a visionary's tale

7/28/2019 A Visionary's Tale

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Book One

The day was bright when young Felic was born,

Felic, the star of Ioras faint pant,

As fog flooded the day, the day was sworn

To long foretell a wretched mans recant.

The kingdom, Iora, a drier land,

Dense forest separating it from more,

A choice of sand or tree, twas nothing grand

But lavish for the man upon day swore.

Felic, the son of noble man and maid,

Was chosen by the blaze of wretched ire,

He grew til memory rooted to stay

And then his eyes were painted new with fire.

The fire, the fire, a lion in every way,

A roaring mirrr of catastrophic storm,

The blaze, alit with life as to a mane,

Reared up, as boy a second time was born.

Felic was in the foggy woods the morn

The hills grew blazing red, but did he see?

The child, whose name the day upon had sworn,

Meandered through the thicket aimlessly.

He turned his head with wistful thoughts too late

And saw the blaze pull towards the wintergreen

He turned from fangs of fire, ignored their spate

But never could take back what he had seen.

For as he turned his head before he ran,Felic saw marbled skin, a-pierced with spears

Like toothpicks in a meal, a royal pan,

The bearers walked along without a fear.

The coldest face he recognized, a dame,

A mother of some sort, or something close,


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The warmest breast hed suckled without shame

Was shriveled, pale, rendering him morose.

As smoke took place of scorch, Felic ran home,

But ash took place of home as he grew near,

A man, with tattered cloak, had ceased to roam,

And only then Felic saw what was queer.

Behind his uncle, traveler of the globe,

Stood nothing but a pillar built of ash

The boy buried his face in Uncles robe

And wept for thoughts now only of the past.

The village, Cruzca, wiped clean off the map

By wicked, fiendish Velci, what a realm,

An empire set on owning every scrap

Each strip of land, pure evil at its helm.

The king of Velci, rather, emperor,

Was known among Iora to be cruel

To never hesitate to start a war

Or feed his pitied men the cheapest gruel.

Uncle Sland had said Cruzca was part

Of Velcin empires worst foe, Iora,

And so, in battle, Velci, in retort,

Burnt Cruzcas people down, a plethora.

And as Felic peered out from Slands old cloak

The last thing that he saw brought tears to creeks

For far beyond what cold waters could soak

Lay Felics parents, sight not worth the peek.Sland gave word that he would have revenge;

His sisters memory was not in vain,

But young Felic had made up his mind then-

Hed find and share eternal life to gain.

Uncle, Felic finally spoke out,


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Ill never die, Ill find out how to live-

Sland only said, laugh parallel to shout,

Alright, if you can find it, Ill forgive!

Felic did not yet understand vengeance

For he had not quite understood the war,

But all he knew was: death had not commenced

For him, and it would neverthrough him bore.

Felic grew up with his dear uncle Sland,

And with his uncle he would trust his life,

But Uncle never ceased once in the span

Of years to seek those out who caused him strife.

Felic, at age eleven, had worked out

That Sland was kind, but wrathful as a beast,

So motivated was the youth about

How one day he would set Uncle at peace.

A quest for life! Hed seek outside the world

Of Iora, or Velci, til hed find

His immortality, re-shined and pearled

And share it with the rest of humankind.

So on that day he touched eleventh year

He took a sack and filled it up with bread

And boy set out without a single tear,

Great thoughts a-storming wildly through his head.

But then he heard a noise, and turned around,

And once again the lion showed his face,

The tongues of flame, oh what a dreadful sound,And coming from his Slands very own space.

Felic rushed down, his reminiscence sharp,

And cried out, Uncle! desperately loud,

But Sland appeared with only match and tarp

Both charred but still, their shapes were not to doubt.


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Sland, Felic began, what have you done?

You wanted to set out, but not alone-

I cannot very well leave you to run,

Now I must come with you, since Ive no home.

Uncle and nephew merrily set off,

Without a care of events yet to come,

For Felic, still to young to not be soft,

Could still agree that wandering was fun.

Book Two

Felic and Sland traveled atop their steeds,

A grey and chestnut, careless with their stride;

But as the weeks went on, the boy Felic

Grew tired, and cared to cease his endless ride.

His uncle looked and realized his breath

Was short, for they had ridden near a month,

And food- near all their bread in quest for stealth

Had gone, and nothing grew, nor could they hunt.

So Sland noted that though itd take a while

There was a village far from there, but still,

He knew a man whose work was just his style,

And easily theyd live there, if they willed.

Felic agreed, so Sland led him aside

Atop their horses, over sandy plains,

The desert, separating town from wild

Had winds willing to torture without gain.

Felic was unprepared for such a test;Not even cacti found refuge in here.

The sun was harsh, and night was harsher yet

But neither could afford to shed a tear.

And water- water!- not a single drop

Not underground or inside budding flower


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It took only three days for them to stop

And Felic could have died within an hour

But prior to this hour a group of two-

A lanky man on camelback, and dwarf-

Showed up, noticed the drained face of nephew

And pointed uncle to the dreaded forest.

The forest, known to every city man,

Was filled with beast and plant eager for meat;

Once had anyone fast enough ran

To escape talons groping at their feet.

Sland had stopped outside the wretched wood

And gently took a leaf to Felics lips-

The morning dew dripped down, and the boy could

Feel quivring energy at fingertips.

We shall, Uncle declared, travel outside

The forest, but we mustnt travel in.

Felic saw moisture dripping down. But why?

The forest, Sland explained, hates those whove sinned.

Sin? Felic inquired, knowing the word,

but not quite understanding what it meant:

An act against the gods, so he had heard-

His parents said, ithadto be correct-

But why, then, did his uncles face constrict

When he was moral- he had never killed!

Sin is more complex than a verdict,

Sland paused, opened his mouth, but then grew still.Felic pondered. But shouldnt it be true

That if you have done wrong, well, then youve sinned?

It should, Slandsighed, but boy, you cant assume

That wrong is wrong, he finished with a grin.

So as they lived off dewy leaves, he thought


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About what right and wrong, the two entailed

For every time he theorized, Sland taught

A situation where his theory failed.

Felics horse didnt last, and after months

Of traveling, she fell and could not rise.

Felic, Sland shook his head, we cannot hunt,

and your mare will only go to the flies.

Felics eyes widened as he understood,

But Uncle Sland, he cried, thats wrong, we cant just kill-!

Shell die of heat and hunger, and her blood

Will rot without a use- whatd be your will?

So Sland took out his finest, bejeweled sword

And put it in the hands of young Felic:

Your choice is whether to ignore my words

Or grantyour mare inevitable sleep.

The boy, tears streaming, raised the shining blade

And looked away as he resolved, and dabbed.

Felic! Sland roared, You owe that horse your gaze!

He turned his eyes and met hers as he stabbed.

Then Sland took back his sword and cut the horse

And roasted it with his one final light

They ate, then Sland took out again his sword.

With great pleasure, I hope youll win your fight.

His uncles eyes were twinkling, but this time

They lacked the mocking tone theyd had before.

Felics tears stopped, and off his hands wiped grime,And graciously, he took the shining sword.

For two months more, Sland walked and Felic rode

Upon the chestnut mount that still remained

Still licking dewdrops off the wood abode

And lasting off the meatof others game.


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Ahead, Felic looked hard, and with a point,

Asked, Uncle, whats that gold light over there?

Its Jarze, Sland replied with utmost joy,

And Jarzes where the land turns sweet from bare.

Jarze, Felic repeated carefully.

How long will we be staying? he inquired.

Well, you can leave today or stay with me,

But I for one wont start anymore fires.

Felic just nodded, followed on the horse,

And thought for but a moment as he looked

At Sland, striding beside him- but of course

Hed stay with Sland, from whom all Felic took.

And at the end of three cold, restless moons

Felic and Sland entered rich, warm Jarze

And feasted, slept, and both knew no time soon

Would either of them choose to end their stay.

But as the nephew followed Uncle Sland

He glanced over his shoulder passively-

His eyes rested upon the forest grand

Before he turned to city lights abeam.

A kestrel, brown and almost merry, sailed

And landed, talons sharp, upon Slands arm

Alright, then, its decided- heres the mail-

Ill start my work tomorrow, at the tarn,

You see, the one right there? He pointed east,

To rippling waters, branching verdant green,Ill keep watch from that lighthouse, he said, pleased,

As Felic overlooked the cozy scene.

A life without adventure- then again

Felic had seen enough for a few years

So for a while, he would have to pretend


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He walked the desert, making sounds to hear.

Book Three

Again, as time flies by, so Felic grew,

And grew quite handsome, dwarfing Uncle Sland,

Reflecting with his eyes how much time flew,

And confidence with straightness in his stand.

He had a dark look spread throughout his gaze,

And skin, once light, now tanned by desert trail

Dark chestnut locks, eyes glinting with a blaze

Yet barely brown oer black, theyd lost their pale.

The five years lost or savored in the town

Had made Felic mature like first-rate wine;

Before, his mind was still unripe, but now

At age sixteen, his head was more refined:

Although at early age he lost his youth

With tragedies far gone from his control

A man of full command would grow uncouth

Yet Felics burdens never took their toll.

So lack of understanding may have been

At eleven, a blessing in disguise,

For as Felic now comprehended sin

Instead of sour, like Sland, the boy grew wise.

At age thirteen, Felic received a gift

From Sland, a steed in place of that hed lost;

But this was far beyond normal: a mix

Of trunked beast of the wood and normal horse.The mix itself was built strong as an ox,

Broad shoulders nearly fine to ride bareback,

With ears and bushy tail like that of fox

All tinted with the nights own favorite black.

But most distinctive was the creatures trunk,


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Passed down from parents from the forest grim;

She gestured shortly, waved and rose and sunk

With manner quick, and disposition prim.

Felic had named his noble charger Cirth

And though she got varieties of stares

He cared nothing about her breed or birth

For on her back, he could go anywhere.

Cirth had few noises he could understand,

But over triple years, hed learned a few:

For hunger, tire or thirst, her blow was bland

But when alert or joyed, the volume grew.

His uncle, in the meanwhile, did his work

Atop the mighty lighthouse, flashing white

But through the days, despite his happy smirks,

He was, inside, a man rooted on spite.

His kestrel came, landed, and flew away

Without a stop or night of brief repose

Just like Slands fleeting thoughts of joy to stay-

So intricate until escape they chose.

It came as no surprise, as these things do,

That after years of peace, Velci attacked

But startlingly, the Ioran king knew

And sent his troops ahead at Jarzes back.

Velci targeted Jarzes small defense

Predicting easy wins if they used force,

And surely so, they charged without a wince,But on the other side, they turned to corpse.

Iora waited, not afraid or roused,

And sent its troops straight through feeble Jarze:

Catching Velci off guard, they wiped them out

Indistinguishing townsfolk on the way.


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For Sland had taken out his sharpest blade

And sworn to wreak revenge right then and there

And, as a storm, he spiraled and he slayed

Three Velcins in a blow, without a care.

Felic, meanwhile, was fending for himself

Not far from Uncles wretched callous fight

Yet with each blow, he wondered if Sland left

His heart far from the war in the sunlight.

The boy attacked a Velcin enemy

With Slands old sword, bejeweled and gleaming harsh,

But as he made his strike, he failed to see

The second man aiming for Felics heart.

At the last second, Felic changed his blow

And blocked the lethal hit with all his might;

His block withheld, but little could he know

His sword could not deflect the formidable strike.

And, with a bang and clatter, iron split,

And sword lay in two pieces on the ground.

Felic drew out his sheathe and took their hits,

And clubbed them with a power yet newfound.

Surprised, he raised the sheathe and drove away

The last remaining Velcins as he saw

Remaining soldiers by Iora slayed

When, with a start, he heard a haunting call-

A scream of deadly pain, familiar tones

That caused the boy to turn against his willAnd see the man who rescued him from home

Have sword drawn from his chest and sheathed at hilt.

He rushed to Uncles side, as blood dripped loose

Without a thought to soldier walking free

He ripped his cloak and wrapped the mortal wound


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As Sland but shook his head and said, weakly:

Revenge was worthless, only now I see

That neither side, Felic, was ever right;

For as I fought to keep the city free,

Our own Iorans stabbed me in the fight.

I fear my end is coming quickly yet

So I will pass to you what you shall need.

To cross the forest, one must fear not threat

From wood alone- no fear and youll succeed.

Felic raised Sland upward and murmured low,

Dont speak, youll waste the little life youve left-

I see the hardships that you will forego

But have no fear: youre strong as you are deft

Just listen- neither side will ever win

For neither side has hope for uprightness

Until they hear the woods judgment on sin-

Then silently, no more could move his chest.

Felic stood up and threw his cloak oer Sland

And whistled, and came running did his steed

He mounted, looked with grief over the land

Whose waters looked as though by sun theyd bleed.

The land is dead, he thought, and then he fled

The woods evergreen limbs hanging in mind,

Looked back not once to Jarzes waters red

For now he only yearned to see the pines.

Book the FourthFelic spotted the border to the wood

But right in front stood Velcin soldiers twin

He gave a holler, doubtful if he should;

Attack was certain, but he knew hed win.

He drew the spear hed sharpened on the way


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A simple point of wood, quite thin but stiff

And readied it, but not ready to slay

Was he, striking a pose of hieroglyphs

For as he raised his spear, he waited, weak,

And barely dodged their glaring swords in flight

He straightened, felt inside a boiling pique

And turned from timid man to barebacked knight.

He thrust the spear straight through the armored sire

Atop a gallant horse unlike his own

And watched the chain catastrophes transpire

Inside the man as his eyes died with a moan.

The bloodied spear, stuck through cracks in the build

Was drawn by wretched hand and reared to throw;

The other man ran far, not to be killed,

And left his fellow man as food for crows.

Felic leaned down, and with a solid arm

Lifted the man and carried him across

Until he reached the forest, dropped, and harm

Would come no more to man now cloaked by moss.

The boy- young man- guided his steed onward

To touch the edge of dreaded forest yond

He nudged Cirth, and she tread with accord

Through thicket green and gentle fronds.

Uncle was wrong, Felic thought anxiously,

Else Cirth and I would alreadyve been killed!

Yet still doubt kept alive persistentlyAnd boy so strong began to lose his will.

Judgment on sin? What if the forest hates

The man who kills? he thought with churning gut.

Perhaps it only bides its time to wait

Until tonight, then whip its vines to cut?


13/27

Alas, Felic, he doubted every word,

Each thought he had so surely known before:

What if I lived when it wanted to burn

Me in its flames? he thought, Have I sinned not to char?

And then he saw the roots rear up to snatch

But already Felic had lost his hope

So sin takes me? Ive finlly met my match,

He said, not even grasping vines to grope

He watched Cirth leap away, and belted, Run!

As he felt tendrils pull him underground

But as his eyes were closed off from the sun

He felt hands fight to pull him as he drowned

Dirt pushing in like sea in churning storm

But ho! his life was in anothers hands

And as darkness closed in, he felt them, warm,

As he succumbed to illusory sand.

He only felt once during the voyage,

The smooth black back of his dear, loyal Cirth,

And smelled woman that filled his pained ribcage

As he sank back to slumber of the earth.

It took short time for Felic to awake

Aroused by sounds hed heard not for years five,

And as he struggled up, a breath to take

The lack of luster changed his tainted eyes.

A simple camp, with trembling tents set up

No crops or mills, a jug or two around,He reached and drank from another clay cup

And as he turned, he marked wonders newfound-

A herd of steeds just like his noble Cirth,

But odder still, with longer trunks and legs-

A set of six, so fine and far from earth!


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Oh, how far could this creature misfit segue!

And Cirth herself stood not so far away,

Her shorter snout sniffling precariously;

Felic began to rise, but his decay

Put damper to his typical esprit.

He turned to peek, and was greatly surprised

With all the sight that lay exit beyond-

A warriors tribe, of which few men comprised,

In front a lively looking platnum blonde.

She turned her head, short hair forming halos-

Felic felt sharp eyes scourge his every move.

Chaye, she charged with bulging collarbones,

Her gaze not moving from him, strength to prove.

A nearby warrior ran without delay

And moments later came a youthful sage

Few wrinkles imprinted, her air conveyed

A strong respect for hunter middle-aged.

She wore a headdress, scarlet-feathered bright,

And robes plain as the earth on which she stood,

But held a stubborn gaze none could benight

And clear that no man tried, or ever would.

For draped across her shoulders was a skin,

Brown fur that sent nerves tingling down his back-

A mark of foe, versus hed never win-

His dreadful skins borne like a golden plaque.

Chaye, the woman warrior looked up, harsh,He carries scent of Ioras foul lands.

The bear-skinned leader nodded, and demarche

From Felics own kings lacked in her commands.

He smells indeed, but why, then, did you bring

His oozing pores into our own faction?


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The roots cried, but I could not let them wring

his neck, for ignorance is fouler action.

The elder laughed, And what business has he

To wander through the forests all alone?

Master, Felic looked up, I beg you, hear my plea-

We were attacked, my only cohort slewn.

My parents died when I was full of youth

When Iora was slaughtered by Velci.

I traveled with my uncle, thats the truth.

Chaye nodded, butsaid only, I see.

Elder, the girl spoke up, what do you judge?

He speaks convincingly, without malice

As to his origins, I hold no grudge

For he, unlike the rest, is not callous.

Felic looked up, surprised, as Chaye spoke:

Lurixe, he is your burden to care for

Until he chooses whethr to stay or leave.

Burden? Felic repeated, lost for words

As Chaye nodded, smiling, him aggrieved.

Thats what I am? he turned to the warrioress.

A liability for precious time?

Into your daily life, another stress?

Oh, what has happened to this wretched tribe?

Where are your men but working in the house?

The men are strong, so labor is their strength-

What other reason would one choose a spouseBut to have backup within an arms length?

The woman is more governed and precise

While men are cautious as they court their dames-

What better way could there be to entice

A woman than by keeping warrior tame?


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Lurixes pale hair swished as Felic stared,

Then why? he asked. Your arrows sting, but men

Are stronger still to shoot with power blared

So why would you choose females over them?

You shame yourself. My calves are stiffer still

Than yours, nor are your arms thicker than twigs

And I am but a common warrior- skill

Is not my own, yet I outclass you, prig.

The boy clutched at his waist embarrassedly

But realized Lurixe held his only spear-

He seethed as she looked at him with pity,

And tossed the weapon with a simple, Here.

He snatched it from his air and gave a shrill

Whistle to Cirth, who bounded to his side;

He mounted her, eyes coated with a chill

And left withouta single thank or bye.

He rode until he reached the forest edge

And realized he lacked heart to cross alone.

He heard behind a stirring of the sedge-

Out stepped Lurixe atop a steed her own.

Your problem lies within the doubts your own;

The forest holds no grudge, as nor do we.

Puritys made of glass, the world a stone,

And shamelessness is wrong- one has to see

That sin is human judgment, solely ours,

And neither plant nor beast dares judge a soulFor both know not of sin or vile powers

And neither one is humans out to dole,

Yet only man can hand out judgment, so

Does sin exist, or is it our mirage?

Felic pondered, before his eyes did glow


17/27

And then withdrew from judgments entourage.

He heard a cry and intuitively raised

His arm to catch Slands kestrel, beating wings,

And took the letter, eyes churning, ablaze,

And said, I must report to the high king.

You must? Lurixe inquired skeptically.

He wishes me to fight for Iora,

And you, warrior, must know, one cannot flee

From Fate, when he comes clad in such auras.

You wish to seek your fate? Be it, she said,

Though I believe in independent will;

Be warned, though, I shant weep if you are dead,

Not even when your eyes shall flicker still.

But you will follow? he asked anxiously,

And then received a nod in anxious turn;

He turned, with assured strides, to take his leave

For once without the city behind burned.

Book the Fifth

Lurixe followed Felic into the woods

Leading her stallion onward without fear;

Felic envied her, how she understood

So simply, life, so ruthless and austere.

They traveled onward, speaking not a word

Until lights faint and twinkling did alight.

Jarze, Felic spoke; Lurixe barely heard,

His humbled voice drowned out in chirping night.The city? she repeated, tapering

Her gaze intense, and tightly gripped a blade-

He watched as she rode on, unwavering,

We neednt enter, he said, long delayed.

She glanced at him, a hint of gratitude


18/27

Playing her faces features- twaslights trick?

But as they wandered on, and time accrued

So care accrued as well, stirring a wick.

They traveled further, stopping in the copse

To rest, where soldiers dared not step a foot

And as they moved, Felic dared not his hopes

Let soar; yet he could not make them stay put.

He watched the rebuilt citys lights, at ease,

Not caring that hed never see again

The towring walls impressive, for the trees

Were quite enough, with warrioress, for him.

The two trod onward past the Velcin camps

Set up throughout Ioras verdant lands.

Reduced to little more than peasant tramps

Felic at last answered the kings command.

Lurixe, I ask you wait for my return,

For I cannot force you to bear my load.

She nodded, But dont dare meet me with spurn;

To wait, I must shed all my pieces sewn.

For no woman here rides a horse or bears

A sword as her companion, so Ill change.

Youll sell your steed? He met her steady glare:

Ill wear clothes of warrior shot in the range.

He frowned, but gave a nod and turned round Cirth

And galloped toward the temple Ioran

But glanced behind as hoof passed over earth;Hoping to see her face again, he ran.

He finlly stopped his steed short of the gate

Tied her, and leapt, walking with gravity

An air sobering, knowing not his fate

But nonetheless, not one for self-pity.


19/27

King Tearre, he shouted as he entered tall,

Ive come to see about your entreaty.

Felic, Tearre rose, Your deeds to me enthrall

So I would like to make you my draftee.

Ive heard you crossed the forest of the dark

And killed a Velcin soldier on the way.

Itstrue? he asked, expecting some remark,

But Felic only nodded, no words to say.

Well done, Tearre continued, shaken a bit,

I know, now, that you soldiers have much pride,

So all my gold and silver wont permit

Enrollment- but one gift you wont deny.

I have, he said, a sword blessed by our God.

He pulled it from his belt, and sent a chill

Spiraling down Felics spine as he, awed,

Reached out his hands to touch celestial will.

The king pulled back his hands- I cannot give

This sword to you unless you join our ranks.

Its strength is pure divine- and could you live

Knowing this sword through lewd other hands sank?

Captivated, Felic looked at the blade,

But shook his head. Your rapier is fine,

But I know platinum of higher grade,

For it glows without darkness intertwined.

But metal of the Lord is yet unmatched!

King Tearre exclaimed with narrowed, beady eyes.Ive seen beauty this sword cant even scratch,

But nothing you could give me as a prize.

I cannot let you go, Tearre shook his head.

I order you, or dare you face my wrath?

Congratulate me, then bring me in dead?


20/27

I hardly could tread so fickle a path.

Filled with contempt, Felic lifted his hand,

And pointed- Killing is nothing to praise.

You say? Tearre laughed. Martyrdoms something grand,

And heads are honored- see, it runs both ways.

You wish to make a difference, this I see,

But to ascend, one first must show his soul

And still come out on top with energy

From the clear bottom of the totem pole.

I must refuse, for though to change one must

Have power- but lose myself on the way?

Tearre raised his hand. So be it. Then he thrust

His arm out, and the soldiers broke away

Like molds springing to life, they rushed Felic,

Who whistled, as a kestrel broke through glass,

A thousand colored shards crashing, oblique

And lo! Into King Tearre the shards amassed.

He screamed as Felic leapt back through the doors

And threw his spear straight through the kestrels heart-

The man felt sorrow pang at his own, sore,

But nonetheless sprang forward with a start.

Lurixe was at his side in a heartbeat.

You didnt go, she blinked curiously.

I couldnt, he admitted, not repeat

The horrors done on my own dead city.

He offered you something? she raised her brows.The sword of God, he sighed, eyes glimmering.

She snorted. Gods sword, and you turned it down?

Ive seen silver that dwarfs it to nothing.

I hope Ill have that sword, Lurixe half-smiled,

A blade that dwarfs Gods own? And you have none?


21/27

I have a sheathe thats served me all the while,

And more to fill it than Tearres ever won.

He smiled sadly. Lurixe, I must return

To Velcin lands, and find out how their king

Will next attack. Then I will make them learn

Their foolishness, else their own necks they wring.

Ill come with you, she stiffened on her beast.

Youd already be dead if not for me.

So be it, Felic grinned, let us move east

And lash upon both sides wretched decrees!

He gave a nudge, and Cirth began a run,

Lurixe still matching his pace easily,

And ran countless miles under beating sun

And over hills coated in lush grass green.

When hooves stepped into city, two were one;

A merge at no certain point had occurred.

Felic trod to the towns inn, where stood, stunned,

A group chattering over latest word.

The king is sending troops towards the woods,

The most ruthless, to attack Iora!

A cheer broke out as Felic barely stood,

Horrorstruck as he felt a faint aura-

The scent of war, a scent no nose could trace,

Was fresh upon the air round Velcin inn,

And Felic, more than most, knew, by both grace

And blood, that war was not a game to win.Felic, Lurixe beckoned him to the side,

Her eyes sinister, lurking trails of hate.

Theyre going through my tribesland, to go wide

Of Iora, she seethed, dark and irate.

To launch surprise attacks, Felic filled in.


22/27

I must go back to fight beside my tribe.

He looked at her with disbelief, all vim

Rushed from his face, gave a desolate sigh:

I cant go back with you, Lurixe, I must

Defend my homeland, and try to save man-

With all the burdens you carry, I trust

You know how Im obliged- you understand.

She looked at him, hairs quivring on her neck,

And spoke: Those men are ruthless, every one

Thats why they pass through the forest unchecked-

They have no shame. For them youd spill more blood?

I must, I owe it to each man alive

For if we give up hope, whats left to hold?

Lurixe turned. Then you go, but bear in mind:

Perish and noneshall weep over your soul.

She left without a glance over her back

And lo, he watched her leave, each, every bound,

Then turned to leave, the odds against him stacked,

Without hopes for return, and still uncrowned.

He knew his fate, and embraced all it meant

And as the last of hopes deserted him

The truth uncut took his wallowed laments:

Crowns only stole light from truly great men.

Book the Last

Away, he cried, and watched the hawk take wing,

The duty-bound sprite of the innkeeper,Clasping a message, Urgent: to the King,

Bound east to the Ioran emperor.

Highness, the Velcin king intends to run

Through the dark wood to launch a devious blow,

And catch the kingdom unawares. Hes done


23/27

With chivalry- hes got a crown to stow.

Within a day, two new rumors spread round:

The Ioran king plans to attack soon,

Before the time hes heard Velci will sound

Their warhorns- starts under a fortnights moon.

Two days at night I have to find the field,

Felic thought darkly, lest the world turns hell.

But lo, the rumor next had his fate sealed:

The Velcin king has heard news and impelled

Our vast empire to split in forces dual,

With one to storm the wood and wipe the Tribe

Thats planned to challenge our emperors rule;

The other heads on course to Iora,

And both set off yesterday without warn.

The young man leapt on Cirth to handle the

Approaching war- such common sense to scorn!

He rode upon the trunked, light-footed mare

Until both armies lay within his sight,

And looked to bordered woods, to meet the stares

Of thousands cloaked in shadows pure from night.

He looked among them for Lurixes eyes,

But saw them not, sweeping through dark in vain.

Whether absent or hiding to despise,

He knew not- but he longed for her both ways.

He waited until both sides neared the meet,

And stood still, waiting, glares freezing as ice.Just as they drew their swords, noble Felic

Began his words, to unveil, not entice:

My good people, Ive traveled far and wide

Seeking to obtain immortality:

Gold and bloodshed do no good for the eyes


24/27

Which see eternal life in broadest scheme.

You see, no man of sin should live foreer;

Yet by our standards, every man has sinned.

What man so pure could never miss his air?

No, standards start in wars no country wins.

But who, he raised his voice, can decide wrong?

We punish those who break Almighty codes,

Yet who said life forever was too long?

We walk upon a self-imprinted road.

If we rose above blame, and left justice

To everything deciding our lifetimes,

Then think of all the sorrow we could miss!

Wed lose the useless creeping down our spines.

But men would run amok, a man burst out.

Without a conscience, what is all mankind?

The individuals morals are devout;

The groups judgments the only one thats blind.

For were taught not to kill, but here you stand,

With swords you throw around like children cruel,

Rewarded on the count of heads in hands-

Perhaps its time you turned out of such fools.

Enough of this, the Ioran king growled,

Ill let you test your ideals on our Lord.

My son will fight you, wretched fool, on ground,

And he will wield Our Fathers blessed Sword.

A dark blonde, pale man leapt off of his steed,And, with a gentle hand, pulled out the blade.

Felic was blinded momentarily

Before he readied to fight the Crusade.

He swept a spear from his leatherskin belt

And watched the Velcin king make his decree:


25/27

If this man wins, well both pull back, he yelled,

But if he loses, no man here shall flee.

Begin, the king declared, and so Felic

Began with skill that not a foe had matched-

But as the dazzling blade soared with a sweep,

He watched as hope vanished without a clash,

For blade divine cut through his spear, a knife

Through butter, piercing through his armoured chest,

And left a long gash, ebbing precious life,

His javelin no match for weapon blessed.

He drew a dagger, but without a pause,

It shattered under blade, a slab of skin

Too quick to follow- so lost was the cause,

Yet die the warrior would, to vanquish sin,

And so he took his sheathe, which never fit

His sword quite right, and held it up, the pride

Of soldier swelling in him as he hit

The sword, which, by miracle, slid inside.

He leapt backwards, astounded: then he knew

His uncle brave- what better man could bear

A cross to bury strength, after he slew

So many, when he feared the flesh hed tear?

He snatched the tip of his spear, and he pierced

The mans unguarded neck, and slit his throat.

Ill bury you, he promised, the mans tears

Seeming to understand Felics minds growth.The kings stared at each other, until one

Shouted- Attack! and, save no single word,

Both sides came crashing, every horse to run,

Like torrents as they sped, colossal herds.

A spirl of hooves came crashing on the man


26/27

Left on the ground defenseless, soaked in blood,

Gods own Sword still extended in his hand

As there he fell beneath the trampling flood.

Above his drowning consciousness, a cry

Rose from the forest, as with roaring treads

Lurixe blitzed toward the center, as in reply

To grievance, fleets of arrows struck the heads

Of every man clashing in the front rows,

A million more behind in brave retort.

With panic dire at such an overflow

Of tribal fiends, each army fell back short.

Among the chaos, Felic could feel a grip

Take his trod body gently by his sides

And spite his trampled skull, awoke as gentle drip

Of water, drenched in sea, poured from her eyes.

Lurixe, in snowy fur, cradled his head,

Unswaddled as no bandage could do good

For all his own crimson rivers he bled

As she hauled him to the edge of the wood.

Lurixe, he quivered on the verge of dark,

As she turned, eyes two shadows in damp holes.

I know now why no man will not embark

Upon his trip to lands beyond our whole:

Man chose to fight, and therefore chose to die,

For there can be no war without murder;

Lo, only man could go so far awryFor death over life for him to prefer!

Alas! I cannot make the choice for they

Who without pause have clear destroyed our hopes

For immortality, oh that we prayed

For so devotedly, we could have groped


27/27

He sighed, and stilled. Lurixe slid oer his gaze

With gentle, nimble hand, and murmured soft,

Dear visionary, early were your days

For these souls wretched, hanging yours aloft,

But perhaps for the best it is no man

Shall ever bear in mind his nearing ends

And as they live, they know their wretched span

And best their lives, til for them heaven sends.

I fear to see what such corruption could

Do with no weighted value on dear life.

And in that light, Felic, I see tis good

That sleep can come to us without a knife.

a visionary's tale

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