Winner
Tanya Strydom
Sir Tain and the Peasant’s Sword
A coherent and strenuous allegory of Christian grace that is demonstrated not just in sacrificial death but also in community life. The writing is mature, inventive and polished.
An extract from Sir Tain and the Peasant’s Sword
“So, where are you from?”
“Here, originally,” replied Tain.
It was Mon’s turn to look surprised. “I have never seen you before,” he said.
“I have been away for several years,” answered Tain vaguely. “Tell me, have the Sians often been raided and oppressed?”
“Yes,” replied Mon slowly, “A few years ago, there was a particularly bad time of house raids. Many Sians were killed by the Imperial Monarch’s Army.”
“I heard about one family where the father, mother, and young daughter were cruelly slaughtered,” continued Tain, hesitantly.
“Yes,” answered Mon sadly, “That was one of the worst.”
Tain looked at him closely. “What would you say if I said I was their son?”
Mon looked at him with genuine sympathy. “Then you escaped the Imperial soldiers and are all alone?”
Tain looked away and said roughly, “I am the soldier who killed them. You can leave me if you like. If you don’t want to be friendly anymore, I understand.”
He heard Mon slowly stand up, but forced himself to continue staring at the ground. He felt Mon’s hand gently touch his head. He looked up, but there was no hate or anger in the face or eyes of the young man. He did not look afraid either. His eyes were full of compassion, as though he could read the misery and chaos in Tain’s soul.
“Come home with me,” he said, “My father will treat you kindly, and my mother will be pleased to have you spend the night in our house.”
Tears filled Tain’s eyes, and he rose to his feet unsteadily.
Mon reached out and helped him up. Tain said nothing, but Mon could see his face, and he knew what Tain was feeling. He slipped his arm under Tain’s shoulders, and together, they walked toward the house.
