As General of the armies, he could not simply leave the Kingdom without permission from Rostevan, so he went to see him. When he entered the audience hall, Avtandil learned the King was busy. Frustrated, he gave a brief message to the chamberlain.
“I venture to tell you my thoughts these days and hope to share these words in private.”
With his request sent, he turned his mind to the lie he must tell his foster father. If he did not misrepresent himself, he would never be allowed to go. In all his life, he had not once lied to those he loved, and doing so now pained him. But he had no choice in the matter. Like all lovers, he was lost to matters of the heart. Bereft of reason, his only course was to betray the trust of those who mattered most to him.
In time he was escorted to his Lord. Once inside, he began weaving the tapestry of falsehood he needed to support his lie.
“I have thought long on the might of our Kingdom. All within the vast expanse of our borders bow to your rule. Yet, many outside our walls are not subject to you. They do not know of Tinatin’s accession to the throne, which may create a problem one day.”
“With your blessing, I would like to carry these tidings to all, including those beyond the far frontiers. To the obedient, I will give cause for celebration and rejoicing. Those who are disobedient will be made to weep before your power. I will wage war on them with my sword, piercing the hearts of your enemies and announcing her rule.”
On hearing this from his beloved young Knight, the King praised him.
“Your counsel matches your valor, and your words are not so different than those of my wise advisor Sograt. Truly you are the Lion of Arabia! Hence, you may go and stretch your sword arm, though I wonder what I will do if you are gone long from these walls? You are like a son to me, and I am filled with joy when you are close.”
Avtandil bowed deeply, hoping the red of his face was seen as humility and not shame at the half-truths he told.
“Your praise is an unexpected gift and warms my heart. With such blessings, perhaps God will lighten the darkness of our separation. I will send exotic gifts as I travel and hope it will not be long before I look once more on your radiant face.”
With sweet words and deep affection, they embraced as father and son. The King kissed him farewell, and Avtandil made his way out of the throne room. To the youth, their ways were separated, and he was free to pursue his duty to Tinatin. Rostevan, wise and gentle, did not show the hurt his departure caused him. Instead, he turned away and hid his tears when the young warrior left.
Unaware of how he draped sorrow over Rostevan’s heart, the Knight set off on his quest. His mind was of a singular purpose now. He would uphold his vow, and nothing would stand in his way.