THE BOY WHO KNEW WHAT THE BIRDS SAID
horns she grew high in rage and she turned to the grooms to give an order that he be beaten with the whips they held.
But Mell ran to her and he caught her hand and holding the jewel he said "I wish that I was in the Island of the Shadow of the Stars and that this young girl was with me." The hawk flew at him and the hound sprang at him and the whips struck at him and while he was still expecting the feel of teeth and claws and lash he was away and was in another country altogether. There was neither hawk nor hound nor hut nor castle nor groom nor falconer. Two beings only were there and they were Mell the Hen-wife's son and the King's daughter, Princess Bright Brow.
"In what country are we?" said Princess Bright Brow.
"Unless we are in the Island of the Shadow of the Stars I don't know where we are," said Mell, the Hen-wife's Son.
"You are the Hen-wife's son and you have brought me here by enchantment," said Bright Brow.
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