Empress of the Underworld Read Online Free PDF

fair! She stared at Lothar and said, “How does she do this?”
    â€œIt’s not for me to explain the powers of the Empress of the Underworld. But that would be true for any girl who goes with me. For this Sarah, if she will come.”
    Abbey was like a person who had come to a fork in the road. On one hand lay the dangers, bad food, and lack of clothing that she had known with the Sleepers. On the other road lay the wonders that Lothar had described for her. She thought longingly of the luxury and the ease.
    Then an image of Sarah popped into her mind, clothed in silks, satins, jewels, and more beautiful than herself! And a voice whispered, Maybe it’s the thing to do. Maybe somehow it’s all working out that you will go before the others do.
    As if he’d heard her thoughts, Lothar said, “You know, it’s possible that you might go with me to look over our problem. You could get some decent clothes and some rest. We have hot springs there that make a lovely bath and all sorts of soaps—things that girls like. If you don’t like it—” he shrugged “—I can always bring you back.”
    â€œI’ll do it,” Abbey said. Suddenly going with Lotharseemed the very thing to do. “I’ll leave a note for my friends, and then I’ll be ready to go.”
    â€œVery well. I’ll just wait at the creek for you. Can you ride?”
    â€œYes. I’m an excellent rider. Why?”
    â€œBecause I came here on horseback, and I brought a beautiful mare—just for you, I see now, although I didn’t know it at the time.”
    â€œI’ll hurry as quick as I can,” Abbey promised. She ran back to the little house.
    In a dither, she found paper, wrote a note, and gave it to Zohar’s wife. “Give this to Zohar or to Josh when they get back, will you?” She scarcely waited for the woman’s nod before turning and running down the pathway.
    When she arrived at the creek, she found Lothar waiting with two beautiful horses. Both were black as night.
    One was smaller than the other, and Lothar said, “This is Star. She will be your horse. She’s very gentle but fast as the wind. Quickly now!”
    He helped her into the saddle, then swung on the back of the larger horse and turned to smile at her. “And now we will go to the magnificent Kingdom of the Underworld. Soon you will be dressed like a princess.”

4
    Kingdomof the Underworld
    I t was fortunate for Abbey that she’d had much experience in riding. Before coming to Nuworld, she’d never sat on a horse, not even a pony. However, her adventures with the Sleepers had required this means of transportation. She had fallen many times but through persistence had learned to be almost as good a rider as Sarah.
    She sat now upon the black mare and followed Lothar down a narrow path, which twisted through the rain forest. The cries of strange birds came to her ears above the soft padding of the horses’ hooves. The floor of the forest was soft, carpeted with what seemed to be hundreds of years of pine needles. They had been traveling hard since dawn, stopping only once at noon to rest the horses for an hour and eat a meal. Now Abbey was weary but was determined not to complain.
    Just as the sun dropped behind a line of trees, Lothar pulled his large steed to a halt and looked around. “There’s a stream right over there.” He pointed to his left, then glanced at her. “I expect you’re tired. We’ll stop there for the night.”
    â€œI can go on further,” Abbey said stoutly.
    â€œNo, it’ll be dark soon. We’ll make a fire and cook a meal.”
    Lothar led her to a slight rise. “This will stay reasonably dry, even if it rains.” He slipped off his horse, then held a hand out for her.
    She took it, dismounted, and he smiled.
    â€œYou’re a fine rider,” he said. “There aren’t too many of