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"Naga and the Serpent"
A poem of The Slayers,
by Shunsuke -|||
Part the first
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I: Of Remembrance
I take up my quill to write, lest forgotten
This tale of glory I pass down the years
For I have grown old, and so few remember
Only I and those who shed many tears
A tale of fair lands, both far and near
Of where, whom, and whence, it matters not
For lessons and legends are treasures themselves
Gold be but dust, but their acts not forgot
Righteous be those who battle not for themselves
Each had their reasons, each had their cause
But it be those who would give alms without question
Each had their strengths, each had their flaws
Two stood alone 'gainst a dragon so foul
'Twould have swallowed the world, would all have vanished
You would know not the legend, perchance read these words
Should the valiant have failed, should they not it vanquished
He, a seasoned champion; she, an apprentice
Aye, an uncommon legend were they
But it is not for we to judge, only remember
Sacrifice and honour, for the gift of today
Heroes may die as easily as fools
And cowards mistaken for the heedful
But a knave cannot love like a man of honour
A woman's heart that is so needful
Who among you has courage to fight?
An evil, to kill? For others, to die?
Who among you has the strength to love?
For justice, to care? For another, to try?
Let the words be a fibre, the lines be a thread
Let the verses be a pattern, the stanzas a seam
Let the message be the warmth, which fends off the cold
Let the tale be a cloak that allows you this dream
II: Ciaran
Ciaran of the Fourth Circle was he
Sorcerer, swordsman, mendicant, wanderer
Generous to others in all his deeds
To the selfish, 'twould seem he a squanderer
Dark in his face, but not in his heart
Pure of soul was he and his face filled with fire
His breast so full, his passion runneth deep
Yet there be more than lust to a man's desire
Born in a hamlet, to a wealthy man's birth
He shed of himself all nobility and baggage
He knew all that would matter one could hold in the hand
That the things he desired only be freedom and knowledge
Of years three and thirty 'twas he born before
He bore that many scars, from battle and blow
A man who had seen and learned much of life
Yet knew enough that there was still more to know
No fool was he, for he knew well of women
Not harpies or whores, not stealers of men's essence
But of friends and of siblings, of mothers and sisters
He thought only of one, that which stood in his presence
He longed for her, his dark riding friend;
His pupil, confidant, his sole companion
So brusque, yet radiant, a dream he wished -
The taste of her lips as he slept 'neath the banyan
His soul would have sung had his love he voiced
But silent he kept, for he knew her true purpose
She came to him not for love, but for wisdom
To learn all he knew, to become the enchantress
Yet what, truly, is love? Is it children, being wedded?
Is it loyalty and fealty that one has well earned?
Is it gold that is given, a king's ransom all told?
Nay, 'tis giving more than is asked of - with nothing return'd
III: Naga
Born on a long, cold winter night,
In a village nestled amid a farmer's hills
A woman of youth, she brought forth a child
Labour that was more a battle of wills
At five a spark of talent first appeared,
At eight a spark of fire did ignite in her hands
At thirteen a first vision of womanhood,
At seventeen a first vision of arcane commands
Bold and beautiful, loyal and fair
She was like no other and her laughter a joy
A maiden of radiance, of raven hair
She became the passion of ev'ry man, ev'ry boy
Volatile and voluble, voluptuous and viviporous
Innocent child and wise woman, what men so desire
She was scandalous, ambulous - aye, even tantalous
With a spirit that burned bright as a fire
But none of these men could capture her heart
For she had thoughts unlike any other
To travel the lands, to learn, to explore
(A fool, 'twas she, not to want touch of another)
Garbed in white cloth, her breeches and bustier
A bag on her hip to carry her notions
She searched through the lands, both near and far
To find her a mage, who would teach her of potions
Many times she would stop, each a place to begin
Each time she began, they soon showed their lust
Many moons did she ride, til at long last
She found her a mage she knew she could trust
So for sev'ral seasons, did they share their camp
They hunted the forests, over meals shared a spell
But she would not be enchanted, for she knew that the eyes
Cast spells of love, in she'd fall, like a well
IV: Duty and Honour
Travellers they, the two roamed the lands
Seeking tests of their mettle, honour and resilience
Came upon them a valley, a pit of despair
A kingdom once proud, a wyrm stole its brilliance
Weeping and sorrow were the women and the aged
Only tears and not hope, did shine from their eye
They gave not a heed to the strangers amongst them
But instead only watched for the scourge from the sky
A shepherd did tend to his pitiful flock
And the mages did ask whence could they find the lord
The man called a boy to lead them to the keep
But warned that his liege welcomed all with a sword
Down roads no longer tended, they strode them afoot
The boy dressed in rags, to his lord were they led
The mages were granted an audience with he
And they bowed before him, and these words he said:
"What bring ye, o wizards, to my fair lands?
To seek ye your fortune, plunder for gold?
We have no riches, the smelters stand cold
I say this to you, and show you my hands
Flee from my homeland, do not be waylaid
If ye be but trav'lers, thou walk alone;
But if ye be thieves, then get thee begone
I would sooner slay thee with mine own blade
But if ye be heroes, champions good
Give alms to your host, I have no reward
I call to your honour, to heed my geas
Slay for me the dragon, blight of this wood
Give hope to us all, give us some regard
Four cent'ries past, has this land no peace"
A man not yet forty, yet worn well past his age
The lord's throne did crumble, with no artisans to tend
Though the words were not spoken, our heroes they new
Should they do nothing, would the king's royal line end
Without hesitation, Ciaran spoke to the king
Told him that they would be the end of their blight
Even though he knew no reward, and much danger
To spare the innocent, 'twas the noblest fight
With what he could spare, the king gave to the two
Retainers and servants, packs upon horses
Supplies to last them on their journey to come
To keep up their strength as they sought out dark forces
No need had the king to doubt their sincerity
Could see the young witch ne'er in life had told lies
And the mage would he ne'er betray that fine girl
For the king could he see, the love in his eyes
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End, part the first
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