[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER IV

Beautiful is the Land of Glowing Embers, near to the Palace of King Red Flame. When morning dawns, a light soft and rosy bathes its castles and its gardens. At noonday, its pale sweet glow burns to a richer glory, and a flush of deepest rose ascends over turrets and blossoming trees.

With nightfall, a purple splendor settles over all things while its peaceful fairies sleep. Set in the midst of it is the home of Prince Ember, the fairy palace of Good Cheer.

In his favorite room in the palace Prince Ember sat alone, in deep thought. Spread open upon the table before him was a thick volume, written in the ancient fairy language, filled with tales of fairy adventure of a far off time. As he read and pondered them, his heart was filled with longing that he, too, might go upon some dangerous quest, might win some n.o.ble victory. His domain was quiet. His servants were happy and at peace. He knew of nothing that could call him forth.

Tall and straight of limb and very handsome was this prince of the Land of Glowing Embers. Ruddy gold was his hair, like the fire when it glows most richly. His eyes were bright and kind. The cloak that hung from his shoulders was deep red and fell over red garments of yet deeper hue.

From his round red cap a black feather drooped to mingle with the glory of his hair.

As yet he had no princess, for as yet he had seen none who stirred his heart, though for want of her he was sometimes lonely, even in his Palace of Good Cheer.

The fairies of his dominions loved him well and served him with zeal, for none was kinder, none more n.o.bly just, than their own Prince Ember.

Sitting in his palace on this summer evening, he remembered the brave deeds which Prince Radiance had lately done,-deeds not less splendid than these which were written in this ancient book.

And while he sighed, because he felt that for him there could be no such high adventures, Rushing Flame was speeding toward his palace, on the errand of the King. The messenger gave no heed, in his swift pa.s.sing, to the loveliness of the land, but turning neither to right nor left, came straight to the arched and golden gate that gave entrance to the gardens of the Prince.

Like an arrow he sped through it and on to the palace door. An Ember Fairy opened to his knock and, when he told his business, led him quickly to the Prince.

"Your Highness," he announced, "Rushing Flame is here, with a message from the King."

"Speak, Rushing Flame," commanded the Prince. "What word do you bring me from His Majesty?"

"That you will come to him at once," the messenger replied. "There are important matters that require your presence."

"Know you aught of what these matters may be?" demanded Prince Ember.

"This much only I may tell you, Your Highness. They concern a dangerous and difficult adventure. More than this you must learn from the King himself," answered Rushing Flame.

Prince Ember sprang to his feet, his eyes kindling with eagerness. "See that my horse is brought quickly to the palace door," he cried to the Ember Fairy, who still lingered near, "for I go in haste to my uncle, the King."

The fairy obeyed, and presently the hoof-beats of the ruddy charger that bore the Prince resounded on the road that led to the Palace of Burning Coals.

A good steed and a swift, was he. Before Rushing Flame, with all his speed, had gone half the distance homeward, the Prince alighted at the door of his uncle's palace and a moment later presented himself before the King.

"Ah, my dear Ember," exclaimed King Red Flame, grasping his hand, "your presence is most earnestly desired, for there has come to us a servant of the Shadow Witch, beseeching help for her mistress, who now lies captive to her brother, the Wizard of the Cave of Darkness. This punishment he inflicts upon her, because of her kindness to Prince Radiance and my daughter. Gladly would Prince Radiance prove his grat.i.tude by hasting to her deliverance, but the Wise One has declared that it would be in vain-has declared that it is yourself, and none other, who is fated to set her free. Since this is so, is it your desire to go upon this adventure?"

"Ah, Your Majesty!" cried Prince Ember, his countenance glowing with ardor, "no task could be more welcome. I am ready to set forth immediately."

The King was greatly pleased, and Creeping Shadow, her anxious fears at rest, bowed herself at Prince Ember's feet in grat.i.tude too deep for speech. The hearts of Prince Radiance and Princess White Flame overflowed with joy since the deliverance of the Shadow Witch seemed now a.s.sured, and their happiness was reflected in the faces of all the fairies gathered there.

King Red Flame spoke again. "That your success in this adventure may be made certain, you must first go to the Wise One and receive his instructions. If you obey them, he a.s.sures me that you cannot fail."

"I will give good heed to them," Prince Ember promised him.

So saying he took his leave and followed by Creeping Shadow, set out on foot for the home of the Wise One.

The queer little hut where the Wise One lived was not far off, and soon they stood before its door. Creeping Shadow looked with astonishment at its bright red walls, covered with magic inscriptions, whose meaning was hidden from all but the Wise One. She beheld with amazement the chimneys, like lighted torches, that topped its roof and the blazing flame-bushes that surrounded it. When the Prince knocked on the quaintly carved door and entered at the Wise One's word, she drew back quickly and seated herself under a flame-bush until he should again appear.

Within the hut the Prince found the aged fairy awaiting him. "Hail, Prince Ember," said he, rising to greet him. "You go upon a n.o.ble quest."

"I go gladly," replied the Prince, and the words came from his heart.

"You must not go unprepared," returned the Wise One. "Upon those fairy gifts that you carry with you, upon the use that you make of them, the success of your adventure depends."

"And what shall these gifts be?" inquired the Prince.

"First of all, a sword," was the instant answer. "A fairy sword of power."

"Alas!" sighed the Prince. "That I do not possess."

"It can be provided," returned the Wise One, smiling. He stepped to an ancient chest, deeply carved with mystic signs, that stood quite by itself in a corner of the hut. From out that chest many magic gifts had come, when need was great. Filled to the brim with treasures as it always was, none saw aught within but those gifts which were for his own use.

The Wise One bent down and fitted a key in the lock. After its manner the key turned of itself in the lock; after its manner the lid rose of itself upon its huge hinges.

"Come," said the Wise One, "and behold your sword."

Prince Ember stepped quickly to his side. Before his eyes, close sheathed in its shining scabbard, lay the fairy sword of power. A thrill of awe pa.s.sed through him at the sight.

"Take it," commanded the Wise One.

The Prince lifted it out, and as he unsheathed it, at the Wise One's word, it filled the hut with a burning glow. Heat, intense and ardent, streamed from it, making warm the air.

"This is the Sword of Fire," the ancient fairy told him. "As potent it will be in your hands and for your use, as was the Sword of Flames in the hands of Prince Radiance. In every danger that you must meet, over every obstacle that you must encounter, save one, it will be victorious."

Prince Ember's heart beat fast. "And for that other?" he asked eagerly.

"For that, also, I have a gift," was the answer. "Look within the chest once more and you will see."

Leaning down the Prince peered into the dimness of the chest. "There is a small round box," he said.

"Take it, and open it," commanded the Wise One.

Obediently Prince Ember drew it forth and undid its clasp. He looked within and saw a bit of charcoal, black and glistening; nothing more. He regarded it with astonishment. "What power has this to help me?" he inquired.

"Its power is great," returned the Wise One, gravely. "Guard it with care. When escape for yourself and for the Shadow Witch seems impossible, take it out, and cast it boldly into the midst of the danger that threatens you, and by its good spell your way to safety will be made clear."

The Prince thanked him. He closed the box, and placed it carefully in his breast.

"In order that you may succeed in this undertaking," continued his adviser, "you must be able to reach the prison of the Shadow Witch unseen. You know, as well as I, that among the good fairies of the Fire, only the Ember Fairies have power to become entirely invisible. Within the Wizard's Cave your own magic will serve to make you so, but in the Plain outside you must have the Cloak of Ash."

"This, also, you will give me?" demanded the Prince with quickening breath.

"Nay, I have it not," answered the Wise One, shaking his head. "Only the Elf of the Borderland can bestow this upon you, for he alone, together with his elves, possesses the secret of its making. Moreover it must be woven in the presence of him who is to wear it; otherwise it has no power. Go to him and ask it. He will not refuse you. Creeping Shadow, who knows where he is to be found, will guide you to him. Do in all things as I have advised you, and you will not fail."