Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 13

In a world where charms and prayers are trusted as safeguards against the road’s many dangers, a lone traveler named Reynold D'Ast carries with him a simple, daily invocation known as Saint Julian’s prayer. He believes the words keep misfortune at bay, especially when nightfall finds him far from any friendly hearth.

One cold evening he joins three seemingly trustworthy companions who boast of secret spells and mystical lore. Their conversation turns to a wager: if Reynold can prove the power of his prayer, they will share the night’s lodging; if not, he must forfeit his possessions. The men’s true intentions soon emerge, leaving Reynold stripped of horse, coat, and coin, while the prayer remains his only comfort as he trudges onward through a bleak, unforgiving landscape.