The Underground Witch (Incenaga Trilogy) (22 page)

“
Almost positive?” Erick asked. “That is a fortnight’s journey from Volarcus. Why would Cardoon serve a city so far from home?”

“
Mishel is bound by sea and mountain. Perhaps he made a better living serving Volarcus. I don’t know. But I remember now. He came from Mishel.”

“Very well.
Thank you for your help. Good day, sir.”

Erick
left the office and, in search of more answers, sought out the inn keepers, tavern owners, and market vendors. No one had seen Cardoon for at least a month and several guessed he had returned to his hometown. The more he heard, the more he knew he’d have to make the journey to Mishel. Something about Cardoon’s sudden appearance in Joph’s office, and his willingness to rush an order, seemed suspicious. Either that, or Erick was grasping for any sort of lead.

Resisting the urge to gallop ahead toward Mishel,
Erick led his horse to the other side of Volarcus where his army was stationed. He knew it would be prudent to notify Commander Benshi of the recent developments, but he could also use a fresh horse and a contingency of men should he find more than just the messenger in Mishel. Erick’s heart leapt at the thought that Emmeline could be as close as Mishel. Digging his heels into his horse, he galloped toward his army’s encampment.

Thousands of tents
dotted a large field with groups of twenty circling small fires. As Erick walked through the encampment he noticed the soldier’s bored expressions. Several lounged around asleep or staring into the sky, while others read or played games. They were not a bawdy group of men – his soldiers were expected to behave like gentlemen at all times – but he took pity on them. They had been stuck in the same location for a month with nothing but cards and books to entertain them. As he passed, they rose and bowed respectfully, and then returned to their various activities.

The center of the encampment held a large round tent with entrances facing north, south, east, and west.
Erick entered through from the east and started at the beehive of activity. With such a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere of the remainder of the camp, Erick stood back to observe for a brief moment. Messengers and carriers entered through the west entrance toward the city, all bearing news regarding their various tasks. Maps were spread on wide tables with several officers crowded around examining the pictorial land stretched before them.

Erick stepped forward. “Good day, gentlemen.”

“Welcome, Your Highness,” Commander Benshi said with an outstretched hand. “It is a pleasure to see you. I did not receive word you were coming.”

“I
had no time to send word. I came alone.”

Commander Benshi’s
eyebrows rose. “What news do you bring? Has the princess been found?”

“
I’m afraid not. She did not travel to Pamizak, as I believed. At least, she has not been discovered in Pamizak, nor in any town between there and Dolmerti. I have reason to believe she did not leave of her own free will.”

“But no army has attacked!
I would have known if Dolmerti’s walls had been breached.”

Erick shook his head.
“No, no army entered Dolmerti. Have you found any traces of an army nearby?”

“None.
But as you can see,” Commander Benshi said while sweeping his arm toward the officers and messengers, “we are working to find such an army. My men have traveled far, but they all come back with reports of no army being anywhere near. It has been frustrating, to say the least.”

“Perhaps there never was an army.”

“Do you believe it was a diversion?”

Erick nodded
. “I do. Everyone knows the strength of our army. No one could defeat us without considerable preparation and I have a hard time believing someone could have amassed an army without our knowing it.”

Commander Benshi nodded. “They would have known it was a futile effort.”

“And they would have known the only way to get past us would be to divert our attention elsewhere. I believe she was taken in secret, by a small group of men. We were too distracted to look for a shadow.”

Commander
Benshi slammed his fist against the table. “We have been made the fool! I don’t know how I didn’t recognize that as a possibility. You are right, what person in their right mind would challenge the army of Dolmerti? We should have seen the lie for what it was.”

“Do not shoulder the blame, Commander.
I have acted the fool as well. She has been gone near a month and I am barely coming to this conclusion. Whoever has taken her is cunning, so we need to remain focused. The smallest detail may be the difference between finding Emmeline or not.”

“We will find her,” Commander
Benshi said.

Erick wished he could possess
Commander Benshi’s confidence. In truth, he knew he would search the ends of the earth for her, he would never stop, but would he ever find her? It terrified him to think of her suffering. Erick’s chest constricted. It felt so tight, and yet so empty. His life was empty without her.

“I spoke to
Joph, the scribe from whose office the letter was sent,” Erick said. “He gave me the name of the messenger. Cardoon. He hasn’t been seen in Volarcus since. Joph believes Cardoon may have gone to Mishel.”

“Perhaps Cardoon
is the author of the letter.”

“
I doubt it. He seemed a bit skittish the night he delivered it. I don’t believe he is the sort of man to mastermind a kidnapping.”

“He may be someone worth questioning.”

Erick nodded. “I agree.  I plan to leave for Mishel as soon as I am finished here.”

“We’ll
come with you. You may need our support.”

“
Thank you Commander, but it will take twice as long to travel with the full army and I need to find Emmeline as quickly as possible.” Or he’d go crazy. “She could be in danger. Besides, I’d rather not alert them to our presence and risk the chance that they’ll run before we can get there.”

Commander Benshi nodded again.
“As you wish, Your Highness. However, I would ask that you take my best soldiers with you, fifteen should suffice. We will wait two days and then follow behind. The men need something to occupy their minds, something to excite them again.”

“
Yes, I noticed. They seemed a bit spiritless. Very well. I’ll take a few men and the rest may follow behind in a day or two. At the very least, it would be good to have the army escort Emmeline home. I should arrive there within a fortnight, maybe sooner.”

“And we will march hard to arrive
not long after.”

“Very good.
Thank you, Commander Benshi.”

“It is a pleasure to serve you,
Your Highness. Do not worry. We will bring your princess home.”

“I’m counting on that.”

Erick left the tent and stood outside the entrance. He’d give Commander Benshi ten minutes to round up a group of soldiers and then he would leave for Mishel with or without them. He couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Waiting was killing him. A constant churning of turmoil rolled in his stomach and he felt certain he would vomit. The worry for Emmeline proved too much to contain and his chest shook, his breaths coming in short gasps. Two more minutes and he would leave. He couldn’t stand still any longer.

“Are you alright, Crown Prince?”

Erick looked up to see an old woman standing before him. With a blue shawl of heavy wool draped across her hunched shoulders, she held up a bowl of steaming soup.

“Perhaps this will cheer
you, Highness,” she said.

“It sm
ells delicious,” Erick said. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. “Thank you.”

Erick sipped
from the soup and it warmed him to the core, relaxing his nerves. Swirls of basil and rosemary met his nose and soothed his mind. The trembling stopped and he found his strength again. Emmeline’s deep blue eyes swam in his mind, looking up at him with complete trust and love. He would not fail her.

Smiling
at the old woman, he handed her the empty bowl and headed to the stables. Fifteen soldiers rushed back and forth, securing supplies. All of them were eager to be active and have a purpose again. Noticing his approach, they stopped their preparations and saluted.

“We will ride to Mishel,” Erick said.
“I am looking for a messenger named Penne Cardoon. I believe he has information regarding Princess Emmeline’s disappearance. Our journey may end in Mishel, or it may continue elsewhere. If we find the man or group of men who have taken Princess Emmeline, we will fight. I do not wish for any of you to die or be harmed; however, I believe we will face an enemy unlike any we have faced before.

Erick paused, unsure about what he was about to say. “
Many of you may not know this, but Emmeline is the last surviving Incenaga…”

He
searched their faces, looking for a reaction, but they all nodded as if the information was not anything new. Scowling, Erick wondered how many others knew about Emmeline’s true identity. He had wanted to keep it a secret for as long as possible, or at least from those who did not need to know, but it was apparent the one who had been left in the dark was himself. No wonder Emmeline had been taken from him so soon.

“T
hey may have control of her power,” he continued. “If they do, there is a good chance none of us will survive. You will not be disgraced if you choose not to join me.”

Erick paused to allow
his men the opportunity to leave. To face a controlled Incenaga would terrify any man.

But n
ot one soldier moved. Each stood transfixed in place, standing strong and immovable.

“Very good.
We leave in one minute.”

The soldiers scrambled to finish packing
their saddlebags. Erick strode down the rows of stalls, examining the horses one by one to determine the most powerful beast. Commander Benshi stood near the farthest stall, preparing a dark stallion. He waved Erick toward him and patted the horse on the neck.

“Take my horse,” Commander
Benshi said. “He is the fastest and strongest in the country, apart from yours, of course.”

“Thank you.
”

“
I have taken the liberty of ordering the saddle bags packed and stocked for your journey. There is also a scrolled map of every city this side of the sea should you be required to take your journey farther than Mishel.”

“
Thank you. You think of everything, don’t you?”

Commander Benshi chuckled.
“I try.”

Erick mounted the horse
. “Farewell Commander. I will see you again soon.”

“And the Princess too.
I shall see her soon as well. Safe journey, Your Highness.”

Erick led the Commander’s horse out of the stables and into the sunlight where he waited for the remainder of his men to join him.
The last rays of the afternoon bathed him in warmth and he welcomed the feeling with renewed hope. He would find her. He would find his love.

Emmeline lay curled on her side, her head throbbing and her eyes squeezed shut. The fall had been just as Demyan said it would be. Short, but far enough to hurt. She had landed on her feet, for the most part, and then stumbled forward. She tried to brace her fall with her hands, but a sharp pain erupted from her wrists and she toppled forward. Her head cracked on a stone wall and she rolled into a heap on the ground. A throbbing grey mist blanketed her mind, blocking all other senses.

Sometime
later, the mist lifted and Emmeline noticed the hard packed soil underneath her. It was dry, which she found somewhat comforting, but the stench of rot seemed to emanate from the compacted layers of filth and grime.

After another round of dry heaves passed, Emmeline stood
and clawed at the wall, desperate to climb out. Her nails filled with muck as her fingers scraped over the wet, moldy stone, but she couldn’t get a grip on anything.

Dropping her arms, she
turned around to get a better sense of the pit. It was cut from smooth stone with a few cracks here and there and in a near perfect circle. From edge to edge, she counted twenty small steps with a quarter of the ground covered in a pile of moldy straw. A scratchy blanket had been thrown on top.

Emmeline pushed the wet straw into a more compact pile and stood on top, reach
ing high to feel for any anomalies in the smooth stone. Her fingers moved over several cracks, but she found nothing large enough to allow for any leverage, especially considering she would have to climb another full man’s height on top of that.

Emmeline screamed in frustration and pounded her fists on the stone.
Dropping to her hands and knees she crawled along the ground, searching for a loose rock or anything sharp she could use to deepen the existing cracks. If they were a little deeper, and perhaps a little wider, she stood a chance at being able to climb out.