“True,” he answered. “From this land no help can come for the Shadow Witch. But you must not forget the Land of Fire. In it there are many good and powerful fairies, and among them is Prince Radiance. You must go to him and tell him of this desperate plight of your mistress. He will not refuse to come to her relief.”
Creeping Shadow shook her head slowly. “I cannot believe that he will do so,” she asserted, “for not long since my mistress caused him great distress and disappointment by leading him astray.”
“Ay, that she did,” agreed her companion. “But she made amends for it immediately afterward by rendering him a noble service. He himself told me of it with gratitude. I am certain that he has not forgotten it and will be glad to repay his great debt.”
So confidently did the Elf speak that Creeping Shadow took heart once more. She rose quickly from her seat. “If you will but tell me where to find him, I will go and appeal to him at once,” she declared.
“You must seek him in King Red Flame’s dominions, in the Palace of Burning Coals,” the Elf instructed her. “There he dwells with his bride, the lovely Princess White Flame, whom he delivered from the enchantment of the wicked Earth Fairy. Whether or no he is able to come himself to the rescue of your mistress, remains to be discovered, but this much is certain: he will see to it that she is not left a prisoner in the hands of her brother the Wizard. And now, come. I will conduct you to the boundaries of the Land of Fire. Once you enter its dominions you will find many friends, for its fairies are kind and gentle and will do everything in their power to guide you in safety to your journey’s end.”
Cheered and consoled by his words, Creeping Shadow set out in his company, and when at length she thanked the good Elf and bade him farewell on the borders of the Land of Fire, she was able to go forward alone with hope and confidence.
CHAPTER III
In the Land of the Fire Fairies great happiness reigned. Only a little while before Prince Radiance had brought the lovely Princess White Flame safely home to her father, after many perilous and strange adventures, and King Red Flame had rewarded the noble Prince with his daughter’s hand. In the King’s marvelous palace, the Palace of Burning Coals, their fairy wedding had been celebrated with outbursts of joy and exultation.