The Ballad of Lenore (part 25)

In the silence we descended
Icy fog obscured all sight
No camp guards we encountered
Though we'd welcome any fight

Elandon gestured me to him
"The camp is beyond that river's bend?"
I nodded in confirmation
"But we should have seen guards at this end"

We waited to gather all warriors
The fog lifting, we'd ride as a group
We numbered well over a thousand
Together, we forded a shallow river's loop

After a while in the distance
The orc camp was barely in view
No movement was seen but their standards
Which flapped idly, when a weak breeze blew

Our tension and confusion unbearable
We expected to be fighting by now
What witchery was this, no enemy?
Or were they hidden, where? How?

Then we were close enough to see them
They stood grey and still as stone
The hairs on the back of our necks raised
So unnatural, fear-chilled to our bones

Closer we came with caution
Until I saw their frost-rimmed eyes
I suddenly knew what had happened
"The sylphs have frozen them, they've died!"


(to be continued)

©Kiku Koibito poem 2016