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The Starlight Wonder Book

Chapter 2: ILLUSTRATIONS
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About This Book

A collection of fanciful short tales that blend mythic adventure and gentle wonder, each story following characters who encounter enchantments, wands, bells, strange chariots, and winged beasts, and embark on quests across mountains, plains, and otherworldly woods. Episodes range from a compassionate soldier rewarded with a growth wand to princesses, enchanted infants, and travelers confronting doors, winter cities, and music or bells that alter fate. Imagery emphasizes starlit nights, natural landscapes, and small moral choices, with a tone that alternates between peril and consolation as ordinary figures meet the extraordinary.

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
THE BELL OF THE EARTH AND THE BELL OF THE SEA
Long and hard fought Thyrza, and presently a great gust of the gale swept her against the Bell of the Sea Frontispiece
THE BRAVE GRENADIER
Suddenly the soldier’s foot dislodged a piece of clattering stone, and the hippodrac awoke 13
THE PALACE OF THE NIGHT
The image in the mirror stood still 35
THE ENCHANTED BABY
Over hill, over dale, in a long straight line, fled the Master Thief with the golden perambulator 57
THE TWO MILLERS
He lifted a moistened finger to the air. Good heavens, there wasn’t a breath of wind! 85
THE ADAMANT DOOR
Summoning up all his courage, Hugh threw open the adamant door 105
THE CITY OF THE WINTER SLEEP
The runaway Princess stepped forth into the dark street and, taper in hand, hurried to the gate of the city wall 117
AILEEL AND AILINDA
And now, all at once, there were cries and shouts of alarm. “Run! Run, everybody! The bird! Oh, see the bird!” 149
THE WONDERFUL TUNE
“No, I do not agree with you,” shouted the Lord Organist 171
THE MAN OF THE WILDWOOD
Before him stood the Man of the Wildwood 187
THE MAIDEN OF THE MOUNTAIN
For a long moment Leoline, awed yet unafraid, gazed at the Giant of the Mountain 203
THE BELL OF THE EARTH AND THE BELL OF THE SEA
And stowing the Bell of the Earth in the hold of his ship, the young Captain sailed eastward and southward through the sea 229
THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD
Fidelia knelt at the edge of the pool, and filled her golden cup with the waters of memory 257