Page 7 of Cage of Destiny
“Are you awake?” Nathenekasked, poking his head in the dark room.
“Yes.”
“Good. Get dressed.” Heleft.
The sun wasn’t even up. What did heintend to do at this hour? Marek woke up early to train with thesoldiers who lived on the castle grounds. Perhaps Nathenek had asimilar routine.
Once out of bed, Allyssa threw ontrousers and a tunic, braiding her hair and wrapping it around herhead to get it out of the way. After stretching her arms and legs,she went into the sitting room. Nathenek stood by the door,unrecognizable in his brown pants and tunic with a strip of fabricwrapped around his head, which left only his eyes exposed. Manypeople in this area wore such clothing since the land was sandy andharsh winds kicked up in the afternoon.
“I don’t suppose you haveany weapons?” he asked, his voice muffled by the fabric.
“Just a knife.” The oneNeco had given her.
“That will suffice.” Heopened the door and stepped outside in the predawnmorning.
This time, Allyssa paid attention toher surroundings. Nathenek’s house sat by itself on a bare hilloverlooking Emperor’s City. There wasn’t a barn or any otherbuildings nearby. Not even a paddock with horses. They took awell-worn dirt path that wound back and forth down the hill. Howmany times had Savenek walked this very way?
She was going to ask about her brotherwhen Nathenek said, “We’ll enter the city at the southend.”
The sky started to lighten and thewind picked up, whipping against her back. “What are we going to doin the city?”
“I’m going to give you aseries of tasks, and you will perform them. Task number one,run.”
She eyed him and realizedher test had just begun. He probably wanted to know how well shelistened to direct orders. Thankfully, her father had drilled itinto her not to ask questions in certain situations. Darmik hadsaid,If I say duck, you duck. Don’t askme why. When your head is still attached, you’ll know.So she ran, estimating the city started in about amile. There were hundreds and hundreds of streets, crisscrossing ina maze she had yet to figure out. Various markets were sprinkledthroughout—bright, vibrant spots in an otherwise colorlesscity.
Glancing over her shoulder, she sawNathenek jogging not far behind her. She ran faster—almostsprinting—wanting to prove she was more than capable of followingorders and handling the physical exertion. Even though she hadspent time in the dungeon, her body severely neglected and abused,she’d healed enough. Her legs had no problem carrying her forward.The fresh air filled her lungs, and she controlled her breathing,keeping her eyes focused on the road ahead. The task came easily toher from years of running with her father. When she reached thefirst street lined with two-story buildings, she stopped, waitingfor her next order.
Nathenek stopped next to her, glancingat her sidelong. With the fabric covering his face, she couldn’tdiscern his thoughts or feelings; although, she suspected it didn’tmatter because he was a master at concealing suchthings.
“I want you to go to theBilarie Market,” he said. “Find a man selling tangerines at a cartwith a red awning. Steal six. Then proceed to the main guardstation in the center of the city. Wait for me there.”
She must have heard him wrong. “Youmean purchase six tangerines.”
“Is that what Isaid?”
“No. You said to stealthem. But you can’t possibly want me to take something withoutpaying for it.”
“Isn’t that the definitionof stealing?”
She wanted to rip the fabric off hisface so she could see him. “Why do you want me to commit a crimeagainst my people?” She folded her arms, gritting her teeth. Therewere other ways for him to test her without forcing her to dosomething illegal.
“You failed.” He turned andheaded back toward the house.
This man was insufferable.Why couldn’t he explain the reason for this task?Because he doesn’t have to.Part of working with someone was being able to trust themexplicitly. While she didn’t trust Nathenek yet, her motherobviously did. That needed to be good enough for her. She took theleap.
“Wait.” He turned back toface her. “I’ll do it. But I want you to know I don’t agree withyour tactics.”
“I don’t care whether youagree with me or not. I gave you a job. Now get to it. You have twohours.” He walked away, leaving her alone.
She had no idea where the BilarieMarket was located or if it was even open at this hour. Growling infrustration, she ran. While she knew the layout of Lakeside fairlywell, Emperor’s City was another matter entirely. The family camehere once a year, and when they did, Allyssa rarely ventured intothe city. Her mother always complained about the heat, the sand,and the lack of color. Allyssa understood that; however, this waswhere Emperor Hamen had been killed, so she suspected there wereother reasons for Rema to avoid this place. They only came here outof duty because this was the largest city in Emperion and the hubof all trade.
An expansive harbor bordered the westside of the city. Since she’d entered the city on the south side,the ocean was to her left. The market could be anywhere. The skycontinued to lighten. She took note of the sun’s placement todetermine how much time passed.
Up ahead, a man exited a building, aburlap sack slung over his shoulder.
“Excuse me,” she calledout.
The man stopped, giving her a curiousglance. His scarf hung under his chin, allowing her to see hisface.
