Dorigen shuddered at the thought of parting with her jewel.  She did not know how her mother’s words could come to pass, if she did give it away, nor by what magic power she could be so lost that no one who loved her could find her again.  But she was sure that what her mother had said must be true.

And that was why Dorigen was so angry with Aurelius.  She knew that he must have heard what sorrow she would suffer if she gave him her jewel, for all the court knew the story of the wonderful stone.

Not long after this, Arviragus came home.  He had won more honor than before, and was now the very flower of chivalry.  I cannot tell you how great the joy was, with which he greeted Dorigen, nor how soon she forgot her fears of the sea and the grisly rocks.

For two years, while they lived a joyful life together, Aurelius lay in bed unable to rise, with no one to take care of him except his brother Austin.  This brother mourned over Aurelius in secret and wept at his unhappy fate, till one day he remembered a book of magic that he had seen when he was a student in Orleans.  In that book he had read of the strange ways in which Magicians can make things seem what they are not.  His heart leapt up.  He said to himself, “My brother shall be cured.  I am sure I have heard of stranger things than that the rocks should seem to vanish.  Once I heard of a Magician who made every one believe that a great brown barge was rowing up and down a sheet of water inside the hall of a castle!  If he could do that, then surely we shall be able to find a Magician who will make those black rocks seem to vanish.  Then Dorigen will have to keep her promise and give Aurelius her wonderful jewel.”

Austin then ran to his brother’s room and told him about the book of magic at Orleans.  No sooner had Aurelius heard him than he leapt out of bed.  In less time than one would think possible he was ready to start on the long ride to Orleans.

When they came near the city they met a Magician.  They knew him to be a Magician because of the strange look in his eyes, and because of his curious dress.  When they rode up to him he bowed before them and wished them “Good day.”  Then he began to tell them why they had come to Orleans.  Aurelius wondered how it was that this stranger knew so much about him and his errand.  He thought he must be a very wise man indeed, and leaping from his horse in surprise and joy, he went home with the Magician to his house.  His brother went too.

The house was the finest that Aurelius had ever seen.  When he entered the study he looked in wonder at the rows of books that lined the walls, and at the quaint pictures and the strange old armor.

In one corner a curious light burned.  It was not like the light of a lamp or of a candle, but cold and blue.  Above it hung a map of the stars, and other strange drawings.  Below the light stood a table, and on it lay a great book which was chained to the wall.