Page 65 of Cage of Darkness
“Our time has run out,”Odar said. “They must have discovered Eliza’s body.”
“Maybe some of the servantsare returning to their rooms for the night?” she asked.
“No, that is the sound ofsoldiers. Hurry up.” He took her hand and pulled her down astairwell.
Each step jarred her ribsand sent sharp shooting pains through her leg.Breathe in, breathe out,she toldherself.Just keep moving.They were too close to escaping and couldn’t giveup now.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs,heading directly toward them from the level below. Odar yanked herout of the stairwell and into the servants’ passageway. The firstdoor they came to, he threw it open and shoved her inside the darkroom.
“Who’s there?” someonegroggily asked.
In the dim light from the hallway, shecould see they’d entered a servant’s bedchamber. Odar released herhand and closed the door, sending them into darkness. There was ascuffle, a thump, and then it went quiet. What had he done? Shehoped he hadn’t killed anyone—there had been enough bloodshed forone day.
“I knocked her out,” hewhispered, fumbling for Allyssa’s hand. “We don’t have much time.Put this nightcap on and climb into bed.” He gave her a handful offabric.
She didn’t hesitate to put the cap onand crawl into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin.
“Face away from the door,”he instructed as he pushed the unconscious body under the bed. Hetugged the blanket so it hung off the side of the bed, concealingthe body beneath. “I’m going to hide in the closet.”
A second later, the door burst open,and a sentry entered carrying a torch. “Wake up,” hecommanded.
Pretending to be a sleepy servant,Allyssa moaned. “What do you want?”
“Castle-wide search,” thesoldier answered, quickly examining the dark corners. “Report tothe Throne Room immediately.” He slammed the door shut, presumablymoving on to the next room.
Odar exited the closet. “Keep the capon,” he whispered, helping her out of the bed. “And put this on.”He handed her a dingy cloak he must have stolen from the closet.When she moved to put it on, her ribs screamed in protest. He tookthe cloak from her, wrapping it around her body and securing it atthe base of her neck.
“How are we going to killJana if they’re looking for us?” How were they going to get out ofthe castle? And if they didn’t kill the queen, would Kerdan stilluphold his end of the bargain? Couldn’t anything go their way? Shegrowled in frustration.
“We’re not going to killJana. At this point, our only hope of surviving is to make our wayout of the castle without anyone knowing.”
“Even if it means war?” sheasked.
“Let’s hope the princekills King Drenton and becomes king. Then he can deal with Jana.”He shifted his weight from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable.“Before we exit this room, there’s something I want you toknow.”
“Don’t.” She placed a handon his chest, willing him to keep his declaration silent. “Now isnot the time to talk.” If he told her that he loved her in case hedied, she wouldn’t be strong enough to survive the next hour orso.
He closed his eyes for a moment. Whenhe opened them, all emotion evaporated, and his cold, steely facereturned. “You’re right. There will be time to say what needs to besaid afterward.” He handed her a knife, and she tucked it in thefolds of the cloak.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait.” She pointed to thelaundry chute in the corner of the room. “I guarantee that goes tothe ground floor.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Idon’t know. You’re too injured.”
The opening was small, and she’dprobably get jostled around. However, it seemed safer than runningaround the castle. “Trust me.”
He nodded and opened the ricketywooden door to the chute. “Give me a ten-second head start.Hopefully, I won’t get stuck.” He shimmied his body in feet firstand let go.
After counting to ten, she slid herlegs in the chute, intending to put her feet on the walls so shecould slowly climb down. Her injured leg shook so severely that shecouldn’t gain her footing. There was no other way, so she releasedher hold and fell into darkness, her stomach feeling like it was inher throat. Thankfully, the chute was a gradual descent, and sheonly bumped her knees and shoulders a couple of times.
Since it was the middle of the night,she landed in a pile of stinky, unwashed clothes. No one lurked inthe dark laundry room at this late hour. As she lay there, herentire body screamed in protest. Taking several shallow breaths,she tried to focus on standing instead of the stabbing pain in herribs, the throbbing of her leg, or her numb arm.
“Allyssa?” Odar asked,kneeling next to her.
“I’m all right.” She justdidn’t want to move. He pulled her to her feet. She wiped her tearsaway, not wanting him to know the extent of her pain for fear he’ddo something foolish—like hand himself in so she had more time toescape.
“The dungeon isn’t far fromhere,” he whispered. “Let’s go.”
