Part I: The Bird of Izle'ray

(Day 9 of 4th moon. Year 183)

“No life to live, or night to sleep,
“Unless alone beside this Deep.
“I wander aimless, all alone.
“I am a king; no queen to throne.
“The minstrel, he will never sing
“Of any sighs that from me wing.
“No tear will fall from my eyes,
“Nor will girls hear my cries.
“I'll never give out gold or pearls,
“For fancy none, for darkness swirls.
“A maiden take and use a gun
“If by it she's power won.
“And so my soul, another hit
“Will take before a wife I get.
“So stand I along this shore
“And watch for banner from the moor.
“She will come, in some manner;
“In silk deceit or war's clamor.
“This I know, and know defeat
“Will follow short behind her feet.
“So answer not with quick retort.
“The Lord is God, and we are sport.
“Toward His will I can but nod,
“And lay my soul before His rod.
“If He knight me and make me whole,
“The ground will shake before bell toll.
“If He strike and let me break,
“Then from this world my life will take.
“Before that then my spear be hurled,
“My helmet smashed, and armor curled.
“And to my horse I will be lashed
“So when asleep the grass not mashed.
“My death draws nigh as toward me sweep
“Her pretty face and wage to reap.
“So, come on, and take my place.
“I wait for you with bow and mace.”

A ways away, we say today, a day or two from the fray,
And onward spurred, the landscape blurred, the Bird of Izle'ray.
She came on, not like a fawn, the dawn or day to play,
But rather as a hawk to stalk the dock of his mainstay.
Her beauty unsurpassed by sculpture golden cast
Was as the night cradles the light of moon and starlit bay.

“Silence all, now hear me speak,” she said in whisper soft.
“The kingdom that we overthrow is not one to be scoffed.
“Many men defend the Keep and die for women fair.
“Instead, just thank your fortune that you are not now there.”
A smile, wicked beautiful, shone from her shaped gaze.
“Tomorrow, or the next, this city we will raze.
“So, courage, my loved companions, for this will be our war.
“Like breeze beginning lightly becomes a gale and roar.
“One castle we have left him, so soon to free him of,
“All because he feared me, and every woman's love.
“Thus rest assured tomorrow, as we ride on toward his doom,
“That it is just and fitting for he would be no groom.
“I would have had his fancy, his touch, his golden crown;
“Instead, I got rejection, a rose, and his sad frown.
“So with the thorns stripped from the stem, this necklace I have made.
“It lies upon my bosom as the petals and he fade.
“It should have been his body, the flower some bright ring,
“Instead I ride to kill him; his epitaph to sing.
“I, who have long loved him, with beauty pure and raw,
“Am forced to take his head; his hand he did withdraw.
“We should have been companions, and ruled what was our land.
“I asked him for our union, but he withdrew his hand.
“So now we ride for vengeance, for unity not bought
“With this my fairest skin, and body soft and taut.
“My eyes will shed a single tear for him I did adore,
“But he'd no sooner have had me than any ugly whore.
“And so for love rejected, and bed he only warm,
“We ride to conquer king, and take his crown by storm.”

The pain did stain the rain that came, and also sleep refrain.
The game was plain, yet all the same, he felt himself insane.
How could he, who was once free, let lives be lost in vain?
The castle would be lost, of course, by force of female bane.
He knew it, oh, so long ago that now in roster crow
He heard the morning's come, and go his long loved reign.

(Day 10 of 4th moon. Year 183)

“Please tell me true, Bartholomew,
“Should I have wed this fateful night?
“I cannot see where I should be
“And so am in a wretched plight.
“Oh, how can I ask you to die?
“You have wife and son and daughter.
“And if today takes you away
“Tears will fill a sea with water.
“My closest friend, my heart I rend
“For fate draws us to yonder grave.
“If sacrifice would yet suffice
“I'd gladly die if you I save.
“But if she Queen, this I have seen:
“That men from their wives soon wander.
“What should I do? I turn to you;
“I have no strength to still ponder.”

“I've heard her beauty inspires awe,
“Her charms grip men like raven's claw,
“And if all this you also saw,
“Then my bow for you will always draw.
“Glorious would be your bed at night,
“But men are want of such a sight,
“And their women not quite so bright
“As such a beauty seen in the light.
“Were such an enchantress to entrance
“The men so from their beds they dance
“And leave their wives to more enhance,
“Then we two this girl should give the lance.
“Men are better dead then lusting so.
“If she not kill so the rift grow,
“Then soon your plans to stop this row
“Would lead these lands deep into the snow.
“Better weep our wives, whom we love still,
“Than save our lives to their hearts kill.
“Mourning is good if vows fulfill,
“Worse is the soul's death that breaks the will.
“So lead on, to whatever our fate
“The morning's come, the hour's late.
“We stand to fight. We stand to wait
“Beside your side on this your estate.”

The hoards drew towards the sunlight fords, swords and lords and all.
They galloped on, all just a pawn, wills gone to Beauty's fall.
She smiled sweetly at each man, his plan to hear her call.
Her beauty had thus made them mad, all glad in her enthrall.
Light kisses she would hand out, like water drops in drought
Entice the dying lips, give sips; thirst still stout as any wall.

“By evening we will all be there, to sack and so to raid.
“Every man then who's still with me will greatly be repaid.
“Remember that the foolish one is mine alone to kill.
“The wives and gold that's won is your's for you to take your fill.
“Ride the faster toward victory; already banner flown
“In white so bright in surrender, their fate's already known.
“And so we take them peacefully. They're cowards, every one.
“The fall of their empire now, before the setting sun.
“But wait, what's this? I see a man standing as if he fights.
“Close quickly now on him alone, and see what claims he writes.”

He stood as one who would not run, nor flee a tidal wave.
He the one who only could his good town now to save.
If she had gotten closer, the men would misbehave,
And she would have their every soul, from knight to worthless knave.
So thus he went to meet her alone for he was pure.
A cloud covered the sun to match his mood so grave.

“Fair one, you come, I knew you should,
“And so I wish men made of wood.
“I stand as planned to end you here.
“I can't let you yet get more near.
“And so, please go, and leave in peace,
“And all these men also release.
“Beauty I see, but not in heart,
“So say again, 'You must depart.' ”

“Softly, now, my sweet foolish boy, you know just why I come.
“Every man so easily mine, but you, your heart is numb.
“Please, may I kiss you, oh my king, so in me you delight.
“I ask but for a single chance. I'll only need one night.
“May I now give myself to thee, for you to have and hold.
“I will give you my guarantee: I'm worth my weight in gold.”

“Speak not, fair one, I've heard this said.
“Your bed will not be next to me.
“And if you speak of promises,
“Then I say this, a guarantee.
“I want no witchcraft in my bed,
“And so just leave me now to be.
“I want much more than you offer,
“Not taste of fruit that's from your tree.
“I see your many followers,
“Oh goddess of the blood red moon.
“Take not my men into your care.
“Instead, turn back, and do so soon.
“I know the ancient writings well,
“And I have read your beauty's rune.
“What's in your heart will soon replace
“Your face and every joyful tune.
“I know what lies in wait for you:
“A shallow grave and not a tomb.
“You know yourself the prophecy:
“What strikes you is from the womb.
“You've wronged so many women now
“That this last one will fill the room.
“The shadow that covers my eyes
“Is behind you to quickly loom.”

“Be silent, pig,” she hissed at him, sliding from horse to ground.
“See this twig? It is from your rose, the only thing you found
“Good enough to once give to me. Take back your cursed thorns.
“I am the only one today who still for you now mourns.”
And ripping off her necklace made, she flung it in his face.
They scratched along his proud visage, blood as their only trace.

Bartholomew, who alone knew what detained the king this day,
Now sat to view what his king do to turn this threat away.
He saw him stand as army come, a dot amidst the grey.
He saw him take the army on, and knelt and tried to pray.
He watched the girl dismount her horse, the Bird of Izle'ray,
And watched as she struck him. No longer could he stay.
He bolted down the passages, and out into the building fray,
Rushing toward the tumult to join in with king to slay.

It grew ever darker as the king and friend fought on,
Breaking many shields, and stilling men of brawn.
Through the night they beat them, and slaughtered to the dawn.
They fought 'till few retreated, and the rest were gone.
The king and friend clasped arms in joy, as each stifled a yawn,
And then they fell into a sleep, there on the bloody lawn.

(Day 11 of 4th moon. Year 183)

“You're hurt, poor thing. Oh, do not move. Instead I'll nurse your pains.”
Bartholomew opened his eyes, and saw the golden chains
That hung around a neck so fair he could not look away.
He tried to move his mouth to speak, though he had naught to say.
“Don't try to speak, oh brave, sir knight, you fight like mortal god.
“The only marks that you do bear are of much blood and sod.
“Let me nurse you back to your health, just sit if you can bear.
“I watched as you fought so bravely, and you are also fair.”
And with this, and without warning, she kissed him on his head.
Her scent was just so lovely he was certain he was dead.
She then went back to nursing him, cleaning his face and neck.
Every once a while or so she'd give to him a peck.

And then he rose, his bloodied king,
A yell as used in war to bring,
And flung himself upon the maid.
Bartholomew did seize his blade.
“Back off, dear friend. Forget her face.
“Oh curse us men, and all our race.
“I say again, leave me to kill
“This witch and wretch and garbage swill.
“Bartholomew, you are a friend,
“Please believe me as I now send
“You to run back to your good wife.
“Bartholomew, give me your knife.
“Oh God, why make beauty a snare?
“God, please be just in this unfair.”

“My king, you strike this my lady fair.
“You've done damage that won't repair.
“I won't let you have any share
“In this beauty that for me does care.
“And since you degrade her in your speech,
“And so my confidence do breach,
“So like the time there on the beach
“I will prove again my arm's long reach.”

“Bartholomew, life long brother,
“Do not mistake me for another.
“I am your friend, believe you me.
“Dear God, his eyes, please let him see.
“Just let me kill this awful whore.”
He grabbed her neck, and squeezed some more.
A blade slipped in, into his side.
Bartholomew stabbed, his eyes wide.
And so the king, in this way died.
The girl almost perished that day,
Beautiful girl of Izle'ray.