Then Vivainne went into the city where the people had no food, she was disconsolate and made depressed by the sight of children who were hungry and without food. The Guides of the city, for it was their remit, came with her and spoke with her. Telling her that her quest was to fill the hungry mouths everywhere to bring their misery to end.
She went out then, out into the mountains to search, but in searching could find none. The rough rocks were barren, and the hill sides were covered high with a bush of thorns that would bite her were she not in her armour. Hanging upon these bushes were fruit without number which she had been told were bitter to the taste and not for eating. Also, the fruit could not be grasped as the thorns were too many for ordinary people who had no shield.
Vivainne sat by some rocks and made thoughts as to which path to travel in her quest. Then the night storms blew up, savage winds made the rough places howl, and the thunder and lightning were always playing about. Later a great thunder, larger than, jumped down from on high with great spears of light and fire into the rocks and bushes where Vivainne sat waiting for the storm to abate.
The bushes broke up into flame, burning bright into the night. One bush in exact particular stood out with great flames in its arms. It spoke to Vivainne of ideas that she might foretell. When the pale light arrived Vivainne could see that all the thorns had been burnt into harmless ash to be sharp no more away. The fruit on the branches, hot to touch now softened and had been cooked nicely up the branch. Vivainne could reach out and eat and it was very good eating.
The bush that had burnt so hot fell across the ground to her and another came to grow in its place already formed.
Vivainne took up the fruit and came down from the mountain in the storm which had passed. She came in the face to the hungry people at face and held the fruit to them in eating. The people and children who had no food ate of the fruit that was still good to eat and made them to be satisfied and life became not so hard and trying.
Now Vivainne’s quest was at an end and after some time she left the cities of Az and Aznot with the Clever Fox who also came away. She made her settlement with the Blue Knight, the Brave Robin, and the Heartless Box to whom she gave the numbers and positions of the Burning Bushes and travelled away to her Castle where her beloved Constance waited wyth patience. Her journey was fraught with adventures which might be found to tell in another place than here.
The Guardians of the Cave 