The Shadow Witch Part 5

Creeping Shadow could not contain herself until they met, but called to them, "Rejoice! Rejoice, for soon our mistress will return to us again!"

At this glad news they all broke forth into joyful cries and rushed to her side with rapid and excited questions, and no sooner had she begun to answer them than Black Shadow, seizing her opportunity, slipped silently away from them and losing herself among the trees, stole un.o.bserved out of the garden.

With all speed she took her way to the steep cliff that led to the Cave of Darkness; swiftly and steadily she mounted it till she came to the mouth of the cavern. She entered without pause. Strictly as it was guarded by the Imps whom the Wizard had placed there, that none might enter to bring help to the Shadow Witch, no one of them challenged Black Shadow. They knew her and her ways-knew, also, that whatever might be her errand, she was always a welcome guest to their master. An Imp at once came to light her way, and she followed his flickering lantern until she came out at last into the Cave Hall.

There she beheld the Wizard deeply engaged. He sat in his huge armchair before a table, on which lay an ebony box filled with those wands with which he worked his darkest magic. He took up the wands, one by one, and ran his fingers over them carefully to test their power and having satisfied himself that they were in perfect order, he wrapped each one separately in a black cloth and laid it back in its place within the casket.

The Imps were not allowed to come nearer to these wands at any time than to touch the carefully locked casket as they bore it to and from its place in their master's treasure chamber, but they watched the Wizard from a distance with eyes that twinkled sharply with curiosity as he sat handling them openly in their presence.

Black Shadow drew near to him, and the Wizard suddenly perceiving her, swept the remaining wands together abruptly and placed them in the casket at once. He snapped the lid of it and locked it with a small and twisted key which he drew from his garments. This done, he gave his attention to his visitor.

"What is your errand, Black Shadow?" he demanded, leaning back in his chair, and composing himself to listen.

"I bring strange news," she replied, taking the seat before him to which he had waved her. "Creeping Shadow has returned from the Land of Fire, bringing word that a prince is on his way to deliver the Shadow Witch from your hands."

"A prince?" exclaimed the Wizard, starting forward in astonishment.

"Even so," answered Black Shadow.

"Tell me not that it is Prince Radiance," he cried vehemently, for anguish seized him at the memory of the Sword of Flames.

"Nay," returned she. "It is a stranger prince, Ember by name, who knows not this land, nor the dangers which lie in wait for him here. What weapons of defence he possesses, or what his magic, we cannot guess.

This only I can tell you, he is in the home of the Elf of the Borderland at this moment, there to obtain, perhaps, some gift, or some instruction which will make him proof against us. Whether or not Creeping Shadow speaks falsely, she has declared to me that she knows nothing concerning his business with the Elf."

"I have no fear of anyone so small and peaceable as the Elf of the Borderland," laughed the Wizard contemptuously. "It could not be in his power to bestow a gift of any worth. As for the prince-my servants shall redouble their vigilance at the Cave Mouth. He cannot pa.s.s them."

"Be not too sure of that," Black Shadow warned him. "Of the magic of these fairies of the Fire we know nothing. If he possesses some enchantment by which he can pa.s.s your guards unseen, if he should find and liberate your sister, and escape with her from your Cave-what then?

Shall one who has foiled you thus be allowed to return unmolested to his own land?"

For a short s.p.a.ce the Wizard sat plunged in thought, for he knew well that beyond the boundaries of his Cave he had no power. But presently he spoke. "I have friends who will prevent that," he declared confidently.

"Curling Smoke waits but the word to engage himself against any who come from the Land of Fire. The Ash Goblin needs no urging against my sister.

Too often she has made sport of him, until he has not known which way to turn for anger. And as to the Wind in the Chimney, merely to speak to him is to gain his consent to swoop down at once upon any adventurer into our lands. Seek these friends of mine, Black Shadow, and bid them lie in wait for this bold prince. Say to them that the Wizard of the Cave relies upon their aid."

Black Shadow rose, well pleased. With all hope of liberty for the Shadow Witch destroyed, she saw her way to power. "I will be your willing messenger," she said. She turned away and followed by the piercing glances of the Imps, she left the Cave Hall, and a little later again pa.s.sed by the guards at the Cave Mouth and came into the open country without.

There she glanced about her, hoping to catch sight of those whom she sought. She did not look in vain, for almost immediately the giant, Curling Smoke, uncurled his tall form from a deep chasm in the cliff close by and towered high above her, blocking the way.

"Whither do you go, Black Shadow?" demanded he haughtily. "You cannot pa.s.s until you answer."

"I have no wish to pa.s.s, for it is yourself whom I seek," she returned.

"What is it that you desire?" he asked ungraciously, for he was no friend to the Shadow Witch and made naught of her servants.

"I bring a message from the Wizard of the Cave," replied she. "He desires your a.s.sistance. Because of an ill turn that she served him, he holds his sister prisoner, and Creeping Shadow, knowing that it would be vain to ask any of the powerful ones in our own land to rescue her, journeyed to the Land of Fire to ask aid of Prince Radiance."

At the very mention of Prince Radiance, whom he hated, Curling Smoke twisted himself about in a violent rage. "Let him not dare to return here, lest I make short work of him!" he shouted hoa.r.s.ely. "Let him not flatter himself that he can escape me this time as he did before."

"It is not Prince Radiance who comes, but another; that one, so Creeping Shadow tells me, who alone is fated to set the Shadow Witch free. Prince Ember is his name, and even now he is close by, in the house of the Elf of the Borderland, there to receive from him, doubtless, something which will aid him to deliver my mistress, and make him proof against any who a.s.sail him, or who may seek to prevent his success."

Curling Smoke laughed loud and disdainfully. "What has the Elf to give that could avail against me and my magic?" he exclaimed. "You amuse me, Black Shadow. Go to that weakling, the Ash Goblin, with such tales, if you will, but do not bring them to Curling Smoke."

"I repeat only what has been told me," returned Black Shadow. "Whether or not it is true, I know not. I have come to you for one thing only-to obtain a promise for the Wizard that you will engage yourself against this prince, wherever you may encounter him."

Again Curling Smoke laughed, and his huge shape swayed boastfully from side to side. "You have little need to doubt my answer," he replied. "Do I not hate these strangers from the Land of Fire with all my heart? Am I not only too eager for an excuse to do them harm? Return, then, to the Wizard, and say to him that he need have no fear that this prince will escape me. Say to him that Curling Smoke-greatest of all magicians, promises that it shall not be."

This said, Curling Smoke settled again into a cleft from whence he could watch the entire Plain of Ash. No one could approach him from thence without being seen by him.

Black Shadow a.s.sured of the vigilance of this powerful ally, departed at once to seek the Ash Goblin, whose low mean hovel stood at some distance away among the ash mounds of the plain.

So despised is the Ash Goblin that few ever seek his door, and when he heard upon it the sharp knock of Black Shadow, he started with surprise.

He crept across the dingy floor, and put his bulging eye to the keyhole to peer through, and discover who stood without. His astonishment at seeing Black Shadow was great, for never had she sought him out before, but he knew that he had no reason to fear her, so he opened to her at once.

She came in, and without waiting to be invited sank down into a seat.

The Ash Goblin made fast the door, and as he did so he turned his crafty head to her and inquired her errand. She told him all.

"Well may you come to me," he a.s.sured her. "I have long desired to revenge myself upon your impudent mistress. Often she has made sport of me with her tricking shadows. Often she has even dared to make my own form flicker and dance before me-not as it is-indeed, but twisted and misshapen to please her own mischievous fancy." His eyes glinted with malice, and Black Shadow was well pleased to find him so willing to give his help.

"Then I will count upon you," she said rising. "As I have told you, the Prince is now in the Elf's house. If you are wise, you will go and hide yourself near it, and seize your chance to attack him as soon as he leaves its shelter."

"The Wizard need have no fear," retorted the Ash Goblin. "I will surely not miss so good an opportunity to avenge myself upon his sister."

This ally also having been gained, Black Shadow bade him farewell, and went to the Wind in the Chimney.

Wide is the Chimney Mouth, which gives entrance to the Wind's dwelling, for a giant must come and go through it. This entrance is dark, and yawning, and perilous, and none dares enter it except at the Wind's will.

The voice of the Wind is loud when he laughs in glee, but it is louder a thousandfold when he howls with rage, and when he sweeps down from his high seat in the Chimney and rushes out into the lands beyond, whistling or shrieking as he goes, he drives all before him, whether they will or no.

Today the Wind rested in his home, on the great rough bench which was his favorite seat, and Black Shadow had but to ask of the Breezes who loitered about the Chimney Mouth whether she might go into the Wind's presence, to have her request granted immediately. Seldom did she trust herself to such boisterous company, but the occasion was urgent. So she entered, though not without some uneasiness, and went on and up the rough uneven way, till she reached the huge cranny in the Chimney where the Wind sat, humming a whining song to himself, as he lounged against the Chimney wall.

He gave her no courteous greeting when she stood before him, but stretched his mighty arm and shoved her unceremoniously into a seat not far from himself. "What do you come to ask of me? Out with it quickly,"

he growled, with some impatience, for Black Shadow had not dared to speak at once, but sat in silence for a moment considering how best to deliver the message of the Wizard so that it might meet with favor.

Thus commanded, however, she delayed no longer and presently had told her story to the end.

The Wind heard her with unconcealed pleasure. "Ho, ho!" he howled, puffing his round cheeks till they seemed like to burst. "We shall have great sport with this bold prince when he ventures forth from the Elf's dwelling. He shall nowhere be safe from me, for I am the Wind in the Chimney, and nothing stops or stays me in what I set out to do. Prince Ember has no magic that will be proof against me, and so far as anything that the Elf can do for him goes, I scorn it." So confident was he that he laughed till the Chimney shook and rattled, and the soot that lined its walls fell thick over the head and shoulders of his guest.

Hearing their master's uproarious laughter, the Breezes came stealing in to discover its cause, but the Wind frowned upon them and buffeted them to right and left so sternly that they rushed quickly out again without daring to speak.

The Wind turned to Black Shadow. "Go back to the Wizard," he commanded her gruffly. "Tell him that the Chimney shall fall in ruins, and the Wind himself become as the faintest of his Breezes before this stranger prince succeeds in his purpose of setting free the Shadow Witch."

He shook his mantle, he tossed his great s.h.a.ggy head and whistled loudly. "I am the Wind-the Wind in the Chimney! Heugh, heugh! Ho, ho!

Heugh, heugh!"

Pursued by his braggart whistlings and the hoa.r.s.e echoings of his mirth, Black Shadow left him and hurried back to the Wizard's Cave to make known to him the success of her mission.