Page 15 of Cage of Darkness
Soma stepped inside the tent, ploppingAllyssa onto one of the four cots before exiting. He returned amoment later, helping Odar through the tent flap with his good arm.The second they were inside, Soma let go. Odar crumpled to hishands and knees, his face white from the physical exertion. Hecrawled to the nearest cot, pulling himself on top ofit.
Soma stood next to her cot. Reachingdown, he pinched her knee. She felt a vague pressure, but no pain.He slowly slid his hand up her thigh until she gasped withsurprise. The assassin smiled. “So feeling is returning,” hepurred.
“Get your filthy hands offme.” She had nothing to defend herself with except words, so shecontinued, “I’m surprised the Russek soldiers treat their prince socasually.” She tsked. “A commoner tent? You must not be veryimportant.”
His shoulders stiffened, and his eyesblazed with fury. “I am trying to blend in.”
She laughed, knowing he lied. Not oncehad he asked for anonymity. He was tolerated and feared, but notrespected or valued. And he knew it.
“Where are the guards?” Heducked outside.
Allyssa glanced over at Odar. “Are youokay?”
He nodded. “What aboutyou?”
“Feeling is starting toreturn.”
“You don’t weigh as much asme, so I’m sure the substance affected you more.”
Soma returned with a Russek soldier intow. “You will be posted in here,” he told the man. “Make surethese two,” he pointed at Allyssa and Odar, “remain where theyare.”
When the assassin left, thesoldier positioned his body in front of the exit, blocking itcompletely. His head touched the ceiling, his wide shoulders pulledat his tunic, and his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Whatchance of escaping did they have with this giant watching overthem?Blimey.
***
Allyssa had been lying awake in thedark tent for hours thinking of ways to escape. Her mind reeledwith possibilities. Only, none seemed likely to work.
The giant standing guardinside pushed through the flap and exited. She breathed a sigh ofrelief. The sound of liquid hitting the side of the tent reachedher ears.Is he peeing? Gross.
“Goin’ ba in da?” someoneasked.
“Ye. I be orda to sta inda. Canno figa out why. Neither seem threatn.”
“Don ken who da be?” thehigher-pitched voice asked.
“Na.”
Even though these soldiers spoke thesame language as Allyssa, they had a thick, heavy accent, whichmade it difficult to follow along. Mayra had once told her that thekey to understanding various dialects was to think of the languageas a song. All the words were familiar; she just had to learn theirrhythm. The two men started to talk about hunting, so she listened,trying Mayra’s technique in order to understand them better. Aftera few minutes, the inflections on certain syllables became clear.As the words washed over her, the men’s accent vanished.
“Did you hear Prince Kerdanarrived today looking for King Drenton?” the giant soldier asked.“Too bad the king left three days ago.”
“I heard Prince Kerdanbecame ill during the battle in Melenia. Many thought he woulddie,” the higher-pitched soldier responded, pride etching hiswords. He must be glad his prince didn’t pass away. Was PrinceKerdan well-liked by his men? Did these soldiers reflect thebrutality of their prince?
“Who did he come herewith?”
“Only a handful of hiselite guard.”
“Did he look sick orinjured?”
“No.” There was a pause.“But when someone asked if he was feeling better, he becamefurious. Almost took the man’s head off.”
The soldier chuckled. “Have you metthe prince before?”
“I have not had that honor.Although, I have met Prince Soma.”
“Prince Soma doesn’t count.He only bears the title of princebecausehis mummy somehow convinced our king to marry her after the suddendeath of the queen.” His voice sounded bitter, upseteven.
“I’ve heard PrincessShelene is easy on the eyes.”
