Page 69 of Cage of Destiny
“Who are you betting on?”Allyssa whispered.
Kerdan stiffened and shook his headslightly. How was she supposed to learn about Russek if he wouldn’tlet her talk or tell her what was going on? Someone sat in the lastempty chair.
A woman strutted over to their table,placing a jug on it. Each man gave her three coins, while Kerdangave her six. She set a mug in front of everyone and left. One ofthe men grabbed the jug, filling each mug with ale.
“Go ahead,” Kerdan said toher, nodding at one of the mugs in front of them.
Not wanting to inadvertently offendanyone, she took a sip, trying not to make a face as she drank thestrong ale.
The fight started and people cheered.The man in blue wrapped his beefy arms around his opponent’s neck,flipping him over and ending the fight in less than thirty seconds.Money exchanged hands at each of the tables.
“You visiting?” one of themen asked Kerdan.
“Yeah. Only here foranother day or two. Then we need to get home.”
“And where is home?”another asked.
“North of here up inParsnip,” Kerdan replied, taking a swig of his ale.
The man who had recently joined themlooked vaguely familiar. Allyssa racked her brain trying to figureout where she’d seen him when it dawned on her—he’d lost the lastfight against the man in blue.
The next round of fighting started.“Seems like Felix is going to be the champion tonight,” the man onKerdan’s right muttered. The man in blue—Felix—punched his opponentin the nose, and blood splashed across the man’s face. Then Felixspun and elbowed the man in the stomach. He tumbled to the ground,and Felix won the match.
The money in the center of the tablewas divvied up to the winners. One of the men got up and left.Allyssa took another small sip of her ale. Cheering erupted as thenext round of fighting finished. A man came and sat at their table,and another one left. Money exchanged hands again. The betting madeabsolutely no sense to Allyssa.
Kerdan rested his chin on hershoulder. “I’m up next,” he whispered in her ear. “Make sure youdon’t talk to anyone. Stay in this area so I can find you after thematch.”
She must have heard him incorrectly.Turning her head so no one could hear her speak, she whispered,“Excuse me?” He was so close her lips almost brushedhis.
“I’m not saying you can’tgo anywhere,” he said. “I just want to be able to find you whenit’s over.”
“You’refighting?”
“Why else would I sithere?”
A slew of curse words left her mouth,and Kerdan chuckled.
“We don’t do this sort ofthing in Emperion. How was I supposed to know that sitting heremeant you were going to fight?” They were supposed to be keeping alow profile and listening for valuable information. Why would hefight?
“Oh.” He shrugged andstood, bringing her up with him. “Well, I have to go checkin.”
Kerdan walked away without a backwardglance. She stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do. Usually,she had no trouble blending in. However, she felt out of place inthis barn-turned-tavern surrounded by fighting Russeks. Allyssadecided to stay put. She was about to sit when the man next to hergrabbed the chair, yanking it away from her.
“There are no other womenfighting tonight,” he said.
“What?” she asked, tryingto mimic the Russek accent.
“If you sit there, youfight,” the man said. “And there ain’t no more women left. You looktoo thin and frail to fight these men.” He nodded toward the threerings.
Bloody hell. Kerdan should have warnedher. She took one last sip of her drink and then went over to thecenter ring, pushing her way through the cheering people until shehad a clear view. Felix won. Again.
Kerdan jumped into the ring. He’dtaken off his shirt and only had his black pants on. He flexed hismuscles as he looked at his opponent, who was about the same heightand weight as him. Felix was dripping with sweat, a wild look inhis eyes. The two men circled one another, both predators waitingto strike. The people around Allyssa hollered, anticipating blood.Her stomach twisted with nerves. She couldn’t believe Kerdan wasdoing this.
The two men continued to circle oneanother. And then Felix bolted toward Kerdan, knocking himdown.
ChapterEighteen
Kerdan flew to the ground, Felix on top of him.Kerdan wrapped his legs around his opponent, flipping him off hisbody and jumping to his feet.
