Tyre’Negoth: The Law

The series from long ago continues, you’ll probably have to go back and read. But I continued it and so I’ll keep putting in installments! I hope you enjoy! Leave notes!! 🙂

Whilst the filthy outcast spoke his solemn words,

A man, near at Baelorik’s hand, watched with disdain,

His upturned nose could be seen by all,

Especially the gold-armed nobles to either side,

When the words faded and Baelorik, too, resumed his seat,

He pulled Baelorik’s tunic, whispering in the king’s ear,

And as quickly as he sat the old warrior rose again

All falling silent before the mighty shadow cast.

“Beloved friends, warriors, and nobles from afar,

I have long pondered my original spoken writ,

Thus deciding not to hide my kingdom from its task,

Rather I shall fight along side the warriors in gesture,

For though I am too feeble to wield a sword ‘gainst foe,

I’ve found one who shall usurp my place,

Usurp it he shall, for I feel my age indeed, or I’d go

To slay the foul creature whose darkness clouds our land.

My knowledge of this man who I deem worthy, tis great!

He serves as judge and jury, the lord high magistrate

Of all my lands, he is never want for balance of power,

Thus I decide he shall assume my place within the party,

For seven warriors shall not slay, but eight perhaps!

Enough talk of me, for he has words to speak,

He’s eager now since this last worthy fellow spoke!

So deny not your ears of his wise words,

For I know no man better educated in the art of eloquence

Or tact than the man who sits beside me here!”

With that Baelorik gave a mighty clap to the judge’s back

And sat back upon his seat, the warrior rising,

Yet men around could not believe their eyes,

For the man appeared to be of dif’rent persuasion

When focused on not all too much, but indeed the judge

Was judge indeed and no hoax or sign of kingly senility.

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Golden folds that flowed around a frail and meager figure

Swept the ground as the magistrate rose majestically,

Frilled cuffs and collar of white satin lace accented

The already gaudy nature of the cloth he wore so well,

No folds removed as he stood at height,

Nor would for the robe seemed styled so,

With indistinct paisley patterns ghosting across it all,

And rubied buttons holding it from floating off the man,

No size or shape could not be hid within it’s tresses,

Yet odd to see such famined figure in the mass of cloth,

Pointed toes of white leather peaked out from the cloud

Of golden fashion that the nobles fought to restrain

From spilling all the drink and ale for miles round.

The veiny hands of yellow color brushed away the two,

A scepter of solid gold with emerald crown adorned

With spikes of solid gold-plated iron and pearly wreathes

Spiraling around the shaft threat’ned the nobles’ heads.

The man’s face was all that spoke of his disposition,

But without mouth it spoke as loud as the judge’s garb,

High-boned cheeks which showed through leather skin,

Yellowed from age with a sharp nose upturned to heaven,

A small and shallow mouth with perpetually pursed lips,

And beady grey eyes which observed the outcast alone,

Staring straight through as if the man a ghost,

And a royal white wig rolled down to shoulder height,

As tressed as the robe and just as fake and expensive.

And as all beheld the figure with wide-eyed glare,

He spoke thus casting over the banqueter’s startled eyes,

An illusion of a preacher high on pulpit in a very rage.

“This “hero” who sits and gorges himself on ale and meat,

Should not be so revered as our grand king does entreat,

For though the insult is hurled back at his senders,

He degrades us, too, with his very presence and manners.

I have served four score years of service as a man of law

For all the many lands and none have been more just,

Fairness has been my keystone and I have never faltered,

Money has waved itself before me in torrents and showers,

Yet I stand dry to bleached bone, principle above profit!

Know I well of outlaws who hide and mock our systems,

Outlaws who find the holes that our father’s did not see,

Thus they run rampant across our lands no fear, scot free

Like this fallen soldier whose world was shattered.

Yet no excuse redeems his theft, his murder, his evil,

For I’ve seen peasants who take death for their faults,

With heavy heart they feel the punishment, the whip,

Yet not a whisper of a reproach, no single uttered sound.

They understand the law and bide by it with conviction,

How low we are to revere this man for his craft and skill

Which are nothing more than luck and chance, I swear it!”

With this the judge slammed fist upon the table,

Sending food into the air for the nobles to contend.

“Yet he stays Baelorik the Kind has decreed,

And I shall obey his word and follow with kind deed,

For a pardon I shall lay upon that man’s silver platter,

If he rides with us and slays the hell-sent beast,

I shall without question, if he survive the latter,

Forgive his misguided actions and forget the matter!

How’s that for charity? I believe it great,

A testament to myself but to Baelorik more,

For he chose me to fight for him and I owe deeply,

The honor shall be mine to ride, to fight, to slay,

For I’ve longed for adventure each and every day

That I have breathed and served the courts.

Time grows late and I shan’t dally longer,

Next warrior up and speak…I forget myself!

It’s Baelorik who makes commands, my rank accustoms me!”

With a slight smile and a nervous laugh,

The lord high magistrate sat down in complex motion,

His tresses flowing across the floor all round him,

Til he sat in a golden ocean of silk and satin.

The nobles, too, turned attention to the great king.

And so the revelry continued as the feeble judge’s sermon

Ended with a powerful ring throughout the chamber.

Without word or motion of a single syllable heard,

The outcast sat eating with unchanged ferocity,

Yet those who watched closer still, focused beyond glance

Saw the warrior’s fists grow tighter into the meat,

And the juices begin to run in suttle torrents

As if the animal still breathed and bled,

No more the outcast did react to what the lawman said.