Chapters I-II

The Two Dragons and the Red Sword

Meanwhile Gallafur had been riding in swift pursuit of the maiden with the two dragons. All night he rode, following the tracks of her palfrey and the glow in the sky a league ahead of the dragons’ flames as they flew through the air. But to his surprise he couldn’t gain any ground, and by the time day broke his horse was so exhausted and in need of drink that at the sight of a spring he plunged into the stream and lay there in the water, his master still astride him. Gallafur was drenched from head to foot, and scrambled to the bank, dripping. It was a cold morning, and he started to shiver terribly and clapped himself in an effort to keep warm.

An old woman arrived to fetch water from the spring, and seeing Gallafur’s plight she invited him home to her fireside. He said his mission was far too pressing, but she insisted that his horse needed rest and food as much as he did, and he finally accepted this and was soon warming himself at her hearth.

It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep; and as he slept he dreamt that ‘the maiden with the dragons appeared before him and shook him with her right hand, saying: “Wake up, sir, and follow me if you want to achieve your goal!”’ And in his dream she went galloping away, the dragons still on the end of her chain, but he couldn’t find his horse to follow her.

He awoke in great distress, and when he told the old woman of his dream he was astounded to hear her say that the maiden with the dragons had indeed been there at the house and tried to shake him awake before riding away.

‘“In God’s name,” he cried, “where’s my horse?”’

And he mounted at once and set off again. All day he rode, the dragons ever in view, but still he was unable to gain ground. When evening came he found himself in a great marsh; and ‘although he could see the dragons flying in the air, he could see no one holding their chain – much to his dismay, for he was very anxious to speak to the noble maiden and learn something about her’.