Page 25 of Cage of Darkness
The door flew open, and three soldiersentered, filling the entire space with their presence. One yankedAllyssa to her feet, dragging her out of the cell.
“Where are you taking me?”she demanded. No one answered. With one soldier in front, oneholding her arm, and the third behind her, they made their wayalong the dark hallway of the dungeon. Were they taking her to betortured? What else could they do to her? Images of the mutilatedEmperion soldiers flashed in her mind. She wanted to peel thesoldier’s hand off her arm, but her fingertips were still tootender. “Let go.” She meant for it to come out as a demand;instead, it sounded like a whimper.
The soldiers laughed. Shetried to dig her heels into the ground, but the man holding herdidn’t slow, despite her limp. Could she survive anotherinterrogation? Her mind screamed at her to beg them to help her, orto fight for her freedom. But her dignity demanded she face whatwas coming head-on.Bloody hell.It felt like she was going to vomit. The manholding her loosened his grip. She realized her body wasshaking.
They made several turns in thelabyrinth before ascending three flights of stairs. Tears slid downher cheeks from the pain in her leg and the fear of the unknown.They exited the dungeon. Torches lit the dark walls and severalmismatched worn rugs covered the floor. It felt like floatingthrough a dream as she was being led along the corridors of theRussek castle. The men escorting her stopped before a large doorwhere two sentries stood guard.
Allyssa swore she could hear her heartpounding as the door swung open to reveal the Throne Room.Approximately one hundred people milled about laughing and speakingmerrily to one another. Not wanting to be dragged in front of thesepeople and thrown at the queen’s feet, she stepped into the room onher own and limped down the aisle toward the dais, the guardssurrounding, but not touching, her.
Those gathered gradually noticed her,and a hush descended over the room. Whatever was about to happen,the queen wanted these people to witness it. Taking a deep breath,Allyssa continued walking toward the dais while observing themembers of court. Many of the men were huge—not only tall but broadshouldered and stocky. They had to be retired soldiers orhigher-ranking military officers. These were members of the royalfamily’s inner circle, and Allyssa wouldn’t find sympathy amongthem.
Queen Jana sat on one of the ThroneChairs, Princess Shelene and Prince Soma standing to her left. Thesecond Throne Chair remained unoccupied, which meant the kingwasn’t here. Odar was nowhere in sight. Allyssa prayed he hadn’tbeen executed. She balled her hands into fists, willing her shakingarms to be still so her fear wouldn’t be so evident.
Shelene whispered something to Somaand laughed, the simple gesture lighting up her beautiful face.Soma, however, remained cold and hard. Allyssa stopped at thebottom of the dais, a soldier on each side of her. She raised hereyebrows, refusing to bow or kneel before Russek royalty, andwaited for the queen to speak.
Jana gracefully stood, folding herhands together. “Thank you all for coming,” she addressed hercourt. “May I present to you Princess Allyssa of Emperion.” Severalpeople gasped with surprise. “As some of you know, my son, PrinceSoma, has brought her here to aid in our negotiations withEmperion.” She smiled and glanced down at Allyssa, a smirkspreading across her face as she took in her hands andbruises.
“I hardly think keeping melocked in the dungeon is considered negotiating,” Allyssaspat.
The queen’s smile vanished. “I beg todiffer. Your parents and I are negotiating for yourlife.”
“You’re wasting your time.My parents won’t agree to your terms.”
Jana took slow, deliberate steps downthe dais toward Allyssa. She leaned in and whispered, “I havealready sent them your nails. Your fingers and toes will be next. Ithink these gifts will be powerful motivators for your parents tocooperate.” She spun around and returned to the top of the dais,sitting on the Throne Chair once again. “There is one otherannouncement.” Her proud voice echoed in the large room as sheaddressed her court. “My daughter, Princess Shelene, has receivedan offer for a most advantageous marriage that will greatly benefitRussek.”
While the queen looked elegant andregal in her rich clothing and artful makeup, Allyssa knew she wasas cunning as a snake. All of this—the members of court beingpresent, the absence of the king, even Allyssa’s own appearance—itwas all part of Jana’s elaborate plot to retake Emperion. Herparents had greatly underestimated this woman.
“People of Russek, I ampleased to announce my daughter’s engagement to Prince Odar ofFren. The marriage treaty is signed, and we will have full accessto Fren’s mighty army!” Cheering erupted.
It felt as if Allyssa had been dunkedin ice water. Her vison blurred, and she swayed on her feet. Thesoldier standing at her side grabbed her arm, keeping her upright.How could Odar have signed a marriage contract with Shelene whenhe’d already signed one with her?
Shelene smiled, and a man standingnear the front of the crowd came forward, taking her hand andkissing it. Shock rolled through Allyssa as she realized the manwas Odar. He wore a fine tunic with his hair neatly combed, not abruise or mark visible on his skin. He must not have spent any timein the dungeon. So while she’d been sitting in filth with littlefood and water, being tortured and interrogated, he’d beennavigating the Russek court. Apparently, her worry for hiswell-being had been for nothing.
Shelene beamed with admiration as Odarwrapped his arm around her waist. The people in the room spoke inlow murmurs, exclaiming their gratification with thematch.
“We are fortunate to havesuch a wise queen,” a man near Allyssa said to the lady at hisside.
“Yes,” the lady agreed. “Ihad the pleasure of catching the couple stealing a kiss in theDining Hall yesterday. They look so happy and in love.”
“And the size of Fren’sarmy . . .”
Allyssa didn’t bother to hear morebecause blazing anger coursed through her. Odar had kissed Shelene?She wanted to believe it was all a ruse in order to save her life.But what if it wasn’t? What if the real ruse had been Odar’srelationship with her so he could make it to Russek for the womanhe really loved? He wouldn’t even look her way as he stood a mereten feet from her.
Unfortunately, she did not have herfather or Neco’s skill of telling when someone was lying or playinga part. She would have to navigate through her enemy’s court on herown with nothing but her wit and determination to saveher.
Shelene laughed, and Odar kissed herforehead, his arm still wrapped around her delicate waist. Allyssawanted to punch them both. Was this an act or not?
Trying to appear indifferent, sheglanced at the queen and Soma. Their heads were together, Somawhispering in her ear. The queen looked at her daughter and thenback at Allyssa. Soma straightened himself, the corners of his lipslifting infinitesimally. Were they watching her reaction to theprince and princess? They had to be. Otherwise, why have her hereduring the announcement? Which meant they didn’t fully trust Odar.Soma had spent enough time with them to be distrustful of hismotives.
“Take the prisoner back tothe dungeon,” Queen Jana ordered. “There is no need for her to behere any longer.” Her nose wrinkled, and she waved her hand beforeher face, mocking the fact that Allyssa smelled worse than horsedung.
As the soldiers grabbed herarms, Odar finally glanced her way. His eyes were filled with amixture of pain and fury, reminding her of when he first arrived atEmperion as Jarvik. His words came back to her.Whatever I do at the Russek court, it is all to saveyou.
“You’re an arrogant pig!”she yelled at him.
“I don’t care what you sayor think about me. I needed a way to enter Russek without myparents knowing. You proved to be quite useful.”
Shelene smiled and pressed her redlips to his cheek, completely besotted with him. His eyes remainedhard and unyielding. Allyssa struggled against the soldiers holdingher, trying to break free. The attempt was futile, especially withher injuries, but she had a part to play, and the queen needed tobelieve she was in pain. Allowing the hurt, fear, and hunger toconsume her, she started to cry. Jana’s eyes lit up, her facesmugly satisfied at the sight.
