Avtandil Sets Forth in Quest of the Knight

## Chapter Chronology

**Avtandil Sets Forth in Quest of the Knight** (Georgian: **ავთანდილისგან მის ყმის ძებნად წასვლა**) is the sixth chapter of *The Knight in the Panther's Skin*.

## Paraphrase

May Dianos, witnessed by the wise Ezra, be my testament at this moment. It is truly unfortunate when the rose becomes adorned with frost and ice. The slender and faultless beauty, surpassing even rubies, becomes a wanderer and departs from home on a quest that he considers sublime. Avtandil swiftly traverses the plain as if blessed with wings, venturing into distant lands where he encounters wondrous sights. However, the separation from his beloved has wounded his heart with painful stings. He expresses that if she were near, his grief would not lead to the shedding of tears as it usually does.

The falling snow freezes and bruises the delicate and youthful rose. At times, he clings to his knife as if contemplating self-inflicted pain. He laments that destiny has amplified his sorrow and rendered his heart tender. He relinquishes joy, abandoning his instruments of music—harp, lyre, and flute. In the absence of its sun, the rose withers and fades gradually. He advises his heart to endure patiently, preventing it from tearing apart completely. He embarks on journeys through foreign lands, scaling mountains and walking along the shore. He befriends fellow travelers, whose assistance he seeks to obtain information.

While searching, he weeps, and his tears flow like a river into the sea. The ground beneath him feels like a comfortable bed, and his arm acts as a soft pillow. He reflects that despite his extensive travels, his heart remains steadfastly with his beloved. He muses that experiencing death while serving her would be akin to experiencing joy.

He traverses the face of the entire earth, venturing to every possible place. Yet, he encounters no one who has even heard of the knight he seeks. Meanwhile, almost three years have elapsed, leaving only three months remaining. He arrives in a desolate and gloomy country, utterly barren. For an entire month, he encounters no one with whom he can communicate. Even Vis and Ramin did not encounter such misfortunes as fate has chosen to impose upon him. Night and day, he ruminates on Tinatin and the knight she has entrusted him to find.

Finally, he arrives at a resting place atop a mountain, a flat ledge overlooking a vast plain that would take a week to cross without a sled. At the foot of the mountain, a thin stream flows, flanked by banks covered in sedge. Both sides of the stream are densely covered with forests, extending all the way to the river's edge. He rides alongside the stream, counting the days with the weight of a condemned man. With only two months of his quest remaining, he sighs at the thought of returning home without finding the knight. He contemplates the impossibility of self-rebirth or transforming evil into good.

He became deep in thought, contemplating the many uncertainties he had to face. The fear of failure lingered in his mind, knowing that he had invested so much time in his pursuit. He wondered what he could say to Tinatin, his guiding star, about the knight he sought, as it seemed even the gossipers had no knowledge of him.

The weight of time pressed upon him, aware that exceeding the agreed-upon three years would disappoint Shermadin and lead to speculation of his demise. He envisioned the sorrow that would befall his loved ones and the king upon hearing the news. Overwhelmed by such thoughts, he couldn't help but weep, questioning why fate had turned his noble quest into futility.

He contemplated the choice between living a life of shame or embracing death. The prospect of facing Tinatin and her inquiries about the knight filled him with anguish. Lost in his thoughts, he walked beside the swampy wood, finding solace in the dry ground beneath his feet.

He urged himself to be patient, recognizing the limitations of his own strength and the futility of tears. He acknowledged his extensive travels and familiarity with the world but admitted that he had heard no word of the knight he sought. He dismissed the notion that others had dismissed the knight as a mere apparition.

Avtandil descended the mountain, crossed the stream, and allowed his horse to run freely on the plain. Exhausted and disheartened, he contemplated his decision to return. In the past month, he had encountered no human presence, only beasts that he did not bother to chase, even those of a fearsome nature.

Although he had lived like a roaming beast, survival instincts now pushed him to focus on finding sustenance. He hunted for game, his strong arms competing with those of Rostom. Building a fire with flint and arranging a seating made from reeds, he attended to his basic needs in the midst of his challenging journey.

Avtandil tended to his horse while roasting the meat he had hunted. Suddenly, he noticed six horsemen approaching him at a fast pace. Suspicion arose in his mind as he perceived them as potential brigands, considering the region's reputation. He couldn't fathom any other reason for their urgent ride.

Prepared for confrontation, Avtandil approached them with bow and arrow in hand. Two of the men were leading a third, appearing concerned about someone pursuing them. The injured man was in a critical state, having lost a significant amount of blood. It seemed that a fierce battle had resulted in this tragic outcome.

The men implored Avtandil for help, urging him to extinguish his defensive stance. Even if he couldn't provide assistance, they asked him to empathize with their dire situation. Their sorrow overwhelmed them, pleading for him to weep and express his grief alongside them as their dear brother's life hung in the balance.

Avtandil drew closer and listened as the men recounted their story, tears flowing unabated. They explained that their hometown was Khataeti, a name that Avtandil was likely familiar with. Eagerly seeking good hunting grounds, they had set up camp near a stream with numerous soldiers. For a month, they reveled in hunting without leaving their location. They boasted about their archery skills, engaging in a friendly competition among themselves.

However, disagreements arose, and their camaraderie turned into conflict. They argued over who was the best marksman and placed their soldiers on a separate mission, challenging each other to showcase their strength. Alone with their armor-bearers, they continued hunting, slaughtering beasts across plains, mountains, and ridges.

Their tale took a turn when a mysterious and brooding knight suddenly appeared, mounted on a magnificent black stallion. Adorned in a panther skin that exuded a radiant brilliance, the knight possessed an unparalleled beauty that captivated the brothers' attention. They regarded him as a sun on earth, a sight more captivating than anything in the sky. They were tempted to capture him, fueling their longing and prompting daring dares among themselves.

As the eldest brother, it was decided that he would attempt to capture the knight. The next brother requested the knight's horse, recognizing its exceptional quality. The wounded brother, despite his injuries, insisted on confronting the knight and convinced his siblings to agree to his plan. They rode towards the knight, while he calmly approached them.

The knight's face, adorned with pale roses of ruby and crystal, seemed to overshadow their desires for capture. His beauty elevated their longing to its peak. However, the knight paid no attention to their presence, maintaining an impassive and unyielding demeanor. He lashed his whip, striking those who dared to address him rudely.

Their youngest brother proceeded alone, and they held back, not interfering further. Suddenly, their brother cried out, attempting to seize the knight as one would capture a worthy adversary. They believed their brother was a match for the swordless knight, unaware of the impending danger. The knight swiftly struck their brother's head with his whip, causing blood to flow.

With a single blow of his whip, the knight nearly cleaved their brother's head in two, rendering him lifeless. Helpless, they watched their brother's life fade away, his earthly existence abruptly ending. The knight rode past them boldly, displaying a sense of severity and arrogance, never needing to draw his sword.

He continued on his way without looking back, calmly and unhurriedly. Behold! There he rode, exuding serenity like the sun and the moon. The brothers, through tearful eyes and trembling bodies, pointed him out. Avtandil could only discern his magnificent black steed, darker than a raven. Witnessing the sight of the horse, Avtandil's tears began to dry. For three years, he had been on a quest driven by his desire to see that knight, and now, the sun shining upon the horse was the realization of his heart's longing. When one is on the verge of attaining their wish, believing success is near, past sorrows fade from memory.

Addressing his brothers, Avtandil revealed himself as a wanderer without a settled abode. He had left his home in pursuit of the vanished knight, and now, thanks to the brothers' information, he knew he was close to the culmination of his chase. He offered his wishes for God to spare them further grief and to thrive in His grace. Avtandil indicated a resting place for the brothers, urging them to find comfort and attend to their wounded companion in the shade while he himself had no time left for conversation. He spurred his horse and galloped away, traversing the terrain swiftly, resembling an unbound hawk soaring through the sky. Avtandil resembled a moon consumed by the radiant light of the sun, akin to a slender blade of grass.

Approaching the knight, Avtandil contemplated the best approach. He recognized the need to avoid reckless actions that could provoke the stranger's wrath. He had to act wisely, keeping his mind calm and bright. Considering the knight's unreasonable nature and his chilly demeanor, forbidding anyone from speaking or even looking at him, Avtandil realized that accosting him outside would likely lead to a fatal outcome, with one of them dying and the other killing. If the knight were to survive, he would become even more elusive.

"Why should I suffer for the sake of a futile quest?" Avtandil pondered. He believed that the knight must have a home, a place to seek refuge. He decided to let him go for now, and if fate allowed, he would seek him within the walls of that haven, subjecting his abilities to the ultimate test.

For two days and two nights, they rode tirelessly, one leading and the other following. They were oblivious to their need for sustenance, riding without pause, their minds devoid of rest. Tears flowed from their eyes, moistening the plains as they rode, seemingly blind to the world.

Eventually, they arrived at a cliff on the evening of the third day. Within the cliff, a cave emerged, from which a stream cascaded down. Rushes lined the stream, their abundance defying enumeration. Towering trees obscured the topmost branches from view. The knight passed the rocks, making his way towards the cave, the source of the stream. Avtandil reached the tallest tree, dismounted, and tethered his horse. Climbing high enough to gain a panoramic view of the watercourse, he observed as the enigmatic knight continued his journey, shedding tears that befitted a noble soul.

The knight in the panther skin emerged from the woods, his countenance somber. Immediately, a maiden cloaked in black appeared, her cheeks drenched with tears. Her tears flowed ceaselessly, akin to a river's continuous waves. The knight dismounted and embraced the maiden, who emerged from the cave. Addressing her as Sister Asmat, the knight expressed the loss of all their connections, lost in the vastness of the sea. They had been unable to find the one for whom fires burned passionately within him. Beating his breast and tears streaming down his face, he lamented their futile search. Overwhelmed by emotion, the maiden swooned, and they tenderly wiped away each other's tears, repeatedly consoling one another.

In the depths of their despair, the forest seemed to grow denser, as their anguished cries intertwined with the echoes bouncing off the cliffs. Avtandil observed the scene from his concealed vantage point, marveling at the profound display of their bond and sorrow.

The tale continued, with Avtandil awaiting his opportunity to approach the knight, to fulfill his own quest and forge a connection with this mysterious figure. The intricacies of their destinies remained intertwined, the threads drawing them closer, as Avtandil prepared to step into the next chapter of their intertwined fates.

With the maiden's composure regained, she subdued the pain that had tormented her heart. Taking charge, she led the knight's steed into the cave, carefully removing its regal trappings. Skillfully, she unfastened the knight's armor piece by piece, liberating him from its weight and protection. Together, they retreated into the depths of the cave, and as the day faded into darkness, their tale remained concealed.

Avtandil pondered how he could uncover their story, his curiosity lingering unanswered. As the sun rose once more, the maiden emerged, draped in her black cloak, her countenance pale and melancholic. She tended to the horse, bridling and cleaning it with the edge of her veil. Skillfully, she saddled the horse and silently carried out the knight's chainmail, executing her tasks with a solemn dedication.

It seemed that rest was a luxury the knight could not afford, as he adhered to a relentless rhythm of departure. The maiden, veiled in darkness, tore at her thick tresses, weeping and beating her breast in anguish. The knight, in a tender display of affection, embraced and kissed her before mounting his horse and embarking on his westward journey. Asmat, already enveloped in gloom, appeared to be consumed by a deep despair.

Avtandil, perched on the edge of understanding, beheld the face of the panther-clad knight with clarity. Radiating the brilliance of a heavenly sun, his youthful countenance adorned with a slight mustache but no significant beard. His scent carried the delightful fragrance of poplars wafting on the wind. This knight possessed the strength to vanquish a lion effortlessly, just as lions conquer a helpless goat.

Once again, the knight followed the same path he had traversed the day before. He passed the rushes and ventured onto the expansive plain that stretched endlessly. Though tempted to pursue him, Avtandil resolved to remain behind. He believed that God had orchestrated events in his favor, and he saw no reason to oppose this divine arrangement.

"Why should I question the divine hand that has guided my quest so perfectly?" Avtandil contemplated. "I shall entreat the maiden to reveal the tale of the knight I once sought to defeat. In turn, I will share my own story, ensuring that fear does not taint her heart. I am unwilling to engage in a battle of life and death with this knight, nor do I wish to be the cause of his demise."

"Prologue"

1. "The Story of King Rostevan, The King of Arabs"
2. "King Rostevan and Avtandil Go Hunting"
3. "The King of the Arabs Sees the Knight in the Panther Skin"
4. "Tinatin Sends Avtandil to Look for the Knight"
5. "Avtandil's Letter to His Vassals"
6. "**Avtandil Sets Forth in Quest of the Knight**"
7. "Avtandil Tells His Story to Asmat"
8. "The Meeting of Tariel and Avtandil"
9. "Tariel Tells His Story to Avtandil"
10. "The Story of Tariel's Falling in Love"
11. "First Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Her Beloved"
12. "First Letter Written by Tariel to His Beloved"
13. "Tariel Writes a Letter and Sends a Man to the Khatavians"
14. "Nestan-Darejan Summons Tariel"
15. "The Letter by the King of the Khatavians to Tariel"
16. "Tariel's Tryst with Nestan-Darejan"
17. "Tariel's Departure for Khataeti and Great War"
18. "Tariel's Letter to the Indian King and His Triumphant Return"
19. "The Letter of Nestan-Darejan Written to Her Beloved"
20. "Tariel Laments and then Faints"
21. "Tariel's Letter in Answer to His Beloved"
22. "The Council Concerning Nestan-Darejan's Marriage"
23. "Tariel and Nestan-Darejan Discuss Her Marriage"
24. "The Arrival of the Bridegroom and His Slaying by Tariel"
25. "Tariel Hears Tidings of the Disappearance of Nestan-Darejan"
26. "Nuradin-Phridon's Story"
27. "Tariel's Aid to Phridon"
28. "Phridon Tells Tariel Tidings of Nestan-Darejan"
29. "The Story of Avtandil's Return to Arabia"
30. "Avtandil's Request to the King and the Vizier's Entreaty"
31. "Avtandil's Discourse with Shermadin"
32. "The Testament of Avtandil for King Rostevan Before He Secretly Left"
33. "Avtandil's Prayer"
34. "King Rostevan Hears of Avtandil's Secret Flight"
35. "Avtandil's Second Departure to Meet Tariel"
36. "Avtandil Finds Tariel"
37. "Tariel Tells How He Killed a Panther and a Lion"
38. "Tariel and Avtandil Return to the Cave and See Asmat"
39. "Avtandil Goes to See Phridon"
40. "Avtandil Comes to Phridon's After He Parted from Tariel"
41. "Avtandil Goes to Seek Nestan-Darejan and Meets a Caravan"
42. "The Story of Avtandil's Arrival in Gulansharo"
43. "Patman Becomes Enamoured of Avtandil"
44. "Patman's Letter of Love to Avtandil"
45. "Avtandil's Letter in Response to Patman"
46. "Patman Tells Avtandil the Story of Nestan-Darejan"
47. "The Story of the Capture of Nestan-Darejan by the Kajis"
48. "The Letter Written by Patman to Nestan-Darejan"
49. "The Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Patman"
50. "The Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Her Beloved"
51. "Avtandil's Letter to Phridon"
52. "Avtandil's Departure from Gulansharo and Meeting with Tariel"
53. "Tariel and Avtandil Go to Phridon"
54. "Phridon's Counsel"
55. "Avtandil's Counsel"
56. "Tariel's Counsel"
57. "Tariel's Visit to the King of the Seas"
58. "The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan Held by Phridon"
59. "The Three Knights Go to the Cave and Then to Arabia"
60. "The Wedding of Avtandil and Tinatin by the King of the Arabs"
61. "Tariel Learns of the Death of the King of India"
62. "Tariel's Arrival in India and the Defeat of the Khatavians"
63. "The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan"

"Epilogue"