Authors: The Enchanted Island of Yew
They rode forward through the rows of giants to the castle, where the
ever-courteous servants took their horses and escorted them to their
former handsome apartments with every mark of respect.
No one seemed in the least surprised at their speedy return, and this
fact at first puzzled Nerle, and then made him suspicious.
After bathing and dusting their clothing they descended to the banquet
hall, where King Terribus sat upon his gray stone throne and welcomed
them with quiet courtesy.
The sight of the king's crimson skin and deformed face sent a thrill of
repugnance through Prince Marvel, and under the impulse of a sudden
thought he extended his hand toward Terribus and whispered a magic word
which was unheard by any around him.
Nerle did not notice the prince's swift gesture nor the whispered word;
but he was staring straight at Terribus at the time, and he saw with
surprise the eye on the top of the king's head move down toward his
forehead, and the eye in the center of his forehead slide slightly
toward the left, and the elephant-like nose shrink and shorten at the
same time. Also it seemed to him that the king's skin was not so
crimson in color as before, and that a thin growth of hair had covered
his head.
However, no one else appeared to notice any change—least of all
Terribus—so Nerle seated himself at the table and began to eat.
"It was very kind of you to return so soon to my poor castle," said the
king to Prince Marvel, in his sweet voice.
"We could not help it," laughed the prince, in reply; "for the road
wound right and left until we knew not which way we traveled; and then
it finally circled around again to your castle. But to-morrow we shall
seek a new path and bid you farewell forever."
"Still," remarked the king, gravely, "should you again miss your way, I
shall be glad to welcome your return."
The prince bowed politely by way of reply, and turned to address the
little maiden he had once saved from death by poison. And so in
feasting, dancing and laughter the evening passed pleasantly enough to
the prince, and it was late when he called Nerle to attend him to their
apartment.
The following morning Marvel and Nerle once more set out to leave the
Kingdom of Spor and its ugly king. They selected another pathway
leading from the castle and traveled all day, coming at nightfall into
view of the place whence they had started, with its solemn rows of
giants and Gray Men standing ready to receive them.
This repetition of their former experience somewhat annoyed the prince,
while Nerle's usually despondent face wore a smile.
"I see trouble ahead," murmured the esquire, almost cheerfully. "Since
the king can not conquer us by force he intends to do it by sorcery."
Marvel did not reply, but greeted the king quietly, while Terribus
welcomed their return as calmly as if he well knew they could not
escape him.
That evening the prince made another pass toward the king with his hand
and muttered again the magic word. Nerle was watching, and saw the
upper eye of Terribus glide still farther down his forehead and the
other eye move again toward the left. The swaying nose shrank to a few
inches in length, and the skin that had once been so brilliantly
crimson turned to a dull red color. This time the courtiers and ladies
in waiting also noticed the change in the king's features, but were
afraid to speak of it, as any reference to their monarch's personal
appearance was by law punishable by death. Terribus saw the startled
looks directed upon him, and raised his hand to feel of his nose and
eyes; but thinking that if any change in his appearance had taken
place, he must be uglier than before, he only frowned and turned away
his head.
The next day the king's guests made a third attempt to leave his
dominions, but met with no better success than before, for a long and
tedious ride only brought them back to their starting-place in the
evening.
This time Prince Marvel was really angry, and striding into the king's
presence he reproached him bitterly, saying:
"Why do you prevent us from leaving your kingdom? We have not injured
you in any way."
"You have seen ME," returned Terribus, calmly, "and I do not intend you
shall go back to the world and tell people how ugly I am."
The prince looked at him, and could not repress a smile. The two eyes
of the king, having been twice removed from their first position, were
now both in his forehead, instead of below it, and one was much higher
than the other. And the nose, although small when compared to what it
had been, still resembled an elephant's trunk. Other changes had been
made for the better, but Terribus was still exceedingly repulsive to
look upon.
Seeing the prince look at him and smile, the king flew into a fury of
anger and declared that the strangers should never, while they lived,
be permitted to leave his castle again. Prince Marvel became
thoughtful at this, reflecting that the king's enmity all arose from
his sensitiveness about his ugly appearance, and this filled the
youthful knight with pity rather than resentment.
When they had all assembled at the evening banquet the prince, for a
third time, made a mystic pass at the king and whispered a magic word.
And behold! this time the charm was complete. For the two front eyes
of Terribus fell into their proper places, his nose became straight and
well formed, and his skin took on a natural, healthy color. Moreover,
he now had a fine head of soft brown hair, with eyebrows and eyelashes
to match, and his head was shapely and in proportion to his body. As
for the eye that had formerly been in the back of his head, it had
disappeared completely.
So amazed were the subjects of the transformed king—who was now quite
handsome to look upon—that they began to murmur together excitedly,
and something in the new sensations he experienced gave to the king's
face likewise an expression of surprise. Knowing from their pleased
looks that he must have improved in appearance, he found courage to
raise his hand to his nose, and found it well formed. Then he touched
his eyes, and realized they were looking straight out from his face,
like those of other people.
For some moments after making these discoveries the king remained
motionless, a smile of joy gradually spreading over his features. Then
he said, aloud:
"What has happened? Why do you all look so startled?"
"Your Majesty is no longer ugly," replied Marvel, laughingly; "so that
when Nerle and I leave your kingdom we can proclaim nothing less than
praise of your dignified and handsome appearance."
"Is my face indeed pleasing?" demanded the king, eagerly.
"It is!" cried the assembled courtiers and ladies, as with one voice.
"Bring me a mirror!" said the king. "I shall look at my reflection for
the first time in many years."
The mirror being brought King Terribus regarded himself for a long time
with pleased astonishment; and then, his sensitive nature being
overcome by the shock of his good fortune, he burst into a flood of
tears and rushed from the room.
The courtiers and ladies now bestowed many grateful thanks upon Prince
Marvel for his kind deed; for they realized that thereafter their lives
would be safer from the king's anger and much pleasanter in every way.
"Terribus is not bad by nature," said one; "but he brooded upon his
ugliness so much that the least thing served to throw him into a
violent passion, and our lives were never safe from one day to another."
By and by two giants entered the hall and carried away the throne of
gray stone where Terribus had been accustomed to sit; and other slaves
brought a gorgeous throne of gold, studded with precious jewels, which
they put in its place. And after a time the king himself returned to
the room, his simple gray gown replaced by flowing robes of purple,
with rich embroideries, such as he had not worn for many years.
"My people," said he, addressing those present with kindness and
dignity, "it seems to me fitting that a handsome king should be
handsomely attired, and an ugly one clothed simply. For years I have
been so terrible in feature that I dared not even look at my own image
in a mirror. But now, thanks to the gracious magic of my guest, I have
become like other men, and hereafter you will find my rule as kind as
it was formerly cruel. To-night, in honor of this joyous occasion, we
shall feast and make merry, and it is my royal command that you all do
honor and reverence to the illustrious Prince Marvel!"
A loud shout of approval greeted this speech, and the evening was merry
indeed. Terribus joined freely in the revelry, laughing as gaily as
the lightest-hearted damsel present.
It was nearly morning before they all retired, and as they sought their
beds Nerle asked the prince in a voice that sounded like an ill-natured
growl:
"Why did you give the king beauty, after his treatment of us?"
Marvel looked at the reproachful face of his esquire and smiled. "When
you are older," said he, "you will find that often there are many ways
to accomplish a single purpose. The king's ugliness was the bar to our
leaving his country, for he feared our gossip. So the easiest way for
us to compass our escape was to take away his reason for detaining us.
Thus I conquered the king in my own way, and at the same time gained
his gratitude and friendship."
"Will he allow us to depart in the morning?" inquired Nerle.
"I think so," said Marvel.
It was late when they rose from their slumbers; but, having
breakfasted, the prince's first act was to seek the king.
"We wish to leave your kingdom," said he. "Will you let us go?"
Terribus grasped the hand of his guest and pressed it with fervor,
while tears of gratitude stood in his eyes.
"I should prefer that you remain with me always, and be my friend," he
answered. "But if you choose to leave me I shall not interfere in any
way with your wishes."
Prince Marvel looked at him thoughtfully, and then said: "My time on
this island is short. In a few months Prince Marvel will have passed
out of the knowledge of men, and his name will be forgotten. Before
then I hope to visit the Kingdoms of Dawna and Auriel and Plenta; so I
must not delay, but beg you will permit me to depart at once."
"Very well," answered Terribus. "Come with me, and I shall show you
the way."
He led the prince and Nerle to a high wall of rock, and placing his
hand upon its rough surface, touched a hidden spring. Instantly an
immense block of stone began to swing backward, disclosing a passage
large enough for a man on horseback to ride through.
"This is the one road that leads out of my kingdom," said Terribus.
"The others all begin and end at the castle. So that unless you know
the secret of this passage you could never escape from Spor."
"But where does this road lead?" asked Marvel.
"To the Kingdom of Auriel, which you desire to visit. It is not a
straight road, for it winds around the Land of Twi, so it will carry
you a little out of your way."
"What is the Land of Twi?" inquired the prince.
"A small country hidden from the view of all travelers," said Terribus.
"No one has ever yet found a way to enter the land of Twi; yet there is
a rumor that it is ruled by a mighty personage called the High Ki."
"And does the rumor state what the High Ki of Twi is like?"
"No, indeed," returned the king, smiling, "so it will do you no good to
be curious. And now farewell, and may good luck attend you. Yet bear
in mind the fact that King Terribus of Spor owes you a mighty debt of
gratitude; and if you ever need my services, you have but to call on
me, and I shall gladly come to your assistance."
"I thank you," said Marvel, "but there is small chance of my needing
help. Farewell, and may your future life be pleasant and happy!"
With this he sprang to the saddle of his prancing charger and, followed
by Nerle, rode slowly through the stone arch. The courtiers and ladies
had flocked from the palace to witness their departure, and the giants
and dwarfs and Gray Men were drawn up in long lines to speed the king's
guests. So it was a brilliant sight that Marvel and Nerle looked back
on; but once they were clear of the arch, the great stone rolled back
into its place, shutting them out completely from the Kingdom of Spor,
with its turreted castle and transformed king.
Knowing that at last they were free to roam according to their desire,
the travelers rode gaily along the paths, taking but scant heed of
their way.
"Our faces are set toward new adventures," remarked the prince. "Let
us hope they will prove more pleasant than the last."
"To be sure!" responded Nerle. "Let us hope, at any rate, that we
shall suffer more privations and encounter more trouble than we did in
that mountainous Kingdom of Spor." Then he added: "For one reason, I
regret you are my master."
"What is that reason?" asked the prince, turning to smile upon his
esquire.
"You have a way of overcoming all difficulties without any trouble
whatsoever, and that deprives me of any chance of coming to harm while
in your company."
"Cheer up, my boy!" cried Marvel. "Did I not say there are new
adventures before us? We may not come through them so easily as we
came through the others."
"That is true," replied Nerle; "it is always best to hope." And then he
inquired: "Why do you stop here, in the middle of the path?"
"Because the path has ended rather suddenly," answered Marvel. "Here
is a thick hedge of prickly briers barring our way."
Nerle looked over his master's shoulder and saw that a great hedge,
high and exceedingly thick, cut off all prospect of their advancing.