The story of the magic Veil was known, and many princes had heard the voice of the Princess, and had seen her passing as a fine white flame. Many would gladly have won her as a bride; many had sought the Wise One--many had peered into his ancient chest, but none had been able to grasp, or even to see the wondrous Veil that alone could restore the Princess to her fairy form. King Red Flame loved his daughter dearly, and was never so happy as when she fluttered gently from place to place with him, or hovered in the air by his side when he sat at rest; yet always he longed to see her face--to have her visible presence. One evening as they were moving together in the garden, watching the red and yellow light that came and went among the fire-lilies that bordered the winding paths, the King asked her tenderly, “My child, have you not yet seen a prince whom you can love?” White Flame laughed softly. “No, there is no one. Why do you ask, dear father?” King Red Flame sighed. “Because it is only a prince who loves you, and whom you can love in return, who can free you from the spell.” White Flame stole closer to her father’s side, and whispered in his ear, “I have not yet seen anyone, dear father, for whom I would wish to be more than the glancing flame that they see me now.” Again the King sighed. “Ah, well, my daughter, the time may come. But remember that until it does, your face is hidden from me also.” [Illustration] CHAPTER V Not far from the Land of the Fire Fairies there is another wonderland. It is called the Kingdom of Light. Here, though the people are fairies, their magic is different from the magic of the fairies of fire and flame. But it is not less marvelous and beautiful. The ruler of this country had a son whose name was Prince Radiance. The Prince was tall and strong and handsome. His soft red suit of velvet, his scarlet cap with long red feather that tossed and floated above his yellow hair became him well. So very bright with hope and courage were his eyes, so very friendly was his smile, that wherever he appeared the fairies cried to one another, “Ah, here comes Prince Radiance, bringing happiness and cheer!” The young Prince was now of an age to seek a bride, but the King was too fond of his son to wish him to marry anyone whom he did not love with all his heart. Many princesses and beautiful ladies would have been glad to be chosen by him, but the young Prince cared for none of them. And although the wise men of the country came often to their King to urge the Prince to take a wife, the old King always replied, “Not yet, not yet. My son must make his own choice, and in his own way.” So time passed, until one day Prince Radiance asked his father’s permission to visit the Land of the Fire Fairies. He had heard of their strange magic, and wished to behold it with his own eyes. The King gave him leave, and bidding his father farewell, the Prince set out, quite alone, as was his wish.