Tyre’Negoth:A Conversation Between Philosophies

Amid the waving fields, beneath the shining stars,

The party set camp, letting horses roam nearby,

For Baelorik had given them the finest-trained colts

Who could be trusted to not wander away from master.

Eldin and Immundus set off and soon returned with game

To eat, thus saving rations packed for another day.

A fire was built from brush and grass and tended

By Andaras who promised to keep vigil first that night.

All curled up beneath the midnight sky and set to sleep.

Eric was restless with curious thought and rose,

Crossing silently over to the motionless soldier Andaras,

Illumined by the flick’ring fire, he sat in thought,

Turning slowly as Eric neared and crouched by him.

“What troubles your mind, good romantic, pangs for home?

Or perhaps you fear the wild dangers that lurk outside?”

“Neither, sir, rather my mind has been thinking of you.

They say you’re an honest prince with love back home.”

“Tis, true, good Eric, I have a good love back in Curia.”

“Tell me, why stray from her side? Death lurks for us,

I serve only to earn the chance to be with my own,

Yet you’ve discovered yours and yet you abandon her.”

“My love would not be strong if not for my loyalty,

Thus if I prove disloyal in one manner I may be lax

In several others; I am soldier, thus my first love,

Elkeny knows this true, will always be love of honor.

It is same for you, if were called to arms you’d resist,

For you favor love first, whose to say which is right?”

Andaras patted Eric’s back and gazed up to the stars:

“Ah, sweet Elkeny, how lucky I am to have her love,

Indeed I understand your view, Eric, my heart beats

Inside my chest with lamentation for she’s not here,

Yet honor demands that I serve you good men first.”

Eric smiled as he looked into the burning embers,

“I am afraid, good Andaras, I have heard of your life,

You’re strong and skilled and have had many a battle,

I’m a writer and philosopher! My swordplay’s weak!

How am I to fair againsts hell’s num’rous legions?

I fear that my stubborn heart has sealed my fate….

But oh, if I succeed what a wonderful beauty in Melody,

For that’s my true love’s name, crimson hair like fire,

I swear I’ve heard it spark, perhaps just in my heart,

And eyes of a muted green, such sweet comfort they give,

To kiss her again, such bliss, I feel so blessed!

Even now I forget my fears thinking of such a love.

I would give my life without question for a single day

Where we had no worries of her father’s wrath…..”

Eric sighed in sorrowful joy, eyes fixed upon the fire.

“Worry not, dear lad, you shall live to see such days,

I give promise that no harm shall come while I breathe.

My eyes have been gifted to see the future in a man,

I see you’re heart giving you the strength to battle on,

No demon shall stand against your love’s conviction.”

Eric rose with thoughtful smile, “I pray you’re right.

I pray that I may serve this party as well as you,

I pray my sword strikes true and we our task complete.”

With that Eric wandered back to his slumb’ring pages.

Near a lone oak rising from the flowing fields,

The outcast watched the two with calm, deep eyes,

Behind, the judge watched him with intent and wary eye.

The outcast, with solemn and deliberate tone, spoke:

“You doubt my loyalty to these men, how paranoid you are

Good judge, what do I earn from these mens’ murders?”

The judge, shocked that he had been noticed snooping,

Jumped in startlement, then nervously coughed and said:

“You and I are of different beliefs, I serve man

While you selfishly serve yourself and get all you can

From each situation that your morbid life presents,

What gain you ask, I’ve no clue, but perhaps you do.

No name have you given, nor any words of your past,

Excuse me if I am hard-pressed to trust an evil shadow.”

The outcast turned and stared with his wild eyes,

“Tell me, Umaeus, you wretched and feeble worm,

What have you done to deserve my respect you bitter dog?”

Umaeus, whose temper was short, held himself in check,

“I admit that even I believe my service too weak

To earn my admittance into the halls of haloed heaven,

That is why I have set out upon this dangerous task,

Yet though I have not yet earned respect, be better man

And show me respect and I shall extend the same.”

The outcast cocked his head, then nodded in agreement:

“My name is Bahlros, my purpose is none but my own,

As for my past, all that I shall tell is this:

I served many years as general of Baelorik’s horde,

Yet a curse of ill-fortune he laid upon my very soul,

For the failures of my kin, thus I fled to hide from him,

And all I left was lost through acts of God and hell,

My home crushed to rubble in a storm, my wife fell ill

While we fled, no need to tell you that she now is dead.

A rare and undiscernable virus that no doctor could cure

Had taken on her without warning, twas Baelorik’s curse.”

The judge listened skeptically to the outcast’s tale:

“Bahlros if that be your name, you dishonor me with lies,

Grand Baelorik never has uttered any foolish word,

Thus go upon your way and don’t speak with me again,

If you shall not even tell me true of yourself,

Then I’ll have nothing to do with you, you rotten oaf!”

The outcast drew so close Umaeus could feel his breath:

“Be watchful more of your words old man,

For if it serves me, as I’m sure it can,

I’ll butcher you in your stupid sleep old fool,

Then you’ll learn your lesson you stubborn swine!”

The outcast turned and marched far from the old judge

Who sat in stunned, fearful silence, he was so afright

He did not sleep another wink all that long first night.