rvel enjoyed the feasting and dancing at the castle very much,
but after the party began to break up, and the High Ki and the Ki had
left him, as well as King Terribus and honest Wul-Takim, the young
knight grew thoughtful and sometimes uneasy, and his happy laugh was
less frequently heard. Nerle often regarded his young master with a
feeling of awe, for there occasionally came a look into Marvel's eyes
that reminded him more of the immortals than of any human being. But
the prince treated him with rare kindness and always pressed Nerle's
hand affectionately when he bade him good night, for he had grown fond
of his esquire. Also they had long conversations together, during
which Nerle gleaned a great deal of knowledge and received some advice
that was of much use to him in his later life.

One day Prince Marvel sought out Lady Seseley and said:

"Will you ride with me to the Forest of Lurla?"

"Willingly," she answered; and calling Berna and Helda to attend them,
they mounted their horses and rode swiftly away, for it was a long
distance to Lurla.

By noon the party entered the forest, and although the path they
traversed was unknown to the girls, who had usually entered the forest
from its other side, near to where the Baron Merd's castle had stood,
the prince seemed to have no difficulty in finding his way.

He guided them carefully along the paths, his handsome war-charger
stepping with much grace and dignity, until at length they came to a
clearing.

Here the prince paused abruptly, and Seseley looked around her and at
once recognized the place.

"Why," she exclaimed, in surprise, "it is the Fairy Bower!"

And then she turned to Prince Marvel and asked in a soft voice:

"Is the year ended, Prince?"

His smile was a bit sad as he answered, slowly:

"The year will be ended in five minutes!"

26. The End of the Year

The girls sat upon the green moss and waited. Prince Marvel stood
silent beside his horse. The silver armor was as bright as the day he
donned it, nor was there a dent in his untarnished shield. The sword
that had done such good service he held lightly in his hand, and the
horse now and then neighed softly and turned to look at him with
affectionate eyes.

Seseley began to tremble with excitement, and Berna and Helda stared at
the prince with big round eyes.

But, after all, they saw nothing so remarkable as they expected. For
presently--and it all happened in a flash--Prince