Part 8 (1/2)
That which so moved the heart of the Prince to compa.s.sion, awoke only malicious delight in the Wizard's breast.
”Ah, my sister,” he said mockingly, drawing near to her, ”I find you less confident today than when we last met. Hope fades I see.”
His voice aroused her. She lifted her head and raised herself slowly to her feet, and as she turned herself toward the Wizard, Prince Ember beheld her face for the first time.
He looked upon its wondrous beauty, he saw upon it the marks of the pain that she had endured, he gazed into the splendor of her great dark eyes, and love for her rose within him like a flood, a love so warm, so strong, that he knew instantly, and for a certainty, that in her he had found his true Princess, she whom he could not choose but love with his whole heart. Thrilled with joy because of it, he waited for her voice.
Silvery calm it fell upon his ear as she answered the Wizard. ”Though hope may seem to fade for a moment, brother, it rises fast and soon, for there is that within my breast that tells me that you cannot always hold me thus.”
She would have given much had the Wizard not found her sunken in despair, but since he had done so, she was determined that he should not guess how deep that despair had been.
The Wizard smiled contemptuously at her words, and added taunt to taunt.
”It tells you, perchance, of that Prince, then, who lingers near the Cave Mouth, seeking entrance, in the belief, no doubt, that he can succeed in s.n.a.t.c.hing you from this prison, and from my power. But let him not deceive himself. My guards are many and watchful-my friends without are strong and clever. He will never be able to escape all of these, try how he may.”
The Shadow Witch started violently at such unexpected words. The help that she had yearned for had come! Prince Radiance, to whom she had been so true a friend, had not forsaken her in her need! That hope, of which she had boasted, and which had so nearly faded from her heart, sprang again to fulness of life. She threw up her arms in uncontrollable rejoicing, and her voice rang sweet and high and clear as she exclaimed: ”Ah, he has come at last, the good Prince Radiance! He has not failed me! Think not that your guards can stay him. Think not that your evil friends are able to destroy him. He has conquered them once-he will conquer again. Already you yourself have felt his mystic power. You shall feel it once more, my brother, when he returns. I have done well to hope!”
”Nay, not so fast,” the Wizard flung at her scornfully. ”He who comes is not Prince Radiance, but some stranger prince. One who owes you no friends.h.i.+p, whose power is untested, who has no cause to brave great dangers for your sake-grey woman that you are. From the perils that he must meet he will soon turn back, if indeed he live to do so.”
Undismayed, undiscouraged, the Shadow Witch bent her dark eyes upon him.
”What matter that he is a stranger?” she cried confidently. ”They who come from that bright land count themselves no strangers to the weak and the defenceless. They have, too, their own n.o.ble magic, before which ours is powerless. In a moment when you think not it will be upon you, and its spell will overcome you. This prince is my friend! I know it well! The hour of my deliverance is at hand!”
Loud rang the laughter of the Wizard. Harsh and vibrant it filled all the room and echoed back from the gloomy walls. ”Think you I would tell you of this prince, did I not know that he cannot reach you? Far hid from him are you, my sister,” he triumphed, ”so deep within this Cave, and behind such walls as he can never penetrate, whatever be his magic.
The secret that unlocks your dungeon lies with me only, and with those to whom I choose to entrust it. The spell that holds it fast is the all-potent spell of the Wizard of the Cave.”
Proudly and boastfully he spoke, but all that he might say had no power to dim the hope and confidence of his sister. She deigned him no reply, but by her bearing he knew that she feared him not at all.
”When I come again,” he jeered at her, ”I will bring you further news of this good prince, and how his adventure fares. It will give you food for thought, perchance, as you sit here in your darkness.”
”It will indeed sustain me, brother,” she replied.
Prince Ember, near to her, though unseen, listening to her dauntless words, loved her yet more for her high courage and for her sorrowful beauty.
Still smiling scornfully, the Wizard turned away. The Imps knowing that he was now ready to depart, raised their lanterns. Their master touched the wall. It opened wide, and in an instant master and slaves were gone, and the walls met silently and grimly together behind them. Beyond its barrier their retreating footsteps grew fainter and yet fainter until soon they could no longer be heard.
Alone, as she believed herself now to be, in the imprisoning darkness, the Shadow Witch let fall her head and sighed deeply. ”Ah, that the time may not be long,” she murmured. ”Ah, that this prince might hasten his coming, for I am very weary, even though I hope.”
Then from the darkness near her came a voice. ”Princess of the Shadows,”
it breathed, ”I, Prince Ember am here.”
At the words her heart leapt within her breast. She raised her head quickly, thinking to pierce the blackness that surrounded her and behold the one who spoke. As she did so the gloom melted, and in its place a soft warm glow flooded all her prison. By its rich light she saw before her a glorious figure, clad all in deepest rose-Prince Ember, freed from his dark disguise. The radiant brightness of his ruddy garments made warmth and light about him. His eyes, ardent and glowing, were bent upon her, filled with a tenderness of sympathy and compa.s.sion, with a fulness of love, that struck to her soul. His hands were stretched to her, his spirit drew her.
[Ill.u.s.tration: She saw before her a glorious figure, Prince Ember.]
A cry of wonder broke from the lips of the Shadow Witch. With her large eyes fixed upon him, sorrow fled from her face, and in its stead came joy where joy had never dwelt before. How had he come to her? she asked herself, to her in this dark prison? How had he pierced the thickness of those cruel walls? Why should his eyes rest with love upon her, the grey Shadow Witch? And yet it was true-he was here, this glorious prince-come to save her!
Her face dropped suddenly to her quivering hands, lest it should betray to him too plainly how her heart went out to him, in love and grat.i.tude.