---

The Legend of Peresvet/Chapter Seven: Vlada

---

Chapter Seven:
Vlada

She is gentle like the morning sun

And quiet like silence itself!

She is as pure as a holy transparent spring

And beautiful, like a springtime fairy!

Peresvet

Andrey Oslyabya and Alexander Peresvet stood out among the monastic brethren by their high stature and bogatyr* physique. In shoulders, Oslyabya, perhaps, was wider than Peresvet and therefore looked more powerful. Despite his respectable years, his strength was the same — calm and powerful.

Yegor asked the hegumen for permission to help Andrey in his work. Sergius smiled a little, but allowed him.

Andrey was laying large stones to make steps on the path to the river which was rather steep. This path would often wash out in the rains and then become slippery with clay.

Yegor, who came over to help, filled the gaps between the laid cobblestones with bonding mortar to fasten the stones in the steps.

The work went on.

When they finished their work, Andrey and Yegor went to the river to bathe, change into a new set of clothes, and wash the clothes that had been stained with dust and mortar.

Afterwards, they sat near the river and rested.

Yegor said:

“Peresvet told me about you, about your youth, about the Elder, about how you saved his life in battle. And then, he said that you should be the one to tell me what happened afterwards, because he was ill and unconscious for a long time. Will you tell me?”

“All right, listen!

“Did Peresvet tell you about Vlada, his wife?”

“No.”

“Well, I’ll start with that, then.”

* * *

“All our warriors who were wounded in that battle were taken to one place, where they were treated by healers and those fighters who had at least some knowledge of healing.

“Understanding that Peresvet had little chance to survive, I tried to determine which healer could heal the best. I carried Peresvet in my arms and looked closely at all the healers.

“I noticed a young lady, whose movements — for all her actions — seemed to me something special. I looked and could not take my eyes away… My mind was spinning: ‘What could such a young maiden understand about the treatment of serious wounds?’. But my heart seemed to be telling me that this was the only hope.

“I put Peresvet near her on the ground. It seemed to me as if she startled slightly when she looked at his face, as if she recognized a loved one, but chose not to show it.

“I stood beside her and waited while she examined, washed, and bandaged the wounds. I asked:

‘Is he going to survive? Can you heal him?’

“She raised her clear gray-blue eyes to me, shook her head, and said softly:

‘I cannot heal him… I can only make it so that he doesn’t die now. I can prolong his life time… But I know someone who might be able to do such a healing. But I make no promises.’

‘He is my friend, my sworn brother! I would give anything to save his life! But as a cripple, he will not want to live…’

‘I want nothing in terms of money. And that healer isn’t interested in gold at all… Find a cart and put hay on it so that your friend won’t be shaken on the way. Let’s go to that man. It’s far away. Three days’ journey.’

‘What’s your name?’

‘Vlada.’

‘My name is Rodion, my friend’s name is Peresvet.’

“Vlada, moving her lips slightly, as if kissing the sounds, repeated his name softly, like an echo.

“… Then I said goodbye to the prince, found a good cart, and prepared a comfortable bed on it.

“Vlada approached the horse harnessed to that cart, stroked it very gently, and whispered something to it. Only then did she sit down on the cart and take the reins with one hand. With the other hand, she squeezed Peresvet’s hand in hers.

“I rode beside her. Peresvet’s horse obediently followed behind.

“When I tried to speak to Vlada, she asked:

‘If you want us to bring your friend there alive, do not distract me by talking without an important reason. I must try to support the power of life in him…’

“And so, we rode in silence.

“We stopped for the night only for a short time and made a campfire. It was late autumn, and it was cold.

“Vlada sat down near to the fire. She could not warm up and tried to hold back her trembling. All day, looking at her, I felt her special confidence and clear strength. And now, she seemed so fragile and defenseless! I tossed in some more firewood, covered her with my cloak, and sat down next to her.

“Vlada said softly:

‘Sometimes it’s tiredness that makes it so hard to stay warm. But now, by the fire, it will pass quickly…’

“She spoke on her own, so I asked a question that was especially important to me at the time:

‘And this healer, what Gods does he worship? Peresvet and I are of the Christian faith, so it will not be good if that sorcerer is of some other one…’

“… Vlada looked at me sadly:

‘It’s too late for you to remember this! After all, we cannot turn back now, can we?’

‘Well, I had been thinking to tell you for a long time, but you told me not to say anything!’

‘Have no superstitious fear! He’s not a sorcerer! He’s not even a healer! He’s a Magus! Do you remember? — in the Scriptures about Christ Jesus, there is a story about the adoration of the Magi. These Wise Men heard from above about the birth of Jesus and came to worship Him. He is the same kind of Wise Man.’

‘Did he come from the lands of the East?’

‘No… In dark times, Great Souls are born across many nations to support the forces of Light in the world so that darkness does not completely swallow people… He serves only God!’

“Vlada thought for a while, then made up her mind and said an important thing:

‘God — He is One and the Only One for all peoples! But people forgot about this — and so there are different faiths. That is why people call Him, the One Who created everything, by different names…’

“Vlada was silent.

“I did not ask any more questions…

“After a few hours of rest, we continued our journey.

“… On the third day, close to evening, we approached a river.

“Vlada said sternly:

‘Wait here. And don’t make any noise!’

“… I had to wait a long time, more than half an hour.

“She came back in a boat. Her long blond braids were quite wet. So she had swam across the river in this cold!

“We carefully laid Peresvet into it.

“Vlada said:

‘Get in the boat with me now. We’ll take care of the horses later. I can’t carry your friend to the cave without you.’

“We sailed a little way down the river, to a place where the river made a steep turn. There was a crevice in a high, steep bank. It seemed very narrow, but the boat slipped through. Vlada and I had to duck under the trunk of an overhanging tree that made this narrow channel inconspicuous. Then the channel widened, becoming like a round deep lake of clear water surrounded by high, steep, rocky banks. A waterfall flowed down the opposite slope in a narrow stream. It was apparent that this stream, falling from a height over many centuries, had hollowed out this lake.

“We docked on a small sandy beach and began to climb the steps carved into the almost vertical wall to the cave.

“Vlada led the way. I carried Peresvet in my arms and made every effort not to stumble. When we entered the cave, there was in front of us a tall old man in white clothes.

“With incredible surprise, I recognized the Elder!

‘Well, hello, Rodion!’

“I was amazed that we already knew each other, and that he remembered my name, and that he seemed to have grown younger since our last meeting fifteen years ago!

“He looked majestic, even though he wore simple clothes. His long white robe was without any embroidery or ornamentation, and it was belted with a linen rope. His gray hair and beard were snow-white.

“For the first time in the last few days, I was at peace and happy: I knew for sure that everything would be all right!”