The Ballad of Lenore (Part 12)

She directed me to the tower stairs

We climbed a very long way

Eight levels I counted, windows throughout

So many bright ghostlights, like day

We came up to the tower roof

I could see their citadel as a whole

Never beheld such  grand dwellings

Made Baylen Keep look like a rabbit-hole

Elandon stood with mages five

All chanting strange-tongued charms

Orsen was there. No one saw us

All eyes turned skyward in alarm

I thought at them "Go to the forest, please"

All the lights whirled into the trees

Then everyone turned to look in surprise

In answer I said, "Yes, they did that for me."

"When I walked the forest with them

They'd back off if I asked them to

My mare was shy, I had to dismount

Leave completely they would not do"

The mages began to all talk at once

I couldn't catch one word

Elandon waved his hands for quiet

"This is Lenore, who holds the Bear Sword"

To me he said " This is Arlen, Rosephron,

Hoven, Haylor and Rod

They weave the magic that's kept us safe

But this many sylphs have them awed"

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito