Page 50 of Cage of Darkness
***
“When you said you wouldshow me where the bridge is located, this isn’t the excursion I hadin mind,” Allyssa said, shivering as she glanced up at thedarkening sky. Thick gray clouds rolled in, promising moresnow.
“You honestly didn’t thinkwe’d travel with my soldiers, did you?” He gave her a look thatimplied the mere idea reeked of stupidity.
She rolled her eyes. She didn’t thinkthey would travel with his men—not when they were going to theplace where she planned to murder the royal family. However, shemost certainly didn’t think they would travel on foot through thethick snow to the bridge. Nor did she anticipate traveling withfour other men on their way to the local market with a cart loadedwith goods to sell.
“Couldn’t we have ridden onhorseback?” Her blasted feet were going numb despite the thickleather boots and wool socks she wore.
“Around here,” Kerdanresponded, “commoners don’t own horses. Only the army and thosewith extreme wealth do.”
“You mean to tell me peoplewalk from one town to another?” That would take forever and didn’tseem very efficient.
“Shortly after Janaweaseled her way into my father’s life, she recommended everysoldier be mounted. So, the army commandeered as many horses asthey could.”
“That’s horrible.” Kerdanhad said that when Jana took the throne, Russek began sinking intopoverty. Now Allyssa was starting to understand why. The prince’sface looked haunted, so she tried changing the subject. “How far isthe town?”
Kerdan hitched the sack he carriedhigher on his back. “About two miles.”
Two bloody miles.“This is insane.” She did not want to hike twomiles through the snow when the sky kept getting darker, indicatinganother snowstorm would arrive at any moment.
“There are a dozen towns inClovek, all roughly two miles from the castle. Far enough away thatthe castle doesn’t feel threatened, yet close enough for protectionin case we’re attacked.”
No wonder no one ever attacked Russek.It wasn’t worth braving the weather. “Have you ever been out ofRussek?” she asked, wondering how much of the world he’d seen. Sherelied largely on the accounts of her parents and tutors tounderstand the kingdoms around her.
“No. My father wants mehere.”
There were so many questions shewanted to ask him about his education, training, and what heenvisioned in his future. However, asking such things impliedfriendship or intimacy; which they didn’t have.
They continued walkingbehind the small cart being pulled by two of Kerdan’s men. Heassured her they were loyal to him and wouldn’t ask any questions.Two more of his men traveled twenty or so feet behind them. Theywere all similarly dressed in trousers and tunics with knit capsand gloves. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a scarf and snot drippedfrom her nose.Lovely.
“You’re probably not usedto looking like a commoner,” Kerdan observed.
“Being dressed like thisfeels like home.” Memories of her and Grevik hanging out intaverns, running through the city, and putting criminals behindbars surfaced. She had tried so hard to keep thoughts of him atbay. It was difficult to believe he was dead. That he would neverwork in the City Guard like his father. And worse, she wasresponsible for his death. He would be alive if he hadn’t been herfriend. If Soma hadn’t murdered him to get to her.
“What’s the matter?” Kerdanasked, his deep voice startling her.
“Nothing.” She wiped hernose on her glove.
“We’re almost there. Thetown is just beyond that rise.” He pointed up ahead. “When we getinto the town, don’t use my name.”
This journey suddenly became moreinteresting. “What should I call you?”
“Nothing. I don’t want youspeaking at all. Your skin color is bad enough. If you talk, youwill reveal your southern heritage.”
What an arrogant prick. “I don’t speakwith an accent; you do. And what do you mean about my skin colorbeing bad?” She was darker than every Russek person she’d seen, butthey all lived where the sun rarely shone. And she was used tohaving darker skin than most—she took after her father. “I’m thesame color as Jana.”
“You did not just compareyourself to that goat.” He shuddered. She laughed at Kerdan’saversion to her heritage. “As I was saying,” he continued, “don’tspeak, and make sure you follow my lead. We’re merchants from thecastle selling baked goods.” He pulled the neckline of his tunicaway from his throat.
“Itchy?” she asked. Shehated wool and missed the silky clothing she was used to wearingback home.Blasted. Did she just say she missed the luxuries ofcourt?
“Will you focus?” hescolded her.
She was focusing—on how bloody cold itwas. As far as Kerdan was concerned, he needn’t worry. She wouldblend in well enough and knew what to do to maintain theircover.
She had seen poverty before. Hermother often took her to the capital where they donated food to theshelters to help those in need. However, that did not prepare herfor what she saw as she descended the hill and entered the town.Dinky wooden structures, in no position to keep out the cold,dominated the barren landscape. As they got closer to the town’scenter, people milled about dressed in worn clothing, the colorsmuted and matching the buildings and dirt roads. As it wasconsidered part of the capital, Allyssa hadn’t expected the entiretown to be so destitute.
They came to the market situatedaround a large well. People sold various goods, the selectiondismal. Kerdan’s two men pulled the cart to the west side and setit down between two carts similarly sized. People immediatelyswarmed over to it, buying the bread and muffins theysold.
