Hopefully, Irmgard was right.
“But look,” Irmgard continued, “the sun is coming up back there, and along with its rays, the light will return. Let’s set out at once.”
Hannah climbed up onto Irmgard’s back. “It’s easier to spot the dark in the light!” she said.
Irmgard neighed excitedly and swished her tail wildly back and forth. “I’ll have to remember that! You and your wise sayings. Fabulous!”
Hannah smiled and stroked the mythical creature’s neck.
The enchanted forest was bathed in a golden-orange light that softened some of its menacing quality. Hannah and Irmgard galloped toward the rising sun in search of the entrance to the absolute darkness, to the utter nothingness where the lost soul was being held captive.
They had been underway the entire morning without meeting a single soul. Irmgard seemed to keep the Evil away—orat least the creatures whom the Evil had lured to the forest. They stopped at a spring to refresh themselves.
“But once we find the entrance, how do we free the soul?” Hannah asked, having quenched her thirst and washed her face and arms. She was having painful hunger pangs, but she ignored them. “Any ideas?”
Irmgard snorted and shook her mane. “Mirabelle’s mother made an agreement. And it holds for all time. But there must be a way to stop the Evil and free the soul.”
Hannah shook her hands to dry them. “Do we have to defeat the Evil? To destroy it in order to set her free?”
“No, we can’t. Evil exists, to the same extent that good does. You can’t destroy either one. But we can rob the Evil of its power. We have to choose the good, and in that way, we take away the support that the Evil has—its reserves. But how do we manage to do that?”
“So we need to weaken the Evil to free the soul, and by freeing the soul, we weaken the Evil...”
Irmgard’s steel-blue eyes were shining. “Brilliantly formulated, dear Hannah! Brilliant! I can already hear the other unicorns debating.”
“Is there someone we could ask? Maybe...” She hesitated.
“Hm?” Irmgard looked at Hannah questioningly as she climbed up onto her back. “Did you have a good idea?”
“Maybe we could ask the unicorns from your herd. If, as you say, you’re the wisest creatures, then I’m sure they can tell us how to defeat the Evil and free the soul!”
Irmgard snorted and was silent for a moment. Even her tail was still.
Should she not have brought it up?Hannah wondered. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just think we should try everything. If you have another idea, then?—”
“No, I don’t. All right then. Let’s go see those ignorant steeds with their noses in the air. I’m curious to see how far they get with their wisdom.” She raised her head and galloped off toward the east.
Hannah leaned forward and held on tight to Irmgard’s mane to keep from falling off. “Do you know where to find them?” she asked. “Where your herd stays?”
“Of course. I may have left them, but I can always find my way back.” She dug in her hooves to propel herself off the ground and practically flew through the forest at breakneck speed. Was she rushing to get the visit over with as quickly as possible? Or because, deep down inside, Irmgard was looking forward to seeing her herd again?
Hannah was beyond excited. She was about to meet a herd of unicorns. How amazing! In joyful anticipation, her heart beat faster and faster as they made their way to Irmgard’s herd.
24
The sun had long since passed its zenith as Irmgard galloped into a large clearing. A dense veil of luminous white mist was drifting over it. It shone as though it harbored the greatest of riches, and it cast a bright glow on the tall, dark spruces that surrounded it.
Hannah recalled the mist she had seen when Irmgard first came galloping toward her, and she wondered if the herd of unicorns was hidden in the misty swaths. She thought of the autumn fog that always drifted across the fields near her town. Were there unicorns roaming about in that mist as well?
The closer they trotted, the more agitated the mist became until it finally withdrew to a corner of the clearing. A single cloud of mist broke off from the dense swaths and floated toward them. Shortly before it reached them, the mist dispersed, and a unicorn appeared. It was just as splendid and radiant as Irmgard. With an arrogant gesture, it raised its muzzle and gazed sternly down upon them with its bright blue eyes.
“What are you doing here, Irmgard? We were under the impression that you’re no longer interested in being a part ofthis herd!” Its voice was just as melodious as Irmgard’s, but it sounded imperious and unyielding.
Irmgard snorted. “Just because I’m out roaming about, Edeltraud, doesn’t mean I’m no longer part of this herd!”
Edeltraud the unicorn snorted, and it sounded like a scornful laugh. Then her gaze fell upon Hannah. “What do you think you’re doing bringing a human here?”
“We need to speak with you. It’s about a very important matter.”
