#poetnumber17

[poetnumber17]

XXX: All’s End

Knock knock it came from door afar

Was this it? The violence name to mar?

He breathe inhale for this his time

To pay back every good willed crime

He open up to see visage

Indeed he exhale by sense birage

“Trystin!” exclaim last to expect

Truly no other could he want to move to beck

“I’ve searched all to find your home.”

“Banten,” he breathe, his shield brother roam

The two embrace in sweet relief

At once the Prince frantic brief

“Please, please help! My need be quick!”

“What can I do, your face is sick?”

“They’re after me, the guards, fiercely make.

For my past is riddled by holy mistakes

Yet in my action, of which I take blame

It is she I worry will take my shame

Or worse the consequences of my sin.”

The look on Banten’s face spoke of kin

He told the story quickly of war

Of how had no wish to touch the lore

But time had come to take up blade

He had done it all for kansen aid!

His friend, his best friend, horrified

His face, Trystin saw, and wished he’d died

“They’ll kill you,” he whisper in horror still

Baten’s face could not hide his chill

“What do I do?” Trystin desperate yet

Both looked to Ali passed out met

“She has to go, be sent away.”

“But where? She’s known in city wake.”

“A place remote? Out of Kansen sake.”

“How do I apologize for what I’ve done?”

“Trystin...you can’t….you too must run.”

At least the truth reveal itself to him

Her memory could not story but fall too dim

“Must I do it, steal her away?”

“If you don’t, surely she’ll recall this horrible day.

Take mind and memory she make

It’ll break your heart to do, to weary heartbreak.”

She must stay safe, he loved her too much

If only she would not forget him such

Banten nod - no other way - a curse to be so strong!

He moved to her sleeping form - it felt so wrong!

“Arosha, forgive me! This horror we must do!”

“Beloved Prince, always in the dark I’m with you.”

And so he lay left hand on Ali’s face

The curve of jaw in his embrace

He whisper words of strangest cant

The magic coursed between her and hant

Rich it rare through destroying left

Till not one memory of Trystin bereft

He knew it true, all magic destroy

Why was his spellwork ruthless and not toy?

The seconds took felt long hour past

How long did forgetting magic last???

“Forever,” Banten whispered, tears

“I...I’m gone...how I loved her…” - his fears

“Banten help that I may break!”

“Steady, Eelion, my brother make…”

He wept with shattered, blurry heart

Where now could he think to start?

“I...I need, desperate, to get help for this

Trystin, don’t move, leave her not with death’s kiss…”

As Banten left, the Prince held her face to his

Lips across her cheek to staunch the mis’

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, you’ll never know…”

Regret stirred in him, himself his own foe

How could he have done this, so quick to act?

Trystin, you fool, this terrible fact!

Drawing the mercy blade from in his belt

He place sharp end against left wrist felt

This evil hand commit the worst crime

Stolen Ali’s memory and all her time

Pressure still he dug in deep despite pain

Surely the blood served as holy gain

Her slice and sliced left wrist raw

Crying, without feeling, as dagger saw

His penance, pay back, his hand never to destroy again

“Please!” Arosha begged, convulsed in pain

“I can’t! I can’t let it again! Mistake!”

Deeper still the blade did rake

The hand had to go, he cut down to bone

The one handed prince as he would be known...

Door burst open and Banten sudden there

“Trystin!” explained, Ephyra behind spare

In seconds, blood staunched and healing mend

Not without the Prince protect in teary rend

“I did evil, the left can’t live long!”

“Trystin, destroying yourself an even deeper wrong!”

Weeping, collapsed, weak to the floor

Trystin could speak little any more

His shield brother wrap the wound with painful love

“It’ll hurt but heal with scars thought of.”

The madness of his love for her blinding still

He thought nothing for his well

The four sat in sudden silent agony

Banten brief forget what brought to be

“I’ve found a way to take her North

It’ll be swift and safe, unknown here forth.”

“That’s all I want, for her best safe.”

“I know but Trystin, I have another strafe…”

“What more? Little I can bear…”

“My prince, my friend, though you not heir…”

“Spit it out! We’ve been friends for years!”

“You must go too, if to flee your fears

For if they find you, surely they find her too!”

“No!” “I know, so here’s what I must do:

Brother, beloved, it’s so hard to speak…”

“Banten, say it, I’m already my most weak.”

“You memory too, you must whole forget.”

The words between them in silence set

“No! Her memory, it’s all I have!”

“And they can use it, the end of their wrath.”

“Banten please, any other way.”

“I swear to you, if there was I’d say.”

The two wept upon sillen floor

With Ali just paces by forever’s gate door.

“I’ll be with you, Eelion, just like before.”

“It was you! You whom I woke after the war!”

“Yes the same though I can’t soon be known

My duty is to your family, and to you alone

Protector, guardian, your brother get

Better than your elders, the princes’ let

I’ve watched over you since the day of birth

I was just three then, knowing not your worth

I’ve seen you grow through love and war

Please, Trystin, let me help just once more.”

The Prince in tears - it all made sense now

Not intervening but Banten always by him vow

“You were called Pennant, the war banner.”

“I prefer you thought it Penance, pay back to her.”

“Will you be with me, after the curse?”

“Yes my prince, for this and every verse.

They slope to the floor where path lay low

And Banten prepare for the magic slow

“I’ll take it all, no name you’ll have

Or I can’t predict the aftermath.

Save you borth but split you far

Hunters can’t find symbols bar

It’ll hurt, I’m sorry Trystin, more!”

The pain was great as he lean in

In Banten’s hands magic begin

He knew it hurt from Trystin’s cry of pain

Regretted doing this again

The screams subside as thoughts all subside

Arosha lay not with him, just beside

As memory left his weakened frame

Banten reck he meet the dreadful aim

What now do with sleeping pair?

Neither remember how much ‘stranger’ care?

The war just end - to random the Prince would go

And to family, Arosha return in low

And North he send Ali back

With Kyver, so  long he could not lack

He was the last to stand, Banten was

Guardian, brother, he loved despite and because

His prince, he would die without hesitate

As he sat, apart from Ephyra, in war camp straight

Once again devoted, waking his Prince to wait…

[poetnumber17]

XXIV: Angel Descend

The war went on much longer than

The Empress or Warlord imagine

He saw her once, on battlefield

While blood and bandage he did wield

A mighty figure drenched in gold

The law of Third hers to uphold

He blade came down like earth would shake

While those in battle begin to quake

But as she came was gone again

The Empress only fought till when

The First were violent, ancient type

But no respect for Ixaj like

They not unite Three peoples strong

And this were their logic held not wrong

Their mark so strong had certain smell

Their love for leather cause deathly fell

Who could do that to the ix?

Trystin shuddered and quavered mix

They would not give up the wicked blow

The Third kingdom rent on jayan though

So all Kansen fought against the First

For crimes oft counted worst

Trystin saw on different days

The Princes twin who had their way

The eldest took the Kansen side

That to the jaya they had no reck provide

The younger, spitting image of

Argued all the Three must live in world above

To forget a crime to history past

And how then would Third Kingdom last

Their difference truth in them despite

They stood breast long into the fight

Trystin shook his head at work

Arosha wrapped around him to lurk

“One day I will do all I can, and someone will do within my hand,”

“Yes,” she said with certain stand

He like others did their best

With fighting surge to cross his chest

Oft dreams held terror deep within

Of limbs and lives lost, wretched in

With heave, the Prince stood once again

To look ’pon camp in human swell in ten

Thousand raise to banner call

Across the kingdom they venture all

For no such battle  been recent yet

To Empress all must pay their debt

Give life and love for Kingdom kind

And this the thousands felt obliged

So what had been a well trained camp

Now thousands lived, hungry, and champ

Trystin feared the First kingdom not back down

But bring their own for fateful down

And this it was, they ventured forth

The army, thousands, roaring North

Along the line they even trail

With Banners, doctors, trumpets swell!

As ridge they crossed at evening’s gate

The captains looked down to see their proper fate

Well matched were they by Third Kingdom’s eyes

All they knew had come from trusted spies

Trystin inhaled and pale hundred king

Dressed head to time in cream and white

“They wish us dead, no more then that,”

He whispered still for Arosha spat

“We’re phyciains, magicians, Jayan trained,”

His partner whispered, barely refrained

Trystin took his short sword in one hand, gun too

Staring deep to what the other might do

The general crossed the neutral fields

No shot was fired, no peace unstilled

Still a boy coughed on Trystin’s side

From the Firsts a shot, by heaven guide

The boy fell dead for price of cough

And general looked up, with rage unloft

A trumpet sound for war commence

The cry by people was immense!

They charge forward along the field

As sunset quiet too much to wield

Could you see the hundred besides?

Knowing further on was thousand strides?

“To war to war!” Trystin nearly chant

Lips closed, stood back, he could not bant

The energy strong could make him yell

But knowing death followed, a bitter pill

Fifty thousand strode to meet their enemy

And what of victory

Surged through the crowd on righteous day

Evenly matched were on their way

Such roar you’ve never heard!

A hundred thousand men, their life assured

Dragged into meses was Trystin just

The doctors, apge, runners thrust

“Here!  Please!” came lucid cry

Others moaned in hopes to die

Press bandage here! Pull tight there!

No time to think, just medic care!

If stopped the Prince’s heart might break

This was no little thing but battle wake!

None such had been seen in recent past!

A war of legend here at last!

Trystin wept that night - hours on

For the prince of victory was death anon

The thing it last two whole days

No sleep, respite, or change of ways

A truce was called by great Cornelian

So every man could rest till drawn

Great casualties fall both sides

As Trystin treat on field turning tides

As exhausted as all the rest in war

He helped carry thousand who could not make it for

Once back in camp, others take their aid

His shift long done - over  before he fade

Those who could took their rest

The others helped the bare survivors blessed

But Trystin who heard the sounds in wake and dream

Could not leave the field just as it seem

Hundreds lay amongst the leagues

Unrescued by those take with fatigue

The bodies of friend and foe near death

Trystin set to wake with step light and deft

The moan, it haunted, of the nearly dead

With knife now drawn, heard heavy with dread

There is a tale the Kansen tell

Of angels descend when time might tell

The message creatures of higher call

That do a single time’s beck and call

When the last needs raise, the water crops

At end of day, when sun will drop

Or times like this, when death is need

The battle weak lay out to bleed

“Angel come,” a desperate plea

From nearly corpse by Trystin knee

He kneels down with darkly grace

To see his victim’s weary face

They see the knife and smile ease

Their call was heard, they can leave now please

So Trystin assure them all is well

And blade finds throat a swiftly tell

Released from pain, he moves quickly on

A barely corpse just nearly gone

And so the Battle Angel well Descend

Called forth by thousands for their end

Reluctant hero, the healing kind

Wept deep and dear, against his mind!

Could you do it, my reader, you?

Take blade to kill those you healed too?

For what love is this that cause a Prince

Third born orphan, unknown since

To love a people he never rule

Even at price of his hands turned cruel

The field took his knife east

The mercy blade was but the least

Drawn dusk till dawn the Prince did walk

Three hundred four did he knock

“My heart is black,” Trystin’s voice now breaks

Falls to his knees, heart now slake

Arosha trembling hard and fast

As the pair hold each other, their sins so vast

They cannot tell not another soul

How death had taken its pound for toll

Trystin’s heart now never whole

[poetnumber17]

XXI: The Empress Lore

Of life I told a present thing

Not back we must to ancient sing

You’ve heard of Nanter’s rise and fall

Of it’s terrible enchanted wall

Birthed from seven kansen foe

Locking Trystin and the rest there in tow

A generation gone before their freedom grant

The Prince knew not their fate, or can’t

He would learn later at Ali’s ear

That she, and others, try fifty year

To find the seven who set their spells

Entrapping thousands in Northern wells

It was her and others to get his release

Who brokered Nanter’s terrible peace

No this story told is of ancient text

But to understand, it must come next

For long ago - a century past?

The woman came to power was young and vast

A gifted mage and warrior fast

Her companion amphidera a green-lit stag

A creature so rare no one thought it tamed

Her face was fierce and without question though

Young ruler knew her will and thought

With crown on head the Empress reigned

The kingdom Third like those before

Young at forty, the rumor tore

She held herself like older one

The magic could not become undone

In swift she took a consort strong

Though none like her to land belong

His join foretold the stars did say

Powerful, fierce, and ferocious may

He competition for the Empress laugh

Though none would ever give the half

Not days to power she struck her death

With stony face and fiery breath

Her consort stood by side to stare

Of the Empress truly haughty air

She came to power so long before

No jaya can remember the time afore

A creature of myth and legend make

Even Trystin can not recall her break

When first children born - the princelhy twins

A whisper held there were as black as all her sins

The Empress, fresh from bed of birth

Slew each word till bodies hit the earth

Her methods still were calmest kind

Many didn’t notice till struck them blind

A man came forth to ask a thing

With trembling voice and little to bring

He missed the words that lend him praise

And ne’er again did breath he raise

In war she slew a thousand foes

With blade and rage, on dancing toes

With the rampant stag by her every side

The magic flowed from her wide

The Battle of Ashen Heart id she win

And one handed War on Reckless Kin

Not stop at two sons she had

Went on for several more to add

Some claimed the progeny not her own

Especially the gold haired son vying for throne

As time went on the Empress asked less and less

No common folk come to bless

Every year went by she fiercer grew

And those withdrew from her wrath unto

When Trystin thought on the Empress may

He knew nothing of her spirit way

How could a woman so aloof

Rule the Kingdom with little proof

But feared she was by all true reck

He wanted nothing of her, not even beck

So Trystin realize not of his relate

That the twins were truly bothers make

But as to yet, this thing unknown

Not even Ali knew the truth in his bones

All he knew of ‘family’ was but of lore

He outlast the friends that mgiht know more

Curse the Kansen, the lasting kin

While others perished early for their various sin

But rumor ‘pon her majesty

The wall was seven but sealed by thee

It never fall or break or bend

As Empress magic has no end

None confirm this sneaking fear

Who else to seal the jaya fifty year?

In North one year when so distressed

It told they gave her all she asked

But then to make them pay

Their children’s heads for every day

Stone cold was she as ordered kill

The wail rose up  from highest hill

Or when they conquered Kingdom First

The Empress paid their ministers thirst

And satiated all they wanted eat

Then twist their necks with white silk sheets

No man to stop her wildly woes

No children stood to tred her toes

When Trystin heard all progeny

He likes, others, thought to see

In years to come, when the Empress age

ALl children come to take their stage

Such bloody bath of throne to get

Trystin shook his head against

Maybe famous lore of leader goes

With how she act in laden clothes

When once attacked she drew her knives

With all six she took fatal prize

Another day at quiet din

At social gather sent assassin

With flick of wrist and hard command

The pair of kansen let flat killing man

With glare she take down heads of state

With blink some killed for make her wait

Kansen do not age like all the rest

The Empress already seen peoples past

Generation come and go and never last

Is this their ssecret I share with you?

How long the Kansen live in too?

It’s true, they live several hundred years

While jaya die in fifty, seventy fears

So the kansen see the jaya fall before

And so, few make friends, outside their for

Only death comes of these things

So Trystin’s friends were of rarer sings

For now the lore revolved around

The stars, the oracles, the fear abound

Of Empress who is true eternal

While others can only gaze in awe and wow

Though I know the myth and legend tale

It’s all as true as on this side’s veil

Whether she be immortal none can say

But no one remembers who may

That came before, any sort of one

But now the Empress is the sacred done

And wehtehr she made the Nanter wall?

Let’s say I know a little all

The starvation back was real enough

And the Kansen didn’t do their stuff

The rightful march of jaya kind

In response to the Kansen blind

The rich of Nanter, sick of their words

Devise the magic to set the girds

Seven strands, an impossible break

Doesn’t mean they wouldn’t take

So set the magic strong enough

And no Three people break tough

Had the Empress known the triplet son

Lay in Nanter North, would she have done?

Hard to see, though she has no heart?

The city knew no different art

Alecandrian, the true born prince

Not that any called him that since

The Empress thought her third son dead

And even he had lived in that stead

Dangerous times for the royal ones

He the last of the triplet sons

I barely told the Empress tale

But i feel you might learn more in epic wail

Back to the time we go to hear

Of where Trystin left with Ali near

[poetnumber17]

XXIX: And Now You, Beloved

The truth was now beset to tell

His princess Candor deserved it well

He would have to tell her the truth

Of Alecandrian, prince since his youth

Pursued now for so many reas’

His royal blood not least of these

How to explain to her all of his crimes

Those of now and older crimes

Just an author, a writer of book

Condemned to be war-torn crook

They’d say he must die for patent sin

Tortured for the lives he had rin

And while that may be sort of deserved

Who was there for it observed?

A kansen learned the jayan trade

To med the sick and fix those so afraid

But with kansen hands he also heal

Physician with both reck to steal

His power used  for good of all

Even in his crime, was this his fall?

“They’ll pull you down,” Trystin said,

After all the rest he’d begged in her stead.

He’d practiced words against a wall

Only to have silence echo this call

She had to leave  him in greater haste

How could he save her from gunshot chaste?

Her flawless heart would stay with him

How then would they survive the deepest grim?

No, he would not tell her any past

His story he seemed so short and yet vaste

So leave these thoughts of his behind

This is how the story truly aligned:

A long day passed and Trystin know

What things love his love in though

So cook all day and prepare a feast

Something she could not resist in the least

When soon arrived at home did she

Tired face brought forth with glee

“What occasion this?” she ask with grin

“Just news to share,” with strength wihin

“You couldn’t have known but I have news too.”

Trystin’s eyebrows raise at this debut

Her smile was warmer than raising sun

Oh how he wished that was all what done

“You first, I feel I can’t compare.”

She obliged, letting down her glorious hair

Reclined in chair to roll her neck

“It’s been weeks and months of reck,

But today a deal was drawn and writ

For peace between First and Third commit.

To end the battle now by dawn

Their prisoners sent to the desert gaping yawn

Their ransom paid to end the war

We speak on it now nevermore.”

Trystin turned, for how was this?

The kingdoms agree on any miss?

Thier blades lay down, the army return

Only the last prisoners to be bought back in turn.

“Truly, Princess, your Candor wit

I don’t know how you reck and wrangle it.”

She laugh, the high type rining sound

“Surely not my work that I was bound,

But months we worked and came to pass

I can only hope the words bind to last.”

His smile broke outside her gaze

Poured wine and untangled his tongue’s ways…

Bit again, what could he say?

This time a celebration day!

“It’s good your home for this, I think

Thought secretly, thought you may miss.”

“A peace come in our time?

What better knows for an evening sublime?”

His smile put her more at ease

As stomach turns with halted please

She told the tale over third glass of wine

While they ate and shared to dine

He nod at all the place

Even when she spoke of strange pace

Her peace, this meant the final end

All come home, the Three may mend

A sort of harmony fell in soul

Until Arosha’s eyes met his and he recalled the roll

“Ali,” he start try not to choke,

“I brought news too, that I have not spoke.”

She turned to him in trusting eyes

Oh how could he lie before that guise?!

“These many years I had a bet,

With an old friend who not forgot.

That if I could, I’d hold a tie

With woman even if have to lie

To make her love me some lots of years

And not betray the truth to ears

Though love her not, I’d try this thing

So here I have, to end this string.”

The jagged edge it fell so hard

As Ali’s face break at its shard.

“Affection, love, it all a lie?”

Kyver recoil to Arosha deny

Trystin nodded and laughed at her

“I did well, all you thought we were.”

“Trystin, you can’t be serious!”

“What’s too discuss?”

“Your words, your actions, it was all a ruse?”

“A clever one, thank you for being the one I use.”

“We were friends, best friends...I believed your love!”

The sky was falling, the sun from heaven above

The dark it cloud and he could not call.

“No love, never, none at all.”

She recoiled with deadly pain

Could not even cry, her voice too strain.

“I’m sorry about that, it was all a game.”

His nonchalance took perfect aim

“The war...the journeys….the day of wall!”

“All a study I was paid to beflal.”

“I know it isn’t so, I know, Trystin!”

It stung to hear his name wherein

He steeled himself - not Trystin born

But Alecandrian, the Prince’s scorn

“No...Trystin! No!” she collapsed to floor

And choked on tears, heave breathes on more

He walked out to her collapse

A minute as she wept did lapse

And hate himself though not he could

He exactly as he should

Silent as the oncome night

He twined his hand with Arosha bright

In whispered time they spoke to spell

For Ali to quiet, given sleep to tell.

“You lied! You lied!’ Arosha wailed

“What could I do? They’ll kill her once I’ve failed!

The guards come near, the’yll find me soon

All I have his her, what else can I ruin?

She’ll go away, in hating me, but safe

I don’t know what else to do yet go in strafe.”

The sleeping woman lay on their chair

As Trystin frantic to plan each where.

“We can’t leave her, not Kyver too!”

“If someone has to do, not her, not you,

I caused it Arosha, don’t you see?

All choices here lead back to me!

She’ll go away, she’ll be safe from self

Then perhaps it’ll save herself.”

The pair sat and wept out their despair

Before trying again to brace her from warfare

Not fair his love would pay for crime

Not write his compassion now owed him time

She had to go far, not again to speak

He closed his eyes for memory seak

The moment he met her far in north

Journeyed with him to oracle forth

She’d flown on ships, saved from the storm

Well learned, well though, with writer’s form

Her diplomatic tongue had earned her fame

And some sort of ‘princess’ title name

Fierce with sword and gun, yet peaceful get

How could he describe this perfect woman yet?

How had his troubles shaped her fate?

All he wanted was her safe smile late

“It cannot be, it cannot be, we must leave!”

Yet Trystin still hugged her tight and tried to cleave

To last physical reminder of his sins relieve

[poetnumber17]

XXV: The Madness of Angels

Collapse on bed another eve

Skin prick roll down another sleeve

Lost time to others had to keep

“You need to let midnight come to rest!”

“I can’t! When needed at my best!”

They did wrath as oft as rest us do

Within ourselves though for them it true

The pair could not continue on

The line of mercy’s blade once sharp now gone

But sleepless nights in salvation field

Trystin released more than hath healed

The Angel of Death, the soldiers named

Prayed to its spirit twere not rise again

Still Trystin wept for fate basailed

And sharpened the edge another night travailed

Till pair in help and healing trade

Find ‘red leaf’ death, a fright now made

Oh energy gave in spades and woe!

Gift nightmare seen on soil below

A thing seen here but not exist

The price to never job would miss

The pair decide in desperate need

That even if they must they could concede

Not forever the doctor be

The angel dark of fatal mercy

So Arosha chew the fateing herb

Together fall to the absurd

The high of leaf went to his head

So as thread passed through skin in stead

Wounds closed, chanted, tea poured on

The doctor’s ways go speeding on

And night fall as his shift does end

Expect physicians bed to fend

Instead after beck of friends

He took to chamber to take the jar

Within a press of stem and tar

They chewed it hard for all its juice

Until it pass through blood profuse

The pair stand soft in blackened cloak

Step out of tent into the smoke

The rising high it trembled in their blood

And Arosha’s eyes became ruby flood

The blade beneath chest a straight quickly blade

It oft came to the Angel’s aid

A long trek to the valley’s heel

Where death and fatal lay rambling keel

He hear the moans at the ground

Though light was not a thing to be found

Following the call - was it human? A trick?

The mud laden blood was slick

He steps stumbled yet under Angel’s pleas

As the pair found their first to sees

A woman lay with legs shorn off

Fluids danced round her air to cough

He kneel askew by her face

The black and dark left not a trace

“Angel, is that your voice I hear?”

“Your angel descends for you my dear.”

“They took my legs, the agony so deep,

Please angel, no healing now, my soul to reap.”

Trystin inhale - not new her request

Why he asked, the physician best?

The odd blend of jaya  with kansen hands

A strange one in the war time plans

Bringing the blade low to the throat

The sigh escaped a final note

“Thank you Angel for the death you bring…”

And with that, Trystin swung clean

The life escaped seemed to hang in air

And laugh at him with monstrous hair

Shook his head, Trystin gasped

What horrid things did red leaf rasp?

He stood to find his next need

Vision swimming to take a lead

Why did he see colour flash mad

Like eyes misfired and feeling bad

He should know, the doctor kind

The drug he’s taken now lost his mind

Followed sound to soldier’s pain

The wound in stomach had not slain

But in days since then had rotted him

Now no hope of life for that grim

The man, a young strapping thing

So new they hadn’t known to bring

He wailed for constant pain

Unable to move for gain

No blade in sight for him to end

And then beg for sky to Angel send

His moan not words of poetry taste

Though Trystin heard struck agony

Leaned in to feel his spirit flee

As the mercy blade cross his throat open

The red liquid dripped out to ghoulish grin

Reeling back to fall Trystin cough

What power this herb have, he final cough

Arosha stumbled with non her grace

As both pressed on with boldened face

When no words were said, the job was fast

Their lives were short, not meant to last

Hundred kansen strandard there

Even cross the lines, on First land fair

Deeper still they went through dawn

Unfair to leave their ancient rivals yon

The pair proceed to cross the line

And hear hiss and drum in quiet time

“They tell of Angel deathly kind

“From above, I wish that Angel find

Take blade he make with blessing give

A thing with life it too could forgive.”

The pair groaned still, they could not move

Trystin still, the Angel prove

No wings he had, for earthly bound

Now people prayed under battle sound

Though he now here  to answer call

His blade in right hand ready to fall

His cloak swept round so both did hear

“That sound, is that the thing you fear?”

“Yes, long await we for dark relief -

Is it you, Dark Angel, have you come in brief?”

Inhale he did, for Tryustin’s vision swim

“The one you await and call, I is him.”

Both sighed like one who knew their fate

Sweet exhale to set their wait

“Angel, speak, will you give us end?

Bring us from battle to the hallowed fend?”

Trystin spoke with choking voice

“Yes, I’ve arrived by your greater choice,

To lay end to suffering of Kansen war

Now if thou ask, my blade is stored.”

The pair wept openly in blessed reprieve

Finally! Someone to take their leave

I should tell you to, to listener

That by all reck, there was no cure

Trystin’s skill could not mend or heal

Indeed, he tried before he struck this deal

He laid before the first captain

A man, same rank as him

Unsheathered the dagger bright

As tears fall through the night

“I did not know that angels wept.”

“Only the one that death be kept,”

Trystin bade, his face a mess

As his victim prayed for him to bless.

Finding the cords in neck to slit

He pulled tight to slice for life to split

Run down his hands into the earth

So easily this man a shell of his birth

Companion yalped, a joyous sound

“He’s gone home, released from body bound!

Do it too! Please Angel of Death!

This shell holds back all I can reth!

Your blade forgives my warring sin,

Please take it’s point and my heart put in,

Release bone from this battles I should have not

But in my youth, thought glory in the thought!

The lives I took unfairly wrenched

By blood I stood and was drenched

Dark Angel your time is only right

May I pay back by sacred plight?”

Wings spread high overskin and bone

The dagger true deep, he slew his own.

[poetnumber17]

XVIII:  Hark Deep

For the time spent in Nanter’s space

Trystin had come to friendship place

Alla just a young jaya fen

Sweet, and kind, quick to friend

When last he had stood to help

Her smile, to all, was shared to felt

“How are you smiling?” asked Prince,

“This is a terrible day for all here since.”

The smile deft and light like sun

“Oh kansen man, what have you done?

The wall divides in not the end

We’ve got each other for this bend.”

Trystin couldn’t help but smile

The fen had just a positive while

Alla stood on market day

To sell the wares of jaya fae

Mostly shrooms and sweet root veg

The stall was right on market’s edge

That smile lit a fugal march

That other jaya could not larch

The times were grim and work was hard

But in the dark, new friend to guard

Every day Trystin stopped by

To hear her positive remarks on fly

He bought the thing which fed him right

In this way, perhaps, Alla saved his life

Each day they spoken increasing more

From weather to the ancient lore

Rare times were these the Prince did know

And a jaya smiling rarer though

Though food itself was scarce and slim

Alla offered gentle meal to him

It was not much, nor good it be

For the wall and prison fought to fee

For fifty years, since fen be young

The two, fast friends, trade news and tongue

Trystin’s trust jayan friend

As time marched on  to life’s bitter end

Alla had much to say on the state of world

And all within it furled

As it turned out, Jaya was from a Bright tribe

Whose family act as long time scribe

To chronicle all time and place

Even when the famine face

They band together, to bring the news

That jaya everywhere can’t confuse

No food would grow: water or earth

For several years, they’d done all their worth

So Together, the Bright ones came to south

Explaining Alla’s pale skin and rosy mouth,

Hard skinned like all the rest their kin

Painted spines, soft palms, eyes and skin

To Nanter where they might protest

Instead a wall divides afamily and rest

Alla the only of her tribe so Bright

The rest to south, or outside the city lights

“We came to do good, though we didn’t starve

The weaker would die if not for parve

I don’t regret coming here, even if for wall

If I hadn’t, would I have met you all?”

Trystin saw Alla grew and line

Grom young and happy to old with shine

None such had seen and filled with joy

Through Trystin knew many tribe

So many friends of hard skin spine

He’s seen age long to elder death

With Alla he feared her body reth

As disease fell into Nanter’s fold

Her house became a safe stronghold

He off went work to heal and cure

Speak not of nightly job to her

Not young now she seemed brittle like

He used his magic without her psych

“Do you ever think back to the land,

The place you came from, tribe and band?”

Alla sighed and broke a bit

“Every night, I think of them and where I fit

And how I’m here to do some good

Even if I last help would”

A bit of help or aid under her roof

A place in night Trystin would not move

Held break the golden heart of ALla

If she knew the mercy knife’s maw

It took it out of him to heal

Next to him Alla kneel

Not a doctor or physician reck

Wanting to help with patient leck

With blanket, bed, and soup to give

No thought to cost or pain of live

Though weak the soup, as always was

The patients gracious thanks of cause

The kansen starved lik man of wit

Those sickly people thought none of it

When the silence continued to take

The jaya in droves did rake

Though kansen untouched by ill

Many died in despair of Three now still

When at least came down with fatal

Trystin came to her door final

“Alla?” he called through threshold way

The voice was weak to hear it say

Upstairs he went to find the place

Where people there to pat her face

Ill. This is, the Silence fell

The Prince’s heart fell down a well

His friend beloved, his wit and bant

The disease that want to claim her can’t

“Warm, are you?” the Prince tried to grin

Her eyes, so vivid, brought a win

“I knew you’d come, if for your work.”

“How can I with you in this quirk?”

“Nothing kansen, you know the day?

When body slows, it’s the elder way.”

“I know better Alla, for several years,

Don’t you think I know the Silence tears?”

The jaya coughed and laughed a bit

Trystin held his breaking face from it

The others around mumbled only shame

While  Trystin knelt to whisper her name

“Alla,” he said, “Alla stay with me now.”

“And I won’t get anywhere without thou.”

He took out tools and turned off mind

To save the fen his life entwined

Who else would have got him through?

This time in Nanter, he look up to

If this were his last doctor’s task

To save a life all would ask

He took her signs to see the cause

If really Silence had her in claws

Her heart was weaker than it had ever been

Concerned he listened to lungs again

They took trembling signs to his hand

Why hadn’t he been called to land

To assist her early so he could aid

In healing of the jaya’s trade

He worked with Alla another night

Though smiling, she was losing fight

They spoke of news, of son, of love

They spoke of rumours of the sky above

Every trcik he knew he tried in vein

His physician skill had taken reign

Turned magic still to try and heal

With Arosha near he whispered riel

Together from them magic flowed

But through this no good was showed

“Alla, I’ve tried all I know.”

“Trystin, you’re the best I’ve ever show.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please stay with me!”

“Trystin, the disease can’t know us be,”

Her smiled tore at lowly heart

His body crumbled, it cracked and start

She lived more hours still

Always smiling, with jayan will

He laughed with her, though tears still mar

And jayan leave to give him scar.

She passed in the grey of almost morn

When Trystin could at last have bourne

The sorry that the Silence take

For hours he grieved her spirit lost

He couldn’t stand for feelings crossed

What life was fair to take Alla’s cost?

[poetnumber17]

XII: The Wall Part

Far off in Trystin’s pirate ways

Horizon heart to set his gaze

A life he chose and full of lies

But let him long traverse the skies

A dance as long as war itself

The ship passed over gale and guelph

He stands on brink on wooden deck

To where the city Nanter beck

The prince heard the pleas of jaya friend

But sheild his face from their dark end

The tension drew heavy as line of knife

Even from above Trystin could hear loss of life

In a raid above, along ship they sailed

Till mast tipped near to eastward bailed

The two ships steered to crash in sky

While thunder reigned down in death defy

One turn it took to clip the wing

And engine pitch no longer sing

Soon fire caught the body still

And crashing came the vessel will

Before it land, with heart unchained

Trystin lean by bow constrained

The fall too great for man to stand

Must jump and best hope to land

He did, from flaming, fiercy beast

To descent of city might hurt the last

The landing winded lungs adepth

No time! To hold before the breadth

Great pain shattered resolve as Nanter led

Trystin groaned in terrible awful tread

“Arosha, safe?” he quickly asked

She nodded, his better recovered fast

Together stand they see threir way

Around them, shouts and screams in stay

What hell is this, they wonder yet?

What has Nanter been in under threat?

People run by in fear and scream

They under door to watch the scene

And here is where the heroes glean

Nanter: City on Kingdoms edge

Enbroiled in a racial wedge

For months in words and deeds was done

Now here, in open air is spun

A battle brew has since begun

While Trystin sat in winning none

Missed stab with blood between the sides

No longer clear for all decide

When jaya took kansen to ask

Came clear who wins in iin bask

“Hide!” Arosha warns too soon

Around the corner blades come in ruin

The Prince had none in fall to earth

A vagrant still, defenseless  worth

The otter coils behind her man

Till angry still pass to fight began

Arosha pricks her ears now front

“Is it Kyver?” asls Trystin’s pain filled grunt

She nods like one betwixxed in kind

Their dearest friend in Nanter find?

With beck and call they venture out

To find Ali and Kyver stout

Around them not a silence fair

Spit and spat flank both the pair

With nose alight in familiar scent

The Prince heads each way they went

Not seen his lover in several years

Perhaps assauage her silent fears

The princess have such deepest eyes

Tied up, defenseless by her guise

They  run still further but scream stops still

“Please help, he dies,” in want of skill

Rushing so Trystin finds the wound

A jaya lay anguish attuned

Mother weptand turned her face

The arm torn off, returned to place

While Trystin gawked and needed tool

To leave the child would make him fool

Bent down he did to mend the limb

Arosha to what he could trim

A needle, thread, in hands of wise

He stitched the flesh back and tries

To cleana nd use his best of skill

While jaya watch watch him handle ill

He’s like none they’ve ever seen ebfore

Even Kansen allied not have his lore

But this man, unknown, has proven him

Sees battles fought, results are grim

He sides with us, this man unknown

Despite his race, his is our own

Trystin can’t speak, his heart is moved

They don’t know him Prince, just doctor proved

Now hours since, though still so sore

He wanders streets, avoiding sword

Some victims are of kansen blood

And others dead of jaya mud

Though it annoy the hard skinned kind

Trystin cannot heal without being blind

Arosha wants to find Kyver

The Prince too, but as the healing were

That night to follow five patients

The sky looked purple, red and rent

“What’s this?” Trystin asked, exhausted head

The last his victims no longer bled

“We drove them back,” a jaya smiled

“Small victory still, we have a while.”

Trystin looked up and strange lit sky

“It doesn’t feel like they’ve gone by,

It feels strange, like trap or trick.”

And moment still a yelling sick

“A wall a wall!” came yells afar

So trystin ran, Arosha guided them, where are?

Then he saw in front like rain

A sight he’d never see again

The earth itself rose all in front

With stone on stone it building blunt

Upon approach Trustin threw him in

His weakened arms to pull within

Sent back! He was, by magic act

The strength pushed back by power pact

“How can this be, nothing so strong?”

“Trystin, something’s terribly wrong!”

Arosha cowered cringing face

He pulled her in, reformes his pace

Nothing he did could touch the stone

As the wall build slowly, from the earth it’s grown

Now hundreds rushed the forming feat

All kinds unite in its defeat

Dividing city into two halves

The ‘Kansen’ and the ‘Jaya’ filled with wrath

Their faces still seen by the wall

Arosha sudden caught in whine

Kyver! She shouts across the line

Trystin tries to scale the monstrous thing

Thrown back by magic’s terrible sting

While Arosha weeps and paws the wall

And other Kansen’s partner dig

Here magic too stop further rig

What could they want with this?

The scream still reminice

Trystin still pulls deep at stone

And Arosha with him to the bone

“Pull, girl! It’s all we have!”

The Prince grunted, raw channelled wrath.

“Trstin?” voice through all his sin

Stopped blind for she was all of him

That voice that trembled his entire heart

And caused his failing breath to start

“Ali?” breaths he in desperate pain

He swore it real, despite obvious strain

She’d said his name, he knew it true?

Where was she, her brilliant eyes of blue

If this his death the wall did sign

Could not his last sight be her align?

Straining hands afresh again to climb

As walls mounts higher all the time

“Ali!” he calls though now unseen

She must hear him through the brick screen

“Palisade!” he calls her rare full name

His amphidera whine, reply not came

“Ali!” he calls, fists to the wall

As pair despair on Nanter’s fall

[poetnumber17]

“Ali….Palisade…”

“You never say that unless it’s followed by something that makes my heart tremble. 

It was true. His entire body was shaking.

Red is the fourth book I’m writing in ‘The Cycle’ series revolving around a ‘super average’ man and his struggles to remember who he is and what name to even go by. As he ventures through a steampunk esque world of political strife, famine, civil war, and the demands off voluntary genocide, there’s a bunch of magic, sexual humour, and geeky botany involved as well.

NaNoWriMo in June - 30 days to get a book done

Day 2: 6,074 words

[poetnumber17]

XXVII: The Return

The speak of war might die in end

No one confirm  to where they send

“You’ve served us well,” the commander say

“The war will end - none can pin the day

You’ve worked, you’ve healed, through the night

As war ends, I wish to set it right

Go home, to all things your love

Thank the stars, the sky, the sun above

In a time of blood and terrible war

You’re a hero, all you’ve worked for.”

Trystin chocked, nodding kind

If only they knew what consumed his mind

Each day the horrors ran round brain

In hopes soldiers might once be sane

Though guilt he felt and leaving soon

Others came to bestow him boon

“You saved so many, your work is done.”

“I want to stay till last day’s sun!”

But off he fared through all well wish

As several hundred left the knish

Trystin sighed, Arosha in his coat

How could he return to normal wrote?

The journey from the far west were

Not kind, just cold and full of blur

When reached the city, prause would rise

Trystin rather huddle in close disguise

It took two weeks for walking pace

No Angel now to turn his face

That part of Tyrstin gone deep in

Replaced by just a man of sin

Not reck, not truck, with soldier make

But fear of death, the coward’s take

The walking road home the army walk

Four hundred pass point of talk

The war behind, it not have end

Another few hundred gone by were send

“Await to Kyver’s smiling maw.”

“And touch Ali’s waiting jaw…”

The pair sigh for this thought of better things

A long time since they’d thought what life brings

No news was brought to their walking trail

As some soon left for different pale

The sky was grey, no shred of sun

Cross hill as wide with marching done

The city of bells frue destination

Their ways of walking done

The second week in they saw the goal

The tower, spires, the gleaming roll

His Princely heart sore at the sight

As Arosha laugh in pure delight

Home it was, the place claim sweet

Where lovers to rest their feet

A surge in Trystin hearing heart

A place from never now depart

But just as soon as golden wash

All though of darkly came over kosh

The knife, would anyone well and find?

Know his mark by death was twined

A thousand voices crying out on green field

What more could he do for them healed?

There were more to heal within his tent

Or slay the helpless where their souls went

How could he keep these thoughts inside?

To Ali he could not have lied

With long breath he could only suppress

With his stories he might impress

There the gates he spy them soon

Just cross the fated dune

Over arch its jeweled beauty reach

Beneath, a parade of people each

They await the victors of noble war

They await him, and others in wild uproar

“RETURN! RETURN! OUR HEROES WELL!”

That shout and scream and glorious yell

While others embrace this golden praise

Nothing less could Prince want for his days

Drop back in line for this parade

How could they celebrate this sort of crusade?

His heart wound as behold fated roar

Everything  in his soul was sore

When others walked beneath the gates

To receive what others thought was fates

Trystin, shroud, left rampant crowds

He not healer proud

Picked up his pace with hurried feet

He could only wish to Ali meet

The roads he knew to get to home

A little different from last he known

A change to way he usual went

How had this change in year extent

There! Home! Where Ali wait?

Too much assume this would collate

WIth breath inhale and war behind

He raised his hand to knock in kind

A nervous twitch into his hand

Not moment to think before it stand

The door swung open to sleepy eyes

There, his beauty and love, comprise

His voice caught throat: “Palisade.”

Eyes shone brought to him unafraid

Arms wrapped round in desperate care

His placed his face deep in her hair

Home, to him, lay in her embrace

All he wanted was to look upon her face

“You’re home,” she sighed in best content

“No else could I be, twere I repent.”

No words need spoke between the two

For all between them melt into

His hands had not touched her recently

He wished this feel would always be

Into their home they pair then drew

For all heart need not eschew

“Ali…” breath upon his lips

Her hands assure as his voice bare trips

Each body entwines, a year’s pause to make

Felt skin and soul might break

Her care and kind wrap pleasure in

Cleanse his mind of all the guilt and sin

Kyver wrapped around Arosha’s form

Ali’s chest and arms grew warm

Inhale a passion born, hist low

His hands did wander allowed although

Her voice rang deep in thoughtless groan

Echoed by deeper princely moan

The pair make up for time but lost

And things a war might have them cost

When last they come to bed

And sheets entangle their reckless spread

A smile first for Trystin’s face

As caught in Ali’s sticky embrace

“Where have you been?” she ask in tease

He slid down to hold her with ease

“Oh here and there, avoiding you,”

Her distraught yelp brought laughter blue

A taunt she raise to meet his stance

Fall prey to welding lance

An afternoon could not them apart

Wherever their amphidera took part

They never knew, consumed by heart

At least after full uncounted day

They both arise from sheets and play

“Too long they keep you gone.”

“Agree my love, though I am not withdrawn.”

“Not at all, I forgot what I missed.”

“Indeed, though I feel you are sorely under kissed.”

He remedied this with varied haste

While the pair had make their time up

One day insufficient for their makeup

“Thi is where you well belong,”

Comment Ali laid out in just a thong

They snacked on grapes while in the town

Soldiers were celebrated like people of renown

“The war’s not over, not by their reck.”

“Doesn’t matter, soon it will be over wreck.”

A moment still they could lay still

Some demons invade his mind will

He heard their voice, their desperate plea

Asking for the knife, the blade, to plunge it deep

Trystin choke as memory flash

The pain it wrecked on eyelids lash

He plunge into a soul consumed by ash

[poetnumber17]

XIX: The Wall (Reprieve)

With Alla gone and Trysrtin left

The pair spoke even less bereft

Again, another morning came

The pair went to the wall to blame

“Ali,” Trystin spoken with cracked lips

“Her death I still have not come to grips.

Though disease seems to abate each day

The majority have now died om way

I can barely recall your noble face

Or Kyver, his fur and eyes, a mortal grace

We stand here as we have for years

And oh I wish it would abate my fears

Ali, I pray all has gone well

If you’ve forgot me, at least your story tell.”

His hand pressed to the stony face

It was indeed how engrained in place

Every day he wished the same

That perhaps in love, his dear, would hear her name

That spells that bound had never weak

Strong, so strong, and wondrous feat

He stood both hands pressed in

If such a thing could forgive his sin

That just two hands to send his fate

So other’s might have broken gate

A tumblr came from the wall

Trystin frowned - sound  only small

It came again went through his hands

What was this that shook the lands?

A spark struck somewhere in his eyes

Arosha perked and hearing skies

“Something changes, near it comes.”

“Be it good or war, they know its sums.”

Agreed they set to Nanter’s heart

Where council set to agree a start

When they hear to tell their tale

Suspicion breed like far off wail

The wall now speaks? It became a god?

The prince suggest it just thing odd

They jaya decide to post a guard

Three times a day they listened hard

Trystin sat on his ledge and gate

To see what came from that fate

Four days later a little quake

And Trystin eyes flicked to see a break

It seemed something was amiss

Prince descend and listen hard to this

“Sometimes coming,” he whisper barely yet

“I don’t understand,” said the jaya fret

He felt it deep within his bones

“I think we’re going home.”

The guard then yelled to call the rest

And several drew near, perhaps had guessed

But no change was seen or heard in pure

Though Trystin stayed, he had to be sure

The rumbling he heard not too far off

It had to be the lifting of an enchantment doff

“Quicky! Pull it!” Trystin whispered beg

Not knowing exactly what might happen reg

When the pair leaned near

The human of air  was none to clear

Then snap, something sharp and slick

Trystin’s head spun round, what was that??

No change to wall but in his chest

He felt a shift, sometimes best!

More people came to whisper well

What was happening? None could tell?

“They’re trying, someone’s trying, to break the wall

“The wall! We need it!” said a girl, raised within its call.

When this got out, some had their mind

They brought pick and shovel and more to mined

“We’ll break through, help them! This is our day!”

With some hope, who would cross their wayÉ

They struck out strong, despite the spells

Caused pain, though they continued on despite the bells

Though trystin advice against their toil

Not with strength could he say, he want to spoil

“Ali,” he whispered beneath his breath, hands to wall, “Ali”

It hurt a little less to touch the stones, he see

“Arosha, we have to try, nothing’s happened in fifty years.”

She looked up at him, otter eyes full of tears

When had she lastly spoke

He could not remember, barely woke

“I don’t know if I can for your sake.”

“You must,” Prince whisper, “For Kyver make.”

Took long to ask her to help him

The magic coursing running round the rim

He sent the spell through the wall to break

It did not at all, but even trystin felt surprise from beyond

Someone knew a thing to awned

Suddenly it was him and Arosha in epic dance

Amongst those pulling stone and brick by chance

They tried spell, and pic, and ear splitting cry

For moment nothing moved despite their ply

The second crack was moments later, not to do with them

“It weakens yet,” the Prince murmured,a  cheer arose

The effort fresh to bring it down, the people knows

Soon the city was poured along the wall

The Kansen quick to cast their strongest spell

While Jaya tried to using their physical strength

To argue with them it wasn’t length

The third snap followed the rest

“The sound of spells breaking!” Trystin yelled

They pulled at the wall all to felled

With heave and song and hearty shout

With each passing clang it softened doubt

The Prince tried every spell her knew

Move and pull and collapsing too

The fourth crack ran through the city

Its strength did others hear it pretty

“It cracks it cracks!!!” another screams.

Nanter North did announce their ream

“Pull harder! “Push harder!” jaya cheer

Each grunt draws something near

Sweat bead up on Trystin head

The fifth crack between his hands was led

The wall itself could now be touched

The magic before no longer clutched

Full force the city of Nanter raged

These fifty long years kept in a cage!

The fifth chain broken ahd Trystin grunt

“Don’t let the destruction of the hunt!”

Whether it did anything new

The thousands people knew what to do

The six one broken with jarrying clang

And now everyone trembled, and with it rang

The Empress looks down on all her sons

Even the new Prince hold out for the ones

Was there just one last magic that had to break?

The stones look like things just to tea make

This eventh bar it had to break

Would the fall fall, his dreams to make?

:Push on, push on! Did trystin call

And at the moment he thought might fall

The crack, the seventh, rocked North Nanter

This last wild sound caused all to stir

The wall of stone that barred their way

For two generations here to stay

Now just a thing, not magic held

No tinge to wall our outside spelled

This day, now freedom, the liberation

A roar went up, such a cheer not heard!

For all the people trapped within time blurred

Immediately the pick met the stone

Those who could struck to make their own

The smallest children climbed its heights

Like Trystin wish he might

Instead wih Arosha’s eyes a little bright

He cast the magic that might make hims light

The curse blew all the stone away

So this piece of wall rightly no longer stay

When dust was clear, through it could see

Nanter: the south they to many had never be

He cough so sudden for dust to pass

Theyn stepped throught ho a world

He’d not seen in an eon furled

He blinked and stared at it

As he recalled of its lips

Hit the ground, tears in his eyes

At last, his hopes had been realized

He kissed the ground with Arosha’s tears

The wall was destroyed after all those years

[poetnumber17]

XVII: The Corpses Pile

Another year gone by and Silence on

Those once here now long gone

As time went by and healers failed

When magic of the kansen quailed

And physicians work brought no more peace

Their knives and blades and balance cease

And still the Silent illness pulls

Infects, corrupts, destroys in full

Trystin know that it not be him

But darkness holds leg and limb

To fault him for all he could not do

The Prince work day to save all reck through

And night he walked veiled all in black

A mercy to those not survive attack

No sleep for him this latest year

Though every morning waketh near

And tred to wall, the place last saw

Ali, beloved, a woman without flaw

Her face he had not seen in many year

His memory of her was precious dear

“Day eighteen thousand six hundred five

“Ali, without you, I’m barely alive

“I know your voice, it soothes my dreams

This is not what I’d thought us seem

I don’t know what became of you

If in the world, in Nanter too

Did you go on, fight the wall of make

Did you use your wit to down them take

Or did you - my spare fo glass

Have you forgotten me as time hath pass

I wonder still, hand pressed to stone

If I will always been alone

If this wall stands long for thousand days

I’m the oldest of the jaya ways

None recall before this wall

Some not born before this scrawl

Ali I want to come home

To where I walked and just wrote my tome

Barefoot, you are gardened there

And at night I could just comb your hair

I miss this, beauty, and said it not enough

I love you like one borne too tough.”

He took his hand from the stony wall

A thing unclimbed, or dug, or crossed to tall

Arosha spoke less and less

Though not much to say, under deress

She still stood by and next and near

A comfort with emotions sheer

Often time need magic, little of

There, reliable, his heart’s soul love

So too did kansen Prince did go

With knife in hand and call below

Too let the life out by the blade

To those who couldn’t give them aid

Out they struck from wallward way

To head North, to do all he could

A day a healer, a physician too

With patients laid out that he still knew

Along to the stream he paced

And here he had to pause and brace

The bodies strewn and piled high

The corpses nearly reach the sky

The dead from disease had no rest place

Instead gathered at least single space

On top the fresh onf death

Below the bones of older heth

This was no new thing for Prince to see

But growing still not casing free

All jaya are in their stave

In older times, given grave

For some reason he noticed this

The stream that kept them well remiss

Was drier still than yesterday?

Was water short and not to say?

So true this turned that within a week

It was water everyone turned to seek

As those left needed thirst

This thing they need was growing worse

The food some grew was less made

Then through the mass was afraid

“What do we do?” the jaya asked

They gathered in a council mass

From perhaps the several thousand trapped

Down to just two thousand in time overlapped

It took young and old, and precious weak

So jaya had decided not to children seek

None old enough to remember life

Before Nanter, before kingdom strife

They met as one, despite the pain

If water ceased, they all would strain

A handful of kansen too did come

None had died in the time of wall was plumb

Trystin sat as the ‘elders’ spoke

None older than perhaps fifty two or so

“The water must be rationed out

A final way to push in doubt”

Though most iin voice was once agreed

Some still had words to saite their greed

“The sick, like I, need more than you.”

“Please don’t, my sister, she need it too.”

They tumbled still about all that’s fair

Till Trystin coughed and stood to stare

“Whatever conjure I still can make

Gladly will I water make

But if I do, like all the rest

We cannot heal, the magic test.”

The crowd did not like this slow thing

And resigned the Kansen to magic bring

Trystin left for hours yet

They debate until an answer met

The water would be set a guard

So all in equal though they be charred

Trystin knelt outside the build

His bones felt weak, like age had filled

His cot lay empty but not for long

His tools, lore, and book were strong

Another afternoon to stave disease

Well it ripped life from others with simple ease

Not far from him, the bodies lay

Be strong Prince, this is your way

The day drew past and Trustin drew

A little magic for food and dew

So they might eat quiet in the eve

Not use what little the others thieve

Hunger makes the kindest need

And desperate before they fall to bleed

Some drank that night and others fed

But those whom sick were left for dead

That night against, like all before

Trystin tied his black cloak, his thing of lore

To walk the city far from his home

So others might not known his roam

To offer those who suffered kinfe

“Please, I beg you, take my life,

So my family feel they do not need

To prop me up, to thirst or feed

When I’ll just die anyway

So bring your knife here to slay…”

Their cough still throbbed inside their throat

If indeed this was last quote

The Prince leaned in with cutting blade

Pulled to the neck it’s biting made

Swift was the cut that took the life

To end what disease had caused the strife

So Prince and one dragged the corpse

To the far side of the road to warp

It joined the rest, like all before

To the dead from disease or kills afore

So the corpses piled  another year

The strench of death one all did fear

As numbers dwindled in Nanter North

No end in sight for the kansen forth

Still imprisonment known better yet

Had done letter for the jayan get

What had happened out in wilder way?

Where war was brewing in his younger day?

Their world so small by magic dealt

And none to shy to throw him a welt

So Prince decide a gentle way

To give his all every single day

The healer and the doctor stay

[poetnumber17]

IX: The First Death

I’ve told you all the Kingdom woes

History led to grand us shows

This time was Trystin leanring off on isle

Himself in peasant exhile

Learning all he could in doctor trade

While the world itself unmade

In Eastward place while the peoples met

The Kingdom distant set

When letters hailed from distant shores

He burnt them iin the fire lores

Not to listen to the ocean cries

Of the three peoples lives

It seems that the confluence fail

To bring the Kansen truth and tale

No food they cried, our land runs clean

Nor our problem would it seem

The Kansen say, or ignore as best they do

Who care what lower peoples do?

“We should go back,” Arosha beg

The wiser still, though ixaj take

“I feel their hearts, the death unfold

“We can’t, it’s not our place, our home.”

“They’re dying still, our oath not sweared?

“It was to keep life,  no matter fared.”

The selfish prince knew not the weight

As islands still he stayed in wait

Wwhat transgressed in time was somethign new

The Twin princes stood, war frull on threw

A new venture costing moneys same

In the end, they’re not but names.

Called south by Jaya in Bright the way

He tended to wounds as long as they’d let him stay

A broken leg, a dead born fly

Nothing seemed left he could not undue

When travels went to distanct palce

And Arosha say the child’s face

This seeming paradise, one to need

To save her first, they did indeed

No life, nor energy in paled face

Though jaya live so short, her shortened trace

“I don’t know this,” he said, like not before

“It’s like the fate’s left her on remam, on darkest door

He knows the risks, we knew them all

But still he sits quiet hands

Arosha culred around sunkedn shape

The young jaya could not even keep wake

The pair in stead walked hand on hand

To trace her spirit, fate in hand

The child did not wake as they explaind

That he biggest ill was food unremained

The doctor made his fatal flaw

And knowing her tooth and claw

So when they had no food for her to eat

And Kansen magic failed him deep

He cried in horror and Arosha cringed

Their magic had never been gone they winged

Where had the power of the Kansen

And the jaya smiled the saddened kind

To tell him of the sacrifice the ixaj made

On every sunrise, more blood is spilt

In hopes one day Third Kingdom built

Trysitn wept that night for corpse unknown

Knowing soon they’d have flown

That in the Third Kingdom wall and breadth

Everywhere lay bodies death

A protest worse than any before

So maybe Kansen magic woud lose this war

The doctor treated child in strongest stead

But only she withered on terrible bed

Worse and worse she finally crue

As elders gathered, friends, and family too

“I’ve tried everything,” he tasps in breathless ache

“This is so beyond us,” his aid does take

A week goes back with all his mind

Until in fevered, ugly dream ahd moved on to find

This child gave up life at last

And Trystin wept and held on to last

When elders game to  the child’s end

Their faces stone with all resound

They went out to the place and bury her

A death Trystin could not count as his hand

When the child fell to jayan plan

Enough to spur the doctor on

Take on City of Enldess bells

They might return to take up their shells

So Third Born son makes way back home

The land was born and made his own

He did this odd by pirate’s way

A mistrustful, tough group, they think him fine

The captain tough, and hard as nails

The First mate a ritgeous tender same

A ship not strictly legal piece

We dock and trade spreading to east

Often they stole, with Sandborn’s name

No one made any note of beauty tame

In city still it might be safe

To take out rats and pigs and ham and friends

I’m writing here losing mt mind

What thought Tristn had to start to play - penny arcades

Heaven is your own best things, not the others

A little lik know them best

When trystin moved to city scape

No short of work for him to take

A ptient had in broken days

With not much money to reay

His client child, like one before

Malnutrition soon aborad

She slept so long until fould could be rbought

Though I rekc she not be saved till is done

Everyday her pain worsened still

From headaches to enflammed knee

The pair tried every rememdy

As magic starved while ixaj died

And no full appeal was truly made

The groan of grew in recent years

Not to trade a gift in greet but could we be thought

Everyday did Trystin see

This girl years on balcony

He let her sit on patio back

And I thought she might smoke the entire pack

“I’m slipping,” Kallen calls under lovely sheet

“Please don’t go,” Trystin say

Though bedside manner practiced lay

His words were practice bitter dust

For those

who made it, as they always must

With Kallen slip, he knew not the words

All sounded worst outside like birds

“I can’t die, i had such to do,” he pleased

“At leas tyou have a life left of coog days.”

The pale in eyes could not erase

A skill set sallow, yellwed abked

Thie the story of the first death of anti-vaxx riots?

It was another naive mom who couldn't know

It’s this kind ignorance that fuels war

The kind that saw the doo unfoor

When it looked so strong like Klalen win

The vitamin drop him wholly him

The eyes sank back and voice did have

His parents still stood ‘round living grace

Could not be said they didn’t try

Like every middle income fmaily

Energy wavered with failing words

“You’ve done all you can,” he smils kind

But the food fails and so does my mnid

“I’ve never lost one in my care,”

Argues stubborn Eelion say

But worried not for following day

As time progressed, it was not pale

For he got heaven mighty trail

And hurt in rage could not repent

Such pain did Kallen find

The skin just peeling off to expose muscle within

“It hurts so fierce, doctor,” he moans

No drugs left to give this one

As the boils rise to surface break

And painful sores in final wake

No beauty death it would not stand

Till Kallen beg for death’s mighty hand

And Eelion watched in wretched horror

Unable to do what he was trained for

As Kallen passed from this life

Trystin nearly took his own sacred life

[poetnumber17]

V: The Lore of War

In myth and legends kingdoms leant

Age thousand years the peace it meant

A land unite by common peers

Like all conflict brought men to tears

It start with the people Three

Ixaj, Jaya, and Kansen be

From waters rose the People came

In thousands morph, none look the same

Those millions many have magic

Not theirs to use but conduit

From earth and dust the mud we came

Tough skinned even eyed, Jaya named

At one with earth like none before

The heart of the Shining lore

Though short life spent in tribal way

Each speak to ix like family stay

The Kansen are the skyborn kind

Lived long, in magic, in’pendent mind

A willful circle wrought them bring

The three Peoples in fate unstring

The Ixaj form bond with Kansen tall

Protect them by the magic fall

While Kansen depend deep on this

The ix gain to, in partnership

While long lived sky born people grasp

Their short lived jaya not long to last

They feel the earth, bring forth its food

Tride lands intimate known shrewd

Last in the cycle triangle

The kansen who must bear the load

To guard their lives so short shalt owed

Keep bond strong with the ix result

This ring if strong withstand result

If ‘ere this breaks, our hell breaks loose

History built on Triple truce

And where it break an to brakish war

This here starts our tales of lore

Some battles are but cyclic woes

Where families often come to blows

Or classes pick their battles right

With weapon picked up build to fight

But where the tale proper begins

By kingdoms split divide by ins

It start with the first, the original

Where Peoples rose there mythical

First kingdom took their Ixaj kind

Rent skin from flesh o’er death they find

To make the leather forbidden

Enraged the third kingdom ‘neath the sun

It’s sacred rule to do no harm

Yet this bracer made with lambskin

Removed in pain, with prick and pin

They killed their ix like lowly mites

Below the Kansen, mighty rights

No magic practice in origin land

Makes them no better with firstborn brand

Third Kingdom heard their wails abroad

Saw their elders breaking oaths with gods

To keep the sacred Three in keep

While ixaj refused the bonds and weep

Lost voice and magic from animals

The first upon them falls the culls

Regress to ways before their rise

Though kingdoms ever fall on highs

The First set out to right the wrongs

In drove, in basses, battle strong

Release the Ix! They coil back fierce

The Third holds spears polished to pierce

The rest hang back from wars to rot

The Second, Fourth and Fifth not fought

In wars between the great two place

Know better than go face to face

In wars long last for centures time

Better to count them in this rhyme

Of late unrest is nearer still

Look in to see the famine’s  sill

Where land gave up on making food

So jaya starve to feed their brood

If jaya starve the kansen too

Why do the low not pay their due

So kansen turn to magic still

Ignored the jaya dying shrill

To feed themselves another year

On tastefless magic formed in the clear

What litè was left fought on the streets

Till Jaya rasie religious feats

To say the Shade or Bright find best

Though truly neither could have rest

For food was short and scarse withall

The energy lead them to warll

It broke within to civil war

As Third Kingdom hushed their four

When friend on friend turned in despair

More brandished death in him was spear

Ignored by kansen, their protector

Though claimed the help in lore

Over the spring the food grew weal

And jaya turned inland to seek

The food that could not exist now

Not understood by those allow

Another year and death rate climbed

With violent ask for food inclined

They feared their place but smoked all day

No work for jaya enlist to grace

Whats worse did third kingdom did go

Ignore the kaya till long ago

Blame them for all the woes of world

The hungry never heard the word

The petty violent start another surge

Kansen to punish for the plague

With no food all the summer fix

The sky born try another trick

But jaya have had their last page

So magic fall to cease their age

When war breaks out, both sides have blood

And Kingdoms near hear great flood

So to the aid of dying friends

Kingdoms across raise to defend

In haste of go, last angels ride

To slay those all were left behind

So none may take what rightfully theres

As border bound they all prepared

And while the jaya may return in time

The fieldland be not modest dime

This not the firs thte clash of three

Where kansen deny their low mercy

Or some arrange where trust was broke

And others find no weary folk

The Third Kingdom live on mercy eyes

To hope and pray last in disguise

For story told of broken talk

Repeats itself each gentle stock

Before the sons of Empress die

Rotation come to clear the skies

So nothing learnt from the story lore

Nothing kept past the raging war

Though stories told of hero knight

Where blood was spilt, none can be right

Deny the stories fill our night

And hope for magic still alight

All the signs point to before

From lessons that not learned afore

That history will soon repeat

The things in stanza I did speak

That if the Three are broken still

The magic leaves, and working still

I cannot speak if this is time

That one that maybe cross the line

We say take heed and donèt repeat

But even when this tale delete

I canot ask the war to send

The physician doctor to set him fend

Even closing tome of war

I feel great weight lifted roar

If you the reader warn them still

Tell Trystin that it all weill end

And studynig is bestest friend

And tell the others weève seen this once

And calm despite the changing winds

Perhaps one knows  the forest blind

Grow up better, tower one

[poetnumber17]

No conflict up here. No war. No problems. He felt detached, he felt free, he felt differently.

Red is the fourth book I’m writing in ‘The Cycle’ series revolving around a ‘super average’ man and his struggles to remember who he is and what name to even go by. As he ventures through a steampunk esque world of political strife, famine, civil war, and the demands off voluntary genocide, there’s a bunch of magic, sexual humour, and geeky botany involved as well.

NaNoWriMo in June - 30 days to get a book done

Day 3: 9,000 words

[poetnumber17]

"And yet by the outcomes are the princes of this world measured" - Thistle

Red is the fourth book I’m writing in ‘The Cycle’ series revolving around a ‘super average’ man and his struggles to remember who he is and what name to even go by. As he ventures through a steampunk esque world of political strife, famine, civil war, and the demands off voluntary genocide, there’s a bunch of magic, sexual humour, and geeky botany involved as well. 

NaNoWriMo in June - 30 days to get a book done

Day 1: 3,002 words

[poetnumber17]

XV

(TODAY IS AWFUL)

The height of Sielcen through the North

When death compound among the forth

Trystin fell in deep despair

Energy spent on another’s air

A week worked straight the pair did make

And now to sleep they tumbled take

Arosha around him curled in

While Trystin learned to dream win

In the dark he woke anew

Like first time, more panicked too

He knew a thing lost in his heart

Like the piecing piece or puzzle part

The world danced out his way

Demaning to see the one taken away

The holes they dug for many week

Those left in prisoner’s peak

The dream it looped

Played back on self

So Trystin dug and dug and dug and dug

Alone in mire, sand mud

When ends when eneds, he cires aloud

And some thought him cast in shroud

Another holde, the same in vein

Tried to escape but caught on chain

“How long they keep me here likfe this?’

‘Till random paid,” the rest dismissed

He leaned on earth and fence and hand

Feeling for the emptiness of land

Something miss the rest posess

Into he must wander find his own sort of rest

He cried - in dream - till time drew odd

Till noe he stood alone, outside the shrod

How can you cry ouf for a thing unnamed

He knew not this but became the same

In dreams she was of such remark

Hard to say another of her except where was too her lark

Trystin cried and asked her her

No one could confirm were the war soon end

Though they annoyed and stocked and tave

He never game to give them add

Instead he searched far and long

From the vlaleys till clifftop song

He knew not name nor place or where

Eventualy caught up in wilder affarid

So Tryhstin loked mlik teh others had said of the then

No touble get for good at heart

And something so the kids can share

Though none to point him to amphidera

This dream so dark, the real Trystin feel

The tugging on his soul too deep to feel

She not there, Arosha yet

He called and called though dream still met

It swirled int he ehart of dark

And all he felt her lack and part

He chased her high and low in dream

Together that golden, wondrous team

In bed he turned, he tossed he shook

But none would wake his terrible look

Though next to him by he knew lay

Instead he cired for her to stay

“Please Arosha, Please, the wall might take

The pair embraced, the ones to never rmbrake

Though it seems with friends and a life at shcool

There was no choice but to snog boys or be cruel

So seet wrapped around him like time out of mnd

As changes role, the kind we can’t find

Awoke he woke from the nightmare kiss

In case Arohs found his notes just a year hence

He gatehred Arosha into his breast

And sleept for hours to remember the other

Her tail tucked under his chain, buried under a pillow still

When Sam emerged, she too would  have something to do,

and news to prince, and removes to bring?

The world in stead

It’s not like me. I took the tope corner of the paper

She was not gone, not gond. Just alloone, but rescued.

Not sure where the head of tha interactions was

“Arosha” he gasoed on wake

The rest ground in on the rack

Faster still suggesting game

Or angry, amsused girls to just stick themselves everywhere

“What happeened?” she asked in briskest days

“I dreamt I was looking for you all over again.”

“You dind’t and I’m here noe.”

They got up for work as tehy walsy did

Barely dressed and barely fed

To make tusre the lore provided exactly what they needed

And often did

And while that would enver work for me

I see it worked and it s happy even, a rare things

Again this day, like all the rest

Though exhausted still put to the test

To see if that can hold your weight

Tpo see if bill would display his browess and see how that gets on

Each day they looked

Her fingers read

“Someone here,” I feel it,” Sarah level, though otehrs girst

Was it your house?

Your house

Arosha was such an iportant part of this, would be lovely

She nded to learn defence to what made her kick

But the fortunatey ones gave me their tests so I can see it and you can Charloe . I

Biscuits are in an

10.3 I can’t go abckt o serve

And I appreciate when dy so

There was a time they checked the walls

Each day they went to take a pause

To pray for those left behind

To stay to wait for endless rhyme

“Ali?” he ask the heartless brick. It not respons

But the ritual stick works nothing less

When touch the wall, his might finds rest

It had been fifty years despite fever dreans,

Eventually if you listen to use, I think you’d listen  as our witness

Send help and aid like some the rest

We get the rhings from their stream and vent

“Has it really beeen fifth year?/” he asks

Oh yes I say, despite his name

Perhaps in ten eyars time he’ll come to do his coaching

In his summer, perhaps it was lucky he didnt know

For a few minutes Casey might have others like her

Or not at all

The Prince wade into terrible people

It felt like ten years since he had seen her

They accidepted the dug  for a suitable I made

Where ketchup everywhere, and it was cold

But so warm inside the windows.

I went with a girl I went to school with

We got ot gosutem suh,e had to fdi choose

What else can I rpomse you? The asked

Upload it here, I have my boxed of books with me all the time.

No longer look for tens of years

He still has her next to her

But the pain of loss so ever great

And the price made for worst mistake

When Trystin came to he saw again

The sickness and disease  prevalent

For Trystin did meant a little more was good,

For candles too

We acknowledge the time where dinner is in the saharode

Though we don’t believe it too

But he’ll prob ne a quiet bab,

ANd I really want ok. OSure things.

For once I see the stars alight and perhaps all said

Was trust in light

We make sausage but people respect

They like to you - a strength of famiyl name

A lot of posers to

And they let us pikc harvestors, inviiglator, cahs person….warehouse?

They close down at 6am after working all night

But maybe it’s on the list. I’d like to you by name a day.

The the name for the  awful are resolved? Or your  children who need to   other kind

Truplces though I don’t have much more room we can spend a little. Crises are easier

Look at the table and use that to formulat for this sort of things

Everyihing is terrible and nothing year

Teacehrs have said it’s noing to die

Let’s hope they bring me forms for nexxt weeks or anyhting listanding like that

Is that statyus is very famous at the ooor laoudy, l

ookg ayt he moment into garden

We descend in darkness mad

Just like he did for a years since had