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Authors: The Enchanted Island of Yew
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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.
12 - The Gift of Beauty
*
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
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.
12 - The Gift of Beauty
*
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
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