The Underground Witch (Incenaga Trilogy) by Debbie Dee Read Free Book Online

other choice.
    A knock on the door jolted Emmeline to the present and she took in a deep breath.
    “Enter,” Erick said, his voice hoarse.
    The guards entered the room with the messenger between them. “Is this the man you requested, Your Highness?”
    “Yes, leave him here.”
    The guards bowed and left the room, leaving the messenger cowering by the door. His eyes darted between Emmeline and Erick before focusing on the ground.
    “Where did you say you found this letter?” Erick said with such ferocity that his cheeks turned red.
    “In the office of the Volarc us scribe, Joph,” the messenger said as he crumbled his hat between his hands. His eyes remained on the ground.
    “Why did it take h im a month to find a letter not addressed to him? Is he a disorganized scribe?” Emmeline asked.
    “ Not at all, Your Highness. He is a very thorough person. It caused him a great deal of grief to find the letter amidst his things. He insisted he had never seen it before.”
    “ It is possible he lied to you?” Erick asked as he rubbed his chin.
    The messenger looked up. “Your Highness?”
    “Is he an honest man?”
    The messenger’s shoulders fell slightly and Emmeline thought she saw a flash of guilt pass over his face before he responded.
    “ He is a principled man,” the messenger said. “I would be surprised if he were deceitful, Your Highness.”
    Erick nodded, his lips p ressed together. He glanced at Emmeline and she knew why he had appeared so alarmed before. The letter was a month old. There was no time to make any preparations. According to the writer, an army would arrive any day, any moment. There wasn’t even enough time to gather their troops. She fell into the nearest chair and buried her face into her hands.
    Erick knelt next to her and took her hands into his. “Emmeline, why don’t you go back to your quarters and let me straighten this all out. I don’t want you to worry about this. I promise, I will keep you safe. No one will harm you or take you away from me.”
    “I’m not leaving,” Emmeline said. “This is my fault.”
    “Your fault? How could this be your fault?”
    Emmeline ’s eyes flitted to the messenger.
    Erick pulled himself to his feet like a man with a thousand bricks on his back.
    “ Have you seen or heard of an army assembling near Volarcus?” Erick asked the messenger.
    “No. It has been relatively quiet since Advisor Mahlon brought the King of Pamizak to the prison. There was some commotion with that.”
    Emmeline slumped further into her chair. Her father had been Mahlon’s prisoner and his health hadn’ t been the same since. He’d come back thin and weak, barely able to stand without support. She wished with new fervor that Mahlon hadn’t gotten away.
    “Have you heard any rumors of an army? Or seen any strange activity near our borders? Any foreigners along your routes?” Erick asked.
    The messenger shifted his feet. “Nothing worth mentioning.”
    “Are you sure? Because the smallest detail could prove to be the most important piece of information.”
    The messenger swallowed. “I was only in Volarcus for a few days before coming here. I didn’t hear much.”
    Erick nodded. “You are dismissed; however, I insist you remain in the palace until this matter is resolved.”
    “ Your Highness, if I may,” the messenger started, his forehead beading with sweat.
    “Yes?” Erick pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
    “Would you like me to request an investigation into the matter?”
    Erick shook his head. “There is no time.”
    “It couldn’t hurt,” Emmeline said.
    Erick shrugged. “I suppose. Very well, return to Volarcus and request an investigation. Bring me news as soon as possible.”
    The messenger bowed and , with two quick strides, pushed through the door and left the room. The moment the door clicked shut, Emmeline began shaking.
    “This is my fault because of what I am. Dolmerti is in danger because of me. You