"No," replied the sturdy lad, "the pigeon is for my seven blind
mothers, who live in the noisome dungeon, and who would die if I did
not bring them food."
"Poor souls!" cried the cunning white witch. "Would you not like
to bring them their eyes again? Give me the pigeon, my dear, and I
faithfully promise to show you where to find them."
Hearing this, the lad was delighted beyond measure, and gave up the
pigeon at once. Whereupon the white Queen told him to seek her mother
without delay, and ask for the eyes which she wore as a necklace.
"She will not fail to give them," said the cruel Queen, "if you show
her this token on which I have written what I want done."
So saying, she gave the lad a piece of broken potsherd, with these
words inscribed on it, "Kill the bearer at once, and sprinkle his
blood like water!"
Now, as the son of seven Queens could not read, he took the fatal
message cheerfully, and set off to find the white Queen's mother.
While he was journeying he passed through a town where every one of
the inhabitants looked so sad that he could not help asking what was
the matter. They told him it was because the King's only daughter
refused to marry; therefore when her father died there would be no
heir to the throne.
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