Chapter Twenty-Four
Standing in the corridor by herself, Allyssa closed her eyes and tried to breathe steadily while listening for sounds of alarm—shouting or swords clinking together—anything to indicate Odar was in trouble. When she counted to one hundred and hadn’t heard anything disconcerting, she steeled her resolve and pushed open the door. Stepping into the Great Hall, she quickly scanned the area, searching for problems or threats. Two soldiers ran by, neither even looking her way. Her heart pounded. She just had to make it to the other side where Odar stood hidden in the shadows of the corridor waiting for her. Forcing herself not to run, she walked across the hall with purpose, her focus on the ground.
At the halfway point, she had an intense desire to run the rest of the way. Instead, she forced herself to remain calm. Three-fourths of the way across the hall, her back prickled with the sensation that someone was watching her. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Only twenty feet to go.
“Stop,” a familiar voice called out.
Allyssa spun around. Jana stood at the other end of the hall, all alone without any sort of protection. She could kill the queen to not only honor her bargain with Kerdan, but also to save her kingdom.
“You,” Jana snarled. “You killed my mother. Was my throne not enough? You’ve taken everything from me. You will pay.” Her face turned an angry shade of red, and her arms shook.
Allyssa fumbled in the folds of her cloak, searching for the knife. When she found it, her fingers curled around the hilt. One well-placed throw, and the queen would be dead. The evil woman who was responsible for all of Soma’s kills. Who deserved to be tortured for all she had done. Hatred boiled inside of her. This woman had ordered her caning and for her fingernails to be removed. She blinked, clearing the tears.
“Guards!” Jana screamed. Pounding came from the corridor as soldiers responded to her call for help.
Out of time, Allyssa zeroed in on Jana’s stomach, imagining where her navel would be. Then, aiming slightly above that, she drew a mental target. Deep breath. She pulled out the knife, aimed, and threw.
A soldier ran into the hall, hurling his body in front of the queen. The knife flipped hilt over blade, embedding into the soldier’s side. Shock rolled through Allyssa. She’d struck an innocent man.
Jana screamed, the savage sound echoing through the hall. “What have you done?” The queen fell to her knees. The soldier yanked the knife free. “Bring her to me.” She pointed at Allyssa.
“Run!” Odar shouted, bringing her out of her stupor. Allyssa spun and awkwardly sprinted toward the corridor. Odar’s eyes widened, and he frantically waved her on. Shouts rang out behind her. She dared not look back—she could feel the soldiers closing in. When she reached the corridor, he shoved her in front of him, and they ran for their lives.
She pushed her body to its brink, hoping they weren’t struck in their backs. At the door to the dungeon, Odar produced a key, hastily unlocking the door and throwing it open. She flew inside and sprinted down the narrow stairwell.
“There are two guards up ahead. Let me take the lead.” He stepped around her. At the first landing, he dispatched the two men with lethal proficiency.
Soldiers pounded on the steps in their pursuit of them. If they were caught, Jana would tear them apart. She would cause them as much pain as possible and revel in it.
“We’re almost there,” Odar said. “Don’t lose faith now.”
After descending three more levels, they went down the hall on the right.
“There should be a grate in the floor right around here,” he mumbled, looking at the map.
Shouts came from the levels above as the soldiers searched the dungeon for them. “They’ll be here any minute,” Allyssa said, examining the floor.
“Here it is.” Odar lifted the wooden grate that had been built into the floor. “Go!” Not having time to think about it, she slid her feet into the dark hole and jumped, plummeting through dank air. A moment later, her body slammed into frigid water. She kicked, fighting her way to the surface where she gasped for oxygen. It felt as if tiny knives were stabbing her all over. The weight of the cape pulled her under. She struggled to untie it and narrowly escaped drowning.
Odar hit the water not far away. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” A rancid smell permeated the air, making her stomach queasy. “Where are we?”
“The sewer.”
She gagged. “How do we get out of here?”
“Kerdan’s instructions said to wait.”
For what? The soldiers above to arrest them? Bloody hell. She was going to die in a rat-infested pool of poop. Panic started to take root as the water moved, pushing her.
“Don’t fight it,” he called out. “The current should take us out of the castle.”
As she tried to keep her head above the water, the current shoved her along toward a dull light up ahead. A roaring sound echoed around her.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Odar muttered, not far behind her.
That made two of them. “If we get out of this alive, remind me to thank Kerdan for such a lovely experience.” If she wasn’t so terrified, she would have vomited by now.
The water picked up speed, pushing her body forward. And then she was falling. Her heart squeezed, and her stomach dropped as she tumbled in the deafening waterfall. She slammed into another body of water, her torso feeling as if it had been trampled on by a horse. Once clear of the pounding water, she resurfaced, gasping for clean air. The moon shone bright overhead, illuminated by the lake.
“Odar!” She didn’t see him anywhere. “Odar!” He popped up out of the water and swam over to her side. Her body went numb from the frigid air and water.
“We have to get out of here before the current takes us into the river.”
“Where are we?” she asked, swimming to the closest bank.
“We’re on the backside of the castle.”
She hoisted herself out of the water, thankful to be on land. “I can’t feel my hands or toes.” Or, for that matter, her injuries. Her teeth started chattering.
Odar stood, helping her to her feet. “The stables aren’t far from here,” he said. “We don’t have much time before we freeze to death or someone spots us.”
Allyssa forced her legs to move. Her wet clothes stiffened as the fabric began to freeze. Thankfully, they reached the stables. No light shone from inside, and no one stood guard at the doors. “Do you think anyone is in there?” she asked.
“Kerdan said only the stables inside the wall are guarded.”
It was hard to believe they’d not only made it out of the castle, but also past the surrounding wall. Odar pushed the door open, and she snuck inside the stables, making her way to the back. The familiar smell of hay and the nickering of horses reminded her of home. Of riding alongside her mother as they raced to the forest, of running in the early morning hours with her father, of chasing criminals through the city with Grevik. Would she ever see her family again? Standing in the middle of the aisle, unable to move, tears filled her eyes.
“Allyssa,” Odar said, coming up behind her. “Get moving before you freeze to death.”
She nodded, forcing thoughts of home away so she could focus on making it out of Russek.
At the last stall on the right, she unlatched the door and entered. Two horses were inside, saddled and ready to ride. One came over and nudged her shoulder. She patted its nose while Odar examined the stall. In the one corner, the hay had been piled a little higher. He moved the hay aside and found a couple of bags—just as Kerdan had promised. He pulled them out, examining their contents. “Looks like one contains food, the other pants and tunics.” He handed a set to her and kept one set for himself. With stiff, awkward fingers, she peeled off her frozen clothes and changed into the blessedly dry pants and tunic. When she finished, Odar plucked a cape off a hook on the wall, wrapping it around her, covering her head with its hood. He took their wet clothes and hid them under the hay.
“Let’s mount in here. When we exit, no talking. Head eastward.”
She nodded and lifted her leg to the stirrup, crying out in pain. Odar rushed to her side, helping her onto the saddle and handing her the reins. “Are you going to be able to ride on your own?”
She had no choice if she wanted to live. “Yes.”
Odar mounted, and they rode out of the stables and into the frigid night. He kicked the side of the horse, sending the animal into a gallop. Needing to put distance between themselves and the castle, she urged her horse to follow. Each step the horse took sent a jolt though her body as if she were being repeatedly punched in her ribs. Perhaps she was hallucinating, but she could have sworn Grevik spoke to her saying that he didn’t suffer so she could die, that she had to live.
“I know you need to stop and rest,” Odar yelled, riding alongside her. “But we can’t until we find a safe place. Somewhere the Russek soldiers won’t think to look for us.”
How would that be possible since neither of them knew the land? She’d only left the castle twice, once with Kerdan to see the bridge and once when he’d taken her to the garrison. A memory came back to her. At the garrison, Kerdan specifically made a point of telling her about an abandoned house not far from there that had been used by the commander of the army decades ago. Nowadays, the commander resided in the castle, and no one remembered the house existed. At the time, she couldn’t understand why Kerdan bothered telling her. Now, she knew. Nudging her horse, she headed in that direction. Odar didn’t question her; he simply allowed her to take the lead.
After traveling a few miles, the garrison came into view. Keeping her distance, she skirted around it to the backside where a thick forest loomed. Weaving the horse between the dense trees, she wondered if she’d be able to find the house. She steered the horse to the right, not wanting to go too deep into the woods and become lost. The horse snorted and went to the left. It walked with sure footing as if it knew where it was going. Maybe it did. She let the horse go where it wanted, praying Kerdan had chosen this horse for this reason. They came to a clearing with a small house and barn. An enormous sense of relief filled her. For once, things were going their way.
“I’ll be damned,” Odar muttered. “Did you know this was here?”
“Yes.” Her vision swam, and she fell forward on the horse. Odar grabbed the reins of her horse and steered them to the barn. He dismounted and helped her off. She leaned against the barn while he secured the animals inside. Once done, he lifted her up, carrying her to the dark house. Inside, cobwebs hung on the walls, and a thick layer of dust coated the furniture.
“We can’t risk a fire,” Odar said, putting her down and closing the squeaky door. “Let’s rest for a few hours. We’ll leave at first light.” He pulled out a tin from one of the bags. “I must put this salve on your arm.”
She swayed on her feet. “I need to sit down.” Lifting her in his arms, he carried her into a small bedroom off the kitchen and gently laid her on the bed. Dust motes floated, and she sneezed, the simple act making her cry out. Everything hurt. She just wanted to sleep so she wouldn’t feel the pain any longer.
“There’s nothing I can do for the ribs. This salve should help your arm though.” He slid her arm out of the shirt, unwrapped the bandage, and exposed the wound. After covering it with the salve, he pulled her sleeve back on.
At least if she died now, it wouldn’t be from Jana torturing her. But her parents…her people…she couldn’t leave them. She had to hang on, had to fight for them. Her eyelids became heavy.
“Get some sleep,” he said, pulling the blanket over her body. It reeked of dust and mildew, but it was warm. “I’ll be in the other room if you need me.”
“Don’t leave,” she mumbled. She needed his steadfast presence to keep her grounded and fighting to hang on.
He sighed. “I guess all decorum is already gone.” Sliding under the blanket, he laid next to her, wrapping his arm around her stomach and holding her close to him.
His steady breathing soothed her. “Much better.” Even though her breath came out in white puffs, she felt warm and content next to him.
***
Allyssa woke up, her body achy and tender. Groaning, she rolled over and grunted from the shooting pains radiating through her torso. Odar didn’t even move as he lay there breathing heavily, looking peaceful in his sleep. Not wanting to wake him, she slid out from under the blanket, holding her breath, trying not to make a sound.
When her feet touched the ground, she almost screamed. It was bloody cold in this small house. Sliding her boots on, she shuffled over to the window, trying to see through the dirty glass. Using her sleeve, she wiped a section clean and looked out at the brightly lit morning. Snow coated the ground and trees, making the surrounding land appear peaceful and still. If it were any other time, it might be considered romantic, but not here only a few miles from the castle. They needed to be on their way. Blood soaked through her sleeve again, probably from moving her arm around.
“Morning,” Odar mumbled, rubbing his eyes and sitting up in bed. “Thought I was dreaming at first, but that is you, and we are here. Hard to believe.”
“Let’s see if there’s anything we can use here for supplies and be on our way.” She wanted to put as much distance between them and Clovek as possible. No matter what happened, she would not go back there unless Kerdan was sitting peacefully on the throne.
“I’ll take a look at your arm first, then check the cabin for supplies. You sit and rest. We have a long day ahead of us.” He ran his hands through his hair, trying to tame the disheveled mess. Allyssa couldn’t believe how long it had gotten over the last couple of weeks.
Sitting on the bed, she pulled the fabric away from the wound and then slid her arm out of the sleeve. Odar examined it. “I’m going to apply some more of the medicine. I think you should keep it wrapped tightly. I don’t have anything to stitch the skin together, but maybe if you keep a bandage around it, it will help.”
Not having many options, she agreed. While he worked on her arm, she examined the room in greater detail. For no one living here, there sure seemed to be a lot of stuff. Pictures hung on the walls, old rugs lay on the floor. The dresser had some knickknacks on top of it. It seemed odd that the place hadn’t been cleared out when the army stopped using it.
If anyone stumbled upon this place, it would be obvious that someone had been here since there were fresh footsteps on the dusty floor. Well, there was nothing that could be done about that now. One of the tapestries hanging on the wall to her right had a picture of a wolf stitched on it. The tapestry hanging on her left had a soldier embroidered on it. The soldier held a sword in one hand, blood dripping off the point. Lovely. And so…Russek. In the soldier’s other hand was some sort of weapon she didn’t recognize.
“All done,” Odar said.
Allyssa slid her arm back in the sleeve and went over to the tapestry to examine it in greater detail. It wasn’t a weapon he held—but a mask. This man reminded her of Kerdan. It was no mistake—this tapestry being here. Her being here. She peeked behind the tapestry.
“What are you doing?” Odar asked.
A section of the wall appeared darker, but it was hard to tell. “Hold the tapestry away from the wall so I can get a better look. I think there’s something behind it.”
He did as she asked. Sliding behind the tapestry, she saw a section of the wall had been removed to create an inlet, which had been filled with food, blankets, and a piece of paper. She pulled everything out, setting it on the floor. When she stepped out from the tapestry, Odar let it fall back against the wall, concealing the hidden inlet.
“I’ll be damned,” he mumbled. “Just what we need.” They sat on the ground, examining the supplies. “I’ll tie the blankets to the horses. We have enough food in the saddlebags to last a couple of days, so eat what you can of this and I’ll pack the rest for later.”
She picked up the paper and unfolded it. “It’s a map.” She showed it to Odar. It looked like it started at the cabin they were currently in, went through the forest, along a trail, and to a spot marked Hunting Lodge. “What do you think?” A trap? Or Kerdan’s way of helping them out of Russek?
Odar sat staring at it for several minutes, his fingers tapping on the floorboard. “I say we follow it.” He finally looked at her. “Somehow, you knew about this place. I have to assume Kerdan wanted you to find this.” Folding the map, he shoved it in his pocket and stood. “Let’s go. If Kerdan knows about this place, I’m sure someone else does too.” He pulled her to her feet.
Allyssa nibbled on a roll while Odar packed their things. Once everything was ready, they went out to the barn and mounted the horses. Riding through the forest in the daylight, she was able to see how strong and well-trained her horse was. Kerdan must have chosen these horses for them. He must have known they could carry them to Fren. A thought occurred to her, and she said, “Jomk.” The horse whinnied. This was Kerdan’s warhorse. And the map had been an unexpected gift from him as well.
They traveled hard and fast most of the day. Just as the sun started to set, they came upon a crude wooden structure.
“This is it,” Odar stated. “The map leads us right to here.”
The place didn’t have a door, but at least it had a roof. Dismounting, she tied Jomk to a post and went inside. It was a small room without any amenities. Odar brought in the blankets, laying them out for them to sleep on.
“This is what hunters use when they’re out tracking game. It’s meant to serve as a shelter from the snow or rain for a few hours—nothing more.” He handed her some bread and cheese along with a water skin.
She took the food and sat down, eagerly eating. Her back ached, her legs had turned to mush, and her arm stung. Worse than any of that, her torso felt as if it had been smashed to bits. She would have to find something to relieve the pain, or she would not survive the journey. Maybe she could put the medicine for her arm on her ribs and legs.
After she ate her food, she crawled under the blankets. The wind had picked up, shaking the walls and the roof on occasion. Laying there, she could hear something fluttering 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. She decided to assume it was a leaf since it sounded like one. Only, after ten minutes or so, she still couldn’t sleep, so she reached out, feeling around for the leaf. Her fingers encountered it. She plucked it up, about to shove it under her blanket, when she felt how thick it was. Not a leaf, but a piece of paper. Going over to the open doorway, she held it outside so the moonlight would illuminate it. Sure enough, it was another map that would lead them from this location to another hunting lodge due east.
When did Kerdan hide this map here?
“Is something the matter?” Odar asked.
“I found another map.” She crawled back under the blankets, trying to get warm.
“Maybe I don’t hate Kerdan as much as I thought I did,” he mumbled.
Chuckling, she snuggled deeper into her blankets, her pain forgotten. The fact that Kerdan had taken the time to hide these maps so they could navigate their way out of Russek, that he supplied them with food, and he gave them horses, proved that he was rather brilliant and more thoughtful than she gave him credit for.
***
The following days passed in a blur. During the daylight hours, Odar and Allyssa traveled as hard and fast as possible, following the specific path Kerdan had sketched on the map. They didn’t encounter a single town, person, or soldier as they raced across Russek, stopping only at night to sleep for a few hours in the empty hunting lodges. Each one contained a new map leading to the next location. The snow eventually receded, making travel easier. If it weren’t for the maps and lodges, they’d be either lost or dead by now. They spoke very little, and she kept all her energy and focus on remaining upright in the saddle.
A week into their journey, she ran out of healing salve. The wound on her arm wasn’t getting any better. The skin had turned bright red, and her entire body ached.
“It’s okay,” Odar assured her. “We’re not far from Fren. Only a day or two at most. Hang in there.” They rode a little slower that day, not making it to the lodge until after dark.
The next morning, they set out at dawn. 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 maybe some more medicine. After midday, they came to the top of a hill, pulling their horses to a halt to observe the valley below.
She slouched atop the horse, thankful for the brief respite. Her bruised ribs stung from the constant jarring movement of the horse, and several of her cuts were red, puffy, and oozing liquid. She hated this kingdom and couldn’t wait to be out of it. “Is that all that separates us from Fren?” she asked. The army had obviously been here based upon the trampled grass, trash, and burnt firewood lying about.
“Yes. My land starts on the other side of this valley.”
She didn’t see any movement below. “Where do you think everyone went?” If Kerdan had been successful in killing the king and ascending to the throne, he could have withdrawn the troops. However, they had no way of knowing the state of things.
“Hopefully, they’re not in Fren. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” No. It felt like a trap. A valley devoid of soldiers that they had to cross through. Would an arrow be impaled into her back? Would she be dragged back to Clovek?
Odar nudged his horse down the hill.
She pulled out another piece of white willow bark and stuck it in her mouth, hoping it would ease her pain. “Nice and gentle,” she murmured to Jomk as they began the decent. When she reached the base of the hill, all remained quiet.
“There’s a town not far from here,” Odar commented. Of course, Kerdan would lead them right to a town in Fren so they could seek the necessary help. He could have left them to fend for themselves, but he didn’t. “I want you to lay low in the saddle. No matter what, do not stop until you’re in Fren.”
She nodded, knowing it was easier said than done in her condition. Regardless, they were almost there—she just had to hang on a little longer. “You go first. I’ll follow.”
He took off, his horse practically flying over the tan grass covering the valley. Thick clouds hung overhead, promising rain. She nudged Jomk forward, unable to lean down without her ribs screaming in protest. The only thing keeping her from falling off was the possibility of a warm bed, cooked food, and a skilled healer. She knew she was hallucinating because Kerdan’s voice spoke in her mind, telling her to stop being a pansy. You’re almost there. Suck it up and get the job done. You can rest later. She reached the other side of the deserted valley without incident.
“Welcome to Fren,” Odar said, the relief apparent in his voice. He sat up a little straighter, held his head a little higher. However, he did not look like a prince with his ragged clothing and the unkempt beard growing on his face.
After a couple of miles, they followed a dirt road. It passed several farms with sheep meandering along the countryside. The road came to a small town containing dozens of single-story wooden homes with neatly tended yards. No signs of war, nor any soldiers present. They passed through the center of town, which consisted of a handful of stores. A few people were out and about, but no one recognized the prince.
He stopped outside the town’s official guard station where a Fren soldier exited to greet them. Odar spoke quietly with the man. The soldier nodded and ran back inside.
“Did that man have any news on the war?” Had Kerdan managed to stop it in time?
“No news. But this is a small border town.”
A dozen men dressed in battle gear exited the building. Several stable boys brought horses from out back, handing them to the men who mounted and surrounded Odar and Allyssa.
“I’ve arranged for a group of men to escort us to my family’s home.”
“Right now?” she asked, her back spasming in pain. What about a healer and a warm bed? Tears filled her eyes.
“This town doesn’t have the necessary resources to protect you. I want you behind the palace walls where Russek can’t touch you.”
“It’s good to see you alive, Prince Odar,” one of the soldiers said. “We’d heard rumors you’d been killed.”
Odar gave the signal, and their small group started riding out of the town. “I am alive and well,” he answered. “It’s time my parents’ worries are put to rest.”
“Excuse me,” Allyssa said. “Where did the Russek soldiers who were in the valley due west of here go?”
“They packed up and left two days ago.” The man did not address her by her title, which meant he didn’t know her identity.
“Do you think it means Prince Kerdan was successful?” she quietly asked Odar.
“Possibly,” he replied. “Or the king could be consolidating resources to prepare for an all-out invasion into Emperion. We won’t know for sure until we reach the palace.”
She decided not to ask how long the journey would take because, no matter what, it would be too long for her.
She swayed on the horse, a wave of dizziness overcoming her. After a healer and some rest, then she would be fine.
“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “I’ll have my most proficient men guard you at all times. I will not allow Russek to get their hands on you again. I swear it.”
Her current state was due to her injuries, not a fear for being recaptured and taken back to Russek. Forcing a laugh, she answered, “Keeping me behind the palace walls, guarded at all times, can’t ensure my safety. There will always be risks. Back in Emperion, the assassin managed to dance with me during the ball when security was at its highest. I’ll never be truly safe. You can’t lock me in a cage and try to protect me from everything. It’s not possible.” She forced a smile, trying to reassure him.
His face paled. He kept his focus on the road ahead of them, not looking her way. “We’ll discuss this later,” he curtly replied before nudging his horse into a faster canter.
An odd feeling of being off-kilter filled her. Didn’t he love her for who she was? She didn’t think she could handle it if he tried to stifle her. In Fren, women were treated differently than they were in Emperion. They couldn’t join the army, farm, or tend to the land. Surely Odar didn’t expect her to be docile and hide away. That wasn’t who she was. And after her experience in Russek, she had no intention of being locked away in a cage ever again.
***
The prince set a relentless pace. Traveling on roads, they covered far more territory than before. One night when they stopped to sleep, Odar sent one of his men to a nearby town to procure medicine for Allyssa. He returned a short while later with several herbs for her to ingest. He also had news from the soldiers stationed there. Official word came from the king and queen of Fren that the Russek soldiers had retreated and no longer posed an imminent threat.
Odar thanked him and sat next to Allyssa. “We need to talk.”
“I heard what the man said. That is good news indeed.” A fever had set in, and she couldn’t stop shaking, no matter how many cloaks and blankets were draped over her. She prayed the herbs started working soon.
“It appears war no longer looms over our heads,” he said, tossing a stick into the crackling fire before them.
“Yes. However, I think it wise to hear what your parents have to say before we get our hopes up. Like you said, the Russeks may have retreated along your border to concentrate their attack elsewhere.” She wrapped her arms around her body, willing the shaking to stop.
He nodded. “Try and get some sleep.” Moving to the other side of the fire, he laid down, his back to her.
His words played over and over in her mind. War no longer looms over our heads. If they managed to avoid a war, then why was she filled with a sense of dread instead of relief? Why did she have a feeling something was terribly wrong?