The Last Witch (Incenaga Trilogy) (8 page)

“I would like that very much,
” Emmeline said. Her heart leapt at the chance of bonding with one of the King’s horses. There was a possibility an equestrian friend would be the only friend she’d ever have in Dolmerti.

Erick’s grin lit up his
entire face and Emmeline wondered what it would be like to have a friend like him. His ready smile and easy laugh seemed to reach into her weary chest and pull out laughter of her own. The longer she was with him, the more all her worry and sadness seemed to melt away. True, Dolmerti’s rules on propriety might frown on a future princess befriending a servant. But she felt no more a princess than he a servant. For the first time since arriving, her step was light. She could almost forget the pain of the last several weeks.

“
The day is worn,” he said. “I can still take you to the stables, but perhaps I could prepare a horse for you tomorrow morning?”

“
That would be wonderful.”

“If it pleases you, I
could ride along with you as you explore the countryside. I know the area quite well. I could be your guide.”

Emmeline’s stomac
h fluttered. She smoothed the fabric of her dress, surprised at the sensation. “Yes, that would be very helpful.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to e
lude your guards again,” he asked with a nervous chuckle.

Emmeline’s laughter filled the air.
“I’ll have to be more creative, but I will see what I can do.”

Erick nodded
and glanced away, his thoughts on the horizon. When his gaze pulled back to her his expression whispered of hope and fear. He shook his head and kept walking, but his eyes had already betrayed his silence. Erick had a secret of his own.

The stable barn was well kept with enough stalls to corral at least a hundred animals. Horses roamed the pasture, each unique and stunning in its own right. One in particular caught Emmeline’s eye. With an ebony coat that glistened in the sunlight, it could have been the sister to her horse at home. Its thick mane and long tail were also black and a small diamond of white graced its forehead.

“What is
its name?” she asked as she pointed to the black mare. They turned away from the stables and leaned against the fence.

“
She doesn’t have a name yet. She is a gift from the Crown Prince to his bride. He traveled all the way to Volarcus to select the animal himself. Do you like her?”

“
She is breathtaking,” Emmeline said. She knew already what she would name her. She would name her Filia, after her beloved horse from home.

Erick grinned, pleased with her appraisal. “Yes,
she is beautiful.” His gaze turned from the horse and rested on Emmeline’s face. “I once believed her to be the most beautiful creature in existence. Until today.”

Emmeline blushed
. He couldn’t have meant her, could he?

Erick studied the grass at his feet, his face reddening. “
Excuse me, Emmeline, I believe I left one of the stable doors open.” He ducked his head and jogged into the barn.

Emmeline smiled at his odd behavior. She turned her gaze from Erick’s retreating back and
strolled toward the far end of the pasture, wanting a better look at the beautiful horse the Crown Prince had bought her. She couldn’t wait to ride her.

The ground rumbled and a
flock of geese scattered into the air. Emmeline’s chin jerked up. A cloud of dust was rolling down the road. Her heart lurched. She glanced around for anything to hide behind. A rock, a tree, anything! But there was no time. Nine men on horseback barreled around the bend and came to a sudden halt in front of her, their red cloaks coming to a rest around their shoulders. Emmeline shuddered. Leaning against a fence post, her mind swirled.

M
emories of another red-cloaked mob flooded her mind and anger took over her fear. They had not only taken away her freedom, but her father, her home and everything she loved as well. She stood firm against the fence, determined not to let them treat her like a prisoner. She may have come from a modest upbringing, but as far as they were concerned, she would soon be their Princess, and ultimately their Queen.

Emmeline held her
chin high and set her shoulders straight. “Hello gentlemen, what is the cause of all this excitement?”

Shadowed by his dark cloak,
one of them jumped off his horse and moved toward her in long purposeful strides. Emmeline’s stomach churned with recognition.

Mahl
on grabbed her upper arm. “Don’t play coy with me,” he said through his teeth.

Emmeline
pulled her arm away, but his powerful grip tightened, sending a ripple of pain to her shoulder. Without missing a step, he dragged her toward his horse.

“Unhand me,”
she yelled. “I will not be treated in this manner!”

A
loud crash came from the stables. Alarmed for Erick, Emmeline turned her body toward the stables, but Mahlon grabbed her waist and lifted her onto his horse before she could see what had happened. He mounted behind her and dug his heels into the flanks of the horse. Before she could take a breath they were galloping toward the palace with an entire unit of men trailing behind.

Mahlon
hissed in her ear as they rode. “I told you not to leave the palace. While the Crown Prince is away, you will obey my commands. Your life depends on it! No one can know you are here. Do you understand me?”

Mahlon
’s iron grip squeezed her against his chest, taking the breath out of her. She squirmed in the saddle but doubted Mahlon cared about her comfort. She curled in on herself, not only to distance herself from Mahlon, but to hold herself together. She had been ripped from the only thing that had brought her happiness in weeks and she wondered if she would ever see Erick or the horses again. Fearing what Mahlon might do if he found her outside the palace again, her plans for eluding the guards no longer seemed a laughing matter.

The galloping horse carried them toward the palace. Emmeline had longed to ride a horse again but
not in such a way. Mahlon pulled her from the horse and she glared at him with all her strength.

Mahlon growled.
“I don’t think I have made myself clear.” He snatched her arm and pulled her into his chest. “I don’t want to harm you, but you leave me no choice.”

He bent her wrist
at an odd angle and twisted her arm behind her back. Emmeline screamed in pain, hating the show of weakness.

“Does this hurt?
” Mahlon said. “This is nothing compared to what the noblemen will do if they find you, or what someone may do if they discovered your power. Dolmerti needs you. Pamizak needs you. And they need you alive.”

Mahlon
released her arm and strode into the palace, leaving Emmeline on the palace steps. Several guards stood near, some with smirks, some with wide eyes trained to the ground.

Emmeline rubbed her sore arm
and shivered. She glared at the mahogany doors left open to her—open to take her prisoner. The guard nearest her stepped next to her and took her arm.

“Come, Your Highness,” he said a little
too loud. “Back to your chambers you go.”

Emmeline tried to resist his hold but
he gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head and glanced toward her with pleading eyes, his gaze near her shoulder.

“Up you go,” he shouted as if she weren’t right next to him. He pulled her up the stairs much faster than necessary and
they were through the doors before the other guards reached the bottom step.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” he whispered
quickly. “This will be over soon.”

Emmeline glanced up at him, confused.

“They can’t contain your power
much longer. You’ll make this right. I know it.”

He spoke with such confidence that she was embarrassed to admit she had no idea what her power was or how to use it, let alone
how to make everything right again.

The other guards
caught up with them and nothing more was said between them. She wanted to ask him what he meant, how he knew her power wouldn’t be contained, or if he knew how she could use it. Turning to look up at him, she tried to catch his gaze. But he looked straight on and pulled her toward the stair tower with an unnecessary amount of force.

“Soon,”
he whispered. “Soon.”

Adelia rushed to Emmeline the moment she entered her chambers, tear streaks staining her face. “My Lady! I have been so worried about you!”

She stared into Emmeline’s shoulder and a flash of annoyance
gripped Emmeline. How could Adelia still refuse to look at her, even after all their time together?

“
You had no reason to worry,” Emmeline said. She slumped into a chair feeling more trapped than ever before.

“You
disappeared, My Lady. I searched for you, but you were nowhere to be found.”

“
I merely needed a moment of fresh air.”

“It isn’t safe!
I had to tell Mahlon you were gone. I was so afraid you were hurt or captured."

Emmeline’s lips tightened.
“You were the one to tell Mahlon?”

Adelia nodded
.

“Why?”
Emmeline shouted. She no longer wondered if Adelia could be trusted. Obviously, she couldn’t.

“Because he wanted me to alert him if you were in any danger. He trusts me to watch out for you when he can’t be here to protect you himself.”

"Well, I'm fine,” Emmeline shot back. “Not a single scratch."

Adelia sighed
. "How did you get out?”

“D
oes it matter now that I’m found?”

“That
door will have to be locked and guarded.”

“This is ri
diculous! I don’t appreciate being locked in like a criminal.”

Adelia’s eyes turned pleading
as she stared at the hem of Emmeline’s skirt. “Please tell me which door you used? You’ve been put in my care and I must do everything in my power to protect you.” Her breaths came shallow and quick.

“You are just like them,” Emmeline said. “
All you care about is jailing the witch so you can use her when it serves you best.”

Adelia
’s lips quivered and a tear escaped her eye. She wiped her nose and tucked an errant hair behind her ears. “No, I…” Adelia sniffed. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

Emmel
ine swallowed a pang of remorse. There was no reason to behave so rudely. Ashamed by her sharp accusations, Emmeline sighed. “I know, Adelia. I didn’t mean that. If you must know, I left through the same door I entered into this stone prison. The rear entrance, I believe.”

Ad
elia lowered her head and bowed. “Thank you, My Lady. I do apologize, but that door will have to be guarded until the Crown Prince’s arrival. You’ll be in his care then, and you’ll be safe. Please, you mustn’t leave the palace. I don’t know what I would do if you were harmed.”

“If you insist,” Emmeline
said with a bite still left in her tone. “However, I insist you explain why this is so necessary. And I insist you look at me while you explain.”

Adelia gasped. “I’m not permitted.”

“According to whom?”

“It isn’t safe.
”

Emmeline’s heart skipped a beat.
Was she dangerous? Would someone be harmed if they looked at her? Erick didn’t seem to have any problems, and he certainly looked at her enough. Emmeline blushed at the thought.

She
took a deep breath and lowered her voice to a soft whisper “Trust me; I’m not going to hurt you.”

“It’s not you
that gives me fright. If he finds out I dared look at you...you are not mine to control.”

“I’m not anybody’s to control!” Emmeline
said. She jumped to her feet, her arms rigid and her fists squeezed shut. “Who said you couldn’t look at me?”

Adelia winced and
glanced at the door.

“I want to know,” Emmeline said.

“I’m not permitted.”

Emmeline folded her arms
and gave Adelia a hard stare. “I don’t care.”

Adelia nodded and shut the door
. With her back to Emmeline and her head hung, she paused with her palm on the handle as if she were thinking about leaving. After a long moment she turned around and raised her timid eyes to Emmeline’s. Her entire body trembled.

Emmeline
held her gaze. “They look like everyone else’s during the day.”

“No, not like everyone else’s. I’ve never seen a blue so deep. They are quite lovely.”