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

The Ballad of Lenore (Part 11)

"When were you attacked!?" she asked, aghast

"I was 15. My father saw me walk away

My brother writhing on the floor

Everything changed that day"

"My father could do nothing official

His mother had been a Princess of Llyr

In private, he gave him a stiff beating

After that, Gaston stayed clear"

"And I was sent to Ainsbridge

Five years training as a knight

Every step Gaston sunk, I was raised up

I took to war's arts with delight"

"I thought Father only indulged me

Knowing the wild thing that I am

Never at home in ladies' circles

Now the Bear Sword is in my hand"

"I had always kept hoping

Gaston would straighten up and fly right

He'd been kind to me when I was little

And firstborn is King by right"

"But absolutely, no one but he

Objected to my father's choice

His scandals will be his only legend

All Kings acknowledged me in one voice"

"Everything would be different

If not for the thrice-accursed orcs!

They need a leader now, not Gaston

And I need all alliances to work"

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito

The Ballad of Lenore (Part 10)

Right back into my armour

Out the window, against a dark sky

Hundreds of lights, all different colors

It was shocking how many did fly

"Are there always that many?"

I asked of Oriel

"No, and usually only white"

Her manner was tense, I could tell

I lifted my arms, she girded my sword

"Oriel, why have our houses not met?"

She answered with a furrowed brow

"Elandon and your father forbade it."

"The Lady Ulwen Vesomere

Accused your brother of rape

Gaston Baylen denied it all

But bruises blacked her neck's nape."

I was stunned, almost protested

Then remembered the night that I

Had to give him a knee in the crotch myself

I was sickened, could not meet her eye

"Small wonder they did not tell me

But it would have been useful to know

He tried that trick on me one night

I left him screaming in pain from my blow."

"The Bear Sword stands for justice

You kindly girded to me

Gaston will answer for both crimes now

The Lady Vesomere is believed"

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito

The Ballad of Lenore  (Part 9)

The stair seemed to rise forever

But finally we came to the room

Oriel offered to help with my armour

Out the window, I saw three sylphs loom

"Don't worry, they can't get in

They've never broken the charm."

She expertly loosened the ties and straps

Sliding the steel from my arms

As I removed the corselet

She offered a nightgown of lawn

I shook my head, I prefer none

"Goodnight then, we'll call before dawn"

"The mages will want your help

At a ceremony for night's end

The midwinter sun is changing

A conjuring is needed to fend."

"Whatever you need, at your service."

Said I, near asleep before I lay

Deep and dreamless, but only a moment

"It is time." I hear Oriel say

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito

The Ballad of Lenore (Part 8)

Oriel had a gracious manner

She gestured up to the stair

Where stood a huge marble gryphon

On guard with a great marble bear

We smiled, I knew what she meant

Our families are set in stone

Danger felt is danger shared

We'll litter the ground with their bones!

"Why are you not called Princess?" she asked

"Your parents were High Queen and King."

"My father did not want to marry me off

By law, no strife could I bring"

"The Coastal Kings are a contentious lot.

Every one of them would kill to rise

I'll not be a bone in a pack of wolves

In this, my father was so wise."

"Gods bless them, though, they've joined as one

Prepared for the coming storm

All fighting armies mustered now

The Wakening Bear is formed."

"But all assembled soldiers

Look to be barely enough

The orcs have been breeding for too many years

And winter campaigns are so rough."

"They never come when convenient." she said

We'll be canceling the Winter Games."

"Have them in the Grimrocks Valley." I said

Count orcs' heads to honor great names" 

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito

The Ballad of Lenore (Part 7)

"Dozens of sylphs accompanied me

My knights were bloodied, beat back

I bade them make camp at the edge of the field

I took the courier's pack"

"The ghosts, they wanted me to come with them

I cannot say how that I knew

Or why they attacked and harried my men

They're your neighbors, perhaps you do?"

"They are inexplicable." he said

"But they can read the hearts of men

No live wood can be taken there

Travelers disappear, now and then"

A frosty chill went up my spine

Orsen came and sat next to me

"The mages are all keen to meet you now

When you've eaten and slept, we'll see."

Though the food set before me was wondrous

Large trout from clear mountain streams

I suddenly felt my exhaustion

Between bites, I fell into dreams

I was back home, the Baylen Keep

The orcs were at our gate

I cried out, and woke myself up

Staring down at an elvenwork plate

Elandon's hand was on my shoulder

"Oriel, my niece, would you take her upstairs?

It is a long, cold path with sylphs through the forest

She's worn out with duties and cares."

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito

  

The Ballad of Lenore (Part 6)

A footman bowed, and offered to take

My bags, my cloak and my sword

That I might dine in civilized mien

To keep a weapon, untoward

I surrendered gracefully

Felt and showed no mistrust

To win their aid, I'll win their hearts

Only reasonable common menace be crushed

I sit, Elandon speaks again,

"Does your father know you are here?

It is astonishing you travel alone

And carry the Sword of the Bear."

"My father knows of age, 

And old wounds' agonies

No, he lies insensate

But he entrusted the Bear to me."

"How did your half-brother like that?"

He grinned, obviously well-informed

"He blew up in rage and took to his bottle

Only himself does he harm."

"I'm sure that is what your father intended

When he passed the duty to you.

But to travel our forests unaccompanied

Seems less than wise to do."

(to be continued)
©Kiku Koibito