Erich's Plea: Book One of the Witchcraft Wars

by Tracey Alley

her throat. The guard’s harsh words had cut through her heart like a knife. The thought that her father was dead was chilling, but if her father were gone then so too would… Ursula shook her head; she would not give voice to the thought, even in her mind.

  “It is unlikely your brother would have moved so boldly unless he had some assurance that King Erich would not be returning,” the guard continued, “This means, Your Majesty in light of your brother’s treachery that you are now the only rightful heir to the throne but for now you must leave, Solomon will lead you where you need to go,” he said as he began to move away.

  “Wait, I don’t even know your name. I don’t know how to repay you for what you’ve done for me.”

  “My name is Johann, Your Highness and I require no repayment. Live for us Queen Ursula, live for all of Saxenburg.” With that he moved across the path into the brush opposite, ostensibly searching for Ursula.

  Although Ursula knew she should move, should take every advantage of this unexpected opportunity she found that could not immediately force her body to obey. Leaning against the cold rock wall Ursula trembled as her mind tried to comprehend everything that had happened over the past months. Hot tears spilled down Ursula’s flawless cheeks as the weight of her fear and anger threatened to overwhelm her. Her own brother, a traitor to their family, to her father, to their country, it was almost inconceivable.

  How had this happened, how was it possible that she and her father had missed the depths of Ulrich's ambition, had not seen the lengths to which he was prepared to go to secure the throne for himself? Or had her father actually known all along? Ursula had to concede it was possible. Remembering some of her father’s cryptic remarks made the morning of his departure it seemed now that her father may have been trying to warn her that her brother could not completely be trusted.

  Ursula closed her eyes, still feeling her wet tears on her cheeks, just as they had fallen that predawn morning nearly a full season ago, and remembered. She had snuck out to the courtyard of the palace complex to say goodbye but the sight of so many people milling about in preparation for her father’s journey had halted her. Instead she had stood back in the shadows of the palace itself, watching the scene unfolding before her. Although she had not been told specifically where her father was going or why he was taking with him only four of his elite personal guards, Ursula had managed to find out that they were headed for the Kingdom of Lashandra to meet with Kallendara, the new matriarch of the wood elves of Lashandra. What possible reason her father had for making such a dangerous and likely fruitless, trip the young princess had no idea but from certain things Solomon had let slip she believed that there was a great deal more to the journey than she had been told.

  Ursula had turned, about to re-enter the palace, when her father’s voice had stopped her, she had not realized she could be seen.

  “Ursula, my dear,” her beloved father had said as he strode toward her, “what are you doing here? We said all our goodbyes last night.”

  “I know Father, but I…” she had trailed off, unable to tell her father the true reason why she had snuck down to the courtyard before the sun had risen.

  “Wished to see your dear papa one more time?” her father had asked, his tone teasing.

  Ursula had tried to smile, knowing that was what her father wished from her, but found that she could not. Instead she had looked away and up at the sky, which was beginning to lighten, changing from deep velvet to a darkish blue, hinting at a beautiful day. On the horizon the young princess could just see the sun beginning its slow climb across the sky, while in the west she could still make out the faint outlines of all three moons. How was it possible that the gods could produce such an incredible display of beauty on a morning she felt certain carried only portents of dread?

  “Ursula my dear,” her father had reached for her chin, forcing her to look at him, “I know why you are here and, although you may not believe this, I understand. I even approve, although as you know, you have already made certain commitments.”

  Ursula’s breath had caught in her throat at her father’s words, was it possible her father truly knew, she had wondered. Gazing into his deep blue eyes so like her own, Ursula saw the truth there and realized that very little that happened in the palace escaped her father’s knowledge. Despite her father’s strong grip on her chin Ursula lowered her head, letting the tears fall heavily that she had been trying so hard to keep hidden.

  “Papa, I, I feel this strange sense. I know you will likely laugh at me but in my heart I feel danger for you, for…” she had trailed off, unable to continue.

  “I too, my daughter, I too. However, I am not merely a man who can define his life according to his own wishes. I am a king, and so I have more to consider than my personal safety, comforts or concerns. This journey is important my love, else I would not make it.”

  “Can you not send another in your stead?” Ursula cried out, watching him closely, knowing his answer before he even spoke.

  “You know I cannot send another to fulfill a task I am not prepared to undertake myself. Ursula, look at me,” her father said as she stubbornly hung her head before him, “please. That’s better. You must know that I would not willingly endanger my life, nor do I willingly endanger that of anyone else. I do not wish to cause you pain. You know this, do you not?”

  “Yes Papa,” she replied sadly, not really surprised to see there were also tears in her father’s eyes.

  “Then you understand I must make this journey?”

  “I understand Papa, but I wish you would trust me. That you would share some of your burden with me as you used to with…” Ursula had stopped short of speaking her brother, Einreich’s name.

  King Erich had turned away from Ursula, but not quickly enough for her to miss the look of pain etched across his face. Although her father had given her older brother his blessing and permission to leave court, Ursula knew it still hurt their father that he had wanted to go, for whatever reason. Einreich, or Slade as he preferred to be called, and her father had always been alike, in character and personality. The two of them had been incredibly close. They had been so close, in fact, that their relationship had often provoked jealously in her eldest brother Ulrich. The young princess cursed herself for bringing up painful memories at a time like this, when she now knew her father felt the same sense of danger that she did.

  “I’m sorry Papa,” she said, laying one hand on her father’s broad chest.

  “Do not be sorry for speaking of him little one. Yes, your brother’s decision to leave pains me still but I do understand his reasons.” Erich held Ursula's gaze before continuing, “I do not begrudge his desire to do something greater with his life. But Ursula, I do not want you to think, now or ever, that I do not trust you as I once trusted him. You are, and have been since the moment of your birth, the light of my life. You are the delight of my old age…”

  “Papa, you’re not old,” Ursula interrupted.

  “Perhaps, perhaps not but you are still the joy of my heart. I wish only that you complete your education and that you fulfill, to the best of your abilities, the commitments you have made,” at this Erich had paused and looked over his shoulder at his retinue of bodyguards, “and then make the life for yourself that you should have. I trust you Ursula, just as I once trusted your brother, but the time is not yet right for me to engage you in confidences which you are still too young to handle. No, do not turn away my dear. Youth is neither a hindrance to be wished away, nor a problem to be circumnavigated but it does bear certain restrictions. You grow every day, in wisdom, beauty and strength. Continue that and you will soon be the right hand to me that your brother Einreich once was.”

  “Papa, I know you have Ulrich to rely upon now, but I thank you…”

  “Ursula, listen to me very carefully,” her father had interrupted, “I have asked Ulrich to watch over the family and the people of Saxenburg in my absence that is true. He is th
e eldest, it is his right. But I do not wish you to think for a moment that Ulrich has any place in my heart that you do not have.” At that point her father had looked away, his blue eyes clouded, obviously troubled, “I have no reason to doubt your brother.”

  Even at the time Ursula had thought it a strange comment to make, however, their conversation had been cut short for at that moment it was announced that the provisions were ready and it was time to begin their journey. Her father had embraced her, holding her tightly to his broad chest before kissing her goodbye. Even though her early morning rendezvous had not turned out as she had hoped she had still been grateful for those final moments with her father. Now, of course, with her father missing and likely dead the young princess was even more grateful for that precious time. At the time, Ursula remembered, she had been preoccupied with her own thoughts and unable to shake the feeling that her father was in danger. That was the reason, she felt now, that she had missed the subtle warning her father had given regarding her eldest brother.

  For the first few ten-days following her father’s departure life in the palace at Anglia had gone on much the same as it had when her father was in residence. Her mother, Queen Urda, had been failing for many