Crossed Swords: A Tale of Maid Cordelia

Ch 5: A Dream

Night fell swiftly; Cordelia slept deeply and undisturbed. A breeze rose; the air had cleared and the sky was a patch of velvet daubed with stars. Vechya whinnied; a pair of silent larks, winging their way down the canopy of trees, had settled in the branches of the strong oak to which Cordelia had fastened Vechya's reins. A thorn bush crackled its leaves in the wind and Cordelia raised her head. Into the empty darkness she called out, "Is that you, Dame Lady Lass?'' No answer came.

''Who are you?'' she asked. ''Who is approaching?'' She strained her eyes to peer into the depth of trees, but the forest was thick and she could see nothing but dark formless shapes that swayed in the cooling breeze. ''Am I dreaming?'' she thought to herself. ''Vechya, what awakened us?''

Hazy light shone within the rough bark of the low-lying branches. Cordelia gripped Vechya's mane tightly and squinted. From within the grove, the dim light glowed more steadily and seemed to shift position and rise. Coming towards her was the pale youth whose arms, at the start of the ordeal of the swords, had grasped hers and restored her strength and balance when she had felt herself lifted off the ground and swirled through the air. Now his face was no longer pale and his woolen cloak was spun with silver threads that glowed against the starlight. "'Power of mind' he told me,'' thought Cordelia. ''His words gave me hope and I triumphed in my ordeal. I will speak to him and learn who he is and extend thanks to him.''

From the glittering light that approached, Cordelia heard a voice, though the youth did not speak. ''I know your thoughts,'' he seemed to say, ''and you must dismiss your fears. I am Wander of the White Swan, squire to Dame Lady Lass. You have done well in the Trial of the Swords, and you must rest now to prepare for the next ordeal: the gauntlet. Drink deeply of the night air. When you wake, bathe in the spring that restores health; Vechya will lead you. You were right to offer Lord Pascal your arm to lean on, to lead him to the stream where he could refresh himself. Be compassionate to your enemies, and you will defeat them without shedding blood; but if they assail you and violate the peace of the land, pursue them to the field of battle. They will fear your valor. Meanwhile, farewell. Tomorrow you will face the Cordon of Knights in the court of Dame Esa. No matter what afflicts you this night, rest in the light of the stars and the sky.''

Cordelia blinked, and the youth was gone.

''His words give me comfort, Vechya, but his presence disturbs me. Light can blind one's eyes as well as help one see. Let us be vigilant this night till the dawn. Watch with me. I shall rest while you stay awake, and at the slightest noise, I shall be with you.'' She stroked his flank and with the weight of sleep bowed her head into the warmth of his mane. As she slept, the larks stirred, and in her dreams she heard their song: ''Beware the night, for in darkness the mysteries of the forest become real.'' A dry branch, that had escaped the wetness of the afternoon's rain, snapped noisily, and Vechya whinnied softly. Cordelia opened her eyes. She kept her head down within the cleft of Vechya's strong, protective neck.

In the darkness she sensed a large form that pawed its way out of the trees, low to the ground. A timber wolf prowled the forest floor. Its fur was matted with the wetness of the rain and its eyes glinted as it walked in the clear starlight. Vechya shivered and stepped back, for he had smelled blood from the wolf's fangs. It was not Aphel, for Cordelia would have known him. She leaned closely towards Vechya's ear and to calm him, whispered, ''He will speak to us soon. He will growl a welcome to us both. Do not fear him.''

In the dim darkness, the wolf seemed to grow in bulk and to change size; Cordelia strained to discern what she could of its outline. It did not speak to her, but raised its muzzle in the night air and uttered a low and disturbing howl. As it came closer to Cordelia, who still lay low, clutching Vechya's mane, the wolf rose on two legs. Its fur melted into human skin and became clothed in a knight's tunic. Its pointy snout became a human nose and its fangs shrank in size into small human teeth. In the starlight Cordelia could not recognize him, but she could see around his neck the medallion of the knights of Tarrow. ''Speak to me,'' she said, ''whoever you are, otherwise I will defend my mount from your trespass.'' The knight turned and now, fully upright, addressed Cordelia in a voice that was warm and soothing in the cool air. ''Do not fear me,'' he said. ''It is I, Lord Veva. Look, here is the scarlet of my cloak and the auburn of my hair. Here around my neck I wear the medallion of my house. I offer you my sword as a sign of trust. Allow me to approach.''