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Emperor of India, a prince nearly as powerful as herself. She blushed with shame and then said: ‘Oh, Sir Knight, I mean your Royal Highness, it is I who should crave your pardon, for all the while I have addressed you as “Sir Knight,” instead of as “your Majesty.” But I am very sorry.’
    But Sir Alured said:
    ‘Nay, your Majesty, you have the right to call me what you will, for I am always your humble vassal.’
    ‘My ally, you should say, your Majesty.’
    ‘I am always your servant, not your ally, your Majesty.’
    ‘Then I fear you will soon be the vassal of a queen without a kingdom; and if this Merrymineral prevail over me, I fear he will punish you for having aided me.’
    But the Prince said:
    ‘All is not yet lost, your Majesty, and whatever happens your Majesty will always have a protector while I am alive.’
    The Princess smiled.
    ‘Ah! you mean the cherished Owl. You will always protect me, won’t you, Owl?’ she said, looking up at the Owl who was seated again on her shoulder. And the Owl nodded his head.
    She looked at her watch just then. ‘Why,’ she said, ‘we have been here just ten minutes, and it is time to start again, if you are rested sufficiently.’
    So he helped her to mount, and they crossed the river. It was not very deep, but still she got the skirts of her dress quite wet, for the water was high enough for that.
    However, the gallop in the hot sun on the other side soon dried them.
    In an hour and a half they were on the top of a hill from which they could see the town of Arecarp in the valley beneath.
    The sun was shining brightly on the tents of the army as it lay round the town, and at some distance the camp of the enemy appeared. But still all looked peaceful.
    The Prince gazed carefully at the armies. After a moment he said:
    ‘There has been no fighting since I left the city this morning, nor has the position altered at all. I fancy Merrymineral has sent ambassadors to demand surrender from Lord Licec.’
    The Princess smiled.
    ‘He will never surrender,’ she said.
    ‘Nor will any of us, your Majesty,’ added the Prince. ‘However, let us descend the hill.’
    Down the hill the road lay through a deep gorge, so deep that the sun did not penetrate it, and it lay in delicious shade. The sides of the valley were lined with the silver-barked birch, below which grew nodding foxgloves, and as they went slowly down the steep path, ever and anon a rabbit would scuttle out of the grassy track to a safe distance in front of them, where it sat on its haunches with its little ears pricked up, smelling at them anxiously as they came near again, and then it would scutter along into the thick rank grass to its home.
    So they went slowly down the path until they came once more to the level ground, and they were again able to gallop on.
    Soon they reached the town, and clattered through the cobbled streets to the market-place, where Lord Licec had his head - quarters. But the market-place was crowded with soldiers and knights who were bargaining for food, so that it was by no means easy to get through the crowd. However, as soon as they got near the place, the soldiers recognised the Princess and began to cheer, and immediately an avenue was formed up to the door of the council-house, and the Princess rode smiling through the throng, followed by the Prince.
    The news of her arrival ran through the whole camp, and immediately such a shout went up from the men that the enemy thought they were preparing for battle, and they made ready to resist the attack. At the door of the council-hall Lord Licec was waiting with the rest of the captains of renown, and they followed the Princess upstairs to the council-chamber.
    As soon as they were seated the Princess asked for the latest news. She was told all that had happened, and when she had heard it she dismissed the Lords of the Council, all except Lord Licec and the Prince of India, who were to stay and dine with her, and she gave orders