She caught Prince Ember’s arm, whispering anxiously, “Behold, my Prince, behold the smoke fog! This is the work of the powerful magician, Curling Smoke. We are entrapped.” At that same moment the smoke dropped down in front of them, making complete the walls of the vast chamber in which they stood imprisoned.
Prince Ember, beholding, was motionless with dismay. Flashing back to his mind came the warning of his good friend the Elf. “Beware of Curling Smoke,” he had said. “None more wicked and dreadful than he inhabits the lands through which you must pass.”
How or when the giant had discovered the presence of himself and the Shadow Witch, the Prince could not guess, unless it had been in that one unguarded moment before the Cave, but now he was upon them with his enchantments, and he might be able to overpower them both, armed though they were with the Cloak of Ash and the Sword of Fire. In spite of his great courage, Prince Ember’s heart sank low in his breast before this fresh danger to his beloved Shadow Witch. Thinking intently of how best to act against this new foe, he stood silent.
Again the Shadow Witch whispered low: “See! Yonder from out the fog he comes, with his veils trailing from his arm—the Veil that Chokes—the Veil that Blinds! He has discovered us, and means to destroy us!”
Prince Ember cast his arm about her and pressed her dear head protectingly to his breast. Spurred on by his love for her his courage mounted high. Looking to where she directed his gaze, he, too, saw, looming out of the murky clouds, a great shape, fierce and terrible—the giant, Curling Smoke.
From his huge arms hung the veils of which the Shadow Witch had spoken, held always ready to use against any who provoked his wrath. He stood still, at some distance from them, and searched the dim spaces about him with piercing eyes, but seemed not to find the ones he sought.
“He does not see us, dearest,” spoke the Prince, under his breath. “The Cloak conceals us, as the Elf promised that it would.”
“True,” answered the Shadow Witch, “but before we escape this giant we must do battle with him. I know well his ways, and I doubt not that he has joined himself to my brother for our destruction.”
“I have a weapon which has not yet failed me,” the Prince assured her bravely. “With it I will meet him, and by using it valiantly shall hope to overcome him and deliver you.” He was about to draw the Sword of Fire, but the Shadow Witch prevented him.
“Not yet, not yet,” she besought him. “Fully do I trust the marvelous power of your Sword, and it will be potent here, I doubt not, if the moment of its using be right, but I have heard that Curling Smoke cannot be vanquished in his smoke chamber until he towers within it to his fullest height. This I believe I have the power to make him do, and when he has done so, I am sure you will not strike in vain. Till then let your Sword rest quiet in its sheath, but keep your hand upon its hilt, and when I give the word, draw it at once and strike quickly.”