Page 3 of Cage of Darkness
“I’m much better now thatthe poison has worn off. However, I don’t think it wise to escapejust yet. We need to kill the assassin. In order to do so, I’d liketo watch him for a couple of days to learn his body movements andsearch for his weaknesses. Is that all right with you?”
She hesitated. He wanted to kill theassassin? She didn’t see why they couldn’t hit him on the head anddrag him back to the castle for his punishment instead.
“We have no choice,” Jarvikwhispered. “He’s too dangerous to leave alive.”
Allyssa understood thatpeople died in war. And this man had killed Grevik. He deserved tobe punished for that crime. Yet, she was torn about the ideaofmurderinghim.She tapped Jarvik’s hand twice.
“You don’t want to killhim?” Surprise rolled off his words.
She wanted to explain, buthe’d told her not to speak. It wasn’t that she didn’twantto—it was that shedidn’t think it wasrightto. There was a difference.
“Would you rather try toescape?”
She tapped his hand once. At leastthey knew what the assassin looked like. If they killed him, Russekwould probably send another one after them.
“Watch for an opportunity.Be ready.”
Allyssa tapped his hand once. Theright side of her body suddenly became cold as he moved away. Shedidn’t hear a single sound except for the pounding of her ownheart.
***
The Bizantek Forest loomed beforethem. “Are you taking us in there?” Allyssa asked incredulously.The trees were so close together it would be difficult for thehorses to travel.
The assassin didn’t answer. The windblew a strand of her hair loose. It landed across her nose. She letout a frustrated growl, unable to brush the hair off her face sinceher hands and legs were precariously tied to the horse. Thankfully,she was sitting upright. Jarvik’s position atop his horse was farworse than hers because his hands were tied around the animal’sneck, forcing him to lean forward. Every night when they stopped,he could barely stand because his back was so sore.
Allyssa couldn’t believe the gruelingpace the assassin managed to maintain. They rode hard all day, onlystopping once it was too dark to go any farther. He woke them atthe first sign of dawn, and they were on the horses travelingagain.
Since that first night, they hadn’tbeen lucky enough to find another cave. They were forced to sleeptied up under the stars in the frigid air, without a fire. She kepta close eye on the assassin and remained alert, waiting for Jarvikto signal it was time to act. If he didn’t make a move soon, shewould.
The assassin pulled the lead ropestighter, forcing the horses into a single-file line. When sheglanced over her shoulder at Jarvik, he looked away from her. Everytime they stopped to eat or sleep, he ignored her. It was almost asif they were back to when he first came to Emperion and they hatedeach other. The act was necessary so the assassin wouldn’t discovertheir feelings for one another. Still, it hurt to be so alone andhelpless.
They entered the Bizantek Forest, andthe temperature plummeted. The horses’ hooves sank into the softmud from the sun not reaching the forest floor. Bright green mossgrew on the tree trunks, making them look like living giants readyto swoop down and crush them at any moment. The assassin pulled thehorses to an abrupt halt and unsheathed his dagger. Nothingappeared disconcerting. Birds chirped and leavesrustled.
And then she heard a person humming ajoyful tune.
The assassin dismounted, not making asound. A shiver ran through her body. As if sensing something wasamiss, her horse snorted, becoming restless. The assassin tied allthree horses to a nearby tree and slunk away, blending in with theforest.
As soon as he was out of sight, Jarvikyelled, “Run! Get away from here!” His voice rang out loud andclear, making several birds take flight. He fought against hisrestraints, cursing.
“Surely he won’t killsomeone for being in the forest,” Allyssa said, a sick feelingovercoming her as she heard the absurdity of her own words—this manwas an assassin.
Jarvik frantically worked on undoinghis bindings. A moment later, his hands came free. Reaching down,he untied the rope around his ankles. Allyssa attempted to do thesame. The rope chafed the tender skin around her wrists as sheworked. A scream shattered through the forest. Everything wenteerily still. Jarvik freed himself and slid off his horse. Rushingover to her, he undid her bindings and helped her off thehorse.
A second scream rang out, making thehairs on the back of her neck stand up. Jarvik grabbed her arm,dragging her in the opposite direction the assassin hadgone.
“Wait,” she insisted.“There could be more people who need our help.”
His grip tightened. “We can’t riskit.”
“I beg to differ.” She knewthis could be their best chance to escape. However, what kind ofruler was she if she left her own people at the mercy of anassassin? “Release me.”
He hesitated a moment and thencomplied. She ran after the assassin, Jarvik close behind. Afterthirty feet or so, she came upon the assassin. He was crouched onthe ground, bent over the body of a small child who appeared to beonly eight or so. The child’s neck had been slit, and blood coatedthe ground. A man lay a few feet away with his arm outstretchedtoward the child, a knife embedded in his chest. The assassinreached over and plucked the weapon free, wiping off the blood witha leaf.
Allyssa fell to her knees andvomited.
Chapter Two
Allyssa clutched the moistdirt and leaves, heaving in deep breaths. The assassin had justkilled two of her people for no reason. As the initial shock woreoff, pure fury filled her.How darehe?“Have you no heart? No soul?” She stoodon shaky legs.
