Empress of the Underworld (16 page)

15

The Victory

A
fter the capture of the empress and Lothar, the battle went swiftly. The servants of Fareena put up a stiff fight at first, but the Underlings, inspired by Beren, swarmed through the kingdom.

The Sleepers were in the midst of it, as usual. Several times, as usual also, Josh had to caution Reb, for the young Southerner was reckless.

“I just forget where I'm at when I'm in a fight,” Reb said. “Especially a winning fight like this one.”

Beren performed magnificently. He maneuvered his smaller army through hidden caverns and concealed passageways so that they poured in on the servants of the defeated Fareena unexpectedly.

And word got out to the entire kingdom that Beren of the Underworld was rising in revolt against Empress Fareena. From far under the earth the Underlings heard and responded.

The fight was not without loss—many Underlings were wounded and some of them killed—but at last Beren could say, “Come. Now we will free those in the deep mines.”

He led the Sleepers and his small army downward to the mines. They fought their way through until finally the guards threw down their weapons, calling for mercy.

“Set all the slaves free,” Beren cried out in a ringing voice.

The Sleepers found this to be the most enjoyable thing they had done in the Underworld. Each of them secured
keys to fit the chains, and they moved among the slaves and set them free. Many times those who had been down in the mines for long years broke into tears.

When all were liberated, Beren said, “Now we leave these accursed mines.”

“Who will do the mining now that there are no more slaves?” Josh asked.

Beren flashed him a grin. “I think we might find some volunteers among the servants of Fareena.”

Dave nodded grimly. “Lothar might do well down here.”

They climbed upward, and the ex-slaves began to sing. The sound of their singing reverberated through the caverns.

Later in the day, the Underlings and the Seven Sleepers and their friends gathered in the palace amphitheater for a special announcement. Empress Laiona was stepping down from the throne in order for Beren to rule the Kingdom of the Underworld.

All of the former slaves looked up to where Beren and his mother stood on a raised shelf of rock, and a great cry went up. “Three cheers for Beren the King!” and the amphitheater rang with glad voices.

Beren raised his hand for quiet. “You are all free now. There will be no more slavery.”

After he had dismissed the people, he turned to the Sleepers. “Now we will show you what a real Underworld banquet is like.”

It was a little later that the Sleepers, who had bathed and put on fresh clothing, came to the banquet room. All were there except Abbey, who was still being treated by the court physician.

“I'd rather stay with her,” Sarah said to Josh.

“I know, but this is necessary. They want to honor us, and we have to give them the chance. Afterward, you and I will go sit by her.”

The banquet room was bright with light and color. Music filled the hall as King Beren entered. All rose and lifted their toast. “To the King of the Underworld—King Beren!”

Beren flushed and ducked his head. “I'm not used to these new honors, but I will rule my people as well as I can.” He seated his mother, and then they all sat down to eat.

And what a feast it was! The former royal cook had been released. He had raided the storehouse and prepared the best to be found. There were meats, breads, soups, even fish, caught in underground streams. Afterward there were unusual desserts that the Sleepers could not even name.

Then the king arose. “I propose a toast to the Seven Sleepers, the servants of Goél.”

Everyone stood and lifted their glasses high.

When they were seated again, Josh said, “This all sounds good, but I'm worried about Abbey.”

Beren said, “I, too, am worried. What does the physician say?”

“She will be badly scarred,” Sarah said sadly.

“That is a tragedy.” Beren shook his head. “But her scar will be a scar of honor.”

“I suppose,” Josh said. “Still, it's going to be hard for Abbey. I wish it had happened to me instead. I'm ugly enough already. One more little scar wouldn't have hurt.”

“You are
not
ugly!” Sarah snapped. “But you're right about Abbey. She was always proud of her looks. I wish it hadn't happened.”

Laiona had said little, but now she spoke. “Freedom never comes cheaply. Some of our people are dead; some
have endured years of chains. But now it grieves me that this young girl, not one of our own, has paid such a terrible price for our freedom.”

Jake said, “It's bad all right, but somehow I think she's going to be able to handle it.”

“What makes you think so, Jake? You know how she always valued her beauty.”

“I talked to her for a little bit just before we came here. She's quieter than she ever was, and there's something different about her.”

“I think an experience like this helps make us who we are,” Josh mused. “You know, there's an old saying—‘It's better to go to the house of mourning, than it is to go to the house of feasting.'”

Reb lifted his head. “What's that mean? Are you saying it's better to go to a funeral than it is to go to a party?”

Josh nodded. “I guess there's something to that, Reb. Going to parties doesn't make us any better or any tougher or able to understand people any better. But hard times do. So in that sense I guess hard times really
are
better for us than good times. Although I'm not going out looking for them.”

“We don't have to go out looking for them,” Mat grumbled. “They just come.” But he mellowed, for he was very fond of Abbey. “I, too, hate to see this come to Abbey. She's been spoiled, but underneath she's always been a sweet girl.”

Finally the banquet was over, and Beren said, “We will go now and visit Abbey. Whatever the King of the Underworld may do will be done.”

“Unless you can give her a new face, there's not much that can be done,” Wash said sadly. Then he asked, “What's going to happen to Fareena and Lothar? You're not going to execute them, are you?”

“They deserve that, but we will show mercy,” Beren said.

“Do you think there's any hope they can ever become other than what they are? They're so evil!” Sarah exclaimed.

“I have learned one thing,” Laiona said quietly. When they looked at her, she smiled. “There's hope for everyone!”

16

A Badge of Honor

K
ing Beren proclaimed a feast for seven days to celebrate the freedom of all his people. During that time, the Sleepers toured some of the more wonderful parts of the Underground.

They discovered that far underneath even the deep mines there were wonders to be seen. Underground rivers so deep that they seemed to have no bottom were filled with unusual—and delicious—fish. They were taken on a long journey to where rich jewels could be plucked from the walls.

But Abbey was always on their minds, and especially on the heart of Beren. He went to her compartment one day to have a private word. He found her sitting with her scarred face turned to one side as if to hide it.

“Abbey.” Beren took a seat in front of her and reached out for her hand. “I'm glad to see you doing so well.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Beren shook his head. “I could never be that to you. ‘Beren' and ‘Abbey' we will always be to each other.” He stared at her for a moment, then released her hand. “I want to say something.”

Abbey turned slightly to look at him, still keeping her wounded cheek turned away. “Yes, what is it, Beren?”

Beren hesitated, then said, “Why don't you stay here?”

“Here? In the Underground?”

“Yes. You could be a princess here. Have all the diamonds
you want. You love them, don't you? Fine clothes—all will be yours. Anything you ask for.”

An odd look came into Abbey's eyes. She paused for only one moment, then shook her head. “I don't seem to care much for things like that anymore.”

“You don't?”

“No. And that's very strange because I always did, you know. I always wanted pretty clothes and fine stones and all kinds of luxury and ease.”

“Well, I suppose most girls would like to have those,” Beren said.

“No, it was not a healthy thing with me at all. I thought all the time about how I looked, even from the time I was a little girl. You don't know the hours I've spent fixing my hair and trying this and that to look better. I was so determined to be the prettiest girl at every party.” She looked sad for a moment, then shook her head, and her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulder. “But it's not good for a girl to be like that. I've found out something.”

“And what is that, my Abbey?”

“What Goél and others have tried to tell me for a long time.” Now she did turn, and Beren saw the ugly scar coursing down her cheek. “I found out that it's not the outward beauty that counts but that which is inside.”

Beren was taken by her words. He reached out and clasped her hand again. “Stay here with us. You will be honored. You will be Princess Abbey.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I must go with the others. Our work here is done.”

When Beren left, Abbey walked over and looked at herself in the mirror. For a long time, she was absolutely still, then a tear appeared in one eye. She reached up quickly, wiped it away and said, “None of that. You mustn't cry. Not ever.”

Later, Sarah came to visit and spoke of their departure. But that seemed not to be what was on her heart. Finally Sarah said, “Abbey, can I talk with you?”

Abbey looked at her in surprise. “Of course. What is it, Sarah?”

“This is hard, but I want to know how you really feel about … about …”

At once Abbey touched the scar. “You mean about this?”

“Well… yes. About that.”

“I wish it hadn't happened,” Abbey said. “No one would want a thing like this.” She lowered her hand, then sat looking down for a moment. When she lifted her eyes, there was a quietness about her that had not been in Abbey before she was wounded.

At last she said, “It's funny. I've always been the one the most conscious of appearance, and now I'm the one to lose it. But I can live with it, Sarah.”

Sarah came over and put her arm around the girl and hugged her. “I'm glad you're looking at it like that. Your looks won't matter to anyone who loves you.”

Abbey did not answer immediately but then said, “I'm afraid it will matter to some. Not everyone is kind like you and Josh and Reb and all the others.”

Then the doctor came in. He examined the scar. He said, “I'm glad the blade didn't take your eye. That would've been terrible.”

Abbey traced the scar tentatively with her fingertips. “Will it grow smaller as time goes by, Doctor?”

The doctor fidgeted. “Perhaps. But of course your cheek will never be as it was before this happened. You understand that, don't you?”

“I understand,” Abbey said. “Thank you, Doctor.”

After the physician and Sarah left, Abbey read for a while. She did not want to talk to anyone else just now,
and the quiet was soothing. At last she blew out all the candles except one and lay down on her couch. It made a soft bed, and soon she fell asleep.

“Abbey—awake!”

At the sound of a familiar voice, Abbey opened her eyes, startled, and sat up. “Goél!” she cried out. “You're here!”

“Yes, I am here.” Goél took her hands and pulled her to her feet. His hands were warm and strong, and as she looked up at him, she felt as if she wanted to cling to him and never let him leave her sight again.

“You have had a hard time.”

“Yes, I have been very disobedient. I should never have let the Sleepers go without me. That was very wrong of me.”

“I'm glad you recognize that.” Goél nodded. He still stood before her quietly, holding her hands. “You are changed, my Abigail,” he said gently. He released one hand and reached up to touch the scar on her face. “You have changed on the outside. This is a bad thing.”

His sympathy caused tears to form in Abbey's eyes. Her throat was thick, and it was hard to answer. “I have changed inside too, Goél,” she whispered.

“And how is that, my daughter?”

“I have learned—finally—what you wanted me to learn. That it is what is in the heart that counts, not what is on the outside.”

Goél's hand remained on her cheek for a moment longer, then he lowered it. “Sit down. I must tell you some things.”

For some time Goél spoke to her. His voice was quiet and soothing, and she felt secure. Then he stood. “When I first saw you, I knew there was a fine young woman in you. You were too concerned with your beauty, as I told
you, but now you have learned the way of Goél. I am proud of you, Abigail.”