At these words the girl kissed her father’s hand gratefully and returned to her mother with rejoicing. The queen was glad, indeed. She took the child in her arms and kissed her eyes.
The year passed most swiftly, and, at its end, the mother was so racked with fear that, again, she began to cry. Upon this the child made bold to approach her father, who, for her sake, delayed the initiation for another year.
But when the third year came, the queen, knowing in her heart that there could be no hope, went to her room and gave herself up to such bitter tears that the child was not able to restrain her own. So they two wept together.
Then the mother said: “Ai, my daughter! Although your father, the king, has delayed this important ceremony for two years, I am certain that he will not defer it a third time. You are now large and well grown. There is no longer any respite for me. To-morrow I shall be put to death. This is the last day of my life.”
But the girl was determined to cheer her mother, at all cost. “Ai, honored mother!” she made answer. “If my father summons me I will beg for a half hour’s grace, when I will go to the stable, mount a swift horse, and fly away.”
“But what will become of you, my child?” [[100]]
“Dearest mother, do not be anxious about me. I will go to foreign lands and dwell. It will be a small sacrifice to make for your happiness.”
The next morning tents were pitched in a great open square; and when it became known that the royal ceremony was to take place, an immense crowd of people collected.
The king called for the supposed prince, and said: “My son, you are now fourteen years old. The long-postponed initiation will take place to-day.”
“Indeed, my honored father, I am now ready. Will you grant that I may first ride, on horseback, about the square, to view the people and the grand preparations? After that you will do with me according to your will.”