“Truly there must be magic in this that will overpower him,” she muttered, taking out the third. “Never before has this one failed me.” Yet the third wand had no more power than the rest. One by one, she tried them all, until there was none left but the Green Wand. She looked at it longingly, but dared not risk it. Should it too be useless before this mysterious influence that protected the Prince she would have nothing at all by which to work her will.
She ceased to follow Prince Radiance, and sat down to think of what she should do in order to carry out her purpose.
Pondering deeply, she did not know that someone had approached her from behind, and was standing close beside her. It was Flying Soot. He waited a few moments but finding that the Earth Fairy was too much engaged to be aware of his presence, he tapped her upon the arm. “Well, my good friend,” he began, “how have your affairs prospered since you left me so abruptly in the palace gardens?”
The Earth Fairy looked up with a start. No one had been further from her thoughts than Flying Soot.
“Do not disturb me,” she answered impatiently, “I am thinking over an important matter in which you can be of no use to me.”
“Do not be too certain of that,” the Soot Fairy replied. “Remember that you are now in a land where I have many and powerful friends.”
The Earth Fairy had not realized that. At his words, she suddenly began to wonder if some of these wicked fairies of which he spoke, might be able to help her to obtain what she so desired. Instantly she changed her tone.
“Hark you,” she said, “I believe you told me of a magic Veil that the Prince was to obtain from the Wise One. I have decided that I want this Veil for myself. I have tried all my wands upon the Prince in an effort to take it from him, but they have failed. One alone I have not tried. It is the Green Wand which rules the Princess White Flame. This I am unwilling to risk--for the present at least. Have you, perhaps, among your friends, any who is sufficiently powerful to overcome Prince Radiance, so that I can take from him this Veil?”
Flying Soot threw back his black mantle from his shoulder with a confident gesture. “To be sure I have,” he assured her, “and if the first should not succeed there are many others who would be willing to try.”