Atondido Stories
Suddenly the prince noticed that one of the twelve windows
was covered with a white curtain. He pulled the curtain aside
and there without any question was the most beautiful princess
of them all, clothed in pure white, with a silver girdle and a
crown of pearls. Her face was deathly pale and sad as the grave.
For a long time the prince stood before this picture in utter
amazement and as he looked at it a pain seemed to enter his
heart.
“This one I want for my bride,” he said aloud, “this one and
no other.”
At these words the maiden bowed, flushed like a rose, and
then instantly all the pictures disappeared.
When the prince told his father what he had seen and which
maiden he had chosen, the old king was greatly troubled.
“My son,” he said, “you did ill to uncover what was covered
and in declaring this, your choice, you have exposed yourself to
a great danger. This maiden is in the power of a black magician
who holds her captive in an iron castle. Of all who have gone to
rescue her not one has ever returned. However, what’s done is
done and you have given your word. Go, then, try what fortune
has in store for you, and may Heaven bring you back safe and
sound.”
So the prince bade his father farewell, mounted his horse,
and rode forth to find his bride. His first adventure was to lose
his way in a deep forest. He wandered about some time not
knowing where to turn when suddenly he was hailed from be-
hind with these words:
“Hey, there, master, wait a minute!”
He looked around and saw a tall man running toward him.
“Take me into your service, master,” the tall man said. “If
you do you won’t regret it.”
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