Page 71 of Cage of Darkness
“I can’t ride,” she said,her voice weak. Not in the dark in her condition.
“Shh,” he said. “I’ve gotyou.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her over to his horse.Everything went black.
***
Allyssa woke up in an unfamiliar room.Odar was slouched on a chair next to the bed, fast asleep. She hadon clean clothes, and her arm had been wrapped with a new bandage.An ornate fireplace stood across from the bed, several large vasesfilled with flowers decorated the room, and paintings hung on thewalls.
Pushing herself to a sitting position,she reached for the cup of water next to the bed. The movementcaused a sharp pain in her ribs, and she hissed.
Odar startled awake. “I’ll get it foryou,” he mumbled, his voice groggy.
“Sorry to wake you.” Shefelt along her torso. It had been tightly wrapped withbandages.
He handed the cup to her. “How are youfeeling?”
Her fever was gone, Odar only had onehead, and she could move her arm without it stinging. “Muchbetter.” She gulped down the water and handed him the empty cup. “Iassume this is your home?”
“Yes.” He stretched. Hisbeard had been shaved off, his clothes appeared clean, and his hairwas neatly combed back. “When we arrived, I had a healerimmediately tend to you. She stitched the wound on your arm.However, it is still of some concern because an infection set in.The healer has been treating it with medicine and is hopeful itwill clear up. She said no matter what, you will have a scar. Yourribs are also mending. She recommends you remain in bed for a fewdays.” He fidgeted with the arm of the chair. “Um…she also saidyour fingernails are growing back nicely. She applied an ointmentto aid with the scabs.”
Oh. Allyssa hadn’t told him aboutbeing tortured in the dungeon. Curling her fingers, she made afist, willing the painful memory to fade away. They’d made it outof Russek alive. That was all that mattered. The rest—the scars,both physical and emotional—would heal. But right now, she couldn’ttalk about it. Maybe one day.
“I’ll let you sleep.” Hestood to leave, not pushing her to talk. Perhaps he knew she wasn’tready. Or he wasn’t ready to hear it.
Reaching out, she grabbed the bottomof his shirt, pulling him closer to her. “Please don’tgo.”
“I’ll stay for a couple ofminutes. Then I want you to sleep so you can heal.” He stretchedout alongside her on the bed.
“When did we arrive at thepalace?” she asked.
“Two days ago.”
“What?” How was it possibleshe had been unconscious for two days?
“The healer administered astrong tonic to keep you asleep so she could bind your ribs andstitch your wound.” He absently lifted a lock of her hair, twirlingit between his fingers. “I never should have allowed you to ride ahorse in your condition. I only made your injuries worse.” Hesighed.
“Never mind any of that.”She was alive, and they were out of Russek. They’d finally made itto Fren. “Has Emperion been attacked? Or has Kerdan managed toexecute the king and stop the war?” It had been weeks since theyescaped the castle.
“I don’t know,” he said,still playing with a strand of her hair. “When we arrived, Ibrought you to this room where a healer was waiting. I only leftyour side once to bathe and put on clean clothes. I sent word to myparents that I returned, but we haven’t seen each other or spokenyet. My priority has been you.”
“What about my parents?Have you sent word to them?” They had to be experiencing incrediblegrief believing she was dead.
“Not yet.”
“Why?” Surely it was safeto notify them.
He released her hair. “No one knowsyou are here. Not even my own parents. Jana is still alive, and Iwant to keep your whereabouts a secret until we hear fromKerdan.”
Odar always thought strategically,whereas she tended to think—and act—with her heart. “Can you atleast send a soldier to personally tell my parents I’m alive andwell?” There had to be a way of notifying them without anyonefinding out.
“I’ll discuss the matterwith the king and queen.” He slowly sat up and stood next to thebed. “Go back to sleep. Once you’re well enough, I’ll introduce youto my parents.”
“Are you leaving now?” Shehad no desire to be alone in a strange room, no matter howluxurious and comfortable it was. She didn’t escape Russek to comehere to another gilded cage.
He rubbed his tired face. “I don’twant to. However, now that you’re awake, I can’t sleep in here atnight. Unnecessary rumors will spread.”
Her face warmed at the implication. “Iunderstand.”
Leaning down, he kissed her cheek.“I’ll be back tomorrow morning. There are two guards posted outsidethe door. You are safe here.”
