Part 5 (1/2)
Creeping Shadow could not contain herself until they met, but called to them, ”Rejoice! Rejoice, for soon our mistress will return to us again!”
At this glad news they all broke forth into joyful cries and rushed to her side with rapid and excited questions, and no sooner had she begun to answer them than Black Shadow, seizing her opportunity, slipped silently away from them and losing herself among the trees, stole un.o.bserved out of the garden.
With all speed she took her way to the steep cliff that led to the Cave of Darkness; swiftly and steadily she mounted it till she came to the mouth of the cavern. She entered without pause. Strictly as it was guarded by the Imps whom the Wizard had placed there, that none might enter to bring help to the Shadow Witch, no one of them challenged Black Shadow. They knew her and her ways-knew, also, that whatever might be her errand, she was always a welcome guest to their master. An Imp at once came to light her way, and she followed his flickering lantern until she came out at last into the Cave Hall.
There she beheld the Wizard deeply engaged. He sat in his huge armchair before a table, on which lay an ebony box filled with those wands with which he worked his darkest magic. He took up the wands, one by one, and ran his fingers over them carefully to test their power and having satisfied himself that they were in perfect order, he wrapped each one separately in a black cloth and laid it back in its place within the casket.
The Imps were not allowed to come nearer to these wands at any time than to touch the carefully locked casket as they bore it to and from its place in their master's treasure chamber, but they watched the Wizard from a distance with eyes that twinkled sharply with curiosity as he sat handling them openly in their presence.
Black Shadow drew near to him, and the Wizard suddenly perceiving her, swept the remaining wands together abruptly and placed them in the casket at once. He snapped the lid of it and locked it with a small and twisted key which he drew from his garments. This done, he gave his attention to his visitor.
”What is your errand, Black Shadow?” he demanded, leaning back in his chair, and composing himself to listen.
”I bring strange news,” she replied, taking the seat before him to which he had waved her. ”Creeping Shadow has returned from the Land of Fire, bringing word that a prince is on his way to deliver the Shadow Witch from your hands.”
”A prince?” exclaimed the Wizard, starting forward in astonishment.
”Even so,” answered Black Shadow.
”Tell me not that it is Prince Radiance,” he cried vehemently, for anguish seized him at the memory of the Sword of Flames.
”Nay,” returned she. ”It is a stranger prince, Ember by name, who knows not this land, nor the dangers which lie in wait for him here. What weapons of defence he possesses, or what his magic, we cannot guess.
This only I can tell you, he is in the home of the Elf of the Borderland at this moment, there to obtain, perhaps, some gift, or some instruction which will make him proof against us. Whether or not Creeping Shadow speaks falsely, she has declared to me that she knows nothing concerning his business with the Elf.”
”I have no fear of anyone so small and peaceable as the Elf of the Borderland,” laughed the Wizard contemptuously. ”It could not be in his power to bestow a gift of any worth. As for the prince-my servants shall redouble their vigilance at the Cave Mouth. He cannot pa.s.s them.”
”Be not too sure of that,” Black Shadow warned him. ”Of the magic of these fairies of the Fire we know nothing. If he possesses some enchantment by which he can pa.s.s your guards unseen, if he should find and liberate your sister, and escape with her from your Cave-what then?
Shall one who has foiled you thus be allowed to return unmolested to his own land?”
For a short s.p.a.ce the Wizard sat plunged in thought, for he knew well that beyond the boundaries of his Cave he had no power. But presently he spoke. ”I have friends who will prevent that,” he declared confidently.
”Curling Smoke waits but the word to engage himself against any who come from the Land of Fire. The Ash Goblin needs no urging against my sister.
Too often she has made sport of him, until he has not known which way to turn for anger. And as to the Wind in the Chimney, merely to speak to him is to gain his consent to swoop down at once upon any adventurer into our lands. Seek these friends of mine, Black Shadow, and bid them lie in wait for this bold prince. Say to them that the Wizard of the Cave relies upon their aid.”
Black Shadow rose, well pleased. With all hope of liberty for the Shadow Witch destroyed, she saw her way to power. ”I will be your willing messenger,” she said. She turned away and followed by the piercing glances of the Imps, she left the Cave Hall, and a little later again pa.s.sed by the guards at the Cave Mouth and came into the open country without.
There she glanced about her, hoping to catch sight of those whom she sought. She did not look in vain, for almost immediately the giant, Curling Smoke, uncurled his tall form from a deep chasm in the cliff close by and towered high above her, blocking the way.
”Whither do you go, Black Shadow?” demanded he haughtily. ”You cannot pa.s.s until you answer.”
”I have no wish to pa.s.s, for it is yourself whom I seek,” she returned.
”What is it that you desire?” he asked ungraciously, for he was no friend to the Shadow Witch and made naught of her servants.
”I bring a message from the Wizard of the Cave,” replied she. ”He desires your a.s.sistance. Because of an ill turn that she served him, he holds his sister prisoner, and Creeping Shadow, knowing that it would be vain to ask any of the powerful ones in our own land to rescue her, journeyed to the Land of Fire to ask aid of Prince Radiance.”
At the very mention of Prince Radiance, whom he hated, Curling Smoke twisted himself about in a violent rage. ”Let him not dare to return here, lest I make short work of him!” he shouted hoa.r.s.ely. ”Let him not flatter himself that he can escape me this time as he did before.”
”It is not Prince Radiance who comes, but another; that one, so Creeping Shadow tells me, who alone is fated to set the Shadow Witch free. Prince Ember is his name, and even now he is close by, in the house of the Elf of the Borderland, there to receive from him, doubtless, something which will aid him to deliver my mistress, and make him proof against any who a.s.sail him, or who may seek to prevent his success.”