The Wounded Sphinx

Now that the journeys were close to begin, the four Knights bade farewells and much vow to come and visit. The Blue Knights went first straight into the dark forest, keen to become to the great city of Az where their child would be raised.

Not knowing.

In a forest some may say that time has a different length to it. This may lull the unwary traveler without troubles. It is hard to see, the nights and days, when the shafts of light that might penetrate from above, may be moonlight or may be sunlight. The Knights in Blue armour traveled far into the darkening woods, where the trees became so great and old that one could not put ones arms about them, so wide in girth were they.

In this slow world, the knights did put aside their way and knew not in which land in which they might travel. In some respect, all that they could see was each other, having spent so much time apart in their quests.

Then as they were traversing a glade of dappled lights, they came across and an animal so large with a rough hair about its neck and some wild teeth that needs must avoid. The fey creature lay upon its side, whilst licking at its great claw, one of which had suffered some deep wounding.

I shall despatch this lairy beast with all haste, cried the Woman Knight bring to bear a great spear, stand back, and watch its blood nourish the land.

No, said the Man Knight, quiet, Let us first find the nature of this beast beyond its claws and toothy grin.

They came close and the creature held out its wounded paw with a sorrowful look in its eye like puss in boots.

Look, said the man Knight, It is asking for assist. And so saying took the great clawed paw into his hands to see the cut there within some sharp piece of a sword or other mighty weapon. He, careful and wary, pulled upon the metal until it came free. The beast growled low in its throat but held steady and made no sudden to move. The Knight took his scarf from about his neck, all blue and patterned in a particular way, and he tried it tight about the cleaned wound as it was the best that he might do.

Then there was a wind or rushing, that was making the trees and some dust flew up about the beast. When again the clear view came, there upon the green sward lay a woman instead of a beast with the blue scarf, all blue and patterned in a particular way, tight about her hand.

Thank you Gentle Knights for this kindness which has both salved my wound and brought the wicked enchantment to an end, I must leave now this forest in which I have been forced to dwell, harassed at every turn by some questing Knights who could not unsee the beast that I had seemed.

She rose most careful to her feet, and tried, making unsteady steps, to leave the clearing.

But then wait awhile your strength returns, called the Woman in Blue Armour, I would that you should recount the sorry tale that has brought you to this pretty pass.

Sorry Tale indeed, replied the woman, I shall sit down with you this little while to regain myself, and in that time I will recount the tale of my troubles most profound. Would that you may proffer a drink of some eating perhaps?

The Knights in Blue made her to sit with the support of a great tree. They took to her some bread and water to bring her recovery. Until then she was silent. But in some small time after she had rested and drank of the water and ate some of the bread, she offered to say her history.

No, said the Woman in Blue armour, Let me now, for my own fancy, say a story that might have brought you to this place.

If that is your fancy, said the woman, then by all means say your tale.

I think, began the Woman in Blue, That it happened on the eve of St Grewan’s feast, when all the people had been strong in prayer and were now become strong in drink. That a lady and her lord sat at the high table. On that evening a visitor, sore with travel, happened upon the feast and was given to take bread at the lowest table. The lady had espied the fair face of this visitor from afar and sent word to bring him to her throne.

Young man, said the Lady, why and where have I seen your face before, it troubles me that I cannot bring you to mind.

I am visiting this world but for second time, spoke the young man, the first I was a wolf in the forest. But now I find myself a full human, although I still have some feelings of the wolf that I was.

The Lady laughed brightly and threw him a bone from her plate. He caught it in his teeth and grinned.

I threw him no bones, cried the woman on the grass, he took it to himself from the great trencher there with not a by your leave and spirited me away into the forest whist all the world was sleeping! How did you know this?

 Ah, said the Woman in Blue Armour, I myself have spent a long time in enchant and this has brought to my mind many stories. It is but a matter of fitting the tale to its place. All our stories have been writ and we needs must rewrite them if we are not to be held captive by an twisted narrative. Be not bound now and let your story be filled with truths.

But these wise words fell on unhearing ears as the Woman who had been a Sphinx had fallen in deep slumber.