17. The Separation of the High Ki

The Enchanted Island of Yew

by L. Frank Baum

For nearly a week Prince Marvel and Nerle remained confined to
the palace and gardens of the High Ki. Together with the twin Ki,
who seemed to be friendly to them, they occupied one of the twin
palaces, while the Ki-Ki secluded themselves in the other.

The pretty High Ki maidens they did not see at all, nor did they
know what part of the palaces they occupied, not being permitted to
wander away from the rooms allotted to them, except to walk in the
garden. There was no way for them to escape, had they felt inclined
to, for the silver steps had disappeared.

From the garden walks they sometimes caught sight of the solemn
heads of the handsome Ki-Ki looking at them through the twin windows
of the other palace, and although the expression of their faces was
always mild and gentle, Nerle and Marvel well knew the Ki-Ki were
only waiting in the hope of having them killed.

"Are you nervous about the decision of the pretty High Ki?"
asked Nerle one day.

"No, indeed," said the prince, laughing; "for I do not expect
them to kill me, in any event."

"If I felt as sure of my safety," returned the boy, "it would
destroy all my pleasure. These are really happy days for me. Every
moment I expect to see the executioner arrive with his ax."

"The executioner is double," said the two old Ki, breaking into
the conversation. "You should say you expect to see the executioners
arrive with their axes."

"Then how will they cut off my head with two axes? For I
suppose they will both chop at the same time, and I have but one
neck."

"Wait and see," answered the two Ki, sighing deeply and rubbing
their red noses thoughtfully.

"Oh, I'll wait," answered the boy; "but as for seeing them cut
off my head, I refuse; for I intend to shut my eyes."

So they sat in their rooms or walked in the gardens, yawning and
waiting, until one day, just as the two clocks on the wall were
striking twenty-four o'clock, the door opened and to their surprise
one of the High Ki twins walked in upon them.

She was as sweet and fair to look upon as when she occupied one
of the beautiful thrones, but at first no one could tell which of the
High Ki she was--their friend or their enemy. Even the Ki were
puzzled and anxious, until the girl said:

"My other half and I have completely separated, for we have
agreed to disagree for all time. And she has gone to ask the Ki-Ki
to assist her, for war is declared between us. And hereafter her
color is to be the green and mine the yellow, and we intend to fight
until one of us conquers and overthrows the other."

This announcement was interesting to Marvel and Nerle, but
greatly shocked the aged Ki, who asked:

"What is to become of our kingdom? Half of a High Ki can not
rule it. It is against the law."

"I will make my own laws when I have won the fight," returned
the girl, with a lovely smile; "so do not let that bother you. And
now tell me, will you help me to fight my battles?"

"Willingly!" exclaimed Nerle and Prince Marvel, almost as if
they had been twins of Twi. And the Ki rubbed their bald heads a
moment, and then sneezed together and wiped their eyes on faded
yellow handkerchiefs, and finally declared they would "stick to her
Supreme Highness through thick and thin!"

"Then go over the wall to the cities, at once, and get together
all the soldiers to fight for me and my cause," commanded the
girl.

The twin Ki at once left the room, and the High Ki sat down and
began to ask questions of Prince Marvel and Nerle about the big
outside world from whence they came. Nerle was rather shy and
bashful before the dainty little maiden, whose yellow robe contrasted
delightfully with her pink cheeks and blue eyes and brown flowing
locks; but Prince Marvel did not mind girls at all, so he talked with
her freely, and she in return allowed him to examine the pretty gold
crown she wore upon her brow.

By and by the Ki came back with both faces sad and gloomy.

"Your Highness," they announced, "we have bad news for you. The
other High Ki, who is wearing a green gown, has been more prompt in
action than yourself. She and the Ki-Ki have secured the silver
steps and will allow no others to use them; and already they have
sent for the soldiers of the royal armies to come and aid them. So
we are unable to leave the garden, and presently the army will be
here to destroy us."

Then the girl showed her good courage; for she laughed and
said:

"Then we must remain here and fight to the last; and if I am
unable to save you, who are my friends, it will be because I can not
save myself."

This speech pleased Prince Marvel greatly. He kissed the little
maid's hand respectfully and said:

"Fear nothing, your Highness. My friend and I are not so
helpless as you think. We consider it our privilege to protect and
save you, instead of your saving us; and we are really able to do
this in spite of the other High Ki and her entire army."

So they remained quietly in the palace the rest of that day, and
no one molested them in the least. In the evening the girl played
and sang for them, and the ancient pair of Ki danced a double-shuffle
for their amusement that nearly convulsed them with laughter. For
one danced exactly like the other, and the old men's legs were still
very nimble, although their wrinkled faces remained anxiously grave
throughout their antics. Nerle also sang a song about the King of
Thieves whom Prince Marvel had conquered, and another about the Red
Rogue of Dawna, so that altogether the evening passed pleasantly
enough, and they managed to forget all their uneasy doubts of the
morrow.

When at last they separated for the night, Prince Marvel alone
did not seek his bed; there was still some business he wished to
transact. So he shut himself up in his room and summoned before him,
by means of his fairy knowledge, the Prince of the Knooks, the King
of the Ryls and the Governor of the Goblins. These were all three
his especial friends, and he soon told them the story of the quarrel
and separation of the twin High Ki, and claimed their assistance.
Then he told them how they might aid him, and afterward dismissed
them. Having thus accomplished his task, the fairy prince went to
bed and slept peacefully the remainder of the night.

The next morning the blond Ki-Ki and all the army of Twi, which
had been won to their cause, came climbing up the silver steps and
over the wall to the palace of the green High Ki; but what was their
amazement to find the twin palaces separated by a wall so high that
no ladders nor steps they possessed could reach to the top! It had
been built in a single night, and only Prince Marvel and his fairy
friends knew how the work had been done so quickly.

The yellow High Ki, coming downstairs to breakfast with her
friends, found herself securely shut in from her enemies, and the
bald-headed old Ki were so pleased to escape that they danced another
jig from pure joy.

Over the wall could be heard the shouts and threats of the army
of Twi, who were seeking a way to get at the fugitives; but for the
present our friends knew themselves to be perfectly safe, and they
could afford to laugh at the fury of the entire population of Twi.