“Now, now,” urged the Shadow Witch, at the Prince’s ear. “Now, or it will be too late!”
Out flashed the Sword of Flames. It filled the Cave with blinding light. The cover of the urn settled back to its place with a harsh clang, as the Wizard leaped to his feet, shielding his eyes with his hands.
“The Sword of Flames! The Sword of Flames!” he shrieked. “Away! Away!”
He tried to flee, but fell prostrate across the Urn of Vapors instead. From every corner of the Cave sprang a crowd of Imps in answer to their master’s cry. Seeing the dread weapon that flashed in the hand of Prince Radiance they turned their backs upon it in terror, and screaming wildly surrounded the urn in a huddled mass. Throwing themselves upon it, they hurried it away into a dim passage, with their master still lying senseless across its top. As they disappeared into the pitch dark opening, a heavy door of charcoal fell shut behind them, closing the entrance to the place to which they fled.
Overjoyed at his victory, Radiance lifted his eyes to where but a moment since he had seen Princess White Flame trembling against the Cave wall, but the Princess, the Earth Fairy, and Flying Soot were nowhere to be seen. Except for the Shadow Witch he was entirely alone in the Cave of Darkness.
With a gesture of despair the Prince let the Sword of Flames drop back into its sheath. “What has it availed me to overcome this miserable Wizard,” he groaned, “since it has brought me no nearer to my dear White Flame? Again she has vanished, and I know not where to seek her; whether in some dusky portion of this hateful Cave, or in the open country without.”
The voice of the Shadow Witch answered him. “Have courage, good Prince. All is not lost. Leave the Cave of Darkness with me, and seek her in the light.”
Prince Radiance hesitated, but the Shadow Witch insisted. “She is not here,” she told him. “Trust yourself fully to my guidance, and I will lead you safely out.” Then the Prince yielded, and together they left the Wizard’s Hall. Down the dark corridor they passed swiftly and soon arrived at the Cave’s mouth. There they parted, the Shadow Witch stealing away with drooped head to her Land of Shadows, the Prince standing for a moment gazing with eager eyes across the plain, hoping that not far away he might behold the flame of his Princess.