Allyssa and Kerdan came to a small clearing surrounded by oak trees, far enough away from everyone else so they couldn’t be seen or heard. The leaves swayed in the wind, and a strand of Allyssa’s hair came loose from her braid. She pushed it behind her ear, waiting for Kerdan to speak.
He cleared his throat. “Will you please tell me what type of marriage you want?” He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, his arms at his sides. The sword strapped to his waist was Drenton’s sword—the sword of the Russek king. Black swirls of paint covered half his face. He looked very much like the commander of a great army.
Folding her arms, she started walking around the perimeter of the clearing.
“I don’t mean to pressure you,” he said. “It’s just that I like to plan things.”
She knew that. This man—who had always been upfront with her—was asking the same in return. She owed him that much. “I want a real marriage, not in name only. However,” she couldn’t look at him as she said this, “I’m not sure I see that between us.” She kept walking around the perimeter, trying to keep the tension at bay. This conversation was awkward, but necessary.
He remained standing in the center of the clearing. “You don’t want to be my wife?”
Her heart fluttered at the word. “That’s not what I said.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Since the day she met him, she hadn’t thought of him as anything other than a friend. “I’m... I haven’t pictured us with children,” she said carefully, because saying being intimate with one another was not a conversation she cared to have right now. Still, that was what she needed to figure out. Could they be husband and wife in all ways?
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because I was with Odar.”
“You’re not with him now.”
“I know. I see us working well together. I just want to make sure we have a... physical connection too.”
He chuckled. “Are you saying you want to kiss me?”
She rolled her eyes.
“Well?”
Honestly, she hadn’t thought about kissing him. But now that he’d broached the topic... “Do you want to be my... husband?” He hadn’t answered the question earlier when she asked. And there was a distinction between being married and being husband and wife.
“Yes.” The word came out throaty and ragged, tugging at something inside of her. “But only if you want me to be.”
She stopped directly behind him. It was easier to talk to his back right now. “Is that truly what you want? For me to be your wife?” Would he be content with her? Was she enough for him? Did he want to kiss her to see if they had a spark?
“Yes.” He slowly turned around, and her breath caught. His masks were gone, revealing a vulnerable man filled with immense burden and... a longing she hadn’t seen before. Hadn’t allowed herself to see or acknowledge because she’d been too blinded by Odar. “Since the moment I met you, I’ve wanted you.” His eyes widened infinitesimally, as if shocked by admitting that out loud.
She couldn’t breathe. “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
In that moment, she realized that even though she hadn’t known Kerdan for very long, something about him felt right. There was a mutual trust and respect between them. When her parents had first told her they expected her to marry to further Emperion’s position and to secure the crown, she’d felt stifled and as if she had no control over her life. Now, with Kerdan, her feelings were quite the opposite. For the first time, she felt free. Free to choose. Free to love.
“So,” Kerdan said, taking a slow, measured step toward her. “I need to know if you want me. I understand that you need more time to consider it, to think of me as more than a friend, and I’ll give you as much time as you need. But, please, don’t make me suffer too long.” He smiled ruefully at her.
Suddenly self-conscious, she averted her gaze. “I won’t.” Did she want to be his wife in every sense of the word? She peered up at this man before her.
“I’ve pushed everyone away for so long,” he said, “that it is strange to allow someone in.”
All she’d ever wanted from Odar was for him to let her in. She needed to stop thinking about Odar and comparing Kerdan to him. They were two very different people, and it wasn’t fair to pit them against one another.
“We should get back. I’m sure it has been ten minutes. I’d rather not upset your father more than I already have.”
“There’s something I need to do before I return,” she said.
“I’ll meet you back at camp.” Without hesitating, he turned and left the clearing. No questioning what she planned to do, no telling her to be careful. Total, complete trust.
Allyssa removed the wooden ring Odar had given to her. As she stared at it on the palm of her hand, she didn’t feel much of anything. No hurt, no anger, no love. The realization saddened her. Curling her fingers over the ring, she squeezed it. It was time to let it go. Time to say goodbye to Odar. Kneeling, she dug a small hole with her fingers, placed the ring in it, and covered it up with dirt. One part of her life was over; it was time to start the next phase. And this one didn’t feel confining, stifling, or uncertain. Instead of feeling caged by her future, excitement for the unknown coursed through her.
* * *
They sat around the campfire, Kerdan using a stick to draw the house and stables. “The forest surrounds the duke’s lands. We’ll enter from here.” He drew a line representing the road leading to the duke’s property.
“Have you been inside the duke’s home before?” Nathenek asked.
“No,” Kerdan responded, gripping the stick. “I have two hundred and fifty men hiding in the forest, waiting for my signal to attack.”
Darmik nodded. “The trick will be getting in the house without Jana sneaking off the land somehow.”
“Which is why I want to send Hurit and Larek in first,” Kerdan said. “Zerek will recognize them, allowing us to gain Jana’s trust. Then we attack before she realizes what’s happening.”
“Zerek? The soldier who identified us in that deserted village?” Allyssa asked. Kerdan nodded.
“Why do you think Zerek will be with Jana?” Neco asked.
“The meeting beforehand to identify them was merely a precautionary measure. I’m sure there will be something else in place at the duke’s house to ensure Jana’s safety.”
“Which is why you want to use decoys tomorrow,” Darmik commented.
“Exactly,” Kerdan replied. “If we have a group of nine men on horseback with the decoys in view of the duke’s house, then send Hurit and Larek to go on ahead to make contact, I think we have a good chance of getting past her defenses.”
“Who will make the kill?” Nathenek asked.
“I’d like that honor to go to Allyssa,” Kerdan said.
Darmik laughed. “I must have heard you wrong. It sounded like you said my daughter, a sixteen-year-old girl, would be making the kill.”
“I did.”
Allyssa’s hands tingled with anticipation. While she didn’t have to be the one to kill Jana, she wanted to be there to witness it. If she didn’t see it with her own eyes, she’d never believe the woman was truly dead.
“My daughter will be nowhere near the duke’s property tomorrow.” The fire flickered in the wind, casting dark shadows over Darmik’s angry face.
“Why not?” Kerdan asked. He tossed the stick into the fire.
Darmik raised his eyebrows. “She is the heir to Emperion.”
“She deserves to be the one to do it,” Kerdan said. “Besides, two hundred and fifty of my men will be there. Once we have Jana captured and the place secure, Allyssa can enter and kill Jana. At no time will she be in harm’s way.”
“I can do it,” Allyssa spoke up. “I’d like to be the one to kill the woman who made my life a living hell.”
“No,” Darmik barked. “It’s not open for negotiation.”
“I agree,” Neco said. “This is not something the princess should be involved in.”
“Why?” Allyssa asked. “Because I’m a woman?”
“Because it’s not necessary for you to be there, so why risk it?” Darmik replied.
“Are you going to be there?” she countered.
Darmik stared at her across the fire for several seconds before replying, “No. I will be here with you.”
She wanted to argue, but knew it was pointless. Her father would never put her in harm’s way. To keep her safe, he was sacrificing his right to see Jana’s life ended.
“What about me?” Odar asked. “Or did everyone conveniently forget I am even here?”
“You will remain with us,” Darmik said.
“Once Larek and Hurit have visual confirmation Jana is in the house, then what?” Nathenek asked.
Kerdan replied, “When they exit the house to get the prisoners, they’ll give a signal, and we attack. I will enter the residence from the east entrance with a select group of my men, locate Jana, and kill her.” Simple, efficient, brutal.
“It sounds like a solid plan,” Allyssa said.
“I want Nathenek with you,” Darmik said.
Kerdan glanced at the assassin. “I’m not comfortable working with someone I’ve never fought with before.”
“I’ll be more of a behind-the-scenes sort of fellow,” Nathenek replied.
A chill went through Allyssa. If something happened and Kerdan didn’t make the kill, Nathenek would.
“Neco, you will remain behind with us,” Darmik said.
“Understood.” Neco reached back and grabbed two logs, adding them to the fire. “This reminds me of being back on Greenwood Island.”
“We had a lot of adventures,” Darmik said, the tension in his voice lifting.
Neco laughed. “Do you remember the bandits?”
Darmik nodded. “I didn’t think we’d make it out of that one.”
“Darmik and I were only fifteen at the time,” Neco said, a smile on his lips. “We were traveling with a squad of men along a narrow road between two steep hills. Darmik and I were at the rear of the group since we were the youngest and most inexperienced soldiers. We were attacked, bandits sliding down the hills with their swords drawn. Darmik told me to withdraw my sword and prepare to fight. I did as he said, thinking this was it. We were going to die. We stood back to back, fighting off one man after another, until there were none left. I think we ended up killing fifty men that day. When it was over, Darmik sheathed his sword and marched on. I ran after him, and he told me that he oversaw the squad now—which consisted of the two of us—and I was his second in charge. It has been that way ever since. Seemingly impossible missions, including putting Rema on the throne. Whatever the task, the two of us have been fighting side by side for as long as I can remember.”
“I’ve always told Rema that you are like a brother to me.”
The fire crackled, and an owl hooted in the distance. “I suppose I should tell a story as well,” Allyssa said, thinking over all the times she snuck out of the castle to fight crime with Grevik. She looked sidelong at her father, hoping he wouldn’t be too upset. Knowing she snuck out and hearing the details were two different things.
“One time, Grevik and I were chasing two thieves when a group of five men attacked us. I suppose we’d been too worried about not losing the thieves that we didn’t pay enough attention to our surroundings. They demanded we hand over all our money and weapons.”
“Did you comply?” Darmik asked.
“Do you really need to ask that question?” she countered.
He chuckled. “No, I suppose not. So how did you get out of that scrape?”
“I dropped my coins. When two of them neared to pick them up, I attacked. Grevik fought the other three. When my two were incapacitated, I helped him. In less than five minutes, they were all on the ground. Neither Grevik nor I had a scratch. Then we dragged the men to the City Guard.”
Odar chuckled. “I’ve seen her in action. One night when I was out with her, she fought a man in the alley without an ounce of fear. I told Jarvik I’d never seen anything like it. Women in Fren don’t fight.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Speaking of Jarvik, we’ve had our fair share of close calls as well.”
This was the first time Odar chose to speak about Jarvik since his death. Until now, he’d only told her about the events pertaining to Shelene and what was necessary for them to escape Russek. He hadn’t yet remembered his friend. Allyssa smiled kindly at him, encouraging him to continue. Speaking about lost ones was painful, but necessary. They couldn’t let the memories fade.
“We were away at school. One day, the two of us decided to skip classes and go to the local village for an adventure. When we were there, we went into the pub thinking we blended in and no one would know who we were. The second we sat down, women were propositioning us. Jarvik laughed and laughed, thinking the entire ordeal was quite funny. Especially since the women thought he was someone of importance due to the way he was dressed.”
He ran his hands through his hair again. “I got mad no one knew who I was and stormed out of the pub and right into three men on their way to kidnap the prince. They shoved me out of the way and went for Jarvik. They planned to ransom him off. One man threw Jarvik over his shoulder and ran out of the pub with him. He shoved him into a cart, covered him with hay, and started wheeling Jarvik out of the village. I didn’t know if I should return to school to get reinforcements or not. If I did, we were sure to be in trouble for sneaking out in the first place. I couldn’t go to the local authorities because they would be more concerned with making sure I was safe rather than recovering Jarvik. So, I decided to save him myself. After all, I knew how to wield a sword.” Closing his eyes, he shook his head, a smile still on his lips.
“The men locked the cart in a barn and then left to write the ransom note, leaving one man to guard. I easily dispatched him, picked the lock, and entered the barn. I found Jarvik climbing out of the cart, covered with hay. We managed to make it back to the school without further incident. Jarvik swore the next time we snuck out, we’d be dressed like commoners instead of courtiers.”
“I have a story,” Nathenek said. “Savenek and I have had more than our share of adventures. One time, we traveled into Landania to climb one of the mountains there.”
“For fun?” Allyssa asked.
“Savenek loves to climb,” Nathenek replied. “Anyway, we were halfway there and had set up camp for the night. Normally, we travel lightly with minimal supplies—and food. This time, we had more food than usual. That night, a bear came into our camp and tore open Savenek’s bag, eating his food. We awoke to the massive creature sitting next to us, eating. It had slobber drooling from its mouth.”
“What did you do?” Allyssa asked, trying to imagine her brother and Nathenek mere feet from a bear.
“Nothing. We both remained on our sleeping pads, not daring to move an inch. I had a knife ready in case the bear attacked. However, it didn’t. Once it had eaten everything, it got up and walked away.”
In the entirety of Allyssa’s travels, she’d never seen a bear.
“Your turn,” Nathenek said to Kerdan.
“Me?” Kerdan replied.
“Yes, you,” Allyssa said. “We’ve all told a story. You’re the only one left.” Unless Hurit and Larek returned from where they were keeping watch.
“I have nothing exciting to share.”
“You mean nothing that doesn’t end with death and destruction,” Odar uttered.
Kerdan pursed his lips. “Fine. I will share one thing.” He sat, not moving, while everyone else around the campfire stared at him. “When I was thirteen, I enlisted in the army.” His deep voice rumbled in the quiet night. “I was sent to the garrison near my home. There, I was put in the lowest level group because I was not fast enough and I did not wield a sword well.”
“Really?” Allyssa said. “I don’t envision you being slow or clumsy.”
The corners of Kerdan’s lips lifted. “I faked it,” he replied. “I pretended I didn’t know what I was doing so I’d be placed with the youngest, most inexperienced men.”
“Why did you do that?” Nathenek asked.
“Because I wanted to form an elite group of soldiers. And I wanted to create them from scratch. I didn’t want bad habits or competition among them. I wanted men I could mold, train, and shape into what I wanted.”
“Which was what, exactly?” Nathenek asked.
“A lethal force no one could push around, fight against, or withstand.”
Allyssa had heard of his elite force before. Brookfel was a member of it. “You created this group when you were only thirteen?”
“Yes. And we have been together ever since. We have formed a brotherhood.”
Allyssa felt as if a piece of him had been hidden from her. He’d never discussed this group of men with her before.
“You’ve met or seen every single one of my men,” Kerdan said to her. “You just didn’t realize who they were when you met them. They are always nearby. I am rarely without them.”
Odar had told her Kerdan’s elite squad was ruthless and lethal. He’d chosen to remain with Soma, an assassin, rather than take his chances with Brookfel.
“Does your elite squad have a name?” she asked. Were they like the men from the cave? Did they torture others? Enjoy wreaking havoc?
“We are called Hunters.” Not I called them Hunters, or people referred to them as Hunters. But we were called Hunters. Meaning, Kerdan was one of them. And the term said enough about the sort of group they were.
“Do people know who you are?” Neco asked. “Or is this some sort of secret group you command?”
“We are well known,” Kerdan replied. “But no one commands us. We are Russeks. We fight for Russek.”
“Where are your men now?” Allyssa asked. “Are they in the forest by the duke’s house?” Would they be there to support Kerdan tomorrow? Somehow, the thought gave her comfort.
“Like I said before, my men are always close by.”
Hurit and Larek joined them at the fire. Kerdan and Nathenek stood, preparing to patrol the area.
“I thought Neco was on patrol with me?” Nathenek said.
“I’m taking Neco’s shift,” Kerdan said. “If you’re coming with me tomorrow, there are a few things I need to know beforehand. Let’s go.” He turned and headed out of the camp.
Nathenek smiled. “I like him.”
* * *
Allyssa didn’t particularly care for this plan. Not because it wasn’t a good one, but because she didn’t have a significant part in it.
Hurit, Larek, and Nathenek were preparing to leave with seven of Kerdan’s men who had just arrived with the decoys. The young woman looked similar to Allyssa—same brown hair, same eye color, and similar height. There was nothing remarkable about the decoy—which was probably why Kerdan had chosen her. The decoy for Odar was a young soldier about Odar’s age with muscled arms and short hair. Again, Kerdan had chosen him well.
“Please be careful,” Allyssa said to the decoys. The last time a decoy had taken her place, things went horribly wrong and someone she loved died.
“We’re both proficient fighters,” the man said. “There is nothing to worry about.”
Kerdan stood beside her. “With any luck, I’ll be back here in a few hours with Jana’s head.”
Was he serious about the head? He didn’t laugh or indicate it was a joke. Okay then.
She wanted to tell him to be careful but refrained from doing so. It wasn’t the Russek way to fuss.
“What?” Kerdan asked.
“Nothing.”
“You look like you want to say something.”
“Do Russeks have a tradition when saying goodbye to friends or loved ones who are going off to battle?”
He eyed her.
“I feel like I should say or do something,” she replied.
He focused on the group of men. “Everyone into formation,” he called out. Then, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, “It is customary for a woman to kiss a man and... slap him on his arse before he leaves for war.”
Allyssa’s face went flaming red.
Kerdan chuckled. “Care to try it?”
“Most certainly not!”
“You asked.” He shrugged and went over to his horse, climbing on, a hint of a smile still on his lips. “Listen up,” Kerdan hollered. “This is going to be a fast, clean mission. No room for errors today. We must assassinate the false queen and take back Russek. We will persevere!”
His men pounded their fists to their chests, shouting in approval. Kerdan gave the signal, and they rode out. Allyssa’s heart squeezed in panic. This had to work. It just had to.
* * *
“It’s taking too long,” Neco said, coming to stand next to Allyssa.
She’d been thinking the exact same thing. The mood among them had shifted after four hours passed. She stood at the spot where she’d spoken to Kerdan yesterday on horseback, overlooking the valley below. She’d hoped the view would ease her mind, but it had done no such thing. Instead, it mocked her with its serene beauty, gentle breeze, and fragrant smell. It screamed life when all she could think about was destruction.
If something went wrong, Kerdan and Nathenek could be dead. No, she couldn’t think such thoughts. They were both competent fighters and wouldn’t rush into a situation without thinking it through. She needed to have faith that everything would be all right. That nothing went wrong.
“Part of me wants to go and investigate,” Neco said. “However, if things went to hell, I can’t leave you or your father.” He glanced over his shoulder. Darmik paced back and forth next to Odar, who lay on the ground staring up at the sky. She suspected he wasn’t sleeping but rather plotting. Just like her father. Just like Neco.
“Are you armed?” Neco asked.
“Always,” she replied. “What do you think happened?”
He shook his head.
“Are we just going to wait here?” What if Kerdan and Nathenek needed them? Shouldn’t they go and help?
“We are only four. Kerdan has over two hundred men. There is nothing we can do to help at this point. If we leave, we risk missing them or causing further chaos.”
The faint sound of horse hooves rumbled in the distance. Neco ran to the nearest oak and deftly scaled it. “Our men,” he said before climbing down.
“Are you sure?” Darmik demanded.
“Yes.”
A moment later, Kerdan burst into the clearing with Hurit, Larek, and Nathenek close behind.
“Where are the decoys and the rest of your men?” Darmik asked.
“About three miles from here,” Kerdan replied, dismounting. “I didn’t want anyone to track us to this location in case we were followed.” He instructed Hurit and Larek to take the horses and rub them down.
“What happened?” Neco asked.
Kerdan removed his riding gloves, the lines of his face pulled tight. “When Hurit and Larek arrived at Duke Opanek’s, Zerek—the man who had identified Allyssa and Odar—greeted them. Thankfully, he recognized my men. When Hurit asked for the money, Zerek demanded the prisoners first. Hurit said he wouldn’t bring them in until he saw the money.”
“Then what happened?” Allyssa asked.
Kerdan rubbed his face. “Zerek said he couldn’t give them the money because it was with Jana at another location.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand,” he mumbled. “My men were in position and shouldn’t have been seen. Yet, something must have spooked her. Unless this was her plan all along, but I don’t think so. Duke Opanek is loyal to her, and it’s the safest place for her to be in this area.”
“What are you saying?” Darmik asked.
“Zerek instructed them to take the prince and princess to Duke Chresk’s home. But Duke Chresk is loyal to my father. He would not welcome Jana.”
“Can’t we put the same plan in place at Duke Chresk’s?” Allyssa asked. They could still salvage this.
“There isn’t enough time to move two hundred and fifty men to another location without being spotted,” Kerdan said. “Zerek gave them twenty-four hours to deliver the prisoners.”
“What do you suggest we do?” Darmik asked, folding his arms. Most likely, he already had an idea and was testing Kerdan.
“Move as quickly as possible and assassinate Jana,” Kerdan replied. “I will go with Hurit and Larek. Sneak in, kill her, and get out.”
Nathenek kicked the dirt with the tip of his boot. “Are Hurit and Larek well suited for stealth assassination attempts?”
Kerdan hesitated. “They are well-trained soldiers, and I trust them.”
Not exactly what Nathenek had asked. Which meant that while they were good fighters, they were not necessarily the best men for the job.
“I will go with you,” Nathenek offered.
“As will I,” Neco said.
“Who will remain here to protect Emperor Darmik and Princess Allyssa?” Kerdan asked.
Odar laughed, still sprawled on the ground. She’d completely forgotten about him.
“Hurit and Larek will stay here while we go,” Neco said. He looked at Darmik, raising his eyebrows.
Darmik nodded. “Nathenek and Neco are the most qualified men for this job. The two of you will go with Kerdan. Assassinate Jana. I want it done as soon as possible before something else goes wrong.”
“Wait,” Allyssa said. Everything was happening too quickly for her. “What if Jana suspects something and that’s why she changed the location?” They could be walking into a trap.
“She probably does suspect something,” Darmik said. “That is why we must act fast.”
“I think we should call it off. Come up with another plan.” She couldn’t send three men she loved and respected into a location they knew nothing about just to kill Jana. It was too risky. There had to be better options.
“Part of me agrees and thinks we should call it off,” Kerdan said. “However, this might be our best shot at getting her.”
“What are your reservations?” Darmik asked Allyssa.
“We have no information about the duke’s house. Jana could be there with an army, just waiting to kill Kerdan.”
“Is there a town near the duke’s residence?” Darmik asked.
“There is a small village,” Kerdan replied. “If there’s an army at the duke’s, people will have noticed and be talking about it.”
“Then tonight, we do some reconnaissance. Send a couple of men into the village to scout things out. If we discover nothing amiss, Kerdan will go in with Neco and Nathenek just before dawn and assassinate Jana. If something seems off, we devise a different plan. Agreed?”
Everyone agreed.