Page 4 of Cage of Destiny
PrincessAllyssa,
I understand yourengagement to Prince Odar is no longer in place; however, I knowyou care for him. Shortly after Queen Jana put a bounty on yourhead, my men spotted Odar in Russek. I believe he means toassassinate her. I fear he’ll be killed in his attempt. If you wishto save his life, come to Jontis—a small border town where Fia,Telmena, and Russek converge. I will meet you there.
Sincerely,
Prince Kerdan
Bloody hell—Odar was going after Janato finish what Allyssa failed to do. Well, she couldn’t let him dieon her behalf. Jana was her responsibility, not his. She went overand unlocked the window. Sliding it open, she came face to facewith Nathenek. “What are you doing outside?” she asked, startled tosee him.
“I believe the questionshould be:Where do you think you’regoing?”
Chapter Two
Allyssa slammed the window closed.Damn Nathenek. How was she going to save Odar if she couldn’t sneakaway?
The front door banged shut. “Get inhere,” Nathenek said, his voice low and angry.
Exiting Savenek’s room, she enteredthe one and only sitting room.
“Sit.” He pointed at thecouch.
She obliged, folding her arms acrossher chest while he stood there and stared at her. She could see theentire house from here. Nathenek’s room was to her left, Savenek’sto her right, and the kitchen behind her. There wasn’t even afireplace. And the décor… The couch didn’t have a single pillow,the walls were bare, no books, no knickknacks. “How long have youlived here?”
“What?” He seemed caughtoff guard by the question.
She waved her hand at the walls.“Everything is so plain. It doesn’t feel like a home.”
A ghost of a smile flittered acrosshis face. “Savenek and I travel a lot.”
“Throughout Emperion? Or doyou go to other kingdoms?”
He shook his head. “That is aconversation for another day. Now, tell me where you’re sneakingoff to.”
This man was sharp—he knew sheintended to leave and catching her tonight wasn’t the end of it.Not seeing any reason to conceal the truth, she pulled out Kerdan’sletter and handed it to him.
He quickly read through it. “You’rerushing out of here with no plan? No supplies? Were you going tobother leaving a note telling me where you went?”
Interesting that he wasn’t yelling ather for wanting to leave unaccompanied or about the dangers of aprincess in a city as big as this one. “Are you implying I’m freeto go?”
“You are not a prisonerhere.” He slid the letter in his pocket.
She started to stand, and his facehardened. She sat back down. What did he want from her?
“Answer two questions, thenyou may go.”
“Very well.” She leanedback on the couch, waiting for him to continue. She appreciatedthat he didn’t treat her like royalty. It reminded her ofGrevik.
“First question, what is ityou plan to do?”
“Go to Jontis and saveOdar.”
“Why?”
“So he doesn’t die.” Shecouldn’t live with his death hanging over her head. Besides, Janawas Emperion’s problem, not Fren’s. Allyssa would find a way to fixthis mess. The war was at a standstill while Kerdan and Janabattled over the throne. However, if Jana won, she would sendRussek’s army into Emperion. There would be no mercy, and it wouldbe a bloodbath.
“That isn’t what Imeant.”
Allyssa stood. “I answered twoquestions.” She was eager to be on her way.
