Swan Sister Read Online Free Page A

where once the servants had sat.
    Khan left the Great Hall, surprised to discover that outside it was already night. As he sat down by the spring the creature in his pocket stirred. She slipped out and, standing on a stone, began to wash her face.
    Then she stopped, and the black eyes twinkled at him. “You have succeeded at the fist task,” she said. “But now you must sleep, and I will watch over you.”
    Khan needed little coaxing, for he was very tired, and soon he lay fast asleep beside the spring. He dreamed again of the woman with raven hair and almond-scentedskin. She spoke to him this time, and her voice was musical. She sat beside him and, in the soft breeze, her hair brushed against his face. Khan stirred and then realized it was Golden Fur’s whiskers tickling his ear.
    “Wake now, good prince,” she said urgently. “You must prepare for the second task.”
    “I dreamed of the princess,” Khan said, taking a piece of bread and cheese.
    “And how did you find her?” asked Golden Fur.
    “She’s beautiful.”
    “Could you love her?”
    “Perhaps.”
    “Good. Then listen again to the wisdom of your heart, and do not be swayed by the Guardians’ generosity.”
    Khan smiled at the pretty creature, offered her his palm, into which she climbed, and then tucked her into his pocket. Khan went to the gates, and as before, they were opened to him. The Guardians appeared, and this time they were friendly, clapping their heavy paws on his shoulders in greeting. Their tails brushed against Khan’s legs, sweeping the dust from his boots.
    “Come,” rumbled the largest Guardian. “Today you will choose a token from our treasure chamber.”
    The Guardians led Khan to a room, and as he entered he was nearly blinded by the light of so many jewels.
    “Perhaps this never-empty chest of gold to keep your love in splendor,” suggested the largest Guardian.
    “Or a crown to circle her head,” said the Guardian with the two earrings in her tufted ears.
    “You could protect her against all enemies with this sword,” exclaimed the Guardian with the silver-capped teeth. He slashed at the air with a whistling sword of polished steel.
    “A gold ring for her finger,” sighed the last Guardian with the one earring in her pointed ear. She dangled a ring with a smoky topaz from one claw.
    Khan stared in awe at the magnificent wealth of the treasure chamber and felt sorely tempted. Never in his life had he seen such riches. Yet as he walked through the glittering room the jewels seemed cold, like shards of colored ice. He didn’t touch them but did as Golden Fur bid him and waited for the wisdom of his heart to choose. He searched among the splendid jewels until at last something caught his eye. “I will take this,” he said, holding up a pomegranate, its rind tough as rust-colored leather.
    “Is that all?” demanded the largest Guardian.
    “It is all I want,” the prince replied.
    The Guardians howled and spat, flames igniting in their emerald eyes. But as before, they disappeared into a cloud of blue smoke. The bright jewels became rocks, the sword a twisted stick, and the chest of gold held withered leaves. Only the pomegranate in his hand remained.
    Khan left the castle and saw again that it was night. He sat by the spring, waiting for Golden Fur to wake. She wriggled free of his pocket and sat on a stone to wash her face. When she was done, she crossed her paws and sniffed the air.
    “You have the pomegranate,” she said. “Open it and see what is inside.”
    Khan pried away the leathery rind and saw that the rows of seeds were carved from chips of rubies.
    “Those are tears shed by the princess,” said Golden Fur.
    Khan gathered them into a cloth.
    “Do they not please you?” Golden Fur asked.
    “I would rather be poor than gain wealth by her unhappiness,” Khan sighed.
    He lay down to sleep, and soon he was dreaming of the princess. Her long black hair flowed over her shoulder, and her starlit eyes