"But I never doubted it or you," said the Princess.
"Princess Amber," said the giant. But here he stopped.
"Well, Count?" said the Princess.
"I have been fortunate enough," said he, "to render three times some service to the state, and might claim some reward for it; but there is only one reward that I desire, and that depends upon your Royal Highness."
"Name it," said the Princess. "Speak freely."
"I would be bold enough to ask your father for your hand were I sure it would meet with approval from you, but I have not had the presumption to hope."
"He who deserves," said the Princess, blushing, "does not presume," and she turned away.
Thus encouraged, Gofaster boldly preferred a request to the King that the royal pledge should be fulfilled. The King smiled good-naturedly, and saying "A King should never break his word," led him to the Princess and joined their hands. Then turning to the Court, he said: "We give our daughter a fitting mate and the kingdom an heir-presumptive on whose courage and capacity it can rely."
The lords and ladies of the Court congratulated the betrothed couple, who were shortly after wedded in great state, to the satisfaction of all.
Some weeks after the marriage, as Prince Gofaster—for he had been raised to that rank—was passing into his cabinet, he heard the hollow laugh which betokened the presence of Shon the Phooka. Turning to face the sound, he saw before him a laughing boy a little over four feet in height, who wore what seemed to be the jerkin of strength and the shoes of endurance, shrunk to his own size.