“Yes, dear mistress.”
“And did you see the remains of the wedding feast?”
“Yes, dear mistress, the remains of a feast that shamed the King’s Son, for Suyettar served bones instead of meat, fish heads, turnip tops, and bread burned to a cinder.”
“Good Pilka!” Ilona said. “Good little dog! You have done well! Now the dawn is coming and I must go back to the Sea King’s palace. But I shall come again to-night and also to-morrow night and do you be here waiting for me.”
Pilka promised and Ilona sank down into the sea to a clanking of chains that sounded like silver bells. The King’s Son heard them in his sleep and for a moment woke and said:
“What’s that?”
“What’s what?” snarled Suyettar. “You’re dreaming! Go back to sleep!”
A few hours later when he woke again, he found the lovely square of embroidery on his pillow.
“Who made this?” he cried.
Suyettar was busy combing her snaky locks. She turned on him quickly.