CHAPTER IX
AWAY went Flying Soot at full speed until he came to the Seven Hills of Ash. There in a great hollow between them crouched the Giant of the Wide Grey Plain. He was grumbling and grumbling to himself, for no one had invited him to join them in any evil magic for a long while. So he was having a terribly stupid time of it, and wished with all his heart that something would happen that would give him a chance to show his power.
Flying Soot stole up to him unseen, and softly touched his elbow.
The Giant turned with so tremendous a start that masses of ash were shaken loose from the Seven Hills, and fell in clouds into the hollow. “So it is you, Flying Soot!” he cried joyfully. “That means there is good prospect of mischief afoot.”
“Ay,” replied Flying Soot, “that there is.” He found a seat on a soft bank close to the Giant, who at once prepared himself to hear interesting news.
Flying Soot began forthwith to tell him about the Earth Fairy, who he said had sent him to ask the Giant’s aid against a young Prince who would soon be traveling that way. “He will be preceded by a flame, who is the enchanted Princess whom he loves,” said he. “She it is, who, under the Earth Fairy’s spell, leads him on to danger. We wish you to destroy the Prince if you can. At any rate you must completely overpower him, in order that the Earth Fairy may take from him a Veil which he carries, and which she greatly covets.”
“Surely this Veil must be endowed with marvelous power,” exclaimed the Giant, “if the Earth Fairy is so anxious to secure it.”
“True,” Flying Soot made haste to answer; “but it possesses this power only in the hands of the Prince, or of the Earth Fairy. To you or to others it would be of no use whatever.”