Page 36 of Cage of Darkness
“Get on,” he barked. Thenlower, so only she could hear, “You better be able to ride like aman.”
“You’re a bastard,” shemumbled.
Ignoring her, he mounted the largebrown gelding. Not having any other feasible options, she climbedonto the mare. Once on the saddle, five soldiers maneuvered theirhorses around her. Apparently, Kerdan wasn’t taking anychances.
The prince led the group through anarchway and around the foreboding castle. When they came to thedreaded narrow bridge, the men began crossing single file. Allyssaleaned down, patting her horse’s neck and silently praying she madeit over that blasted bridge without falling to her death.Thankfully, the horse remained steady as it made its way across.Safely on the other side, the soldiers resumed their positions,five surrounding her, Kerdan leading the way east.
The wind picked up, rushing pastAllyssa’s face, making her eyes water and her nose run. “How farare we going?” she asked the man on her right. As far as she couldsee, snow covered the hills and trees. The brightness hurt hereyes, forcing her to squint.
He held up five fingers.
“Five miles?” sheasked.
He nodded and then put his finger tohis lips, indicating for her to be quiet. She sighed, not wantingto waste time thinking about why they couldn’t speak during theirtrek to the garrison. These soldiers looked similar to the onesshe’d seen throughout the castle. Large, bulky men with black markspainted on their faces. There was a savageness to them that shedidn’t understand. As if they thirsted for fighting andblood.
They descended a small hill, coming tothe bottom of a ravine. A stream rushed by, the water low, chunksof ice floating in it. Kerdan led them to the other side and onto anarrow dirt road. Allyssa considered herself a decent rider.However, she was in no position to make a break for it given theweather conditions and her lack of appropriate clothing and food.Instead of brooding over her situation, she used the opportunity tostudy her surroundings and try to memorize as much of it aspossible. If she managed to escape one day, she’d have to navigateher way out of this hellish kingdom.
After a while, everythingstarted to look the same, and she lost her sense of direction.Perhaps Kerdan was taking them a roundabout way on purpose. Shewouldn’t put it past him.Barmy. The road wound its way up alow hill and to a seemingly empty valley. As they trudged along,the garrison suddenly appeared before them. She hadn’t noticed itat first because the whitewashed building blended in with the snow.Kerdan pulled his horse to a halt, everyone followingsuit.
Two stable boys ran out and took thereins to Kerdan and Allyssa’s horses. She dismounted and surveyedthe area. There were two buildings close together—one presumablythe garrison and the other one the stables. Several soldiers,dressed in white fur capes, patrolled the area.
A hand slid around her arm, startlingher. “Remain at my side,” Kerdan said, pulling heralong.
“Don’t touch me.” Sheyanked her arm free, tired of being led around like a dog, sick ofthe brutal violence, and unable to forgive the prince for nothelping the boy earlier.
“Don’t test me in front ofmy men,” he growled, his voice low and laced with fury. Not givingher a chance to respond, he turned and entered thegarrison.
Oh, he did not just walk away from herall high and mighty. She stormed after him. How dare he act soegotistical when he was the one who allowed the boy to bleed todeath? And then he hurt her for trying to help. She would knocksome sense into him.
Passing under the archway, she entereda dark hall that led to a large, open training room. A hand latchedonto the back of her neck, shoving her against the wall.
Kerdan’s angry face loomed before her.“This is my domain, my men. You will stand down.” He released herbut remained towering above her, making her feel small andinsignificant.
“Do not order me around,”she snarled.
“Sometimes I wonder why Ibother. Would you rather be in the dungeon? Or in Soma’s filthyhands?” He was so close she could smell a hint of horse and sweathanging on his clothes.
“I would rather not be hereat all.”
“But you are.” He steppedback, putting a foot of space between them. “Shut your mouth andobserve your surroundings. And whatever you do, do not challenge orquestion my authority in front of my men. Deal?”
She nodded, realizing she had pushedhim too hard. He had warned her ahead of time that he had areputation to uphold. Her actions jeopardized that. Plus, sheneeded to speak to Odar, and, right now, Kerdan was her best chanceof making that happen. As far as trusting him or having any sort ofunderstanding between the two of them, well, she couldn’t work withsomeone so cruel and heartless.
“Try to blend in.” Heturned and strode into the training room. A group of men weresparring with one another using wooden practice swords. When Kerdanapproached the sweaty men, they stopped and bowed.
The prince gestured forthem to resume practicing. Hovering along the edge of the room,Allyssa observed them. They appeared to be in their late teens orearly twenties. Definitely younger than most of the soldiers andsentries she’d seen in the castle. They smiled and joked with oneanother while sparring, at ease before their captain and prince.None of these soldiers wore black paint on their faces.Interesting. And therewas something else…these men weren’t as cold and harsh as the otherRussek soldiers she’d previously encountered. They offered oneanother advice, and if someone went down, his partner helped him tohis feet. They maintained a friendly banter with oneanother.
After a few moments, the prince cameand stood next to her. “What do you think of my men?” He folded hisarms, watching them.
How long had they been under hiscommand? How old was Kerdan? Instead, she asked, “How many do youcontrol?”
“Five thousand.”
The number of men in Russek’s army wasastounding. She tried not to balk or appear impressed by thisinformation. Instead, she watched them, mentally taking note oftheir strengths and weaknesses. While they weren’t as large andburly as other Russek soldiers, they did wield their swords withbrute strength instead of precision and skill. However, when itcame to hand-to-hand combat, they were exceptional. The key towinning a fight against these men would be to beat them at theblade. She didn’t want to ask Kerdan if Russek employed archers andtip him off. Emperion had some of the best shooters on thecontinent.
“I see you assessing them.”He rubbed his chin. “I took control of this company less than ayear ago. With time, they will improve.” These men didn’t need toimprove. They were lethal enough. “Do you want to spar against oneof my men?”
She curled her fingers around herarms, hugging herself. While she wanted to spar to not only regainher strength but also to become better acquainted with her enemy,it would not be wise. She shook her head. Protecting Emperion washer number-one priority, and she didn’t want Kerdan or his menlearning from her. Whatever knowledge she could gain from themmeant they could equally obtain from her.
