taking comfort from this, Allyssa allowed herselfto relax.
“We seek an audience withDuke Womek,” Nathenek called out.
One of the men raised his hand, andthe group came to a halt about twenty feet away. They wore liveryindicating they were sentries. Since they were on Duke Womek’sland, these were probably his men.
“Who are you?” one of themen called.
“I can’t divulge thatinformation out loud on a road bordered by trees. People could belurking nearby.” Nathenek waved his arm to either side of theroad.
Bloody hell. That meant there werepeople hidden in the trees watching them. If word got out that shewas here, Jana would send her entire army after her.
“You don’t look like you’refrom around here,” another of the men said. He didn’t speak with aRussek accent but rather, an Emperion one.
A man emerged from the trees on herleft. She’d seen him before. “Brookfel?” What was he doinghere?
He grinned and stopped next to her. “Iwas sent to keep an eye out for you.”
Brookfel was a member of Kerdan’selite squad. Her heart pounded. Was this a trap? Her fingers sliddown her leg toward the dagger strapped to her thigh.
“Nice to see you again,”she lied.
He raised his eyebrows and lookedpointedly at her thigh where her hand rested on the dagger hiddenbeneath. “Come, let’s get you inside. It’s not safe for you to beout here.” Brookfel took Horse’s reins, leading them down the road.Nathenek said nothing as he followed close behind, the six sentriestrailing him.
Brookfel maintained a brisk pace,surprisingly swift for someone so large and bulky. His wideshoulders nearly matched the width of the road. The trees suddenlyended. In the distance stood a sizeable home surrounded by greenpastures. Brookfel stopped and whistled. When someone whistledback, he proceeded toward the house. The place had been constructedentirely of stones and appeared to be two stories tall with dozensof windows indicating the owner had quite a bit ofwealth.
Stopping before a set of double doors,Brookfel helped Allyssa dismount. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll havesomeone take the horses around back to the stables. We don’t wantanyone to spot them.”
“That’s fine. Please seethey are tended to.”
He nodded and barked orders to thesentries.
Peering at the forest about a mileaway, she shivered, knowing there were probably dozens of Womek’ssentries watching them right now. Would they be enough to keep hersafe? To keep the Russek army away?
“Follow me,” Brookfel said.He glanced at Nathenek. “Why are you here?” he asked in apoint-blank manner.
“I am a family friend andprotector,” he answered.
Something flashed in Brookfel’s eyes.He pushed the door open and ushered them inside. It took a momentfor her eyes to adjust to the dark entryway. Brookfel led them intoa great hall. A single table filled the middle of the space,couches and chairs at the far end, and an enormous hearth with alow-burning fire in the center of the wall across from thewindows.
“Have a seat.” Brookfelpointed at the chairs. “Someone will be along shortly.” Heleft.
Allyssa sat down, wondering whyBrookfel was there and what was going on. A man in his earlyforties entered. He had dark hair, keen eyes, and was a little onthe stocky side. “Are you Duke Womek?” she inquired.
