On her way Vivainne fell in with some pilgrims who, as circumstance would have it, were following the same path. One, a rich man, dressed in fine cloth and riding a tall horse, admitted that travelling in the company of an armoured knight would make feel safe.
The other was a poor woman who walked barefoot, carrying her belongings on her back, who said that she was not afraid of robbers as she had nothing, but would appreciate the company on her pilgrimage.
As they travelled, they came to a place where the path entered a gloomy forest. All three, well versed in the dangers of robbers and cutpurses in such places, vowed to stay together as a precaution. Vivainne strapped on her sword and dagger in case they were needed.
Deep into the forest they suddenly heard a great whooshing sound as a cloud of darkness came flying out of the trees and knocked Vivainne clean off her horse and onto the forest floor. The poor woman, who had been riding pillion, was left sitting alone on the horse without holding the reins. The rich man spurred his horse to a gallop in order to escape and Vivainne’s horse followed without guidance, carrying the poor woman away with it.
Vivainne leapt to her feet and laid about her at the dark cloud that was circling, but her blows could find no purchase and were to no avail and soon the darkness had wrapped her tightly and bound her arms closely so that she could no longer fight. She felt the coldness of the crypt sucking the warmth of life from her body, struggle as she may, the darkness subdued her.
Just as her mind seemed to be drifting away she heard the sound of hooves nearby.
The poor woman had returned, having eventually grabbed the reins, she had turned Vivainne’s horse and, with the pack horse following, she had made her way, with all haste, back to the scene of the attack. She dismounted and approached the swirling mass in which Vivainne was bound. She plunged her hands into the darkness and wiped the darkness away from Vivainne’s face.
‘Vivainne’ she said, ‘this darkness must be fought from within, it is the darkness of loneliness which assails you. I do not know your story, but all our stories have much in common, I suspect that you are missing a loved one who is far away from here and that the pain of your loneliness has attracted this dark cloud. I am here to be with you in your time of need, think of the time that comes when you will be reunited with your beloved, have courage and hope and the darkness will pass away.’
Vivainne’s eyes opened and it was plain to see the battle raging within, played out across her troubled countenance. Slowly, she lost her pallor and a hand reached out from the depths of the darkness to clasp the hand of the poor woman and in that position they stayed until the cloud had diminished and eventually dissipated into the air as if it had never been.
The Knight Exemplar, Vivainne Desegur, regained her feet and held the poor woman in a comforting embrace for some moments. She thanked the woman in many ways and vowed that, if ever the woman was in need, then she could call on the support of Vivainne in any circumstance. Together they continued their journey, eventually parting as their paths dictated with fond farewells and commitments to meet again in better times.
Neither of them ever saw the rich pilgrim again.
The Guardians of the Cave 