Asmath came to Avtandil and took his hand, leading him out like a full moon revealed from behind clouds. She brought him to Tariel, who stood and stared at him in wonder. To his eyes, the stranger looked like a star fallen from heaven. Then she spoke, revealing the truth behind her promise.
“In this man, I found the companion you seek.”
Looking at one another, the two men understood each had a brother and an equal in the other. Their hearts filled to overflowing, and they were not shameful in their affection, embracing like the moon and sun meeting. With joy, they kissed the other’s cheeks, overwhelmed with happiness.
Soon, Tariel invited Avtandil to sit. They sat across from one another, holding hands in silence. Neither knew the tragedy of the other or how to ask. Yet, realizing how torn the spirits of each must be, their own hurt was magnified. They shared grief without speaking until Asmath calmed their forlorn hearts with soothing and beautiful words.
“Do not allow sadness to darken the sun with your eclipse. Calm yourselves, lest you slay one another with your pain. Speak gently, as brothers, and I will attend you as a sister.”
Tariel spoke first, curious about his strange new friend.
“You witnessed me earlier, so know already how I am forgotten and abandoned. Because of this, do not ask of me yet, but I would learn who you are. Where did you come from, and where is your home? Why did you come when even death has denied me what I sought?”
Avtandil looked up, deciding there would be no secrets between them, and answered with the eloquence of a Knight.
“You, who are a lion and hero, behave gently towards me. I answer you with joy. For me, I come from distant lands. I am an Arabian in service to the court of King Rostevan. His domain encompasses the entirety of Arabia, but wherever I go, I cannot escape Fate. An unquenchable fire consumes my heart, for I love his daughter, Tinatin. She is King to those who serve her, beloved, wise, and beautiful above all others.”
“Though you do not recognize me, I met you many years ago. Do you remember when you brought down the armed servants of Arabia? We found you while roaming the plains, and though we called out, you ignored us. In doing so, you angered my Lord. Because of this, he ordered men to bring you to us, but you left the fields dyed crimson with the blood of our soldiers.”
“Without lifting your sword, you split the heads of all who attempted to seize you, striking them with your whip. The King became so angry he mounted and chased you, but you vanished like a Kadj sorcerer. Though the best in our kingdom searched for you, we could not find a single track of where you went. Our servants thought a Devi came to us, for we did not understand how a man might so completely disappear.”
“After this, our King became melancholy and full of gloom. His spirits grew dark, though surely you know how the moods of a monarch can be. He sent riders seeking news of you, and many went into far lands to find any word or sign of your passing. Yet, no one found you. In the end, he decided you must be an evil spirit. His temperament returned to normal, but you had not been forgotten.”
“Tinatin invited me to speak in private, where God himself blessed me. From the rose of her soul, she gifted me words more precious than the finest jewels, confessing her love for me. She bade me seek you out, saying, ‘Today I give you my heart for your heart. Take mine with you, and yours I will keep. Carry it far from the kingdom of Arabia and learn of this strange sun who vanished from us. Whether this Knight is real or a Devi, I trust none other than you to discover. I will wait three years and swear to you, I will accept no husband other than you.’”
“Can you believe I might live so long away from her smile? Since that time, my soul bleeds without end. So often I threw my hands up to Heaven in dismay, but until now, I met none who knew of you. Wherever I roamed, across strange and stranger lands, I was unable to find you. Not until this past week, though only two months remain of the time she gave me.”
“By luck I chanced upon three Kurdish brothers. They spoke with joy of hunting but followed with tales of rude behavior towards you. They wailed with sorrow, for you struck one of them so fiercely as to leave him near death. When they finished speaking, one pointed to the edge of the plains. I looked there and saw you vanishing into the horizon like a setting sun.”
“For three days, I followed you but kept my distance. I did not want you to see me lest we come to blows. Indeed, it is thanks only to the wisdom of Asmath we sit now with words rather than swords.”
Tariel listened intently throughout Avtandil’s tale and remembered the events of his story.
“I remember meeting your retinue on the fields, though long ago. I observed you and your master hunting from afar but was lost to ruin, weeping for she who is my destroyer. There was nothing you might want with me. I could not fathom your desire, for we had nothing in common between us. You took joy in your hunt, mighty and sporting amongst yourselves, while I sat alone, morose, and forlorn. My cheeks were bathed in tears at the thought of her for whom I die each day.”
“I only wished to be left with my misery, yet you set your soldiers on me, daring to try taking me by force. This greatly angered me. I thought it more fitting you carry away corpses than capture me. As your men surrounded me, I looked around and noticed your Lord approaching. I pitied his Kingship and did not lay hands on him. Instead, I said nothing and chose to disappear before your eyes.”
“This is the gift of my steed. At times, it is as if my warhorse is an invisible spirit. Before a man can blink, I can flee what is unpleasant for me. Though, of those Kurdish brothers, I do not think I behaved unjustly, though my prowess did not suit them. They were haughty and overbearing. What they received was well deserved.”
“I realize only now how you came to me with good intent, though it pains me to know you suffered all these years. However, the sight of your face brings light to me. You are a brave hero with a face like a moon, and at long last, you found what you seek. Though, to tell the truth, I did not believe I would find another man so abandoned by God as me in all the world. Learning we two are so alike is a bittersweet joy.”