{"collection":"folklore-oral-tradition","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_25005/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_25005","id":"gutenberg_25005","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25005","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Novels","Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy","Fairy tales"],"text":"Produced by Irma Spehar, Markus Brenner and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This\nfile was produced from images generously made available\nby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                                  THE\n                                SHADOW\n                                 WITCH\n\n                                  BY\n\n                               GERTRUDE\n                              CROWNFIELD\n\n                           ILLUSTRATIONS BY\n                          ANNE MERRIMAN PECK\n\n                        E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY\n                               NEW YORK\n\n\n\n                          COPYRIGHT 1922, BY\n                        E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY\n\n                         _All rights reserved_\n\n               _Printed in the United States of America_\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n\n\n                 TO THE FRIEND WHOM I HAVE NEVER SEEN\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                               CONTENTS\n\n                                           PAGE\n                       PROLOGUE               1\n                       CHAPTER\n                          I.                  5\n                         II.                 23\n                        III.                 37\n                         IV.                 52\n                          V.                 68\n                         VI.                 79\n                        VII.                101\n                       VIII.                113\n                         IX.                122\n                          X.                148\n                         XI.                166\n                        XII.                181\n                       XIII.                201\n                        XIV.                213\n                         XV.                224\n                        XVI.                243\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                         LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS\n\n\n      Prince Ember stretched eager hands to receive it        107\n\n      She saw before her a glorious figure, Prince Ember      145\n\n      The Prince led his bride home to his Palace of\n        Good Cheer                                            249\n\n\n\n\n\n                           THE SHADOW WITCH\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                               PROLOGUE\n\n\nCome, sit with me beside the broad hearthstone and gaze into the depths\nof the fire when it burns low, for not among the leaping flames alone\nare there to be seen marvelous things.\n\nDeep hidden from your eyes at first, but plainly visible as you look\ncloser, are countless forms of brightness and of beauty. You will find\nthem among the shining coals that glimmer in scarlet and gold before you\nwhen the embers lie clear and warm upon the hearth. You will behold\nthem among the shadows that flit across the embers with delicate grace\nand changeful hues.\n\nHere, spread wide open, is a part of the magical Land of Fire, the\nwonderland of the good and peaceful Ember Fairies. A golden gate gives\nentrance to it. Shining pathways lead through its bright gardens. Its\nskies are warm and glowing. Here, decked with flaming banners, stands\nthe home of the good Prince Ember\u2014his fairy Palace of Good Cheer. Here\nmoves the beautiful Shadow Princess, in trailing garments of rose and\namethyst. Here she may be seen in her dance of joy and ecstasy followed\nby her faithful band of Shadows.\n\nLong ago, in the Land of Shadows, lived the Shadow Witch, the one\nbeautiful and loving creature in all that dim and darksome land that\nlies away from the Land of Fire, and between it and the Chimney Back.\nClose to her domain is the great Plain of Ash, where the giant, Curling\nSmoke, rises, where the crafty Ash Goblin lurks, where the boisterous\nWind in the Chimney swoops down from out the Chimney Mouth. Near by,\nalso, in his Cave of Darkness, her brother the Wizard works his\nenchantments.\n\nIf you will but hearken, I will tell you how the Shadow Witch came to\nleave that grim land with its evil fairies, and why it is that she now\ndances with happiness amid the good fairies of the Fire, in the Land of\nGlowing Embers. You shall hear, also, of the noble Prince Ember, and of\nthe quest upon which he once set out. What speed he had in his high\nadventure, and whether or no he brought it to a happy and fortunate\nclose, this tale will make known to you.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                               CHAPTER I\n\n\nOne morning at early dawn, the Shadow Witch stole down her palace steps\nand out into her Garden of Shadows, to walk there alone.\n\nNot many days before, a stranger prince, seeking to deliver a beautiful\nflame princess whom he loved, had passed through the Land of the Evil\nFairies that lies far away from the heart of the Fire. The Shadow Witch\nhad seen him, and at first, half in mischief, and half because she was\nlonely, had tried, by her magic, to lure him away from his quest into\nher own land. But soon, moved by his courage and goodness, yet most of\nall by his faithful love to his princess, she had given him aid in his\nundertaking, and had saved him from destruction by her brother, the\nWizard of the Cave of Darkness.\n\nNo such bright visitant had ever before come into the strange country\nwhere she dwelt, and when he departed, her dim palace, her misty woods\nand gardens, even her own magic, no longer gave her pleasure as they\nonce had done.\n\nFar from her dominions lay that lovely land from whence the prince had\ncome, the land of the good and happy Fire Fairies. Of the bright spells,\nthe noble magic, the joyous life of these fairies she knew nothing.\n\nThrough her dusky land she moved, attended by her servants, the\nShadows, working with them her curious, and sometimes mischievous,\nspells. Her brother, the Wizard, gave her no cheer, spent no love upon\nher, taught her nothing good, and she, for her own part, seldom sought\nhis presence.\n\nAs she walked this morning in her garden, her dark eyes were troubled,\nand she let her grey garments sweep the ground unheeded, while in fancy\nshe followed Prince Radiance, who had come for one brief hour into her\ndull life. She could not but wonder whether she must be always lonely as\nshe now was, whether she must always wish in vain for such happiness as\nhis land could give. Up and down the alleys of the garden she went, and\nfor a long time no one came to disturb her, but at length a voice broke\nin upon her musings.\n\n\u201cMistress of the Shadows,\u201d it said, \u201ca messenger from your brother, the\nWizard, desires to speak to you.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch lifted her eyes. Before her stood her most faithful\nservant, Creeping Shadow.\n\n\u201cWhat is his message?\u201d the Shadow Witch demanded.\n\n\u201cHe declares that it is for your ear alone,\u201d the Shadow answered.\n\nHer mistress frowned impatiently. She was in no mood to talk with him.\n\n\u201cHe waits at the palace door,\u201d continued Creeping Shadow, \u201cand says that\nhe will remain there until you are pleased to receive him.\u201d\n\n\u201cGo, then, and bring him hither,\u201d was the reluctant answer. \u201cI will hear\nwhat he has to say.\u201d\n\nCreeping Shadow hastened to obey, and presently returned accompanied by\na dwarfed creature, black as the blackest soot and clad in raiment as\ndusky as himself. It was the Chief Imp, a trusted messenger of the\nWizard.\n\nThe Shadow Witch especially disliked him. He was at times impertinent\nwhen he came on her brother\u2019s errands, therefore she held herself\nhaughtily and folded her robes closer about her when he drew near.\n\nBut the Chief Imp bore himself humbly today and his disagreeable face\nwore an air of deep distress. He bowed himself to the earth, and waited\npermission to speak.\n\n\u201cWhat says your master?\u201d demanded the Shadow Witch imperiously. \u201cSpeak.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlas!\u201d groaned the Imp, as if in profound grief, \u201cMy master lies in his\ncavern sick unto death. He begs that you will come to him, and, by your\nmagic, restore him to himself.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch regarded him unmoved. \u201cHas so great a magician as my\nbrother no magic of his own that will be potent to restore him, that he\nmust ask aid of mine?\u201d she inquired.\n\n\u201cNay, madam,\u201d replied the Chief Imp, rolling up his eyes, \u201cHe has tried\nevery means within his power and grows no better. He turns to you,\ntherefore, in his extremity and beseeches you not to refuse him.\u201d\n\nKnowing, as she did, the craftiness of her brother, the Shadow Witch\nheard his message with distrust. She knew that if he had discovered that\nit was by her help that the prince had escaped him and that evil had\nbeen brought upon himself, it would go hard with her once she was in his\npower. Therefore, she determined, before she yielded to his request, to\nlearn from his servant whether or not he suspected her of what she had\ndone. So she bent a searching gaze upon the Chief Imp and began to\nquestion him.\n\n\u201cTell me,\u201d she commanded, \u201cwhat is this sickness from which your master\nsuffers, and what is its cause?\u201d\n\nThe Imp hastened to inform her. \u201cA strange prince penetrated the Cave of\nDarkness, a short time since. For reasons of his own, the Wizard sought\nto overpower him with the spell of his Urn of Vapors, but the prince,\nwho had come upon him without warning, suddenly flashed about him a\nmagic weapon, the Sword of Flames, that instantly took from my master\nall power to protect himself. He cried aloud to us, and at once we\nhurried him away to an inner chamber, far from its dreadful sway. There\nhe lay for a time insensible, and we feared for his life, but at length,\ntended by his servants, he became able to move a little, and, at last,\neven to speak. But that is all.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat has become of this prince and his magic sword?\u201d demanded the\nShadow Witch, watching him yet more closely. \u201cHave you permitted him to\nescape with it unharmed?\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, madam,\u201d the Chief Imp replied, \u201cWhen we came to seek him, to wreak\nvengeance upon him, he had vanished and had left no trace.\u201d\n\n\u201cHad this prince no servants, no companions?\u201d insisted she. \u201cNone who\nguided him to my brother\u2019s cavern?\u201d\n\n\u201cNay,\u201d he assured her, \u201cthe prince was quite alone.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch asked him no further questions, but stood silent,\npondering deeply whether or no she should grant the Wizard\u2019s request.\nShe herself had seen him overcome by the fairy sword, had seen the\nprince depart in safety, but that her brother trusted to any magic of\nher own to restore him, she greatly doubted. Still, she believed that\nthere could be no grave danger to herself in going to him. Never, even\nin the fulness of his power, had he been able to really injure her. Why\nshould she fear him now, when he was helpless. Besides, from what the\nImp had said, it was not known that she had guided and protected the\nprince. Therefore she had no cause for uneasiness.\n\nShe turned to where the Chief Imp waited, regarding her with his crafty\neyes. \u201cGo back to your master,\u201d she bade him. \u201cSay to him that I will\ncome shortly to render him what aid I can.\u201d\n\nWell pleased at the result of his errand, the Chief Imp departed.\n\nAs soon as he was out of sight the Shadow Witch beckoned Creeping Shadow\nto her side and instructed her with lifted finger. \u201cI go alone to visit\nmy brother, the Wizard, who lies ill, and has sent for me. If, however,\nmuch time passes, and I have not returned, you may be sure that some\nevil has befallen me. Seek me then, instantly, in the Cave of Darkness,\nfor I shall have need of you.\u201d\n\nCreeping Shadow swore to obey what she had been told, and her mistress,\ngathering her trailing robes over her arm, took her way to the Wizard\u2019s\nCave.\n\nGloomy and forbidding was the Cave of Darkness. Its outer walls rose\nhigh and cliff-like from the great Plain of Ash, and a yawning opening\nled off to its dark corridors and many dusky chambers.\n\nThe Shadow Witch had no sooner reached the Cave mouth and entered it\nthan the Chief Imp, with a spark lantern in his hand, met her to conduct\nher to his master. They passed swiftly down the narrow passage and came\npresently to that vast black chamber called the Cave Hall, where the\nWizard was wont to sit.\n\nThe Cave Hall was filled with Imps, some clustered in groups, whispering\ntogether; some lolling idly upon the soot cushions that lay about the\nfloor; some peeping stealthily from behind the heavy curtains of soot\nwith which the walls were hung. But their master was nowhere to be seen.\n\nThe Chief Imp went directly to the farther wall and struck upon it with\nhis wand. Instantly it yawned apart, and an inner corridor was revealed.\n\nThis part of the cave was strange to the Shadow Witch, but she entered\nboldly and followed her guide without fear through many winding ways and\nsecret chambers, until at last he paused before a second wall. He struck\nupon it, as he had upon the other. It opened, in its turn, and she saw\nbefore her a room more profoundly dark than any that they had yet passed\nthrough. Its charcoal walls were set about with faintly glowing\nlanterns, but so heavy were the soot curtains that surrounded them that\ntheir light was almost quenched.\n\nHere, too, were Imps, one beside each spark lantern, but in the centre\nof the room the Shadow Witch saw that which caused her to turn pale with\nmisgiving, for the Wizard of the Cave was there\u2014not weak or ill, as she\nhad been led to believe, but recovered and standing in the fulness of\nhis strength.\n\nBeholding him thus, she knew that he intended mischief against her;\nknew, also, that for her safety she must show no sign of fear. \u201cAfter\nall,\u201d she thought, \u201cmy own magic will protect me. Never has it been less\npotent than his. It will not fail me now.\u201d\n\nShe lifted herself to her full height and stood tall and beautiful\nbefore him, her rich black hair falling like a mantle over her\nshoulders, her eyes gleaming like stars through the dusk. \u201cSo, you have\ndeceived me, brother,\u201d she said coldly. \u201cI might have known that it\nwould be so.\u201d\n\n\u201cEven as you have deceived me,\u201d retorted the Wizard, bending a look of\nmalice upon her. \u201cBut you have been clever once too often, my sister.\nDid you think that I could not guess that it was you who made it\npossible for the stranger prince to steal upon me unawares with his\nSword of Flames? Do I not know your trick of the moving curtain of\nshadow? It was that which screened him from my eyes until it was too\nlate for me to destroy him. It was yourself who told him when to\nunsheath his sword. It was you, then, who made me suffer. But now my\ntime has come to repay you\u2014to make you feel the wrath of the Wizard of\nthe Cave.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch laughed scornfully. \u201cI fear you not,\u201d she cried. \u201cHave\nI not magic of my own, ay, as great even as yours, that will serve to\nprotect me against your enchantments. I defy you, then, magician though\nyou are. You cannot harm me.\u201d\n\nHer words were bold, but fear clutched at her heart in spite of them.\nHere in this deepest part of the Wizard\u2019s Cave, surrounded by his\nservants, and distant from her own, what would become of her if her\nmagic failed before his? She knew that it would be folly to stay and\ntest it. She determined to escape while there was yet time.\n\nWith a rush she attempted to dart past him, but in vain. He stretched\nhis long arms and caught her to him, and though she struggled\ndesperately against him, he held her fast.\n\n\u201cAway with the lights,\u201d shouted the Wizard hoarsely.\n\nObediently the Imps snatched the lanterns from the walls and vanished\nwith them in haste, leaving the Shadow Witch alone with her brother,\nwrapped in deepest darkness. By what means he wrought upon her there she\ncould not tell, for she could neither see his face, nor hear his words.\nShe only knew that suddenly all her magic powers departed from her,\nleaving her completely helpless.\n\nIn her ears the harsh voice of the Wizard sounded triumphing over her.\n\u201cThus you are repaid in part, my sister, for giving aid to my enemies.\nIt will be long before you trick me again, for, lest you should try to\ngive me some fresh proof of your cleverness, I have prepared for you the\ndarkness of this prison chamber. In it no Shadow can have power, can\nwork magic. Here you shall remain, until I choose to set you free.\u201d\n\nHe released her hands, and she sank weakly down to the floor of the\ncavern. She heard his footsteps departing through the darkness and\npresently she knew that she was quite alone.\n\nLying where she had fallen, she waited until a little strength came back\nto her. Then she crept from side to side of her prison, groping her way\nwith her hands, for she could see nothing. She felt the heavy soot\ncurtains sway beneath her fingers; she felt the walls of charcoal, hard\nand unyielding, behind them. It was as if the room were sealed. Thus she\nlearned that there was no faintest hope for her of escape\u2014that she was,\nas the Wizard had said, completely in his power.\n\nYet she did not give way to despair, for she knew that her servants were\nmany and faithful. \u201cI will wait patiently,\u201d she whispered to herself.\n\u201cIt cannot be long, for Creeping Shadow will not forget what I told\nher\u2014will not fail to come to my help.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER II\n\n\nCreeping Shadow bore constantly in mind the parting words of her\nmistress, and when she had waited patiently until many hours had passed\nand still the Shadow Witch did not return, she knew the time had come to\ngo in search of her. Saying nothing to her fellow-servants of her\nerrand, she set out without further delay.\n\nAs she went through the garden and out into the dim stretches of the\nLand of Shadows, she kept careful watch, that she might not overlook\nher dear mistress, in case she should be approaching on her homeward\nway.\n\nShe reached the Plain of Ash and stood for a moment to scan it far and\nwide. Only the grey expanse, dotted with low hills and mounds of ash lay\nbefore her. Not a living creature moved upon its surface.\n\nSure then that mischief had indeed befallen the Shadow Witch, she sped\naway across the Plain, and with an anxiously beating heart arrived at\nthe entrance to the Cave of Darkness. She plunged into it. In the long\ncorridor that led to the Cave Hall, she met, from time to time, Imps\ncoming and going upon their master\u2019s business, and she hoped that they\nmight give her some news of her mistress.\n\n\u201cTell me,\u201d she cried to one, \u201cIs my mistress, the Shadow Witch still in\nthe Cave?\u201d But the Imp laughed jeeringly in her face and disappeared,\nmaking no answer.\n\nA second servant of the Wizard passed her, and when she asked him the\nsame question, he gave her an impertinent reply and vanished also.\n\nMore uneasy, then, than ever, because of their behavior, she went on her\nway in silence and came to the great Cave Hall. Never before had she\nentered it alone. In a huge chair, near to the farther wall, she saw the\nWizard sitting. His shaggy brows were bent over a Book of Craft, wherein\nwere written all those ancient and cruel spells in which he most\ndelighted. An evil vapor floated from the pages of the book and,\ncircling round his head, half hid his grim face and dingy beard. It\ncrept along the folds of his black garments and settled slowly about\nhis feet, veiling them in a yellow mist.\n\nThe Shadow beheld him with dread. She feared to speak with him. But one\nwhom she loved was in danger. Without making a sound, she drew nearer\nuntil she stood directly before him.\n\n\u201cSir Wizard,\u201d she cried, \u201cI come to seek my mistress.\u201d\n\nHer voice, echoing through the silent Cave Hall, roused the Wizard from\nhis evil studies. He threw back his head in angry astonishment. \u201cYou\nShadows grow impudent,\u201d he exclaimed frowning. \u201cWho has given you leave\nto intrude upon me in my Cave?\u201d\n\nIn spite of the indignant glance he cast upon her, Creeping Shadow was\nnot daunted. \u201cI came to seek my mistress,\u201d she repeated. \u201cShe herself\nhas bade me do so. Tell me, then, where I shall find her?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou seek her here in vain,\u201d declared the Wizard. \u201cI will give you no\nnews of her, neither will I be disturbed. Begone at once or it will be\nthe worse for you.\u201d\n\n\u201cNay, but I must know what you have done to her,\u201d persisted Creeping\nShadow. \u201cIt was to follow the Chief Imp, whom you sent, that she left\nher Garden of Shadows. It was here that she bade me seek her if she did\nnot return. The time has been long, and I have come to obey her\ncommands.\u201d\n\nThe sharp eyes of the Wizard flashed with wrath. \u201cWhat if she be here?\u201d\nhe thundered, smiting shut his Book of Craft. \u201cShe is my sister, and\nwhen she offends me I shall punish her as I choose. Learn the truth\nthen. She lies hidden in the deepest part of my cavern, in a dungeon so\ndark that she can work none of her grey magic therein; in a dungeon so\nremote that none of her servants can ever penetrate to it; a dungeon\nwhose walls are so tightly sealed, so cleverly enchanted, that she will\ntry in vain to make her escape. There she shall remain until I choose to\nset her free. I have told you. Go now, and let me see your face no\nmore.\u201d\n\nAt these words, so remorseless and cruel, a wailing cry broke from the\nlips of Creeping Shadow. Even a worse fate than she had feared had\novertaken the beautiful Shadow Witch. She threw herself in anguish at\nthe Wizard\u2019s feet to plead with him for the release of her mistress, but\nhe would not hear her.\n\n\u201cGo, as I bade you,\u201d he commanded, spurning her from him with force.\n\u201cGo, lest I summon my servants to bind you fast, and place you in a\nprison as drear and lonely as hers.\u201d\n\nCreeping Shadow saw that there was no hope, that nothing would move his\nhard heart to mercy. Moreover, his threat overwhelmed her with terror,\nfor if she herself were imprisoned, there would be none to bring help to\nher mistress, since none but herself knew that she was in the Cave of\nDarkness.\n\nShe rose to her feet, and with bowed head passed from the Cave Hall\nwithout another word. Her heart was very heavy, for at first she could\nthink of no one to whom she could turn for assistance. The Shadows,\nwithout their mistress, were powerless against the Wizard. All others in\nthe land were not only as wicked as he, as she well knew, but every one\nof them, Curling Smoke, the Giant of the Seven Hills of Ash, the Dragon\nof the Gloomy Vale, and the Ash Goblin, would be instantly ready to join\nwith him against his sister. From the Wind in the Chimney, also, nothing\nbut ill usage could be expected.\n\nThe more she pondered, the deeper grew her despair, and every moment\nlost was precious. She wrung her hands in her distress.\n\nThen, suddenly she remembered one who was not evil\u2014one who would surely\nbefriend the Shadow Witch. It was the Elf\u2014the good Elf, who dwells in\nthe Borderland that stretches beyond the Plain of Ash and away toward\nthe Kingdom of Earth. Very old and wise is the Elf. He knows the ways of\nthe Evil Fairies who dwell in the countries that lie away from the heart\nof the Fire; knows much of their dark magic and mischievous\nenchantments. He knows something, also, of the good Fire Fairies and\ntheir bright spells. Safe in his home amid the ash of the Borderland, he\nsees the Wind in the Chimney swoop down upon the Borderland and even out\nacross the broad Hearthstone in his boldness, but he knows no fear of\nhim. He sees the giant, Curling Smoke, rise stealthily from his lurking\nplaces, sees him grow vaster, and vaster, until, when he chooses he\ndarkens all the sky, but of him, also, he is unafraid. The Ash Goblin\ncreeps forth from his low dwelling, prying into the affairs of others\nand seeking what mischief he may do, but the Elf goes his way\nundisturbed, knowing himself secure against him.\n\nNo one who comes to the Elf of the Borderland for help in any good deed\ncomes in vain. Thinking of this, hope rose in the breast of Creeping\nShadow. Sure that he would not fail her, she determined to appeal to him\nat once.\n\nLike an arrow she sped out of the Cave and swept down the cliff-side and\nacross the Plain in noiseless haste. The Ash Goblin met her, and would\nhave detained her to ask her business, but she escaped him without\nreply. In trembling fear of the Wind, who might swoop down upon her, she\napproached the Chimney Mouth, but she had the good fortune to pass by it\nin safety.\n\nShe had entered the Borderland and was not far from the Elf\u2019s door, when\nsuddenly she encountered him. He was sitting quietly upon a mound of\nash, a curious little figure, with eyes that twinkled with a kindly\nlight under thick fuzzy brows. His fuzzy ears stood out from beneath a\npeaked cap; his pudgy hands were almost hidden by the sleeves of the\nsoft ashen garment that clothed him from head to foot.\n\nHe saw Creeping Shadow approaching and knowing at once from her face\nthat she was in trouble, he guessed that she had come to ask his help.\nSo he beckoned her to a seat beside him and listened to her story with\nthe keenest attention, hearing her through to the last word without\ninterrupting her.\n\n\u201cAnd now,\u201d Creeping Shadow besought him, when she had told him all,\n\u201cWhat can be done to deliver my dear mistress? There is none so wise and\nkind as yourself. Advise me, I beg of you.\u201d With eyes fastened eagerly\nupon his face she awaited his answer.\n\n\u201cThere is but one thing to do,\u201d returned the Elf instantly. \u201cYou must\nobtain the assistance of some noble Prince\u2014one who, by the power of his\ngood magic, can overcome the Wizard, and set her free.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlas!\u201d sighed Creeping Shadow, \u201cWhere might such a prince be found? You\nknow as well as I that all in this land are evil and use evil\nenchantments.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrue,\u201d he answered. \u201cFrom this land no help can come for the Shadow\nWitch. But you must not forget the Land of Fire. In it there are many\ngood and powerful fairies, and among them is Prince Radiance. You must\ngo to him and tell him of this desperate plight of your mistress. He\nwill not refuse to come to her relief.\u201d\n\nCreeping Shadow shook her head slowly. \u201cI cannot believe that he will do\nso,\u201d she asserted, \u201cfor not long since my mistress caused him great\ndistress and disappointment by leading him astray.\u201d\n\n\u201cAy, that she did,\u201d agreed her companion. \u201cBut she made amends for it\nimmediately afterward by rendering him a noble service. He himself told\nme of it with gratitude. I am certain that he has not forgotten it and\nwill be glad to repay his great debt.\u201d\n\nSo confidently did the Elf speak that Creeping Shadow took heart once\nmore. She rose quickly from her seat. \u201cIf you will but tell me where to\nfind him, I will go and appeal to him at once,\u201d she declared.\n\n\u201cYou must seek him in King Red Flame\u2019s dominions, in the Palace of\nBurning Coals,\u201d the Elf instructed her. \u201cThere he dwells with his bride,\nthe lovely Princess White Flame, whom he delivered from the enchantment\nof the wicked Earth Fairy. Whether or no he is able to come himself to\nthe rescue of your mistress, remains to be discovered, but this much is\ncertain: he will see to it that she is not left a prisoner in the hands\nof her brother the Wizard. And now, come. I will conduct you to the\nboundaries of the Land of Fire. Once you enter its dominions you will\nfind many friends, for its fairies are kind and gentle and will do\neverything in their power to guide you in safety to your journey\u2019s end.\u201d\n\nCheered and consoled by his words, Creeping Shadow set out in his\ncompany, and when at length she thanked the good Elf and bade him\nfarewell on the borders of the Land of Fire, she was able to go forward\nalone with hope and confidence.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER III\n\n\nIn the Land of the Fire Fairies great happiness reigned. Only a little\nwhile before Prince Radiance had brought the lovely Princess White Flame\nsafely home to her father, after many perilous and strange adventures,\nand King Red Flame had rewarded the noble Prince with his daughter\u2019s\nhand. In the King\u2019s marvelous palace, the Palace of Burning Coals, their\nfairy wedding had been celebrated with outbursts of joy and exultation.\n\nIn the very heart of the King\u2019s dominions stood the palace, perfect in\nbeauty, from its dazzling foundations to its topmost flaming turret.\nBrightness unquenchable shone from its walls, warmth and the spirit of\nfriendliness streamed from its windows and wide-flung golden doors.\nBeyond it, in the garden of the Princess, the exquisite flame-roses and\nstately fire-lilies unfolded to a richer, fuller beauty. The huge\nfire-oak, under which Prince Radiance had first beheld the enchanted\nPrincess as a fine white flame, rustled its ruddy leaves and glowed more\nintensely from root to crown, almost as though it knew and rejoiced in\nthe part which it had played in the fortunes of this happy wedded pair.\n\nThroughout the whole kingdom a gentle music filled the warm air and\ncharmed the ear\u2014the music of fairy voices, the music of whispering\nflames, the music of tripping feet\u2014all the sweet sounds of the fire\ngathered into one continuous strain of gladness, now high and clear, as\nif it could not be restrained, now low and soft, as if even in quietness\nall must still murmur the praise of the King and his beloved children.\n\nInto this land of wondrous light and beauty came Creeping Shadow,\nmarveling at what she saw, awed by it, stirred by it, sure in her heart\nthat from a place so bright, so pure, so lovely, help must come for her\nimprisoned mistress. The Elf of the Borderland had spoken truly: from\nthe moment she had entered the Land of the Fire Fairies, she had met\nwith nothing but kindness. The fairies had looked with wonder upon this\nstranger with the sorrowful face and trailing robes of grey, but all had\nhelped her on her journey, and none had asked her more than she had\ncared to tell.\n\nTwilight had come when, foot-sore and weary, she reached the Palace of\nBurning Coals. The palace gardens, lovely in the softened glow of\nevening, were deserted; the fire-lilies stood tall and lonely by the\ngarden paths; but from every window of the palace streamed brilliant\nlights, and from its doorway floated sounds of joy and laughter. It was\nthat pleasant hour of evening in which the fairies, their tasks in\nfields and house and garden completed, came freely to the palace hall to\ndance and sing and tell, in the King\u2019s presence, tales of past adventure\nand noble deeds.\n\nCreeping Shadow stood timidly at the gate for a moment, longing yet\nfearing to enter. How could she dare to hope that the Prince would turn\nfrom a place so bright and joyous to come to the aid of her mistress in\na drear and dangerous land?\n\nBut the need of the Shadow Witch was too great to be set aside. Her\nservant cast off her fears and stole silently through the garden and up\nto the radiant door. Pausing on its threshold, her dark eyes traveled\nstraight down the palace hall to the vast room that opened beyond, and\nthere, upon a tall golden throne, King Red Flame sat. At his right hand\nstood he whom she had come to seek. She remembered him well, that brave\nand handsome Prince, whom her mistress had for a time deluded by her\nmagic in the Land of Shadows. His yellow locks fell as softly over his\nshoulders, his noble countenance wore the same high look of courage and\ngood cheer as on that day. His scarlet velvet cloak and cap, his waving\nfeather, were the very same. Close beside him was the Princess, in\nshining robes, with floating hair of the palest gold. Never before had\nthe Shadow seen her, but from her charming face, so tender and\nbeautiful, she knew that it could be none else, knew, also, that no cry\nfor help and pity could come to her in vain.\n\nGathering her grey robes closer about her, Creeping Shadow entered\nboldly, and sped through the hall. Groups of gaily chattering\nfire-fairies saw this strange visitant flit by them, but were too\nstartled and amazed to check her as she passed. So she came unhindered\ninto the presence of the royal company.\n\nBut before she had reached them, the Princess saw her. With a low cry of\nterror, she caught the Prince\u2019s hand. \u201cSee Radiance! See who comes!\u201d she\nwhispered tremulously. \u201cIs not this one from that grim land where we\nonce wandered so long?\u201d\n\nThen the Prince saw her also and knew her to be a servant of the Shadow\nWitch, yet before he could answer, Creeping Shadow had reached them and\nhad thrown herself at King Red Flame\u2019s feet.\n\n\u201cHear me, oh, King,\u201d she implored, \u201cI am Creeping Shadow. I come not to\nbring evil, but to beseech aid from Prince Radiance for my mistress, the\nShadow Witch, who is now in bitter trouble, and who not long since was a\ntrue friend to him.\u201d\n\nTouched by the sorrow in her voice, King Red Flame gave gracious answer.\n\u201cArise, Creeping Shadow, and speak without fear. I give my royal word\nthat whatever we can do to succor your mistress shall surely be done.\u201d\n\nPrince Radiance stooped down and himself raised the Shadow to her feet.\n\u201cYour mistress was indeed my friend,\u201d he declared. \u201cI can never forget\nmy debt to her. Tell us quickly, what is this trouble that has befallen\nher?\u201d\n\nTo their words the Princess White Flame added gently, \u201cYes, tell us, for\nnot my Prince alone, but my father and myself, also, are debtors to the\nShadow Witch.\u201d\n\nThus cheered and encouraged, Creeping Shadow began her tale, surrounded\nby the pitying fairies, all eager to show their sympathy for her and\ntheir desire to befriend her.\n\nWhen all was told, Prince Radiance, without waiting for the King to\nspeak, cried at once, \u201cYour Majesty, my duty is plain. The Shadow Witch\nmust not be left to suffer punishment because of me. Let me go at once\nto her rescue. With my Sword of Flames, by which I so lately conquered\nthe Wizard, I can again put him to naught.\u201d\n\nFor a moment the King made no answer. At the generous words of the\nPrince, a sob of joy broke from Creeping Shadow, but Princess White\nFlame shuddered. In memory she saw again the dark cavern of the Wizard,\nremembered its cruel master, and the evil spell by which he had\nendeavored to destroy her Prince; and for a brief space she forgot the\nsore trouble of the Shadow Witch, helpless and in that Wizard\u2019s power.\nIt was but for an instant, however; then her voice, tender and full of\nsympathy arose, quivering though it was with her fears for the safety of\nher Prince. \u201cAh, no! We cannot let her suffer! You must go.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome, come quickly then,\u201d breathed Creeping Shadow. \u201cCome, while there\nis yet time.\u201d\n\nBefore the Prince could make further answer to her plea, King Red Flame\ninterposed with firm, yet gentle, authority. \u201cStay, my son. In so grave\na matter we must take no step amiss. We must seek the best counsel that\nour kingdom affords. The Wise One alone, out of his great store of\nwisdom, will know how to give it.\u201d\n\nWith lifted hand he summoned his swiftest messenger. \u201cGo, Rushing\nFlame,\u201d he commanded. \u201cSay to the Wise One that the King has need of\nhim.\u201d\n\nIn haste Rushing Flame departed, and in a deep silence, broken only now\nand then by the low whispering of the fire fairies, all awaited the\ncoming of the Wise One.\n\nSo ready was the Wise One to give counsel wherever it was required, that\nmuch sooner than could have been expected from one of his age, he stood\nbefore the King. Creeping Shadow, lifting her eyes eagerly, beheld a\nvery ancient fairy, clad in deep scarlet. His beard was white as snow.\nHis eyes were piercingly keen. Never had she seen anyone who looked at\nonce so ancient and so wise.\n\n\u201cYour Majesty,\u201d said the Wise One gravely, making him a low obeisance,\n\u201cHow can I serve you?\u201d\n\n\u201cGive me of your good counsel,\u201d King Red Flame besought him. \u201cFar away\nin the cave of her brother, the Wizard, the Shadow Witch lies\nimprisoned, not for any fault of hers, but for her kindness to Prince\nRadiance and my beloved daughter. Her servant Creeping Shadow, whom you\nsee yonder, has come to beg the Prince to haste to her deliverance. What\nsay you? If he goes, will he have power to deliver her? If he goes, will\nhe return in safety?\u201d\n\nAnxiously Princess White Flame fixed her eyes upon the Wise One\u2019s face,\nand awaited his answer to her father\u2019s question. No less anxiously did\nCreeping Shadow listen to hear the fate of her dear mistress.\n\n\u201cNay, Your Majesty,\u201d replied the Wise One, with great earnestness,\n\u201cdeeply as the Prince is indebted to the Shadow Witch, brave though he\nis and potent as is his Sword of Flames against the Wizard, it is not\ngiven to him to deliver her.\u201d\n\nHearing his words, tears rushed to the eyes of Creeping Shadow. \u201cAlas!\nalas! My poor mistress!\u201d she sobbed. \u201cIf this be true, what is to become\nof her in the dense darkness where she lies captive with all her magic\npower gone?\u201d\n\nA low murmur of pity ran from one to the other of the kind-hearted fire\nfairies, from the King himself, to the humblest fairy gathered there.\n\nPrincess White Flame laid a consoling hand upon Creeping Shadow\u2019s\nshoulder. \u201cWait but a moment,\u201d she told her. \u201cThe Wise One has great\nknowledge, great wisdom. No magic is hid from him. Somewhere there must\nbe one who can bring succor to your mistress. The Wise One will know of\nhim, and can tell us where he may be found.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou speak truly, my Princess,\u201d the Wise One hastened to inform her. \u201cIt\nis written in my Book of Wisdom that when this misfortune falls upon the\nShadow Witch, there is but one who can release her from that enchanted\nchamber where the Wizard now holds her, but one who can bring her\nunharmed through the perils which will afterward beset her.\u201d\n\n\u201cHis name?\u201d cried the King, Prince Radiance and the Princess, in one\nvoice. \u201cHis name?\u201d cried Creeping Shadow beseechingly.\n\n\u201cSire, it is your nephew, Prince Ember,\u201d declared the Wise One. \u201cHe it\nis who is fated to set her free.\u201d\n\nFrom all those who had waited in breathless suspense for his answer,\nthere burst a murmur of intense relief. Creeping Shadow\u2019s heart beat\nquick with joy.\n\n\u201cAnd the perils of which you spoke,\u2014shall my dear nephew, also, escape\nthem unscathed?\u201d demanded King Red Flame anxiously.\n\n\u201cAy, truly, Your Majesty,\u201d the ancient one assured him. \u201cAll will be\nwell, if he but follows my advice. Send him to me, and I will instruct\nhim.\u201d\n\nHis counsel given, the Wise One bade farewell to his master and returned\nto his hut.\n\nOnce more Rushing Flame set out in haste on the King\u2019s business, but\nthis time it was to summon Prince Ember, that he might learn from the\nroyal lips the task that was his to perform.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER IV\n\n\nBeautiful is the Land of Glowing Embers, near to the Palace of King Red\nFlame. When morning dawns, a light soft and rosy bathes its castles and\nits gardens. At noonday, its pale sweet glow burns to a richer glory,\nand a flush of deepest rose ascends over turrets and blossoming trees.\nWith nightfall, a purple splendor settles over all things while its\npeaceful fairies sleep. Set in the midst of it is the home of Prince\nEmber, the fairy palace of Good Cheer.\n\nIn his favorite room in the palace Prince Ember sat alone, in deep\nthought. Spread open upon the table before him was a thick volume,\nwritten in the ancient fairy language, filled with tales of fairy\nadventure of a far off time. As he read and pondered them, his heart was\nfilled with longing that he, too, might go upon some dangerous quest,\nmight win some noble victory. His domain was quiet. His servants were\nhappy and at peace. He knew of nothing that could call him forth.\n\nTall and straight of limb and very handsome was this prince of the Land\nof Glowing Embers. Ruddy gold was his hair, like the fire when it glows\nmost richly. His eyes were bright and kind. The cloak that hung from his\nshoulders was deep red and fell over red garments of yet deeper hue.\nFrom his round red cap a black feather drooped to mingle with the glory\nof his hair.\n\nAs yet he had no princess, for as yet he had seen none who stirred his\nheart, though for want of her he was sometimes lonely, even in his\nPalace of Good Cheer.\n\nThe fairies of his dominions loved him well and served him with zeal,\nfor none was kinder, none more nobly just, than their own Prince Ember.\n\nSitting in his palace on this summer evening, he remembered the brave\ndeeds which Prince Radiance had lately done,\u2014deeds not less splendid\nthan these which were written in this ancient book.\n\nAnd while he sighed, because he felt that for him there could be no such\nhigh adventures, Rushing Flame was speeding toward his palace, on the\nerrand of the King. The messenger gave no heed, in his swift passing,\nto the loveliness of the land, but turning neither to right nor left,\ncame straight to the arched and golden gate that gave entrance to the\ngardens of the Prince.\n\nLike an arrow he sped through it and on to the palace door. An Ember\nFairy opened to his knock and, when he told his business, led him\nquickly to the Prince.\n\n\u201cYour Highness,\u201d he announced, \u201cRushing Flame is here, with a message\nfrom the King.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpeak, Rushing Flame,\u201d commanded the Prince. \u201cWhat word do you bring me\nfrom His Majesty?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat you will come to him at once,\u201d the messenger replied. \u201cThere are\nimportant matters that require your presence.\u201d\n\n\u201cKnow you aught of what these matters may be?\u201d demanded Prince Ember.\n\n\u201cThis much only I may tell you, Your Highness. They concern a dangerous\nand difficult adventure. More than this you must learn from the King\nhimself,\u201d answered Rushing Flame.\n\nPrince Ember sprang to his feet, his eyes kindling with eagerness. \u201cSee\nthat my horse is brought quickly to the palace door,\u201d he cried to the\nEmber Fairy, who still lingered near, \u201cfor I go in haste to my uncle,\nthe King.\u201d\n\nThe fairy obeyed, and presently the hoof-beats of the ruddy charger that\nbore the Prince resounded on the road that led to the Palace of Burning\nCoals.\n\nA good steed and a swift, was he. Before Rushing Flame, with all his\nspeed, had gone half the distance homeward, the Prince alighted at the\ndoor of his uncle\u2019s palace and a moment later presented himself before\nthe King.\n\n\u201cAh, my dear Ember,\u201d exclaimed King Red Flame, grasping his hand, \u201cyour\npresence is most earnestly desired, for there has come to us a servant\nof the Shadow Witch, beseeching help for her mistress, who now lies\ncaptive to her brother, the Wizard of the Cave of Darkness. This\npunishment he inflicts upon her, because of her kindness to Prince\nRadiance and my daughter. Gladly would Prince Radiance prove his\ngratitude by hasting to her deliverance, but the Wise One has declared\nthat it would be in vain\u2014has declared that it is yourself, and none\nother, who is fated to set her free. Since this is so, is it your desire\nto go upon this adventure?\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, Your Majesty!\u201d cried Prince Ember, his countenance glowing with\nardor, \u201cno task could be more welcome. I am ready to set forth\nimmediately.\u201d\n\nThe King was greatly pleased, and Creeping Shadow, her anxious fears at\nrest, bowed herself at Prince Ember\u2019s feet in gratitude too deep for\nspeech. The hearts of Prince Radiance and Princess White Flame\noverflowed with joy since the deliverance of the Shadow Witch seemed now\nassured, and their happiness was reflected in the faces of all the\nfairies gathered there.\n\nKing Red Flame spoke again. \u201cThat your success in this adventure may be\nmade certain, you must first go to the Wise One and receive his\ninstructions. If you obey them, he assures me that you cannot fail.\u201d\n\n\u201cI will give good heed to them,\u201d Prince Ember promised him.\n\nSo saying he took his leave and followed by Creeping Shadow, set out on\nfoot for the home of the Wise One.\n\nThe queer little hut where the Wise One lived was not far off, and soon\nthey stood before its door. Creeping Shadow looked with astonishment at\nits bright red walls, covered with magic inscriptions, whose meaning was\nhidden from all but the Wise One. She beheld with amazement the\nchimneys, like lighted torches, that topped its roof and the blazing\nflame-bushes that surrounded it. When the Prince knocked on the quaintly\ncarved door and entered at the Wise One\u2019s word, she drew back quickly\nand seated herself under a flame-bush until he should again appear.\n\nWithin the hut the Prince found the aged fairy awaiting him. \u201cHail,\nPrince Ember,\u201d said he, rising to greet him. \u201cYou go upon a noble\nquest.\u201d\n\n\u201cI go gladly,\u201d replied the Prince, and the words came from his heart.\n\n\u201cYou must not go unprepared,\u201d returned the Wise One. \u201cUpon those fairy\ngifts that you carry with you, upon the use that you make of them, the\nsuccess of your adventure depends.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what shall these gifts be?\u201d inquired the Prince.\n\n\u201cFirst of all, a sword,\u201d was the instant answer. \u201cA fairy sword of\npower.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlas!\u201d sighed the Prince. \u201cThat I do not possess.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt can be provided,\u201d returned the Wise One, smiling. He stepped to an\nancient chest, deeply carved with mystic signs, that stood quite by\nitself in a corner of the hut. From out that chest many magic gifts had\ncome, when need was great. Filled to the brim with treasures as it\nalways was, none saw aught within but those gifts which were for his\nown use.\n\nThe Wise One bent down and fitted a key in the lock. After its manner\nthe key turned of itself in the lock; after its manner the lid rose of\nitself upon its huge hinges.\n\n\u201cCome,\u201d said the Wise One, \u201cand behold your sword.\u201d\n\nPrince Ember stepped quickly to his side. Before his eyes, close\nsheathed in its shining scabbard, lay the fairy sword of power. A thrill\nof awe passed through him at the sight.\n\n\u201cTake it,\u201d commanded the Wise One.\n\nThe Prince lifted it out, and as he unsheathed it, at the Wise One\u2019s\nword, it filled the hut with a burning glow. Heat, intense and ardent,\nstreamed from it, making warm the air.\n\n\u201cThis is the Sword of Fire,\u201d the ancient fairy told him. \u201cAs potent it\nwill be in your hands and for your use, as was the Sword of Flames in\nthe hands of Prince Radiance. In every danger that you must meet, over\nevery obstacle that you must encounter, save one, it will be\nvictorious.\u201d\n\nPrince Ember\u2019s heart beat fast. \u201cAnd for that other?\u201d he asked eagerly.\n\n\u201cFor that, also, I have a gift,\u201d was the answer. \u201cLook within the chest\nonce more and you will see.\u201d\n\nLeaning down the Prince peered into the dimness of the chest. \u201cThere is\na small round box,\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cTake it, and open it,\u201d commanded the Wise One.\n\nObediently Prince Ember drew it forth and undid its clasp. He looked\nwithin and saw a bit of charcoal, black and glistening; nothing more. He\nregarded it with astonishment. \u201cWhat power has this to help me?\u201d he\ninquired.\n\n\u201cIts power is great,\u201d returned the Wise One, gravely. \u201cGuard it with\ncare. When escape for yourself and for the Shadow Witch seems\nimpossible, take it out, and cast it boldly into the midst of the danger\nthat threatens you, and by its good spell your way to safety will be\nmade clear.\u201d\n\nThe Prince thanked him. He closed the box, and placed it carefully in\nhis breast.\n\n\u201cIn order that you may succeed in this undertaking,\u201d continued his\nadviser, \u201cyou must be able to reach the prison of the Shadow Witch\nunseen. You know, as well as I, that among the good fairies of the Fire,\nonly the Ember Fairies have power to become entirely invisible. Within\nthe Wizard\u2019s Cave your own magic will serve to make you so, but in the\nPlain outside you must have the Cloak of Ash.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis, also, you will give me?\u201d demanded the Prince with quickening\nbreath.\n\n\u201cNay, I have it not,\u201d answered the Wise One, shaking his head. \u201cOnly the\nElf of the Borderland can bestow this upon you, for he alone, together\nwith his elves, possesses the secret of its making. Moreover it must be\nwoven in the presence of him who is to wear it; otherwise it has no\npower. Go to him and ask it. He will not refuse you. Creeping Shadow,\nwho knows where he is to be found, will guide you to him. Do in all\nthings as I have advised you, and you will not fail.\u201d\n\nSo Prince Ember, with grateful words bade the Wise One good-bye and\ndeparted with his gifts, and as he left the hut, Creeping Shadow arose\nfrom her seat beneath the flame-bush and came to walk beside him and\nguide him to the Borderland.\n\nQuite alone, in the Borderland, stands the house of the good grey Elf.\nIts door was fast shut and its windows closed when Prince Ember and\nCreeping Shadow approached it. The thick thatch of ash which covered its\nroof and came low down upon its walls so concealed it from view, that\nhad he been without his companion to guide him, the Prince might have\nsought for it long in vain.\n\nWhen they had reached it, Creeping Shadow stood still. \u201cThis is the\nhouse of the Elf,\u201d she said. Then, turning, she pointed to a high black\ncliff that rose in the distance. \u201cAnd yonder is the Cave of Darkness,\nwhere the Wizard dwells, and my poor mistress lies imprisoned. As soon\nas you have left the Elf, lose no time in reaching her, I beg of you,\nfor the Wizard is very cruel, and I know not what he may do to her if\nhelp is long delayed. When you have climbed the steep path which leads\nup the cliff-side, you will behold the entrance to the cavern yawning\nbefore you. As for myself, I shall return now to the Land of Shadows, to\nawait in hope the homecoming of my mistress.\u201d\n\nShe turned again and struck upon the Elf\u2019s door thrice. It was the\nsignal of the servants of the Shadow Witch. In silence the door swung\nopen, and the Prince set his foot upon the threshold.\n\n\u201cFarewell, noble and generous Prince,\u201d murmured Creeping Shadow. \u201cGood\nspeed, and a safe return.\u201d\n\n\u201cFarewell,\u201d said Prince Ember. \u201cRest confident that I shall bring home\nthe Shadow Witch in triumph.\u201d He passed within, and as silently as it\nhad opened, the door closed upon him.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                               CHAPTER V\n\n\nAlone, in the deep darkness of her prison, sat the Shadow Witch growing\npaler and sadder every day. She was beginning to fear that after all\nCreeping Shadow could do nothing to help her, for how could she ever\npenetrate to this dungeon, with its thick walls that hemmed her in. She\ndoubted not that the Wizard kept the entrance to the Cave closely\nguarded; indeed he had told her that it was so.\n\nDaily her food was brought to her by the Chief Imp, who grew more and\nmore impertinent to her. Daily her brother came to taunt her with her\nweakness\u2014with his own power over her. Proudly as she bore herself, she\ncould not but dread his coming, could not but wonder what he might still\nhave in store for her of punishment and suffering.\n\nNever before had she so hated the evil magic of the Wizard and his\nfriends; and even her own magic, which she had always used more in\nmischief than with evil in her heart, had grown detestable to her.\n\nThe longing to escape became so great that she could hardly endure it,\nbut with each visit from her brother, her hope of freedom became less\nand less, so scornfully did he laugh at her when she demanded to know\nwhen she should be set at liberty.\n\nOne day, as she sat thinking bitterly of the hardness of her lot, she\nheard once again the sound of approaching footsteps, and, immediately\nafter, the wall parted, and her brother entered. The lanterns of the\nImps who came with him, cast but a dim light in the thick darkness, yet\nfaint as it was, the Shadow Witch felt herself revive a little. She\ngathered up all her strength and rose to face the Wizard defiantly. In\nsilence the Imps flocked in and ranged themselves along the soot-hung\nwalls. The Wizard advanced toward his sister with his cruel smile.\n\n\u201cWell, my clever sister,\u201d he asked her jeeringly, \u201chow fares it with you\nnow, in this pleasant resting-place?\u201d\n\nThe dark eyes of the Shadow Witch rested coldly upon his face, but she\nvouchsafed him no reply.\n\n\u201cHere, it is true, you have no special opportunity to do further\nmischief,\u201d continued the Wizard, \u201cand that is a hardship for you, to be\nsure. But you have plenty of time for repentance, which you need far\nmore. As for your Land of Shadows, word has come to me that your\nservant, Black Shadow, holds sway in your absence. Nay, more, that she\nrejoices in her power, and is none too eager for your return.\u201d\n\nStill the Shadow Witch made no reply. She did not doubt what he said,\nfor she knew well the boldness and insolence of Black Shadow, but she\nwould not gratify him by showing that she cared in the least.\n\n\u201cAnd Creeping Shadow,\u201d he went on, \u201cthat other servant in whom, above\nall the rest, you have had confidence, she, also, has joined herself to\nBlack Shadow, and obeys her in all things.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn that I know you speak falsely,\u201d retorted the Shadow Witch. \u201cThere is\nnone more faithful to me than Creeping Shadow. Nothing could turn her\naway from her loyalty to me. I have many other servants, also who love\nme, and serve me well.\u201d\n\n\u201cShe did not show herself loyal when she sought me in my Cave not long\nsince,\u201d observed the Wizard, stroking his dingy beard with a slow hand.\n\u201cAt first she did indeed pretend to desire your freedom; at first she\nwept and pleaded with me for your release, as though she were in\nearnest, but when she found that I gave no heed to her, she cast off all\ndisguise, and showed plainly that she rejoiced in your imprisonment. She\neven went so far as to try to bargain with me to hold you here. She\nneeded not to bargain, my good sister, for nothing could change my\npurpose toward yourself. I have determined that in this prison you shall\nfind all of home or kingdom that will be yours for many a day.\u201d\n\n\u201cNaught that you can say would serve to convince me that Creeping Shadow\nis a traitor,\u201d she answered. \u201cWhy should I trust your word in place of\nwhat I know of her? The day of my deliverance may be far off, the way of\nits accomplishment may be hard, but I shall be freed at last. For this\nmy faithful servants work, as you shall find.\u201d\n\nStill the Wizard sought to stir her, to break down her courage. \u201cHow\nunfortunate it is that you have no prince to aid in this good work,\u201d he\ntaunted. \u201cSuch a prince as Radiance, perhaps\u2014he, whom you ran such risks\nto aid. But he has returned to the Land of Fire with his pale princess\nand will hardly trouble himself now to release you from the punishment\nthat you are enduring because of him.\u201d\n\nProudly the Shadow Witch raised her head, and for the first time since\nher imprisonment there were tears in her beautiful eyes. \u201cWhether or no\nhe remembers me in the midst of his joy,\u201d she answered, \u201cWhether or no\nhe will succor me in my need, I shall never be sorry that I helped him\nto deliver his Princess. He it was who first brought brightness into my\ndreary land. He it was, who, for the first time in my life, made me to\nknow what it is to be noble. Happy am I, then, even here and now, that\nit was given me to serve him. Proud am I with a far different pride than\nany that I have known before.\u201d\n\nThe Wizard heard her in amaze. Had his sister taken leave of her\nsenses? What had come over the mischief-loving Shadow Witch that she\nshould speak in this fashion? \u201cYou behave strangely, sister,\u201d he replied\nsharply. \u201cCan it be that it was something more than the mere pleasure of\noutwitting and injuring me that led you to aid this impudent stranger,\nenemy to your people and to all who dwell in this land?\u201d\n\n\u201cAy,\u201d returned the Shadow Witch boldly. \u201cIt was indeed something more. I\ncould not see one so brave and good become the victim of your evil\nmagic; nor allow his happiness to be destroyed by those wicked ones who\nplotted for his destruction. He has awakened me to what we are, and I\ntell you now that if once I escape from the power of your dark spell, I\nshall bid you and your friends farewell forever. If in my own Land of\nShadows I can cause to spring up a better magic than it has known\nheretofore, it will be well. But if that hope proves vain, I shall\nforsake my home, and go to that land of brightness and good magic from\nwhence this prince came, and there learn nobler ways and find a truer\nhome.\u201d\n\nAt these words of his sister, the Wizard burst forth in such furious\nrage that his Imps, hearing, shrank back close to the wall of the\ncavern, trembling with fright. \u201cMiserable creature,\u201d he shouted. \u201cIs it\nnot enough that you have brought suffering upon me, that you should go\nto the Land of Fire, carrying with you the secrets of all who dwell in\nthis land? Traitor! Until now I had meant to punish you but for a time;\nbut now I know that to release you is to prepare misfortune and\nbetrayal for every one of us. It shall never, never be. You have warned\nme in time. You have sealed your own doom. Never, while I have power to\nkeep you within these walls, shall you escape to carry out your\npurpose.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou may well say while you have power to keep me,\u201d retorted the Shadow\nWitch. \u201cDo what you may, I shall yet be freed. Then I shall go where I\nwill.\u201d\n\nStill more enraged by her unshaken defiance, the Wizard sprang upon her\nand grasped her wrists. He towered above her dark and forbidding. He\ngave a sharp command to the Imps, and in an instant they had departed\nwith the lanterns. In the thick darkness that followed, the Shadow Witch\nheard him say nothing more, but she felt that same strange magic stream\nfrom his hands that she had felt on the day that she had first entered\nher prison, and she became as weak and helpless as she did before.\n\nWhen he had gone and the wall had closed behind him, she fell to weeping\nwildly; not for Prince Radiance, whom she should see no more, but for\nthat noble brightness that he had once brought to her eyes, and with the\ndread in her heart that it would never be hers.\n\nYet, even as she wept, ever nearer and nearer to the Cave of Darkness\ncame Prince Ember, hasting from the Land of Fire upon the glorious\nadventure of her deliverance.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER VI\n\n\nIn one thing the Wizard had spoken truly: Black Shadow was a faithless\nservant. As yet she had not dared to attempt to rule over her\nfellow-servants, but she longed for such power and was always hoping\nthat some day she might obtain it. In her heart she rebelled against her\nmistress; she would rebel outwardly when it was safe to do so. After a\nlong time had passed and still the Shadow Witch had not returned, she\nbegan to believe that some evil had overtaken her, and if she could have\nbeen certain of it, it would have pleased her well.\n\nHer companions, becoming alarmed at the prolonged absence of their\nmistress, had sought for her diligently in every part of her dominions,\nbut at last they had been compelled to give up the search. They knew\nthat Creeping Shadow also had departed, though upon what errand they\ncould not guess. Now they waited in mournful silence, beneath the\noverhanging trees of the garden, hoping that they soon might have\ntidings of them both.\n\nLeaving them there Black Shadow walked apart, and as she walked she\npondered ceaselessly as to how soon she might venture to snatch at some\npart at least of the power she so greatly desired.\n\nCreeping Shadow, on her homeward way, drawing nigh to the garden, saw\nher dark figure stealing solitary among the dim alleys, her head bent\nupon her breast, as if in painful thought, but she could not see her\nface. \u201cShe grieves for the absence of our dear mistress,\u201d said the\nfaithful servant to herself. \u201cHow rejoiced she will be to hear of her\napproaching deliverance.\u201d She called to her consolingly: \u201cBlack Shadow!\nOh, Black Shadow! I bring good news!\u201d\n\nHearing the voice, Black Shadow raised her head. Her face, which till\nthen had been free from grief or anxiety, changed suddenly to that of\none who had sorrowed deeply, and who for the first time hopes. \u201cGood\nnews?\u201d cried she. \u201cAh, if it comes from our mistress, tell it quickly!\nWe have mourned her absence so bitterly and so long!\u201d\n\nWith such eagerness did she speak, so sincere was the sound of her\nvoice, that Creeping Shadow did not suspect her of deceit, but made\nhaste to tell her of her visit to the Wizard\u2019s Cave, and of all that had\nhappened since that time.\n\nBlack Shadow drank in every word and pretended to be overjoyed. \u201cWhat is\nthis gift which the Prince is to receive from the Elf of the\nBorderland?\u201d she asked curiously when Creeping Shadow ceased to speak.\n\n\u201cThat was not told me,\u201d replied Creeping Shadow. \u201cMy duty was but to\nlead him to the Elf\u2019s door and there leave him.\u201d\n\nHer companion bit her lip with vexation, because she was unable to\ndiscover the business that had taken Prince Ember to the Elf. The\nknowledge would have meant much to her, if she could have gained\npossession of it. She said nothing more about the matter, however, but\nasked many questions concerning the Prince, and Creeping Shadow,\nsuspecting no evil, told her all that she could, without reserve.\n\nWhen Black Shadow saw that she had learned all that her companion had to\ntell, she laid her hand upon her arm. \u201cCome,\u201d said she. \u201cWe must tell\nthe others. They, no less than ourselves, have grieved over the absence\nof our dearly loved mistress.\u201d\n\nCreeping Shadow was but too eager to do so, and they set out at once.\nThey had gone but a little way when they came upon all the rest of the\nShadows, still sitting beneath the trees, talking sadly among themselves\nwith hushed voices.\n\nWhen their fellow-servants saw the two approaching they sprang quickly\nto their feet and hurried toward them, hoping that at last tidings of\nthe Shadow Witch had come.\n\nCreeping Shadow could not contain herself until they met, but called to\nthem, \u201cRejoice! Rejoice, for soon our mistress will return to us again!\u201d\n\nAt this glad news they all broke forth into joyful cries and rushed to\nher side with rapid and excited questions, and no sooner had she begun\nto answer them than Black Shadow, seizing her opportunity, slipped\nsilently away from them and losing herself among the trees, stole\nunobserved out of the garden.\n\nWith all speed she took her way to the steep cliff that led to the Cave\nof Darkness; swiftly and steadily she mounted it till she came to the\nmouth of the cavern. She entered without pause. Strictly as it was\nguarded by the Imps whom the Wizard had placed there, that none might\nenter to bring help to the Shadow Witch, no one of them challenged Black\nShadow. They knew her and her ways\u2014knew, also, that whatever might be\nher errand, she was always a welcome guest to their master. An Imp at\nonce came to light her way, and she followed his flickering lantern\nuntil she came out at last into the Cave Hall.\n\nThere she beheld the Wizard deeply engaged. He sat in his huge armchair\nbefore a table, on which lay an ebony box filled with those wands with\nwhich he worked his darkest magic. He took up the wands, one by one, and\nran his fingers over them carefully to test their power and having\nsatisfied himself that they were in perfect order, he wrapped each one\nseparately in a black cloth and laid it back in its place within the\ncasket.\n\nThe Imps were not allowed to come nearer to these wands at any time than\nto touch the carefully locked casket as they bore it to and from its\nplace in their master\u2019s treasure chamber, but they watched the Wizard\nfrom a distance with eyes that twinkled sharply with curiosity as he sat\nhandling them openly in their presence.\n\nBlack Shadow drew near to him, and the Wizard suddenly perceiving her,\nswept the remaining wands together abruptly and placed them in the\ncasket at once. He snapped the lid of it and locked it with a small and\ntwisted key which he drew from his garments. This done, he gave his\nattention to his visitor.\n\n\u201cWhat is your errand, Black Shadow?\u201d he demanded, leaning back in his\nchair, and composing himself to listen.\n\n\u201cI bring strange news,\u201d she replied, taking the seat before him to which\nhe had waved her. \u201cCreeping Shadow has returned from the Land of Fire,\nbringing word that a prince is on his way to deliver the Shadow Witch\nfrom your hands.\u201d\n\n\u201cA prince?\u201d exclaimed the Wizard, starting forward in astonishment.\n\n\u201cEven so,\u201d answered Black Shadow.\n\n\u201cTell me not that it is Prince Radiance,\u201d he cried vehemently, for\nanguish seized him at the memory of the Sword of Flames.\n\n\u201cNay,\u201d returned she. \u201cIt is a stranger prince, Ember by name, who knows\nnot this land, nor the dangers which lie in wait for him here. What\nweapons of defence he possesses, or what his magic, we cannot guess.\nThis only I can tell you, he is in the home of the Elf of the Borderland\nat this moment, there to obtain, perhaps, some gift, or some instruction\nwhich will make him proof against us. Whether or not Creeping Shadow\nspeaks falsely, she has declared to me that she knows nothing concerning\nhis business with the Elf.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have no fear of anyone so small and peaceable as the Elf of the\nBorderland,\u201d laughed the Wizard contemptuously. \u201cIt could not be in his\npower to bestow a gift of any worth. As for the prince\u2014my servants shall\nredouble their vigilance at the Cave Mouth. He cannot pass them.\u201d\n\n\u201cBe not too sure of that,\u201d Black Shadow warned him. \u201cOf the magic of\nthese fairies of the Fire we know nothing. If he possesses some\nenchantment by which he can pass your guards unseen, if he should find\nand liberate your sister, and escape with her from your Cave\u2014what then?\nShall one who has foiled you thus be allowed to return unmolested to his\nown land?\u201d\n\nFor a short space the Wizard sat plunged in thought, for he knew well\nthat beyond the boundaries of his Cave he had no power. But presently he\nspoke. \u201cI have friends who will prevent that,\u201d he declared confidently.\n\u201cCurling Smoke waits but the word to engage himself against any who come\nfrom the Land of Fire. The Ash Goblin needs no urging against my sister.\nToo often she has made sport of him, until he has not known which way to\nturn for anger. And as to the Wind in the Chimney, merely to speak to\nhim is to gain his consent to swoop down at once upon any adventurer\ninto our lands. Seek these friends of mine, Black Shadow, and bid them\nlie in wait for this bold prince. Say to them that the Wizard of the\nCave relies upon their aid.\u201d\n\nBlack Shadow rose, well pleased. With all hope of liberty for the Shadow\nWitch destroyed, she saw her way to power. \u201cI will be your willing\nmessenger,\u201d she said. She turned away and followed by the piercing\nglances of the Imps, she left the Cave Hall, and a little later again\npassed by the guards at the Cave Mouth and came into the open country\nwithout.\n\nThere she glanced about her, hoping to catch sight of those whom she\nsought. She did not look in vain, for almost immediately the giant,\nCurling Smoke, uncurled his tall form from a deep chasm in the cliff\nclose by and towered high above her, blocking the way.\n\n\u201cWhither do you go, Black Shadow?\u201d demanded he haughtily. \u201cYou cannot\npass until you answer.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have no wish to pass, for it is yourself whom I seek,\u201d she returned.\n\n\u201cWhat is it that you desire?\u201d he asked ungraciously, for he was no\nfriend to the Shadow Witch and made naught of her servants.\n\n\u201cI bring a message from the Wizard of the Cave,\u201d replied she. \u201cHe\ndesires your assistance. Because of an ill turn that she served him, he\nholds his sister prisoner, and Creeping Shadow, knowing that it would be\nvain to ask any of the powerful ones in our own land to rescue her,\njourneyed to the Land of Fire to ask aid of Prince Radiance.\u201d\n\nAt the very mention of Prince Radiance, whom he hated, Curling Smoke\ntwisted himself about in a violent rage. \u201cLet him not dare to return\nhere, lest I make short work of him!\u201d he shouted hoarsely. \u201cLet him not\nflatter himself that he can escape me this time as he did before.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is not Prince Radiance who comes, but another; that one, so Creeping\nShadow tells me, who alone is fated to set the Shadow Witch free. Prince\nEmber is his name, and even now he is close by, in the house of the Elf\nof the Borderland, there to receive from him, doubtless, something which\nwill aid him to deliver my mistress, and make him proof against any who\nassail him, or who may seek to prevent his success.\u201d\n\nCurling Smoke laughed loud and disdainfully. \u201cWhat has the Elf to give\nthat could avail against me and my magic?\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cYou amuse me,\nBlack Shadow. Go to that weakling, the Ash Goblin, with such tales, if\nyou will, but do not bring them to Curling Smoke.\u201d\n\n\u201cI repeat only what has been told me,\u201d returned Black Shadow. \u201cWhether\nor not it is true, I know not. I have come to you for one thing only\u2014to\nobtain a promise for the Wizard that you will engage yourself against\nthis prince, wherever you may encounter him.\u201d\n\nAgain Curling Smoke laughed, and his huge shape swayed boastfully from\nside to side. \u201cYou have little need to doubt my answer,\u201d he replied. \u201cDo\nI not hate these strangers from the Land of Fire with all my heart? Am I\nnot only too eager for an excuse to do them harm? Return, then, to the\nWizard, and say to him that he need have no fear that this prince will\nescape me. Say to him that Curling Smoke\u2014greatest of all magicians,\npromises that it shall not be.\u201d\n\nThis said, Curling Smoke settled again into a cleft from whence he could\nwatch the entire Plain of Ash. No one could approach him from thence\nwithout being seen by him.\n\nBlack Shadow assured of the vigilance of this powerful ally, departed at\nonce to seek the Ash Goblin, whose low mean hovel stood at some distance\naway among the ash mounds of the plain.\n\nSo despised is the Ash Goblin that few ever seek his door, and when he\nheard upon it the sharp knock of Black Shadow, he started with surprise.\nHe crept across the dingy floor, and put his bulging eye to the keyhole\nto peer through, and discover who stood without. His astonishment at\nseeing Black Shadow was great, for never had she sought him out before,\nbut he knew that he had no reason to fear her, so he opened to her at\nonce.\n\nShe came in, and without waiting to be invited sank down into a seat.\nThe Ash Goblin made fast the door, and as he did so he turned his crafty\nhead to her and inquired her errand. She told him all.\n\n\u201cWell may you come to me,\u201d he assured her. \u201cI have long desired to\nrevenge myself upon your impudent mistress. Often she has made sport of\nme with her tricking shadows. Often she has even dared to make my own\nform flicker and dance before me\u2014not as it is\u2014indeed, but twisted and\nmisshapen to please her own mischievous fancy.\u201d His eyes glinted with\nmalice, and Black Shadow was well pleased to find him so willing to give\nhis help.\n\n\u201cThen I will count upon you,\u201d she said rising. \u201cAs I have told you, the\nPrince is now in the Elf\u2019s house. If you are wise, you will go and hide\nyourself near it, and seize your chance to attack him as soon as he\nleaves its shelter.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Wizard need have no fear,\u201d retorted the Ash Goblin. \u201cI will surely\nnot miss so good an opportunity to avenge myself upon his sister.\u201d\n\nThis ally also having been gained, Black Shadow bade him farewell, and\nwent to the Wind in the Chimney.\n\nWide is the Chimney Mouth, which gives entrance to the Wind\u2019s dwelling,\nfor a giant must come and go through it. This entrance is dark, and\nyawning, and perilous, and none dares enter it except at the Wind\u2019s\nwill.\n\nThe voice of the Wind is loud when he laughs in glee, but it is louder a\nthousandfold when he howls with rage, and when he sweeps down from his\nhigh seat in the Chimney and rushes out into the lands beyond, whistling\nor shrieking as he goes, he drives all before him, whether they will or\nno.\n\nToday the Wind rested in his home, on the great rough bench which was\nhis favorite seat, and Black Shadow had but to ask of the Breezes who\nloitered about the Chimney Mouth whether she might go into the Wind\u2019s\npresence, to have her request granted immediately. Seldom did she trust\nherself to such boisterous company, but the occasion was urgent. So she\nentered, though not without some uneasiness, and went on and up the\nrough uneven way, till she reached the huge cranny in the Chimney where\nthe Wind sat, humming a whining song to himself, as he lounged against\nthe Chimney wall.\n\nHe gave her no courteous greeting when she stood before him, but\nstretched his mighty arm and shoved her unceremoniously into a seat not\nfar from himself. \u201cWhat do you come to ask of me? Out with it quickly,\u201d\nhe growled, with some impatience, for Black Shadow had not dared to\nspeak at once, but sat in silence for a moment considering how best to\ndeliver the message of the Wizard so that it might meet with favor.\n\nThus commanded, however, she delayed no longer and presently had told\nher story to the end.\n\nThe Wind heard her with unconcealed pleasure. \u201cHo, ho!\u201d he howled,\npuffing his round cheeks till they seemed like to burst. \u201cWe shall have\ngreat sport with this bold prince when he ventures forth from the Elf\u2019s\ndwelling. He shall nowhere be safe from me, for I am the Wind in the\nChimney, and nothing stops or stays me in what I set out to do. Prince\nEmber has no magic that will be proof against me, and so far as anything\nthat the Elf can do for him goes, I scorn it.\u201d So confident was he that\nhe laughed till the Chimney shook and rattled, and the soot that lined\nits walls fell thick over the head and shoulders of his guest.\n\nHearing their master\u2019s uproarious laughter, the Breezes came stealing in\nto discover its cause, but the Wind frowned upon them and buffeted them\nto right and left so sternly that they rushed quickly out again without\ndaring to speak.\n\nThe Wind turned to Black Shadow. \u201cGo back to the Wizard,\u201d he commanded\nher gruffly. \u201cTell him that the Chimney shall fall in ruins, and the\nWind himself become as the faintest of his Breezes before this stranger\nprince succeeds in his purpose of setting free the Shadow Witch.\u201d\n\nHe shook his mantle, he tossed his great shaggy head and whistled\nloudly. \u201cI am the Wind\u2014the Wind in the Chimney! Heugh, heugh! Ho, ho!\nHeugh, heugh!\u201d\n\nPursued by his braggart whistlings and the hoarse echoings of his mirth,\nBlack Shadow left him and hurried back to the Wizard\u2019s Cave to make\nknown to him the success of her mission.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER VII\n\n\nWhen Prince Ember said farewell to Creeping Shadow and stepped into the\nElf\u2019s house, he found himself in a curious room whose walls were grey\nwith ash, whose floor was covered so thick with it, that his feet sank\ninto it, and made no sound. It was as if he trod on softest down.\n\nIn the middle of the room stood the Elf, with pudgy hand extended.\n\u201cWelcome, good Prince,\u201d he said heartily. \u201cYou come on the business of\nthe Shadow Witch, for I know the knock of her servant, Creeping Shadow.\nWhat is it that you desire?\u201d\n\n\u201cI am on my way to deliver the Shadow Witch,\u201d the Prince made answer,\ntaking his hand. \u201cThe Wise One has bade me ask of you a certain\nmarvelous Cloak of Ash, to conceal me from my enemies. He says that here\nonly is the secret of its making known, and that you will not refuse to\nprovide me with it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Wise One has spoken truly,\u201d returned the Elf, \u201cbut he has doubtless\ntold you also that you must wait while this Cloak is woven especially\nfor you.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat he has,\u201d replied Prince Ember. \u201cBut let it be done quickly, I beg\nof you, for who can tell what the Shadow Witch may suffer at the hands\nof her brother if my coming be long delayed.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot a moment shall be lost,\u201d the Elf assured him. Still holding him by\nthe hand, he drew him to a narrow door at the farther end of the room.\nHe opened it, and revealed beyond it the Prince saw a vast chamber,\nfilled with elves hurrying silently to and fro on tasks strange to him.\nThe moment their master entered with Prince Ember, every elf stood still\nready to hear and obey whatever command might be given to them.\n\n\u201cWhere is the Weaver of the Cloak?\u201d inquired the Elf. \u201cThere is work for\nhim to do.\u201d\n\nInstantly a very ancient elf separated himself from his companions, and\ncame to stand before the Elf of the Borderland. \u201cI am ready, master,\u201d he\nsaid.\n\n\u201cThe Cloak is to be for this Prince,\u201d the Elf told him. \u201cUse your best\nskill in the weaving, so that it may be potent against his enemies, for\nmuch depends upon it.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt will not fail him, master,\u201d responded the Weaver confidently. His\nkeen old eyes swept the Prince from head to foot. He needed to take no\nother measure. Then he turned to a dim loom beside the wall, and\nstanding before it, he began to spread the fairy warp under the watchful\neye of the Elf. As he did so the elves came hurrying noiselessly with\nthe magic ash which was to fill it.\n\nDeftly the Weaver began to weave, crooning the mystic weaving-song\nmeanwhile, so that the magic of its words might sink into every part of\nthe Cloak, and make its power certain. He feared not to weave it under\nthe eyes of him who should receive it, for he knew well that he who\nwears the Cloak, may see it woven, and hear the song, but no sooner has\nthe Cloak fallen upon his shoulders than he forgets what his eyes had\nbeheld and his ears heard. Thus the secret of the ancient Weaver remains\nwith the elves of the Borderland.\n\nSteadily the Cloak of Ash grew under the skilful hands of the Weaver,\nsteadily the Prince watched the shuttle come and go. Never once did the\nancient Weaver rest; never once did he cease to sing his mystic song,\nnor did the elves pause as they came and went, bringing the magic ash\nfor the Cloak\u2019s fashioning.\n\nAt last the moment came when the Weaver\u2019s shuttle stopped, the song\nceased and the elves stood still. The Elf turned to the Prince. \u201cThe\nCloak is finished,\u201d he said.\n\nHe bent down and lifted it soft and silvery from the loom, and Prince\nEmber stretched eager hands to receive it.\n\n[Illustration: Prince Ember stretched eager hands to receive it.]\n\n\u201cGive heed to my words,\u201d the Elf admonished him, as he delivered it to\nhim. \u201cIn the Cave of Darkness only will you be endangered by the spells\nof the Wizard himself. There only he has power, and he never leaves its\nshelter and the weapons of enchantment which it contains. But in the\nlands without he has powerful and evil friends, who will not be slow to\nhelp him against his enemies if he desires it. From all but one of these\nthe Cloak will conceal you.\u201d\n\nThe Elf paused for a moment and then went on more earnestly. \u201cThough\nyour foes will not behold you, yet you must be on your guard against\nthem, for who can say what traps they may set for you, what snares may\nawait you. Beware, therefore, of the Ash Goblin. He is small of\nstature, but he cannot safely be despised, for he is very cunning. He\nwill not only assist the Wizard gladly because he hates his sister, but\nfor some grudge, also, that he bears to the dwellers in the Land of\nFire, he will not fail to wreak his spite on any who comes from thence.\u201d\n\n\u201cI will not forget your warning,\u201d Prince Ember promised him.\n\n\u201cBeware, also, of Curling Smoke,\u201d the Elf continued. \u201cNone more wicked\nand dreadful than he inhabits the lands you must pass through. He\ntravels far and wide, and because Prince Radiance lately conquered and\nscattered him by the power of his Sword of Flames, he has vowed to be\nrevenged upon one and all who enter here from the land of the good Fire\nFairies.\u201d\n\nAgain Prince Ember assured him that he would remember.\n\nThe Elf drew closer to him and laid his hand upon the Prince\u2019s arm.\n\u201cBeware,\u201d he adjured him solemnly, \u201cBeware of the Wind in the Chimney.\nAgainst him only the Cloak may not protect you. His eyes are keen to\npierce disguises. His hands are strong to break down spells. See to it\nthat he does not snatch from you in an unguarded moment this sheltering\nCloak.\u201d\n\nOnce more the Prince gave his promise, and stretching his hands in\ngratitude to the giver of so priceless a treasure, poured out his\nthanks.\n\nBut the Elf checked him. \u201cSpeak not of it,\u201d he protested kindly. \u201cThe\nelves of the Borderland rejoice to have a part in any noble undertaking.\nOnly succeed, and we are well repaid.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Wise One has said that I shall be victorious,\u201d declared the Prince\nconfidently. \u201cAnd when my task is done, and the Shadow Witch has\nreturned in freedom to her own land, I shall preserve as my chief\ntreasure this marvelous Cloak, which you have been at such pains to\nweave for me.\u201d\n\nThe Elf smiled and shook his head. \u201cNot so,\u201d he answered. \u201cNone takes\nthe Cloak of Ash from the Borderland.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen I will return it safe to your hands,\u201d the Prince assured him.\n\n\u201cThere will be no need,\u201d replied the Elf, \u201cfor the Cloak perishes when\nits work is done.\u201d\n\nWith these words he led him from the dim room where the marvel had been\nwrought, and brought him to the outer threshold of his house. There the\nPrince bade him farewell.\n\n\u201cGood fortune go with you,\u201d responded the friendly Elf in a cautious\nundertone. \u201cPut on the Cloak now, and go forth.\u201d\n\nIn obedience to his words, Prince Ember threw the Cloak about him and\nfastened it securely. As its soft and delicate folds enveloped him, the\nCloak became invisible at the same time that the Prince himself became\nfully concealed by it.\n\nHe lifted the latch and opened the door and passed silently out into the\nBorderland.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                             CHAPTER VIII\n\n\nThe Ash Goblin was filled with pride. To have his assistance asked by so\npowerful a magician as the Wizard of the Cave was something that had\nnever before occurred. Although he was small and weak, he was always\ndesirous of having a part in any mischief that might be going on, and\nnow that his chance had come he was determined to prove to all those who\nhad hitherto despised him and overlooked him, that his cunning and skill\nin evil magic were fully equal to their own.\n\nScarcely had the door of his hovel closed upon Black Shadow than he\nlocked it securely. Then he hurried across the room and pressed upon a\ncertain spot in the wall. It yielded to his touch, and a portion of the\nwall slid back upon itself, showing a small, rude cupboard within. Upon\na shelf there lay a book, covered with dust. It was his Book of Craft.\nHe took it out and carried it to a table. He undid the rough clasp that\nbound the book and began to turn the dingy pages. At length, he reached\nthe one whereon the spell that he sought was written. The letters were\ncrabbed and dim with age, and the Ash Goblin strained his eyes to see\nthem, following the words with his crooked forefinger. He read the spell\nthrough carefully, again and again, until he was certain that he knew it\nby heart. Then he closed the book and returned it to its hiding-place.\nHe made the wall fast again, and went to the chest that held his pouch\nand cloak. Taking them out, he carried the pouch to the hearth and\nfilled it to the brim with the evil ash that lay thick there. He bound\nthe pouch about his waist, covered himself from head to foot with the\ncloak and left the hovel, closing the door tightly, so that none could\nenter in his absence.\n\nThe Plain of Ash stretches wide and grey between the hovel of the Ash\nGoblin and the Borderland where the Elf dwells. In the Borderland itself\nno evil fairy can practice his craft, but the Ash Goblin knew a spot\nwhere the Plain meets the Borderland, which all must cross in passing\nfrom the Elf\u2019s house to the Wizard\u2019s Cave, or from the Cave to the Land\nof Shadows. At this spot he purposed to set a cunning snare for Prince\nEmber.\n\nAcross the great Plain he scuttled in haste. So like to the ashes about\nhim was he in color that only those who knew him well would have been\nable to see him at all. He held his head down, and his hood was pulled\nlow over his forehead, but though his face was carefully concealed, his\nsharp eyes peered out, searching the Plain to see if the Prince were\nanywhere about. But there was no sign of him, and being satisfied that\nhe was still within the Elf\u2019s dwelling, the Ash Goblin went rapidly to\nthe spot which he had chosen, with eyes fixed upon the door through\nwhich the Prince must come.\n\nHe had not quite reached the place, when suddenly he saw the Elf\u2019s door\nopening slowly. Vexed that he had not arrived in time, but knowing how\ngreat a risk he should run if he were seen by the Prince before the\nsnare was set, he dropped down quickly beside a hillock of ash, where he\ncould see without being seen. There he would lie hidden until Prince\nEmber had gone by on his way to the Cave. After that he knew he could\nmake ready his snare at his leisure, sure in his heart that if the\nPrince were so fortunate as to escape the Wizard, he could not fail to\nbe entrapped by the snare, when, as he must on his homeward journey, he\npassed that way again.\n\nBut to his great surprise, although the door opened wide, it remained so\nfor a moment only, and then closed again silently without his having\nseen anyone come out of it. Afraid to venture forth immediately, he\nwatched for a little longer, but the door remained shut, and finally\nthe Ash Goblin came out from his hiding-place and began to set his\nsnare, still keeping a watchful eye over the Elf\u2019s house as he did so.\n\nAs a matter of fact, however, when the Elf\u2019s door had stood open, Prince\nEmber had passed out of it, and concealed by the Cloak of Ash, had\nproceeded on his way to the Wizard\u2019s Cave. The Ash Goblin, on his own\npart, had been so well hidden by the mound of ash where he had crouched\ndown, that the Prince had passed close by him without having perceived\nhim.\n\nSo while the Ash Goblin worked busily upon his snare, Prince Ember\ntraversed the Plain of Ash, keeping always in view that black cliff\ntoward which Creeping Shadow had pointed before she had left him. Even\nfrom a distance it looked forbidding, yet the bold spirit of the Prince\ndid not quail at the thought of the unknown dangers that awaited him\nthere. Straight forward he went over the long stretches of ash, past\nhigh mounds and low grey hillocks, and through shallow vales. As he\njourneyed he remembered the Elf\u2019s warning, and would not have been\nsurprised if he had been set upon at any moment by any of the foes that\nhad been mentioned to him. But a deep silence filled the Plain, and\nnowhere did he see anything that could molest him. Never had the Prince\nbelieved that there could be a land so empty and so lonely.\n\nHe arrived at the foot of the cliff and began to mount the steep path\nthat led to the Cave\u2019s mouth. Up and up he went, still on his guard, but\nstill seeing no foe and hearing no sound. Now on this side, now on that,\ndeep and dark crevices yawned, but his feet went surely and safely on.\n\nIn one of these same crevices, Curling Smoke lay hidden, peering out\nwith watchful eyes across the grey expanse, to catch the first glimpse\nof the ruddy stranger of whom Black Shadow had told him, yet under his\nvery eyes the Prince was traveling and he saw him not.\n\nAt length Prince Ember reached the entrance to the Wizard\u2019s Cave.\nStanding there, he looked first across the Plain and then into the gloom\nof the cavern, but no enemy was in sight. Quickly he removed the Cloak\nof Ash and then, as fairy raiment always may when fairy fingers press\nit, it became as small as a kerchief in his hand. He thrust it to a\nplace of safety in his belt.\n\nIf Curling Smoke had but leaned a little farther out at that moment from\nthe dark hollow in the cliff-side where he lay, he must surely have\nseen him, but crouching low, so that he might not be seen by the one for\nwhom he watched, he saw nothing and did not guess that the Prince was\nactually within reach of his giant arms.\n\nSo, guarded from all his enemies, Prince Ember passed into the Cave of\nDarkness, not knowing how well the Elf\u2019s good gift had already served\nhim.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER IX\n\n\nClose to the mouth of the Cave of Darkness, but cleverly hidden from the\nview of any passerby, sat a company of Imps. They had been commanded to\nkeep ceaseless watch at that point for the stranger Prince who was\nexpected soon to appear, and they were instructed to seize him as soon\nas he attempted to enter the Cave and to bring him bound to their\nmaster.\n\nThe time had been long, and they were now yawning for very weariness,\nyet they dared not relax their vigilance, knowing, as they did, that\nthey would be severely punished by the Wizard if they allowed the Prince\nto slip by them unobserved.\n\nAt last one of the Imps arose and stretched himself, for his limbs were\ncramped and stiff. \u201cI go to spy out over the Plain,\u201d he said. \u201cI shall\nbe absent but a moment.\u201d\n\nHis companions nodded indifferently, and he strolled slowly toward the\nentrance of the cavern. All at once, he stopped, transfixed with\nsurprise, for at the Cave Mouth he saw for a single instant a richly\nglowing figure standing, one who could be no other than the stranger\nPrince, he for whom they waited. Scarcely had he seen it, however, than\nit disappeared.\n\nHe rushed back to his fellows. \u201cThe Prince is here!\u201d he whispered\nhoarsely. \u201cI saw him at the Cave Mouth. To be sure he has vanished, but\nI know he is close by.\u201d\n\nThe Imps started to their feet, and stood ready, the ropes of darkness\nwith which they were to bind the Prince clutched firmly in their hands.\nBut no one appeared, and when they searched the Cave Mouth, they did so\nin vain.\n\nPresently they began to scoff at their companion. \u201cYour eyes are wearied\nwith long watching,\u201d they told him. \u201cThey have played you false. Come\nnot to us with such idle tales.\u201d\n\n\u201cNay, but I saw him,\u201d the Imp insisted. \u201cWithout doubt this Prince has\nthe power to make himself invisible. Even now he may have slipped past\nus unseen. If this be so, and I fail to tell the Wizard what I saw, I\nshall surely be punished. I go to warn him.\u201d\n\nThe others shrugged their shoulders. \u201cGo if you choose,\u201d they said. \u201cFor\nour own part, we think it not impossible that he lurks in some near-by\nhiding-place, from whence he steals forth at times, watching his\nopportunity to slip in unobserved. He saw you, and has retreated to it.\nWe will keep close watch as before. He will return, and then we will\nsecure him. If, on the other hand, he has power to make himself\ninvisible, and passes us unseen, we are not to blame.\u201d\n\nEven as they spoke thus, Prince Ember stood near them, listening to\ntheir words. It was as the first Imp had suspected. On passing into the\nCave of Darkness, he had, by his own power of enchantment, made himself\ninvisible, and having overheard the watchers talking together, he had\npaused, so that the Imp who had seen him might go before him and without\nbeing aware of it, would guide him directly to the Wizard.\n\nThe Imp did not stop to argue longer with his companions, but snatched\nup a lantern, and sped off at once, and close behind him went the unseen\nPrince. As they went onward, Prince Ember saw opening to either side of\nthem many hushed and gloomy passageways, down which, without his guide,\nhe might easily have strayed, but by his unexpected good fortune, and\nfar sooner than, at the beginning of his journey, he had dared to hope,\nhe came suddenly into the great Cave Hall. Its grim walls rose high on\nall sides, close hung with their swaying curtains of soot. The\nglistening fragments of charcoal that covered its floor, lay like a\nthick carpet beneath the feet.\n\nIn the centre of the vast room stood the Wizard, quite alone. Forbidding\nenough in himself, clad as he was in long black robes, over which his\ndingy beard fell from his grim face almost to his feet, he seemed yet\nmore so because of the huge black urns that were ranged about him in a\ncircle. The sides of the urns were covered with curious inscriptions,\nand only the Wizard knew by these signs what deadly mists and vapors\nwere confined under their ponderous lids.\n\nOn a table at his side his case of evil wands stood open, and as he\nneeded the one or the other for his enchantments, he lifted it out and\nwaved it over the urn which he chose, muttering strange words meanwhile\nin an unknown tongue. His Book of Craft, also, lay open before him, so\nthat he might diligently consult it before the working of each new\nspell. At this moment he was bending above it, wand in hand, reading\nintently.\n\nEven in his zeal to disclose to his master what had happened at the\nentrance to the cavern, the Imp dared not tread within that circle of\nenchantment. He cast himself upon his knees without it, bowed low his\nhead, and cried aloud, \u201cSir Wizard, oh, Sir Wizard! Harken!\u201d\n\nInterrupted in such unexpected fashion while he was in the midst of his\nwicked task, the Wizard turned abruptly and bent upon his servant a\nglance of dark displeasure. \u201cHow dare you disturb me in the working of\nmy spells?\u201d he thundered. \u201cHave I not strictly forbidden any to tread\nwithin this Hall during the Hour of Enchantments?\u201d\n\n\u201cAlas, that I should have ventured to disobey you, my master!\u201d\nstammered the Imp with trembling voice. He knew well the punishment that\nwaited on disobedience, yet he feared far more what might be meted out\nto him if he should withhold that which he had come to say. \u201cOnly the\nnews I bring,\u201d he continued humbly, \u201ccould have made me disobey your\ncommands.\u201d\n\nThe Wizard perceived that this was a matter of real importance. He laid\ndown his wand, therefore, and prepared to listen. \u201cWhat is it that you\nhave come to tell?\u201d he demanded.\n\nEncouraged thus, the Imp began. \u201cAs I stood near the Cave Mouth, I had a\nsudden vision of a stranger in ruddy garments. He stood at the entrance\nfor an instant only, but plain to be seen against the light, and then\nvanished, I know not whither. It may be that my eyes deceived me, for\nwhen we made diligent search we could find no trace, but it may be,\nalso, that he has made himself invisible, and is even now among us. Lest\nit might be this stranger Prince, perchance, for whom you bade us watch,\nI have left my companions on guard as before, while I came to tell you\nwhat I believe that I beheld. I dared not do otherwise.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have done wisely,\u201d commended the Wizard. \u201cWithout doubt it is the\nPrince of whom Black Shadow has told me, for she said that we may know\nhim by his ruddy garments. Whether or not he has made himself invisible,\nhe shall not escape me. If he is here, I shall surely find him out. Rise\nnow, and return to your watch with the rest.\u201d\n\nSilently the Imp arose and obeyed. Prince Ember standing but a little\ndistance from the mystic urns, heard his swift footfalls echo down the\ncorridor.\n\nThe Wizard stood for a moment wrapped in thought, but presently he laid\ndown the wand which he held in his hand and chose another from the case.\nHe raised it aloft and waved it in a great circle above his head. \u201cBy\nthe power of this wand,\u201d he exclaimed, \u201cI bid any who stand invisible\nwithin this Cave Hall to become visible at once.\u201d\n\nAs he heard the words, Prince Ember\u2019s heart stood still. He knew not the\npower of the Wizard\u2019s wand, nor whether his own magic would surely be\nproof against it. But his own spell held firm, and he remained\ninvisible.\n\nSo certain was the Wizard of the potency of his wand, that he smiled\ngrimly and confidently when he saw none appear. Leaving the circle of\nhis urns, he stepped to the entrance to the corridor, and drew his wand\nacross it. \u201cLet none pass this threshold unseen,\u201d he cried in a loud\nvoice.\n\nSatisfied that he now had made all secure, he returned, Prince Ember\nwatching him meanwhile. He took his place amid the urns and replaced his\nwand in the box with its fellows. He dropped the lid and turned the key.\nHe closed and locked his Book of Craft, also.\n\nThen he smote his hands together sharply and, at the signal, the Chief\nImp came rushing to learn his desire.\n\n\u201cTake away these urns,\u201d the Wizard commanded, \u201cand place my wands and\nbook in safe-keeping.\u201d\n\nThe Chief Imp raised the Book of Craft from the table and bearing it\ncarefully in his outstretched hands, disappeared with it from the Hall.\nA moment later he returned and carried away the box of wands in the\nsame manner. With him came many Imps, who laid hands upon the ponderous\nurns and with heavy rumblings rolled them slowly away out of the Cave\nHall.\n\nIn the meanwhile Prince Ember stood still watchful beside the wall,\nwaiting for some clue which would guide him to where the Shadow Witch\nlay imprisoned, for he knew well that without this he must surely go\nastray. He had not long to wait, for when presently the Imps came\nflocking back to the Cave Hall, as they were always free to do when the\nHour of Enchantment was done, the Wizard gave a sign to his\nlantern-bearers.\n\n\u201cI go to visit my sister, the Shadow Witch,\u201d he said.\n\nImmediately they snatched up their lights and stood ready.\n\nThe Wizard crossed to the farther end of the Cave Hall and touched the\nwall with his wand. Prince Ember saw the wall part instantly in twain,\nrevealing the dim corridor beyond it.\n\nThe Imps plunged quickly into it holding aloft their flickering lanterns\nthat gave out but a feeble light in the gloom. The Wizard strode after\nthem, and at his very side stole the Prince, overjoyed at this sudden\nand unexpected opportunity.\n\nThe Wizard paused and touched the wall again, and it closed soundlessly\nbehind them. Then they went forward.\n\nDeep and yet deeper, into the very heart of the Cave they penetrated,\nfollowing its dark and winding ways. The Prince observed each turn\nclosely, so that when he should return bringing with him the Shadow\nWitch, he might find his way out without error.\n\nAt length they reached the wall that barred her dungeon, and the Wizard\nstruck upon it as he had the other. It yawned apart in its turn, and\nwith such impetuous zeal did Prince Ember hasten toward the opening that\nhe entered before the rest the sombre prison that lay within.\n\nIn the first moment he saw nothing, but as the Imps pressed into the\nroom and ranged themselves along the walls, he was enabled, by the light\nof their glimmering lanterns to descry a dim bowed figure seated there.\n\nIt was the Shadow Witch. Her face was buried in her delicate hands. Her\nlong black hair hung loose over her drooped shoulders and grey garments,\nand fell in masses upon the ground. Plunged as she was in deep despair,\neven the opening of the wall had failed as yet to make her sensible of\nthe coming of her brother and his servants.\n\nBeholding her thus, Prince Ember was stirred to deepest pity, and his\nheart burned to speak some instant word of comfort. With a powerful\neffort he restrained himself, for to betray his presence to the Wizard\nnow would be to encounter he knew not what evil power, to endanger his\nchance of delivering her whom he had come to save.\n\nThat which so moved the heart of the Prince to compassion, awoke only\nmalicious delight in the Wizard\u2019s breast.\n\n\u201cAh, my sister,\u201d he said mockingly, drawing near to her, \u201cI find you\nless confident today than when we last met. Hope fades I see.\u201d\n\nHis voice aroused her. She lifted her head and raised herself slowly to\nher feet, and as she turned herself toward the Wizard, Prince Ember\nbeheld her face for the first time.\n\nHe looked upon its wondrous beauty, he saw upon it the marks of the pain\nthat she had endured, he gazed into the splendor of her great dark eyes,\nand love for her rose within him like a flood, a love so warm, so\nstrong, that he knew instantly, and for a certainty, that in her he had\nfound his true Princess, she whom he could not choose but love with his\nwhole heart. Thrilled with joy because of it, he waited for her voice.\n\nSilvery calm it fell upon his ear as she answered the Wizard. \u201cThough\nhope may seem to fade for a moment, brother, it rises fast and soon, for\nthere is that within my breast that tells me that you cannot always\nhold me thus.\u201d\n\nShe would have given much had the Wizard not found her sunken in\ndespair, but since he had done so, she was determined that he should not\nguess how deep that despair had been.\n\nThe Wizard smiled contemptuously at her words, and added taunt to taunt.\n\u201cIt tells you, perchance, of that Prince, then, who lingers near the\nCave Mouth, seeking entrance, in the belief, no doubt, that he can\nsucceed in snatching you from this prison, and from my power. But let\nhim not deceive himself. My guards are many and watchful\u2014my friends\nwithout are strong and clever. He will never be able to escape all of\nthese, try how he may.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch started violently at such unexpected words. The help\nthat she had yearned for had come! Prince Radiance, to whom she had\nbeen so true a friend, had not forsaken her in her need! That hope, of\nwhich she had boasted, and which had so nearly faded from her heart,\nsprang again to fulness of life. She threw up her arms in uncontrollable\nrejoicing, and her voice rang sweet and high and clear as she exclaimed:\n\u201cAh, he has come at last, the good Prince Radiance! He has not failed\nme! Think not that your guards can stay him. Think not that your evil\nfriends are able to destroy him. He has conquered them once\u2014he will\nconquer again. Already you yourself have felt his mystic power. You\nshall feel it once more, my brother, when he returns. I have done well\nto hope!\u201d\n\n\u201cNay, not so fast,\u201d the Wizard flung at her scornfully. \u201cHe who comes is\nnot Prince Radiance, but some stranger prince. One who owes you no\nfriendship, whose power is untested, who has no cause to brave great\ndangers for your sake\u2014grey woman that you are. From the perils that he\nmust meet he will soon turn back, if indeed he live to do so.\u201d\n\nUndismayed, undiscouraged, the Shadow Witch bent her dark eyes upon him.\n\u201cWhat matter that he is a stranger?\u201d she cried confidently. \u201cThey who\ncome from that bright land count themselves no strangers to the weak and\nthe defenceless. They have, too, their own noble magic, before which\nours is powerless. In a moment when you think not it will be upon you,\nand its spell will overcome you. This prince is my friend! I know it\nwell! The hour of my deliverance is at hand!\u201d\n\nLoud rang the laughter of the Wizard. Harsh and vibrant it filled all\nthe room and echoed back from the gloomy walls. \u201cThink you I would tell\nyou of this prince, did I not know that he cannot reach you? Far hid\nfrom him are you, my sister,\u201d he triumphed, \u201cso deep within this Cave,\nand behind such walls as he can never penetrate, whatever be his magic.\nThe secret that unlocks your dungeon lies with me only, and with those\nto whom I choose to entrust it. The spell that holds it fast is the\nall-potent spell of the Wizard of the Cave.\u201d\n\nProudly and boastfully he spoke, but all that he might say had no power\nto dim the hope and confidence of his sister. She deigned him no reply,\nbut by her bearing he knew that she feared him not at all.\n\n\u201cWhen I come again,\u201d he jeered at her, \u201cI will bring you further news of\nthis good prince, and how his adventure fares. It will give you food\nfor thought, perchance, as you sit here in your darkness.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt will indeed sustain me, brother,\u201d she replied.\n\nPrince Ember, near to her, though unseen, listening to her dauntless\nwords, loved her yet more for her high courage and for her sorrowful\nbeauty.\n\nStill smiling scornfully, the Wizard turned away. The Imps knowing that\nhe was now ready to depart, raised their lanterns. Their master touched\nthe wall. It opened wide, and in an instant master and slaves were gone,\nand the walls met silently and grimly together behind them. Beyond its\nbarrier their retreating footsteps grew fainter and yet fainter until\nsoon they could no longer be heard.\n\nAlone, as she believed herself now to be, in the imprisoning darkness,\nthe Shadow Witch let fall her head and sighed deeply. \u201cAh, that the time\nmay not be long,\u201d she murmured. \u201cAh, that this prince might hasten his\ncoming, for I am very weary, even though I hope.\u201d\n\nThen from the darkness near her came a voice. \u201cPrincess of the Shadows,\u201d\nit breathed, \u201cI, Prince Ember am here.\u201d\n\nAt the words her heart leapt within her breast. She raised her head\nquickly, thinking to pierce the blackness that surrounded her and behold\nthe one who spoke. As she did so the gloom melted, and in its place a\nsoft warm glow flooded all her prison. By its rich light she saw before\nher a glorious figure, clad all in deepest rose\u2014Prince Ember, freed from\nhis dark disguise. The radiant brightness of his ruddy garments made\nwarmth and light about him. His eyes, ardent and glowing, were bent\nupon her, filled with a tenderness of sympathy and compassion, with a\nfulness of love, that struck to her soul. His hands were stretched to\nher, his spirit drew her.\n\n[Illustration: She saw before her a glorious figure, Prince Ember.]\n\nA cry of wonder broke from the lips of the Shadow Witch. With her large\neyes fixed upon him, sorrow fled from her face, and in its stead came\njoy where joy had never dwelt before. How had he come to her? she asked\nherself, to her in this dark prison? How had he pierced the thickness of\nthose cruel walls? Why should his eyes rest with love upon her, the grey\nShadow Witch? And yet it was true\u2014he was here, this glorious prince\u2014come\nto save her!\n\nHer face dropped suddenly to her quivering hands, lest it should betray\nto him too plainly how her heart went out to him, in love and gratitude.\nRadiance, that first bright prince, had awaked her to keenest longings\nfor a nobler life, a truer magic. But he who stood before her now gave\nthis, and more\u2014gave love, brought happiness.\n\nThe Prince came nearer till he was close beside her, and as he did so,\nher cheek, till now so pale, flushed to a crimson glory against the\ndusky splendor of her hair. Gently he drew away her shielding hands and\nlooked into her lovely face, bright as none but he had ever seen it.\nGently he raised her drooping head and looked into the sweetness of her\neyes. \u201cDear Shadow Witch,\u201d he whispered tenderly, \u201ccome, ah, come with\nme, and leave behind forever the darkness of this evil place.\u201d\n\nLow was her voice and soft as she made answer: \u201cHappy, thrice happy am\nI, Prince Ember, that I may leave it with you.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                               CHAPTER X\n\n\nWhen the Wizard parted from his sister, he believed that she was\nhopelessly in his power, but as he proceeded on his way, he began to\nrecall to himself how defiantly she had borne herself at the last, and\nwith what confidence she had spoken. He remembered, too, how often she\nhad baffled and eluded him before he had imprisoned her, and he knew\nthat it was not entirely impossible that she might do so again. Could\nshe but release herself from the deep darkness that surrounded her, all\nher own magic would return to her, and then, in spite of all his guards,\nshe might be able by means of one of her clever tricks, to make her way\nto liberty.\n\nThinking of these things, he reached a bend in the corridor where two\nways met. The one went directly on to the Cave Hall, but the other led\naway into that remote and dangerous part of the cavern where lay the Pit\nof Fumes. Thither he was wont to go to practice his most secret arts. No\nImps ever dared to tread that way, for it was well known that none but\nhimself could pass over it in safety.\n\nHe paused, for he suddenly bethought himself of how easily he could, by\na stroke of enchantment, close with a wall the way to the Cave Hall and\nleave only that one open which led to the Pit of Fumes. Then if by some\nstrange means his sister should contrive to escape from her dungeon, she\nwould unsuspectingly go on to the Pit of Fumes. This she would be unable\nto pass, and would, therefore, be forced to return to the prison that\nshe had left.\n\nThe Wizard laughed aloud, for the thought pleased him well. He\ndetermined to prepare this trap for her at once. Abruptly he bade the\nImps to rest their lanterns. They did so and stood motionless with eyes\nfixed on their master. The Wizard bent on them his sternest gaze. \u201cLet\nnone dare to look upon that which I am about to do,\u201d he commanded.\n\nImmediately his slaves fell upon their knees, and with eyes fast shut\nand heads bowed to the dust, meekly awaited his pleasure. It was as if\nthey held their very breath, so deep was the silence of the Cave.\n\nFrom beneath his cloak the Wizard drew his jet black wand. He waved it\ntoward the walls and repeated, in a voice so low that none but himself\ncould hear them, strange words of enchantment. Under their spell, the\nCave walls began to draw slowly together, and before long they stood\nfirmly closed across the way by whence he had come.\n\nReplacing his wand, the Wizard turned to where his servants still knelt\nwith guarded eyes. \u201cArise, and go forward,\u201d he commanded them.\n\nWith one accord they sprang to their feet, and without one glance behind\nto discover what their master had done, they went rapidly ahead of him.\n\nWhile the Wizard departed in content, Prince Ember made ready to open\nthe dungeon of the Shadow Witch so that she might go free. With her at\nhis side he stood before the thick wall that barred the way to the\ncorridor. He laid his hand upon his fairy sword, and unsheathed it. It\nglowed and burned with living fire.\n\nWith its bright point he touched the wall in that selfsame place where\nthe Wizard was wont to pass through, and on its blackness he traced the\nscarlet outline of a door.\n\nBreathlessly the Shadow Witch followed with her eyes the moving point of\nfire, followed it till the outline was complete, and the sword fell back\ninto its sheath. Without a word, but with swiftly beating heart, she\nwaited in her place by Prince Ember\u2019s side to see what wondrous thing\nthat sword could do.\n\nWondrous indeed, for silently and of itself the door swung open, and\nthe corridor that led to freedom was before her.\n\nPrince Ember took her hand, and together they crossed the threshold, but\nwhen they had passed it he paused, and spoke one charmed word. As\nsilently as it had opened, the door closed behind them at its creator\u2019s\ncommand, and its outlines vanished, leaving the wall the grim unbroken\nbarrier that it had been before.\n\n\u201cAh, my good Prince!\u201d whispered the Shadow Witch looking upon it. \u201cWhat\nmagic is yours!\u201d\n\nHe spoke no word in answer, but raised her hand to his lips and kissed\nit.\n\nThen they began their journey along the windings of the corridor, that\nstretched away and away into a gloom that seemed to have no end. Yet the\nplace where they trod was bright about them, made so by the ruddy glow\nwhich streamed from the figure of Prince Ember. In the warmth and cheer\nof it the Shadow Witch glided happily, and as they left her prison\nfarther and farther behind, she became more and more her former self,\nand again felt stirring to life within her that old-time power of magic\nof which she had been so long deprived.\n\nThey came at length to the wall which the Wizard had set to mislead his\nsister. Seeing nothing to arouse their suspicions, they went straight\non. After traveling for some distance, however, Prince Ember all at once\nbecame aware that it was not the way over which he had gone with the\nWizard and his servants. He stopped, and began to look sharply about\nhim. On every hand it was unfamiliar to him.\n\nThe Shadow Witch saw that he was troubled, but she could not guess the\nreason. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d she asked anxiously.\n\n\u201cWhen we left the prison,\u201d he answered, \u201cwe took the way by which I had\ncome to you. There was no other. But now it is not the same.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere has been no place where we could have turned aside,\u201d she assured\nhim. \u201cNowhere has there appeared any other way open to us.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd yet we have gone astray,\u201d the Prince insisted. \u201cThere can be no\ndoubt of it. All that I see now, I have never seen before.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou are sure of it?\u201d asked his companion.\n\n\u201cI am sure of it.\u201d\n\nThe eyes of the Shadow Witch flashed with sudden understanding. \u201cIt is\nthe enchantment of my brother,\u201d she declared. \u201cLest, perhaps, I should\nescape him, he has closed the true way, and left this open as a trap for\nme. Be sure that it leads not to the Cave Hall, except through dangers\ninto which he believes that I will not dare to venture.\u201d\n\n\u201cBe these dangers what they may,\u201d replied Prince Ember, \u201cI will, by my\ngood magic, overcome them all. And now, since there is no way but this,\nlet us go upon it without tarrying.\u201d\n\n\u201cIndeed, we cannot choose but take it,\u201d agreed the Shadow Witch.\n\nThey resumed their journey, therefore, and now, though the way behind\nthem had been gloomy, that which stretched before them grew more and\nmore so; yet the darker it became about them, the brighter was the glow\nthat streamed from Prince Ember, and the more surely was the Shadow\nWitch sustained and cheered thereby.\n\nAfter a while, they saw that they were approaching an open space, which\nwas wrapped in thick darkness. Beyond it their eyes could not penetrate,\nbut in its midst they beheld shapes like wreaths of vapor arising from\nbelow.\n\nThe Shadow Witch turned pale, and caught Prince Ember by the arm to draw\nhim back. \u201cGo no farther!\u201d she cried in warning. \u201cGo no farther, I beg\nof you! Yonder is certain destruction for us both! It is the Pit of\nFumes! Those dread and yellow mists carry poison in their breath!\u201d\n\n\u201cThough that be so, yet I must conquer them, for behind us lies your\nprison,\u201d the Prince replied to her. \u201cTo it we must not return.\u201d\n\n\u201cNever shall you risk such danger for my sake,\u201d the Shadow Witch\nanswered firmly. \u201cBetter an endless prison for me than such dreadful\nperil for you. I speak of what I know\u2014none but my brother has ever dared\nto enter yonder place. You shall not go.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd when this place is passed,\u201d demanded the Prince, \u201cwhat lies\nbeyond?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat matters it what lies beyond, when destruction lies between?\u201d she\nmurmured sadly. \u201cWere the way ever so open when the Pit is passed, it is\nclosed to us who stand upon this side.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat lies beyond?\u201d demanded he again. \u201cAnswer me truly, for I must\nknow.\u201d\n\nThen the Shadow Witch knew that she must tell him. She covered her face\nwith her hands, and her tears fell fast. For a moment she could not\nspeak.\n\nPrince Ember dried her tears with a tender hand. \u201cWhat lies beyond?\u201d he\ninsisted gently.\n\nThe Shadow Witch clung to him desperately. \u201cThe way to the Cave Hall,\u201d\nshe admitted. \u201cBut, oh, I cannot let you venture where the Pit lies. No,\nno! Many times have I heard my brother boast to his neighbors that none\nbut himself can draw nigh to it.\u201d\n\n\u201cListen, dear Shadow Witch,\u201d said the Prince consolingly, \u201cyonder is a\nplace of terror, in very truth, yet we shall pass it safely, in spite of\nthat. There is good magic which can put to naught even this evil Pit of\nyour brother\u2019s. Look\u2014I will show you.\u201d\n\nHe thrust his hand into his breast, and took out a small round box which\nwas hidden there. \u201cThis is the gift of him who is oldest and wisest in\nall the Kingdom of the Fire,\u201d he told her. \u201cWhen he gave it, he assured\nme that when the dangers of the way were greatest, when the way itself\nseemed closed beyond all hope, that this which my box contains will\nconquer the danger and make the road to safety plain.\u201d\n\nOpening the box he took out the piece of charcoal that lay within.\n\n\u201cStay you here,\u201d he bade her, \u201cuntil I have prepared the way.\u201d\n\nBut she was not willing that he should go without her. \u201cWhatever comes,\nwe meet it side by side,\u201d she declared.\n\nNothing that he could say would persuade her to do otherwise, and so at\nlast he consented, but as they drew nearer to the Pit, the noisome odor\nof its fumes swept toward her and overcame her. Her face grew pale, and\nshe began to sink to the ground.\n\nThe Prince knew, that in spite of her courage, she could endure no\nmore. He led her back a little way, and forced her gently to rest upon a\njutting of the wall. There he left her, weak and trembling, to await his\nreturn.\n\nStronger arose the breath of the Pit, and yet more deadly grew its fumes\nas the Prince drew near it, but he was undismayed. Straight toward the\nyellow mists he went, and in his hand was the gift of the Wise One.\nPresently, he reached that point where he himself dared go no farther.\nThe choking vapors floated round him, but the Pit itself, yawning wide\nand terrible, was still some distance from where he stood. Now he must\ntrust to the strength of his arm, to the sureness of his aim. He drew\nhimself to his full height; he threw back his arm, and hurled the magic\ncharcoal straight to its mark. \u201cDescend into this Pit!\u201d he cried, as it\nleft his hand. \u201cDescend, and make this evil place to exhale no more!\u201d\n\nLike an arrow it sped. Into the very heart of the Pit it fell, and then\nwere the Wise One\u2019s words fulfilled. Like surly slaves, obeying\nunwillingly, the yellow mists sank back into the Pit, lower and lower,\ntill they were seen no more, and with them went their noisome breath,\nleaving the air pure and clean. As they vanished, the way which led out\nof this hollow chamber to the corridor beyond lay plainly visible along\nthe very edge of the Pit.\n\nPrince Ember was about to go and fetch the Shadow Witch from where he\nhad left her, but he had no need. She had felt her strength come\nflooding back to her when the mists departed, and immediately she rose\nand came to him.\n\n\u201cWhy should I ever fear, when you are with me?\u201d she whispered to him.\n\u201cHow can I ever fail to trust your power to conquer and to save?\u201d\n\nAway from the now vanquished Pit of Fumes they hurried, along a corridor\nas dusky and deserted as the first had been. Before they had gone far\nupon it, they heard the low murmuring of voices, and soon they found\nthemselves at the entrance to a low and vaulted chamber, dark like all\nthe rest, but set about with dim lanterns and peopled with many Imps,\nbusy at strange tasks.\n\nSome stood before dingy looms, weaving huge curtains of soot, to replace\nthose which covered the walls in the Cave Hall, when they should become\nworn, and drop to pieces. Others sat upon blocks of charcoal and braided\nropes of darkness to bind those who disobeyed the Wizard\u2019s will and\nthough they knew that they themselves might at any time be bound by\nthem, they durst not make them less strong than their master ordained\nthat they should be.\n\nOver them stood the Chief Imp, whose business it was to see that none\nfailed in his duty, or gossiped unduly with his neighbors, and so deeply\nengaged in their several tasks were one and all, that none heard the\nsound of approaching footsteps, none knew that any but themselves were\nnear, till quite by accident the Chief Imp raised his head and saw\nwithin the doorway of the chamber the ruddy form of Prince Ember\nstanding, and by his side the grey Shadow Witch, whom all had believed\nto be closely guarded by the walls of her distant prison.\n\nBefore the Chief Imp could give a command, before any other could cry\nout, or attempt evil, the Prince had drawn forth a wand from beneath his\nmantle and raised it. Clear and strong his voice fell on their ears,\nsaying, \u201cStir not from your places, nor speak, until the hour when the\nfeet of the Shadow Witch stand once more within the safe borders of her\nown land.\u201d\n\nUnder Prince Ember\u2019s spell each servant of the Wizard became fixed in\nhis place, unable to move or to utter a syllable. With staring eyes they\nbeheld the Prince and his companion advance, and pass through their very\nmidst, whilst they remained powerless to so much as stretch out a hand\nto clutch at their garments.\n\nIn their rebellious ears the words of his enchantment were still ringing\nas he departed with the Shadow Witch from their sight.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER XI\n\n\nPrince Ember and the Shadow Witch were now rapidly approaching the Cave\nHall. On their way they passed other vaulted chambers, like the one they\nhad just left, and glancing into these as they hastened by, they saw\ngreat urns with ponderous lids, and enormous chests, all marked with the\nsigns of the Wizard, filled, as the Shadow Witch was well aware, with\nthose evil things with which he worked his spells, but not an Imp was\nanywhere to be seen.\n\nShe glided cautiously to the door of one of these rooms and peeped in.\nShe found, as she had supposed, that it was the bedchamber of her\nbrother. His huge bed, with its jet black coverings and pillows stood\nready to receive him; his tall chair was set close beside it. Near by\nwas his special treasure chest, in which his choicest wands and\nspellbooks were locked carefully away from prying fingers, but this room\nwas as silent and deserted as all the rest.\n\nOn a sudden they heard loud rapping, which became still louder, and then\na harsh voice crying out in angry tones, again and yet again.\n\n\u201cIt is my brother calling for his Imps,\u201d whispered the Shadow Witch. \u201cHe\nis not used to have them tarry when he summons them.\u201d\n\nIt was as she said: the Wizard, in the Cave Hall, was grey with rage.\nNever before had he called to his servants without their scurrying on\nnimble feet to learn his desires, but this time he had struck repeatedly\nupon the arm of his chair, and had lifted his voice louder and louder,\nyet neither the Chief Imp nor any other came. He knew where and how they\nshould be employed at this time, and if they were doing their duty, they\nwere within sound of his voice. How they could dare not to answer him,\nhow they could be deaf when he summoned them, the Wizard could not\nunderstand.\n\nThe Shadow Witch stole closer to Prince Ember, and spoke beneath her\nbreath. \u201cThe Wizard is but a few yards from us,\u201d she said. \u201cA moment\nmore, and we must encounter him. I do not fear him now, for in this part\nof the Cave my power has always been fully equal to his own. The truth\nis, I have more than once defeated him here. He remembers it well.\nYet\u2014I was long bound by that dark prison\u2014long subject to his power.\nBefore I return to the Land of Shadows, I must test myself, for I wish\nto be certain that I can still meet and defy him in his Cave Hall\nwithout being conquered by him; but in order to make sure of myself I\nmust go before him quite alone.\u201d\n\nPrince Ember shook his head. \u201cI would not have you venture it,\u201d he\nobjected. \u201cThe risk is too great.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot when you are near me,\u201d she told him confidently. \u201cIf the moment\nshould come when I know that I am unable to resist him longer, I will\ncall to you, and you will hasten to my help.\u201d\n\nReluctantly the Prince consented, and she glided away from him with\nsoundless footsteps. Close, close behind her he followed till they\nreached the threshold of the Cave Hall. There he tarried out of sight,\nyet where his eyes could still keep guard over her.\n\nThe Wizard, provoked beyond measure by the inattention of his servants,\nwas about to rise from his chair to go and learn the reason, and to\npunish them, when suddenly a low-toned laugh struck on his ears. It\nstartled him, for it was the familiar laughter of his sister\u2014his sister,\nwhom he believed to be far away, hopelessly imprisoned in the deepest\nrecesses of his cavern. He turned his head in the direction from whence\nit came, and as he half rose from his seat, puzzled and uncertain, it\nechoed a second time through the Cave. It came from close by, in that\ndusky corridor that led to his own bedchamber, led to the rooms beyond\nwhere the Imps were busy, ay\u2014and led on still further to his Pit of\nFumes. By that way his sister could not pass. He smiled cruelly as he\nthought of that inconquerable barrier to her coming. By the other way\nthere was the double wall, sealed by his enchantment. Remembering these\nthings he was certain that he but imagined that he had heard her echoing\nlaugh.\n\nEven as he said this, he heard it again, and stealing toward him from\nout the corridor came a grey figure, laughing as she came. He gazed at\nit in wonder. It could not really be the Shadow Witch, he told himself.\nIt must be that his eyes were deceiving him.\n\nImpossible as it seemed, however, he presently saw that it was she who\nstood before him, knew that it was her own voice that rang clear and\ntriumphant in his ears.\n\n\u201cThe dungeon in which you thought to hold me was not strong enough when\nthat day came of which I warned you, brother,\u201d she declared. \u201cBy a power\nstronger than yours I have escaped, and I am here in proof that you have\nfailed. In this place, as you well know, you can do naught against me.\u201d\n\nThe Wizard\u2019s eyes flashed fire. He made a step forward with hands\noutstretched to seize her. \u201cDo not boast too soon,\u201d retorted he. \u201cI have\nyet a spell to conquer you even here.\u201d\n\nAlthough the Shadow Witch held her head high in defiance of him, she\nretreated a few paces. It was true, as she had said, that she was not\nafraid, but she did not mean to be without caution. She would make her\ntest quickly. If she could but baffle him once more with that old trick\nof hers, that thus far had never failed to confound him, she would know\nthat she was safe against him.\n\nShe waved her grey sleeves, and instantly there fell between her and the\nWizard her magic curtain, her moving curtain of shadow. Before it stood\na shadow image, so like to herself that it deceived even the keen eyes\nof the Wizard. Behind the curtain she herself was perfectly concealed.\n\nIt was done so quickly, so skilfully, that the Wizard did not guess what\nhad happened. He snatched at the image but when he had almost grasped\nit, it withdrew from him swiftly. When he pursued it, it darted now to\nthis side, now to that, with marvelous agility, always seeming just\nwithin reach of his fingers, yet always just eluding them as they began\nto close upon it, and each time he failed he heard the laughter that so\nmocked him.\n\nA triumphant smile stole over the face of the Shadow Witch, for she saw\nplainly that she was still able to defend herself against him. Knowing\nhow easily she could escape now from the Cave Hall with Prince Ember,\nshe was about to beckon to him, but she was too late, for in that moment\nthe Wizard snatched more swiftly than he had yet done at the gliding\nfigure before the curtain, and this time not in vain. His hands closed\nupon it, indeed, but closed on nothingness, and thus he learned that he\nhad once more been cheated by his sister\u2019s art.\n\nFilled with wrath, he shouted words of enchantment, in a voice loud and\ncompelling, and in answer to them dense darkness descended swiftly over\nall the Cave Hall, making it as black as the prison from whence the\nShadow Witch had escaped. That which she had not believed that he could\ndo here, he had done. Before the darkness her shadow curtain dissolved,\nand she herself, crying aloud, sank down helpless to the Cave floor.\n\nNow at last the Wizard was certain that she was utterly in his power,\nwas certain that there was none near to hear or answer the sharp cry for\nhelp which she had given when she fell. He bent down through the gloom\nto seize her, but as he did so, the darkness broke and fled, and in its\nplace a rich warm light came flooding through the Cave Hall. It shone\nupon the evil face of the Wizard stooping there; it made plain the form\nof the Shadow Witch where she lay.\n\nStartled by this strange light, the Wizard threw back his head to\ndiscover from whence it came, and beheld in the doorway the figure of\nPrince Ember, standing with the Sword of Fire upraised.\n\nIt was from the Sword that this ruddy glow streamed forth, and as the\nPrince advanced rapidly into the Cave Hall, the light grew more intense,\nso that the Wizard could not bear to look upon its beauty, nor could he\nbear the strong pure heat that flowed from the Sword as it drew nearer\nand more near.\n\nAnguish seized him, and a weakness greater even than he had felt before\nthe Sword of Flames in the hands of Prince Radiance. He gave a hoarse\ncry to his servants for help, but they, voiceless and motionless\nprisoners in their vaulted chamber, could not answer, could not come to\nhim, although they heard him call.\n\nHe tried to struggle to his feet, but it was quite in vain. Instead he\nfell prone upon the ground. As he lay there, he saw his sister rise from\nwhere his evil spell had cast her, saw her grow strong again, saw joy\nand courage beam in her face. Her eyes were lifted to this stranger,\ncome to succor her with the glowing light and warmth of his conquering\nSword. By all these things he knew that the Prince, of whom Black Shadow\nhad warned him, had come at last.\n\nPrince Ember stretched above his prostrate form the fiery Sword. \u201cCruel\nand wicked master of the Cave,\u201d he cried, \u201chere shall you lie in bondage\nto this Sword until the hour when your sister stands safely within her\nown borders. Cry not to your servants yonder. They, too, are bound by my\nspell and cannot answer. Cry not to your guardians of the Cave Mouth.\nThey also shall be enchained.\u201d\n\nDeep into the frame of the Wizard the magic of the Sword pierced its\nway. He saw, as in a vision, the Prince put back his Sword. With dulling\neyes, he beheld his sister take the hand which the stranger tenderly\nextended to her. He perceived them go together from the Cave Hall, and\ninto that corridor that led to freedom.\n\nThen all sense and thought forsook him. The spell of the Sword of Fire\nhad so penetrated his inmost being that he no longer was aware that\nbeyond the Cave lurked Curling Smoke and the Ash Goblin, and that\nfarther away the Wind in the Chimney waited, all pledged to destroy\nPrince Ember, and to prevent the escape of the Shadow Witch.\n\nMeanwhile the two pursued their way to the Cave\u2019s mouth. At its\nentrance those Imps who had been sent to guard it still kept vigilant\nwatch. None had ventured to sleep or to stir from his post, for though\nthe time had been long, and no one had tried to pass them, they dared\nnot be unfaithful to their trust. They feared the Wizard\u2019s wrath and the\npunishment that would surely befall them, if anything should go amiss\nthrough fault of theirs.\n\nBut as Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch approached them, a strange and\nunfamiliar warmth stole over the watchers, benumbing all their senses.\nDrowsiness came down upon them where they stood or sat, and with one\naccord they began to nod, to sink off to sleep, and presently they were\nwrapped in a slumber so profound that nothing could possibly break it.\n\nThis, too, was the spell of the Sword of Fire.\n\nAs the Shadow Witch passed the Imps and saw them sleeping there, some\nleaning upright against the rough wall of the cavern, some with heads\nbowed on knees, and others lying prostrate on the ground, she turned her\nhead to her companion, with a smile.\n\n\u201cVain are my brother\u2019s guards,\u201d she murmured, \u201cwhen Prince Ember comes.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER XII\n\n\nRejoicing in the freedom which she now felt was fully restored to her,\nthe Shadow Witch glided from the Cave of Darkness and was about to\ndescend the cliff, but Prince Ember laid a gentle hand upon her, to draw\nher back. \u201cDear Lady of the Shadows,\u201d he said in an undertone, \u201cwe must\nnot go unprotected into the open. It may be that unseen enemies are\nlurking there, who at least have power to hinder us, even if they cannot\nharm us. I have in my possession a magic Cloak, which will make us\ninvisible to our enemies, and enable us to go securely and swiftly on\nour way. Let us put it on.\u201d So saying, he drew her still closer to him,\nand took from his belt the Cloak of Ash and cast it about them both.\n\nShe thanked him sweetly for his constant care of her, and side by side\nthey went down the cliff.\n\nBut though they were now unseen, they had stood for a moment before the\nCave entrance, fully revealed, and in that moment the eyes of an enemy\nhad caught sight of them.\n\nLong had Curling Smoke crouched low in his cranny in the cliff-side. His\ngaze had roved unceasingly over the Plain of Ash. So vigilant was he\nthat he was sure that none could possibly have approached the Wizard\u2019s\nCave without being seen by him from his hiding-place. Nevertheless, hour\nhad dragged slowly after hour, and still the one for whom he waited did\nnot appear.\n\nThe giant\u2019s eyeballs ached, and grew dim at length from his steadfast\nwatching. Had it not been for his keen desire to satisfy his own ancient\ngrudge against the good fairies of the Fire, he would have broken his\npromise to the Wizard, and careless as to whether or not the Prince went\nby, he would have lain down to rest.\n\nHe wondered greatly at the delay, for, long since, Black Shadow had told\nhim that the stranger was already within the Elf\u2019s dwelling in the\nBorderland. If this were true, he should have reached the Cave by now.\nCurling Smoke could not imagine what this important matter could be\nwhich could detain the Prince so long, yet in spite of his weariness, he\ncontinued to look away in the direction of the Elf\u2019s house.\n\nGrowing more and more restless and impatient, he finally rose a little\nin his place of concealment and thrust out his head far enough to see\nnot only the expanse of the Plain and the path up the cliff-side, but\nthe entrance to the Cave of Darkness as well. What was his astonishment\nto see two figures standing before it\u2014one of them the grey-robed Shadow\nWitch, whom he knew well, the other a stranger, and clad in those ruddy\ngarments by which Black Shadow had declared he might recognize Prince\nEmber. He could scarcely believe it to be possible that the Shadow Witch\nhad escaped from her brother\u2014that the Prince had crossed the Plain under\nhis very eyes unseen. Yet there they were, almost in his grasp. Eager to\nsnatch at them both, he was about to emerge from his hiding-place,\nwhen, to his discomfiture, they both vanished suddenly from his sight.\n\nThat they had gone back into the cavern he did not believe to be\npossible. Moreover their faces had been set toward the Plain. There\ncould be no doubt that they had made themselves invisible, and were now\non their way down the cliff.\n\nUnseen though they were, he knew how he could entrap them, and hold them\nin his power. Determined to do this, he wound his form stealthily\nupward, and from his right hand he cast forth huge plumes and columns of\nsmoke, which began to overspread the sky, and traveling swiftly, came on\nand on as his hand directed them, until they hung poised far above the\nheads of the unsuspecting Prince and his companion.\n\nFrom his left hand long wreaths and streamers of smoke went out across\nthe ground, creeping along fast and silently, veiling it so that none\ncould see where his own feet trod.\n\nCloser and closer from behind these, great smoke walls drew in, but the\nfaces of the two were set steadily toward the Land of Shadows, and they\nknew naught of the danger which was so rapidly overtaking them.\n\nThen, suddenly, by the enchanter\u2019s power, a smoke wall, dense and\nimpenetrable, fell from above directly before the travelers, setting a\nbarrier between them and the land to which they were bound. All at once\nthey found themselves in a vast chamber, hemmed in on every hand by the\nencompassing smoke.\n\nThe Shadow Witch was first to awaken to their peril. Casting her eyes\ndownward by chance, she all at once became aware of a faint veil of\nsmoke that was creeping round about her feet. Well did she know by that\nsign who was near. She cast her eyes hurriedly on all sides, and saw\nwith alarm that the smoke was drawing in upon them from every quarter.\n\nShe caught Prince Ember\u2019s arm, whispering anxiously, \u201cBehold, my Prince,\nbehold the smoke fog! This is the work of the powerful magician, Curling\nSmoke. We are entrapped.\u201d At that same moment the smoke dropped down in\nfront of them, making complete the walls of the vast chamber in which\nthey stood imprisoned.\n\nPrince Ember, beholding, was motionless with dismay. Flashing back to\nhis mind came the warning of his good friend the Elf. \u201cBeware of\nCurling Smoke,\u201d he had said. \u201cNone more wicked and dreadful than he\ninhabits the lands through which you must pass.\u201d\n\nHow or when the giant had discovered the presence of himself and the\nShadow Witch, the Prince could not guess, unless it had been in that one\nunguarded moment before the Cave, but now he was upon them with his\nenchantments, and he might be able to overpower them both, armed though\nthey were with the Cloak of Ash and the Sword of Fire. In spite of his\ngreat courage, Prince Ember\u2019s heart sank low in his breast before this\nfresh danger to his beloved Shadow Witch. Thinking intently of how best\nto act against this new foe, he stood silent.\n\nAgain the Shadow Witch whispered low: \u201cSee! Yonder from out the fog he\ncomes, with his veils trailing from his arm\u2014the Veil that Chokes\u2014the\nVeil that Blinds! He has discovered us, and means to destroy us!\u201d\n\nPrince Ember cast his arm about her and pressed her dear head\nprotectingly to his breast. Spurred on by his love for her his courage\nmounted high. Looking to where she directed his gaze, he, too, saw,\nlooming out of the murky clouds, a great shape, fierce and terrible\u2014the\ngiant, Curling Smoke.\n\nFrom his huge arms hung the veils of which the Shadow Witch had spoken,\nheld always ready to use against any who provoked his wrath. He stood\nstill, at some distance from them, and searched the dim spaces about him\nwith piercing eyes, but seemed not to find the ones he sought.\n\n\u201cHe does not see us, dearest,\u201d spoke the Prince, under his breath. \u201cThe\nCloak conceals us, as the Elf promised that it would.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrue,\u201d answered the Shadow Witch, \u201cbut before we escape this giant we\nmust do battle with him. I know well his ways, and I doubt not that he\nhas joined himself to my brother for our destruction.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have a weapon which has not yet failed me,\u201d the Prince assured her\nbravely. \u201cWith it I will meet him, and by using it valiantly shall hope\nto overcome him and deliver you.\u201d He was about to draw the Sword of\nFire, but the Shadow Witch prevented him.\n\n\u201cNot yet, not yet,\u201d she besought him. \u201cFully do I trust the marvelous\npower of your Sword, and it will be potent here, I doubt not, if the\nmoment of its using be right, but I have heard that Curling Smoke\ncannot be vanquished in his smoke chamber until he towers within it to\nhis fullest height. This I believe I have the power to make him do, and\nwhen he has done so, I am sure you will not strike in vain. Till then\nlet your Sword rest quiet in its sheath, but keep your hand upon its\nhilt, and when I give the word, draw it at once and strike quickly.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt shall be as you say,\u201d the Prince promised her, looking into her\nuplifted face with tender love.\n\nWhile they had said these things, Curling Smoke had remained where he\nwas, waiting, as if in the hope that he might make visible, by his mere\ngazing, those whom he had entrapped. Presently they heard his voice\ncrying aloud through the fog, \u201cLet those beware who defy Curling Smoke.\nThough they be invisible, they shall yet feel his power.\u201d\n\nBeneath the Cloak of Ash, the Shadow Witch raised her grey sleeves and\nwaved them toward Curling Smoke. Prince Ember, watching to see what she\nwas about to do, saw a creature, as if in answer to the giant\u2019s cry,\ntake shape from among the smoke wreaths that lay along the ground and\nbegin to creep, half hidden by them, toward the giant.\n\nCurling Smoke suddenly beheld it also, beheld it with curiosity and\nastonishment, for this was neither the Prince nor the Shadow Witch, both\nof whom he believed to be bound by his enchantment, but a stranger. How\nhe had entered the smoke chamber, he did not know. Remaining, poised\nwatchfully where he was, he kept his glittering eyes upon it, till it\nshould draw nearer.\n\nBefore it reached him it began to rise, to grow larger as it rose, and\nhe presently saw that it was a giant like himself, though smaller and\nless terrible. His head was bent and his face hidden.\n\nCurling Smoke gazed upon the newcomer with indignation. \u201cWho are you,\nwho dare to venture unasked within the bounds that I have set?\u201d he\ndemanded imperiously.\n\nThe stranger made no answer, but ceasing to mount, stood poised directly\nin front of him, with his face still concealed.\n\n\u201cKnow you not that I am the Master Magician and have power to destroy\nyou instantly?\u201d shouted Curling Smoke, lifting his huge hand in menace.\n\nStill the creature did not reply.\n\nInstantly Curling Smoke unloosed his terrible Veil that Chokes, and\nflung it at him. It smote against the drooped head of the unknown, but\ninstead of suffocating him, as Curling Smoke had intended that it\nshould, it floated harmlessly back again and hung itself about the\nenchanter\u2019s arm.\n\nFoiled though he had been in his first attempt, Curling Smoke was not\ndiscomfited. He shook free his Veil that Blinds. \u201cThis\u2014this shall\novercome you,\u201d he cried boastfully. \u201cNow shall you learn how great is\nthe power of the Magician of Veils.\u201d With skilful hands he so wielded\nit, that it struck full in the eyes of the intruder, even though his\nhead was still bent low. Yet in spite of this, the second veil drifted\nback defeated to its place beside the Veil that Chokes.\n\nWrathful and puzzled because his veils had proved themselves thus\npowerless against this silent and seemingly defenceless stranger,\nCurling Smoke thrust out his powerful arms to wind his adversary round\nand crush him, but the stranger melted from his coils, and stood beyond\nhis grasp unharmed as before.\n\nThen he began again to mount. He reached the magician\u2019s shoulders, and\nshooting yet higher threw back his head.\n\nCurling Smoke, looking upon him, saw to his amazement the face of Prince\nEmber; a giant now in size, and grey-robed, but still Prince Ember. What\nhad become of the Shadow Witch, by what magic the Prince had become thus\ntransformed, the magician could not guess, nor did he care, provided he\nbut succeeded in conquering this hated visitant from the Land of Fire.\n\nHe regarded him in silence for a moment, pondering how he should\naccomplish it. Here was his match in size; here was one against whom\nhis veils were powerless; here, too, was a creature who melted from his\ngrasp when he thought to seize and twist him. What, then, remained for\nhim to do? This only: to overtop him and smother him by casting himself\ndown upon him from above.\n\nImmediately he began to send himself upward in rapidly rising spirals,\nso that he might throw himself down upon the stranger with the greater\nforce, but as he mounted, the other ascended also, faster and faster,\nhigher and higher, always head and shoulders above Curling Smoke.\n\nAs Curling Smoke rose, he shouted threats and defiance, shaking his fist\nat his rival and glaring up at him with malicious and baneful eyes. But\nthe other still maintained his strange silence and met his look\nunmoved.\n\nPrince Ember watching this phantom of himself from the shelter of the\nCloak of Ash, marvelled at the power of the Shadow Witch who, by her\nmagic, could so delude their foe. As he watched, he held himself in\nreadiness to draw his sword when his companion gave the word.\n\nStill higher towered the phantom Prince, and after him sprang Curling\nSmoke, wreathing his murky spirals upward, and crying out more and more\nboisterously as he grew the more enraged by every vain effort to reach\nand overleap him.\n\nThe two had almost reached the dome, and Prince Ember\u2019s hand tightened\non his Sword, for he felt that the time to use it was near.\n\n\u201cNot yet, my Prince,\u201d whispered the Shadow Witch. \u201cNot yet.\u201d\n\nAn arm\u2019s length higher she sent her phantom, and made him pause. Seeing\nthis, sure now that his enemy could go no further, Curling Smoke shot up\nwith lightning swiftness and stood above him at last, stretched to his\nfull height, an immensely tall and straight and slender column, poised\non tiptoe to spring and overleap him. His voice rang out hoarsely. \u201cAh,\nnow you shall not escape me! At last your time has come!\u201d\n\n\u201cStrike!\u201d breathed the Shadow Witch to the waiting Prince. \u201cStrike now!\u201d\n\nSwiftly Prince Ember threw back the Cloak of Ash. The Sword of Fire\nglowed red as it swung through the air, and redder still as it struck\nthe limbs of Curling Smoke and clove them. As the strange heat of that\nfairy Sword rushed through his giant frame, Curling Smoke became as\nnaught. His limbs were seized with faintness and trembling. The phantom\nPrince vanished suddenly from before him, and his own Veil that Blinds\nrose in darkening folds across his eyes. The Veil that Chokes swept\nacross his mouth, and his turbulent voice was stilled. He began to\nshrink upward, to waver and fade, and presently he drifted helplessly\ninto the great smoke dome and was swallowed up in it.\n\nThen, also, before the mighty heat that flowed from the Sword of Fire,\nthe walls and dome of the vast smoke chamber, and the smoke wreaths upon\nthe ground, were themselves dissolved, and Prince Ember and the Shadow\nWitch stood free in the Plain of Ash.\n\n\u201cAh, my brave Prince! By your Sword of Fire, how gloriously you have\nconquered!\u201d exclaimed the Shadow Witch, with sparkling eyes.\n\n\u201cForget not the magic of my dear Lady of the Shadows,\u201d Prince Ember\ntenderly reminded her, \u201cfor without its aid this victory could scarcely\nhave been won.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch laughed sweetly. \u201cOn, on together, then,\u201d she cried.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                             CHAPTER XIII\n\n\nWith the perils of the Cave of Darkness left behind, with Curling Smoke\nvanquished and driven far off, the Shadow Witch was happy; and in her\npresence Prince Ember gave no thought for the moment to any further\ndanger that might beset them.\n\nDanger was not far distant. In the spot that he had chosen, the Ash\nGoblin worked fast and diligently upon the snare with which he meant to\nentrap Prince Ember, hoping that he might be able to complete it before\nthe Prince arrived.\n\nHe could plainly see the Elf\u2019s house from where he labored. He believed\nthe Prince to be still within its walls, and he was sure that none as\nyet had crossed its threshold. With his twisted hands he took from the\nlong bag hidden beneath his cloak the evil ash, of which alone his snare\ncould be made, and sifted it carefully over the ground. Meanwhile he\nrepeated the words of enchantment written in his Book of Craft, which he\nbelieved would make certain the capture of Prince Ember, but he took\ngood care to repeat them silently, lest any, coming upon him unawares,\nshould overhear them and learn his secret. As the ash fell to the ground\nfrom his fingers, it spread and ran together to form a thin and\nweb-like film, leaving no spot uncovered.\n\nSo treacherous was this snare, that if one but stepped upon its borders,\nhe would become unable to release his feet from it and would be drawn\nhelplessly to its centre. There the web would rise upon him from all\nsides with lightning swiftness to enmesh him and draw him down till he\nwas fast bound in its folds, and there he must perish in his vain\nefforts to escape. This was the trap that the Ash Goblin was cunningly\nand silently preparing for Prince Ember, keeping watch in the meanwhile\nfor him to approach. He kept himself close to the ground, concealed by\nthe ashes around him, so like they were in color to his dingy robe, and\nthe cap that covered his matted grizzled hair. Occasionally he chuckled\nto himself at the thought of the discomfiture which lay in store for\nCurling Smoke, that boastful giant, whom he believed to be lying in wait\nfor the Prince near to the Wizard\u2019s Cave. Such confidence had the Ash\nGoblin in his snare that never for an instant did he believe that the\nPrince could escape it and come within reach of the giant\u2019s arms.\n\nWhile he worked and exulted thus, he did not forget that in conquering\nPrince Ember, he would pay off, also, his old grudge against the Shadow\nWitch for her mockery of him.\n\nThe Shadow Witch, coming across the Plain of Ash with the Prince,\nsafe-sheltered by the Cloak of the good Elf, had been sure that they\nwere now safe from peril, when on a sudden it seemed as if a warning\nhand were laid upon her. She stopped and looked around her, but saw\nnothing.\n\nThen, with piercing eyes, she scanned the Plain in front. At a\nconsiderable distance from her, bent over the ash, she espied a figure\nwell-known to her\u2014the Ash Goblin, intent upon some task. She suspected\ndanger, and caught at the Prince\u2019s mantle, exclaiming beneath her\nbreath, \u201cThe Ash Goblin! See, how stealthily he creeps along! Never does\nhe venture so far from home unless he has evil plans afoot.\u201d\n\nPrince Ember had forgotten the Ash Goblin, had forgotten the words of\nthe Elf of the Borderland, but now they returned to him. \u201cBeware of the\nAsh Goblin! He is small of stature, but he cannot safely be despised,\nfor he is very cunning.\u201d He followed the pointing finger of the Shadow\nWitch, that he might behold this new enemy, but he strained his eyes in\nvain.\n\n\u201cI see nothing but the grey Plain that lies between us and the Elf\u2019s\ndwelling,\u201d he replied.\n\nShe laid her hand lightly upon his eyes for a moment, and by the magic\nof her touch made his vision more keen. \u201cLook now,\u201d she urged,\nwithdrawing her hand, \u201cand you will see.\u201d\n\nPrince Ember obeyed, and immediately he, too, beheld the ugly form of\nthe Ash Goblin bending over his snare. \u201cYes, there he is,\u201d he said, \u201cand\nI remember now how earnestly the Elf of the Borderland bade me be on my\nguard against his cunning.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, my Prince,\u201d the Shadow Witch responded, \u201cyou may well be on your\nguard. Though he knows the weakness of his body too well to dare to\nattack an enemy in fair and open fight, he is powerful in such craft as\nhe can carry out in secret. Whether or not he is preparing a trap for\nus, I cannot tell. One thing is certain, we cannot choose but pass over\nthe place where he is at work.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhatever may lie in wait for us there, my dear Shadow Witch,\u201d Prince\nEmber assured her, \u201cwe will meet it unafraid.\u201d\n\nThey went directly toward their foe. Nowhere did they see anything that\nspoke of danger until they were but a stone\u2019s throw from where the Ash\nGoblin knelt. There they stood still to scan his work, and beheld a\ndelicate mesh, so thin and fine that it was well-nigh invisible,\nstretching away to right and left of him and in front of him.\n\nThe Shadow Witch, seeing, shrank back aghast. \u201cIt is the cunning web of\nthe Ash Goblin!\u201d she breathed. \u201cNone escapes destruction who sets foot\nwithin its bounds.\u201d\n\nBefore the Prince could answer, the Ash Goblin rose. He had put the\nfinal touch to his work. The last handful of his ash had been strewn,\nthe last word of his spell had been pronounced, and weary with long\nbending over his work, he drew himself up slowly.\n\n\u201cA goodly snare, a goodly snare,\u201d they heard him mutter to himself.\n\u201cNever yet has it failed me\u2014no, nor ever shall, so long as I hold the\nsecret of my evil ash, so long as I remember the words of my ancient\nspell.\u201d\n\nHe gloated over it for a moment in silence, and then continued: \u201cTo this\nsnare the feet of Prince Ember must come. When he treads so much as its\nborder he is lost, and when he is lost, the impudent Shadow Witch in\nher dungeon may await her brother\u2019s pleasure for her deliverance. Let\nher learn in good time, that it is the Ash Goblin, the Ash Goblin whom\nshe has so often mocked, who has helped to keep her there.\u201d He wagged\nhis head exultantly, and sank down again to conceal himself in the\nashes, and there await unseen the coming of the Prince.\n\nThe Shadow Witch heard his words, and her cheek grew pale as ivory. She\npressed her hands close together and looked into Prince Ember\u2019s face,\nher eyes full of pain. \u201cAlas! my Prince,\u201d she whispered, \u201cit grieves me\nthat you should encounter so many perils for my sake! And here\u2014ah, here,\nI am afraid that all your wondrous fairy power cannot suffice to break\nthis wicked snare that has been set for you.\u201d\n\nPrince Ember smiled. \u201cGrieve not so, my Shadow Witch,\u201d he consoled her.\n\u201cThere is no danger that I would not meet gladly for your sake. Think\nnot that I cannot here match magic with magic, and conquer, for there is\nno evil enchantment but must yield before the power of the good fairies\nof the Fire.\u201d\n\nWith quiet confidence he left the shelter of the Cloak of Ash, and in\nhis hand was his fairy sword. It shone with a red glory.\n\nThe Ash Goblin, crouching upon the ground, keeping his eyes fixed upon\nthe Elf\u2019s threshold, had heard no syllable that had been spoken, nor\nknew that anyone was near.\n\nBut now his staring eyes suddenly beheld the place about him suffused\nwith scarlet light. He leapt to his feet, turning in swift amaze to\nlearn from whence it came, and saw Prince Ember standing, with Sword\nextended like a bar of fire across his snare. From it streamed that\nheat, potent and overmastering, wherein its magic dwelt.\n\n\u201cLet the snare of the Ash Goblin perish before the power of the Sword of\nFire!\u201d exclaimed the Prince, and as he uttered the words the Ash Goblin\nsaw the web that he had been at such pains to prepare, begin to shrivel\nand shrink away, and presently it had vanished completely from the\nsurface of the Plain.\n\nA frenzied shriek burst from the Ash Goblin at the sight of his work\ndestroyed before his very eyes and by the one for whom the snare had\nbeen laid. Coward though he was, he would have rushed upon the Prince to\nattack him with all his puny strength, had not the heat which streamed\nfrom the Sword of Fire made his limbs powerless to stir from the spot\nwhere he lay hid, had not the glow which surrounded him become so\nintense that he was forced to bury his head in his cloak, lest his eyes\nshould be blinded by it.\n\nCrouching there, wrapped to the very crown of his head in his dingy\ncloak, he heard again the voice of Prince Ember.\n\n\u201cDepart quickly,\u201d commanded the Prince, \u201clest you be consumed in like\nmanner as your evil snare.\u201d\n\nThen the Ash Goblin rose and fled away in terror from the place where he\nhad hoped to triumph, fled on and on, until he came to the threshold of\nhis own hut. In desperate haste he undid the door, and rushing in,\nclosed and barred it fast, to shut out the spell of the conquering\nSword.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER XIV\n\n\nWhile Prince Ember had passed from place to place, everywhere meeting\nand conquering the perils that beset him and his companion, the Wind in\nthe Chimney had not been unmindful of his promise to Black Shadow. On\nthe contrary, he was only too willing to help the Wizard.\n\nAs soon as the Wizard\u2019s messenger had departed from him, he despatched a\nhalf dozen of his keenest and most agile Breezes to the Chimney Mouth to\nspy upon the Elf\u2019s house from thence, and bring him word at once the\nmoment the Prince was seen to cross its threshold.\n\nDuring the time, therefore, that the Imps had been keeping guard at the\nentrance to the Wizard\u2019s cavern, the Breezes, on their part, had been\nindustriously looking across the Plain from the Chimney Mouth, but with\nno better fortune in the one case than in the other.\n\nOnce, it is true, they, like the Ash Goblin, had espied the Elf\u2019s door\nopen slowly and remain so for a moment, and they had waited eagerly for\nthe Prince to come forth, but no one had appeared, and presently the\ndoor had closed again and had remained fast shut ever since.\n\nThe Wind, sitting on his rough seat in the Chimney, began to chafe at\nthe delay. He did not overlook the fact that the Breezes were merry\nfellows, and that, though they took no liberties while they were under\nhis eye, and talked only in whispers among themselves when they perched\nin the Chimney nooks, they had only to be out of his sight to begin to\nwhisk gaily about and dance and sing in the liveliest possible manner,\nso as to enjoy their freedom to the utmost.\n\nHe began to believe that even on this occasion, in spite of the\nstrictness of his commands, they were amusing themselves after their\nusual fashion, and, becoming more and more careless and inattentive to\ntheir duty, had allowed Prince Ember to go on his way unobserved.\n\nLeaning forward in his seat, he called down to them gruffly, demanding\nto know whether any sign had yet been seen of the stranger prince. When\nhe received their answer, he was more than ever convinced of their\nnegligence and gave orders that one of their number should go out and\nscour the Plain, to discover whether the Prince was anywhere about. But\nthe one who had been sent returned to say that there was nothing to be\nseen but the yellow fog of Curling Smoke.\n\nThe Wind shrugged his great shoulders contemptuously. \u201cThe affairs of\nCurling Smoke do not interest me,\u201d he declared.\n\nFor a little longer he waited and then began to stir about impatiently\nupon his Chimney seat.\n\n\u201cGo out and search the Plain more carefully than was done by your\nfellow,\u201d he shouted to another of the Breezes. \u201cIt is quite impossible\nthat the Prince should still be in the Elf\u2019s house.\u201d\n\nSwift to obey his master, the second Breeze went forth, yet came back\nin a little while, declaring that he had seen no one but the Ash Goblin,\nbending over the ground as though intent upon some task.\n\n\u201cBah!\u201d exclaimed the Wind. \u201cWhy do you come to me with such news as\nthat? What difference can it make to me what such a wretched creature as\nthe Ash Goblin is doing? Let him amuse himself with his trifles as he\npleases.\u201d\n\nThus rebuffed, his servant retreated shamefacedly to his post, and again\nthe Wind waited.\n\nSuch a great length of time had passed since they had taken up their\nvigil at the Chimney Mouth, that the Breezes themselves were beginning\nto be uneasy, and to suspect that by means of some enchantment the\nPrince had actually escaped them.\n\nThen they bethought them of the moment when the Elf\u2019s door had been\nseen to open and shut without anyone coming out of it, and they were\ntroubled, and wondered whether they should, perhaps, have made the\nmatter known to their master at the time.\n\nFinally, one of their number, bolder than the rest, summoned up his\ncourage and went and told the Wind of it.\n\n\u201cWhat!\u201d shrieked the Wind, rising in a tempest of rage. \u201cCan it be that\nyou saw anything so important as this and brought me no word of it?\nMagic has been at work! This Prince has without doubt escaped me. Even\nat this instant he may be upon the Plain under the very eyes of my\nwatchers!\u201d\n\nHurling the messenger from him, the Wind rushed down to the Chimney\nMouth. He buffeted to right and left the Breezes who stood there, and\nwhirled out upon the Plain to see for himself whether or not what he\nsuspected was true.\n\nIt so happened that Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch were crossing the\nPlain directly in front of the Chimney Mouth at that instant.\n\nThen what the Elf of the Borderland had feared immediately came true.\nThe keen eyes of the Wind pierced the spell of the Weaver elf. His rough\nblasts shattered it. Snatching the fairy Cloak from the shoulders of the\ntravelers, he beat it quickly back into the loose ashes of which it had\nbeen woven, and drove them off and away into the wide spaces of the\nBorderland, there to settle down at last wherever they would.\n\nThus were Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch revealed to the gaze of\ntheir most powerful enemy.\n\nThe Prince needed none to tell him who this new foe was, nor did he\nquail at sight of him, though he knew that he might well fear for his\ncompanion and himself. Quickly he thrust the Shadow Witch behind him,\nand with his Sword of Fire in his hand awaited his coming.\n\nWith a loud howl the Wind was upon them. Against this terrific onset the\nPrince held firm, and as the Wind dashed himself upon the Sword,\nthinking to wrest that from him, also, it leapt to life, a broad and\nbeauteous sheet of scarlet flame, that rose in an ascending barrier high\nand yet higher at every buffet that it sustained. The more the Wind\nflung himself upon it in fury, the greater it waxed in power and\nbrilliance, the stronger the heat that flowed from it in mighty waves.\n\nCowed by it, the Wind retreated for a moment, but seeing that the flame\nwaned when he did so, he took fresh courage and raged against it once\nmore. Yet quite in vain. Wielding his Sword with steady hand, protected\nby its wall of leaping fire, its rampart of glowing heat, the Prince met\nhim at every turn dauntless and unharmed.\n\nStill farther back stood the Shadow Witch, her tall form swaying in the\nblasts of the Wind. At his advance her black hair streamed behind her\nlike a cloud; her grey garments and long grey sleeves, illumined by the\nred glory of the Sword, billowed round her like floating banners.\nThrough the fierceness of the fight her voice was heard cheering the\nPrince sweetly, that his courage might not fail.\n\nSo the battle raged: on the one side with unavailing fury, wild shouts,\ninsolent boasting, and slowly wasting strength; on the other hand with\nsteadfast courage, quietness and undimmed confidence.\n\nFor long the Wind could not believe it possible that he would be\nvanquished, but gradually he was convinced that the foe whom he had\ndespised was invincible. Humiliated and sullen, he determined to give up\nthe losing fight. With one last shriek of rage and discomfiture, that\nrang out to the farthest confines of the Plain and echoed across the\nBorderland, he fled back in haste to the Chimney, and hurled himself\ninto its depths.\n\nPrince Ember put up his Sword. The Shadow Witch stole to his side to\nthank him for this new deliverance, but her exceeding gratitude made\nher dumb. She could only lay her hands in his, and look into his beloved\nface in silence.\n\nKnowing what was in her heart, Prince Ember bent to her. \u201cDear Lady of\nthe Shadows,\u201d he said, \u201cto serve you is my highest joy. And now there is\nno other enemy left for us to dread. I have but to lead you home.\u201d\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER XV\n\n\nWith what happiness Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch resumed their\njourney! All the way before them seemed a way of brightness, though it\nled across a Plain as grey and desolate as it had been before; but they\nknew that no perils lay in wait for them, and that every step led them\nsafely on.\n\nWhile the Shadow Witch talked gaily with the Prince, she turned to him a\nface as radiant as though a light shone through it from within. Ever and\nagain her laughter rang out low and clear, not the echoing, mocking\nlaughter, known so well to the evil fairies of that land, but a laugh of\nrippling music, as if all sweet sounds, all gentle whisperings of the\nfire were caught up and gathered into it. The Prince listened to it with\nkeen delight. Of all the notes of gladness that he had ever heard, it\nwas to him the loveliest; and she herself, gliding tall and beautiful\nbeside him, he could never tire of gazing upon.\n\nThey came at last to the Land of Shadows. Its pale trees and gardens lay\nbefore them, and in the distance they saw the Palace of Shadows lifting\nits grey towers against the sky.\n\nThey had spoken less and less frequently as they drew near it, and the\nlaughter of the Shadow Witch had ceased, for her heart had grown heavy,\nand her mind was filled with troubled thoughts. Soon Prince Ember would\nleave her to return to his own home in that fair land which she so much\nlonged to behold. He had left it to come to her deliverance, and at\nfirst sight of him she had known that her heart\u2019s love could never be\ngiven to anyone but him. That he loved her in return, she did not doubt.\nHis eyes had said it, the tones of his voice had revealed it a hundred\ntimes. Had he not called her more than once his \u201cdear Shadow Witch,\u201d and\ngiven himself to danger for her sake again and again?\n\nYet he said no word of taking her home with him\u2014of making her his bride;\nand so her eyes were sad, and her heart was full of pain at the thought\nof the parting which was now so near at hand. She did not dare to speak,\nlest her grief should break forth uncontrolled.\n\nWho was she, she told herself, the mischievous Shadow Witch, a creature\nof grey magic, to be the bride of such a one as this bright, this\nglorious Prince, whose magic was all noble, whose land was all joy and\nbrightness? In her mind she had no picture of that land. She had seen\nonly Prince Radiance and his White Flame and this Prince Ember, yet she\ncould guess from these, its bright inhabitants, how marvelous the Land\nof Fire must be.\n\nShe bowed her head humbly as she thought of it. Its greatest glory, its\nnoblest Prince could never be for her but she was determined that when\nhe had gone from her, she would forsake her own home and would seek the\nconfines at least of the Land of Fire, and there live in a little of its\nbrightness\u2014there learn what she could of its good magic. This much she\nmust do, for her old life, her old ways, were now more than ever\nintolerable to her.\n\nPrince Ember, seeing her silent, guessed nothing of her thoughts. To him\nshe was most dear and beautiful, the only one whom he could ever wish to\nwin.\n\nThey had reached the foot of her garden, and the Prince stood still. The\nShadow Witch paused also, and waited in silence.\n\nPrince Ember took her hand and kissed it. \u201cLady of the Shadows,\u201d he\nsaid, \u201cwe have come at last to your domain in safety.\u201d\n\nThe Shadow Witch caught her breath painfully, for she felt that the\nmoment of farewell had come. It was as if she could not bear it.\n\nThe Prince drew yet nearer. \u201cDear Shadow Witch,\u201d he whispered, \u201cI\ncannot leave you, so do I love you, yet I cannot stay with you here in\nthis grey land. Go with me, then, to my own bright country. Go with me,\nthere to be my bride and princess.\u201d\n\nNo answering words rose to the lips of the Shadow Witch. Her face was\nturned away, and her eyes hidden. But a moment since she had been silent\nbecause of overmastering sadness. Now, for very joy, she was dumb. In\nher humility she dared not grasp at once at the happiness held out to\nher.\n\nThe Prince leaned to her in fear, lest he should have been mistaken,\nlest perhaps she did not love him as he had hoped and believed. \u201cSpeak,\u201d\nhe besought her. \u201cAh, speak, my dearest. How can I go without you? How\ncan I leave you in this land\u2014a land too sad and grey for such a one as\nyou? All the brightness of my own country is without meaning for me\nhenceforth, if I have not you to share it with me as my heart\u2019s true\nlove.\u201d\n\nWooed thus, the Shadow Witch hesitated no longer. She turned to him in a\nflood of love and longing. She stretched her hands to him, trembling\nwith the fulness of her joy, and her voice came again. \u201cPrince of my\nheart,\u201d she murmured softly. \u201cMost dear and glorious Prince, where could\nmy home be ever, if not with you?\u201d\n\nPrince Ember caught her to his heart, and silence fell once more between\nthem.\n\nFor a little while they tarried in the borders of the garden, clinging\nto each other in their first great joy, and the dim alleys and dusky\ntrees took on a brightness till now unknown to them from these two\nfigures radiant with a pure and innocent love.\n\nAt last the Shadow Witch remembered all that she must leave behind.\n\u201cListen,\u201d she said, and her voice was very gentle, \u201cI have been long\ngone, and my servants still wait for their mistress. They love me and\nare faithful. They will mourn for me when I have left them\u2014Creeping\nShadow most of all. I must bid them farewell and tell them why it is\nthat I depart from them to return no more.\u201d\n\nSo they left the confines of the garden and turned their steps toward\nthe Palace of Shadows. They had not yet reached it, when its mistress\nsaw a pale figure approaching through the tall shrubs that lined their\nway.\n\nIt was Creeping Shadow, stealing sadly along the paths once dear to her\nmistress, thinking of Prince Ember who had promised succor, a promise\nwhich she had begun to fear he had not been able to keep. \u201cAlas! what\nhope could there be after all?\u201d she thought, \u201cthat this Prince should be\nable, single-handed, to meet and conquer such powerful enemies as the\nWizard, and his many evil friends?\u201d She shook her head doubtfully, yet\neven as she did so she lifted her eyes to look once more along the\nfamiliar path by which she had hoped her mistress might return.\n\n\u201cSee,\u201d exclaimed the Shadow Witch to her lover. \u201cShe comes, my good and\nfaithful servant, still seeking, still hoping!\u201d\n\nAt that moment Creeping Shadow saw her and gave a loud cry that rang\nthrough the spaces and reached even to the palace halls. She rushed to\nthrow herself at the feet of her mistress, to clasp her knees in an\necstasy of thankfulness and rejoicing. \u201cMistress, dear mistress!\u201d she\nexclaimed, \u201cAt last, at last, you are here!\u201d\n\nAnd now from the palace doors and from everywhere, the Shadows came\ngliding swiftly, to burst into exclamations of joy when they saw, in\ntheir turn, who it was that had come.\n\nAmong them came the traitor, Black Shadow, hastening to learn whether\nwhat she had believed to be impossible, had, in spite of her treachery,\nbeen brought to pass. She saw Prince Ember and her mistress surrounded\nby the welcoming Shadows, saw that her plots had been in vain.\n\nShe would have turned at once to flee to the Wizard, to make known to\nhim what had happened, had she not been arrested by the voice of her\nmistress speaking strange words, words such as she had never thought to\nhear.\n\n\u201cI have come to show you that I am set free,\u201d said the Shadow Witch,\n\u201chave come, also, to bid you, my loyal servants, farewell.\u201d\n\nA murmur of astonishment went up from the listening Shadows. What could\nsuch words mean?\n\nThe Shadow Witch continued. \u201cI have found light and joy and true\nhappiness by the side of this good Prince, and I can no longer pass my\ndays in this grey land of mine with its grey magic.\u201d She would have\nspoken further, but a burst of sorrow interrupted her. With one accord\nher servants swayed mournfully, and with sobs and cries, cast themselves\nat her feet.\n\nShe looked upon them with love and compassion. What could she do for\nthem, these faithful friends and servants, whom she must leave if she\nfollowed her dear Prince? Go she must, but what could she say to comfort\nthem? A thrill of pain went through her heart, tempering her exceeding\njoy in her new-found happiness.\n\nPrince Ember came to her help. \u201cThe light and gladness of the Land of\nFire is forbidden to none who are true and faithful,\u201d he proclaimed.\n\u201cLet all, then, who love their mistress, follow her to her new home, if\nit is their wish.\u201d\n\nAt these words, so comfort-bringing, the Shadow Witch turned upon her\nPrince a glance of tenderest gratitude. The Shadows, hearing them, were\nlifted at once from deep grief to boundless rejoicing. They rose to\ntheir feet, their grey robes all a-flutter. \u201cAh, generous Prince,\u201d they\ncried, \u201cwe follow, follow\u2014happy indeed to be her faithful servants\nstill.\u201d\n\nAll but Black Shadow. She alone had given no cry of grief, she alone had\nshown no sign of joy. She had prostrated herself with the rest at the\nfeet of the Shadow Witch, and had bowed her head, but merely to conceal\nthe anger which she felt at the sight of her mistress safe returned. No\nsound passed her lips now. She was glad to hear of the coming departure,\nbut that gladness, also, she would restrain. Until her mistress had\ngone, she would keep her own counsel, hide her own purposes, so that she\nmight fulfil them in her own time and in her own way.\n\nShe had not long to wait, for Prince Ember\u2019s voice, clear and gracious,\nrose once more. \u201cLet us not tarry. My bright kingdom awaits its Prince,\nwho has been long absent. Its good fairies will rejoice to welcome not\nhim alone, but his bride and her devoted followers.\u201d\n\nSo saying he took the hand of the Shadow Witch, and together they left\nthe Garden of Shadows, and set out for the Land of Fire. Behind them\ntrooped the Shadows, eager to behold for themselves that beauteous\nfairyland which was henceforth to be their home. But Black Shadow was\nnot among them. As soon as Prince Ember had ceased to speak, she had\nslipped quietly away.\n\nThe Shadow Witch had noticed her absence and presently, turning to see\nwhat had become of her, saw a dark figure hurrying toward the Wizard\u2019s\nCave. It was Black Shadow. A smile of understanding dawned upon the face\nof the Shadow Witch. She said no word, but she guessed the treacherous\npart that her servant had already played, and what she now meant to do.\n\u201cLet her go her way,\u201d she thought. \u201cShe can harm us no more.\u201d\n\nMeanwhile Prince Ember was thinking of his great debt to the Elf. It was\nin his mind to stop at his dwelling, as they passed through the\nBorderland, and thank him for the service which the Cloak of Ash had\nrendered. But he had no need, for the Elf, espying the travelers from\nafar, came to meet them. He gave them warm greeting and listened\nintently while Prince Ember told him all that had befallen them and\nwhither they now were bound.\n\n\u201cAlas, for your marvelous Cloak!\u201d the Prince said regretfully in\nclosing. \u201cWhen the Wind tore it from me he resolved it to ashes and\nscattered it far and wide.\u201d\n\nThe Elf smiled. \u201cThat does not surprise me. You know that I told you\nsomething of what might come to pass. Forget not, however, that the\nsecret of its weaving still dwells with the elves of the Borderland, who\nwill never refuse to provide another if need arises.\u201d\n\nHe stretched his pudgy hand to the Shadow Witch, who caught it\ngratefully in both her own. \u201cAh, good and kind friend!\u201d she cried, \u201cWhat\ndo I not owe to your faithful friendship!\u201d\n\n\u201cAs to that,\u201d responded the Elf heartily, looking into her lovely face,\n\u201cI am already well rewarded by seeing you restored to liberty, and in\nknowing of the happiness which is to be yours.\u201d\n\nThen their farewells were spoken, and the Elf stood watching them till\nthey vanished from his sight.\n\nIn the meantime, Black Shadow had reached the Cave of Darkness, and\nthere she found the Imps still at the entrance. They had awakened and\nwere now rubbing their eyes confusedly and whispering to each other\ntheir fears concerning what might have happened while they had slept.\n\n\u201cLittle need have you now to guard this Cave mouth,\u201d Black Shadow flung\nat them as she passed. \u201cThe Prince, whose entrance it was your duty to\nprevent, has long since come and gone, taking with him the Shadow\nWitch.\u201d\n\nShe did not stay to reply to their frightened and excited questions, but\nsped straight to the Cave Hall.\n\nThere she found the Wizard sitting upright in his chair, though he\nlooked pale and exhausted. He was surrounded by the Imps who had been\nimprisoned in the vaulted chamber, and who, when the Shadow Witch had\nreached her own land and the spell of the Sword of Fire had been lifted,\nhad heard their master\u2019s voice calling to them for help. They had come\nin trembling haste, and found him limp and prostrate on the floor, but\nwith their help, he had at last been enabled to rise slowly and go to\nhis accustomed seat.\n\n\u201cSir Wizard!\u201d cried Black Shadow, addressing him without ceremony, \u201cthe\nstranger prince has everywhere prevailed! Curling Smoke is scattered!\nThe Ash Goblin is defeated! The Wind in the Chimney has been put to\nnaught! And now, Prince Ember has departed to the Land of Fire, taking\nwith him your sister to make her his bride. With her went all her\nservants, the Shadows.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet them go,\u201d snarled the Wizard, scowling fiercely upon her. \u201cI care\nnot what becomes of them, so that they return no more to trouble me.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I,\u201d continued Black Shadow, \u201chave come to say that I mean to take\nyour sister\u2019s domain for myself, and choose companions to occupy it with\nme who will obey my commands.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo what you will,\u201d he retorted impatiently, \u201cso that you, too, go from\nme, and leave me in peace.\u201d\n\nBlack Shadow needed no second bidding, but left the Wizard there, with\nhis Imps clustered about him, while she departed in haste to carry out\nher long cherished plans.\n\n\n\n\n                            [Illustration]\n\n                              CHAPTER XVI\n\n\nIn King Red Flame\u2019s garden it was brilliant noonday. The trees waved\ntheir branches to a cloudless sky, the flowers lifted their beauteous\nheads in a clear and golden light. Through the blossoming shrubs, the\ntowers and walls of the Palace of Burning Coals glistened in fullest\nsplendor. Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch approaching, beheld them\nshining as if in welcome. The band of Shadows caught their breath in\nwonder at the glorious sight.\n\nWithin the palace sat King Red Flame on his jeweled throne, listening\nto his daughter, the Princess, as she sang the songs he loved. Prince\nRadiance, close beside her, listened also. He could never tire of that\nexquisite voice, which, from the first hour that he had heard it, had\nenchanted his ear, and enchained his heart. The Fire Fairies, busy in\npalace and garden, paused now and then to catch the floating strains,\nfor their Princess was unspeakably dear to them, and her singing stirred\nthem always to deep delight. Rushing Flame, the King\u2019s messenger, poised\nalertly at the palace gate in readiness to leap forth on any errand for\nhis master, strained his ear, that he, too, might miss no note of her\nsong.\n\nSuddenly, from below the palace windows, the sound of many feet was\nheard, and the air was rent by shouts of welcome.\n\nThe Princess broke off her song. With one accord the royal company\nstarted to their feet, certain that naught but the return of Prince\nEmber could cause so great a tumult. At that very instant the scarlet\nfigure of Rushing Flame appeared before them, proclaiming, \u201cYour Majesty\nthe King, Prince Ember has returned.\u201d\n\nWhile he was yet speaking, Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch entered the\npalace hall. Close after them glided the band of Shadows, and\naccompanying them came the Wise One, kind old Grey Smoke and a multitude\nof Fire Fairies, who had come quickly together from everywhere, eager to\nhave a part in greeting the unknown guests, and to hear the adventures\nof the brave young Prince.\n\nWith a lover\u2019s pride, Prince Ember led his beloved to the King. Never\nhad the Shadow Witch looked more beautiful. Her ebon hair fell like a\nrich cloak over her grey robes; her cheek was mantled by a crimson\nflush; her dark eyes gleamed with a soft radiance.\n\nKing Red Flame, won by the first glimpse of this lovely stranger, forgot\nhis state and went to meet her. Without waiting for his nephew to make\nher known, he drew her to himself in cordial greeting. \u201cWelcome fair\nPrincess of the Shadows,\u201d he said, \u201cand welcome, also, to your train.\u201d\nThen to his nephew he turned in deep affection. \u201cWelcome, dear Ember,\nthrice welcome. Long have we waited and anxiously hoped for your safe\nreturn.\u201d\n\n\u201cWelcome, welcome,\u201d cried Prince Radiance heartily, coming to clasp\nhands with the Prince and his companion in his turn. Right glad was he\nto see his good friends once more.\n\nThe gentle Princess White Flame, thinking of what she must have endured,\ntook the Shadow Witch to her arms and kissed her as a sister might.\n\nThen did the King demand to know the story of their adventures, and a\ndeep hush fell over the assemblage while Prince Ember related\neverything, from first to last, that had befallen them. Of all who\nlistened with deep interest and earnest sympathy, only Prince Radiance\nand Princess White Flame, who themselves had once journeyed in that\nfar-off land and had met its perils, could fully understand how great\nthe task of Prince Ember had been.\n\nThe Wise One, hearing how his own gifts and his advice concerning the\nElf of the Borderland had been the means of bringing them safely through\nall the dangers that had threatened them, smiled and nodded his head\napprovingly, as was his wont.\n\nWhen, in conclusion, Prince Ember made known that he had won the love of\nthe Shadow Witch, and that she had consented to become his Princess,\nKing Red Flame was greatly pleased that the Prince had found so fair a\nmate and gave command that the wedding should take place forthwith.\n\nIn haste, then, the wedding feast was prepared. Dame Grey Smoke herself\nsaw to it that it lacked no splendor that fairy hands or fairy skill\ncould devise. The Wise One gave sage advice and from his treasure chest\nbrought gifts, ancient and rare. The Fire Fairies vied with one\nanother in their loving task of making all things ready, and among them\nmoved the Shadows, their faces reflecting the joy of their mistress,\ntheir hearts filled with wonder and delight at the beauty and goodness\nof this new fairyland into which they had come to dwell. The Fire\nFairies showed them every kindness, so that they might feel at home in a\ncountry where all things were strange to them.\n\nSo, in the Palace of Burning Coals, Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch\nwere married, and King Red Flame himself gave the bride away.\n\nWhen the wedding feast with its splendors was ended, the Prince led his\nbride home to his Palace of Good Cheer.\n\n[Illustration: The Prince led his bride home to his Palace of Good\nCheer.]\n\nHis own fairies stood to welcome them. On the high golden gate that\noverarched the entrance to his dominions three great marriage torches\nwere set, that lifted their quenchless flames upward with pure and\ngolden light.\n\nAs Prince Ember advanced with the Shadow Witch through that bright gate,\nshe became transformed, for all grey forsook her trailing robes forever\nand left them robes of glory, robes of rose and amethyst and richest\nscarlet in their changing hues. The garments of her attendant Shadows\nchanged, also, and became a soft reflection of the fuller loveliness of\nher own.\n\nThey came on through the shining avenue, amid the welcoming shouts of\nthe Ember Fairies and reached the Palace of Good Cheer. From every\nturret flaming banners floated, from every window ruddy light beamed\nout.\n\nAt its wide open door Prince Ember bent and kissed his bride tenderly.\n\u201cEnter, dear Shadow Witch,\u201d he whispered low. \u201cEnter, and crown my life\nwith the priceless treasure of your love.\u201d\n\nHer face alight with happiness, she passed in with him. She had come at\nlast, with her beloved Prince, to the fairyland of good magic\u2014to the\nland of her heart\u2019s desire.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n_Uniform with this Volume_\n\nPRINCESS\nWHITE-FLAME\n\nBy\nGERTRUDE CROWNFIELD\n\nIllustrated by\nANNE MERRIMAN PECK\n\nE. P. DUTTON & COMPANY\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n[Transcriber\u2019s Note: The ad has been moved from the beginning of the\nbook to the end. The table below lists all corrections applied to the\noriginal text.\n\np. 009: [normalized] the Chief Imp bore himself humbly to-day -> today\np. 049: [added closing quotes] with all her magic power gone?\u201d\np. 106: [added period] Beware, therefore, of the Ash Goblin.\np. 175: sank down helpess -> helpless\np. 176: the Prince advanced rapidy -> rapidly\np. 229: Go with we, there to be my bride -> me\np. 237: [normalized] that beauteous fairy-land -> fairyland\np. 243: [normalized] it was brilliant noon-day -> noonday\np. 248: to become his Princess. King -> Princess, King\np. 253: \u201cEnter, dear Shadow Witch,\u201d he whisered low. -> whispered ]","title":"The Shadow Witch","tradition":"folklore-oral-tradition","translated_text":null,"word_count":32896}