Empress of the Underworld by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

careful!”
    The Underling began to tremble and mutter his apologies.
    â€œYou’ll find yourself back in the mines if you don’t watch what you’re doing,” Empress Fareena snapped. Then she turned back and smiled. “They’re hard to train, the Underlings, for service like this. They’re good for nothing but digging. But let me ask you about yourself, my dear Abbey. Tell me how you came to this place. We have heard of the Sleepers but of course have never heard the truth. I think the truth is important, don’t you?”
    â€œOh, yes, Your Majesty. Very important.”
    â€œGood! We are agreed then. Tell me the story of the Sleepers.”
    Abbey spoke freely of how the Sleepers had come to Nuworld. She became so engrossed in her tale that she forgot to eat, but there was always an Underling there to give her hot food. She told of their adventures and how Goél delivered them from death not once but many times.
    â€œAh, yes, Goél. A mighty, mighty power is his,” the empress said thoughtfully. “And what do you make of him? Do you know him well?”
    Abbey hesitated. “Well, I know him, of course. He’s not like anyone else.”
    â€œDoes he wear armor? Is he large and powerful?” Prince Lothar demanded, leaning forward.
    â€œOh, no. Not at all. He wears a simple gray cloak. He’s not as tall as you are, Prince.”
    â€œThen how does he command such loyalty?” theempress asked. “All over Nuworld he has followers. I cannot understand it. I’ve never met him. Can you explain it?”
    â€œI think it must be that he has such love for his people.”
    The empress exchanged a quick glance with Prince Lothar. “That is it? He loves people? You mean the lords and ladies of nobility?”
    â€œI don’t think there are any ‘nobles’ in his kingdom, and he doesn’t show any difference. Why, he shows just as much love to the lowest as he does to the most powerful warrior.”
    Lothar shifted uncomfortably. He wore a frown on his handsome face. “I cannot see how that would work,” he said finally. “You must have discipline, and the only way to have that is to instill fear.”
    Abbey shook her head. “I don’t think that is exactly right, Prince Lothar. The followers of Goél would do anything for him, but none of us are afraid of him—oh, maybe as a child is afraid of a father. But there is love there too.”
    The conversation went on for a long time. Abigail finally grew weary, and the empress, appearing to see this, said, “Well, we will have time to talk later. We are agreed that the truth is what we must have, are we not, Abigail?”
    â€œOh, yes. We must have the truth, always.”
    A smile touched the empress’s lips. “We will talk more of this.”
    Abbey finished her meal, and then was fascinated by the entertainment. Acrobats turned fantastic flips, magicians made things disappear and reappear, so that she could not believe her eyes. There were dancers and singers, and she was utterly enraptured with the scene.
    At length Abbey was introduced to the leading members of the Council—tall, stately men, some with hard eyes but all strong and wearing the sign of the serpent on their chests.
    After the empress introduced Abbey, she said to the men, “She will be of great help to us in our struggle against the enemy.” Then she looked at Lothar and whispered so softly that Abbey barely heard. “And a prince needs a princess, does he not?”
    Lothar glanced over at Abbey and smiled. “Yes, My Empress,” he said.
    After the music and dancing, the empress said, “Now let me show you more of the palace.”
    It was a royal tour with just the empress and Abbey going through the passages. She saw marvelous things during the trip and said, “I could never find my way around, Your Majesty.”
    â€œYes, it is a large