The Enchanted Island of Yew | Page 4

Isle of Yew. And in it were five important kingdoms ruled by
men, and many woodland dells and forest glades and pleasant meadows
and grim mountains inhabited by fairies.
From the fairies some of the men had learned wonderful secrets, and
had become magicians and sorcerers, with powers so great that the
entire island was reputed to be one of enchantments. Who these men
were the common people did not always know; for while some were
kings and rulers, others lived quietly hidden away in forests or
mountains, and seldom or never showed themselves. Indeed, there were
not so many of these magicians as people thought, only it was so hard
to tell them from common folk that every stranger was regarded with a
certain amount of curiosity and fear.
The island was round--like a mince pie. And it was divided into four
quarters--also like a pie--except that there was a big place in the center
where the fifth kingdom, called Spor, lay in the midst of the mountains.
Spor was ruled by King Terribus, whom no one but his own subjects
had ever seen--and not many of them. For no one was allowed to enter
the Kingdom of Spor, and its king never left his palace. But the people
of Spor had a bad habit of rushing down from their mountains and
stealing the goods of the inhabitants of the other four kingdoms, and
carrying them home with them, without offering any apologies

whatever for such horrid conduct. Sometimes those they robbed tried to
fight them; but they were a terrible people, consisting of giants with
huge clubs, and dwarfs who threw flaming darts, and the stern Gray
Men of Spor, who were most frightful of all. So, as a rule, every one
fled before them, and the people were thankful that the fierce warriors
of Spor seldom came to rob them oftener than once a year.
It was on this account that all who could afford the expense built
castles to live in, with stone walls so thick that even the giants of Spor
could not batter them down. And the children were not allowed to stray
far from home for fear some roving band of robbers might steal them
and make their parents pay large sums for their safe return.
Yet for all this the people of the Enchanted Isle of Yew were happy and
prosperous. No grass was greener, no forests more cool and delightful,
no skies more sunny, no sea more blue and rippling than theirs.
And the nations of the world envied them, but dared not attempt to
conquer an island abounding in enchantments.

3. The Fairy Bower
That part of the Enchanted Isle which was kissed by the rising sun was
called Dawna; the kingdom that was tinted rose and purple by the
setting sun was known as Auriel, and the southland, where fruits and
flowers abounded, was the kingdom of Plenta. Up at the north lay Heg,
the home of the great barons who feared not even the men of Spor; and
in the Kingdom of Heg our story opens.
Upon a beautiful plain stood the castle of the great Baron
Merd--renowned alike in war and peace, and second in importance only
to the King of Heg. It was a castle of vast extent, built with thick walls
and protected by strong gates. In front of it sloped a pretty stretch of
land with the sea glistening far beyond; and back of it, but a short
distance away, was the edge of the Forest of Lurla.
One fair summer day the custodian of the castle gates opened a wicket
and let down a draw-bridge, when out trooped three pretty girls with
baskets dangling on their arms. One of the maids walked in front of her
companions, as became the only daughter of the mighty Baron Merd.
She was named Seseley, and had yellow hair and red cheeks and big,
blue eyes. Behind her, merry and laughing, yet with a distinct deference
to the high station of their young lady, walked Berna and Helda--dark

brunettes with mischievous eyes and slender, lithe limbs. Berna was the
daughter of the chief archer, and Helda the niece of the captain of the
guard, and they were appointed play-fellows and comrades of the fair
Seseley.
Up the hill to the forest's edge ran the three, and then without hesitation
plunged into the shade of the ancient trees. There was no sunlight now,
but the air was cool and fragrant of nuts and mosses, and the children
skipped along the paths joyously and without fear.
To be sure, the Forest of Lurla was well known as the home of fairies,
but Seseley and her comrades feared nothing from such gentle creatures
and only longed for an interview with the