Page 45 of Cage of Destiny
“Never,” Hurit said,widening his stance, sword in hand. “The money is mine.”
Allyssa slid the dagger from hersleeve. Odar stretched his neck from side to side, preparing tofight. Well, she could rectify this situation. Focusing on Sparek,she drew an imaginary target on his stomach.
Dizziness washed over her,and her vision blurred. The last time she struck a man like thishad been in the Clovek castle when she was fleeing for her life.She’d meant to strike Jana but had hit a soldier instead. What ifshe missed and struck Odar?
Focus,Kerdan’s voice snarled in her head.You can do this.
She glanced at Odar—he waswatching her, his eyes steady and confident. He nodded once. Shecould do this. Allyssa counted to three and threw the dagger. Odardropped to the ground as the dagger sailed through the air andembedded in Sparek’s stomach. Hurit swung his sword, slicingSparek’s arm off. He dropped to the ground next to Odar, bloodeverywhere. Odar scrambled away from the dying man.
“It’s not safe here,” Huritsaid. “Let’s get indoors.”
Instead of going to the innas she assumed they would, he led them to a dilapidated buildingnext to it. The inside was dark and smelled of urine.
“What’s going on?” Allyssademanded.
Someone grabbed her frombehind, yanking her arms back. Odar cursed. Kerdan had insisted sheact like herself no matter what. He said her behavior in this fakekidnapping was imperative. She just prayed this was indeed fake.Taking a deep breath, she flung her head back, hitting her captor,having no idea if he was on her side or not. He wrapped a beefy armaround her waist, picking her up. She screamed and kicked at him.Managing to reach one of her knives, she withdrew it and plunged itinto the man’s thigh. He hollered and dropped her. Slamming to theground, she rolled away from him, trying to get herbearings.
Visions of being back inthe dungeon assaulted her, and her breathing sped up. She swore shewould never be vulnerable again. But the darkness and the smellsput her right back in that vile place. Nathenek had told her sheneeded to face her demons to move on. Right now, the task feltoverwhelming. Someone yanked her to her feet.
“Enough,” a man not faraway from her said. “We need to deliver her to the queen alive. Ifwe harm her, the queen will be mad we took that pleasure away fromher.”
Several male voices agreed.
“Are they both secure?” heasked.
The man holding her pulledher arms back, tying her wrists together with rope. “Yeah,” hesaid. “The princess is secure.”
“The prince is secure,”another man said from a few feet away.
“Gag them. I don’t wantthem talking.”
Fabric that smelled likemold covered her nose and mouth, her captor tying it at the base ofher neck. Vomit rose in the back of her throat, and she had toforce herself to swallow it. This wasn’t the dungeon. She could dothis.
“Let’s go.”
Someone grabbed her upperarm, dragging her out of the building and into the bright light.Bloody hell. Over three dozen men wielding swords and spearsblocked the exit. The man holding her swore and yanked her backinside. Several men shouted, and the sound of metal clanging rangout.
“Use the back door,” Huritsaid. The man holding her dragged her through the darkness. Shetripped over something, but he held her upright. They exited thebuilding and came face to face with another group of armed men. Theman released her, withdrew his sword, and parried the blow from anoncoming attacker. As Allyssa scrambled back inside, she caught aglimpse of Kerdan in the distance.
“Kerdan,” she screamedthrough the smelly gag.
It seemed like time froze as everyoneturned toward the prince. His eyes locked with hers, and hewinked.
“Prince Kerdan’s overthere,” someone shouted. “Get him!” Several men ran toward him.Instead of standing his ground, Kerdan sprinted away, his pursuersfollowing him.
A knife flew past Allyssa.Not wanting to remain in the fray, she ran back inside thedilapidated building.
“Go to the rooftop,” Hurityelled.
Standing in place for amoment, she blinked, allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Astaircase was on the opposite wall. She ran for it, climbing up twosteps at a time, untying the bindings around her wrists. With herhands finally free, she reached up, ripping off the gag.
“Allyssa,” Odar called out,running after her. He’d managed to free his hands and mouth aswell.
Not stopping, she ran forthe second floor. When she reached it, she remembered seeing thesoldier signal to the second-story window of the inn. “Whichdirection is the inn?”
“Left,” Odaranswered.
She went that way until shecame to a filthy window covered with dirt and grime. Sliding itopen a couple of inches, she peered outside. Directly across stoodan open window about five feet away. Too small to run and jumpinto.
