Page 69 of Cage of Darkness
She took the food and sat down,eagerly eating. Her back ached, her legs had turned to mush, andher arm stung. Worse than any of that, her torso felt as if it hadbeen smashed to bits. She would have to find something to relievethe pain, or she would not survive the journey. Maybe she could putthe medicine for her arm on her ribs and legs.
After she ate her food, she crawledunder the blankets. The wind had picked up, shaking the walls andthe roof on occasion. Laying there, she could hear somethingfluttering when the wind blew. Without a fire or any sort of light,she had no way of examining the corners for a mouse or a leaf. Shedecided to assume it was a leaf since it sounded like one. Only,after ten minutes or so, she still couldn’t sleep, so she reachedout, feeling around for the leaf. Her fingers encountered it. Sheplucked it up, about to shove it under her blanket, when she felthow thick it was. Not a leaf, but a piece of paper. Going over tothe open doorway, she held it outside so the moonlight wouldilluminate it. Sure enough, it was another map that would lead themfrom this location to another hunting lodge due east.
When did Kerdan hide this maphere?
“Is something the matter?”Odar asked.
“I found another map.” Shecrawled back under the blankets, trying to get warm.
“Maybe I don’t hate Kerdanas much as I thought I did,” he mumbled.
Chuckling, she snuggled deeper intoher blankets, her pain forgotten. The fact that Kerdan had takenthe time to hide these maps so they could navigate their way out ofRussek, that he supplied them with food, and he gave them horses,proved that he was rather brilliant and more thoughtful than shegave him credit for.
***
The following days passed in a blur.During the daylight hours, Odar and Allyssa traveled as hard andfast as possible, following the specific path Kerdan had sketchedon the map. They didn’t encounter a single town, person, or soldieras they raced across Russek, stopping only at night to sleep for afew hours in the empty hunting lodges. Each one contained a new mapleading to the next location. The snow eventually receded, makingtravel easier. If it weren’t for the maps and lodges, they’d beeither lost or dead by now. They spoke very little, and she keptall her energy and focus on remaining upright in thesaddle.
A week into their journey, she ran outof healing salve. The wound on her arm wasn’t getting any better.The skin had turned bright red, and her entire bodyached.
“It’s okay,” Odar assuredher. “We’re not far from Fren. Only a day or two at most. Hang inthere.” They rode a little slower that day, not making it to thelodge until after dark.
The next morning, they set out atdawn. As she rode atop her horse, sweat beaded on her forehead.Something was wrong. Clinging to Jomk’s reins, she followed Odar,hoping she’d feel better soon. She just needed to rest. Or maybesome more medicine. After midday, they came to the top of a hill,pulling their horses to a halt to observe the valleybelow.
She slouched atop the horse, thankfulfor the brief respite. Her bruised ribs stung from the constantjarring movement of the horse, and several of her cuts were red,puffy, and oozing liquid. She hated this kingdom and couldn’t waitto be out of it. “Is that all that separates us from Fren?” sheasked. The army had obviously been here based upon the trampledgrass, trash, and burnt firewood lying about.
“Yes. My land starts on theother side of this valley.”
She didn’t see any movement below.“Where do you think everyone went?” If Kerdan had been successfulin killing the king and ascending to the throne, he could havewithdrawn the troops. However, they had no way of knowing the stateof things.
“Hopefully, they’re not inFren. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” No. It felt like atrap. A valley devoid of soldiers that they had to cross through.Would an arrow be impaled into her back? Would she be dragged backto Clovek?
Odar nudged his horse down thehill.
She pulled out another piece of whitewillow bark and stuck it in her mouth, hoping it would ease herpain. “Nice and gentle,” she murmured to Jomk as they began thedecent. When she reached the base of the hill, all remainedquiet.
“There’s a town not farfrom here,” Odar commented. Of course, Kerdan would lead them rightto a town in Fren so they could seek the necessary help. He couldhave left them to fend for themselves, but he didn’t. “I want youto lay low in the saddle. No matter what, do not stop until you’rein Fren.”
She nodded, knowing it was easier saidthan done in her condition. Regardless, they were almost there—shejust had to hang on a little longer. “You go first. I’llfollow.”
He took off, his horsepractically flying over the tan grass covering the valley. Thickclouds hung overhead, promising rain. She nudged Jomk forward,unable to lean down without her ribs screaming in protest. The onlything keeping her from falling off was the possibility of a warmbed, cooked food, and a skilled healer. She knew she washallucinating because Kerdan’s voice spoke in her mind, telling herto stop being a pansy.You’re almostthere. Suck it up and get the job done. You can rest later.She reached the other side of the deserted valleywithout incident.
“Welcome to Fren,” Odarsaid, the relief apparent in his voice. He sat up a littlestraighter, held his head a little higher. However, he did not looklike a prince with his ragged clothing and the unkempt beardgrowing on his face.
After a couple of miles, they followeda dirt road. It passed several farms with sheep meandering alongthe countryside. The road came to a small town containing dozens ofsingle-story wooden homes with neatly tended yards. No signs ofwar, nor any soldiers present. They passed through the center oftown, which consisted of a handful of stores. A few people were outand about, but no one recognized the prince.
He stopped outside the town’s officialguard station where a Fren soldier exited to greet them. Odar spokequietly with the man. The soldier nodded and ran backinside.
“Did that man have any newson the war?” Had Kerdan managed to stop it in time?
“No news. But this is asmall border town.”
A dozen men dressed in battle gearexited the building. Several stable boys brought horses from outback, handing them to the men who mounted and surrounded Odar andAllyssa.
“I’ve arranged for a groupof men to escort us to my family’s home.”
“Right now?” she asked, herback spasming in pain. What about a healer and a warm bed? Tearsfilled her eyes.
