Back across the dismal land through which she had led the Princess,
flitted the Earth Fairy. Freed though she now was from her long
imprisonment, she yet hoped for even greater liberty. When Flying Soot
had told her that the Veil had power to disenchant the Princess, she
felt sure that it would have a like magic influence over herself; that
if she could but obtain it, and cast it about her that she should once
more become a true Earth Fairy. Should this come to pass, she would
flee forever from the Land of Fire which she so hated, to her own
people and her own home.
Therefore she determined to go in search of the Prince, and by means of
her wands wrest from him the coveted Veil. She knew that it would soon
be discovered that Princess White Flame was no longer in her father’s
kingdom, and she believed that Prince Radiance would then come to seek
the Princess in the Land of the Evil Fairies. She herself would be in
wait for him near the boundary and would endeavor to overpower him
there.
So rapidly did she journey that she soon reached the borders of the
Land of the Fire Fairies, and began to watch for the coming of the
Prince.
Some time had passed before she beheld a scarlet cloaked figure
approaching, looking eagerly on all sides, as if in search of someone.
From what Flying Soot had told her she knew that it was Prince
Radiance. She crept to meet him, concealing herself cleverly from sight
as she went.
When she was but a short distance from him she stopped and opened her
bundle of wands. She had taken out the Green Wand, and was about to
use it, when she paused. Well did she know that she had none other so
powerful, none other that could so fully work her will. By this she
held the Princess completely under her sway. Upon the Prince she was
unwilling to risk it unless all else failed. She laid it back among
the rest and took up another that she had always trusted. Waving it
toward the Prince she murmured the words of a spell so potent that she
expected to see him fall instantly to the ground unable to speak or to
move. But it was as though the spell had never been uttered. The Prince
continued on his way as before, and the Earth Fairy knew by this that
all power had departed from her wand. She cast it away, and selecting
another without hesitation, she followed close after him, repeating
the words of her spell. This time also, the spell was of no avail; the
second wand became as useless as the first, and was discarded in its
turn.
“Truly there must be magic in this that will overpower him,” she
muttered, taking out the third. “Never before has this one failed me.”
Yet the third wand had no more power than the rest. One by one, she
tried them all, until there was none left but the Green Wand. She
looked at it longingly, but dared not risk it. Should it too be useless
before this mysterious influence that protected the Prince she would
have nothing at all by which to work her will.
She ceased to follow Prince Radiance, and sat down to think of what she
should do in order to carry out her purpose.
Pondering deeply, she did not know that someone had approached her
from behind, and was standing close beside her. It was Flying Soot.
He waited a few moments but finding that the Earth Fairy was too much
engaged to be aware of his presence, he tapped her upon the arm. “Well,
my good friend,” he began, “how have your affairs prospered since you
left me so abruptly in the palace gardens?”
The Earth Fairy looked up with a start. No one had been further from
her thoughts than Flying Soot.
“Do not disturb me,” she answered impatiently, “I am thinking over an
important matter in which you can be of no use to me.”
“Do not be too certain of that,” the Soot Fairy replied. “Remember that
you are now in a land where I have many and powerful friends.”
The Earth Fairy had not realized that. At his words, she suddenly began
to wonder if some of these wicked fairies of which he spoke, might be
able to help her to obtain what she so desired. Instantly she changed
her tone.
“Hark you,” she said, “I believe you told me of a magic Veil that the
Prince was to obtain from the Wise One. I have decided that I want
this Veil for myself. I have tried all my wands upon the Prince in an
effort to take it from him, but they have failed. One alone I have not
tried. It is the Green Wand which rules the Princess White Flame. This
I am unwilling to risk--for the present at least. Have you, perhaps,
among your friends, any who is sufficiently powerful to overcome Prince
Radiance, so that I can take from him this Veil?”
Flying Soot threw back his black mantle from his shoulder with a
confident gesture. “To be sure I have,” he assured her, “and if the
first should not succeed there are many others who would be willing to
try.”
“There is one difficulty,” the Earth Fairy warned him, “I can offer no
reward.”
“Do not let that trouble you,” was the reply. “The friends whom I
shall ask to assist you are too proud to receive rewards. They are
sufficiently pleased when they have succeeded in accomplishing the
mischief they set out to perform.”
This was good news to the Earth Fairy. Her face shone with satisfaction.
“There is one thing that you must do, however,” continued Flying Soot.
“You must contrive to lure the Prince to my friends, for they are far
too haughty to seek him, even to do him harm. Is there any plan by
which you can do this?”
For a time the Earth Fairy sat plunged in thought. Then she sprang up
clapping her hands in delight. “Ay,” cried she, “that I can. I will
compel the Princess herself to lure him on. Well has my Green Wand
proved its power over her, and she it is who shall lead him to his
destruction.”
“How shall this be done?” inquired her companion.
“That is simple enough,” replied the Earth Fairy. “You have but to tell
me whither I must bring the Prince. Then while you have gone to enlist
the services of this friend whom you have chosen, I will release the
Princess, will seek out the Prince, and bring him by her influence to
the appointed place.”
He gave her most careful instructions as to where she would find him.
“And now,” said he, when he had made everything clear, “I go to engage
my friend the Giant of the Wide Grey Plain to assist you. You need have
no fear. He will agree to do so. As soon as you arrive with your Prince
you will find him ready.” He rose from his seat, shook out his black
mantle, and quickly vanished in the distance.
The Earth Fairy on her part, hastened to the cave where the Princess
White Flame was imprisoned. Carefully she unwove the spell which sealed
its walls, and in a loud voice she commanded the Princess to come
forth. Out of the yawning entrance glimmered the flame, pale and faint,
but still of a pure and beautiful whiteness.
The Earth Fairy drew out her Green Wand, and held it aloft. “Go where I
bid you,” she cried, “and delay not.”
Unable to resist the spell of the Green Wand, the Princess without word
or sound, flitted rapidly away with her enchantress to seek the Prince.
Meanwhile Prince Radiance, knowing nothing of the attempt that the
Earth Fairy had already made to destroy him, proceeded on his quest.
All across the Wide Grey Plain where he now was, are scattered hills
and mounds of ash in great number, and so much alike in size and shape
are they, that the traveler often becomes confused and knows not which
way to direct his steps. Thus it was with Prince Radiance, and at last
quite bewildered he stood still, and looked about him, seeking for
something to guide him. It was while he did so, that suddenly he saw
gleaming in the distance a flame so pure and lovely that he could not
doubt that it was the spirit of his Princess. In an ecstasy of joy he
threw out his arms to it. “White Flame! Ah my beloved White Flame,” he
cried, “can it be that I have in truth found you so much sooner than I
had dared to hope?”
Quickly he hastened toward her, drawing nearer and yet nearer until he
was sure that she could hear his voice.
“Princess,” he called to her. “Wait, ah, wait until I reach you. See,
it is I, Prince Radiance, who follow. I bring with me the Veil that is
to set you free.” He expected her to pause; but it was not so. Slowly,
yet steadily she retreated from him, and as she went her well-loved
voice floated back to him, not singing sweetly, as when he had heard it
in her garden, but weeping, and in anguish.
“Ah me, ah me, dear Radiance!” she sobbed, “the Earth Fairy has cast a
second and more cruel spell upon me, that causes me to flee as you draw
near.”
So overwhelmed with grief was the Prince by the news of this fresh
misfortune that at first he was stricken dumb, but presently hope and
courage sprang afresh within his breast.
Across the distance that widened between them his answer rang tender
and undismayed.
“Go where you must, my Princess, I will surely follow. No power,
however strong, no spell, however potent, can suffice to daunt my love.
Believe always that I will surely overtake and save you in the end.”
Princess White Flame heard him, and took comfort. The Earth Fairy
heard him, and rejoiced, for now she knew that without doubt she could
lead him where she would. Keeping herself out of sight, she drove the
Princess away and away in the direction that Flying Soot had gone, and
unswervingly Prince Radiance pursued the ever brightening flame.
[Illustration]