VII - Of the Rescue of Fleetstride
So it was that the Princess Starbright stole secret over the land, swift-flying in eagle cloak. And she marvelled and wondered at the wide fields and green hills, for over long years had she seen naught but the woods of Mother Applebloom. Yet ever as she drew closer to the castle did her heart turn from wonder to sorrow, for the orc-king had defiled the land, and despoiled its beauties.
And as Starbright drew to the castle, her cloaked form passed over the moon’s watching face, and a cry of alarm and dismay went up from the nightguard, for they saw it as an omen of ill fortune. And the captain of the nightguard roused his men, and they shot arrows wild into the air. Yet so it was that not one struck Starbright, for she twisted the hat on her head and so passed secret over the great walls. And though she was hidden from mortal view, all of evil heart felt a shadow of terror as she passed, and a nameless fear fell upon them.
So it was that Starbright came with secret swiftness into the heart of the orc-king’s castle, where she herself had been born long years ago, and she descended into its dark depths wherein Fleetstride was kept in torment. And she stood bold before the jailer and revealed herself, and he drew poisoned blade to spring upon her. But Starbright sang a song of staying and he was fixed even where he stood. Then Starbright commanded the jailer to reveal where Fleetstride was, and he was compelled by the power of her ring to answer full truthfully. So he spoke, and then the princess struck him down with her cudgel and took his keys from his belt and found the dungeon he had named and there was Fleetstride, and when he saw Starbright his heart was filled with joy, and wonder, for he knew not how she had come to this grim place.
And Starbright, too, was glad beyond reckoning, and she cast open the cage door and freed Fleetstride from his chains, and they embraced. Then did Starbright wrap herself in her feathered cloak and greatwinged soar out of the dungeon depths and away from the frowning stone towers and walls of the castle, and the orc guards were filled with fresh dismay at her passing. But as for Fleetstride, he took the magic hat and, swift and unseen, took up anew his silver faerie axe, for no orc would bear it. Then he left, unseen and swift as a whisper of the wind, and those he passed were ill at ease.
So it was that Starbright and Fleetstride escaped the castle of the orc-king and all its perils, and came at last to meet once more in a hidden secret place nearby, and they spoke spells of warding upon it. And long did their joy last and long did they speak, yet not all their talk was joyous. For Fleetstride told Starbright of the orc-king’s strange might, and of how he was guarded from harm. And they spoke long into the night, debating how best to unravel this mystery. And it was apparent that neither one nor the other had full wisdom in this matter, but both were wise of thought, and their wits were sharp. And as the sun rose and the world woke, the insight of Starbright and the craft of Fleetstride fixed upon a course to be undertook.
VIII - Of the Beguiling of the Evil King
So it was that as the day dawned, Fleetstride and Starbright returned to the castle of the orc-king. But behold! now they came not creeping as thieves in the night, but with great pomp along the highway. For Fleetstride had set upon his head the magic hat and it was on rightways, and he had taken for himself the form of a mighty prince of a far distant land, and he shone with gold and there were bejewelled ornaments in his hair. And all who saw him pass were struck with awe at his rich garb and noble bearing, but their amazement was scarce less at the sight of his companion. For surely this was the long-lost princess, at last returned unto her kingdom?
And there was a muttering and a great rumour of their coming, such that by the time the prince and princess came unto the gates of the castle, already their approach was known. And the gates were thrown wide at Fleetstride’s command, and he passed once more within its circles but now as honoured guest and not wretched prisoner. And at his side was the fair Starbright.
Now the orc-king heard tell that a gallant prince of lands fair distant had come, and secretly did he hold great jealousy and wrath when he heard tell how noble was this prince’s bearing, and how richly bedecked he was. Further was it so that when he heard that the prince had as consort the lost princess, whom he had himself once desired, his anger blazed hot within him, and nearly did it master him in that moment so that fain would he have slain both when at last they stood before him in audience.
Yet though the orc-king’s fury was great, it did not fully overcome his cunning, and he judged that there was some mystery at play, and that he would do well to question his guests for the uncovering of it. Further did he secret hope that through fair speech with this lofty prince, he may gain great riches or favour with this unknown lord, the better to work his own evil.
So the orc-king feigned great courtesy and greeted his noble guests with honeyed words of fair welcome, and he bowed low before them, even as he longed to see them cower before him. And he asked of the prince from whence he hailed and what errand brought him to lands so distant and poor, and further did he ask of Starbright what had become of her all those years ago, and how it was so that she was now in the company of so great a lord. “For,” said the orc-king, “Greatly have I and all my people feared for your safety, and we have wept at the thought that an ill fate may have come upon you.”
Then bowed Fleetstride low in turn, and he answered that he came from a great kingdom of the east, many miles from here, and that many years ago had a child wandered to that land and had been given refuge and raised, for it had been clear by her trappings and bearing that she was herself of high station. “And so now, that child, the princess of this land, is returned to her home, so as to take up her inheritance,” said Fleetstride. “And it is the hope of I and all my people that through this happy chance, some tie of friendship may come about between my lands and yours, and so bring riches and benefit to us both.”
And the orc-king knew in his deceitful heart that there was some lie in the words, yet he knew not what the nature of it was. And great though his sorcery was, he could not see through the magicks of the hat, and he dared not bring harm upon this prince so rich and grand, for fear of reprove. So even as he schemed black treachery in his thought, he spoke ever kinder and more gracious words to the prince (for so he still thought Fleetstride), and never did he guess that the fell warrior he had crossed blade with stood now before him, so full was the change that the enchanted hat had wrought.
Yet his wonder at Starbright’s coming was scarce less, for long had the orc-king thought the princess slain or worse, and the sight of her returned to her kingdom filled him with a dread, for he knew well that she was a danger to his rule. And he saw that she was fair and graceful, and he hated her beauty.
So the orc-king spoke hollow words of courtesy to his loathed guests, and sought to pierce the meaning of their coming. Yet never did he guess it, though they spoke for many hours, and at length the time for meal came, and the orc-king invited the prince and princess to join him at table. And as they rose, Starbright said to the orc-king, “Pray, lord, many and great tales have we heard of your strength and prowess, and it seems to my companion that such stories be naught but rumour and fancy. Yet I say that there be a mighty power upon you, lord, and that in truth you be greater than mortal man by some boon. What be the truth of it, pray?”
And the orc-king felt his heart stir strangely within him, and though it was his habit not to answer such question, he thought himself safe and secure in his power. Further, so guileless and reverent was the princess’ question that he felt no doubt, and realised not that he was compelled to answer by the power of the ring upon Starbright’s finger. And so he said, “You be in the right, oh maiden fair, and the prince’s wit be not so great as yours. For there be a spell of fortune and of warding upon me, so long as my strength be safe. And that strength be in my little finger, which long ago I cut off and hid away.” And he held up his left hand and lo! there were but four fingers upon it.
Then Starbright said, guileless and without care, “Indeed, be that so? Then where be your finger kept? For it would be a misfortune were another to chance upon it.”
And the orc-king laughed and boasted, “There be no chance of that! For in the middle of the great sea there is a mountain of sheer glass that reaches into the clouds. And at the top of that mountain is a tower of stone, without door or stair, and the window is high. And at the top of that tower is a locked box of iron, watched ever by a mighty giant. And in that box is my finger.” And so certain was the orc-king in his safety, and so easily did the words pass his lips, that never did he think that this question be the reason for the visit of the prince and princess. So it was that he was none the wiser as they rose and attended their meal.
Yet though the orc-king guessed this knowledge not, still was he gripped by fear as to what the coming of the lost princess may mean. And his heart was black and filled with malice, though he strove to show it not, so that when he rose from meat with his guests, and they declared their intent to be away, he pled with them not to depart, to remain a spell longer as his honoured friends. “At the least, it would be well for the princess to tarry a while,” he said. “For long has she been absent from her kingdom, and it would be ill for all to lose her so soon after her returning.” Though in his thought, rather intended he to keep Starbright prisoner, if in gilded cage, so as to divine her purpose and find some chance to do away with her.
So the orc-king beseeched and demanded in turn, and for all the protests of Fleetstride, Starbright saw that the wicked king would not be swayed, and that it might be that he would be moved to violence if his order were further resisted. So she gave herself up to the orc-king, agreeing to his terms, and she was led away to a high tower, and Fleetstride departed with heavy heart, for he knew well her peril in that moment, and he saw no chance of accomplishing his errand without her aid.
But as Fleetstride left the company of the evil king, he was stopped in his path by a woman bent with age and with grief. And she said to him, “Noble prince, be the maiden in your company truly the princess Starbright, lost these long years?”
And Fleetstride answered, “Aye, she be.”
Then the woman wept, and her tears were of mingled sorrow and joy. And she said, “Then I must have speech with her, for I owe her recompense. For many years ago, ‘twas my husband, the old king’s captain, who was to deliver the child to her unhappy fate. And so she is owed twice over by me, both for the evil charge put upon my husband over her, and that he failed in the keeping of her.”
Then Fleetstride understood that some strange chance was upon him, and he drew into a hidden corner, and removed the magic hat and sudden Fleetstride the youth was before the old woman, and the exotic prince was no more. And she near let out a cry of surprise, but Fleetstride forestalled her and said, “We have but little time to act upon this good fortune. For you, too, are owed great measure of grief by the evil king, and are due vengeance upon him even as we are. Listen, then, to what I have to say.”
And Fleetstride spoke in low and urgent tone, and the old widow saw truly that he meant to bring an end to the king’s wicked rule, and listened fully to his plan. So she took the magic hat from Fleetstride, and he fled from the castle on swift foot. And when the time for the evening meal came, it was the widow who brought it to the imprisoned Starbright, and she spoke with the princess and told her of Fleetstride’s scheme, and Starbright agreed to it even as the widow had.
So the widow set the hat upon her head and took upon the visage and dress of the Princess Starbright, yea, even as she appeared in that very moment. Then the princess cast herself from the tower, and her eagle-feathered cloak bore her away, and she met with Fleetstride in a place far from the castle. And the old widow remained in the tower, and yet the orc-king was none the wiser, for she bore Starbright’s face and was clad as the princess was clad. So it was that the evil king suspected no treachery, and he knew not that his prisoners had escaped from depth of dungeon and highest tower.
