The Emerald Blade (Bards Tales #1)
Upon autumns wake, the forest a crimson gold,
a shiver sent through the gale, rustling the skeletal
branches that were ripped bare. A pale moon
shown bright unto the night of cold stars.
A whistling echoed through the night,
a tune heard only by a warrior as he passes
on by. the old hunting trail that he strayed onto
when leaving the path. He walked and walked
until he found, an ancient shrine built to to withstand
Nature's wrath. He dismounts his steed and continues
on foot, until he finds the entrance does he learn
its way was blocked by a pile of ash and soot.
He draws out his sword, for fear of it be a curse,
to waken a creature of darkness in which he must
fight, but alas nothing happened, so he took a torch
and brought forth light. He moved past the ashes,
and pushed away the door, and into the shrine
of Balor did the young warrior find himself in.
Deeper and deeper did he go, deep into the shrine's bowls.
He wasn't quite sure where he was, but he zigged and he zagged
through the labyrinth like walls. Urns upon urns were found stalked here
and there. Ancient books long since forgotten, until at last he came
upon a set of doors, he had to find the key in which would let him pass,
he searched and searched, but try as he might no key was to be found,
and so he wasn't able to pass. He sat down just for a minute, to gaze upon
the large wooden doors. When thus he learned its secret, the key was
to speak in ancient tongue long since forgotten.
"Bex wah thy zul, ahrk vos zey rahn"
The words echoed as the man stood and waited,
when suddenly a rumble was heard, he wasn't sure
what awaited. He drew out his sword, for a clash and a
roar was heard.The ash pile by the shrine door stirred and
shifted, forming a large crypted beast, it began to sniff its way
through the maze, the ash and soot becoming furred.
The beast caught the scent and rushed on forward, as the young
warrior walked further into the shrine, to find a sword, which
in which was made of green metal, which looked like jade,
but alas it was emerald, a shimmering green stone. That
reminded him of the trees in spring time, or of the Kings emerald
throne.
With a growl did the beast make its presence known. The male
with a fright grabbed the sword and pulled it from its stone,
staring into the eyes of the beast lost and alone.
The beast roared and the beast hissed,
he seemed rather pissed. The man took the sword,
with a sling and a wave, clang and clash did the mighty
blade. The beast howled and wailed in pain
all seemed in vane. The beast let out a roar
of defeat, disappearing into the mist, the man
standing there the sword still in his fist. Victorious
was he and an emerald blade he now possessed,
A goddess of Nature came worth, and said.
"The sword you have is blessed, with
my ancient divine powers, carry this sword
young warrior, and every tree plant and even the flowers
are at your beckoning," And with that the deity was gone,
standing where she once stood was a young fawn. The
fawn led the way,showing the warrior the way out, taking
him upon a different path, a different rout. Safe and sound
was the young warrior, as he now carried with him
the Emerald Blade