III

Helawiza had never been to the grounds behind gates. She looked at the map. According to it, she should have crossed the forest. Helawiza found the track and began her way. Two hours later she saw a forest of oaks, sloes and ashes. Helawiza entered.
The forest wasn’t dark, so our witch could see the track clearly. She was walking for half an hour when she heard the tramp of a horse. Helawiza hide behind an old oak. Soon she saw a knight on the black horse. This knight didn’t seem angry, so the witch left her shelter slowly. She stared at the knight but neither he nor his horse attended her. Helawiza read the label on the knight’s helmet:

Sir John Backsword
- Sir John! – She called.
No reply.
Helawiza remembered the legend told her by Ursula when she was a little girl:
- Sir John Backsword was the best knight in our lands, kind, brave and helpful. But suddenly one angry witch fell in love with him. He said:
- Go away! We are enemies!
- Then he fell asleep forever.
It won’t be difficult to guess that this witch was Vilorra.
Helawiza sighed and hurried through the forest which became more and more dark. But our witch, as all ones, could see in the darkness as good as in daytime. So, darkness wasn’t a big problem.
Other problems were big black rainy clouds. Soon they covered all sky. Helawiza raised her hood and ran.
At last she stumbled over the root of ash, fell on the ground and fainted.