“In the middle of our hunt, and seemingly from nowhere, a Black Knight appeared. The man was dark and morose, with a grim visage. It seemed as if smoke and mist had brought the spirits of the plains to life. He was seated on the blackest of steeds, which was armored and bedecked in jewels, somehow seeming to float.”
“Clad in the skin of a panther, it as though he stepped from a vision. Surely no one ever witnessed such beauty in a man before, yet there he stood. Though his eyes were not kind towards us, a radiance emanated from him which we were unable to account for.”
“He gazed on us, whip at his side, and without weapons in his hands. We were barely able to support ourselves under his gaze, for he was like a sun on earth, come down from Heaven. I cannot say why, but it came into our minds to seize him. Yet, venturesome as we were, the folly of our actions did not appear to us at once. This is the cause of our weeping, for we brought this tragedy on our own heads.”
“Being the oldest, I begged my brothers to give me this man to fight. Next, my middle brother, who praised the skill of his horsemanship, made his claim. Yet, in the end, the youngest of us won. He sought only to conquer the man, and we fools gave this challenge to him. Now he rests before us at the gates of death’s kingdom, but we did not understand then as we do now.”
“As we approached the stranger, intent on taking him, he came towards us without changing his demeanor nor posture. Instead, he rode calmly, radiant as a star. His cheeks were ruby, mingled with the crystal of tears for reasons we do not know. Though his thoughts may have been indifferent or tender before we sought to take him, they quickly turned to wrath.”
“He spoke no words in explanation and gave us no opportunity to escape. When our youngest attempted to engage him, the stranger grabbed him, but as he held no weapon, we kept back. How could we have realized his power?”
“He struck our brother with his whip, cleaving his skull in a single blow. A river of blood poured from his head, and he crumpled to the ground, collapsing like a stone as he met the earth. Then, having humbled him for his arrogance, the Knight turned and with bold steps slowly left. He did not look back, never speaking or raising a hand against us who remained standing. Perhaps he spared us the bite of his sword out of consideration, but it did not matter to our brother. His Fate was sealed.”
The joyless men continued talking as they pointed to the horizon.
“Do you see him? He who is like the sun goes as he came, without haste. There is no care or concern for what is left in his wake.”
At this, Avtandil looked up from the weeping brothers and their tragic tale. In the distance he saw a black silhouette of a man riding a steed of shadow into the approaching twilight. It was the man he sought for so long.
His earlier indecision faded to dust at the sight of his quarry. His quest had not been in vain, and his cheeks would no longer be covered in the snow of frozen tears as he fruitlessly scoured wastelands and barren plains. The myth he chased was before him, and with this, he found a new revelation. When a man attains what he wished for, past woes must be forgotten.
Perhaps it really was a Devi, but now he would find out. With these thoughts fresh on his mind, he turned and addressed the woeful brothers.
“For nearly three years, I searched for this Knight. In this time, I have been a wanderer without a place. I traveled far from home and all I love, but today I learned from you what I have been seeking. It is no easy thing you discovered for me. Truly I hope God never again gives you cause to grieve.”
“I ride now to meet the wish of my heart’s desire, but I would not see further suffering befall you or your brother. Go to my camp and eat the food I prepared. Give him and yourselves rest and take whatever you need. I will not return there, for I must learn what darkness lies on this man’s heart, or if he is even a man.”
Mounting as he finished speaking, Avtandil spurred his horse forward. He flew across the plain like the moon racing to catch the sun, as though the wings of a hawk carried him. Seeing the stranger gave him new resolve. The fires which earlier burnt the reed of his form to ash were now extinguished.