“You can write. Why not finish the history?”
“What benefits me if I can write, if I know not what happened? All I know is that I am his grandson; how he spent his late years or how he died I know not of, for non has ever told me the story.”
“I will tell you about those days,” the little man said, “and as I talk you can write the part of my narrative you deem of import. Then we will come to the end of the tale and the finishing of the last page. Your grandsire was one of the great Hubelaires and was my good friend. Now this is’ what happened — ” and he told Balder all concerning the last days of Cecil. As he wrote, Balder thrilled at the tale of the ending of his grandsire. Finally on the bottom of the last page, he wrote “The End” and, looking up to thank the narrator, was astonished to find him gone from the library. He closed the book just as his father entered the room.
“This is your birthday. Balder, and it is time for you to wed,” Eric told him, “The times are troublesome, and more and more it becomes difficult for us to keep peace and preserve the land in its Golden Age. Marriage with a princess of a neighboring land, Wales, Scotia or Ireland, would help; and mayhaps your son would rule in peace and security. I think that it could be arranged.”
Balder smiled sadly. “It would be better for you to marry again and raise a son,” he replied. “Mayhaps some princess, bookish-minded, would marry me for what I have above my neck, but what lovely lady would want me for the part below?“
“You have a strong neck. Balder, a powerful jaw and a fine mind,” said the Overlord. “The time may come when such attributes will take a man far in this troubled world. In the future a man may rule by such qualities rather than because he can fight and overcome by brute strength. Your grandsire was not much of a warrior, but he had a clever mind. Had he lived he would have gloried in your knowledge of the books in his library. It would be wise for me to look around and see if a suitable marriage can be arranged for you.”
This was not easily accomplished. In all the lands near Cornwall men were still settling disputes with the poleax and broadsword. All the kings were kind and sympathetic, and when Eric looked them in the eye, made no reference to the peculiar disability of Prince Balder, but for this and that and the other reason found that a marriage between him and one of their daughters could not be arranged. Then, just as Eric decided that his undertaking was impossible, messengers came from a land far away, offering the hand of a princess in marriage, a beautiful lady who would bring a dower of great wealth. They brought presents and a picture of the lady, and quietly said that she knew about Prince Balder but that made no difference. Eric sent gifts in return and before the year came to an end the princess arrived and with great pageantry was married to Prince Balder.
That afternoon the Overlord visited his son. “As I told you, these are troubled times,” he said. “The King of Wales has sent me messengers saying enemies from the north have come in long ships and are harassing his shores. He pleads for help. Since I am compelled to leave Cornwall, you must rule in my place against my return. So, around your neck, I place this cord of twisted silk from which hangs the Golden Key. Guard it well and remember the ancient verse:
They who hold the Golden Key
Shall ever Lords of Cornwall be.
“When the enemy is driven back, or better still, destroyed, I shall return. Meanwhile, I regret the necessity of leaving you at this time when you should have nothing between you and your bride save thoughts of love-a-daisies.”
“Go without fear. Father, and return when the time comes,” Balder replied. “And while you are gone nothing shall happen to the Key. My bride, Marylyn, will help me in all things because she seems as wise as she is beautiful.
Thus Eric rode away, followed by his men-at-arms, archers and pike-men, and, after their leaving, the drawbridge was raised. But Freda, the nurse and Russell, the forester were fretted, and talked long into the night about their beloved Prince and his ascent into manhood and the responsibilities so suddenly thrust upon him.
Princess Marylyn went to the bedroom of her husband and, closing the door, locked it while Balder lay on the bed and feasted his eyes on her beauty — but not for long.
“I am puzzled that such a beautiful lady as you could deliberately mate with such a man as I,” he said sadly.
“I married you because I wanted to,” she replied, laughing.
“But why should you want to?” he asked.
“Because of that key you wear around your neck. Many years ago a Prince of Darkness, aided by your grandsire, destroyed the Toad Men who, for some centuries, had lived in the castle of the Hubelaires. Only one escaped, my father. The day you were born, Cecil the Overlord killed him in a most horrible and pitiless manner. I am the last of my race. Through my legerdemain I arranged this marriage, and it was not hard to do. Your father, though he can fight, is nothing but a good-natured fool above the neck. The message from Wales was just one phase of my plan, as your father will find only when it is too late. My spirit-men surround the castle. Late tonight, after I am rested, I will place a candle in the window. Then the silken cord will be around my neck and the Golden Key will lie between my breasts. When my spirit-men see the flame of the candle they will swarm into the castle and kill everyone. Then they will overrun this land, slaying all, rich and poor, and once again we shall rule in Cornwall. The Prince of Darkness and your father will learn all this, but too late.” She laughed merrily and ended, “That is why I married you, you poor dolt!”
Taking him in her lovely arms she raised him from the bridal bed and rolled him over on the floor. Then she took off her bridal dress and silver shoes and Balder knew that she spoke the truth, because her toes were long and webbed,like those of a toad. Savagely she tore the silk cord from his neck and hung it around her own white throat. Setting a lighted candle on the chest at the foot of the bed, she lay down to rest and was soon asleep, for she had nothing to fear — nothing to fear from such a bridegroom.
Balder, the far from beautiful — save that of him above the neck lay helpless on the floor. He thought of Cornwall, the land of the Hubelaires, where peace had reigned for so many years; and he knew that he, and he alone, stood between the simple, happy folk and a terrible death. Because there was nothing to say he said nothing. He simply waited, realizing that though he had lost the key, none of the spirit-men would know it until the candle stood in the window.
There was naught for him to do save wait. His bride, the so beautiful Marylyn, with the body and arms of a Venus and the feet of a batrachian, lay drowsing on the bed. At last, she slept, one fair arm slid over the side of the bed and rested, hand on floor. Then Balder knew that fate had delivered her into his power. Very carefully he rolled his body over, and then over once again, a trick he had learned on the meadow grass. Now his face was but a few inches from the Toad Woman’s wrist. He arched his neck, that strong bull-like neck, and opened his mouth. Suddenly he grasped that wrist and fastened on it with jaws that for years, once fastened, had never willingly let go.
The Toad Woman screamed from pain.
Jerking, he pulled her off the bed.
She beat him with her free hand, but he only held her the tighter, shaking her arm as a terrier shakes a rat. Her blood covered his face but he held her with ever more firmly clenched jaws. She dragged him across the floor, trying to reach the candle with her free hand and set it in the window. Once and again she almost touched it, but each time, with a powerful, convulsive movement, he pulled her back to the floor. Each was blood-spattered from her torn wrist. As the conflict continued she grew weaker and with a moan of exhaustion and frustration, she lay quiet and Balder knew that she had lost consciousness He had been waiting, hoping that this would happen. Unlocking his jaws he jerked upward and secured a new hold on her upper arm. She woke only to scream and faint again. Now, exerting all his strength, he reached her neck and clamped his jaws on it, just below her chin. Almost losing consciousness himself, he thought dimly: “All I have to do now is to hold fast.”