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The Tale Of The Enchanted Horse - Part 5

By: xrist04

The prince at once seized the opening thus given him, and told the whole story of his treatment by the Princess of Rihad, not even concealing the fact that she had fallen in love with him. "And, Sire," ended the prince, "having given my royal word that you would not refuse your consent to our marriage, I persuaded her to return with me on the Redguard's horse. I have left her in one of your Highness's country houses, where she is waiting anxiously to be assured that I have not promised in vain."

As he said this the prince was about to throw himself at the feet of King Fahara'jad, but his father prevented him, and embracing him again, said eagerly:

"My son, not only do I gladly consent to your marriage with the Princess of Rihad, but I will hasten to pay my respects to her, and to thank her in my own person for the benefits she has conferred on you. I will then bring her back with me, and make all arrangements for the wedding to be celebrated to-day."

So King Fahara'jad gave orders that the habits of mourning worn by the people should be thrown off and that there should be a concert of drums, trumpets and cymbals. Also that the Redguard should be taken from prison, and brought before him.

His commands were obeyed, and the Redguard was led into his presence, surrounded by guards. "I have kept you locked up," said King Fahara'jad, "so that in case my son was lost, your life should pay the penalty. He has now returned; so take your horse, and begone forever."

The Redguard hastily quitted the presence of King Fahara'jad, and when he was outside, he inquired of the man who had taken him out of prison where the prince had really been all this time, and what he had been doing. They told him the whole story, and how the Princess of Rihad was even then awaiting in the country palace the consent of King Fahara'jad, which at once put into the Redguard's head a plan of revenge for the treatment he had experienced. Going straight to the country house, he informed the doorkeeper who was left in charge that he had been sent by King Fahara'jad and by the Prince of Hammerfell to fetch the princess on the enchanted horse, and to bring her to the palace.

The doorkeeper knew the Redguard by sight, and was of course aware that nearly three months before he had been thrown into prison by King Fahara'jad; and seeing him at liberty, the man took for granted that he was speaking the truth, and made no difficulty about leading him before the Princess of Rihad; while on her side, hearing that he had come from the prince, the lady gladly consented to do what he wished.

The Redguard, delighted with the success of his scheme, mounted the horse, assisted the princess to mount behind him, and turned the peg at the very moment that the prince was leaving the palace in Sentinel for the country house, followed closely by King Fahara'jad and all the court. Knowing this, the Redguard deliberately steered the horse right above the city, in order that his revenge for his unjust imprisonment might be all the quicker and sweeter.

When King Fahara'jad of Hammerfell saw the horse and its riders, he stopped short with astonishment and horror, and broke out into oaths and curses, which the Redguard heard quite unmoved, knowing that he was perfectly safe from pursuit. But mortified and furious as King Fahara'jad was, his feelings were nothing to those of Prince Azah, when he saw the object of his passionate devotion being borne rapidly away. And while he was struck speechless with grief and remorse at not having guarded her better, she vanished swiftly out of his sight. What was he to do? Should he follow his father into the palace, and there give reins to his despair? Both his love and his courage alike forbade it; and he continued his way to the palace.

The sight of the prince showed the doorkeeper of what folly he had been guilty, and flinging himself at his master's feet, implored his pardon. "Rise," said the prince, "I am the cause of this misfortune, and not you. Go and find me the dress of a dervish, but beware of saying it is for me."

At a short distance from the country house, a convent of dervishes was situated, and the sheikh thereof was the doorkeeper's friend. So by means of a false story made up on the spur of the moment, it was easy enough to get hold of a dervish's dress, which the prince at once put on, instead of his own. Disguised like this and concealing about him a box of pearls and diamonds he had intended as a present to the princess, he left the house at nightfall, uncertain where he should go, but firmly resolved not to return without her.

Meanwhile the Redguard had turned the horse in such a direction that, before many hours had passed, it had entered a wood close to the capital of the kingdom of Daraz. Feeling very hungry, and supposing that the princess also might be in want of food, he brought his steed down to the earth, and left the princess in a shady place, on the banks of a clear stream.

At first, when the princess had found herself alone, the idea had occurred to her of trying to escape and hide herself. But as she had eaten scarcely anything since she had left Rihad, she felt she was too weak to venture far, and was obliged to abandon her design. On the return of the Redguard with meats of various kinds, she began to eat voraciously, and soon had regained sufficient courage to reply with spirit to his insolent remarks. Goaded by his threats she sprang to her feet, calling loudly for help, and luckily her cries were heard by a troop of horsemen, who rode up to inquire what was the matter.

Now the leader of these horsemen was the Grand Vizier of Daraz, returning from the chase, and he instantly turned to the Redguard to inquire who he was, and whom he had with him. The Redguard rudely answered that it was his wife, and there was no occasion for anyone else to interfere between them.

The princess, who, of course, was ignorant of the rank of her deliverer, denied altogether the Redguard's story. "My lord," she cried, "whoever you may be, put no faith in this impostor. He is an abominable magician, who has this day torn me from the Prince of Hammerfell, my destined husband, and has brought me here on this enchanted horse." She would have continued, but her tears choked her, and the Grand Vizier of Daraz, convinced by her beauty and her distinguished air of the truth of her tale, ordered his followers to cut off the Redguard's head, which was done immediately.

But rescued though she was from one peril, it seemed as if she had only fallen into another. The Grand Vizier commanded a horse to be given her, and conducted her to his own palace, where he led her to a beautiful apartment, and selected female slaves to wait on her, and eunuchs to be her guard. Then, without allowing her time to thank him for all he had done, he bade her repose, saying she should tell him her adventures on the following day.

The princess fell asleep, flattering herself that she had only to relate her story for the Grand Vizier to be touched by compassion, and to restore her to the prince without delay. But a few hours were to undeceive her.


(to be continued...)

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