The Wicked Soothsayer
After leaving Trot and her companions to the mercies of Quiberon,
Akbad flew quickly to the King's garden, intending to rid himself of
the golden wings and say nothing at all about his curious adventure.
But before he had come to the enchanted tree, the King and half of the
courtiers came rushing out of the sapphire palace.
"My son? Where is my son?" panted Cheeriobed, seizing Akbad by
the arm, not even noticing the great wings that drooped from the
Soothsayer's shoulders.
"The Prince! Where is the Prince?" demanded Toddledy in the same
breath. "Miserable Mesmerizer can you think of nothing?" Akbad, worn
and weary from his long flight, fairly blinked with astonishment, for
naturally he knew nothing of Philador's disappearance, but he realized
that he would be severely punished for stealing the golden pear.
He felt that Quiberon had probably devoured the little Prince, but
resolved for the present to save himself.
"Have no fear for the Prince of the Ozure Isles," he began boldly. "I,
Akbad the Soothsayer, have saved him."
"How? Where?" The King plucked him frantically by the arm.
"He is safe in the Emerald City," lied Akbad calmly. "Last night,
determined to save not only the Prince but our fair Islands as well, I
picked the golden pear."
A little murmur of disapproval greeted Akbad's statement and they all
looked curiously and accusingly at the golden wings, which they seemed
to see for the first time.
"Immediately," continued the wily Soothsayer, "these wings attached
themselves to my shoulders. Flying into the Prince's bed chamber, I
lifted him in my arms and carried him to the great capital of Oz.
Leaving him in the kindly care of our gentle ruler, Ozma, I stole into
the garden and seizing a mortal maiden returned to the Ozure Isles and
left her in the cave of Quiberon." Folding his arms proudly he waited
for the King's commendation.
"That was very wrong of you," sighed Cheeriobed, letting his arm drop
heavily at his side, "but I suppose you did it for the best."
"Idiot!" hissed Toddledy, "Why did you not ask Ozma to help us?"
"I did!" declared Akbad promptly. "As soon as the Wizard returns from
the blue forest she will journey to our illustrious islands, destroy
Quiberon and restore his Majesty's Queen!" Even Toddledy was silenced
by this surprising news, while the Ozure Islanders began to cheer loud
and lustily. Only the King still seemed disturbed.
"But the mortal maiden, we must save the mortal maiden!" exclaimed
Cheeriobed anxiously. "You should never have carried her to that
monster's cave. Who will go with me to rescue this poor child?" The
Islanders looked uncomfortably at one another, then as the King started
resolutely off by himself, a dozen of the boldest Guards followed.
"We can only perish once," declared the leader gallantly, "and to be
destroyed with your Majesty is not only an honor but a pleasure as
well." Akbad made no attempt to accompany them, but the others, shamed
by such bravery dashed hurriedly after the King.
When the last one had gone, Akbad stepped quietly into the garden.
Sinking down under the emerald tree he mopped his brow with his sleeve
and cursed his own stupidity. Why had he not done as he had said;
appealed to Ozma for help instead of foolishly seizing the mortal
maiden? Perhaps it was not too late. He would fly back and beg Ozma to
find the little Prince and save the Ozure Isles. Hoarsely he commanded
the wings to take him to the Emerald City, but motionless and heavy
they hung from his shoulders. Horrified to find that they would no
longer obey him, he rubbed against the tree in an unsuccessful effort
to brush them off. Then he tried every magic phrase and incantation
that he knew to rid himself of the golden wings but though he pulled
and tugged the wings stuck fast.
Now having wings sounds fine enough, but one must be born with wings
to wear them comfortably. Akbad could neither sit nor lie down with
any ease and when he walked the wings trailed disturbingly behind him.
He found, after several trials that he could still fly, but not beyond
the shore of the island and as he sank exhausted on the rocks the King
and his army came marching back. They had tramped boldly into the
monster's cave, but had of course found neither Quiberon nor Trot. As
they knew nothing of the caves beyond the water-fall they had sadly
turned homeward. The King at least was sad, the others, while they said
nothing of it, were secretly delighted to find themselves alive.
"Quiberon has gone," declared Cheeriobed gravely. "The mortal maiden
also has vanished. But as you have saved Philador I shall say nothing
of the stealing of the golden pear. There is naught to do now but wait
for the coming of Ozma and the little Prince. And no doubt Ozma will
find a way to save this mortal child."
"No doubt," muttered Akbad and, as the King shaking his head went on up
to the palace, the Soothsayer flew into a tall tree and tried to think
up the excuses he would offer his Majesty when Ozma failed to appear.
As for Cheeriobed, troubled though he was over the disappearance of
the little mortal, he could not help but think that the worst of his
misfortunes were over. Almost cheerfully, he bustled about giving
orders for a grand reception to welcome Ozma to his Island Kingdom and
bidding the royal household have everything in readiness for Philador's
return.
[Illustration: KING CHEERIOBED]