4 The four winds

Chapter 4 The four winds The horse's hooves pounded over the ground. Faster and faster he flew and Asta clung to his mane.

On a cliff top overlooking a rolling sea, the horse finally came to a stop. All around them, the East Wind blew in gentle gusts. "Can you tell me the way to the castle that lies east of the sun and west of the moon?" Asta asked.

"I have never blown that far," the East Wind replied. "But I will take you to my brother, the West Wind. He may know the way, for he is much stronger than I." Asta climbed on the East Wind's back and they roared away over the waves, to the land where the West Wind lived.

"Brother," called the East Wind, "do you know the way to the castle that lies east of the sun and west of the moon?" "No," said the West Wind. "I have never blown that far. But I will take the girl to the South Wind, for he is much stronger than either of us and has roamed far and wide."

So they rode to the land where the South Wind lived. "Only the North Wind knows the way to the castle," said the South Wind, "for he is the oldest and strongest of us all. I will carry you there."

When they came near the North Wind, Asta felt his presence in the frantic, icy blasts of air. "What do you want?" he roared. "I carry the one who seeks the prince, in the castle east of the sun and west of the moon," the South Wind replied.