12. The Gift of Beauty
The following morning Marvel and Nerle once more set out to leave theKingdom of Spor and its ugly king. They selected another pathwayleading from the castle and traveled all day, coming at nightfall intoview of the place whence they had started, with its solemn rows ofgiants and Gray Men standing ready to receive them.
This repetition of their former experience somewhat annoyed the prince,while Nerle's usually despondent face wore a smile.
"I see trouble ahead," murmured the esquire, almost cheerfully. "Sincethe king can not conquer us by force he intends to do it by sorcery."
Marvel did not reply, but greeted the king quietly, while Terribuswelcomed their return as calmly as if he well knew they could notescape him.
That evening the prince made another pass toward the king with his handand muttered again the magic word. Nerle was watching, and saw theupper eye of Terribus glide still farther down his forehead and theother eye move again toward the left. The swaying nose shrank to a fewinches in length, and the skin that had once been so brilliantlycrimson turned to a dull red color. This time the courtiers and ladiesin waiting also noticed the change in the king's features, but wereafraid to speak of it, as any reference to their monarch's personalappearance was by law punishable by death. Terribus saw the startledlooks directed upon him, and raised his hand to feel of his nose andeyes; but thinking that if any change in his appearance had takenplace, he must be uglier than before, he only frowned and turned awayhis head.
The next day the king's guests made a third attempt to leave hisdominions, but met with no better success than before, for a long andtedious ride only brought them back to their starting-place in theevening.
This time Prince Marvel was really angry, and striding into the king'spresence he reproached him bitterly, saying:
"Why do you prevent us from leaving your kingdom? We have not injuredyou in any way."
"You have seen ME," returned Terribus, calmly, "and I do not intend youshall go back to the world and tell people how ugly I am."
The prince looked at him, and could not repress a smile. The two eyesof the king, having been twice removed from their first position, werenow both in his forehead, instead of below it, and one was much higherthan the other. And the nose, although small when compared to what ithad been, still resembled an elephant's trunk. Other changes had beenmade for the better, but Terribus was still exceedingly repulsive tolook upon.
Seeing the prince look at him and smile, the king flew into a fury ofanger and declared that the strangers should never, while they lived,be permitted to leave his castle again. Prince Marvel becamethoughtful at this, reflecting that the king's enmity all arose fromhis sensitiveness about his ugly appearance, and this filled theyouthful knight with pity rather than resentment.
When they had all assembled at the evening banquet the prince, for athird time, made a mystic pass at the king and whispered a magic word.And behold! this time the charm was complete. For the two front eyesof Terribus fell into their proper places, his nose became straight andwell formed, and his skin took on a natural, healthy color. Moreover,he now had a fine head of soft brown hair, with eyebrows and eyelashesto match, and his head was shapely and in proportion to his body. Asfor the eye that had formerly been in the back of his head, it haddisappeared completely.
So amazed were the subjects of the transformed king--who was now quitehandsome to look upon--that they began to murmur together excitedly,and something in the new sensations he experienced gave to the king'sface likewise an expression of surprise. Knowing from their pleasedlooks that he must have improved in appearance, he found courage toraise his hand to his nose, and found it well formed. Then he touchedhis eyes, and realized they were looking straight out from his face,like those of other people.
For some moments after making these discoveries the king remainedmotionless, a smile of joy gradually spreading over his features. Thenhe said, aloud:
"What has happened? Why do you all look so startled?"
"Your Majesty is no longer ugly," replied Marvel, laughingly; "so thatwhen Nerle and I leave your kingdom we can proclaim nothing less thanpraise of your dignified and handsome appearance."
"Is my face indeed pleasing?" demanded the king, eagerly.
"It is!" cried the assembled courtiers and ladies, as with one voice.
"Bring me a mirror!" said the king. "I shall look at my reflection forthe first time in many years."
The mirror being brought King Terribus regarded himself for a long timewith pleased astonishment; and then, his sensitive nature beingovercome by the shock of his good fortune, he burst into a flood oftears and rushed from the room.
The courtiers and ladies now bestowed many grateful thanks upon PrinceMarvel for his kind deed; for they realized that thereafter their liveswould be safer from the king's anger and much pleasanter in every way.
"Terribus is not bad by nature," said one; "but he brooded upon hisugliness so much that the least thing served to throw him into aviolent passion, and our lives were never safe from one day to another."
By and by two giants entered the hall and carried away the throne ofgray stone where Terribus had been accustomed to sit; and other slavesbrought a gorgeous throne of gold, studded with precious jewels, whichthey put in its place. And after a time the king himself returned tothe room, his simple gray gown replaced by flowing robes of purple,with rich embroideries, such as he had not worn for many years.
"My people," said he, addressing those present with kindness anddignity, "it seems to me fitting that a handsome king should behandsomely attired, and an ugly one clothed simply. For years I havebeen so terrible in feature that I dared not even look at my own imagein a mirror. But now, thanks to the gracious magic of my guest, I havebecome like other men, and hereafter you will find my rule as kind asit was formerly cruel. To-night, in honor of this joyous occasion, weshall feast and make merry, and it is my royal command that you all dohonor and reverence to the illustrious Prince Marvel!"
A loud shout of approval greeted this speech, and the evening was merryindeed. Terribus joined freely in the revelry, laughing as gaily asthe lightest-hearted damsel present.
It was nearly morning before they all retired, and as they sought theirbeds Nerle asked the prince in a voice that sounded like an ill-naturedgrowl:
"Why did you give the king beauty, after his treatment of us?"
Marvel looked at the reproachful face of his esquire and smiled. "Whenyou are older," said he, "you will find that often there are many waysto accomplish a single purpose. The king's ugliness was the bar to ourleaving his country, for he feared our gossip. So the easiest way forus to compass our escape was to take away his reason for detaining us.Thus I conquered the king in my own way, and at the same time gainedhis gratitude and friendship."
"Will he allow us to depart in the morning?" inquired Nerle.
"I think so," said Marvel.
It was late when they rose from their slumbers; but, havingbreakfasted, the prince's first act was to seek the king.
"We wish to leave your kingdom," said he. "Will you let us go?"
Terribus grasped the hand of his guest and pressed it with fervor,while tears of gratitude stood in his eyes.
"I should prefer that you remain with me always, and be my friend," heanswered. "But if you choose to leave me I shall not interfere in anyway with your wishes."
Prince Marvel looked at him thoughtfully, and then said: "My time onthis island is short. In a few months Prince Marvel will have passedout of the knowledge of men, and his name will be forgotten. Beforethen I hope to visit the Kingdoms of Dawna and Auriel and Plenta; so Imust not delay, but beg you will permit me to depart at once."
"Very well," answered Terribus. "Come with me, and I shall show youthe way."
He led the prince and Nerle to a high wall of rock, and placing hishand upon its rough surface, touched a hidden spring. Instantly animmense block of stone began to swing backward
, disclosing a passagelarge enough for a man on horseback to ride through.
"This is the one road that leads out of my kingdom," said Terribus."The others all begin and end at the castle. So that unless you knowthe secret of this passage you could never escape from Spor."
"But where does this road lead?" asked Marvel.
"To the Kingdom of Auriel, which you desire to visit. It is not astraight road, for it winds around the Land of Twi, so it will carryyou a little out of your way."
"What is the Land of Twi?" inquired the prince.
"A small country hidden from the view of all travelers," said Terribus."No one has ever yet found a way to enter the land of Twi; yet there isa rumor that it is ruled by a mighty personage called the High Ki."
"And does the rumor state what the High Ki of Twi is like?"
"No, indeed," returned the king, smiling, "so it will do you no good tobe curious. And now farewell, and may good luck attend you. Yet bearin mind the fact that King Terribus of Spor owes you a mighty debt ofgratitude; and if you ever need my services, you have but to call onme, and I shall gladly come to your assistance."
"I thank you," said Marvel, "but there is small chance of my needinghelp. Farewell, and may your future life be pleasant and happy!"
With this he sprang to the saddle of his prancing charger and, followedby Nerle, rode slowly through the stone arch. The courtiers and ladieshad flocked from the palace to witness their departure, and the giantsand dwarfs and Gray Men were drawn up in long lines to speed the king'sguests. So it was a brilliant sight that Marvel and Nerle looked backon; but once they were clear of the arch, the great stone rolled backinto its place, shutting them out completely from the Kingdom of Spor,with its turreted castle and transformed king.